I had high expectations, but I would say I was rather disappointed by this story in which two people with a weighty past go from hating each other to a mostly unexplained insta-love. I didn't even get attached to the friends of Sera and probably the next protagonists, so I would say that this series, for me, ends here.

Avevo delle alte aspettative, ma direi che sono rimasta piuttosto delusa da questa storiellina in cui due persone con un pesante passato passano dall'odiarsi ad un insta-love per la maggior parte inspiegabile. Non mi sono nemmeno affezionata alle amiche di Sera e possibili prossime protagoniste, quindi direi che questa serie, per me finisce qui.

I received an Advanced digital review copy form the Publisher in exchange for a honest review.

I thought that this book was just OK. It wasn't really my thing. I thought that the plot sounded really intriguing so that is why I requested it- and I still do think that the storyline is really fun. I just think overall the pacing didn't seem quite right to me and the story just moved too fast. The relationship between Sera and Wes was just too insta-love for me. Sometimes that doesn't bother and sometimes it does, and in this particular case it did bother me a bit. It is just hard to get in with the characters and be submerged in the world when things are moving so quickly. Overall, I really liked the storyline and the friendship between the female characters in the book. the instalust/instalove just really took me out of the world, though.

Serafina Conte is finally the leading lady of her own life. She has great friends who she runs a successful store with where she makes handmade intention journals. Sera's life changes forever when her friend Ford, an older man who loved books as much as Sera does, passes away, leaving some of his rare books to her. Soon after Ford's passing, Sera receives a letter from his grandson, Wes, forbidding her from attending the funeral and demanding the books back. When Wes and Sera finally meet in person, sparks fly and Wes feels immediately drawn to Sera. With both of their complicated past relationships, neither Wes nor Sera feels ready for a relationship.

Readers who enjoy witchy vibes in their romance novels will enjoy The Bookbinder's Guide to Love. At times Sera and Wes's relationship feels rushed, but Sera's relationship with her friends Liberty and Poppy is heartwarming. The development of Wes, his father, and his brother's relationship is also refreshing.

Loved it, really quick book so at times it seem a little rushed.
Sera and Ford make a beautiful couple, this book follow their story a how they try to overcome their childhood issues.
I would have loved an epilogue since the ending seemed abrupt. they had their fight and make-up conversation in the last few pages, an epilogue would have tied the story better.

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

This book gave me all the feelings of found family, healing, and finding love in unexpected places. Sera and Wes did not know what how to feel when they learned that her good friend/his grandfather had passed. Together they used this opportunity to work together in mending their broken pasts and finding a new future.
I love how the author emphasized different types of grief throughout the story. The main characters, as well as others learned how to lean on friends and family to help them heal.
This book has a comforting feel that flows easily from beginning to end. I enjoyed this story very much and will highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Big thank you to NetGalley and Afterglow Books by Harlequin for this ARC!

This story had the perfect witchy vibes for October, which is when I read it. A cute love story that follows Sera, a small town business owner, whose unexpected friendship with an elderly gentleman leads to an unexpected upheaval in her otherwise quiet life.

Wes, grandson of said gentleman, comes to town after his grandfather’s death to sort out his affairs, and what ensues between Sera and Wes can be described as enemies to lovers.

It’s a cute story that was a quick read, and although it was rather straightforward, I found myself hoping for more depth from the characters. Overall a quick and fun read that I enjoyed.

Tropes:

Enemies to Lovers
Found Family

Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️.5

This book was adorable! Enemies to lovers will always be my downfall, and this book definitely delivered. I loved that Sera and Wes both had to explore their own emotions and settle things within themselves before committing to a relationship. It made the romance feel so much more realistic.

I also loved all the side characters. I wish we got to see a little more of Sera's friends, though. At times, it felt like their conflict was mentioned briefly and then dismissed before fully getting resolved.

