Thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book.
As a lover of books, touching them, smelling them, enjoying the artwork and design of covers, this book intrigued me. The story is set in Rome in the present time, but also flashes back to early 1800s Munich. Sofia has to find herself again, and when visiting a favorite bookstore she's given an old book that needs restoration. In the end page she discovers a note from Clarice, written in the 1800s. So begins a journey of discovery, as she feels connected in a deep way to Clarice and is determined to uncover her secret.
I love stories about books, and this didn't disappoint. The process of bookbinding sounds fascinating, And I must say Italy is my favorite setting for books!
Sofia also finds a friend in Tomaso, who is a graphologist and together they work to find the secret left behind by Clarice
I definitely recommend this book

Full review published at Booklover Book Reviews website: https://bookloverbookreviews.com/2020/01/the-binder-of-lost-stories-by-cristina-caboni-review-bookish-enchantment.html

First can we acknowledge how perfect a title this is for an historical fiction book. I fell in love with this book before I ever read a word. The author does not disappoint her readers with this exquisite tale of two women living 200 years apart but sharing a love a books so strong that it dictates the main choices in their lives.

Sofia Bauer is at a crosswords in her life and her marriage when she comes across an original copy of the first book in a series of three by a famous author in the 1800s. As a restorer of damaged books she hopes to bring this classic back to its original form. In the process of her work she discovers a hidden pocket in the cover with a handwritten note by the original book binder Clarice Von Harmel.

Clarice's letter puts Sofia on a journey to find the other two original copies of the books in the hopes of finding more hidden letters from Clarice. It's through this journey that we learn of Clarice's struggles as a young girl during the 19th century. She is considered the property of the men in her life whether it be her father, her uncle, or an abusive husband. As a child she is befriended by a kind book binder who sees not property but a talented child with a love for books and their adventures. He teaches her the art of book binding, and like Sofia, it is her savior during times of hardship.

I would like to give kudos to the translator of this book Patricia Hampton. Often reading translated books I have found them lacking in translating the essence of the book while just translating the words. Ms. Hampton brought the essence of this book to life and I never once felt I was reading a book not originally written in english.

My only wish was that this book was a little bit longer. Without giving anything away I felt the ending of Clarice's story was a bit rushed and I would have liked some more details about this brave fascinating character.

Just a note that there may be a trigger from some regarding domestic abuse. It is more hinted at than detailed but nonetheless it is a part of the story.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Amazon Crossing Publishers for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

~ARC provided by NetGalley~

I really enjoyed this book, quite a nice story for a book lover. I really enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter form other novels. The alternating stories between past and present were very nicely done. The writing was good and it was just really a nice light story.

In THE BINDER OF LOST STORIES, Cristina Caboni tells the story of Sofia and Clarice. Sofia is a young woman reeling from a debilitating marriage and fresh divorce in modern-day Rome when she chances upon a book bound in the 1800s by Clarice, a young noblewoman who mastered the exacting and forbidden art of book binding, leaving tantalizing clues about a passionate life and intelligent heart. As Sofia delves into Clarice's life, she dares to reconsider her own, including joining endeavors and lives with the enigmatic Tomaso. As the pair piece together secrets of the past, they uncover their own and start their own story. Caboni is an exceptional plotter, deftly weaving complex emotions and entwining the past and the present in fascinating, transfixing ways. However--and this is a huge however, the novel does not live up to its promising concept. It is the writing -- and I was baffled as to whether it was the translation or the original writing, but it is the ultimate in telling, not showing, splashing statements that force the reader out of the story. Ultimately, a most promising and disappointing experience. Not bad, just disappointing, because I expected and desired so much more.

What a romantic story ! Expect the Italian charm to work at full speed ! The eventful lives of two heroines got intermingled by ... books. It is the principle of looking at something in the mirror itself reflecting in the other mirror in your back. Rest assure, the story is very easy to follow, and the characters to appreciate and remember.
I am quite certain that, at any point in this package of an original great story wrapped in the amazing descriptions of natural landscapes and life stories, any reader will receive a gift from the book.
This gift might come from what is happening to the characters or from the story within the story. no need to say more, this book is a real treasure !
I am grateful for a copy from the publishers and NetGalley, all opinions are entirely mine.

I've seen some other reviewers calling this book sweet, and it really is. It is a story of adventure, love, and history, showing us how stories and lives from centuries past still have the power to inspire change in our lives.

After the discovery of a mysterious letter in an original edition of a philosopher's text from the 1800s, Sofia sets off on a journey to figure out who the writer is, and what her story was. Along the way, she finds bravery, courage and love within herself, and learns how to create a better life, inspired by the story she discovers. The plot is very uplifting, and this book is a quick read for when you need a bit of positivity and hope in your life.

My main complaint is that the writing can be a bit jumpy, going from action to action, but I never found it disconcerting. While you can easily say that the plot wraps up too nicely, or the main character (and her love interest) are a little too perfect for each other, this book is still a fun and enjoyable read.

The story remains heartwarming and indulgent, spinning a tale full of secrets that you slowly get to unravel as the narrative goes on. In the end, you'll be charmed by the story and leave satisfied and happy. It's a joyful work of historical fiction, and I'm glad I got to read it! It's a lot of fun, and a reminder to indulge our desires & find our happiest selves.

