The Lost and Found Bookshop: A Novel

by Susan Wiggs

Hardcover, 2020

Call number

FIC WIG

Collection

Publication

William Morrow (2020), 368 pages

Description

Fiction. Literature. HTML: "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!"â??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 relativeâ??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 problemâ??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.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member beckyhaase
THE LOST AND FOUND BOOKSHOP by Susan Wiggs

Natalie, who discovers she hates her job, suffers a tragedy and inherits her mother’s bookshop. Unfortunately, the building is falling down around her ears, she has no money because she quit her job and then discovers she DIDN’T inherit because her
Show More
grandfather, suffering from dementia actually owns it and won’t sell. Oh my, the problems mount by the page. Ah, but here comes Peach, a handsome (of course) builder contractor who just happens to have lots of time on his hands to work on old falling down, but historic buildings, to the rescue – or does he???
This fun read also has a cute kid, an adorable cat, a rich author, a mystery treasure and lots of book allusions. What more could you want? Book lovers and romance readers alike will enjoy this charming book.
4 of 5 stars
Show Less
LibraryThing member susan.h.schofield
This was a sweet but very predictable book. It is very light and easy to read - it a good escape that you know will leave you happy. I always enjoys books about books and this had a lot of good literary references. I had never read Susan Wiggs before - I don't think she is an author I would
Show More
typically choose. But I understand why she is so popular. Thanks to NetGalley and Book Club Girl for the digital ARC.
Show Less
LibraryThing member SilversReviews
Who wouldn’t want to own a bookshop? That is a dream job.

Natalie, Blythe’s mother, did follow her dream, but at times her dream was at the expense of her daughter.

A tragedy left Natalie with her mother gone, her beloved grandfather to care for, and a bookshop that her mother left deep in
Show More
debt.

Since Natalie grew up with books, she wanted to try something else in her life instead of her successful, tedious job and took over the bookshop that had been in the family for three generations.

Natalie knew the ancient bookshop is where she should be, and she found more than books in this bookshop.

THE LOST AND FOUND BOOKSHOP has the reader following Natalie with her decisions about the bookshop and her life.

You’ll fall in love with the bookshop and all the characters.

Who doesn’t love a book that has a bookshop in it?

THE LOST AND FOUND BOOKSHOP is a sweet read focusing on family, life choices, and choosing what makes you happy.

If you need a feel good read, be sure to add this book to your must-read list for the summer.

THE LOST AND FOUND BOOKSHOP has it all: love, books, and anything sweet and heartwarming that you can think of.

ENJOY when you read it. 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Show Less
LibraryThing member fredreeca
Natalie has just been promoted and is having a party in her honor. Her mother is supposed to be there. Come to find out, there has been a tragic plane crash and Natalie’s mother and boyfriend have been killed. Natalie moves back home to help take care of her grandfather and to sort out her
Show More
mothers book shop.

Natalie discovers the book shop is in horrible financial woes. The historical building is in terrible shape and the book store is in debt. Plus, her grandfather has the beginnings of dementia. He refuses to sell the historical building because there is a hidden treasure lost in it somewhere (and yes there is…you MUST read this to find out what!)

I adore this book. I love everything about it. I love the quirkiness of the characters. The setting of the California Bay Area had me researching. I actually sent a text to a friend of mine who lives there and told him he had to go the the Tower Library Bar and take pictures. Oh…and the mystery of the hidden treasure and the book references. This is the perfect read for a bibliophile!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
Show Less
LibraryThing member kimkimkim
Liked parts, others not so much. Some things believable some not so much. Some important subjects are offered but would have liked more detail. The ending was a miss for me.

Great quote: “When tragedy strikes, I must remember to breathe until l get to the fun part again.”
LibraryThing member brangwinn
Natalie Harper must leave her life to take care of her grandfather and his bookshop in San Francisco. It is challenging. The bookstore is falling apart. Her grandfather’s health is failing and yet she loves it. This is a fun romance filled with books, an unconventional family and San Francisco.
LibraryThing member jmoncton
I'm always going to have a soft spot for a book about book stores so I picked this up as a light read. It was definitely upbeat and had many literary references, but a bit trite and predictable. But, it's set in the Bay Area and it definitely shows a love for independent book stores. Light and fun.
LibraryThing member samantha.1020
The Lost and Found Bookshop is one of those books that is just meant for book lovers! I mean, I can't be the only one who would love to inherit a bookshop (although I would definitely take a hard pass on how she inherits the bookshop - let's be honest). This book deals very openly with grief and
Show More
loss - and the struggles that come from it which I feel like needs to be said because it might hit too close to home for some readers. The bookshop itself though just was such a bright spot for me and all I wanted was for Natalie to understand that as well. I loved all of the characters in this book but especially her grandfather! He was just so sweet and I just wanted everything to work out for the both of them. I also really, really enjoyed the chemistry between Natalie and Peach. The two of them just worked so well together which meant that I couldn't help but want them to find their happy ever after. My one complaint with this book is that it took them so long to figure out their feelings/what they wanted.....I just wanted the opportunity to see their relationship develop a little more is the best way to put it. That being said, I was totally behind their relationship because they were just perfect together! And anyone could see that even if they didn't see it themselves until later on. This book felt like just the perfect summer read! It had its heavier moments as Natalie tried to navigate her grief over the unexpected loss of her mother. But it also had just enough lightness to it that meant I was able to breeze through it!

Overall, I enjoyed this book and getting to know these characters! This is my 2nd book by this author and she is definitely going to be one of my go to's authors for this type of book. It felt like the perfect blend of romance and women's fiction all combined into one really good book. I think that readers that enjoy books featuring bookshops, those who enjoy a slow building romance, and those who enjoy women's fiction will really enjoy this book! I'm looking forward to diving more into this author's backlist after enjoying this one so much. Recommended!

Bottom Line: A really great summer read for book lovers!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. Honest thoughts are my own.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Kris_Anderson
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
Show More
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.
Show Less
LibraryThing member herzogm
The Lost and Found Bookshop was just what I needed with everything that is going on right now. Pandemic, raging fires, air quality so bad we couldn't see the sun at noontime, 100+ temperatures, and of course POLITICS! Susan Wiggs spins a great story set in San Francisco and Sonoma county, with a
Show More
trip to Napa (my home town) on the side. I loved all the characters, even the slightly flawed ones. Some of the plot twists seemed to be a bit coincidental but many were based on actual history, which I really like.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bookczuk
Pandemic read. There was a lot to like in this tale of a bookshop and its atypical family, set in San Francisco.
LibraryThing member shazjhb
Felt like a part 2 book. Somewhat unrealistic. Who gibes away so much money. Liked the ending but maybe I missed something- what happened to the bookstore
LibraryThing member SJGirl
Natalie is grieving, she’s taken over her mother’s struggling bookstore, she’s also dealing with an ill grandfather and a couple romance possibilities, yet despite all that it rarely felt as if there was enough story for the number of pages. It fell into repetition more often than I would
Show More
have liked, for instance, the one and a half page prologue basically sums up what’s about to happen in the first quarter of the book. Either make use of the prologue to then start the story with Natalie’s first day in charge of the bookshop or don’t have a prologue and let events just unfold, by having both it made the beginning feel both slow and repetitive.

I also had a problem with the name of a cat, which I know sounds odd, but it was off-putting when it’s stated that the cat is named for Sylvia Beach not Sylvia Plath and it’s noted that presumably Sylvia Beach didn’t have mental issues. I just, I’m not sure what to make of that, are we saying that Sylvia Plath is less of a literary genius, less worthy of having a namesake, because she struggled and ultimately succumbed to her mental health issues? I just didn’t get why that aside needed to be there, why it couldn’t just be stated which Sylvia the cat is named for and left at that. It felt like a slight against the mentally unwell, I hope that wasn’t the intention, it probably wasn’t, but it unfortunately reads that way.

As for the romantic interests, it seemed pretty obvious which one Natalie would end up with and while he is a nice guy, I just didn’t find him all that appealing, which is a total personal preference thing, I’m sure there are other readers who will feel differently. However, the bigger issue for me with the romance was how long it took for Natalie to find out some basic information about this guy, it seemed highly implausible that it took that long to come up in conversation. Given previous relationships and family histories, they both had reason enough to be tentative about starting something, there didn’t need to be a convoluted misunderstanding between them.

I would have been happy to ditch Natalie’s romantic dilemmas and instead see her attempting to establish a connection with her father or better still see more of her day to day in the bookshop and dealing with customers, for me the best moments were the ones spent talking books and how to keep a brick and mortar store alive in the current climate. I would have welcomed a lot more of those scenes, especially if it led to wrapping things up in way that felt more earned and organic rather than a solution easily falling into place.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bereanna
Lovely story about a corporate-type driven women who comes home to her historical bookstore I San Francisco because of a family tragedy a d how she rebuilds her life. I’ll read this author again.
LibraryThing member FormerEnglishTeacher
An entertaining story ostensibly about a struggling San Francisco book store and the family that owns it. Parts of the novel are pretty predicable and the romance at the end is a bit schmaltzy, but overall the book was a good read. I’m still trying to get used to audio book readers attempting to
Show More
indicated the different genders of those speaking dialogue, and this reader did as good a job as any I’ve heard. Unlike some readers, this one didn’t distract from the story. This is a review of the audio version of the book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Maydacat
If you are tired of teenage angst and want to read about some adult angst, then this is the book for you. Angst practically oozes from the main protagonist, Natalie. She suffers a heart-stopping tragedy and spends the majority of the book trying to recover from it. Only she mostly gives in the her
Show More
feelings and distresses over the backbreaking problems she now must face instead of dealing with the horrible blow life has dealt her and moving on. Yes, I feel her pain, and feel it, and feel it. For many, many pages. On the positive side, the writing is good, and the characters are likable. It’s an entertaining story, and not deep look at grief and its aftermath. There is enough romance to make it a beach read, with more than one man desiring our heroine. But the plot is predictable and contrived. I guessed how the story would wrap up long before the epilogue, which was quite short and sparse in details. The story is a nice one, just not one you’ll think about much once it’s over.
Show Less
LibraryThing member HeatherLINC
When I started reading "The Lost and Found Bookshop" I was expecting a novel with more depth, but it ended up being just a sweet, predictable romance. While Natalie and Peach (Peter) were likeable characters, it was Natalie's grandfather, Grandy, and Peach's daughter, Dorothy, who won my heart. The
Show More
interactions between the two of them were a highlight! Dorothy's love of books and the old bookshop reminded me of myself at her age. Bookshops were (are) my happy place!

