Sarah Penner

The Lost Apothecary

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Named Most Anticipated of 2021 by Newsweek, Good Housekeeping, Hello! magazine, Oprah.com, Bustle, Popsugar, Betches, Sweet July, and GoodReads! March 2021 Indie Next Pick and #1 LibraryReads Pick “A bold, edgy, accomplished debut!” —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network A forgotten history. A secret network of women. A legacy of poison and revenge. Welcome to The Lost Apothecary… Hidden in the depths of eighteenth-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised poisons to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary’s fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious twelve-year-old, makes a fatal mistake, sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries. Meanwhile in present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London two hundred years ago, her life collides with the apothecary’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive. With crackling suspense, unforgettable characters and searing insight, The Lost Apothecary is a subversive and intoxicating debut novel of secrets, vengeance and the remarkable ways women can save each other despite the barrier of time.

A Novel

Madelaine Jarcew

She patted the hay beside her. “I know what it is to watch my child fall from my body at the hands of a man. And while my story is terrible, every woman has faced a man’s wickedness to some degree. Even you.” She placed a hand on the floor, steadying herself as she began to tilt to one side. “I am an apothecary, and it is my duty to dispense remedies to women. And so over the years, they have come to me, and I have sold them what they wish. I have protected their secrets. I have borne the brunt of their burdens. Perhaps if I had bled again after the loss, if my womb were not scarred, I would have stopped long ago. But the absence of bleeding has been a constant reminder of Frederick’s betrayal, and what he took from me.“

And though I could not relate to this woman’s place in society—for there were no gatehouses or footmen to be seen in Back Alley—I knew firsthand her inner turmoil. Heartache is shared by all, and favors no rank.

i teared up a little not gonna lie. the concept of reading and writing and creativity being seen as a little bit of magic is so important to me :( 

She then pointed at several of the shorter words—

—and explained how each letter made its own sound, and how words strung together on paper could convey and idea, a story.

, I thought. It was everywhere, if only one knew where to look.

take a shot every time i read a book about women killing men/hating their husband/finding their purpose in live and learning to love being alone

No doubt James would have resisted the spontaneous adventure, but he wasn’t here to hold me back.

Alone, I could do whatever I damn well pleased.

Leslie

"happiness is not the same as fulfillment.

joy-lynn

Besides, just because my mother did not use poisons against anyone does not mean she did not know how." She nestled farther into the hay bale. I suppose this made her even more admirable. Like a dog with a mouthful of sharp teeth who never once attacks, my mother's knowledge was a weapon she never once used.

For many of these women," Nella whispered, "this may be the only place their names are recorded. The only place they wil be remembered. It is a promise I made to my mother, to preserve the existence of these women whose names would otherwise be erased from history. The world is not kind to us... There are few places for a woman to leave an indelible mark." I finished tracing an entry, moving on to the next one. But this register preserves them – their names, their memories, their worth." 

Holly 

 "First, there was trust. Then, there was betrayal. You cannot have one without the other. You cannot be betrayed by someone you do not trust." I nodded, and she leaned back again. "Eliza. what you have just described is the samne heart-wrenching Journey of every woman to whom I have sold a poison. And it is, indeed, the same path for me."

With crackling suspense, unforgettable characters and searing insight, The Lost Apothecaryis a subversive and intoxicating debut novel of secrets, vengeance and the remarkable ways women can save each other despite the barrier of time. Hidden in the depths of eighteenth-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised poisons to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary's fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious twelve-year-old, makes a fatal mistake, sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries. Meanwhile in present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London two hundred years ago, her life collides with the apothecary's in a stunning twist of fate--and not everyone will survive. 2021's Most Highly Anticipated New BooksNewsweek Most Anticipated Books of 2021 Popsugar 'A bold, edgy, accomplished debut!'Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network and The Huntress 'Intriguing... Readers who enjoy parallel historical/contemporary narratives about women's lives, such as Claire McMillan's The Necklaceor Liz Trenow's The Forgotten Seamstress, will enjoy the historical details and mystery in this engrossing tale.'Library Journal 'Readers who enjoy Katherine Howe and Susanna Kearsley will be drawn to this promising, fast-paced debut.'Booklist 'A superb debut novel... crackling with suspense, this is an original and compelling story'WI Life

