Book Review: The Lost and Found Bookshop

By Susan Wiggs 

5 Stars 

The Lost and Found Bookshop portrays a young lady named Natalie Harper, whose life changes drastically and suddenly after her mother's unexpected death. She leaves her stable corporate job and returns to San Francisco to take over her family's old, struggling bookshop. At the same time, she takes the initiative to become a main caregiver for her grandfather, who is dealing with memory loss. As Natalie desperately tries to save the falling store, she uncovers family secrets hidden within its walls and slowly begins to rebuild her life. Gradually, Natalie makes new friends, faces deep emotional challenges and soon discovers that the bookshop may hold the key to healing her struggles and grief, ultimately finding a new sense of purpose.  

I personally found The Lost and Found Bookshop to be a warm-hearted, comforting story. One aspect that I enjoyed the most throughout this story was the setting, the way the author portrayed and described minor details such as the shelves, the old building and the sense of comfort brought to the characters.  

Natalie was a character I found easy to understand; she deals with a lot of grief, responsibility and tremendous life changes. However, she handles every single task with ease and determination. I was really fond of her character development, seeing her slowly gain confidence and figure out what she truly wants. Her relationship with her grandfather is very special, as their bond added a lot of emotion to the story, and it showed how important family support can truly be.  

I also particularly liked the romance in the book, as it wasn't too dramatic or significantly rushed. It grew naturally as Natalie started to open up again. The secondary characters, mainly Peach Gallagher and the other characters connected to the shop, added warmth to the story.  

Overall, this story is definitely a comforting and uplifting read. It mainly targets themes such as healing, family and starting over. It's an amazing choice for anyone who enjoys emotional, in-depth stories with strong characters and a warm setting. 

Reviewed by Fatima as part of the Teen Reviewer, opens a new window program

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