I wanted to love this book, but I just couldn't. It was just okay. The characters were well written, but I felt they could have had more depth. Too many things were wrapped up to quickly, too tidily.

This was a magical story! I loved it!
It was a very descriptive book. I so wanted to be in the bookshop with them. I’ve always thought it would be fun to spend the night in a big bookstore.
It’s an hard to put down book!

The Midnight Bookshop presents a charming premise: a magical bookshop that appears only at midnight, offering solace and transformation to those who find it. The story follows three strangers—Jo, Adelaide, and Kye—each grappling with personal challenges:
Jo is a young woman from a privileged background, yet she feels isolated due to her emotionally distant parents. Her love for books leads her to the mysterious flyer that guides her to the bookshop.
Adelaide is trapped in an abusive marriage, struggling to find a way out and reclaim her sense of self.
Kye is a young man burdened with caring for his chronically ill mother while dealing with the negative influence of his drug-dealing brother.

Their paths converge at the enigmatic bookshop, where they meet Fay, the enigmatic owner who believes that “the book chooses the reader.” Through the books that find them, each character embarks on a journey of self-discovery and healing.

While the novel’s concept is enchanting, I found the execution lacking in depth. The characters’ transformations felt somewhat rushed, and I wished for more nuanced development to fully connect with their journeys. Additionally, the magical elements, though intriguing, could have been more thoroughly explored to enhance the story’s impact.

That said, the book offers a heartwarming exploration of friendship, resilience, and the transformative power of literature. It’s a gentle read that will appeal to fans of magical realism and stories about personal growth.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One Last Chapter for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read a copy of this book for my honest opinion. I really enjoyed this book and its uniqueness and quirkiness. The Midnight bookshop seems to be mystical and magic and available for those in need of the use of its setting. There are definitely some dark and sensitive moments in the story, but they are outweighed by the love and happiness that friendships can bring. Definitely a book I would recommend trying for yourself.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. The Midnight Bookshop by Amanda James is a novel that blends magical realism with themes of healing and transformation through literature. The story follows three unlikely strangers—Jo, Adelaide, and Kye—who discover a mysterious bookshop and form an unexpected bond through their shared love of books. The shop's proprietor, Fay, introduces them to books that seem to choose their readers, leading them on journeys of self-discovery.

The Midnight Bookshop features three main characters—Jo, Adelaide, and Kye—who each find themselves drawn to the mysterious bookshop at a pivotal moment in their lives. Jo is struggling with personal challenges and searching for meaning. She is initially skeptical but soon discovers the bookshop’s magic. Adelaide is facing difficulties in her personal life, particularly in her relationship with Mark, who treats her poorly. She finds solace and strength through her friendship with Jo and Kye. Kye is also dealing with his own struggles, and through the bookshop, he begins to see new possibilities for his future. Fay plays a crucial role in guiding them as she introduces them to the books. Their unlikely friendship, formed through the midnight book club, helps them navigate their personal challenges and rewrite their own stories. The novel beautifully blends magical realism with themes of healing, transformation, and the power of literature. It explores friendship, personal struggles, and the magical power of books in changing lives.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was sorry when it ended. Such a good read and one I would highly recommend.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I absolutely loved this book.

Three different people, with different upbringing and lives find themselves together in a magical bookshop, the owner Fay who is somewhat of a mystery.

Jo, is from a family who has lots of money and is spoilt, Adelaide is in an abusive relationship and Kyle, who isn’t happy with his life as he has to do as his brother wants and is also worried about his mother who’s not well.

But, when they find the Midnight Bookshop, slowly their lives begin to change by its magic.

I loved slow pace of the story, as we see how coming to tbe bookshop the three characters begin to trust each other and let each other know about their lives.

I highly recommend this book.

The Midnight Bookshop is a magical tale with heart, weaving together the stories of three strangers—Jo, Adelaide, and Kye—who stumble upon a mysterious bookstore that seems to know exactly what each of them needs. With a touch of whimsy and a deep appreciation for the transformative power of books, Amanda James creates a world where fiction becomes a mirror to the soul.

The narrative unfolds with emotional depth and gentle suspense, keeping readers invested as each character confronts their past and begins to rewrite their future. The pacing flows smoothly, and the blend of magical realism with heartfelt storytelling makes this an enchanting read.

Though the plot leans into the fantastical, it’s grounded by strong themes of community, healing, and self-discovery. The ending ties up beautifully, leaving you with the warm sense that stories—both the ones we read and the ones we live—can lead us home.

A must-read for fans of cozy, uplifting fiction with a magical twist.

I didn't enjoy this which was disappointing as the premise was so good. The tone did not work for me and I didn't find the characters likeable.