The New York Times Top Ten Bestseller

Booklyn Betty | Amanda Strombeck

With crackling suspense, unforgettable characters and searing insight, The Lost Apothecary is a subversive and intoxicating debut novel of secrets, vengeance and the remarkable ways women can save each other despite the barrier of time. Hidden in the depths of eighteenth-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised poisons to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary’s fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious twelve-year-old, makes a fatal mistake, sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries. Meanwhile in present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London two hundred years ago, her life collides with the apothecary’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive. Shortlisted for the HWA Debut Crown Award 2021's Most Highly Anticipated New Books Newsweek Most Anticipated Books of 2021 Popsugar 'A bold, edgy, accomplished debut!' Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network and The Huntress 'Intriguing... Readers who enjoy parallel historical/contemporary narratives about women’s lives, such as Claire McMillan’s The Necklace or Liz Trenow’s The Forgotten Seamstress, will enjoy the historical details and mystery in this engrossing tale.' Library Journal 'Readers who enjoy Katherine Howe and Susanna Kearsley will be drawn to this promising, fast-paced debut.' Booklist 'A superb debut novel... crackling with suspense, this is an original and compelling story' WI Life

This was such an interesting read. I loved the multiple perspectives, it made me feel like I was in on a secret. It was so nice and a very intriguing plot. 

Tsu 💙

Lost Apothecary

Abigail Stutz

"happiness is not the same as fulfillment. you can be happy, but unfulfilled."

Hill

I don’t get why there are so many low reviews for this book. I thought it was great. I loved the backstory paralleled with the modern day. Would definitely recommend.

Jessy Tatum

The execution was awful. It was boring. I didn’t care about any of the characters. I wanted the main character to go to jail. At least something would happen.

Bushra Yenice

Was pretty bad not gonna lie. 

the plot idea- top tier.

The execution was awful. It was boring. I didn’t care about any of the characters. I wanted the main character to go to jail. At least something would happen.

mix of history . fiction.wemon's power and every thing but not interesting at all

Shidehdeishidi

Caroline is facing a crisis in her marriage, and takes a trip to London that she originally intended to take with her husband. While there, she finds an artifact that sends her into a world where, 200 years ago, an apothecary created tinctures for women…and some of them are deadly.

I loved this book. It was a blend of historical fiction and mystery and very interesting to read.

Cheri McElroy

Caroline is facing a crisis in her marriage, and takes a trip to London that she originally intended to take with her husband. While there, she finds an artifact that sends her into a world where, 200 years ago, an apothecary created tinctures for women…and some of them are deadly.

I loved this book. It was a blend of historical fiction and mystery and very interesting to read.

Ember Skies

Well written, but frequently far-fetched and sometimes eye-rollingly corny. Still an enjoyable read, if you’re able to effectively suspend your disbelief.

Rebecca Hurd

Love love love!! A good blend of history and present day, 3 different women with 3 very different lives that connect in amazing ways!! Great storytelling, good writing, and interesting characters!!

Ryan Mateyk

3.5 stars. Could be quite simple or silly at times but overall I did enjoy reading this, as it was always compelling and quite the pageturner.

Bria

Caroline is boring but Eliza? Nella? Love them.

Julie Rubens

I actually liked this book a lot, I don’t understand why the reviews are this bad. I love books that alternate between time periods and protagonists and I actually thought it was such an interesting story. I very much enjoyed reading it!

Alice S 

Lakshya Malik

Melissa Palmer

This book was a mix of historical fiction/fantasy/women's fiction. There were two parallel storylines--one in the past and one in the present. Interesting female characters. I enjoyed it.

I greatly enjoyed the idea and the drive to tell women’s stories. Unfortunately, it was very straightforward, with many monologues which became quickly repetitive. At no point did I really have to analyze the book or consider the characters’ intentions or predict what came next, it all laid itself bare. The actual stories of these women though are the real stories of women from the past that never get told, which redeems it well.

Emily McMeans

Patricia Nelson

Many thanks to Park Row for the opportunity to read this advance copy in return for an honest review! 
A woman on a London vacation at an inflection point in her life happens upon an antique bottle with a bear inscribed on it. Her love of research and historical connections leads her to not only solve a mystery that no one was aware of, but also gain clarity about her own desires for the future. A dual time line is set in 1791 London and features a woman apothecary who not only dispenses healing herbs and medicines for other women, but also helps them deal with men in their lives who have done them wrong.
The story grabbed my attention at once, and the dual time line was very well done, without giving the reader whiplash about which time period you were reading about. The idea of women supporting and taking care of other women is brought up over and over again in the novel, with the acknowledgement that many women have little about their lives that leave a mark on the world that they can claim, particularly in the 1791 story. The reader comes to love these characters, in particular the apothecary and the present day woman. There are some twists and turns in the story that I didn't see coming, along with some outcomes that were easy to spot ahead of time. Overall this is a well-written, enjoyable read that was just right for my reading life right now.

https://dev.edelweiss.plus/?sku=07783...

Courtney Atkinson

Really interesting idea with very whiny execution. I literally could not have cared less about any of the characters. They all wallow in their own self pity and refuse to take responsibility for their own action. And we get it, men suck, but this book takes it to a whole other level of annoying, self-righteous “down with the patriarchy” attitude that is just so inaccurate and terrible to read

Joy Bush

altlovesbooks

The premise sounded strong and promising, but I can't help but feel a little disappointed at how things played out. It wasn't thrilling enough to be a thriller or mysterious enough to be a mystery, and while I really enjoyed the historical setting, it just wasn't enough for me to rate the book much higher.

This book covers two different points in time: Caroline in present-day London who is trying to make the best of an anniversary trip despite her marriage being on the rocks, and the dual viewpoints of Nella the apothecary and her brief young assistant Eliza in the 1790s. Nella has been a secret dispenser of poisons, with a very strict set of rules about who they can be used on. This personal code is called into question with one very particular client, and the book largely centers around the buildup and resolution of this one particular case. Caroline, in present-day London, stumbles on the mystery of these two individuals through finding a relic from Nella's shop while out on a spur of the moment mudlarking trip, and spends the rest of her trip unravelling the details while also trying to figure out how to move forward with her personal life.

I have to admit that I was not interested or invested in Caroline's viewpoint at all. She felt a bit bland, and her personal struggles with her marriage and life choices felt tired and not all that compelling. I feel like she existed solely to tell the reader the story of Nella and Eliza, and her personal struggles only existing so the reader can draw obvious parallels between the two points in time. 

I also was disappointed at how Nella and Eliza's story played out. I was expecting something a bit darker and mysterious given the premise of a female apothecary who poisons men, but very little of the business of being an apothecary was shown. This just didn't quite scratch the I-want-to-read-about-poisonings-please itch I was expecting it to.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

rumbledethumps

It started off okay, even if the three people telling the story were three people with remarkably different backgrounds and yet remarkably similar voices. But by the time it finished,  from the rapidly draining phone battery in an attempt to build unrealistic tension, to the wholly contrived and completely unbelievable ending, I wanted to throw the book across the room. Two stars because I actually finished it,  but would not recommend.

Caitlin Moore

There were so many parts of this book I loved. A tale told by three women in two time periods, however I found the 1790s characters (Nella and Eliza) more exciting than the current time character (Caroline). So during Caroline’s story, I found myself drifting off. I also think that too much of both stories were repeats (Caroline explores what happens to the women in the past), and lots of the corresponding chapters said the same thing. 

The plot itself was really interesting, and I wish I could know more about the apothecary. It feels like a real place. Overall, it was a good read, but it wasn’t one of my favorites.

Q&D- cute debut with simplistic writing and interesting premise that follows multiple POV across two time lines. Read as part of my blind book series, rain. 

The Lost Apothecary

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