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The Bookshop of Secrets
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?
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?
337 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2025
3562 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
October 6, 2025
*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.
**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.
May 26, 2025
Easy to read and get lost on the characters enthusiasm and adventures.
Lighthearted spin in such dark timeline as World War 2.
Lighthearted spin in such dark timeline as World War 2.
April 14, 2025
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.
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.
February 7, 2025
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.
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.
July 4, 2025
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.
The summer evenings made more enjoyable by a good book. I love historical books that include romance. I’m a real sucker for love.
July 21, 2025
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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2025
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.
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.
May 8, 2025
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.
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.
February 24, 2025
I enjoyed the writing and storytelling, but it lacked the depth I was hoping for as the story unfolded.
April 22, 2025
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.
July 3, 2025
Good little read, more WWII history and simplified espionage than anything else. 🧐🕵️
September 12, 2025
did not finish, just didn't keep my interest
January 13, 2025
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.
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.
February 1, 2025
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.
September 9, 2025
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.
November 20, 2025
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. ✨📚
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. ✨📚
September 3, 2025
…I’m screaming.
Overall the plot was enjoyable but it was a little hard to stay engaged through the whole thing.
The last 5-10 chapters were arguably the best but mostly bc they had the most going on.
Fast forward to the end. The only reason I didn’t sob was bc I was listening at work. How could they do that to Otto and Laura? I’m genuinely distraught.
AND THE ENDING LINE. oh I cannot I need so much more there… I’d love to see an additional chapter or two or second book honestly.
Easy historical fiction with some fun characters, good palate cleanser for sure.
*Audiobook
Overall the plot was enjoyable but it was a little hard to stay engaged through the whole thing.
The last 5-10 chapters were arguably the best but mostly bc they had the most going on.
Fast forward to the end. The only reason I didn’t sob was bc I was listening at work. How could they do that to Otto and Laura? I’m genuinely distraught.
AND THE ENDING LINE. oh I cannot I need so much more there… I’d love to see an additional chapter or two or second book honestly.
Easy historical fiction with some fun characters, good palate cleanser for sure.
*Audiobook
July 22, 2025
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.)
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.)
August 20, 2025
The twists and turns kept me engaged almost immediately. A simple story that tells an individual war-time tale, it needs no fluff. Sure some liberties were taken with history, but this book would make a fantastic tale of love, adventure, and comic relief. I found myself smiling at the sarcasm and quirks, and shedding a tear at the end. Now I have to read more of her books, but I'll dearly miss these characters!
June 30, 2025
An excellent historical fiction novel diving into the themes of family and loyalty that are found in unexpected places and with unexpected people. This book reinforces the notion that family isn't exclusive to blood, and loyalty - especially in times of war and conflict - reveals the true character of a person.
October 14, 2025
4.3/5⭐️
A win for historical fiction fans everywhere (not usually me) and the magic of surrounding yourself with good people. A win for badass thespian women as well (not usually me). This started slow for but ended powerfully once the main character got on board with herself. No spice, just some good old storytelling.
A win for historical fiction fans everywhere (not usually me) and the magic of surrounding yourself with good people. A win for badass thespian women as well (not usually me). This started slow for but ended powerfully once the main character got on board with herself. No spice, just some good old storytelling.
May 26, 2025
An intiguinging start that held me in suspense and turning pages faster than I expected. Emotional and quite a fitting depiction of the personal affects of War.
Want to read
June 9, 202599 cents on Kindle
July 7, 2025
Fun read! Left me wanting more :-)
August 19, 2025
I enjoyed the way Kerry Barrett was able to marry a dark and heartbreaking time with characters that were heartfelt, charismatic and entertaining.
August 25, 2025
Lovely book
Despite me not really enjoying WWII fiction, this book grabbed me from the start. It truly was a wonderful read.
Despite me not really enjoying WWII fiction, this book grabbed me from the start. It truly was a wonderful read.
September 9, 2025
Loved listening to this. The characters are great and although the plot was loosely based on historical events- it felt real!
September 19, 2025
I recently have been into Book Shop stories. Recently finished The Midnight Book Store and it was excellent.
This book is even better. If you like historical fiction you will love this book
This book is even better. If you like historical fiction you will love this book
October 3, 2025
I did enjoy this book, but it was not about a bookshop.
December 4, 2025
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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews