Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: December 6, 2022
In Sardinia, Italy, in the 1900s, women are either born into wealth, marry into wealth, or live as best as they can, making meagre amounts on their talents and abilities. One such talent is the ability to sew, and it is through this life lesson, taught to her by her grandmother, that our protagonist experiences life, love and humanity.
“The Seamstress of Sardinia” by Italian author Bianca Pitzorno, is a historical fiction novel with so many rich themes, including societal bias, patriarchy and the struggle to survive. The protagonist starts off the novel as a young girl, who is never naïve due to the struggles she faces just to avoid poverty, but is completely likable, filling in with clients when her beloved grandmother passes. She is aware of the social constructs around her, and knows that more important even than the ability to sew, is the willingness to share (and keep) the information she learns from watching those around her.
The characters in “Sardinia” are primarily women, and each one is so unique and charming (for the most part). I loved getting snippets into the lives of wealthy women like Marchesa Esther, and the independent, spirited American Lily Rose had me cheering. Each woman played such a role in the seamstress’ life, and added such bravery and emotion to an already well-developed plot.
The novel is narrated entirely by the seamstress, told chronologically as she grows and begins to come into her own, and it’s completely captivating. Heartbreaking in parts, “Seamstress” is unique and entertaining. Rich with detail, it provided me more knowledge about sewing and tailoring than I ever expected wanting to know, but at no point was it ever dull. The ending was bittersweet, but conclusive, and completely satisfying. It is a novel unlike anything I’ve read recently (if ever), and I’m so grateful for Harper Perennial for sharing this with me. Pitzorno’s adult works will be on my radar in the future, to be sure.

“𝑺𝒆𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔.” – 𝑱𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒓 𝑵𝒐𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒆

Thank you Netgalley, Harper Perennial Publishers and author Bianca Pitzorno for the #gifted eARC. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

𝘐 𝘌𝘕𝘑𝘖𝘠𝘌𝘋...
• How the author takes the reader on a journey with the main character is impeccable. She uses first person and occasionally direct address narration. Which draws the reader in and evokes a sense of trust and empathy.
• The portrayal and reality of poverty, social class, politics, laws, and health at the turn of the twentieth century in Sardinia.
• The strong connections the women form certainly show their loyalty to each other. With a slight feminist vibe to the story and rising above.
• Seeing the slight evolution with time of acceptance and cohesion within the social classes and breaking down the barriers.

𝘖𝘝𝘌𝘙𝘈𝘓𝘓
The author is Sardinia born and her many published books have sold over 2 million copies in Italy. This novel is her first to be translated into English and I hope to see more translated work in the future. I absolutely enjoyed this light and entertaining read.
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲
🧵 Sewing
🧵 Historical Fiction
🧵 Feminist Historical Fiction
🧵 Italian culture at the turn of the twentieth century
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5

I didn't hate this one but I also didn't love it either. I was kind of meh about the whole book. To the point that I don't think I would read anymore of the books by this author.

Thank you to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All views are my own.

"The Seamstress of Sardinia" details a beautiful story told from the perspective of an Italian sartina (seamstress), sharing her life in retrospect through the lens of her craft. In this, I found myself reflecting on how art and work often mirror life itself. Pitzorno elegantly weaves rich themes of love, female emancipation from societal expectations, and found family throughout, stirring deep affection for the characters within and the fragility of our own lives. Pitzorno crafts a sensory delight, inviting the reader into the world of Sardinia. This book packs a diverse array of emotions into page after page (I did not expect the ending!) and left me feeling reflective, grateful, and inspired.

This book is perfect for cozy, introspective fall and winter days. Those who enjoy Ann Patchett, Beatriz Williams, or Kate Quinn are sure to love this beautiful story.

The Seamstress of Sardinia tells the story of how a young girl, raised and taught by her grandmother, becomes a respected seamstress in Italy during the early 1900's (the is an assumption, as the dates are not given). Not only is her story told, but she tells stories of the women for whom she worked. These stories give insight into the social conditions of Sardinia at that time: working class and upper class, women and men, single and married, young and old.

This is a character-driven, leisurely paced novel with a sympathetic, strong main character (whose name we never learn), told in first person narrative. It moves forward in time beginning with her as a child and moving through her old age, but takes place predominantly when she is in her teens and 20s, although again, ages are not given. It is a bittersweet read but not sentimental, and not slowed down by descriptive details.

I enjoyed this journey to Sardinia and would recommend this book to readers who enjoy books by Sandra Dallas and Lisa Wingate.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this DRC.

Translated from Italian, this novel set in the early 20th century is narrated by the unnamed sartina or seamstress. Growing up in a poor part of the village with her only living relative, her grandmother, she becomes a skilled traveling seamstress working for wealthy families providing the sewing they need. Each section of the book focuses on a different family this traveling craftswoman works for highlighting that even the wealthy are not problem free.
A fascinating look at the lives on the wealthy and the poor, the historical novel is sure to provide much discussion opportunity for your book groups.