I also appreciated all the reference to real books and authors, and the strong sense of family. For once, I thought the epilogue was done well and it tied up all the loose ends leaving me feeling warm and fuzzy. Overall, "The Lost and Found Bookshop" was a charming read.
Show Less
LibraryThing member murderbydeath
I’m in a general fiction sort of reading mood, and this book, my second attempt, was much better than the first (The Last Bookshop in London). Although, it didn’t start out that way; this book is broken down into 6 parts and the first part is absolutely wretched. The writing is solid, but the
Show More
story is wretched.

Once the story moves into part 2, it becomes a more enjoyable read. Natalie starts moving forward, Peach (sorry, I don’t care if you do look like a pirate, that nickname is ridiculous) starts working on the building and things move forward, albeit slowly. This is a sedately paced story, though there are intermittent moments that are fun, like when they find stuff hidden in a wall, or out in an old shed. The history of families, and of San Francisco, are threads that run through the book, woven through the plot, becoming pivotal to the resolution. I’ve only ever spent a day in San Francisco, but I swear the bookstore in this story was smack in the middle of our self-created walking tour, as I kept recognising landmarks and places the author dropped into the text, an occurrence I always enjoy.

Overall, an enjoyable read if you can get past the first part and like a general fiction sort of book. It has a happy ending and there’s a very small but potent romance that takes almost the entire book to develop. I’m not altogether sure Andrew’s altruism is entirely realistic; I’d like to believe it’s possible but given the pressure the author puts him and Natalie under, it’s sadly improbable. Still, I like books that show us our best possible selves (penchant for murder mysteries aside), so it didn’t really hinder my ability to buy into the story, although it did occur to me that by the end, around the clock security would probably be necessary to ward off the treasure hunters.
Show Less
LibraryThing member rmarcin
This was almost a 4 until the ending which was a bit ridiculous and predictable. I did enjoy the story of a heartbroken young woman who lost her mother in a plane crash. Because of her mother’s death, Natalie must take over The Lost and Found Bookshop. Her grandfather owns the property, but his
Show More
health is failing.
A young reader, Dorothy, makes Natalie appreciate books again, and her father, Peach is a handyman who helps out at the shop repairing the building.
Slowly, Natalie begins to find joy in life again
Show Less
LibraryThing member marciablnc
I usually enjoy this author. This book did not disappoint me. The feelings and struggles of Natalie were real. In spite of the tragedies of losing her boyfriend and mother, she had the fortitude to do the responsible thing in taking care of her grandfather. In the middle of it, she found her
Show More
passion.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ffortsa
After a while I realized this was not my kind of book, but I finished it anyway. If you are in the market for a modern romance, you might give it a try. I found it painfully predictable, including the return home, rescue by the right man, discovery of the treasure in the basement, etc etc. If
Show More
that's your thing, enjoy!
Show Less
LibraryThing member waldhaus1
The novel starts with a bizarre tragedy - the death of a woman’s lover and mother in the crash of a small plane they were taking to help her celebrate a promotion in a wine country marketeer. She ends up leaving that job and taking over her mother’s responsibility: the running of a old bookshop
Show More
and caring for her father who has lived in that building her entire life.
There are many surprising and unpredictable twists. In the end the book becomes a feel good story but is filled with what seem real insights about the value books can have in life and the way they can lead to self understanding and self discovery.
The book tells of the discovery of many unexpected treasurers including a rare old edition of Audubon.
As a lover of books and someone who more recently became fascinated by birds there was a lot to like in the story.
In many ways it is a fairy story with the handsome prince rescuing the maiden.
Show Less
LibraryThing member maryzee
Tedious and predictable
LibraryThing member zmagic69
Excellent story, about starting over, family, and fate.
Oh and a great bookstore in an interesting neighborhood in San Francisco.
LibraryThing member GeauxGetLit
You are never alone when you are reading a book

I read books and I know stuff

I loved the special bond between Natalie and her grandfather, grandie in this story about the lost and found bookshop. This is a book perfect for all book lovers.

Natalie gives up her career to help her grandie who has
Show More
dementia keep his bookshop after her mother tragically dies in a plane crash. The bookshop is old and is really falling apart. Peach is the plumber for hire. Natalie has assumed throughout that he was married, however, has wondered what could be if he wasn’t married. When the building falls apart treasures are discovered in more ways than one.
Show Less

Awards

LibraryReads (Monthly Pick — July 2020)

ISBN

006291409X / 9780062914095
Page: 1.1357 seconds