I received this advance copy of The Cemetery Spot from NetGalley with the expectation by them that I would provide my honest review.

I loved this book! I am truly a fan of historical fiction, and I enjoy stories that present a side not usually explored. In this case, Italian art masterpieces moved from the Uffizi and other museums to protect them from the invading German armies in World War II. But of course, that also presented dangers to the protectors of the art. That is the crux of the story - the lives lived with the most precious of cultural treasurers hidden under their roof and the most dangerous of enemies all around.

The story is beautifully told, with incredibly rich descriptions. With some books, it seems the authors will empty their thesauruses out trying to find yet another descriptive turn of phrase for something. This author made it seem effortless. I could see in my mind's eye the olive groves, the cypresses, the fields of red poppies, the rooms of the villa, and the view from the villa's tower. All extremely well done.

The author did a very nice job leading into each chapter with quotes from Botticelli, as the creator of the art, and Captain Foster as the ultimate officer in charge of returning the works to Florence. The feelings of one as the producer and the other as the recipient. I enjoyed reading those statements that mirrored each other hundreds of years apart.

The story revolves around Stella, a young girl at the start whose mother sends her from their home in an Italian city to live in the country with her mother's brother and wife and their children. Believing she'd be safer there. There are undercurrents at the home that take Stella a while to understand, but she ultimately does. The aunt that seems to not want her there at first ends up being her best mentor and role model, and protector. While there, Stella befriends Sandro, a boy just older than her that, for all intents and purposes, believes himself to be orphaned. His brothers are fighting in the war, and he has no one else to care for him. He arrives at the villa with many other refugees seeking shelter in the large wine cellar. Stella and Sandro teach each other when school is stopped for the fighting - Stella helps Sandro with his reading and Sandro helps Stella learn to draw. Sandro is one of the few people that is allowed to see the Treasure Room, as Stella calls it, and he wastes no time mimicking the great works.

My only critique of the story that isn't positive is that I felt a little editing could have been done in the middle. I guess like in war, there was a repetition to the days and the middle section felt a little repetitive as well, without advancing the story much.

The ending was bittersweet, in several of the storylines, but they felt true to the story. It was a telling of real life, not a fairy tale, so we didn't get the fairy tale ending that I'm sure some readers would expect.

Overall, a really enjoyable story and I highly recommend it to those who enjoy this genre.

In this coming-of-age historical fiction novel, tween protagonist Stella moves to the Tuscan countryside during WWII where her extended family resides. The family is tasked with hiding masterpieces from the Uffizi. I appreciated this story’s setting in the Italian countryside for a different perspective as well as the quotes by Botticelli and Captain Wallace at the beginning of each chapter for more context about the art. The writing was clear, the plot kept me entertained, I enjoyed the character development, and the story moved at a good pace. I would have liked learning more about Uncle Tino or the aunts’ perspectives, but that is for another book. I also appreciated the explanation of art’s crucial role in forming cultural identity and why losing art in war is particularly devastating. I recommend this especially to tweens/teens learning about WWII.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I would like to thank Net Galley and William Morrow for the ability to read this book as an ARC. I really enjoyed this book. I read a lot of Historical Fiction and read much that is based in World War2. I found this to be a interesting look at the war and the effects of the people in Tuscany. It also involves the paintings that were taken from the Uffizi and other galleries, and hidden in farmhouses, to protect them . The group of soldiers, now known as the "Monuments Men, "are also involved late in the story. Basically, however, it is about people, the Italians who struggle to keep their ifes sane and whole in the midst of chaos. It focuses on 2 pre teens- Stella, who comes to stay with her Aunt and Uncle, and Sandro, who is an orphan and has been left with Stella's family and and increasing number of refugees. It is about war, and love and life and beauty , along with sadness, and betrayal. If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is for you.

Stella is sent to Tuscany with aunts and uncles to keep her safe from the bombing in Torino. The villa becomes a place where great works of art from Florence will be hidden to keep them safe. It also becomes a place where refugees, and even downed airmen, find a place to stay. But then comes the German paratroopers and the tank crews. The people in the villa just want to survive and keep the art safe.
The Keeper of the Lost Art, by Laura Morelli, takes the reader along on these years of struggle. You feel like you get to know Stella, her friend Sandro, her aunts, uncles, cousins, and others. The story is a bit tedious. The main point of the book was the importance of preserving and understanding the art done by generations past. It was evident the author was an art history teacher. I was able to read ARC on #Netgalley.

I completely devoured this novel. A lover of art history and historical fiction, I had known of the author Laura Morelli, but previously, had never read any of her books. This book was my introduction to the author and I was impressed and touched by how much heart and soul she created in these characters. It was a beautifully written book, with an inspirational message that even among the worst of humanity we must fight for each other and our cultural heritage. Without these brave people who put their lives at risk to preserve these art works, the world would have lost great art.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fascinating depiction of life I. Italy during WW2 through the eyes of a young girl and the efforts to save the important artwork from the Uffizi Gallery.

I've read quite a few books about WWII, but this one will definitely go into my favorites of this war. The story was slower than most as it mostly takes place inside of one villa, but the depth of character growth, meaning of family, and preserving what is important brought this book to life for me. The book did start out a little slow, and most of the development is in the second half, but it was definitely worth the read.
This book also showed an aspect of the war different than a lot of other books. It talked about how they survived in the Italian countryside and adding dirt to their bread to make it last longer. But also the heritage behind the art of their country.

This was okay but not great. I've read countless WW2 books and this seemed to have a new and interesting premise, but it really lacked in its delivery. The first 2 years were somehow both too long and too brief, and the next year felt endless and filled with detail that was not all necessary, and yet could have also used more description? It just never read right to me. It almost used Stella being 12 as a crutch to not need to delve too far into the heavier themes, when we all know that the kids had to grow up much too fast during the war. Ultimately, the art focus seemed to be just the fact that the author must LOVE Primavera and not so much about the family preserving art in general.

I enjoy a good historical fiction and this book was such a captivating story about Stella’s experience in the Tuscan countryside as she is sent away by her mother during World War II. We get to see her journey of hope and beauty that she finds during this devastating time through the relationships she forms with those helping her see the beauty in art. The book had heartbreaking and heartwarming moments that made it a truly special read.

Beautiful story! I love to read novels based during world war 2. Such a moving tale during such a dark time in history! I need to get back to Italy to appreciate the art!

This was an exquisitely rendered coming-of-age-in-wartime story, highlighting the role of art in one's culture and soul, and finding beauty and compassion when much about you is bleak. Author Laura Morelli, a fine writer and respected art historian, delivered a beautiful and heartfelt story drawing upon the historic record of Italy in World War II. The research which went into the story is vast. Her descriptions of the featured art pieces were grand, rich and lovely. Her passion for art and its safekeeping is absolutely apparent. For readers of historical fiction with an interest in fine art and its own history, I commend this book to you.

I am grateful to author Laura Morrelli and publisher William Morrow for having provided a complimentary copy of this book. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Publisher:‎ William Morrow Paperbacks
Publication Date:‎ April 22, 2025
Number of Pages: ‎352
ISBN:‎ 978-0063206014

3.5 stars. I love WWII historical fiction. This was a good story and I appreciate the author telling this story. For me, this story dragged on a bit. I'll be the first to admit that art isn't my thing so that is probably why. I do appreciate the efforts to preserve it and liked reading about those efforts.

A villa outside a small village in Tuscany becomes a repository for valuable art during WWII while at the same time sheltering vast numbers of displaced persons and soldiers from around the world. This is the story of the family who cares for it all

This book is hauntingly well-written. I love Laura Morelli's books - and they often strike a fantastic balance between helping you imagine the beauty of art against the backdrop of beautiful places and the moral quandaries that exist within society. The Keeper of Lost Art is different from that. Yes, you read about the Italian masterpieces in one of the many depots they used to protect art, but the background is fraught with tension and the daily challenges that everyday people faced during World War II and the Fascist regime in Italy.

Morelli's characters are deeply complex. It's hard not to relate to Stella, the angsty teenager who is trying to make sense of her world - an absent immediately family, an overstressed extended family, and the problems plaguing humanity. Sandro is lovable - the affable outsider who is able to find beauty in the very things that cause so much stress for everyone around him. Morelli does a fantastic job of creating deeply human characters who must all navigate life in remote, German/Fascist controlled Tuscany as best they can. The frustration and tension is palpable throughout the book, and it would serve no purpose to pretend otherwise.

In some ways, I think Morelli struggled to wrap up this story because there was not a neat ending to the reality. Florence was devastated by bombs, and it was difficult to return the artworks to their home. Stella finds her way, but I'm not sure what that future truly looks like for her. Sandro found a place in the world, and I am left wanting more of his story. Ultimately, I suppose life goes on for us all, and it rarely wraps up neatly. I suspect my next visit to the Uffizi will be a bit different, having seen some of these more famous works through Sandro's eyes via Morelli's captivating tale though.

