I requested this book on the strength of the cover and the blurb. I was expecting it to be a bit mystical and definitely centred around the bookshop as described in the blurb. Unfortunately it turned out to be a turn of the century romance. A good enough story if you like that sort of thing, but it's not my thing. I did finish it but was rather put off by the very obvious repeated misunderstandings and misdirections of the main characters as they worked their way to the obvious conclusion of a happy ever after marriage. I may be being harsh and if romance is your thing I'm sure you will enjoy it, as it is well written and has an interesting back story. It's just not the book I was expecting.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

A really delightful read. A young girl has her world turned around by a deceitful father and is rescued in a strange way by a dusty old book shop. The characters are wonderful and the struggles of the times painfully brought to life with a gentle romance of books and people.

A delightful read. I’m not usually a lover of historical books but this was beautifully written and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters are well depicted-the main two, in particular, are difficult not to like and to become invested in. It’s so easy to picture the bookshop, the clothes of that period and the scenery thanks to the author’s descriptive writing-a glimpse into the past very well achieved.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review and to the author for your lovely book.

Set in 1899, Evelyn and her mother have their home taken from them. Evelyn’s father, a Baron, has gambled away the family fortune. In desperation Evelyn and Cecilia go to Cecelia's Aunt in York. Evelyn is mocked at a ball as she wasn’t aware of her father's gambling and the fact that they were never going to return to the Hall. Evelyn makes friends with Naomi, a laundry worker, and has a love/hate relationship with Lady Violet.
Evelyn finds a job in a bookshop, starting by cleaning and sorting books into categories. But this is a secret, her mother wouldn’t approve of her working. Mr Morton owns the bookshop, called Morton’s Emporium, but known locally as the Lamplighters bookshop - because a lamplighter first opened it, and what is a lamplighter doing opening a bookshop, having airs and graces above his station!
Nathaniel isn’t sure who he likes!
William has got himself in knots with his lies.
Easy to read, enjoyable and engaging.
Some characters are very likeable and developed, others are unlikeable.

Eventually I came to love these characters, Evelyn who could be quite stubborn but nevertheless an upright, honest young woman who was determined to make her own way and living having been left homeless by her hapless and irresponsible father. She cared deeply for her mother but even so she had to keep her secret from her.mother who was still living with ideas of grandeur and thought 'working' was beneath them.

A lot of secrets were being kept but eventually Evelyn and William Morton who she had met in unusual circumstances and really didn't see 'eye to eye' did realise that in fact they were meant to be together

A fascinating read. I look forward to reading more of Ms Austin's books.

Great book - really enjoyed it. I love stories about bookshops but don’t usually read historical fiction. However, I thought the setting for this was great and it opened my eyes to some different things. I thought the storyline was still current - threads of families and all their issues, love stories and a great city with a bookshop to base the novel around.
As with all good books, you are hoping for a happy ending and although this seemed likely, I wasn’t sure how it was going to happen. Without spoiling it, I’m pleased it did!
Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review, which is what I have given.

Although I tend to read less historical fiction set in Victorian times, this one sounded really appealing. I was intrigued by the mysterious bookshop and the setting of York, which is really close to me. This may have led to certain expectations, but this book just wasn’t quite what I thought it would be.

First, I appreciate the author was trying to depict Evelyn as a strong, independent woman at a time when women were very much ignored and had an expected role in society. But for me, she was quite difficult to warm up to and I didn’t find her very charismatic. I had similar thoughts about William who didn’t seem to develop much.

Second, the bookshop, the hook of the novel, seemed to get a bit lost and played a secondary role to a romance story. This was a shame as I think I envisioned it playing more of a prominent role in the story, rather than as a connection point. I had hoped for more mystery and secrets, perhaps an element of fantasy, centered around the bookshop itself and there was so much potential for this to happen. But it seemed to fade against the primary romance angle.

That said, the author does have an engaging tone, and her depiction of Victorian culture and town were authentic and vivid. As a romance novel, this was a pleasant and entertaining story in itself. For those who like Victorian romance, I think they would enjoy this.

For me, it was just missing that touch of magic and bibliophilia I was expecting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

It’s 1899 and Evelyn Seaton and her mother Cecelia are living at Riccall Hall, Yorkshire until Evelyn’s feckless and dissolute father, Baron Seaton, gambles away all their money and they are thrown out of their home. Cecelia was not from a wealthy family and the only relative they can go to is her Aunt Clara, in York. With no money and few personal belongings Evelyn decides it’s up to her to improve the situation. Evelyn is an interesting character, uncommonly resilient for someone brought up as she was, whereas her mother, who had known hard times, acted like a feather brain.

Briefly, running from a ball where she was teased and ostracised Evelyn picks up a paper advert for an assistant at a bookshop, and meets aspiring author William Morton, not knowing that he is the nephew of the bookshop owner. Having persuaded the owner to give her a job Evelyn is shocked when William turns up trying to take her job.

I loved the setting of the rather neglected bookstore that needed a loving touch and a woman who was determined to make a new life for herself and her mother. I thought William was a bit of an unlikely hero - he started off as dishonest and selfish and although he mellowed I think Evelyn could have done better, although there is no accounting for taste! My favourite character by a mile was Aunt Clara, she reminded me of Oscar Wilde’s Lady Bracknell. An easy writing style and an enjoyable storyline made for an entertaining read.

Eleanor and her mother are shocked one morning to find several wagons at the door of their house. They have come to take away goods to pay her father's debts. Eleanor and her mother are forced to move in with her great aunt in York. Eleanor takes a job in a bookshop in York to provide some money for them, without her mother's knowledge. There she meets author William Morton, but when they first meet, their relationship didn't get off to the best of starts...

