I really enjoyed this heartwarming general fiction/romance book, which I found so interesting.

The story is about a woman called Hope who, after losing her husband, moves to York to start a new life. She gets a job working at an antique shop called the Ever After Emporium (great name!). She uncovers the mystery of an egyptian artifact, which takes us on adventure to find out all about it. She crosses paths with two men called Will and Ciaran. Both of them show an interest in her, but which man will she choose as her own happily ever after?

I loved this book, especially the parts with all the egyptian details, which I found really fascinating. I also loved Will's niece Brodie.

Highly recommended!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

Not read this author before and was pleasantly suprised. Really easy feel good read - would recommend for all.

Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review #thelittleshopofhiddentreasures #netgalley

Hope Henderson has moved back to York and knows she must find a job. One day she walks into the emporium after noticing their advertisement and is practically offered the job their and then. This is when the adventure really starts! After a handsome customer and his niece crack the puzzle box code they find a very expensive emerald ring. Mr Young the shop owner sets Hope up with her first task to find out the story behind the ring! Will she find her own love story In the process or will it all end in dust?

After reading "The star and sixpence." love any Holly Hepburn books so always try and read them if I can.

Although this book is a light hearted read. Their are some emotional subjects included such as road traffic fatalities, anxiety, selective mutism, illness including cancer amongst more. However this does not take away from the romantic feel but gives each character their extra tragedies to overcome and it really helps to illustrate character growth.

The concept of the story is great and it provides many tears, laughs and thoughts particularly about your own life journey. It is a mixture of rom com as well as historical fiction with a bit of mystery mixed in but done in a very suspenseful and enjoyable way. It opens up passageways for the most unlikely friendships to occur through mutual understanding of a historical artifact. As well as showing that sometimes people are lonely but due to circumstances cannot and will not say anything. Therefore taking them under your wing and understanding their reluctance helps to crack the hard exterior.

Furthermore rather than the Hope starting in a relationship which ends and then moving to find new romance. She actually starts dating a new character within the first quarter of the page and I think this was a nifty way of throwing traditional novel ideas into 21st century life.

However I found the book to be repetitive in parts. At many times through the book it would recap something which would have worked really well if this was a sequel or series. However it was recapping and reexplaining what had happened at the beginning of the novel. Something the reader would have definitely read so didn't need to be their.

Furthermore some parts of the story you were waiting for more. Particularly Hope's break up with Professor McCormack. She was told something huge and devastating about their relationship and then the reader doesn't hear any discussions between them or her feelings, which their would have been some considering its her first relationship after her loves death, until near the end.

I found this book very hard to rate. What was given to the reader was solid and the book built a beautiful story. With great and unexpected turns right until the last page. I loved the historical aspect and understanding Eleanor's story. However there remained parts, in the first half particularly, where the reader is left wanting more reaction to situations with a repition coming through at the same time. Therefore I feel this book is a 3.5 Stars out of 5. As opposed to a solid amount stars.

The book was very well written and flowed well. The plot was great. Everything I thought it would be from the description

Everything you could want in a book. Romantic, comedic, engaging and thoroughly enjoyable. The sub plots are entertaining and woven skilfully through the book. I enjoyed getting to know the characters the emporium is definitely somewhere I would love to visit! I adored reading this book and it made me happy!

Thank you Netgalley

Re-submitting a review as it appears my original is missing. I read this book several months ago and although I’ve read quite a few books since then I can still remember enjoying much about this story.
First of all, the setting is wonderful - all too often books are set in Cornwall, London or the Scottish Highlands, so it’s lovely to find books set somewhere in between, non more so than the gorgeous city of York. The author’s descriptions conjure up wonderful pictures of the ancient streets surroundingThe Shambles and the glorious Minster (I could picture perfectly the benches in the Minster’s grounds the main character is drawn to).
The Ever After Emporium sounds like the most amazing shop and if it were real I could imagine spending many happy hours exploring the rooms in it for treasure, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be lucky enough to find treasure such as is found in this book which brings the main characters together (although a scarab ring wouldn’t be my first choice). A story of family, living with, and rebuilding, broken hearts, and finding out who to trust with the most important of treasures … love.
A thoroughly enjoyable and memorable read, great characters who come to life on the page and share their interesting, and emotional, stories with the reader.

