This is the tale of a longlost manuscript rediscovered and attempts to trace its path. I found this to be a somewhat cumbersome read. The writing style of the letters, while old-fashioned and reminiscent of both letter writing of the past and popular 19th century authors, seemed a bit laborious in a 20th century context and I found it hard to follow the story and absorb details.

I couldn’t get attached to the characters either, although I feel that I should have, so the story mostly plodded along for me.

I think this could be a wonderful book if you like this particular writing style and while I loved the letter-writing format and the jaunts around Europe, those were the highlights for me.

The Lost Manuscript by Cathy Bonidan is an excellent story that draws the reader along a path of correspondents all crossing paths due to one simple manuscript.

I loved that this book was written solely in written letters. I love when the intricate plot of a novel is unraveled in the form of a letter. Something that seems so simple becomes fascinating and intimate. Somehow it is easier to unearth emotions and express innermost thoughts when one is able to place it into a well-thought letter.

The concept of Anne-Lise Briard finding a manuscript in a hotel and in the process of seeking answers and its owner, crossing paths with many people that she would have never encountered, therefore all involved affecting and altering one another’s lives is fascinating.

I loved meeting each character and seeing each evolve and unwrap. It was a wonderful journey to be a part of.

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

The Lost Manuscript is a fun and uplifting story told through the exchanging of letters (and a few e-mails). I've gotta tell you, this book made me think back fondly of the days when I had a pen pal, and friends to whom I wrote actual letters and sent them through the mail! It made me want to find some friends willing to revive the practice.
The story begins when Anne-Lise Briard, while on holiday, discovers a manuscript in the drawer of the nightstand in her hotel room. Half way through that manuscript, there is an address. Anne-Lise decides to send the pages to the address and thanks the author for the "enjoyable reading experience". She is shocked when she receives a response which indicates that the manuscript had been lost for 30 years! Not only that, but the second half of the manuscript was written by a different author. At this point, Anne-Lise decides to embark on the epistolary adventure of tracing the journey the manuscript has made during those three decades, and to discover the identity of the second author.
As the story progresses, we meet several characters, and learn how this wonderful manuscript has touched so many readers, and often changed their lives. I loved the mystery of discovering where else the manuscript had been, and how it ended up being passed from one person to the next, all the way back to when it was originally lost on a plane to Montreal
Books truly do have the power to change our lives. They can change our perspective, give us hope, take us to faraway lands that we've never seen before, show us the past, or speculate about the future This book was a perfect reminder of that. I would recommend this book and thank NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Anne-Lise finds a manuscript in a nightstand drawer in a hotel where she is staying. She finds a way to return it to the writer. But she receives the biggest surprise; the manuscript was lost 30 years ago. Even more surprising perhaps, the second half was not written by the same person.

What follows is a search initiated by Anne-Lise to figure out the entire path of the manuscript. What happens along the way is that she learns how much the manuscript has impacted everyone who read it. It also introduces her to an interesting batch of characters.

I liked that the entire book was written in letters. That format always appeals to me.

Some parts of the search were more interesting than others and I also liked some of the characters more than others.

I got to read an early ebook edition from NetGalley. Thanks!

I loved the Guernsey feel to this and felt a bit of the lingering spirit of Joanne Harris. This is a testament to the power of words to span across time and space and to bind people in the most charming and unexpected ways.

Perfectly immersive and sometimes whimsical, this is a sumptuous treat that is romantic in love story as well as in ambience and sense.


In an age of lost or virtual connection, the epistolary form is a welcome way to step into engagement and it works here as a reflection of the numerous ways books and letters can wind their spell around us.

I confess that it took two trial runs for me to be in the perfect mood for this.... but I am glad I saved it for that unparalleled moment of intersection between my mood and the right book for it.

As this is a translation, I am hoping more of Bonidan's work is filtered through for English readers.

(shared also on twitter, facebook and instagram as well as Goodreads )

I really enjoyed the concept of this book; the journey of a complete stranger discovering another person’s lost manuscript and tracking down its author.

It was interesting that the entire book took place in hand written letters between people. The effort the author put into the words chosen in these letters was very evident. I had to looks some of them up! You could tell all of these characters valued the relationships forged from corresponding with each other through these written documents.

I enjoyed getting to know all the characters a little deeper through each letter. So, if you enjoy a story where the characters use old-school methods to get to know each other and create lifelong friendships, this is the book for you! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC

"Sometimes there is a clear connection between a book and a reader; it can’t just be a coincidence."

Cathy Bonidan spins a heartwarming epistolary work of art that spans a myriad of people connected and changed upon reading a forgotten manuscript that has traveled over continents and seas. This theme was reminiscent of Paul Fleischman's Whirligig, in which a child completes his community service hours as discipline for drunk driving by leaving whirligigs across the U.S., which ultimately affect people who find them, inspiring them to act on heart rather than external expectations.

The Lost Manuscript revolves around a draft of a book the audience never reads, but through little snippets each letter writer compose, we might not know the exact words of the book, but we understand the significance, meaning, and ambiance behind the coveted read.

We follow Anne-Lise, a middle-aged Belgian woman, who vacations by a Finistère beach with her husband and two teenaged children. She comes across a forgotten manuscript and reads it, kickstarting her journey reconnecting not only the lost manuscript with its original author but also the mysterious secondary writer who finished the draft as well as backtracking the other individuals from across the world whom the manuscript positively influenced.

She sleuths with her friend who knows the manager of the hotel the manuscript was housed, and together, they play Sherlock and Watson or even children, determining a mystery or trying to find the origins of a treasure chest they found buried in the woods of a backyard.

Bonidan writes very eloquently, and the style fits the book very well. She highlights a message that many books can tell stories, but few can inspire the reader and spark true change, and she flawlessly integrates the growth of each character-- distinct with their own nightmares, dreams, and charisma.

I cannot recommend The Lost Manuscript enough, and it is a book that everyone must read.

Courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a beautiful story I could not put it down.

This was the first time I have read a book in the form on letters going back and forth, and while I did not think I would enjoy it, I found that I actually did. I truly believe a good book has the power to change one's life, which is exactly the case in The Lost Manuscript.

The plot line was enjoyable from the start and the characters were well written. I especially enjoyed seeing the impact the manuscript had on the lives of the people who encountered it.


Thank you #NetGalley, author Cathy Bonidan and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Fantastic book about, what else, a lost manuscript. Anne-Lise finds the lost manuscript in a hotel nightstand, and there begins the journey to find the author, or authors, of said manuscript. This book hits a sweet spot for me, the heavenly intersection of books about books, friendships new and old, and travel, with a dash of romance thrown in for good measure. Lovely without being 'cozy' or cutesy or cloying. I definitely enjoyed this charming tale, and I'm grateful to #NetGalley and the publisher for a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Expect more good things to come from this author.

This book explores the power a book can hold over people and how it can bring people together. As an American who hasn’t gone abroad, it was difficult to follow in some places but a fun read.

I loved every second of reading this book, honestly couldn't put it down. This was just the kind of entertaining read I needed.

The Lost Manuscript is a charming tribute to the power of a good story and the effect it can have on anyone who encounters it. This book is epistolary and tells the story of a manuscript that passes from hand to hand until Anne-Lise Briard discovers it and decides to trace its past to find the author of the manuscript--and the second author who wrote the ending of the book! As she encounters the various hands that have held this lost manuscript over the last thirty years, she discovers the impact it has had on all of its readers. She gets to know Sylvestre, the original author, and many other unique souls as she traces its roots until she finds the person who ended the novel--and perhaps a happy ending for its original author as well!

This book is a gorgeous tribute to the power of a story. Anyone who loves to read will be completely enchanted by this story. The writing is gorgeous and poetic and I wanted to highlight every other line for its profound impact on me. The only downsides to this story were my own lack of knowledge of France and western Europe that made me miss some of the reference. I would have also liked to see more character development in Anne-Lise as she really seems to be more like the narrator than an actual character. Overall, however, this book was a book lover's dream and I absolutely loved it!

After reading Samuel Richardson's Pamela in college, I swore I'd never read another epistolary novel, but now that I've read The Lost Manuscript, I'll say that I have changed my mind.

What a charming,wonderful book!

Cathy Bonidan has given us an engaging story and memorable characters. I can not imagine how difficult it is to write an epistolary novel and still develop your characters to the degree that she has. The plot centers around Anne-Lise who finds a manuscript in a hotel room drawer. It appears to have had more than one author. So impressed with the story, which she finds almost life changing, Anne-Lise begins to solve the mystery of the owner of the manuscript. Through this quest we meet several quirky and charming characters who in turn have all been deeply affected by this manuscript.

I hated to finish this one -- I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

When Anne-Lise Briard checks into the Beau Rivage Hotel, she unknowingly sets off a chain of events that crosses time and culture. Reading the lost manuscript awakens her spirit and she's determined to return the manuscript to its mysterious owner.

Cathy Bonidan takes readers along on Anne-Lise's journey and to the character's delight, everyone that comes in contact with its moving words, life is forever changed by reading. Bonidan penned a quirky-imaginative tale that I read in one sitting. I couldn't leave her world until discovering the truth.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read "The Lost Manuscript." It's the perfect book to snuggle up with that allows your imagination to travel when grounded during the pandemic. Once you start the journey, be prepared to get lost in the read.

The author conveyed the perfect sentiment to commence the novel:

"To all the books we've read, to all those we've yet to read
Because like sandmen, they sprinkle into our daily lives
A few words or phrases
that work their way into our subconscious
over time and change us
Discreetly but irrevocably"

Not what I was expecting. Generally, I like books written in "letters" or correspondence. This one talked about the mysterious manuscript and I enjoyed the journey the characters took. However, we never got to read the manuscript and discover for ourselves why it had such an impact on all who read it. It felt like a mystery with a clue missing. I enjoyed the book, but wish it had been filled out a bit more.

