The Lost Apothecary: A Novel

This book is a joke. I am baffled by the positive reviews. The writing is poor; the dialogue from 1791 doesn’t even try for accuracy (at one point a character says, “it’s okay”), you can’t tell apart the narrative voices of the 12-y/o girl and the 41-y/o pharmacist, nothing makes sense, the inaccuracies are glaring, everything that happens is so contrived and not believable, there are long passages that you have to skip through because nothing important is being said... it’s just *bad*. The story definitely has potential, but the book is just a mess. If you’re not bored out of your mind from the pandemic and desperate, seriously skip it. This book made me dumber.

I hate to pee on the love parade here (no I don't) but this was a very disappointing read. The premise is great; who among us women hasn't fantasized about male mayhem? I definitely was "in". The first chapter kept me reading, but as the writing revealed itself to be static, at best, and new, poorly written voices were added, and the repetition became, well, extremely repetitious, the potency of the idea diluted to a weak potion that, if poisonous, wouldn't have killed a fly on Nella's windowsill. (The analogy works. Bad novels are a bit like ingesting poison slowly. You start feeling sick and wonder if you should stop but ... oh, never mind. You get it.) The novel became more trite as I read. There.Also, let me add that Caroline needed a good, swift kick in the backside. And some self-esteem therapy wouldn't hurt. The mewling got tedious.If you don't mind wasting a few pandemic hours on an unsatisfying read, go for it. But you can find something much better.

We female pharmacists are jumping for joy that we finally get to 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 in a fantastic and beautiful book! Is the apothecary a heroine, murderer, or both? You’ve got to read it to find out! Our book clubs will be whipping up batches of rosemary butter biscuit cookies and Tom Pepper’s Hot Brew in no time. Who know what else will make it into our mortars & pestles???? 🧪⚖️👩🏻‍🔬

Penned tells her story through three first-person accounts. Two of the women live in the end of the 18th century, while the modern narrator lives in 2021. We also meet a husband and a librarian. One problem is that all the characters speak alike. Even more problematical is that nothing they say seems to come from a real person. The book reads like a second-rate romance paperback that you find on s drugstore shelf. This is a first novel. Let's hope that Penned acquires more skill in her future work. This one is a total disappointment.

When I reluctantly finished The Lost Apothecary I did so with a sigh and chills, my most visceral of 5 star reviews. This dual timeline tale takes place in 1790s and present day London, centering around a mysterious hidden apothecary shop and its effect on the lives of two troubled women. This satisfying read will leave you looking forward to more from debut writer Sarah Penner. She’s got the Write Stuff!

It's a cold night in February of 1791 and in an unmarked back alley in London, Nella sits awaiting her customer.Nella is an apothecary, as her mother before her was. Women came from all around for her healing potions and salves. Taking care of women. Nella is carrying on the tradition in another way. Women come to her for poisons that will release them from the men who have done them wrong.Of course, there are a few rules. The poison must never be used to harm another woman. And the names of the victim, poison, and the killer are to be recorded in a register.When her next customer shows up Nella is shocked it is a twelve-year-old girl named Eliza, whose employer wishes to engage Nella's services to relieve herself of her husband. Little does Nella know that this meeting will alter both of their lives as well as the life of present-day historian Caroline, who is spending her anniversary alone after her husband has an affair.When she finds a mysterious vial with a bear on it, her research instincts kick in and she is determined to find out everything she can about the apothecary shop, Nella and Eliza.Women had very few options in this London. One had to put up with whatever situation one found themselves as far as philandering spouses or abusive ones. This was a great look at the lengths women would go to seek revenge. This was disturbing and yet honest. A very good debut!NetGalley/  March 2nd, 2021 by Park Row

The Lost Apothecary is an innovative and magical story that seamlessly transports readers through different timelines taking them into a world of unforgettable characters. The characters’ secrets are deadly, and readers will have to uncover the clues along the way as they navigate the treacherous waters of love, deceit, self-discovery, and the ultimate payback making this a page-turning novel they won’t be able to put down. The author’s ability to paint realistic scenes through words transports readers into a world filled with sights and sounds unique to London creating an unforgettable experience that sucks readers deep into the story that not only stimulates readers' minds, but also their senses.I loved the theme of finding oneself and following one’s heart even when that requires one to let go of people, places, and things one puts above oneself. This story encourages individuals on a deeper level not to be afraid to pursue their hearts' desires and not to let negative circumstances define them or hold them back from their dreams. Overall, this is an outstanding one-of-a-kind, spine-tingling novel that will leave readers' minds spinning for days.

Enjoyed this beautifully penned novel by Sarah Penner.The past meets present as she weaves a story of 2 women one in present time and one in the past . 2 women grieving and betrayed trying to break from the molds created by themselves others and living their lives to please others .

This was a really well thought out, pacey story. I enjoyed the parallel stories which drew you in and kept you turning the pages. The only thing that let this book down really badly was the anachronistic language and syntax which was so jarring to me, a British reader, that it ruined the flow of the story. No 18c English noblewoman would use the phrase ‘if she had any smarts’ and the words ‘ok’ and ‘gender’ were not in use then. Neither was the phrase ‘is all’ at the end of a sentence. This also happened with Gaynor’s dialogue, British people don’t say ‘sneakers’ or ‘orient’. It’s just really bad and lazy editing and almost ruined an otherwise enjoyable read.

I only managed to get through the first few chapters as the author got so many things wrong about London that it was distracting me from the story. It’s not a good idea to set your novel in a city unless you know it like the back of your hand.

I have nothing against American authors. However, the author of this book did not do enough research about English history and the spoken language in the 18th century. English people then would not have said, “okay” or used casual speech and we do not call trainers, sneakers! Also trainers were not even invented then. I found these references annoying and so I gave up with this book. It may be a good story and I may decide to come back to it, but please do your research if you are going to write anything about historical England and London.

This is in my opinion a masterpiece.Set in 1791 and 2021 it is a fictional story about a lady Apothecary who made up poisons and sold them to women to poison their husband's who were abusive to them.She kept a record in a hidden room but things went wrong when a 12 year old girl made a mistake.This is entwined with an American lady separated from her husband and comes across a phial in the Thames and a mystery ensuesYou feel you are living in 1791 and there are twists and turns.As a first novel from the author it grips you from page 1 to the end and few novels can do that.

Firstly I cannot believe this is a debut, it is written seamlessly and makes for very addictive reading. I couldn’t put it down and read it over 24hrs. The characters and story literally come alive and the moves forward and back across the century’s is intoxicating. The twists and turns continue to add to the story line. I cannot wait for her next book.