The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson is an adult fiction novel.
It has been sixteen years since Miranda Brooks last saw or heard from her Uncle Billy. When she was twelve years old, he disappeared from her life and at first this was very hard for her but as time went by, she he’s eccentricity became nothing but a fond memory–that is until she receives a mysterious package and news of Billy’s death.
Now Miranda finds herself the owner of Prospero Books, her uncle’s failing bookstore that was her favorite place in the world as a kid. Not only has Billy left her Prospero books but he also left her one last scavenger hunt. And it is a hunt to beat all scavenger hunts because with each clue Miranda will learn about the falling out Billy and her mother had sixteen years earlier, as well as parts of her own family history she never thought to question before.
Through Prospero Books, her uncle’s clues and the people she meets along the way, Miranda will embark on a journey of self discovery that could change her world forever.
Goodness! It is hard to write Miranda when your name is actually Maranda with an “a.” Anyway, I obviously had to pick up this one because of the title. Publishers know this… any book with the words “book,” or “library” in the title will sell to book lovers. I literally can’t pass up a book about books.
That being said, there was a lot about this book that I liked. Miranda’s quest to find out about her past, her uncle’s riddles and games, the bookstore itself, all bits and pieces that were totally up my ally. However, I found this book terribly predictable. Almost from the first chapter, I knew where we were heading and the one misdirection thrown in to make us think we were wrong, didn’t really do anything for me.
I couldn’t believe the little bubble of a world Miranda lived in. A world where she didn’t know herself, let alone her family history, to that extent seemed just a smidgen unrealistic to me. I know we are all oblivious about certain things but we are also a curious species sooo yea.
This would make a good weekend read or a good audio book for a car trip. This one gets 3.5 stars from me.
That’s all for now!
-M-
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