The Lamplighter’s Bookshop by Sophie Austin is a marvellous historical novel that I read in just two sittings.
The action is set in York in 1899. The world is on the brink of change but young women were still expected to sit at home and make marriage alliances.
The leading lady is a modern miss, through necessity, and by choice, she takes a job in the lamplighter’s bookshop. She is very good at it. With her independence gained, she must keep it a secret from her mother.
There are others keeping secrets and lies. Some are outright crooks and gamblers; others are just kind hearts who cannot say ‘no!’ We witness a loan spiraling out of control due to unscrupulous money lenders who prey on those less fortunate.
The path to true love doesn’t always run smoothly. There are bumps and misunderstandings along the way. Hearts need to be brave and say how they really feel. Characters need to show their love to others.
Everyone has choices to make. Whether they are good or bad, choices have consequences and we must own them.
All the characters were well drawn, likable and believable.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Lamplighter’s Bookshop. It was the perfect way to spend an afternoon or two.
I received a free copy via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this debut, set in 18th century York and bookshops what’s not to love. I couldn’t put it down, getting completely lost in the pages. And it has a beautiful cover. I look forward to seeing what @sophieaustinauthor does next.
A story about family, loss, betrayal, secrets, love and so much more.
Evelyn and her mother Cecelia evicted from their home come to live with Aunt Clara in York. Evelyn applies for an assistant job in a bookshop where she meets William.
It’s beautifully written. I loved the authors writing style where the characters come to life and you are transported to that time and place. Brilliant lovable characters, a few not so much. My favourite being Aunt Clara who is funny, and set in her ways.
A compelling read. Definitely recommend if you enjoy historical fiction and romantic tales. It’s well worth a read.
With thanks to #NetGallery #HarperCollinsUk @harperfiction for an arc of #TheLamplightersBookshop in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes on 1 March 2025

I did like the character of Evelyn, she did tend to say what she thought but she was determined and resourceful. A good number of her actions were made with her consideration of her mother’s sensibilities. Evelyn’s father , although he seemed to be a charismatic character, he was not one to be admired and was the cause of most of their troubles. William also has his troubles but his pride is causing him even more problems. Their first few meetings were not friendly but gradually as they worked together their feelings began to change. However, her parents would not approve of him. There are a number of interesting characters in this story, some given no very good advice, and I enjoyed it very much. I received a copy and have voluntarily been it. All thoughts and opinions my own. However, I did preorder my own copy.

Set against the classic backdrop of Victorian-era York, "The Lamplighter's Bookshop" combines historical fiction with romance. The story is centred on Evelyn Seaton, whose father has abandoned their family, and her struggle to balance her mother's desire to maintain their status with the fact that they are destitute. The narrative explores social class, family duty, and the complexities of love through Evelyn’s connection with the intriguing William Morton.

What I loved:
- Evelyn! She's properly developed, thoughtful, and relatable.
- The depiction of a Victorian setting
- Thoughtful attention to social norms and expectations of the era
- Engaging secondary characters, especially Naomi and Jack
- Accessible writing style

What I Wanted More of:
- The potential for the bookshop’s supernatural elements was abandoned almost immediately.
- The two love interests aren't very equally represented
- William. I like a good enemies-to-lovers, but I feel like he was just a jerk who didn't redeem himself.

This novel is perfect for readers who enjoy light historical romances in a Victorian setting.

Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for allowing me to read an eARC of this novel. All opinions are my own.

Firstly thank you to NetGalley, Harperfiction and Sophie Austin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I DEVOURED this book. It's an excellent debut and I look forward to more from Sophie!

We get dual POV from Evelyn and William from their chance encounter to their lives intertwining at the bookshop. The pacing and plot works nicely and the Chemistry between our two main characters is palpable through the pages. What they are both going through individually as well is interesting, which always feels bad to say if something is causing grief to a character you are enjoying. The side characters are not one dimensional either.

This is 4.5 stars tor me. I knocked half a mark off just because I wanted more time for them together otherwise it's a great read for historical fiction lovers. Highly recommend. I put 5 stars on rating as dontnlike it being rounded down on these sites.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

wow i love how this author writes .... the characters came alive and was fully invested in them.... it was a lovely world to visit though i have to admit i wouldnt want to live in that time.... women were just property ....

but its a compelling read....and one that now i have finished i cant wait to see what is next for this author

A lovely gentle read, the bookshop was very much a back story to the love story rather than the main plot.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

The Lamplighter’s Bookshop was a historical romance that I just couldn’t put down!!
We follow Evelyn and her mother Cecelia, who are evicted from their beautiful country residence due to Evelyn’s father having debts to pay off. They end up living with Cecilia’s great aunty .They are both devastated and wait to hear from him.,
Realising that they need money to live independently, Evelyn finds an advert asking for an assistant in a bookstore. She decides to go and apply. She persuades the owner, Mr Moreton to take her on.
This starts a secret life unknown to her mother. She meets Will, Mr Moreton’s nephew who is getting a book published. He has secrets of his own. A lie that has spiralled…
The characters were full with some good and some not so much, and the plot made for a great story!! I was totally immersed!
Many thanks to Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #HarperCollinsUk, #SophieAustinAuthor.

