The Bookshop of Secrets

by Kerry Barrett

In a bookshop nestled in the sprawling streets of Lisbon, a shopkeeper leads a double life…

Looking for a new start after her father’s death, Lara Hope arrives in Lisbon in search of a family she’s never met.

As war storms across Europe, Lara finds solace and belonging in her landlady’s tranquil bookshop in one of the most beautiful corners of the city.

But when she witnesses a customer secretly swapping a book, she realises the bookshop is not all it seems. Lara is plunged into a labyrinthine world of mystery and facades, encountering new friends, an unexpected romance, and even royalty… Is she prepared to risk it all for this new life?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Romance, Mystery, Books About Books, Audiobook

337 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 4, 2025

Reviews

[Jennifer (Jaye) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Taking Chances*

**4.5 Stars**

This was an absorbing read. Set during World War II, the story introduces Lara, whose father has passed away, one of her father’s wishes was to find her relatives on her late mother’s side in Portugal. He always made a point of her learning the language.

An aspiring actress with a gift for accents, Lara arrives in Portugal and discovers that her former relatives have passed away. When her passport and purse are stolen, she wants to returns to England. However, with the war beginning, it becomes unsafe for her to go back. She finds work in a bar always hoping to save to get back to the U.K. once passage is safe.

Lara finds an additional job through her landlady, working in a bookshop, Lara initially thinks it will be boring. But she witnesses a cagey book swap, which changes her life.

Lara always wanted to contribute to the war effort, but she ends up using her acting skills to fight off street accosts. Meanwhile, her cousin and friend are serving in the war in the UK, but Lara can’t discuss her work because it involves signing the Official Secrets Act.

Despite these challenges, Lara meets a great team of people. However, they must be extra vigilant as the Germans are in Portugal, and her work involves feeding false information to them. Lara’s acting skills come into play as she comes into her own.

[Patricia Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read and get lost on the characters enthusiasm and adventures.
Lighthearted spin in such dark timeline as World War 2.

[Patricia Furstenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kerry Barrett’s The Bookshop of Secrets is a quietly captivating novel that blends historical intrigue with emotional resonance, unfolding a story as gently layered as the pages of a well-loved book. Set against the backdrop of Lisbon in 1940, the novel offers a fresh perspective on the Second World War, transporting the reader to a city often overlooked in wartime fiction.

Barrett crafts her narrative around a little-known incident in Portugal at the brink of war, skillfully weaving together fiction and fact to create an atmospheric and engaging tale. At the heart of the story is Lara, a young British actress unexpectedly stranded in Lisbon. Her journey—from a bar to a bookshop, and eventually into the shadowy world of espionage—is handled with a subtle, steady hand that keeps the suspense simmering without ever veering into melodrama.

Lara is a compelling protagonist: practical, passionate, and quietly courageous. The friendships she forms—with the affable Miguel and the enigmatic Bea—add warmth and depth to the narrative. Barrett has a gift for conjuring place and time with minimal effort; Lisbon comes alive through small, vivid details. You can almost hear the rustle of newspapers, feel the salt in the air, and taste the flaky sweetness of Pastéis de Nata.

The plot unfolds with careful restraint. Rather than relying on bombast or sweeping dramatics, Barrett lets tension build gradually, reflecting the slow creep of danger during wartime. Her prose is smooth and unfussy, with moments of quiet poetry that anchor the emotional weight of the story.

This isn’t just another wartime novel—it’s a thoughtful meditation on how ordinary people find their place in extraordinary times. If you're looking for a WWII novel that combines intrigue with a strong sense of character and setting, The Bookshop of Secrets is well worth your time.

[Cindy Eaton Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

I struggled to finish this one, but kept hoping it would get better. Disappointingly, it did not.

An easy, fairly fast-paced read, but the characters and their dialogue make this book feel more like a romantic comedy that takes place while WWII happens to be going on. The lightness with which the characters take their little escapades, while so many others are suffering, kept taking me out of the period that this is supposed to be taking place. At one point, I had to flip back to the second chapter to find out exactly what year it was supposed to be. For an historical fiction book, I like being transported to the time the book is set in, but this lacked all of the historical goodness.

I also felt completely fooled by the book title and blurb. You would think the bookstore would play a much bigger role, but it really doesn't. This book could truly be set anywhere and anytime as long as you remove the word "Nazi" from it. So very disappointing that this is called historical fiction.

Lastly, the main character, Lara, is completely unlikable and self-centered. There is a war taking place, and all she can think about is how she doesn't get to be an actress. Or how upsetting and unfair it is that she is separated from her new love because of this silly war taking place.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

After her father’s death, Lara heads off to Lisbon in search of any family she may have left there. Things take a turn for the worst when she encounters several problems which lead her to remain in Lisbon. The world then changes as the Second World War takes hold.
Unfortunately I struggled to fully get into this one. None of the characters particularly jumped out at me and the pace was just a little too slow.
I think I was hoping for a little more mystery and suspense as the write up for this book suggested.
If you like war stories, this may be well up your street, but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me.

[Cucabooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Que história tão boa, uma ficção histórica cheia de mistério, romance e ainda um toque de espionagem. Adorei.

O livro passa-se nas décadas de 1930 e 1940 e acompanha uma jovem que vem para Lisboa à procura de familiares e acaba por trabalhar numa livraria que se revela muito mais do que aparenta. Pelo meio há encontros secretos, amizades, algum romance e espionagem em plena Segunda Guerra Mundial. Gostei muito de ver este ambiente retratado no nosso país e com referências à nossa cultura. Tornou a leitura ainda mais envolvente e acolhedora, e foi sem dúvida um dos pontos fortes da história.

Foi uma leitura muito agradável e fácil de acompanhar. Ainda assim, fiquei com a sensação de que alguns elementos históricos, e até a própria livraria, podiam ter sido explorados com mais profundidade, sobretudo tendo em conta o título do livro. Também achei que o final foi um pouco apressado demais considerando toda a história que se vinha a desenvolver.

É um livro quase perfeito e por isso recomendo muito a sua leitura.

[Lara Fresco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorei a Lara e todo o clima de espionagem do livro.
Foi um 3,75/5 ⭐️

[tatiana.aka.tati · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good but not exactly what I expected which could be my fault but I also felt like something was missing.
Ps: Being Portuguese myself it was quite nice to see the language incorporated in the story and reading about Lisbon brough me back to my country for a little while.

[B J · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s an easy read but I felt like I was reading a jolly hockey sticks school adventure. Main character was quite irritating and obviously on happy pills. Can’t say I enjoyed it.

[Layla Farraj · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meals be so fr

[Ericka · Rating 4 out of 5]

ahhh summer reading

The summer evenings made more enjoyable by a good book. I love historical books that include romance. I’m a real sucker for love.

[Aunty Harry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lara has just experienced the death of her father and, one of his dying wishes, was for Lara to go to Portugal to see if she could connect with any of her deceased mother’s family. Unfortunately, Lara’s time in Lisbon starts out pretty rough! However, for various reasons she stays and eventually finds work as a bookseller and another job as a barmaid. The story is set not very long after the outbreak of World War II, and circumstances see Lara helping the British Secret Intelligence services. So begins a convoluted tale that really doesn’t know what it wants to be. Drama? Not quite! Comedy? Dismal failure! Historical? There may have been a few dashes of historical fact thrown into the mix somewhere, but I doubt finagling a friendship with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor was one of them!
I usually really enjoy WWII historical novels, but I did not like this one. I didn’t care about the characters and the story was all over the place. 1.5/5 ⭐️ and not recommended. (I do realise that heaps of other reviewers liked this one, so read a few reviews before deciding to pursue or dismiss. I just really did not get along with this book.)

[Meghan Buchman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Satisfying

I am a huge fan of books set in WWII. I devour them. While this was good, it was superficial. It skimmed the surface of something much deeper that, with a bit more effort, could've reached the depth it was meant to reach.

[Victoria McVicker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the writing and storytelling, but it lacked the depth I was hoping for as the story unfolded.

[Sandra Melo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[Kate G · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF:

I just couldn't get into it, Lara Hope was just so annoying and naive and it was just so convenient what happened to her, all the em dashes were also starting to get annoying. I have so many questions about how this book got published, I went into reading it with low expectations but I was not expecting it to be that bad.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book and story … set in Lisbon at done start of the war I wasn’t sure but it had me gripped from one start.

[Leeah Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good little read, more WWII history and simplified espionage than anything else. 🧐🕵️

[Ricky McConnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

did not finish, just didn't keep my interest

[Mª João Monteiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este livro é uma comédia e ficamos assim. Lara Hope vem procurar a família da mãe, que morreu quando ela era muito nova, e após a morte do pai. Não encontra ninguém, roubam-lhe o dinheiro e o passaporte porque está com eles na mão no Rossio e tem de ficar e desenrascar-se. Arranja um emprego num bar e mete-se em vários sarilhos porque é muito palerma. Acaba por ir trabalhar numa livraria onde se apercebe de que há movimentações estranhas com livros trocados. Por fim, é recrutada pelos serviços secretos ingleses e ajuda em várias frentes o esforço de guerra. As personagens são uma espécie de caricaturas e muito pouco profundas. Nunca na vida aquelas pessoas seriam assim. Também duvido que comessem pastéis de nata a granel naquela altura. Tem algumas passagens engraçadas e outras informativas, mas, a partir de certa altura, é apenas um pouco ridículo e nada credível. É distrativo e fácil de ler, mas muito simples.

[Kaz Cable · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed. Lots of different characters.

[Libby V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the plot! The main character Lara was so cheeky and lovable, and the side characters were so fun. Enjoyed the listen all the way through

[Rachel Galbraith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to reading this book about a cosy little bookshop in Lisbon, set in war time. Unfortunately for me it fell flat as it was more about all the war effort going on than the actual bookshop. A pleasant enough story & an easy read just not one I overly enjoyed.

