The Lost Apothecary - by Sarah Penner

An underrated book with an amazing ending!

Personally, I really enjoyed this book. The story didn’t develop super fast but I was still intrigued and in the end there are tons of twists and surprises. It was filled with magic, friendship, and hope. A truly fun read.

I LOVED this book. I couldn’t put it down. The characters were wonderful and their stories were so intriguing.

I absolutely loved this book! Such an interesting story that had me hooked the whole time with unexpected twists throughout. Highly recommend!!

Such a good read! I could not put this book down!

Such a great read! I was hooked!

This was such a fun read I love historical fiction so this was perfect. I would definitely highly recommend it.

This book was soo boring! After finally getting to some good parts it was cut off and continued on to the next chapter through another POV. There are three POV’s and it just dragged… I almost gave up on reading it, but I powered through. I’d get sleepy every time I was reading, lol. Overall, it was just boring and I’m glad it’s over.

I loved this story so much! The way the author switches perspectives spanning a century was remarkable. The characters were intriguing and it kept me guessing the whole way through.

This book was amazing and it felt like I was right there with the main character!! Couldn’t put down the book!! We need a part 2!!

One of the best books I’ve read this year. I finished it on a lazy Sunday. Highly recommend.

This book was an enjoyable read. The ending wasn’t at all what I expected, and I’m glad for that. A good mystery flipping between multiple timelines and different points of view.

An endearing story of growth. Loved the way all characters were woven together.

Nella and Eliza, long dead, but also so alive. Caroline, living in the present but fascinated by the past. I enjoyed how their lives meshed, although they lived centuries apart. A fascinating book. Not perfect, but it held my interest and gave me many things to think about.

Loved every second of this book! I finished it in two days and it is my new favorite book. Loved the contrast and connection between Victorian London and present day.

I don't often buy a book without even reading a sample, but this one checked a bunch of boxes for me, so I bought it on impulse. I am glad I did. I didn't love the modern character initially (I have no idea what she looks like even now and to quote from Charles Dicken's, Pickwick Papers, "she had a blandness of demeanor which baffles all description," which coming from the over-describer if ever there was one, is truly saying something.) I found myself skimming through the early chapters from her point of view. Luckily enough, there were other characters who were interesting enough to carry the story, as-well-as, a couple plot took a twists I didn't see coming. The one plot point which his almost unforgivably oversimplified has to do with how a bureaucratic and highly competitive process works. (I don't want to spoil what it is, but it is likely obvious to most readers. It seems like an attempt to simply the story and just finish it, which is a tad sad given the overall detail which drives the story otherwise.) I was a quick fun read over the weekend for a perfect little escape from screens and reality while staying in the house during the pandemic! The 30% cover price at Target sealed the deal for me. (I have a limited budget.) The cover art is lovely! Really gorgeous! And at a paperback price, it really quite wonderful. I only wish it was easier to peel that 30% off Target sticker off the front of it. I don't often buy hardcover books when they are initially released, but I do sometimes buy books on principle, to support authors and vote with my dollars so to speak. I love independent bookstores, but have been getting some gems at Target! (Reminds me a bit of the Clockmakers Daughter, which I loved. If you like this, you may like that too. Also, the Scent Keeper. )

Such a good book! Read it in about a day! Was a little hard to get into at first, then I was hooked!

The Lost Apothecary was our choice for our monthly book club. I was extremely excited to read this book, first and foremost because the cover is absolutely breathtaking! It is hands down one of the prettiest covers I have ever seen, and I am 100% someone who buys books based on their cover. Besides the lovely cover, the synopsis of the book is exciting! Two story lines twisted: one in the president, the other 200 years in the past. Both about strong women who have been scorned. In the 1700s, Nella is a apothecary helping women to seek revenge on men who have wronged them. We also have Eliza who is goals! She is my FAVORITE character! These two women are strong, fight for what they believe in, and make you question what is wrong/right. I absolutely adored their story line. I wanted more and more! I still do! I wished there were more of them in this book. I want there to be another book. Sarah Penner give me more Eliza!!! I need her! In the present day, we have Caroline. Her story was much more complicated for me. I struggled with Caroline’s awful husband, James, and their relationship. In my opinion, this relationship was extremely abusive. James is controlling, manipulative, and just a real... you know what! He really ruined her story for me. It may be because of my abusive past? I’m not sure. But it ultimately was why I could not give this story 5 stars. WHAT I DID LIKE, was Gaynor and Caroline! I also liked how present day tied into the past. The last note I wanted to make was that I did not agree with Caroline’s end decision... you’ll have to read for yourself and tell me what you think! Overall, this is a must read! Such an amazing debut novel! Bravo to Ms. Penner! I will definitely buy her next novel because I found her writing captivating! So what are you waiting for?! Get the book!

Finished in less than a day. This book weaves two stories flawlessly with surprises sprinkled throughout.

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner is a dual-timeline novel told from the point-of-view of three women. I found this to be an engaging historical novel. I was transported back to London in 1791 where Nella has a small hidden apothecary shop. Nella catered to women who needed a certain man in their life removed. She only catered to women who wished to harm men. Eliza Fanning arrives one day on behalf of her mistress who needs help taking care of her husband. Eliza is fascinated by Nella’s workshop and asks dozens of questions. A friendship of sorts develops between the pair. Caroline Parcewell is in London on what was supposed to be her tenth anniversary trip. The night before departure, Caroline discovered her husband has been cheating on her. She takes the trip to give herself time to think away from home and her husband. Caroline goes mudlarking on her first day and discovers an old blue apothecary bottle in the Thames. Caroline sets out to find out more information on the bottle and where it came from. It was fascinating learning more about an apothecary shop and what it contained. A small amount of an item can be helpful, while a large amount can be deadly. I admit that I enjoyed the historical time-period more than the modern storyline. Personally, the book could have excluded Caroline’s story and been even better (less repetition too). However, I did like how the three storylines tied together. The Lost Apothecary is a well-written, developed story with great characters and a fabulous, dark atmosphere. It has a spooky quality that I loved. The Lost Apothecary is a dark, mysterious tale that captured my attention and imagination. Sarah Penner created an intriguing debut novel and I look forward to reading Sarah Penner’s next creation.