
The Lost and Found Bookshop
Reviews

Oh man, this might have the perfect combo for me for a light contemporary romance book. Not too ridiculous of a romance, lots of books, a little bit of mystery, and overall just sweet and fun!

Was it a tad predictable? Yes, but the journey there was beautiful. I really really loved it.

There are times when tragedy leads one to evaluate one’s life and recognize that one has been merely existing and not living up to their full potential. It also provides the opportunity to reconnect with one’s roots and see things through the eyes of the persons one has lost. Sadly, this was the situation for Natalie Harper in The Lost and Found Bookshop. Natalie is living her best life, or so she believes. A lucrative job, with a sure promotion waiting on the wings and a loving boyfriend. Despite this she believes something is missing. She has doubts about her relationship and her job brings her no joy. A situation which worsened when she discovered her co-workers’ true feelings towards her. She recognized the need for change in her life, however tragedy struck before she could effect those changes. Natalie now finds herself saddled with a debt-ridden bookshop and the care of her beloved but ailing grandfather, Grandy. Wiggs weaved a story about pain, loss, love and finding oneself interspersed with history. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, my favourites being Grandy and Dorothy. Dorothy, the daughter of one of Natalie’s love interest, who enjoyed reading and would play a part in help keeping the bookstore open. Grandy was a man of honour and wisdom. Suffers from dementia, but his moments of clarity aided in revealing the truths about their family history and reminded Natalie of the joy and wonders of her childhood. Natalie proved to be a relatable character. I felt her pain and confusion that came with the unexpected changes. I loved how patient she was dealing with her grandfather’s illness. Watching her step out of her comfort zone, seizing unexpected opportunities and finding her happiness was a delightful experience. Romance was brewing, and I kept hoping Natalie would make the right choice. Her choice had me smiling from ear to ear. The story despite moving at a leisurely pace was captivating, poignant and entertaining. Conclusion/Recommendation The Lost and Found Bookstore depicts how tragedy can change one’s perspective and forces one to appreciate the things they once took for granted. It’s also reminded me of the need to appreciate our loved ones, as the day will come when they will no longer be in our lives. Fans of the author will enjoy this latest offering, and if you have never tried her books before, then I recommend you give this one a try. This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading

Really liked the book. The story is told in a much relatable way. It really resonated with me the fact that the main character thrives for passion, emotions and surprises in her life, but at the same time she is willing to give that up for stability and security even though in an unhappy job and relationship. I feel like I see that a lot in so many people, specially nowadays. Throughout the book, during Natalie Harper's "adventure" taking responsibility for the management of her mother's bookstore, we learn that taking risks sometimes really pays off. I enjoyed how the author frequently makes sure to reminds us readers of that with a list of wise quotes from other books. The only reason I gave this 3 stars is because the first half of the book was really slow paced, in my opinion. It didn't really grasp my attention so much so as the second half when events start unfolding.









Highlights

"Agora entendia a devoção de Blythe à livriaria. Ao contrário dos homens, os livros eram fáceis. Eles provocavam todas as emoções do mundo - alegria, pavor, medo, sofrimento, satisfação - e então acabavam. As pessoas eram diferentes. Imprevisíveis. Impossível de controlar".
Love this passage about the comparison between people and books. The latter you have control over; the former, not so much.

[...] Você nunca está sozinha quando está lendo um livro, sua mãe sempre dizia.
"You are never alone when you are reading a book" - so very true.

[...] - O trabalho é... ah, só um trabalho. Mas Sou excelente nele. Por mais que eu tenha vontade de encontrar algo estável e inspirador, acho que isso não existe pra mim. - Em algum momento, você se convenceu de que emoção é risco. [...] - E isso assustou você e a fez seguir uma carreira estável, sem surpresas.
Natalie realizing that she settled down for a comfortable, predictable and secure life style without surprises and passion because she's afraid of risks is probably the reality for so many people nowadays 😔