The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs – a Review

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Description:
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.

Review:

The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs is a wonderful standalone novel. We meet our heroine, Natalie Harper immediately, as she is being honored for a promotion at her job.  Natalie learns a short time after the announcement, that her mother and her boyfriend, who were flying to be at the announcement were killed in a plane crash. 

When Natalie inherits her mother’s bookstore in San Francisco, she realizes it is financially strapped, and when she inquires about selling the store, she learns her grandfather is actually the owner.  Grandy (her grandfather is in stages of dementia) and he refuses to see the bookstore.  Natalie decides to quit her job, and see if she can bring the bookstore back to its former glory, as well as become the caregiver for her beloved Grandy.  Though she is in financial straits, Natalie slowly begins to remember the good old days when she loved staying at the book store.   She meets Peach Gallagher, a contractor, who is willing to help her renovate the old historical building, especially areas that need immediate care. 

What follows is a heartwarming story, revolving around the past, as far back as Grandy’s father, with discoveries of artifacts, journals behind the archaic walls that were falling apart.  These discoveries lead to stories of how and why they were hidden, leading to treasures to be given back to those who may have lost it years before.  It is a story of the present, with Natalie, Grandy, Peach, Dorothey (Peach’s sweet young daughter) and Trevor (a possible romantic interest for Natalie, who is a famous author); and a story of the family’s history back to the days after the 1906 earthquake and how the bookshop started.

I really liked Natalie, as she made a great heroine, especially as her life changed, and she found herself happier than ever.  There is a little romance, and I liked both Peach and Trevor.  Of course, Dorothy was an adorable cute girl. Grandy was terrific as a wonderful kind hearted grandfather, who we enjoyed in his lucid days.  Susan Wiggs did a wonderful job creating these wonderful characters.

The Lost and Found Bookshop was a very good story that kept your attention throughout.  This story revolved around the present and the past, with a bit of everything;  history, romance, mystery, and wonderful characters that you couldn’t help but care for.   The Lost and Found Bookshop was so very well written by Susan Wiggs. I suggest you read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher