THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERBest Books of Summer 2018 Selection by Philadelphia Inquirer and Library Journal“Part mystery and part drama, Meyerson uses a complex family dynamic in The Bookshop of Yesterdays to spotlight the importance of truth and our need for forgiveness.” —Associated PressA woman inherits a beloved bookstore and sets forth on a journey of self-discovery in this poignant debut … 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 from 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.
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“Everyday has a past. Every day has a tomorrow.”
This is a book that demands all your attention from page one to the very end.
Every action, every conversation, every description is essential to the plot.
A young woman grieving over the death of a beloved uncle, is determined to find out more about his mysterious past. He has left her clues in the form of quotes from well known novels. Each time she solves a clue, she finds a surprising revelation.
This story is engrossing,. It deals with family love and the sacrifices, the tensions, the misunderstandings, the estrangements that are sometimes part of it.
It shows the need for honesty, forgiveness, and healing, and the peace that ultimately comes from it.
As the story unfolds it proves how forgiveness heals the forgiver as well as the forgiven.
So many beautiful lessons in a well written story with a special nod to Shakespeare.
Overall this was a great book. It was a bit slow in places but I did enjoy how it all came together.
Family drama, mystery, and a love story about books/bookstores all rolled into one! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even when the characters were just plain pissing me off. It really hit me emotionally and any book lover will enjoy the literary references scattered throughout.
And as an added bonus, if you’re doing the 2020 Pop Sugar challenge this fits for Book with a book on the cover 😉
I loved this book. I’ve been surrounded by death lately, and so it was a timely read for me. So many unexpected things can happen after the loss of a loved one, and The Bookshop of Yesterdays definitely reminds me of my own puzzles in dealing with the aftermath of loved one’s passings.
The mysterious scavenger hunt woven throughout the story was remarkable. I recommend this to fans of contemporary literature, particularly those who love books about books.
Miranda is left a bookstore after her Uncle Billy dies. They were best buddies until one day Billy just disappeared and Miranda never heard from him again. When she returns to the bookstore, she finds a staff that does not know how to take them. When she receives mail that seems to be a clue from Billy, Miranda begins her journey. She is bound and determined to find out why Billy just disappeared from her life. As she follows this scavenger hunt left by Billy, what unravels is not what she expected. I really like this book for various reasons. One, it is about a bookstore. Two, there was much mystery to be unraveled. And three, the various literature that was mentioned throughout the book in which Billy used as clues. As Miranda unravels the clues left in the books of literature, she finds out her life is not what she thought – there were secrets kept.
Enjoyable read. Very original and kept me engages as I worked to figure out the clues.
Miranda had not heard from her beloved uncle since she was twelve years old. He was the one who inspired her love of books. He’d owned a bookstore and had allowed her to choose any book for herself whenever she was with him. Another thing she loved about her Uncle Billy was the scavenger hunts he always created for her.
Sixteen years later, she receives his last scavenger hunt. He has died, and he wants her to discover the truths that he’d hidden from her for so long. Miranda could not resist her uncle’s last scavenger hunt. She really wanted to know her family’s secrets!
I love books about books, and this one by Amy Meyerson is no different. Clues from books are referenced throughout this story. The characters created by this author come alive as the reader follows them through this exciting plot.
This was a sweet mixture of family drama and secrets the protagonist didn’t even know she had. It deals with a bookstore (what’s not to love!), Shakespeare’s Tempest, a new start to life, and the power of forgiveness. Not as grim as the plotline might suggest, there’s no villain, just limited human beings trying to do their best. I found it a warm-hearted and engrossing read, but not very emotionally intense, considering some of the themes it deals with.
Designed for every person that loves classic books and
Puzzling plots. When her favorite Uncle dies she returns to her hometown to discover that she has inherited his bookstore and a second floor apartment. At every turn a puzzling hint pops up that slowly unravels a long time family secret. Slowly one at a time she is given leads that change her future goals, attitudes and life in general.
I loved the searching for the characters history.
I really enjoyed this book. I usually read mysteries and this story had enough mystery to satisfy me. But the story was more about relationships and family dynamics.Writing was good and characters were realistic.
I liked following the clues. Neat idea – and who doesn’t like books about bookstores?
Way too much nasty language. No use for all that was in the book.
I love a book with twist, turns, and treasure hunts all set in a bookstore! This is a wonderful story of loss and forgiveness. A book worth reading to see how it ends.
Beautiful story!
Easy sweet read
If you love the idea of a scavenger hunt that hinges on excerpts from classic books, this is the book for you.
The story was slow and easy, a different style and voice than what I’m used to and although the plot was fairly easy to figure out, I found it engaging. The clues surrounding the books from Miranda’s uncle Billy were unique and brilliantly thought out, and I found myself wanting to visit Prospero Books. I enjoyed watching the relationships unfold as Miranda navigated through the clues and discovered the lost secrets of her past she never knew.
I chose the audio version and enjoyed the story very much. Kudos, Ms. Meyerson.
I loved this book. Easy to Read and Easy to Fall in Love with the Characters.
My new favorite author.
I really wanted to like this book, but the plot just never caught my heart. Loved all the book quotes and the clues! I just expected more.
A little long winded but interesting story