The Lost and Found Bookshop: A Novel

Susan Wiggs

Jul 2020 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

"A wonderful exploration of the past and the future and, most importantly, of what it means to be present in the here and now.  Full of the love of words, the love of family, and the love of falling in love, The Lost and Found Bookshop is a big-hearted gem of a novel that will satisfy and entertain readers from all walks of life.  Lovely!"—Garth Stein, New York Times bestselling author of The Art of Racing In The Rain

In this thought-provoking, wise and emotionally rich novel, New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs explores the meaning of happiness, trust, and faith in oneself as she asks  the question, "If you had to start over, what would you do and who would you be?" 

There is a book for everything . . . 

Somewhere in the vast Library of the Universe, as Natalie thought of it, there was a book that embodied exactly the things she was worrying about.

In the wake of a shocking tragedy, Natalie Harper inherits her mother’s charming but financially strapped bookshop in San Francisco. She also becomes caretaker for her ailing grandfather Andrew, her only living relative—not counting her scoundrel father.

But the gruff, deeply kind Andrew has begun displaying signs of decline. Natalie thinks it’s best to move him to an assisted living facility to ensure the care he needs. To pay for it, she plans to close the bookstore and sell the derelict but valuable building on historic Perdita Street, which is in need of constant fixing. There’s only one problem–Grandpa Andrew owns the building and refuses to sell. Natalie adores her grandfather; she’ll do whatever it takes to make his final years happy. Besides, she loves the store and its books provide welcome solace for her overwhelming grief.

After she moves into the small studio apartment above the shop, Natalie carries out her grandfather’s request and hires contractor Peach Gallagher to do the necessary and ongoing repairs. His young daughter, Dorothy, also becomes a regular at the store, and she and Natalie begin reading together while Peach works.

To Natalie’s surprise, her sorrow begins to dissipate as her life becomes an unexpected journey of new connections, discoveries and revelations, from unearthing artifacts hidden in the bookshop’s walls, to discovering the truth about her family, her future, and her own heart.

Ratings and reviews

The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs takes readers to San Francisco, California where the Harper family has the Lost and Found Bookshop in a historic building called the Sunrose Building. Natalie Harper is stunned when she learns that her mother and boyfriend died in a plane crash. She is now responsible for her mother’s beloved bookshop and her aging grandfather. I thought contained good writing and vivid descriptions. I enjoyed the word imagery of the bookshop, he beautiful historic building, and San Francisco. Bookshops are a magical place. I thought the characters were developed with my favorites being Grandy, Natalie’s grandfather, and Dorothy Gallagher, Peach’s adorable little girl. I enjoyed the relationship Natalie had with Grandy. He has the beginnings of dementia where he confuses Natalie with his deceased daughter, Blythe. Grandy’s memories are slipping away which bothers him. He wants to finish out his days in the building where he has lived his whole life. I liked Grandy’s compassion and wisdom. There are some great book references throughout the story. Love, devotion, letting go, and living life to the fullest are themes in the book. We get to see Grandy and Natalie move forward slowly after the death of Blythe. As we got to know Blythe from Grandy and Natalie’s reminisces, she seemed a woman who was full of life. Blythe was a happy person who thoroughly enjoyed the bookshop. I was not a fan of the foul language in the book and repetition (I got it the first time). I did feel that the ending felt rushed and I did not like that they had two of the characters smoking weed (it came out of nowhere). My favorite phrase from The Lost and Found Bookshop was “You’re never alone when you’re reading a book.” It was fascinating the items found within the walls of the shop and how the Harpers dealt with the objects. Grandy was a good man with strong convictions and values. I appreciated the epilogue which nicely wrapped up the book. The Lost and Found Bookshop is an easy-going story that is just the right type of book to read during the summer months. The Lost and Found Bookshop is a charming story with financial misfortunes, uncovered objects, a hurt heart, a grieving grandfather, dementia dilemma, and beloved books.

Good

About the author

Susan Wiggs is the author of more than fifty novels, including the beloved Lakeshore Chronicles series and the recent New York Times bestsellers The Lost and Found Bookshop, The Oysterville Sewing Circle, and Family Tree. Her award-winning books have been translated into two dozen languages. She lives with her husband on an island in Washington State’s Puget Sound.