DNF

I have been struggling with historical fiction over the last year and this book fell victim to those struggles. Additionally I struggle with the gray area involving possible cheating and felt like it would be for the best to set this one aside.

This novel had an interesting premise that sounded like it would be a perfect read for fans of Lucinda Riley, Kate Morton, and Elena Mikalson. However, this tread was hard to keep track of. The timelines were not labeled, and it made for a confusing and frustrating read. Thus, it had great potential, but was not executed well.

I'm usually a sucker for a dual timeline book, but this one just didn't work for me. I think that trick with a dual timeline book is that you have to be just as drawn in by each of the storylines, or you will find yourself dreading the switch. That's how this one was for me. I was enjoying the timeline in the past, but when it switched back to the present-day I was disappointed. Also, I felt that the entire book was a bit slow, and could have been edited a bit. It was a good concept, but the execution needed some polish. I really wanted to love this one, but I just didn't.

Finally read this one, and although I liked the premise, I just felt that the story dragged in places. The contemporary story is about Rose, a bookshop owner who also restores old manuscripts. A young man brings her a book that is in need of repair - and it's been in his family for generations. Upon inspection, it appears to be a diary from the Venice in the early 1500's. The historical part is the section I struggled with the most - so many characters to keep track of and so much descriptions of the Ottoman wars with Venice that I felt at times I was reading a history book. While the backbone of the story is a good idea, it just didn't resonate with me as it did with many readers. I do appreciate being given the chance to review this book, and would give it 3.5 if half stars were allowed!

I enjoyed this book, there was a lot of historical details that I loved. I liked the dual timelines as well. However, I took forever to finish it, the book wasn’t compelling enough for me to stick with it. I liked the sections in Venice better than the Connecticut scenes. 3 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

I truly enjoyed this book. The intertwining of the stories was well done as was the intriguing romantic storylines. Highly recommended for anyone who likes historical fiction with an enjoyable story.

Two timelines, two star-crossed love stories, one book tying it all together. This vivid and immersive historical fiction was a delight to get lost in.

In the present day, in New Haven Connecticut, William finds a book form his deceased grandmother that he brings to bookstore owner and restorer Rose to look at and work on. This begins their story. Five centuries earlier, Giovanni, a well respected portrait artist, is commissioned for a painting. What unfolds in an intriguing story of how these pieces connect, and possibly even a connection between Rose and William.

Oh how I enjoyed and appreciated the richly detailed writing here and the way the two timelines wove together so beautifully. Historically it is very clearly well-researched and I found by the end that I had learned so much, particularly with the Renaissance Venice timeline. There’s some mystery and intrigue here that kept me turning the pages, and the romance woven in was just the icing on the cake. I enjoyed not just what I learned culturally about Venice but also about book restoration! I’ve not read about this element in a book before, so I found it was a unique and memorable touch. I love walking away from my historical fiction reads having learned something, and this one delivered on that.

The Lost Diary of Venice is very much a refreshing read in the genre and I would definitely recommend to all of you fellow historical fiction lovers and history buffs out there!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for the gifted e-copy!

I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me the opportunity to review this book. I admit in my joy at joining NetGalley I may have been overzealous in my requesting numbers. As this book has already been published, I am choosing to work on the current upcoming publish date books in my que. As I complete those I will work on my backlogged request and will provide a review at that time. I again send my sincere thanks and apologies.

I really wanted to like this book, but it was only average for me. The writing was very good, but I had a hard time keeping the characters straight without the chapters being labeled which timeline they were in. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Thought it was good. Enjoyed the historical fiction piece and the two timelines. I also liked the forbidden love aspect. I would definitely recommend for history buffs.

I’m late with this review but it’s an unpopular opinion. I tried several times but for whatever reason I just couldn’t finish. This is a DNF for me. I was not connecting with the characters or the story. Not every book is for everyone! I’ve seen many great reviews for this book and I know others will enjoy it.

Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity!

This book was super interesting.

I knew nothing about book restoration or the last 1500s in Venice.

Also - courtesans where the only women in Venice allowed to be educated and allowed to read?!

I googled/researched so many things from this book. I love when I book sparks more.

An interesting read though I found it hard to follow the two separate timelines and kept rereading parts to stay straight.

This isn’t what I normally read. I couldn’t finish it because it wasn’t for me at the time. I will try to maybe pick it up again when the mood hits me right.

I loved the premise of this book as I felt it had all of the components of a book I’d enjoy. It turned out to be just “okay” for me because I just couldn’t fully connect with the characters and storyline.

Interesting historical story with two timelines. I liked all the connections between the characters and learning about art in the early part of the fifteenth century.

I really enjoyed this historical fiction. It has multiple timelines. One take place in present day Connecticut and the other in 1500's Venice. I would definitely recommend this book if you like historical fiction.

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.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

How she tells a story is magnificent. I love Venice, war and love stories and this book had it all. Very well written with rat story telling. Highly recommend!

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and I have trouble believing this is a debut author. The story is so engrossing and so well told, it could have been written by a seasoned successful author. I’m not sure of the official category for this book, but I would classify it as literary fiction.

The plot jumps back and forth between the present day in Connecticut and Venice in 1571, and the connection is not completely clear until the very end, at which point I was quite surprised to be provided with some unexpected details, kind of an epilogue, if you will (but not). There are some elements of the paranormal, with an alchemist who might be able to turn into a crow(?) and a budding relationship between Rose and Wiliam which seems like it may be a case of reincarnation of past lovers. But William is married and nobody likes a cheater so Ms. DeRoux wisely chose to avoid stepping over the line. Rose and William share a deep connection, which may or may not be related to the past, but a romantic relationship is not meant to be—although both will be profoundly changed for having known one another. Both will learn important truths about themselves.

Scenes depicting battles between the Muslims and the Christians, though clearly important to the story, were not my favorite. There were some brutal things they did to one another, as any student of history knows, and I wasn’t thrilled about being reminded of such acts. Likewise, reading about the subjugation of women and Jews was unpleasant and made me anxious. I had not realized that the ghettos had originated in Venice, complete with yellow stars the Jews were forced to wear. It seems the Nazis were not exactly original, and sadly, history repeats itself more often than we might like. Needing a scapegoat to blame for societal ills is a recurring theme in this world.

The other thing that made me nervous, particularly when reading about events in 1571, was the feeling that something terrible was going to happen to the characters. I made the fatal error of trying to read Pillars of the Earth a few months ago, and although I could not finish it, I am still haunted by scenes from that book that were so disturbing, they return in my nightmares. I was on edge, fearful that something equally terrible would happen in this book. I’d like to thank the author for NOT doing that. The worst in this book was the depiction of the leader of an army who was flayed alive before his skin was stuffed with straw and paraded around the city. Yes, it was ghoulish and disgusting, and I had trouble reading it, but it was nothing like Pillars of the Earth, which was unrelenting in its horrors. That said, I could have done without that particular scene in this book.

Margaux DeRoux has the voice of a poet conveying the visions of an artist. Images like Rose walking down the street as “she watched fragments of herself slip past in store windows” were so easy to visualize, reminding me of times I have done something similar, never giving it a second thought. The ordinary became extraordinary because of the attention given, like Gio’s observation about Chiara:

“Her voice was soft, with a scratch inside it like a fingertip curling: come closer… She was dazzling in a way only something that won’t last can be. In a few years’ time, he knew her face would be hardened, her posture settled into the architecture of a body accustomed to use.”

There are so many wonderful images and profound universally-applicable observations—too many to list, really. For example, we are briefly introduced to Ali Pasha, admiral of the Ottoman fleet, who ponders the illogical nature of faith. “He could never understand the shortsightedness of the Christians. How could they despise the Jews for not recognizing Jesus, even as they themselves refused to perceive that the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon Him) was sent to continue His very work? How could they not recognize that this was the advocate Jesus Himself had foretold?” When we are convinced of the truth of our beliefs, we will go to any lengths to prove the truth of them, even ignoring facts that may contradict these “truths.”

By the time I had reached the end of this book, I was crying. It was so very touching, the characters so real and so relatable. Truly, I fell in love with them and felt their anguish. Life is hard. It is filled with lessons to help us grow along the way and the most resilient amongst us take the lessons and apply them to create better lives. I keep thinking of Gio’s words, and his desire to hold onto something when he knows he must let it go: “—to know in the very act that his mind would surely circle back again and again to these minutes, the way a desperate creature returns to a place where there once had been water.” I feel like my mind will keep returning to this book, to these characters, to their story.