Interesting characters, not a deep plunge with complex plot, but a pleasurable surface experience of coincidences, authors, book store owners and ultimately love. Understated, and efficient in drawing its characters, Laurain has a lovely, easy style. I highly recommend this simple read.

What an thought provoking little book about chance encounters and happenstance.

I enjoyed the story of Laurent and his quest to find the lady who owned the bag he found in the street. As you come to know the characters, this book was a fun little read that I enjoyed. Some of the French places and language was a bit hard to follow at times but I would read other books by the author and enjoyed this book in an afternoon.

charming and whimsical novel about fate, love, and the power of small, seemingly insignificant moments.

Great premise to the story, I know it is a translation so sometimes it felt a bit choppy which may be due to change from French to English. I wish more of it had been in the diary format, as I prefer first person point of view to third person. Laure and Laurent finding each other was interesting to read!

Thanks to Netgalley.co.uk and Pushkin Press for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Written in French by Antoine Laurain and translated into English by Jane Aitken and Emily Boyce.

What happens when someone finds a discarded handbag quite by chance?

Laurent wants to hand it in to the police, but they are far too busy, "take it to lost property." he is advised. But Laurent wants to return it to its rightful owner.
He takes it home and is intrigued as to who its owner might be. He becomes inquisitive, deciding to look at its contents. There is no phone, no I'd card, no purse, indeed nothing to give him a clue, except a red moleskin notebook that has random thoughts and various odd lists written on its pages.
Laurent's mystery begins. Like a detective, he tries to piece together any snippets of information, which may lead to him finding the owner of the expensive looking handbag and the woman it belongs to.

An interesting idea for a novel, this book is very appealing. It makes me smile, as the romantic in me wants a happy outcome for Laurant and his quest. As each clue is uncovered, and each snippet becomes clearer, we find out more about the owner of the handbag, leading to a hopeful conclusion.

Lovely writing and another author who is fast becoming a favourite of mine.

Bookseller Laurent Letellier comes across an abandoned handbag on a Parisian street, and feels compelled to return it to its owner. Quickly ruling out the police station, which is always best avoided, he turns the contents out onto his kitchen table to see if they hold a clue. The bag contains no money, phone or contact information. But it does yield a small red notebook, full of handwritten thoughts and jottings that reveal someone Laurent would very much like to meet.
I had the audiobook of the book and was happy to receive and review the ebook. This is a typical Laurain, full of wit and stylish prose. I love his books and the adventures of Laurent in his pursuit of the owner are rich and varied. The ancillary characters are so well drawn especially his precocious daughter! I loved this book and would so recommend i, perfect for a summer read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC of The Red Notebook.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an Arc in exchange for an honest review.

I actually read this book 10 years ago and when I saw it on NetGalley, I decided to read it again. I'm happy to say that it still holds up as a sweet and engaging read. The premise is so unique and if you're a fan of the movie, Amelie, then you'll for sure love this book as well.

Netgalley ARC.
A charming and whimsical novel that explores the serendipitous nature of life, love, and human connections. Written by the French author, the book blends elements of romance, mystery, and a bit of Parisian magic to create a heartfelt and captivating read.

The story revolves around Laurent, a bookseller in Paris, who finds a woman's red notebook on the street. As he flips through its pages, he becomes intrigued by the life of its mysterious owner, whom he believes has lost her memory after a violent attack. The red notebook holds personal notes, fragments of thoughts, and an insight into the woman’s life that Laurent finds captivating, even though he knows nothing about her. As he embarks on a quest to return the notebook to its rightful owner, Laurent's life is forever altered.

One of the novel's strengths is its vivid setting. Laurain effortlessly paints a portrait of Paris, not through touristy landmarks but by showing the intimate, everyday moments that occur in its quieter corners—the kind of Paris that exists beyond the postcards. The city becomes almost like a character in itself, with its cafes, bookstores, and cobblestone streets serving as a backdrop for the unfolding of Laurent's journey.

The novel’s pacing is gentle, reflective, and unfolds at a leisurely pace, giving ample time for the reader to become invested in the characters. Laurent is a relatable and likable protagonist, whose obsession with the notebook feels grounded and believable. His interactions with the people around him, particularly his attempts to track down the notebook's owner, add a layer of light humor to the narrative.

A good story. Finding a red notebook within a purse leads the bookstore owner to seek out the owner. She had been attacked and is in a coma. Enjoyed this one, and the back and forth story line worked well. The ending felt a little abrupt, but otherwise really enjoyed this one and would highly recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for an eARC. A woman is mugged and her purse is stolen. The next day a man finds the purse and goes on an adventure to find the owner. A cute romance that made me smile. I enjoy this author’s writing style. It is a French book that has been translated. Hope to read more of their work.

This book felt as if I were reading a beautiful, contemporary classic! A story of circumstance, second chances, and love. I wonder why I haven’t read other books by this talented author until now. Can’t wait to read more!

In brief moments of lucidity in a Parisian hospital, Laure drifts in and out of a coma. Her thoughts wander to memories. Meanwhile, Laurent happens upon a woman's handbag. Historically, the only times he has peeked inside such bags was with permission and for only a few seconds so he is reluctant to search. However, he knows how important handbags are to their owners. Besides, he was curious, especially when he discovered a red notebook filled with unusual lists and thoughts. He found no identification but he was determined to reunite the owner and her bag. Besides. This was interesting stuff! The owner had to be quirky...what if she was a match for him?

I like that the characters are middle aged and intriguing. I got bits of privacy intrusion feelings but don't believe that was the author's intention. I don't know that I would classify this as romance, though. The writing is wry, engaging and witty. I seldom read novellas as it is difficult to get into meaningful depth. I'm not sure what to think about The Red Notebook. In ways I enjoyed its quirkiness and originality yet can't completely shake Laurent's sneakiness. All in all, this was a like versus love reading experience for me.

This was a heartwarming and unique take on a romance book. Laurent finds a bag which he then decides to find the owner of, with only possessions as clues. It was definitely a different sort of romance book but still a good one that was interesting to read although predictable. If your a fan of romance books then I’d recommend it:
Not sure if this was because it was an arc but there were no chapter numbers which was annoying.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book, all opinions expressed are my own.