• 5 Star Reads
  • Audiobooks
  • Books on Screen
  • Children’s Books
  • Christian
  • Fiction
  • Giveaways

5 Minutes For Books

  • Home
  • About
    • Who Are We? Reviewer Bios
    • 5 Star Reads
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
  • Join In
    • 5 Minutes for Books Bookclub
    • Children’s Classics
    • Kids’ Picks
    • What’s on Your Nightstand
  • Link To Us
  • Contact
    • Advertise

The Apothecary’s Daughter

January 21, 2009 by Lauren

Last spring, I read Julie Klassen’s first novel, Lady of Milkweed Manor. Having just finished reading all of Jane Austen’s novels, I enjoyed revisiting Regency period England. If you haven’t read Lady of Milkweed Manor, I recommend it. (You can read Jennifer’s review of this book HERE.) In her second novel, The Apothecary’s Daughter, Julie Klassen returns to this time period with new characters, and I am pleased to say that I enjoyed her second novel as much as the first.

PhotobucketLilly Haswell is an intelligent young woman coming of age in Bedsley Priors, a small village in rural England. After her mother abandons the family, Lilly lives with her father and her mentally impaired brother, and she spends her days helping her father run his apothecary shop. Although Lilly’s life is far removed from ours, her dreams, those of a teen-aged girl in a small town, aren’t too different from what you would expect today. When an estranged aunt and uncle offer Lilly the opportunity to move to London for an education and a social life, Lilly jumps at the chance to explore the world and to look for her mother.

After some time, Lilly learns that her father is ill, and she returns to Bedsley Priors. Although it is illegal for a woman to do so, Lilly takes over the shop while dealing with the realization that her opportunities in London are diminishing in her absence. Lilly must decide what is most important and where to look for contentment.

As usual, I enjoyed the historical nature of this story. Reading about the role of an apothecary in the daily lives of the people as well as a bright young woman having to hide her intelligence and successful business skills was fascinating. Additionally, I was truly surprised by several aspects of the ending. During the course of the novel, several potential suitors emerge. Not only did I spend the majority of the book wondering who Lilly would choose, I couldn’t decide who I wanted her to choose! Along with other surprises, this held my interest and made it quite difficult to put the book down before I finished the story.

If you enjoy historical fiction, particularly stories set in Jane Austen’s England, I highly recommend that you find a copy of The Apothecary’s Daughter.

Check out our current giveaways. Subscribe to our feed or video reviews on YouTube. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter or on Facebook.
Lauren is a wife, a mother of two, and an avid reader. She blogs at Baseballs and Bows.

Filed Under: Christian, Fiction, Historical, Lauren

« Confident Conversation
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County »

Comments

  1. Divina says

    January 21, 2009 at 11:09 am

    Hello,

    You are up on our blog roll. I give you a lot of credit for reading so much while being a mommy.

    Thanks for the recommendation on the Apothecary’s Daughter.

  2. Jennifer says

    January 21, 2009 at 5:48 pm

    This book sounds wonderful!! Thank you for the review.

  3. Jennifer (5 Minutes for Books) says

    January 21, 2009 at 9:55 pm

    I really enjoyed the Lady of Milkweed Manor, and have this book sitting in my stack, but I don’t know when I’ll get to it.

  4. Framed says

    January 24, 2009 at 6:56 pm

    Thanks for the recommendations. Both books sound great.

  5. Linda White says

    January 26, 2009 at 12:28 pm

    Id love to read the Apothecary’s daughter! Thanks!

  6. Carol says

    January 27, 2009 at 3:28 pm

    Period books, especially in a series or by a particular author, entice me until I’ve exhausted the whole run of them! This sounds as if it is a good new series of reads to me. I’m ready–so send it any time soon (LOL). I’ve asked my husband to bring Lady of Milkweed Manor home to me, which he said he’ll do today or tomorrow. It is fantastic that you are putting books into people’s lives. I thank you for my sake, and for many others.

  7. Carol says

    January 27, 2009 at 3:29 pm

    Is it here yet?

  8. Cathy M says

    January 28, 2009 at 11:47 am

    I put both books on hold at my library – hope I get a chance to read them soon!

  9. Jana (sidetrack'd) says

    January 29, 2009 at 10:47 pm

    I will have to search out both of Klassen’s books. Sounds like an author I would really enjoy. Thanks for the review and recommendation!

Trackbacks

  1. Sunday Salon: Gleaned from the Saturday Review at Semicolon says:
    January 25, 2009 at 3:54 pm

    […] Recommended by Jennifer at 5 Minutes for Mom. I missed this review the first time around, but Lauren reviewed a second book, The Apothecary’s Daughter, by Julie Klassen, and I found myself wanting to read both […]

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Welcome to 5 Minutes for Books. We are a team blog dedicated to sharing reviews and information about children's lit, fiction, memoir, and more. Read More…

Reviews

5 Minutes for Books

Jennifer Donovan
Managing Editor

MEET OUR TEAM



Connect With Us


Pinterest

Community

Cybils Logo Draft 3

Disclosure:

Find out about our relationships with publishers and affiliate networks in our full disclosure statement.

Recent Posts

  • Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
  • The House of Eve
  • Bright and Deadly Things
  • Long Story Short
  • Stone Cold Fox

Categories

Privacy Policy    |     Disclosure Policy
Terms & Conditions
© 5 Minutes for Mom

Let’s Socialize

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Pinterest is Our FAVORITE!

Find and Follow Us at
pinterest.com/5min4books

Copyright © 2023 · Tasteful theme by Restored 316