An enjoyable romance set in historical York. I enjoyed this more as I know York as a city and therefore enjoyed the references and the setting in Victorian times suited my love of history. However I was a little disappointed that the bookshop didn't quite have the focus of the story that was suggested by the book's title, and a hint of magical properties only which was a shame.
Overall, a nice read but not one I'd return to.

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

Set in York in 1899 this historic novel takes the reader from the first class lounge of the Royal Hotel to the backstreet moneylenders of the narrow and dark snickets.
The Honourable Evelyn Seaton is too outspoken for her station in life and becomes a focus of Lady Violet’s cruel jibes.
Some amazing characters from all walks of life are portrayed vividly. Lies are told with the best of intentions and money is borrowed to help a friend.
Love is found in the most darkest of times.
I really enjoyed this glimpse into bygonne York .

I found this very slow burning with a lot of padding. The premise. And location attracted me but didn’t hold me unfortunately.

This was a really lovely historical story and whilst it certainly contains story lines of romance, it’s so much more than that. This is a well written tale of family, of loss and betrayal and of strong women and one I really enjoyed.

A very nice read which was a nice romance in York.

Evelyn and her Mother have to go and live with her Aunt Clara in York due to unforeseen circumstances. Evelyn meets William but things don’t go well for them. Evelyn ends up working at the bookshop where she does not want her Mother to know. William is keeping secrets.

I thought Aunt Clara was funny she was set in her ways. I thought it was a quaint romance and of course there would be misunderstandings.

I really liked the main character she was certainly different in that time.

The book was well written.

This book hooked me in from the very start. Totally captivated me and I couldnt put it down! Highly recommend!

The Lamplighters bookshop is in York but should be called the forgotten bookshop.
Evelyn Seaton answers an advertisement for an assistant and meets William Morton. Both have secrets and as these secrets are revealed they need each other.

3 Stars
One Liner: Nice enough but too much drama
1899, York
Evelyn Seaton needs to find a way out of their financial situation. She finds an advertisement for an assistant in a little bookshop. She just wants a job and to keep people away from her personal life.
William Morton is an aspiring writer with secrets of his own. Turns out, Evelyn and William’s paths are destined to keep converging. However, the way to the future is filled with secrets and lies they need to sort out.
The story comes in the third-person POV of Evelyn and William.

My Thoughts:
This is yet another case of falling for the cover and ending up with a mixed read. Sigh!
The first 2-3 chapters were terrific. They establish the FMC’s current situation, her family, and her character attributes. It’s easy to empathize with her and root for her to handle the situation.
The said bookshop doesn’t appear for a while, so when it was first mentioned, I was truly excited. However, it is just one of the places where the story takes place. Yes, it has more importance but would it have been different if books were replaced by something else? Only a little!
The side characters come in all types. My favorites have to the aunt and Naomi. Both are quite different but the kind we need around us.
Despite being a romance, the book is more of a family drama. That’s still okay. We can’t really separate family from individuals, right?
However, my major issue is with the MMC. It’s good to have a guy with flaws. But I couldn’t find anything worthy of him to be a hero. Getting support from others and having someone else literally step in and save the guy from trouble are different. Also, there isn’t anything enterprising about him.
Of course, the FMC is a bit better but all those lies, omissions, secrets, and whatnot made me dizzy. Angst is nice but not when it is unnecessary for the plot. All they needed was a proper conversation which eventually happened (after I got bored).
While I enjoyed the writing initially, it got a bit too excessive at times. This affected the pace along with all that miscommunication. The book would have been better with some experienced developmental editing to get rid of (some of) the fluff.
Also, there’s a mention of possibly something magical about the bookshop but we never know what it is. Was that element removed at some point? If yes, then I have to say it’s a bad decision. Removing the unwanted drama and keeping the bookshop parts would been a better choice.
The ending is nice but by then I was glad to reach that point. I do like how it presented the attitude and snobbery of the ton as well as the importance of having a title.

To summarize, The Lamplighter’s Bookshop has a worthy premise that got lost in too much drama. It reads like a debut book and would have benefited from strict editing.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for this eCopy to review

I just finished reading The Lamplighter’s Bookshop by Sophie Austin, and it was an absolute delight! Set in the historic city of York in 1899, the story follows Evelyn Seaton, who takes up a job at a forgotten bookshop. The bookshop, filled with secrets and mysteries, becomes the backdrop for Evelyn's journey of self-discovery and healing.

The characters are wonderfully crafted, especially Evelyn and the enigmatic William Morton, an aspiring writer with secrets of his own. Their interactions are both heart warming and intriguing, adding depth to the narrative. Austin's writing is beautifully descriptive, making the setting come alive and immersing you in the Victorian era.

What I loved most about this book was the blend of romance, mystery, and historical fiction. The plot is engaging, and the pacing keeps you hooked from start to finish. It's a perfect read for anyone who loves stories about books, secrets, and finding courage in unexpected places.

Overall, The Lamplighter’s Bookshop is a charming and immersive read that I highly recommend.

