There are times when tragedy leads one to evaluate one’s life and recognize that one has been merely existing and not living up to their full potential. It also provides the opportunity to reconnect with one’s roots and see things through the eyes of the persons one has lost. Sadly, this was the situation for Natalie Harper in The Lost and Found Bookshop.
Natalie is living her best life, or so she believes. A lucrative job, with a sure promotion waiting on the wings and a loving boyfriend. Despite this she believes something is missing. She has doubts about her relationship and her job brings her no joy. A situation which worsened when she discovered her co-workers’ true feelings towards her. She recognized the need for change in her life, however tragedy struck before she could effect those changes. Natalie now finds herself saddled with a debt-ridden bookshop and the care of her beloved but ailing grandfather, Grandy.
Wiggs weaved a story about pain, loss, love and finding oneself interspersed with history. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, my favourites being Grandy and Dorothy. Dorothy, the daughter of one of Natalie’s love interest, who enjoyed reading and would play a part in help keeping the bookstore open. Grandy was a man of honour and wisdom. Suffers from dementia, but his moments of clarity aided in revealing the truths about their family history and reminded Natalie of the joy and wonders of her childhood.
Natalie proved to be a relatable character. I felt her pain and confusion that came with the unexpected changes. I loved how patient she was dealing with her grandfather’s illness. Watching her step out of her comfort zone, seizing unexpected opportunities and finding her happiness was a delightful experience.
Romance was brewing, and I kept hoping Natalie would make the right choice. Her choice had me smiling from ear to ear. The story despite moving at a leisurely pace was captivating, poignant and entertaining.
Conclusion/Recommendation
The Lost and Found Bookstore depicts how tragedy can change one’s perspective and forces one to appreciate the things they once took for granted. It’s also reminded me of the need to appreciate our loved ones, as the day will come when they will no longer be in our lives. Fans of the author will enjoy this latest offering, and if you have never tried her books before, then I recommend you give this one a try.
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About Susan Wiggs
Susan Wiggs’s life is all about family, friends…and fiction. She lives at the water’s edge on an island in Puget Sound, and she commutes to her writers’ group in a 17-foot motorboat. She serves as author liaison for Field’s End, a literary community on Bainbridge Island, Washington, bringing inspiration and instruction from the world’s top authors to her seaside community. (See www.fieldsend.org) She’s been featured in the national media, including NPR’s “Talk of the Nation,” and is a popular speaker locally and nationally.
According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with “refreshingly honest emotion,” and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is “one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book.” Booklist characterizes her books as “real and true and unforgettable.” She is the recipient of three RITA (sm) awards and four starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for her books. The Winter Lodge and Passing Through Paradise have appeared on PW’s annual “Best Of” lists. Several of her books have been listed as top Booksense picks and optioned as feature films. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have made national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists.
The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book.