The Little Shop Of Hidden Treasures by @hollyh_author another @netgalley read. The main character is Hope who’s husband has died and to be near to her family she decides to move to York, where she grew up. Hope takes a job at the antique shop she had always admired as a child and this little unassuming shop is where the story comes to life with its secrets and the characters it introduces to Hope. I liked this book, it was intriguing and at times quirky. I absolutely loved the little antique store that Hope gets a job in and could imagine stumbling across it, particularly liked the description on the book section! However I did simply just find that I liked the book, it’s not the best book I’ve read this year as I felt that it had so much potential to be so much better. It may me feel this way due to a couple of things 1 being that it felt incredibly familiar liked I had read it before, in that familiarity it had a huge feeling of being very predictable. And 2 in places it seemed to repeat itself, going over stuff that we as the reader already knew and had read about. The other thing I would have liked is to hear more about Eleanor Lovelace as I felt that side of the story hook me in straight away. In that respect I feel that perhaps there was to much going on and that made the ending feel somewhat rushed. Having said that it’s really worth a read, the whole book and it’s characters are quite endearing, it would be good to hear if there is more from this story, maybe more centred around the antiques shop. I would definitely recommend to friends and family and would definitely read more from this author.

What a lovely book to get lost in
Will have you hooked from the first page till the last
You won’t want it to finish
Can’t recommend this book enough
Thanks NetGalley

This book was okay, not as good as other Holly Hepburn novels I’ve read but I still enjoyed it. I just thought that she was a bit of a pushover sometimes which was really frustrating. But I loved the storyline about the ring and the couple behind it. Very fascinating!

I was given an advance copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley but due to covid, Christmas and general chaos had not got round to reading. Do not make my mistake! This is an excellent book that should be read straight away. The story follows Hope Henderson to her home town of York after becoming a widow at an early age. Her work in an antique shop gives an interesting sub plot concerning the excavation of Egyptian tombs in the 1920s. Themes of grief, loss, healing, hope and happiness are covered in a sensitive manner. There’s an excellent, well drawn cast of supporting characters. I’ve read almost all of Holly Hepburn novels and hugely enjoyed them all but I do wish that when previously published novellas are reissued as stand alone books that some editing is done at the “joins”. I don’t think this would be a massive task but would have a significant effect on the flow of the story. Highly recommended

The setting of The Ever After Emporium is to die for. If I ever found such a shop, I'm sure I would be lost in there for days never mind hours, especially when I discovered the book room. Such a heartwarming novel to lose yourself in.

Heartwarming, uplifiting, compelling, and entertaining: I liked this book and rooted for the characters.
I would be happy to visit a shop like the one described in the book and liked the plot that kept me hooked.
Well written and fleshed out characters, good storytelling.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Moving back to York after losing her husband hope is ready to build a new life.

Here she embarks on a new career in an antique shop where she meets two very different men. When Hope needs to decide between the two of them will she make the right choice?

A very lovely story about second chances and finding love after loss.

Hope has moved to York to be closer to her family after losing her husband. Hoping for a new start but not thinking that she will ever be happy again, Hope starts working at the Ever After Emporium. This antique shop is somewhere that Hope always dreamed of entering but as a child she was never aloud. When I read that part of the story I had this image of Hope as a child with her face pressed against the window of the shop with her nose squished flat and it made me laugh. However, the Ever After Emporium turns out to be the start of a very exciting time in Hopes life, meeting new people and discovering a beautiful love story that helps Hope to heal from her own past.
The Little Shop of Hidden Treasures touches on some difficult subjects that the characters are going through but Holly writes with such warmth, which created a really enjoyable read. I was hooked and found that chapters had passed without realising. I loved the element of the story where Hope dipped her toes into dating again and having two men in her life at points, for very different reasons but it made for an interesting read and felt exactly like real life. I adored Will and his daughter, Will for me sounds like a dream man and I wouldn't mind sipping a hot chocolate of an evening with him.
The emotions of all the characters shown through the words and actions of the characters. The setting was really lovely. It was easy to picture Holly walking down the high street heading to work, with the beautiful park and stunning York buildings. Holly Hepburn is a firm favourite author of mine and I am very excited to read another of her books very soon.
The Little Shop of Hidden Treasures is an amazing read full new love and friendships, an historical mystery and new beginnings. I loved it.

I did not know that this book was first written in four parts. I wish it was not so obvious. I loved the book and would have rated it even better if it was not as painfully evident that it is a combination of four books.
I may be iterating it once too many times, but imagine the feeling when you are going into the emotional headspace of a character learning something about herself/growing and suddenly having to hear a summary for more than a few pages of everything that has happened till date, something that you just read through. It would not have taken much editing to remove that section from the narrative. Mine was an ARC, so maybe the final copy will not have that issue (I sincerely hope so).
The volume of my protests is higher only because I was able to feel the people's emotions in the story. They were all well done and had very individual presences with varying involvement in the central plot.
Coming back to the story, Hope is our leading lady. She is a widow adrift without knowing exactly where to focus her energies and how to move on with her life. Hope chances upon an antique shop filled to the brim with unique items that she admired even as a child. After starting to work at the shop, a surprising revelation leads her down new paths, both personal and professional. A lot happens in the pages, bonds formed and broken, events celebrated, and new skills gained. The writing flowed (apart from my previously mentioned grumble, although, to be fair, it was very smoothly presented), and I read it in almost one sitting. I would definitely pick up another book by this author.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

A lovely easy read, originally published in 4 parts, I was glad that it was brought together into one story.

This story is about Holly, who returns to her home of York after the death of her husband. Two years have passed, and still out of work, she spots an advert for a part time job in an antique shop, a shop which she loved as a child.

It is whilst she is working at the shop that she makes friends with a local florist, Iris, who encourages Holly to join her at belly dancing classes. She also makes friends with Will, a local jeweller who has had his own share of loss after the death of his brother and his wife., leaving Will to take care of his niece Brodie who hasn’t talked since the fatal accident.

When playing with a puzzle box, Brodie discovers a ring and a letter, Holly is fascinated about the story behind it.

The story deals very gently with the subject of death, and also infidelity, the courage needed in making a fresh start and facing fears.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

The Little Shop of Hidden Treasures by Holly Hepburn popped through my letter box one Friday and I had it finished by the Sunday and I can safely say, given my up and down reading mojo over recent months, that this is a very rare occurrence. I can leave books on my TBR pile for months and months and then simply forget about them. But I knew as soon as I saw this book with such a beautiful, warm and inviting cover that I needed to read it instantly and boy was I glad as this was just the most perfect read that I literally inhaled.

I found myself over 200 pages in before I knew it and really I read it way too fast and was gutted when it ended. I should have held back and savoured it a bit more but I couldn’t as I was so deeply invested in this story and it was like the author had woven some magic to keep the book firmly in your hands and rapidly turning the pages. It’s an utterly fabulous book that is captivating, sparkling and certainly a must read. A gorgeous story awaits you at the heart of this book with the trauma of dealing with grief, romance and the added bonus of a mystery/delving back into the past at it’s centre not to mention the wonderfully crafted characters. This book had it all and much more.

Originally published in four parts this is now this story combined into one full length book and to be honest I don’t think I would have had the patience to read one part at a time because I was so eager to discover what happened next. I admire those who had the restraint to read this fantastic story bit by bit. Hope Henderson is back home in York after nearly a decade away. It’s 18 months since she has lost her husband Rob and her family are full of love and concern for her. Hope is still very much in the grieving process and has an aching loss that permeates so many aspects of her life. Selling her house in London and returning to the familiar and comforting streets of York she hopes to find a little bit of herself again in order to take tentative steps forward with her unexpected and unwanted new life. But deep down she really doesn’t want to move on and to leave Rob behind. She still can’t comprehend life without him.

I really felt the author put such great care and attention into portraying how Holly was feeling. We can all relate to what she was going through. It wasn’t glossed over nor was there ever a point where you felt ah come on now Hope give yourself a shake and just get on with things. You sensed she needed time and perhaps the magic of a little shop and some new acquaintances to help start her on the path to recovery and acceptance. This quote describing grief was so beautiful and raw. ’Grief affects us all differently - sometimes we think we are coming through it - only to find another layer underneath. Maybe one day, we finish opening all the layers and find a new version of ourselves waiting-smaller than we were, sadder, but ready to face life again’. I thought it was simply astounding and oh so true. It made me stop in my tracks and think how I myself have dealt with grief.

Hope wants to get away from who she was before and try something new.Walking the streets of York, The Ever After Emporium catches her eye as it has done since she was a young child. The shop owned by James Young is an absolute treasure trove of delights. The descriptions of its layout and the contents within were just pure magical and so visual that you felt that you could reach through the pages and touch the many varied objects with so much history for yourself. Hope applies for the position of part-time assistant and is successful and so sets in motion a new chapter of her life that will bring plenty of surprises and challenges but as we journey with her we see her undergo a transformation and in doing so she helps others too come to a point they have needed to reach.

Hope really has a way with her of bringing people out of their shell, of seeing underneath the exterior to deep down and learning what makes people tick. She can read people well it’s just a pity she can’t see that she is a good person who deserves to not always cling to the past and allow grief to leave her marked forever. Yes, she should never forget Rob but she does deserve to be happy. She needs to actually start living for her self instead of just making it through each day. I think we all do a lot of that whether we have been affected by grief or not especially given the current climate. You feel it an achievement just to make it through another day, mark it off on the calendar and move onto the next but are we really living and enjoying ourselves?

The Emporium becomes a steadying presence for Hope. She starts to feel as if this is where she was meant to be. The place and time are right, she feels happy to be part of a team and connected to something worthwhile and gratifying and I thought she struck a lovely genuine friendship with James who become almost like a father figure, confidante and expert advice giver. Iris, who runs the florist across the road, also became a firm friend and confidante and she was a fabulous character. She was forthright and bold, always on the go and would lay her life down for those in need no questions asked. But it’s only when Will Silverwood who runs a jewellery shop and his niece Brodie are introduced that the wheels are set in motion which launch the mystery aspect of the book and in doing so the romantic element comes into play too. Hope is certainly taken on an emotional rollercoaster delving into the past that’s for sure.