An unnamed seamstress reminisces about her life working in early 20th century Sardinia. The seamstress moves unseen through the background of her wealthy clients, letting readers catch a glimpse of the drama and secrets of high society. When she becomes embroiled in a scandal of her own, she’ll have to rely on wise words from her friends and her own honest heart to persevere. Bestselling Italian author Bianca Pitzorno makes her American debut with this remarkable piece of historical fiction embellished with characters to root for.

A wonderfully well-written book that brought me to Sardinia just before unification. Enjoyed reading this book so much

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Don't know much about Sardinia so the insights shared here of the social and economic caste system and how both woman's and men's fashion were all hand-made at this point in time were fascinating. Constructed as if we were reading personal journal entries, or short stories whose threads were beautifully woven together, really made the book hard to put down. I would highly recommend this for the many themes it tackles along with those already mentioned and including the growth of female dominated cottage industries, how rich lives can become when social castes are broken down and relationships allowed to naturally develop, and the insights into the tremendous poverty suffered by several of the characters was enlightening. Will look forward to reading more from this author.

This is a delightful novel relaying the coming of age story of a seamstress in pre-WWI Italy, as she herself relates it later in life. Orphaned by a cholera outbreak, she is cared for by her Nonna who teaches her to sew and incorporates into the world of her self-employment. Upon Nonna's death, she continues to sew for her town's upperclasses, befriending some and growing her reputation. Overall, the storyline relates her empowerment and her growth at a changing time for women in Italy, and she triumphs over her "station in in life" to provide for herself and others.

I really wanted to like Pizorno's The Seamstress of Sardinia, but it just wasn't for me. The beginning is compelling--I will give the book that. It was fascinating learning a little bit more about a seamstress at the turn of the century and, in particular, the culture of Sardinia. For me, it ended there. It's well-written, if exposition heavy. I think it takes a particular reader and that reader is not me.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the early copy!

Overall, I really enjoyed The Seamstress of Sardinia by Bianca Pitzorno!

This novel showed us the life, and therefore social, political, and economical situations, of the seamstress at the turn of the 20th century. Through her, we learned how different social classes related to one another, and we learned of relationships that transcended these rigid groups and showed us how human interactions and bonds can instill hope. I enjoyed reading from the perspective of the seamstress- she was loyal, hardworking, and proud. Yet, through her, we gained an understanding of how some of the most powerful “forces” in our lives, such as love and hope, can penetrate any exterior that society has made impenetrable by necessity.

In reading, it almost felt as though the chapters of the book were different vignettes, and in each we learned of a different character who influenced the main character in some way. In the second half of the book, it felt more like reading continual chapters in a novel. In fact, I enjoyed the second half of the novel more than the first, probably for this reason. However, I do see how the intricacies in the relationships described in the earlier parts of the book were woven into circumstances in the latter parts of the book in major ways. Any disconnection that was felt while reading the beginning of the book was allayed later when all of the relationships that we learned about were needed as necessary backstory for the current events-in hindsight I can also see how the earlier parts of the book really helped us to understand the seamstress’ position socially.

I liked this book. I thought the history was interesting and I was intrigued by the Sardinian setting. Thanks for letting me check it out!

I really enjoyed this book and will look forward to future books by this talented writer. The descriptions of the life and times of this spirited woman, places the reader in her world.

Come away to a world where society is divided by wealth and class. witness the life of a lowly seamstress as she finds her way through life. A great read.

I really wanted to like this book I loved the description and the cover. I was expecting an upstairs/downstairs drama similar to Downton Abbey, but it is more about the narrator than anyone else.

It’s a fine story, but it wasn’t for me. It is heavy on the narration, which, I found, made it easy to put down.

I loved this book. It is an easy read and follows a young seamstress through childhood and adulthood. We learn about all of the people who touch her life and make her the woman she becomes. Her grandmother, her former client and best friend, people who live in her apartment building, her love….This book has history, romance, friendships, heartbreak as well as a spirit of a young girl that keeps on getting up. I can not find the right words for my review that would place this book into some category but it covers so many different aspects of life. It is excellent! It is interesting. I didn’t want to put it down.

Sometimes starkly understated, at other times richly imagined, The Seamstress of Sardinia presents a life of contrasts narrated by a young, pragmatic seamstress struggling to make a life for herself in a world of wealth and poverty, cruelty and compassion, triumphs and tragedies. Interesting that the seamstress is never given a name; she maintains a presence in the lives of all the characters she meets---those she sews for, those who suffer great poverty and those who care deeply for her.

Life is tough in Sardinia, but our seamstress never falters. She is careful in her movements, and when things do not go according to plan, she is quick to try something else. The seamstress is analytical in her working and personal relationships.

Readers will want her story to continue. While the epilogue relates more of the seamstress's life past the events of this novel, so much of what the reader learns could be turned into additional novels.

Go ahead and meet this remarkable woman as she lives and works in early 20th century Sardinia.

This history in the tale was interesting, the story, not really believable but I kept reading. Its nice to read about different professions in a different times and the struggles many women have gone through

I am so grateful to the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this delightful book - it really has a little bit of everything packed into it, and at its center is the wonderful seamstress of Sardinia. This had echoes of Downton Abbey, and if you like romance, family drama, witty conversation, characters that you will root for, you will love this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I can't wait for more translations of this author's work!