The Lost Bookshop
| Author | Evie Woods (orig. Evie Gaughan) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Pages | 442 |
| ISBN | 978-0008609214 (paperback), ASIN B0BMF2M8Z6 (kindle eBook) |
The Lost Bookshop is a novel with elements of magical realism, fantasy, historical fiction, and romance by the Irish author, Evie Woods.[1] The book also tackles serious real-world issues such as societal misogyny.[1]
The book was published in 2023 by OneMoreChapter, an imprint of HarperCollins,[2] and had previously been self-published under the author's real name, Evie Gaughan.[1]
The novel was shortlisted for page-turner of the year in the 2024 British Book Awards.[2][3][4] It made first place in the Wall Street Journal weekly book list;[1] made the Sunday Times top 10,[1] and became a bestseller at Amazon UK and US.[1] Between June 2023 and January 2024, the book had sold over 500,000 copies.[1]
Summary
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Reception
The novel was shortlisted for page-turner of the year in the 2024 British Book Awards.[3][4] It made first place in the Wall Street Journal weekly book list;[1] made the Sunday Times top 10,[1] and became a bestseller at Amazon UK and US.[1] Between June 2023 and January 2024, the book had sold over 500,000 copies.[1] The book was first released in digital format as an eBook and an audiobook and became a hit even before a paperback edition came out.[2]
Reviewing The Lost Bookshop, Mairéad Hearne says that the work has been described as "The Keeper of Stories meets The Lost Apothecary" and that the work is an "evocative and charming novel full of mystery and secrets."[5] Having read other works by Evie Gaughan, Hearne is "totally captivated by the magic and warmth that emanates from her stories."[5]
In conclusion, Hearne writes: "The Lost Bookshop is a joy to read, a seductive tale that sparks the imagination, a truly immersive and charismatic read of self-discovery and strength imbued with a sense of hope and passion."[5]
About the author
Evie Gaughan, who now writes under the pen-name Evie Woods, was born and raised in Galway, in the west of Ireland.[1]
She studied business at what is now the Atlantic Technological University); went on to achieve a diploma in marketing, and then spent a year in Toulouse, France on a European Union Erasmus Programme.[1]
During her twenties, Gaughan lived and worked in Canada.[1][2] However, she suffered from panic attacks and developed social anxiety. As a result, she had to quit her job, and returned to Galway and taking up writing.[1][2] She revealed that she is "95 per cent sure I wouldn't have become a writer if that hadn't happened."[1] A believer in the healing power of books, "bibliotherapy" as she calls it is one of the main themes and motivations behind writing The Lost Bookshop.[1]
Bibliography
- The Heirloom (2013)
- The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris (2014, 2025)
- The Story Collector (2018, 2024)
- The Lost Bookshop (2023)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Coffey, Edel (7 January 2024). "The best-selling Irish author you may not have heard of says social anxiety prompted her to write". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Fraser, Katie (13 March 2024). "One More Chapter grabs four more from breakout star Evie Woods". The Bookseller. Archived from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ a b Anderson, Porter (8 March 2024). "British Book Awards: 2024 Books of the Year Shortlists". Publishing Perspectives. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ a b Sayner, Amy Joan (17 March 2024). "The British Book Awards: Book of the Year 2024 Shortlists". The Publishing Post. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ a b c Hearne, Mairéad (29 July 2023). "The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods". writing.ie. Archived from the original on 23 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.