Poor Will was struggling but always doing his best for Brodie who has not spoken since the death of her parents in a car accident. There is an instant sexual chemistry between Will and Hope when they first meet in the emporium but you could sense that Hope would battle against any feelings she felt she didn’t deserve to experience. When Brodie picks out a puzzle box that had come from a house clearance to look at it, she cleverly solves the way of opening the box which no one had been able to do up until this point. The contents within are a scarab ring from Egypt and a letter from the 1920’s detailing how a woman is returning an engagement ring.

I love history and my interest was piqued even more than it had already been by this point and I loved how Hope took it upon herself, almost like a personal mission, to discover who the ring belonged to and what were the actual circumstances surrounding the letter and the return of the ring? I thoroughly enjoyed how the past was expertly woven into this very much modern day story. It was like I was taken on two separate adventures but they joined together as one in the most satisfying of ways. In her quest to uncover more about the ring, Hope meets Ciaran McCormack, professor of Egyptology at York University.

Instantly, Ciaran stood out as being a gorgeous Irish man full of charm, a rock god who also loved academics and he quickly become more than just interested in the ring. He is smart, knowledgeable and attractive and at some points he just became that bit too much to be true. I felt Hope was cast under a spell by him and I wanted to shout at her there perhaps could be someone else in the wings that would serve and appreciate you much better.

Will experiences the same loneliness and grief that Hope does and as she establishes a real connection Brodie I desperately wanted things to sway from the direction they were venturing in. It was almost like Hope became so caught up in the story behind the ring as more and more comes to light. I won’t say anymore regarding the story of the ring. Suffice to say it was fascinating, gripping and heart-breaking but at the same time it taught Hope some important life lessons that when the wool was pulled from around her eyes it helped her see things more clearly and digest what she had been going through since Rob had passed away.

There are countless twists and turns in this brilliant story and I definitely think it’s Holly Hepburn’s best book to date. Not one fault could I find with it and the fact I read it so fast and didn’t leave it on the back burner is a mark of just how good it is. I enjoyed every minute journeying with Holly in her quest to solve the mystery behind the ring but at the same time this is a story of Holly finding true, good and long lasting friends, happiness, fulfilment, love, new talents, a passion for her work and a place she truly belonged. The Little Shop of Hidden Treasures is a wonderfully woven tale and the perfect slice of escapism that I am still sad that it had to end. Please Holly Hepburn and write something new that I can lose myself in as I loved this book from the first word to the very last.

I love Holly's books, they are always full of hope and happiness despite sometimes a difficult subject that's being written about. I really enjoyed this one and I loved Hope's character

The latest book by Holly Hepburn, The Little Shop of Hidden Treasures, is set in York and in it we follow Hope who returns to York to rebuild her life following the death of her husband. She finds work in the Ever After Emporium, an antiques and bric-a-brac store that has captivated her since she was a little girl.

When she moves to York she gradually makes friends. I loved the connection Hope had with jeweller Will and his neice Brodie. When Brodie inadvertently introduces us to a mystery, we are taken back in time to Howard Carter’s excavation of the tomb of Tutankhamun and the lives of a young star-crossed couple.

One of her new friends encouraged to her to attend belly dancing classes, which sounded a lot of fun. Although I’m not so sure I would have wanted to take part in a public performance, although that is a ‘me’ problem!

As Hope takes steps to return to the world of dating, she finds that she has two suitors vying for her affections. From the start I was rooting for one particular love interest and was not disappointed.

I was captivated by the story of Elenor in Egypt, and would have loved to have known more about her love story.

The location of the main story, both in the shop and York itself were completely wonderful. I haven’t been to York since my honeymoon in the early 90s, but it really made me want to book a trip there.

The Little Shop of Hidden Treasures is a lovely comforting story about second chances at love.

Having read and loved the previous book by this author I was excited to read this one. I loved this book. It was perfect from the start. Hope is looking for a new start and finds the antique shop she loved as a child. From the beginning when she walked in there and had the most unusual job interview it was such a lovely experience being in the antique shop and watching Hope develop as a character throughout the book.

Through events that happen she meets some new people and stumbles on mystery surrounding an Egyptian antique which threads through the story and is almost a story in itself. Hope’s story is lovely to watch unfold and alongside, getting to see the Egyptian story be revealed is also a joy. All parts of the book are so brilliantly written that I felt I was there, alongside the characters seeing and feeling their experiences.

This is a lovely book that’s now on my list of re-reads. I spent a lot of time while reading, wanting to work in an antique shop in York and that’s the sign of a fabulous book for me. If you want something that’s basically like a giant cosy blanket, then this book is ideal.