A lovely dual time line story about two women finding themselves. Sofia finally leaves her husband and as she's casting about for her next steps, she finds a letter tucked away in a book. Clarice, the author of the letter, was a bookbinder in the 19th century who poured out her heart in a series of missives which she tucked away in books. Tomaso, a graphologist with his own issues, helps Sofia figure out who Clarice was. You'll learn a bit about bookbinding as well as about how women were viewed in the 19th century. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A well translated good read.

I really enjoyed this book. The title is what first caught my eye, but it is a more complex story than I imagined. There are layers of history and mystery and intertwined lives over two centuries. I like the way the author has woven the two women together through time.

An enjoyable dual-timeline book. I enjoyed the perspectives of both of the protagonists, both of whom I found likeable and interesting. I loved the European setting, which was beautifully described, and was fascinated to learn more about the nearly lost art of bookbinding. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy to review.

What a treat!
I just knew when I started this that it was going to be a special book.
I loved it.
It was right up my alley.

Sofia is feeling lost. She knows she needs to leave her husband. She tried to be everything that he wanted and she lost herself in the process. She has to be honest with herself that she’s lost everything she cared about in life.

One day she wanders into a book store by her grandparents’ home. The owner gives her a book written by one of her favorite authors. It’s in terrible condition but Sofia has learned to book bind and is actually well qualified to get the book restored.

After Sofia takes the book home, she finds a shocking surprise. There is actually a handwritten letter hidden within the book.
The owner advises her to contact a man that Sofia has met in passing. The man, Tomaso, is a handwriting expert. He should be able to help Sofia uncover the details regarding the mysterious letter writer, Clarice.

This story leads to an exciting quest for a secret book.

I loved it.
I got to read an early ebook edition from NetGalley. Thank you for sharing it with me!

Thank you to NetGalley, and the publisher for a copy of this book.

This is a lovely story of finding love; not with another person but love for yourself.

Sofia is a woman who has given up everything for the man she married, basically because she believes that that's what being married is. She quit her job as a librarian, she removed herself from friendship circles and from her passion for books - only to wake up one day and realize that her husband doesn't love her and she doesn't love him. As she tries to leave him, he suggests 'having a baby' to keep her around. I think in some aspects he just liked having her around, for the company and for the status. He didn't want to try and get remarried or start over. But Sofia realizes that, that is what she really needs, to start over. Once she develops the courage to leave him, she simultaneously finds a hidden story of a woman, Clarice, also struggling to overcome the obstacles left in her wake.

As she embarks on the journey to tell Clarice's story, what she ultimately uncovers is herself.

I found that I loved parts of this book, but found other parts to be dragging some. It is a a great story for anyone who loves books and the spark they can ignite in being true to yourself.

This book is about Sophia, a woman who is in search of herself while she tries to distance herself from her husband. While her story is being told, it is intermingled with chapters about Clarice, a woman who lived during the 1800's who's life gets noticed by Sophia through books.

The overall story was fascinating and I really enjoyed the back and forth chapters of different characters perspectives. What I especially enjoyed was the eclectic topic of book-binding which is a lost art with today's technology and it was definitely a different approach than other books.

However, I felt it was quite slow building up and some parts could have been executed in a way that could have included more suspense to make it a page turner and keep the reader interested. This book is for you if you are looking for a light read.

I just finished this book and I fell in love. This is the story of a mystery discovered in a book. It is also a journey to finding oneself again. I read this in one day staying up late to finish it. This is a story about the love of books and those who bind them. It is a story across centuries. It takes you across Europe and leaves you with a story that you can't let go. I can't wait to read more from this author.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

What a lovely story.

Sofia's life changes when she decides to leave her controlling husband at the same time as an old book by an author she admires comes into her hands. She discovers handwritten notes in the margins of the book and a letter hidden in the binding. This sets her on a quest to find out more about the author of the notes and letter, with the assistance of Tomaso - a graphologist struggling with the consequences of a family betrayal.

The story is told in dual timelines through Sofia as her search for answers helps her to re-discover herself, and the writer of the notes and letter, Clarice, is revealed through her letters and flashbacks to the 19th century.

This was a lovely read with mystery, family dynamics, romance and new beginnings.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

What a beautiful story of a woman who finds what it means to love herself again. As a woman, this book is entirely relatable in the sense that a woman loses her identity when she becomes married and finds it again in time. How many women go through something similar to that? I can personally relate. This story takes us throughout many emotions, travels and friendships as a woman finds herself again.

Thank you to the team at NetGalley, Cristina Caboni and Amazon Crossing for my copy of this book

This is such a sweet and austere story of finding love; not with another person but love for yourself. Love enough to start again.

Sofia is a woman who has given up everything for the man she married, basically because she believes that that's what being married is. She quit her job as a librarian, she removed herself from friendship circles and from her passion for books - only to wake up one day and realise that her husband doesn't love her and she doesn't love him. We she tries to leave him, he suggests 'having a baby' to keep her amused. Once she develops the courage to leave him, she simultaneously finds a hidden story of a woman, Clarice, also struggling to overcome the obstacles left in her wake.

As she embarks on the journey to tell Clarice's story, what she ultimately uncovers is herself.

I love the bookish elements of this story and I love the austerity with which the tale is written. It's not flowery of poetic but it delivers a depth of emotion that lingers long after you finish. A fantastic read for anyone who loves books and writing but also for the exquisite european setting. A wonderfully told tale.