[Julie Harrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. did about halfway and gave up. I could not get into the two-dimensional characters at all. The effort they were making with the radio broadcasts just seemed to happen immediately and that would not have been the case. Although promising this did not work for me ..... too many books, too little time.

[Sharon Valler: Live Love Read Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written wartime story that captivated me. Kerry Barrett has created a cast of well developed and likeable characters, and has based their powerful story in Lisbon, a city that remained neutral throughout WWII.

Lara is an actress who heads to Lisbon in the late 1930's, in hope of finding her family, after the death of her father. When she finds they are no longer alive, she is ready to head back home when her wallet and passport are stolen. Stranded with no money, Lara takes up jobs in a bar and in a book shop to save for her return ticket, but before she can travel home, the war breaks out. Lara finds herself unexpectedly drawn into the world of espionage, finding herself digging deep for every ounce of bravery and courage she can muster, and leaning on her acting talents to fool the enemy.

The diverse characters were at once inspirational, brave and often funny. A light element of romance added an additional dimension to the story, without taking away from the seriousness of the grief and loss suffered during the war.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Kerry Barrett and HQ for an ARC in return for an honest review.

[Mark Dare · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title indicates that this is a story centred around a bookshop, and all things bookish....it is not. I was torn in this one: It is soooo easy to read, which is a skill in itself....but, the content just brushed the surface throughout. Set in the 2nd World War, but seemingly skirting around the edges as if looking in from a distance....I just felt much more could've been made of the location and the period of history.

[Gracie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Shit from a butt

[Sydney Berkey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book but I felt that it was very surface level story. I think the story itself had potential but execution needed work.

[Laura Field · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started this book about four books in to a line of DNFs, so perhaps it was already having to do some heavy lifting, but it was because of those DNFs that I persevered to the end with the help of an audiobook version.

Firstly and most importantly - the main character/narrator is so exceedingly unlikeable, selfish and self congratulatory that spending as much time with her as I had to was an actual chore. Secondly, the improbability of every single event in this book had me rolling my eyes every ten minutes, and at several points I wondered if this was a fantasy written by an ambitious high school student rather than an adult adept at critical thinking. Thirdly, most of the ‘bookshop’ action happened in the apartment above the actual bookshop. Looking at other reviews, I definitely wasn’t the first reader to be led astray by the misleading title.

Essentially, the story goes that a girl moves to Portugal to find her family and then gives up on that within two pages and never mentions it again. This girl, who is surprised when a guy sending secret messages in a bookshop works for the British intelligence, is then recruited to work for the British intelligence. She immediately tries to work out how to tell her cousin and best friend overseas that she's been recruited despite being told secrecy is the first rule of British intelligence. She then adopts a Nazi and has him join her ill-planned, unlikely spy mission. All the while, people tell her how smart and talented she is and she sulks about not being an actress and hopes she will be allowed to go to a casino and wear fancy clothes. In the process of her adventures, she falls in love with aforementioned Nazi. Did I mention this is in the middle of WW2?

Things did not improve as the story continued, and the epilogue ends with the narrator and her housemate having unwittingly invented propaganda, as if that wasn’t something people dedicated their entire war towards. To conclude the book, the secret agent narrator is cast in a movie (her dream! As she deserves, with all her unparalleled talents!), setting us up for a sequel I will not even be looking at the cover of to protect my mood and sanity.

My opinion of the book was not improved by the audiobook narrator's squelchy swallows and chest gurgles, which were physically repulsive. Wild that these weren’t removed in edits.

[Chapters.aur.chai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set against the sunlit streets of Lisbon during the turbulence of World War II, *The Bookshop of Secrets* is one of those quietly enchanting reads that pulls you in from the very first page. Kerry Barrett blends mystery, history, and heartfelt emotion into a story that feels both comforting and thrilling.

The novel follows **Lara Hope**, who arrives in Lisbon searching for a family she has never known, desperate for a fresh beginning after her father’s death. What she finds instead is a tender sense of belonging in her landlady’s serene little bookshop — a haven tucked into one of Lisbon’s most picturesque corners. But peace never lasts long in a world at war.

The turning point comes when Lara witnesses a customer secretly swapping a book. That moment unravels everything she thought she knew about the bookshop. Suddenly, Lara is swept into a web of coded messages, hidden identities, political secrets, and quiet acts of defiance. And yet, the book never loses its warmth — friendships bloom, love finds its gentle way in, and even royalty makes an appearance.

Barrett writes Lisbon beautifully — the alleys, the light, the sea breeze, the sense of a city untouched yet deeply affected by war. It’s atmospheric without being heavy. The mystery is engaging without being overwhelming. Most of all, Lara’s journey feels deeply personal: a woman trying to build a new life while unintentionally stepping into a dangerous, exhilarating one.

What makes this novel special is how it balances heart and intrigue. It’s a book about finding courage, discovering unexpected connections, and learning that sometimes the life we’re meant for is nothing like the one we imagined.

A cosy, charming historical mystery with just enough shadows to keep you turning the pages. Perfect for readers who love bookshops, wartime secrets, and heroines who grow into their strength. ✨📚