‘But most importantly, we need bookshops. Magical disorderly places like this that can transport us to another world where the possibilities are endless. Places we know we can stumble unto and find a friend, fictional or feline. Bookshops are more than just a place to exchange money for good—they’re where the lost go to find sanctuary. Where the lonely go to find their tribe. Where else can wanderlust be sated from the comfort of an armchair? Kids’ imaginations are ignited in places like this. Adults’ too. So many adventures to be had, between the pages of these forgotten tomes.
If you are looking for a book that will take you on a beautiful adventure, then you should pick up The Little Venice Bookshop.
When Luna loses her beloved mother, she’s bereft: her mother was her only family, and without her Luna feels rootless. Then the chance discovery of a collection of letters in her mother’s belongings sends her on an unexpected journey.
Following a clue in the letters, Luna packs her bags and heads to Venice, to a gorgeous but faded bookshop overlooking the canals, hoping to uncover the truth about her mother’s mysterious past.
Will Luna find the answers she’s looking for – and finally find the place she belongs?
This book is everything I could have hoped it would be. I will admit I was devastated that I finished it so quickly. I didn’t want it to end. It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of Rebecca’s books. She hasn’t written a book that I haven’t fallen in love with. The Little Venice Bookshop felt like this love letter to bookworms, especially romance bookworms. Rebecca captures the magical feeling of why books are so important to readers and how much books can impact people’s lives. I lost count of the number of times that I felt this connection with a character because of their love for books. Their stories and passion for the written word wrapped around me like a cozy blanket. I loved the fact that Luna was a romance book junkie. Whenever Luna would go on a tangent about romance books and why they are so fabulous, I felt like shouting, “exactly,” because she just nailed every reason I love the romance genre.
There is this softer pace to this story. After her mother’s death, Luna is trying to figure out how she lives in a world where her mother no longer lives. When she comes across these letters that were written to her mother by Giancarlo, a mysterious man, it becomes clear to Luna that her mother was hiding something from her. So, Luna decides to set out to find out who this man is and learn what his relationship is with her mother. Luna’s life as a backpacker is incredibly interesting. I found myself enjoying hanging out with Luna, and her friend Gigi has moved to Venice. These two’s friendship was fun and heartwarming, and I devoured their hippie take on life. Luna’s time in Venice was self-discovery and learning more about her mother. Rebecca thoughtfully dealt with the tough topics of grief and family. There were moments in this book that had me tearing up and stopping to think.
The setting in this book is so lush and beautiful. It took me back to when I explored the city of Venice. Rebecca knows how to transport her readers to these fabulous places and always leaves me wanting to pack my bags for whatever country the book takes place in. I loved exploring Venice with Luna and Gigi and the area as a backpacker. The bookshop in this book is the stuff dreams are made of. I wanted to spend more time there. I could just close my eyes and imagine that I was there exploring each room and finding hidden treasures, then spent the rest of the day sitting on a chair reading with a cat on my lap. On a fun side note, I loved all the cats in this book! They were such a fun element to add to this story. I just devoured the scenes where Luna and Oscar worked on bringing new life to this bookshop, and I loved watching all their hard paying off.
I enjoyed this book’s romance and loved that it didn’t overshadow the main story. There was this instant bookish connection between Luna and Oscar. It felt like their bookish souls knew from the beginning that they were meant to be together. I adored how Oscar pined for Luna in secret throughout this book. It’s so clear that this man is smitten with her, and I just wanted to shake Luna and tell her that this man loves her. And I must mention that Oscar’s grand gesture at the end of this story is utter bookworm perfection and had me wishing some man would do this for me.
The Little Venice Bookshop is a gorgeous and breathtaking story that transports readers to the streets of Venice.
Thank you, HQ and Rachel Random Resources for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
