The Bookshop of Yesterdays: a story about family, forgiveness and the love of reading

The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson is a story about discovery. Discovery about the past and ourselves. Miranda Brooks had been estranged from her beloved Uncle Billy for 16 years after a huge blowout between him and her mother after her 12th birthday party. When she learns that he has died and left her his beloved bookstore, Prospero Books. She grew up among the stacks, reading the adventures within the pages of the books. Uncle Billy also designed inventive scavenger hunts that would take them all over. She leaves behind her boyfriend in Philadelphia and flies home to Los Angeles. When she arrives home for his funeral, she discovers he has one last scavenger hunt for her. One that would take her on a journey of self-discovery and the truth behind the family’s falling out. She also learns that the bookstore is on the verge of bankruptcy. Can she solve his clues to discover the story he wants her to know? Can she save his beloved bookstore in the process? 

The Bookshop of Yesterdays is a story of family, forgiveness and the love of reading. I enjoyed how Ms. Meyerson weaved the books into the story. Some I have read, some I haven’t and others I had never heard of. Not sure if readers are supposed to “discover” the truth with Miranda or see the mystery before she does, but I figured out one piece of the mystery fairly early on. Miranda was a hard woman to like, very immature for a 27 year old. When she learns the full story, Miranda is angry that it was kept from her. It was frustrating to see that she was not trying to understand why events played out like they did. In a way, she still hasn’t learned to see her mother or her uncle as more than their relationship to her. She has failed to see them as flawed people trying to navigate life as best they can. Do any of us? Overall, I enjoyed the story. I recommend The Bookshop of Yesterdays. 

The Bookshop of Yesterdays is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook.