Smart, compelling and irresistible, Lost for Words combines the emotional intensity of Nathan Filer's Shock of The Fall with the charm of The Little Paris Bookshop.
Stephanie Butland lives with her family near the sea in the North East of England. She writes in a studio at the bottom of her garden, and when she's not writing, she trains people to think more creatively. For fun, she reads, knits, sews, bakes and spins.
Loveday is a compelling character, you love her in the way you love
a cat who always scratches but you love it anyway . . . this book
is quirky, clever and unputdownable. I really enjoyed it.
*Katie Fforde*
Loveday is a marvellous character and she captured my heart from
the very first page . . . and her bookshop is the bookshop of
readers' dreams.
*Julie Cohen, bestselling author of Dear Thing*
Loveday is so spiky and likeable. I so loved Archie, Nathan and the
book shop and the unfolding mystery
*Carys Bray, author of A Song For Issy Bradley and The Museum of
You*
Burns fiercely with love and hurt. A quirky, rare and beautiful
novel, one you'd be delighted to unearth in any bookshop. And
Loveday Cardew is a character who leaps from the pages into our
hearts.
*Linda Green, bestselling author of While My Eyes Were Closed*
It is such a beautiful read and Loveday's voice is so compelling .
. . an exquisite story that I couldn't put down.
*Liz Fenwick*
Beautifully written and atmospheric. Loveday is an endearing
heroine, full of attitude and fragility. The haunting story of her
past is brilliantly revealed.
*Tracy Rees, Sunday Times top ten bestselling author of Amy
Snow*
What an absolute stunner of a book. I LOVED it and cried like a
motherf***er. If you care about books (or humans) read it!
*Shelley Harris, author of Jubilee*
This book will warm and break your heart in equal measure! Loveday
Cardew is funny and sassy, angry and loving, and she is running
scared; she wears her scars deep within her and on the outside too.
In Butland's consummate hands, the story of Loveday's past and her
present is bravely told and is transformative. This is a must-read
novel.
*Claire Dyer, award-winning poet and author of The Perfect
Affair*
A beautiful, touching, moving, sweet treat of a book. Sad,
intriguing, cleverly plotted, sometimes shocking, compelling read.
I was with Loveday all the way. I absolutely loved it
*Jane Wenham-Jones, author of Prime Time*
I just finished. I can totally see why you fell in love with it.
What a unique, beautiful novel that cleverly builds to a
heart-stopping climax. Any book lovers out there would be mad not
to adore the quirkily drawn character of Loveday who pulls you in
right from the get go with her distinctive voice!
*Tracy Buchanan, number one bestselling author of My Sister' s
Secret, The Atlas Of Us and No Turning Back*
Wonderful. So many beautiful one-liners too!
*Ayisha Malik, author of Sofia Khan is Not Obliged*
OH poor, brilliant Loveday. Gorgeous, gorgeous bookshop book . . .
So, so lovely!
*Sarah Franklin, author and Costa Book Awards judge*
Loveday is an incredible character.
Oh, the w riting . . .
Vibrant, vivid, sometimes visceral;
Engaging, funny, searing.
Dares to mix prose and poetry seamlessly.
Archie had me head-over-heels in love.
You can't help but hurt w hen it's over
*Helena Sheffield, author of The Art of Wearing Hats*
I loved it! Spent all day today engrossed in Loveday . . . a
superbly drawn character.
*Alex Gray, bestselling author of The Darkest Goodbye*
I very quickly fell in love with the protagonist, Loveday
Cardew...This is a story about hurt and self-preservation but above
all else love...
*Boofs Books*
I enjoyed Lost For Words; I found it readable, humane and rather
perceptive...it's so well done that it felt very fresh and
involving to me. Loveday's narrative voice is authentic and very
engaging...it is intelligent and thoughtful and almost entirely
without implausible sentimentality. There is a distinct whiff of a
Richard Curtis film about the plot...I found it genuinely funny in
places and very touching in others...an engaging and quite gripping
read which I can recommend.
*Sid's Book Reviews*
Love at first word! Fascinating. Truly fascinating and
spectacular
*Articles and More*
A wonderful read for a holiday or weekend. It's a great, immersive
read with a big heart. What more could you want?
*Hannah Bullimore*
I found myself faced with the question of how much you can hold a
mentally ill person accountable for their violent tendencies, and
how do you measure whether its their illness or just their evil? If
you're looking for a light read with a dark twist I'd recommend
Lost for Words. It was a comfort read for me, especially because of
the familiarity that comes from a bookish protagonist.
*Sumaiyya Reads*
This is the perfect read for any bookworm... The story is warm,
effortless, and comfortable. Most of all, it was lovely to be able
to connect to a character that felt exactly the same way about
books as you do....Read this book. Even if you think this 'might
not be your thing' like I did, give it a chance. You might just
have found your new favourite book.
*A Literary Mind*
I have a fatal weakness for books set in bookshops and whimsical
heroines for Lost For Words pushes all my bookish buttons. Loveday
Cardew infinitely prefers books to people; she works in a
second-hand bookshop called Lost For Words and has her favourite
lines from her favourite novels tattooed on her skin. But then
mysterious packages begin to arrive for Loveday, each one
containing a book that stirs up unsettling memories for her,
especially as someone seems to know the secret that Loveday has
been hiding for so many years.
*Red Magazine*
I loved so many things about this book. It is narrated by the most
appealing heroine named Loveday. Loveday is a fantastic character,
defensive and spirited...a brilliant story about surviving, and
full of hope. I loved this author's way with words and her astute
observations. It is is surprising, affecting and beautifully
finished but the main thing is that it is brilliant and I suspect
my voice will be one of many shouting about how good it is.
*Kitty Loves Books*
This book is beautiful
*Prima magazine*
'A beautiful book'
*Prima magazine*
Lost for Words is a book I adored. It's full of warmth with
wonderful characters and it's full of the magic and power of books.
If you love books set in bookshops, you'll love it. If you love
books about damaged people learning to love again, you'll love it.
If you love books with quirky characters, you'll love it. In fact,
if you love any beautifully written story, you'll love Lost For
Words!
*Portobello Book Blog*
Fierce, tender, quirky, well-written - Lost for Words is all this
and more. There's much to love in this book, but what really makes
it stand out is its appeal for readers who don't just read books
but adore them: the bookstagrammers, the paperback hoarders, the
page sniffers.
*the Book Specialist*
The past is handled so very well, and makes the present scenes very
understandable and real. As I said, by the time I got to the last
few chapters I was invested enough to be teary about it all.
*Little Frog Scribbles*
I could gush for hours about Lost For Words; the setting, the
characters, the quite dark and disturbing themes...I'd just like
everyone to go out and buy a copy and savour it and love it as much
as I did. I expect most people will shed a tear or two, and I know
that there will be laughs and gasps along the way too. This really
is a poignant and beautiful story, told by an author who can
captivate an audience so easily. Wonderful. Highly recommended from
me.
*Random Things Through My Letterbox*
Oh how I adored this book. I loved everything about it. The only
thing wrong with it was that I could have read another 100 pages.
This is a novel that is an ode to the written word, to the beauty
of poetry and the solace that books can provide. But it is not just
a celebration of books. It is a novel about how our history shapes
us, but doesn't have to define us. It is a novel about love, in its
many guises, of friendship and of how we can always re-write our
own story. Simply beautiful.
*From First Page To Last*
I truly liked Loveday, Nathan and Archie. I wanted to unwrap
Loveday's past and find out what keeps her so guarded and
untrusting. A wonderful, heartfelt story that pulls on your heart
strings and leaves you bereft when finishing it. I could have read
on after the book finished, I'm still hungry for more.
*Lip Squid Book Blog*
LOST FOR WORDS by Stephanie Butland is such a heartbreaking
story...the author perfectly portrays the significance that a book
can play in someone's life - the memories they invoke, the
connection they can make with the reader, the emotions, the dreams,
just everything...a must read for fiction fans everywhere, but
especially for those who find books their connection to the world.
A beautiful, all-consuming read!
*Books of All Kinds*
And oh, how I absolutely loved it. I was completely drawn in from
the beginning, loosing track of what was going on around me and
completely involved in Loveday's story. Seriously, I can't remember
the last time I cared for a fictional character as much as I did
this one. It made me laugh and cry, it's both heartbreaking and
heartwarming, and it's sad yet filled with hope. And I guarantee
you will fall in love with Loveday Cardew too.
*Cosy Books*
this is a story with a mystery at its heart, that deals with some
hard-hitting subjects... heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal
measure with more than one heart stopping moment. I have no
hesitation in recommending this book, it is quite simply
brilliant.
*Jill's Book Cafe*
Lost For Words is that rare thing . . . a warm, wise and funny tale
of our times with a dark and shocking twist . . . truly is a book
lover's dream . . . an intriguing story set in an irresistibly
charming bookshop, packed with literary references, featuring a
cast of eclectic characters and with a gripping and unexpected
dénouement guaranteed to keep readers on the edge of their
seats.
*Lancashire Evening Post*
Intriguing and touching story
*Sunday Express, S Magazine*
an easy, breezy read... Loveday is an appealing character with a
fascinating hinterland.
*Daily Mail*
I enjoyed reading this story. The premise is a good one, the ending
was heartfelt and I loved the poetry included as part of what helps
brings two people together in this story.
*Layered Pages*
Yes, I really loved everything about this novel and it's one of my
favourite releases of 2017 so far. All in all, 'Lost for Words' is
a compelling and lovely read that will warm your heart and leave
you with a smile on your face. If you love books about book shops,
then definitely do not miss out on this one!
