The Bookseller's Daughter
Summary: ‘As the soldiers arrived on our sandy beaches, a brave young girl hid beautiful leather-bound books. She risked her life to protect the secrets of this island and save the man she loved. I want you to find the books, dear Francesca. Her diary holds the first clue, take it, and uncover her incredible story…’
As golden sunlight shimmers across the crystal-clear water, Francesca arrives on the tranquil Italian island of Santa Caterina in search of precious rare books. She quickly discovers she was invited by the island’s mysterious owner, alongside handsome local book collector Thiago, to unlock a secret spanning generations. Together, they learn the books were hidden during the Second World War by Helèna, the daughter of a bookseller, who sacrificed everything to save the island’s treasures from the Nazis.
With only Helèna’s diary to guide them, Francesca finds herself growing closer to Thiago, with his deep blue eyes and sun-kissed curls. As they curl up under the stars, piecing together clues in the gentle, rose-scented breeze and retracing Helèna’s steps on the quaint cobbled streets, Francesca begins to wonder if she can finally open her heart to a new beginning...
But when an unbelievable act of courage and a heart-breaking secret in the final pages of the diary shatters everything she and Thiago thought they knew about Helèna, Francesca realizes the remarkable wartime story of love and sacrifice has the power to change both of their lives forever.
An unforgettable and emotional story of bravery, love and secrets from the author of Amazon No.1 bestseller The Italian Villa and million-copy bestseller, Watch Over Me. Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Victoria Hislop, and The Letter by Kathryn Hughes, readers will be absolutely hooked on The Bookseller’s Daughter.
My thoughts: This was a quaint and charming read. The overall plot had enough suspense to keep me intrigued throughout. I found that Helena was the only truly developed character. The unraveling of her story via the letter styled diary entries was on point. I felt that the more present timeline didn't capture my attention as much. Some of that timeline felt forced and largely unnecessary. The story was mostly predictable but there were some unexpected twists. I found Lavinia to be a total enigma and that was both good and bad. Readers will find themes of dedication, courage, despair, redemption, friendship, and love.
I received a copy of this title via NetGalley from the publisher.
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