A story based on true events during WWII. It tells of a Tuscan villa where great artwork is being stored. There are other things hidden there. The story kept me guessing. Loved it!

Fearing for her daughter's safety, Stella's mom sends her to the Tuscan countryside during World War II. As the fighting intensifies, Stella's uncle hides Florence's masterpieces in his landlord's villa. As the Tuscan people band together to protect works of art, they are putting their lives at risk to preserve history.

While Stella feels lost in her new world, the hidden treasures connect her to the land and family. Will they be able to guard the past to protect the future? Thank you to #Netgalley and the publisher for the early edition in exchange for an honest review. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and learning about the lengths every day citizens went to protect the past is inspiring. While I enjoyed the story, I did feel it was drawn out generating the 3-starred rating.

I enjoyed reading The Keeper of Lost Art by Laura Morelli. I have read many historical WWII novels but this is the first I have read that is placed in Italy and what they faced during the war. Stella must leave her home to be sheltered with relatives in a Tuscan villa. Her uncle, the caretaker of the villa, is tasked with the responsibility of hiding 300 priceless art from the Nazis. During her stay, people from the village turn to the villa for shelter and protection. Stella befriends an orphan boy who has remarkable artistic talent Together they love to be in the locked room with the hidden paintings. What will happen to them when the Germans take over the villa? Read this novel to find out if the paintings are discovered, and what happens to Santo, the orphan, Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read tis novel prior to its publication.

So much of the fiction on WW2 focuses on the occupied countries and the Holocaust. This novel followed the lives of every day Italians also coping with the daily fear of bombing, intimidation and cruelty by the hands of the Germans. It told the story of how the Italian works of art were protected in the countryside by those same Italians, who risked so much to keep treasures safe from looting and harm.
I found myself flicking through the pages towards the end, from the time the Germans took over the house. There wasn’t a lot of story and it just felt long winded at that point. For those who enjoy art history these pages would be of interest, they just didn’t interest me. I would have liked more storylines for the refugees. Having a child be the main narrator limits what the author can do. Teenagers are mostly self-centered. Maybe having a dual narrative with the Aunt or Uncle would have extended the content more.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Can the war bring love and new directions? This heartwarming and tragic tale is told by 13 year old Stella through the years of WWII. Her mom has sent her to the Italian Tuscany country side to stay with relatives that Stella doesn't know. We read how she finds a new home with her aunt an uncle's family. But how her mother and father fit in remains a mystery to her as she discovers her own family's secrets.
The aunt and uncle are caretakes of a villa owned by an Englishman who has left them in control of his holdings as he goes back to England during the war. As refugees flee the cities and come to stay by the villa, she becomes friends with Sandro a boy about her age. Their friendship is one of the endearing tales in this story. This villa becomes one of the places chosen by the superintendent of the Florentine Galleries to hide precious paintings and other artworks from the Germans. It becomes a huge secret to hide these treasures which Stella knows about. Tensions build as the Germans invade and take over the villa. Will they discover the precious art?
The author, Laura Morelli weaves her story with highlighting Sandro Botticelli's Primavera and what that painting means to everyone and the history of Italy. Hiding this painting and others is the main thread throughout the book. Locals become heroes for protecting these art pieces and the how Stella is part of that. Besides protecting the art Stella finds a new direction in her life and it's purpose.

As a fan of historical fiction and Laura Morelli, she brings out her love of art and story telling in this book which I highly recommend. Be sure to read the Author's notes at the end for the full story.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I've read my fair share of WWII historical fiction (enough that they have a whole shelf on my Goodreads), and there are two main types: ones that focus more on the Holocaust and ones that focus on regular people amid a global conflict. This was the latter.

For the first half of the book, it reads almost like a pastoral cozy family story. The harvest still had to come in. There were family dynamics and small-town politics. But fascism and Il Duce popped up on occasion. There wasn't much war interference in daily life, beyond children being sent to the countryside and famous art being stored at the villa...until tension ratcheted up at about 50%.

Then German soldiers started showing up and the privation in struggles of war were truly apparent. I thought that Stella was a great fictional stand-in for those children sent to the countryside and her friendship and family dramas were mostly relatable. And I enjoyed her discovery of the importance of art while balancing, preteen life in 1940s Tuscany.

There are a lot of Italian phrases sprinkled throughout the book and I liked that you had to rely on context clues for a lot of the food, music, and daily rituals. There is a strong focus on the works of Botticelli, as well as allegory in art, in the second half of the book. I hadn't read this author before, but reading her author's note was enlightening about her focus on art history.