I've read The Midnight Bookshop by Amanda James.

I got this book as an ARC thanks to Netgalley, One More Chapter and offcourse the author Amanda James, this for an honest review.

The story is about 3 persons: Johnson, Adelaide and Kye. 3 different people with each their own problems and worries. They are gathered by a flyer of the Midnight Bookshop, owned by Fay. Together they try to resolve their problems and help each other to heal.

It's a nice gentle read, but for my honest opinion not my cup of tea. It's a tad to slow and a bit too repetitive.

But I can understand that people like this kind of books. Especially just for a nice relaxing read.

For me it was a 3 - 3,5 star.

Another book where I was drawn in by the cover, followed shortly by a great synopsis. Magic bookshop, what more do we want?

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Plot
Turns out what I want is a sound plot with good character development, and I felt that I didn't get this here.
First thing I need to get off my chest, which wasn't included in the blurb, is that this is set in Cornwall! Eek! I opened the first page and there is Truro and its manky cobbles. This immediately set my excitement levels to 100000000 - its not very often that books are set in my home county, and I loved this.
However, my excitement did not last. I liked the premise of the bookshop tying the three very different lives together, but it fell a bit flat for me. The characters personalities and background were such a key component on the entire plot, and despite them all being entirely realistic lives, especially in Cornwall, I found it really difficult to care about them.

Characters
The Rich - this FMC felt very one-dimensional, and I was initially put off by her parents nicknames, which felt childish and immature - although I suppose that was partly the intention for her. Other than being wildly unsatisfied with her nice life and terrible parents, she didn't really do....anything.

The Poor - this MMC probably felt the most fleshed out for me. The way his relationship with his mother and family were portrayed did feel more realistic and entirely depressing. I also enjoyed the way he engaged with the bookshop and his book.

The abused - I wanted to like this FMC, and while she was entirely stuck in her relationship for reasons that are well explained, there was something about her that made it difficult to care. Perhaps it was because she was so depressing.

The Good
This premise is wonderful and the majority of the book is well written.

The Bad
The pacing is very slow and the characters lack depth.

The Ugly
I'm not sure there's anything ugly.

The Wrap Up
This is another fine example of a great premise that didn't quite take off. Regardless of my love of Cornwall, these characters didn't do it for me.

Once again, thanks Harper Collins and One More Chapter for letting me get my paws on an ARC ahead of time.

Who doesn't love the idea of a magical bookshop? For me, all good books have a bit of magic in them. Even from the time I was a little girl, I would get lost in the world of my favorite books, and that was my favorite place to be. This book is about a bookshop that can only be found by those who really need it, and once inside, they find the book that chooses them, and get transported to that world. Lives are changed for the better, friendships forged, and three strangers - Jo, Adelaide and Kye - walk away not only as best friends, but with lives better than they ever imagined possible. This book is perfect for fans of Kate Storey, Karen Hawkins, and Evie Woods.

This was such a lovely read - the book chose me and I'm very glad it did!!

This combines a little bit of magic with mystery, as we meet 3 different people who are all looking for something in their life and a leaflet appears to them telling them of a new bookshop in the area - and it's only to be found at night!

Exploring each of their storylines was really intriguing as they are all facing different struggles personally so they're really finding life isn't an easy path so they're looking for some guidance. When they come together at the bookshop it allows them to connect with one another and you see that spark in them that they get from the books they read, that gives them new vigour and confidence to attack the problems in their lives in a different way - and with the support of one another.

The author gives you time with each character so you get a real feel for them emotionally, and through the books that they find themselves drawn to then it allows them to see life differently and I think that's how it is a lot of time for readers! Sometimes the books choose us and show us how things can be different with a change in mindset, or seeing something from a different perspective! Highly recommended!!

A warm hug of a book about friendship and books. Addy, Jo, and Kye are all struggling with something bad in their lives but Faye,who owns the bookshop sees something in all of them and how they might be able to help one another. And they do. This is told from multiple POVs, which adds to the story. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Yes there's a bit of magic and yes the problems are solved perhaps too easily but it's an enjoyable read.

“You don’t choose the book, the book chooses you.”

A cute and cozy fantasy story of a secret midnight bookshop that finds those who are truly in need. This book has such a cozy magical vibe, full of whimsical moments and experiences. Each character has a deep need to find this bookshop, for one reason or another. Each of them struggles with something heavy in their life and this special place helps turn that around.

The books they read help them overcome their struggles and become who they are meant to be; and the bookshop owner is quite magical herself 👀✨ Theres a big emphasis on imagination and the way everyone views a book differently, which is what makes reading so special! Cute read!

The cover and description drew me in. But I had a hard time staying focused on this book. I didn’t feel very connected to the characters and wanted more personality. I like multi POV stories, but this one had a lot of repetition. We’d see something happen and then have to listen to it be re-told which slowed things down. I also wish there was more of the bookshop in it! I was super interested in that part. Lastly, the pop culture references were a bit too much for me as well.

I must say, if it was possible for a mystical midnight bookshop to show up, just when a person is at the end of their rope and stuck and showed them the way out, I would totally love it! I know that books are magic and they can take you away from the troubles of daily life for a bit, though Fay Revile and the bookshop have a bit more punch to their books! Jo. Adelaide and Kye are in three very different situations and all received a mysterious flyer directing them to the Midnight Bookshop, hidden down the street in a corner that is not always there. I like that through the books that they chose, they were able to learn much about their issues and how, with hard work, a mayhap a little magic, they can get their lives back on track. And how important it is to form strong bonds, friendships and rely on each other (and not just the bookshop). The other important message that I liked is that while you can improve yourself, it does not mean you can change others who are set in their ways, unless they too want to change.

This was a sweet novel and yes, I a bias about loving stories that show how magical books are and how they can pass down messages that can mean different things to different people, depending on when they are in life. I would love to visit that Midnight Bookshop one evening and sip a hot chocolate with Fay!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this magical book!

This is a magical book, full of hope. Jo, Kye and Adelaide meet at the Truro Larder, Kye and Amanda are both collecting food and Jo has just dropped off a donation. Whilst sharing a coffee they discover they each have a flyer for The Midnight Library, which according to Adelaide doesn’t exist, but Jo shares that it does and she went at midnight.
Each is struggling with life, Adelaide has an abusive husband, Kye is forced to deliver drugs for his brother and Jo feels unloved by her parents.
They agree to meet and visit the library that night and from there their lives are changed.
A wonderful read that I really loved, my thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for for the arc.

There is nothing better than a magical bookshop that only appears to those that need it most. In The Midnight Bookshop by Amanda James, the bookshop appears to three, down on their luck, patrons. Jo, Adelaide and Kye are strangers who stumble into the bookshop and into each other's lives. All three were needing a change in their lives and the magic of the bookshop was only the start of what they need.
This book brings the magic alive and makes you wish the bookshop actually existed. I could see myself spending hours in this bookshop. The story also shows how stories and books can bring you to life by the effects the story has on your life.
This is a great whimsical fun book to read. If you like fairytales or fantasies this is a book for you.
Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for the advanced copy.

I see that this book has a four-star average rating so far, with lots of 4- and 5-star reviews. I'm glad that many people are enjoying it, and it's obvious that it will have its audience, so kudos to the author and publisher for that.

Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me, for two main, interrelated reasons:

1. The solutions to characters' problems came extremely quickly and easily, with very little agency on their part. They didn't have to make any trade-offs or suffer any lasting consequences for their decisions. And things people would normally need to think about in real life (e.g. a "bad guy" coming back to cause problems) were swept away by an all-knowing entity saying, "Don't worry about that. I promise it won't be a problem in the future." [LIGHT SPOILERS: Bad guys just magically... went away, and someone who'd been ill for a long time just... started feeling better.]

2. Everything was so very cut-and-dry for the characters. Their course of action was clear, and, aside from the romance taking time to evolve (which I appreciated), there was no ambiguity. I feel like the power of books and stories is that they help people know they're not alone and understand how to keep making their way through this world even though life is full of change and uncertainty. Removing uncertainty and making things mostly perfect for characters had, for me, the opposite effect to what was intended: instead of sending the message that books and literature can change lives, the message seemed to be that books can help you see your problems more clearly -- and then you need a magical friend to fix them for you.

I do appreciate the opportunity to read a digital ARC in advance of publication, and I'm glad this book exists for those who want and need this story right now.

Unfortunately this wasn’t for me. I absolutely loved the concept but it didn’t feel like it was executed to its fullest potential. I did however love that it was set in Cornwall which is one of my favourite places.

My biggest issue was how twee it all ended up being, everything just worked itself out. And I get that a magic bookshop is involved but it didn’t feel like any of the characters had to really *do* anything to sort their life out.

The characters in general were a tad one dimensional and their fawning over Fay became a bit annoying especially as I’m not sure she necessarily did much to warrant such admiration.

One last thing I wanted desperately was some more luscious descriptions of the bookshop especially in the beginning. I understand that it’s to let your imagination build the image but I was just craving something more, something that evoked the gorgeousness of the cover art.

If you’re looking for cosy magical realism that does explore some heavier stuff but you’re mainly just after the magical bookshop vibes then this could be a great read for you!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers, HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for the ARC.