*A Spoonful of Happy Endings*
I'm just going to go ahead and say, if you love books, read this
one. Seriously it's beautiful and sweet and comforting and
heartbreaking.
*Is this Real Life*
BOOK OF THE MONTH: Loveday Cardew is a quirky, fiery, likeable
character who works at the Lost for Words Bookshop in York.
Preferring books to people, she keeps the memories of her painful
childhood to herself, hiding her scars deep within her. Warm and
spiky, beautifully written and plotted, you'll be swept along by
the bitter-sweet storyline to the very end.
*Candis Magazine*
Oh, wow. Just...wow... Butland has created such an unforgettable
character...To create ONE storyline full of endless emotions, good
memories and bad memories, multiple layered characters, AND an
exceptional plot and setting, is just...mind-blowing. Stephanie
Butland's outstanding writing style is what makes this storyline
stand out from the rest, alongside her beautiful creation that is;
Loveday. Poignant, heart warming, and totally unforgettable; 'Lost
for Words' is the soul-searching, exceptional novel that I have
been waiting for.
*The Writing Garnet*
If you like something more than just romance in your chick-lit then
maybe Loveday's story is one for you.
*Shhh we're reading*
There was so much more to this story than I was expecting and I
loved how it took me as a reader on a roller-coaster of emotions -
I may have shed a few tears! The supporting cast of characters are
also beautifully created and add so much to the story of Loveday
and it captured my heart as I followed her story.
*Books and Me*
'As soon as I read the first few pages though I realized that this
book was something special. In fact, I would say it is a book
lover's dream, with endless references to all our favorite books,
charming and really interesting characters and the perfect setting,
a bookshop full of rarities, surprises and secrets... All in all, I
cannot recommend this story enough. It had been a while since I had
felt so involved in a story like this one. It is inspiring but
heat-breaking, a real gem of a book that I have no doubt will be on
my top ten books of the year.'
*Alba In Bookland*
My favorite thing about Lost for Words was how powerful some scenes
were... This book is not a fast read, but then again neither is one
of my favorite books of all time...Not all books have to be, when
the author can find the right pace and divulge the inner workings
of their characters in the proper moment.
*The Hermit Librarian*
'This is a lovely book with an endearing main character who we care
for as she slowly takes us through her history. The book is
beautifully written with its theme of how the past can affect the
present if we let it. It deserves to be a best seller.'
*The Yorkshire Gazette and Herald*
If you are looking for a book set in a bookshop with a mix of
romance, drama and action then I'd definitely encourage you to pick
up this book ASAP!
*A Cup of Wonderland*
if you're looking for something that you can get lost in Lost for
Words is for you, definitely recommend it! I'm looking forward to
reading more books by Stephanie Butland.
*Always on the Road*
Stephanie Butland has a stunning writing style and I enjoyed every
single sentence of Lost for Words. The book is a true treasure,
it's fabulously written, delightfully interesting and absolutely
spellbinding. I loved the story from beginning to end, every
chapter is exactly as it should be. The story has plenty of
emotional layers, the main characters are easy to love or hate,
depending on their role, and I effortlessly got lost in Loveday's
world and never wanted to put the novel down again. I highly
recommend this brilliant book
*With Love For Books*
contained within the cover is a very addictive story. So addictive
that I almost burnt the evening meal and drank several forgotten
about cold cups of coffee, this was my commitment to reading this
book. I would highly recommend this book to people who like a
heartbreaking and heartwarming contemporary fiction read
*VonnieBee*
This book is sure to make you laugh and cry in equal measure
(although maybe cry just a little bit more)
*Buzzfeed*
What's not to love about a story set in a bookstore in York with a
heroine named Loveday Cardew? It's charming and sweet but also very
intense with some deeper and darker themes than you'd first
expect.
*1 girl 2 many books, top books of 2017*
A first class book
*Mike Finn's Fiction*
I was delighted to read about a care experienced character who was
intelligent, articulate, a lover of words and books and of course
feisty, vulnerable and not a stereotype.
*Care Leavers in Fiction*
You know that rare feeling when you slip into a character's skin
and become them, feel their feelings and see the story through
their eyes? That's how Loveday felt for me. It's always so amazing
when you stumble across a book which is not only a great story
which holds your attention but makes you feel all the feels
too.
*Life Has a Funny Way*
In one way, Lost for Words is a book about books and the power and
influence they have in many people's lives but it is also a book
about love and hope. Stephanie Butland has written a beautiful book
that I urge you to read.
*Dot Scribbles*
A joy
*Sainsbury's Magazine*
Darker than expected novel about domestic violence, with a
surprisingly different and complex protagonist, a realistic
romance, a bit of a mystery, and a bookshop!
*Your Heroine Reads*
lots to love... this book is a delight
*Book Myopia*
the further I read, the more Loveday allowed me in to her life,
thoughts and memories, and the more enchanted I became with her
individuality
*Bookshine and Readbows*
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