1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• What were your overall impressions of the book? What aspects did you like most and least?
• Discuss the possible reasons that the author, Evie Gaughan, used the pseudonym Evie Woods for The Lost Bookshop, and compare this novel to others by Evie Gaughan (released under her real name), which include The Heirloom, The Story Collector, and The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris.

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Reflect on any aspect of the book that evoked a strong emotional response and whether it reminded you of an experience in your own life. The plotlines provide many possibilities, like Lyndon’s actions toward Opaline’s life and Martha’s revelation that her grandmother Rose was Opaline’s missing daughter.
• Discuss how the book’s major themes (The Power of Books, The Search for Purpose and Belonging, and The Human Need for Love) relate to your personal views or experiences. Which one do you most connect with? Why?
• The characters have magical experiences relating to literature. Has a book ever made you feel magical or powerful?
• Explore connections between your life and the experiences of the characters.