Overall, this was a super cute, witchy/fall themed book that was perfect for the first week of fall <3 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

steam: open-door
CW: loss of family members, mentions of drug use/abuse, swearing

I loved this. I wanted to know what happened but I didn't want it to end either. This had me up way past my bed time to finish. Amazing! 5 star read.
I just reviewed The Bookbinder's Guide to Love by Katherine Garbera. #TheBookbindersGuidetoLove #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

This book was definitely a quick read and by that I mean it went by really fast. And because of that, I felt like it was hard to connect with the characters and the story, but I did like the overall feel of the book, I just wish it was a little more medium paced. I think there will be patrons at my library that enjoy this book so I will recommend it be purchased for circulation once it is published.

The Bookbinder's Guide to Love is a pretty quick read and had things that I liked and things that I didn't.

I loved the friendship Serafina (Sera) had with her friends. They are all slightly eccentric but it works well together. You can totally believe these girls are friends and that they have a joint business. I wish we had a more fleshed out start with them.

I also enjoyed the detail to the actual art of bookbinding. While you can't use it as a how-to guide, it's way more info on bookbinding than most people have. As a librarian who rebinds textbooks on occasion, I appreciate this bit of detail

Obviously I loved all things books and the bit about Dnd was *chef's kiss*. 'Nerds' were represented here. I am obviously one of them.

However, I found Wes really hard to like at first. The fact that he automatically jumps to the conclusion that Sera was manipulating his grandfather for whatever valuables she could get out of him and that she might even be sleeping with him to do it to calling her a hot Hermione he'd basically love to get into the pants of, to thinking of her as someone he could use to get to learn more about his deceased grandfather, rather than the nice person she is for at least the first 20-25% of the book is not flattering to his character.

That said, I do like the amount of guilt and regret he has at allowing himself to push his grandfather out of his life after everything he did for him. That was very believable and made him pretty redeemable. And the fact he has to work through that grief and starts working on his family's issues result in Wes having some decent character growth.

Sera(fina) has her own character growth. While she also had cringe-worthy thoughts upon meeting Wesley, I still liked her as a character. It pretty much solidified when she started wondering if Ford left her his books to help his grandson. A passing thought, but to me it really showed her true kind character. Her inability to easily trust people, due to her constant moving about in foster care, is pretty darn sad, but believable. But she does work on herself in order to be a better person and partner, which is refreshing. Character growth is a great thing.

With both of their trust issues though, the book does cycle through on/off again situation as they work their way into being a 'couple.' Not a bad thing, just a thing that happens.

Insta-lust/love. This is something I struggle to enjoy and the way it was done in this story wasn't for me. The idea that Wes and Sera were instantly thinking about making out/ doing it with each other is kind of ick, in my personal opinion. Wes thinking about Sera's hair and his wondering "if he'd feel the gap between her front teeth when he pushed his tongue into her mouth" is just...no. No thank you. Not for me.

The fact Wes waffles between wanting to do 'things' to her and thinking of her as a thief and a liar who was just out to get his grandpa's expensive old books, and whatever else she could, I don't understand, to be honest. How can you think these things about someone but still fantasize about being with them? Fortunately that first train of thought leaves the station within the first 25% of the book.

All in all, it's a cute read for anyone who is okay with insta-lust/love and likes books that have a small town vibes, some character growth, bit of spice scenes, witchy feels (card reading, etc), and of course books and bookshops.

This book was cute, but nothing extraordinary. Both of the MCs need therapy and to have an actual converstaion the whole time. They both just keep making mistakes and then getting upset instead of actually talking like the adults they seem to be. I didn't dislike the writing, but the constant miscommunications got to me. I would definitley pick up another book by this author and in this series, but this one just wasn't for me.

3⭐️

This story was a fast read and it was ok. It was a bit too fast for me.

Instant love connections I personally struggle with. Within the first 15% they are starting to connect. However I find that it's too fast for me to build a connection with them, I found the characters falling a bit flat.

I do really enjoy the cozy magic and the witch vibes of this book. I really enjoyed the bookstore vibes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.

📕Insta-Love, 📗witchy romance in a small town, 📙book with books.

Over cute story, perfect to read in the fall!Wes and Sera have a bit of instalove in this book, and definitely instant attraction. Each characters past is a big issue that they face both together and separately. And honestly who doesn’t love a good story about old books, spice and great banter?

“The Bookbinder’s Guide to Love” was not what I expected. This story was not as light-hearted as I was hoping for based on the description and the plot was not interesting to me at this time. While this book did not grab my attention, it could still be great for you!

For those who enjoy:
🔸 Insta-Love
🔸 Character Growth
🔸 Books about Books
🔸 Witchy Romances
🔸 Small Towns
🔸 Open-Door Spice

Thank you Harlequin Romance and NetGalley for this ARC.

I liked how Sera is such a bold independent character because of her past trauma. I liked learning more about her and Wes and seeing them connect because of Ford. Both Sera and Wes are great characters.
It was so important to see them get over their past traumas and realize that they could trust each other. This is a story that truly reminds you of the importance of the relationships you have. Whether friends, family, or romantic. Always remember to connect with the ones you love.
Loved all the book binding also. I could picture this lovely book shop and the journals Sera creates.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in advance of its publication date in exchange for a review.

The Bookbinders Guide to love was a beautiful romance that gave you a glimpse at how people can learn to overcome their fears of not being enough and childhood trauma to embrace the love they have found in another person.

I loved that main character Sera focused on her understanding and love of herself so that she could be a better partner. Watching Wes embark on his journey of acknowledging and beginning to heal from his families “emotional constipation” was inspiring as well.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a romance novel that also includes self discovery.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Bookbinder’s Guide to Love

I had the pleasure to read this witty and magical romantic story before the release date. You’ll be able to experience the magic of sisterhood, friendship, some sexual tension and quirky characters.

We are introduced to Sera (bookbinder) and her two best friends, Liberty (Tarot Reader) and Poppy (Apothecary/Tea) the local “coven” deemed by the community due to their metaphysical store, the three of them share. In the midst of their new business, Sera receives heartbreaking news over the death of a friend. Dealing with the loss was one thing but now she has been left a box of books and unable to attend the funeral due to the grandson being suspicious of her friendship with Frank.

As the grandson Wes comes to town with a chip on his shoulder and suspicion in the air, he is determined to get back the box of books (deemed extremely valuable both sentimental and profitable). Sera and Wes, starting off rough and hostile, must navigate through their own past and emotions to find closer and growth with the passing of a dead friend/relative.

You’ll experience a lot more than just romance and humor throughout this book. The characters are faced with growth and challenges dealing with their own paths/insecurities. The three close friends with their “witchy” personalities and flourishing friendships, brings warmth to my heart and makes you long for those connections. Wes started off as an arrogant and selfish person who was willing to acknowledge his faults and heal from them.

I do recommend this story/book. Thank you Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to review this book.

I really enjoyed "The Bookbinder's Guide to Love." The book follows Serafina Conte, a young woman who co-owns a wiccan/new age store with her two best friends and who comes into contact with Wes when her mentor, and his estranged grandfather, leaves her a box of antique books. Sera and Wes have an instant physical connection, but the emotional one takes work, work neither is really sure they want to put in, not because they don't feel the connection but because they bear the scars of their past. Katherine Garbera's writing helps the reader come along with Sera and Wes as they each traverse a road of personal and emotional growth and transformation. This book is a lovely example of how small connections can have big impacts.

4.5 stars rounded to 5. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.

"The Bookbinder's Guide to Love" weaves a charming and enchanting narrative that celebrates the magic of both love and creativity. Serafina Conte's journey from a lonely foster kid to a maker of journals with mystical potential is a heartwarming testament to the power of intention. When the enigmatic Wes enters her life, bringing a twist of fate and a box of antique books, the story takes an irresistible turn. The dynamic between Sera and Wes, with their banter, sparks of desire, and unexpected vulnerability, makes for a compelling and engaging read. As they delve into Ford Sitwell's legacy, the story explores themes of connection, healing, and the transformative nature of love. "The Bookbinder's Guide to Love" reminds us that the best stories are the ones that surprise us and lead us to unexpected places, both in our hearts and in our lives. It's a delightful and magical journey that will leave readers with a warm and hopeful feeling.

Captivating! The Bookbinder's Guide to Love is a sexy, sweet, and emotional read full of the best kind of magic. Katherine Garbera weaves a deeply affecting romance populated with characters you wish were your friends. I adored that the hero and heroine were both book lovers. I'm excited that this is the start of a series, and I can't wait for stories featuring Liberty and Poppy.