A book about a lost manuscript and how it’s discovery brings a whole group of strangers together. The description tells how the book will change the lives of all those that it brings together, and it does deliver on that. I admit that I had high hopes for this book as the premise was so intriguing, but I quickly realized it wasn’t going to live up to my hopes. I found it to be somewhat boring.

1. I was unable to form a connection with any of the characters. I particularly found Anne-Lise to be annoying and many of her actions juvenile. She constantly meddles in the lives of the others despite many of them asking her not to. She somehow gets everyone to confess their deepest secrets to her and then offers them her unsolicited advice. She even admits all this in a letter to another character.
2. I also thought, the closer I came to the end, that it was hard to keep the many characters straight and that the letters didn’t always make sense. I reread some of them several times and still had the feeling as though I had missed something.

Clearly my opinion is in the minority as the 5 reviews before me on GoodReads all give the book 5 stars. I makes me feels like we read completely different books, but we all enjoy different things and for sadly, for me, is book didn’t hit the mark.

Thank you To NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies...The man who never reads lives only one.” George R. R. Martin

A beautiful, poignant, lyrical story is told by moving, exciting, poetic letters. Do you want to get lost in magical world of literature? This is great fit for your needs if you’re looking for a book heals your soul, warms your heart and always makes you smile genuinely!

Do you want to know what this book is about? Let’s dig out more about the story-line:

Anne-Lise Briard has no clue that her trip to Brittany Coast will change her life forever and help her unearth a 30 years old mystery as she takes her first steps to her room at Beau Rivage Hotel. She looks for something to read by searching her bedside drawer and Voila! She finds a manuscript. And as soon as she finishes the first half she finds an address which might be belonged to its author. So she writes the presumed author to inform him she found the manuscript and she truly loved it.

And surprisingly the author writes her back sooner than she expected but two surprising revaluations sends Anne-Lise to another search: the author thanks to her for finding the book which has been lost for 30 years during a flight to Montreal and the biggest surprise about the manuscript is the second half of it was written by another author.

Anne Lise starts her search to track all those people who get their hands into the book. She realizes this book has already touched to many people’s souls and warmed their hearts. Through her search and connections with people, romance brightens the lives, intimate friendships are formed and magical emotional power of the book brings out the happiness into those people’s lives.

And there is a smart twist about the identity of the second author which was not foreseeable and well-written.

Overall: I let my soul drag with the lyrical words of the letters and I enjoyed the mysterious journey of Anne Lise. Of course it’s obvious I’m giving those well-deserved, five shiny stars!

I’d like to end my review with one of my favorite quotes: “I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library.” Jorge Luis Borges

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this dreamy ARC with me in exchange my honest review.

A quirky and charming story about the journey of a lost manuscript and the people who encounter it. This was a wonderfully formatted book told in letters between various characters. I had so much fun getting to know the characters and seeing their friendships grow. I enjoyed the plot so much and it was such a unique one! All the side characters and their connected stories were a great touch and this was just an overall pleasant and enjoyable read!

The premise of this epistolary novel was interesting. Anne-Liese Briard books room 128 at the Beau Rivage Hotel in Brittany for a getaway. Bored and looking for something to read, she finds a manuscript in a drawer and proceeds to devour it. Midway through, she finds an address on one of the pages and impulsively decides to send a letter to the occupant, hoping to return the manuscript to the rightful owner. Sylvestre, the author does contact her, but the news is surprising: the manuscript has been missing for thirty years, and he didn't write the ending. How did it come to be in a hotel in Brittany, and who wrote the second half of the novel?

As Anne-Liese traces the movement of the manuscript back through time, the mystery slowly unravels and a large cast of characters become involved. Their lives entwine, not always in positive ways. Ultimately, Anne-Liese must face the question of whether she will do more harm than good by tracing the manuscript back to the beginning and finding the elusive author of the second half.

The plot held my interest and the characters were sympathetic and diverse. The ending ties everything up a bit too neatly, especially a revelation about Anne-liese's career, but my biggest issue was the epistolary format. It's a good choice for a novel about a manuscript. However, the entire novel is thus written in various voices, and after the first few pages, they all started to sound the same. For me, it was a voice I didn't quite appreciate in its detailed, somewhat self-indulgent prosiness, and I found myself wanting to skip ahead. When you flip open a book like this at random and can't tell who is writing the letter, it's not a good sign.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Lost Manuscript.

Told through letters, The Lost Manuscript is an epistolary novel centered around a manuscript discovered by a woman named Anne-Lise at her hotel. Touched by the literary work, she seeks to return the manuscript and strikes up a pen pal type relationship with the author.

Soon, Anne-Lise is drawn into a quest to find out how the manuscript ended up in at the hotel, making new friends and bringing forth secrets, drama and resolutions for her friends and newfound family.

I'm usually not a fan of this type of literary device where the narrative is told through letters because the reader is unable to develop a relationship with the characters, but I was intrigued by the premise.

I enjoyed how Anne-Lise tracks down the clues that led to how the manuscript ended up in her hands, and how this led to her own journey of self-discovery, as well as for her BFF.

But, I was unable to connect with any of the characters, including Anne-Lise.

The writing was good, and the conclusion satisfying.