The Bookshop of Yesterdays

By: Amy Meyerson

Narrated by: Ann Marie Gideon

A woman inherits a beloved bookstore and sets forth on a journey of self-discovery in this poignant debut about family, forgiveness and a love of reading.

Miranda Brooks grew up in the stacks of her eccentric uncle Billy’s bookstore, solving the inventive scavenger hunts he created just for her. But on Miranda’s twelfth birthday, Billy has a mysterious falling-out with her mother and suddenly disappears from Miranda’s life. She doesn’t hear about him again until sixteen years later when she receives unexpected news: Billy has died and left her Prospero Books, which is teetering on bankruptcy, and one final scavenger hunt.

When Miranda returns home to Los Angeles and to Prospero Books—now as its owner—she finds clues that Billy has hidden for her inside novels on the store’s shelves, in locked drawers of his apartment upstairs, in the name of the store itself. Miranda becomes determined to save Prospero Books and to solve Billy’s last scavenger hunt. She soon finds herself drawn into a journey where she meets people from Billy’s past, people whose stories reveal a history that Miranda’s mother has kept hidden—and the terrible secret that tore her family apart.

Bighearted and trenchantly observant, The Bookshop of Yesterdays is a lyrical story of family, love and the healing power of community. It’s a love letter to reading and bookstores, and a testament to how our histories shape who we become.

Quirky family and friends

This is not what I expected when I started listening to this novel. I thought it would be about old books and memories of older events. It does have a touch of this because it is about a book shop, but it has modern themes and characters. The characters are well developed and I gradually grew to like all of them. For me to say this is a compliment to Ms. Meyerson. I am a detective procedural and mystery nut. I needed something lighter for a change. This hit the spot. That being said, this is not all lightness and joy. There are some serious, very touching moments in this story, and I found it all very believable. It is also beautifully written. Ann Marie Gideon does an excellent job with all of the different characters. Obviously, this book is a winner and well worth the read. Enjoy!

predictable and dragged on

I finished the book but it was painful. It was at least two hours too long. It is a sad story that has lots of hatred in it.

She dislikes her parents. She doesn't forgive easily. She is self centered and everyone around her is also. She has strife with everyone.

It has too much detail about things that don't matter and not enough of what does.

Beautiful story

This book was recommended to my by a friend. I enjoyed it immensely!
Love, trials, grief and pain. Overcoming.
5 stars, 100% recommend!

frustrating (spoilers)

I "read" this for my bookclub and was able to finish my homework. It was obvious to me where this plot was going and Miranda should have been smart enough to not drag out this clue game. Granted she's a history teacher and not a historian but even an amateur knows to find out the date of a death without pulling a birth certificate would go back to the cemetery gravesite. Death dates are typically engraved on headstones. If I were reading a physical copy of this I would not have finished and thrown it against the wall. Instead I found myself driving at night alone and yelling at my radio.
Narrator was average. She was not strong on voices and if the structure was flashbacks in the text it was awkwardly either read or edited so a listener has a bit of trouble.

Tender, today and fractured as we all are.

I loved this book. I don’t often binge listen, but I allowed this novel to envelop my last 2 days off in order to continue through completion.

Personally? No where near enough time between the book’s last word and the credits. There needs to be pause for absorption. Also, I’m not a fan of a female voice trying to take on male character’s voices. I’d much prefer a true reading of the book, as if it were us reading in our heads.

This story was delicious and the struggles all trusted, believable and pointent. I laughed and cried and felt every single point of view as if I was inside this velvet timeline, as if this was my life told out loud. Thank you. I’m a fan.