I loved this book. I’m not a historical novel fan. However, the historical setting wasn’t laboured and felt a natural part of the story. I liked the twisty conundrums in which Eleanor found herself and the gradual resolution of them at the end. Thoroughly recommended if you want a good romance story to immerse yourself in.

Yorkshire, May 1899, finds Evelyn Seaton and her mother, Cecilia, residents of Riccall Hall, being faced with immediate eviction when the Chief of the Local Constabulary arrives at their beloved home accompanied by Bailiffs. They are informed that Baron Seaton is being held in London and faces prison due to having run up vast debts. Cecilia was not born into the world of aristocracy and has never found it easy to be accepted in society circles but always hopes that Evelyn may fare better …

They hastily flee to York and receive a very cool welcome from Great Aunt Clara where they seek refuge. Life is not going to be easy despite Cecilia persuading a reluctant Evelyn to visit Lady Violet, who was a debutante at the same time as Evelyn - another disaster particularly when Lady Violet realises that her heartthrob, Nathaniel has also taken a liking to Evelyn !

On a stroll through the town Evelyn spots an advertisement for an assistant at The Lamplighter”s Bookshop and Mr Morton, is happy to offer her the job though she knows nothing about selling books. She is just settling in when his nephew, William, turns up announcing he has become a writer but is taking a break to finish off a book and will also help in the shop. Just as things look to be working out better for her and she is able to save a little money in the hope of being able to at least rent a home for her and her mother, her father turns up telling them that all is well and they will soon return to Riccall Hall.

It doesn’t take long for Evelyn to realise that she is being told a pack of lies by not only her father who demands that she gives up her job then leaves York hastily with more than he had when he arrived.

Is there going to be any happy solutions to Evelyn’s woes, worries and sadness ??

This is a beautiful book telling a superb story - enjoy!

The Lamplighter's Bookshop - Sophie Austin due for publication 1 March 2025

The 19th Century and the story of a ruined family rejected by their aristocratic peers and the measures a mother and daughter have to go to to survive. Throw in an aspiring writer a slightly mysterious bookshop and a romantic storyline and you have the makings of a good read.

Evelyn and Aunt Clara were determined and outspoken characters with Aunt Clara giving some humour to the tale. The romance was a slow burn but love triumphed in the end.

I felt the language was quite modern for Victorian times and the title and synopsis of the book had me expecting something more fantastical and mysterious in relation to the bookshop itself. But other than that I liked the storyline, the setting and the romance.

Thanks to Netgalley for a pre publication copy.

The cover of this book and the synopsis is very enticing, I loved the thought of a bookshop with secrets. The writing style was lovely, I felt the author correctly wrote about the constraints on young women at the time. I felt Evelyn's frustration in how society and her mother expected her to behave.
Despite the title I felt the novel was more a love story than a book about a bookshop, I wanted to be more enchanted by the shop. That said, I did enjoy the book and certainly wouldn't have thought it was a debut novel.
I will leave my review now on Goodreads, Bookmory, Storygraph and Fable now and on Amazon on publication day

I loved the author's writing which was super readable and easy to relate to. For some reason, I expected a slightly more magical read. What I got instead was a love story about a young woman, Evelyn, at the turn of the century, who is navigating the restraints of society based on her social status.

I enjoyed the exploration of money and power throughout.

Unfortunately, this book needed a lot better edit. It felt as though there was some sort of storyline about the bookshop that was cut, but there were still little hints to it in various chapters. The chapters sometimes lacked pace and purpose and the central love story didn't really give me that excited flutter I usually want from this kind of book.

Still, I enjoyed the premise and writing and hope this author gets another stab at a story, with perhaps a bit more of an edit.

Reviews on GoodReads. Unable to review on Amazon
..

A note to publisher, the cover and bio on Amazon suggest there is something magical in this book which there isn't.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216922102-the-lamplighter-s-bookshop

In 1899 Evelyn and her mother have to move out of their home because her father is in debt and their house and possessions have to be sold.
They move in with her Aunt Clara and Evelyn finds work at Morton’s Emporium, a run down book store.
A slow moving story about society and social classes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Oh I loved this....the style, the tone, the flow and pace, the complex characters, the interweaving of deceit and downfall as well as the building of real friendship and slow burn romance of enemies to lovers. Immersive and beautifully written...I couldn't put it down.

A five star read that transported me perfectly into the life of Evelyn as she manoeuvred her way through secrets and destruction.

I loved this book, especially as it was set in one of my favourite places - York.
Although this is a story of romance, it is so much more, with friendships & rivalries added to the mix.
It was really well written, and the characters were likable and believable.
A great read! A1

I really enjoyed this novel. It had great characters, some with secrets. It isca story of betrayal, love and friendship.

I didn't finish this novel. I hadn't realised it was a romance- sorry not my thing.
But the plot sounds appealing and loved the cover. I'm sure romance readers will love it.

A fascinating book, dealing with Victorian social mores. We see a girl, from a titled family falling in love with a boy who is definitely not 'suitable' We see her mother, desperate to be accepted in polite society but failing. The Bookshop itself was delightfully portrayed.
Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book, which I enjoyed.

I found this book totally immersive. The characters, setting and descriptions provide a wonderful escape to days gone by with excellent writing. I enjoyed this book enormously and looked for any opportunity during the day to get back into their world! The central theme of the bookshop is wonderfully evocative of different times making this a relaxing but entertaining read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a DRC.