A Charming Romance Set in 19th Century York

Evelyn Seaton’s life as she knows it is over. Her father, a baron, has lost her family’s fortune and run off to London; Evelyn and her mother are forced to give up their large house and staff and turn to the only family they have left. This leads them to York and Aunt Clara, who is used to living alone and doesn’t particularly want company. But in 1899, options for women were limited; you were either supposed to get married…or go to work, something Evelyn’s status-obsessed mother couldn’t bear to admit. Evelyn doesn’t agree though—so when she spots an advertisement for an assistant at a local bookshop, she sees it as her ticket to freedom.

Morton’s Emporium—known locally by its previous name, The Lamplighter’s Bookshop—is old and dusty, run by a kind gentleman named Mr Morton. He’s not particularly concerned with bringing in new customers and thus isn’t impressed by Evelyn’s ideas of increasing sales, at least at first. But when his nephew returns from London to reclaim his job at the shop, Mr Morton offers them a deal: He only needs one assistant, so whoever can sell the most books by Christmas can stay.

Mr Morton’s nephew in question is William, an aspiring author who’s handsome and charming but often prickly when it comes to Evelyn. He has a fervent need to prove his place in the world, which often means spinning stories of his own to keep up appearances. So it stands to reason that Evelyn, a determined young woman who’s always honest, would ruffle some feathers. The question is, are the sparks flying between them merely competitive anger or perhaps something more?

‘The following week, they began to catalogue the books, which sparked an unexpectedly heated argument as to how the philosophy section should be sorted (‘Evelyn! I am telling you. All the philosophers worth reading go by first name alone!’)’
The Lamplighter’s Bookshop is an enchanting tale of desire: for romance, for a better life, for finding one’s place in the world. The descriptions are vivid and inviting, whisking you away to 19th-century England—an exciting time for a nation on the cusp of change—and you can feel the fresh breeze of possibility blowing through the narrative. The novel deftly uses the era’s societal structures to create tension and a catalyst for the characters’ emotional journeys. Their motivations feel real and grounded, even when they make the wrong decisions. When torn between what is expected and what they want most, the internal conflicts are as delicious as they are devastating.

Pages and chapters fly by as you settle into the streets of York alongside Evelyn; it’s impressive how she tackles her struggles head-on instead of waiting for someone to save her. You’ll even grow to be proud of her as she navigates the often treacherous path between her old life and her new reality. And watching Evelyn fall in love with her newfound independence is almost as thrilling as watching her fall for William.

Evelyn and Will’s romance is sweet and warm with a little kick to it; their entertaining back-and-forth banter contrasts well with their wonderfully kind friends Naomi and Jack, who are simply head over heels for one another. It’s set in the Victorian era so the romance is rather innocent but it matches the tone of the novel (plus, there are still a few swoon-worthy moments). Both Will and Evelyn hold themselves back at times, afraid of what others might say, but their character arcs are multi-faceted so they don’t just grow in matters of the heart. Through the other older adults in their lives, they learn the price of love and how not choosing is still a choice in itself. The emotional depth is touching and hits when you least expect it.

The writing is sharp and fluid, keeping the pacing smooth, while the dialogue suits the timeframe. One aspect I wish was explored more is the magic of the bookshop; it’s hinted that this place has a mind of its own but then it’s never fully realized. However, that is a small wish as the magic of the story really lies in the characters’ emotional transformations, while the bookshop provides a cozy backdrop that intertwines their lives.

The Lamplighter’s Bookshop is a lovely historical romance that will capture both your heart and your imagination; whether you’ve walked the streets of York or you’re merely visiting through the page, its old-timey charm will call your name.

What a great read of life and the problems faced by some families, when things go wrong. Set in the Victorian era, things that we just accept today would have been greatly frowned upon then. Lucky for us, the main character is a feisty young lady who knows what she wants from life - and that appears to be ’not to conform’.
She embarks on a path that is frowned upon by her mother, when she finds out but will this stop her? There could be great happiness waiting for her if she’s brave enough to take it.
I loved it for all that’s going on, for all she wants from life and how she found real friendships to guide her through.

There were aspects of this book which I really liked. I felt it had some pearls of wisdom about success and failure, and the need for a woman to be independent of a man. I mainly liked Evelyn, who was plucky and determined, and who did her best to be truthful but ended up forced to go against her principles. I felt she continued the lie for longer than was plausible for her character - she’d been set up as someone who was honest to a fault, even at the risk of causing upset, so her behaviour in deceiving her mother seemed anachronistic.
Lady Violet was a bizarre character, almost as if the author felt there should be a villain, and so concocted one without really thinking through what might feel realistic.
Aunt Clara, on the other hand, was a delight. I’d happily read a book about her.
The central romance left me a little flat. It had some sweet moments, but I’m afraid the hero never convinced me that he was worthy of our heroine.
I enjoyed the writing most of the time, but there were a few aspects where I felt things didn’t quite fit the period, causing some jarring moments. As a fan of historical fiction, it’s really important to me that characters and plot should feel authentic and not like 21st century devices shoehorned into a period setting.
Overall this story was a mixed bag - more good than bad, enjoyable in the main, but I couldn’t really say I loved it.
I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it.