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ewbradley730's review
2.0
I was not found of the writing style. How many times could we be told that two people fit together perfectly? I felt there were many trite phrases and situations and everything was predictable and tedious to get through.
msnyderk's review
3.0
3 1/2 stars. Thank you to Netgalley for an opportunity to read this book. It’s funny, I’ve been seeing different images of Venice lately and was thinking about finding a book that takes place in Venice to read. So, the historical setting was great to read about. I like Gio and Chiara’s story, although at times I will say it dragged for me, especially the way the war/war character scenes were done. In the present day story I found I felt for Rose and the loss she’s going through and how she’s trying to find her place in the world. William was also at this crossroads in his life and an interesting character in his painting.
The book itself also intrigued me as it’s so interesting to think of the palimpsest and what it might really be like. All in all, I liked the way the story ended, the writing was good yet the story was a little slow for me at times.
The book itself also intrigued me as it’s so interesting to think of the palimpsest and what it might really be like. All in all, I liked the way the story ended, the writing was good yet the story was a little slow for me at times.
mpr2000's review
4.0
This is a book about forbidden love and passion, how the story always repeats itself even if we try to not succumb to it.
This story is told between two different timelines, the past, where a famous painter, Giovanni Lomazzo, wrote a diary about his forbidden love, and the present, when this diary is found and what the truth will mean to their owner.
I can not decide which story I liked most, the complex and twisted Venetian world, with double faces and secrets in every corner; or the story between Rose and William, their trust and chemistry together but at the same time the bitter sweet story they are living.
I liked Rose, she is committed to her job but shy and doubtful; she knows that the job that William has asked her to do will change her life forever, not only in the professional but also in the personal way; but is the sacrifice worth the pain?
This story will make you travel to the beautiful Venice, with the luxurious painters and their affairs, but not everything that shines is gold, so you’ll see the dark side of all these beauty; political turmoil and broken hearts.
This is a book to remember, to make you cry and leave you with hope; sometimes the endings are a new beginning, maybe not the one we were dreaming but still may be good.
Ready to discover “The Lost Diary of Venice”?
This story is told between two different timelines, the past, where a famous painter, Giovanni Lomazzo, wrote a diary about his forbidden love, and the present, when this diary is found and what the truth will mean to their owner.
I can not decide which story I liked most, the complex and twisted Venetian world, with double faces and secrets in every corner; or the story between Rose and William, their trust and chemistry together but at the same time the bitter sweet story they are living.
I liked Rose, she is committed to her job but shy and doubtful; she knows that the job that William has asked her to do will change her life forever, not only in the professional but also in the personal way; but is the sacrifice worth the pain?
This story will make you travel to the beautiful Venice, with the luxurious painters and their affairs, but not everything that shines is gold, so you’ll see the dark side of all these beauty; political turmoil and broken hearts.
This is a book to remember, to make you cry and leave you with hope; sometimes the endings are a new beginning, maybe not the one we were dreaming but still may be good.
Ready to discover “The Lost Diary of Venice”?
fabialbanese's review
3.0
Rating 3.25. Unfortunately the rating is so low due to my own shortcomings. Historical fiction is just not really for me, and I thought I would try it out with historical romance. The story and plot were beautiful. The book was very well written. I understood it as whole, but could not seem to grasp all the fluff within it. I hate to have my shortcomings reflect the rating, because I think if you enjoy historical fiction you would really enjoy this. I loved how the main character was a book restorer (it reminded me of the show "you") and I find the art of restoring books to be fascinating. All the characters were really likeable and well written. I still very much recommend this book and wouldn't let my low rating discourage you!!
witandsin's review
3.0
Reviewed for Wit and Sin
Rose Newlin is a book restorer in a small college town whose life has been in stasis after the death of her father. But when William Lomazzo, an artist who Rose is instantly attracted to, brings in a sixteenth century palimpsest for restoration Rose finds her spark again. The treatise on art that’s the primary text is fascinating in its own right, but it’s the sketches and writings that had been scraped away underneath that truly capture William and Rose’s attention. As Rose works on the book, she and William are drawn to one another. But William is married and struggling with his troubled marriage. Past and present start to bleed together as they uncover a tale of forbidden love…
In the sixteenth century, Giovanni Lomazzo has already lost his wife and son. Now he’s losing his sight and despair is taking hold of him. He’s been tasked with one last commission: a portrait of a courtesan who takes his breath away. There’s more to Chiara than meets the eye and as she and Gio are drawn toward each other, the threat of what happens if they are discovered becomes more and more of a possibility…
The Lost Diary of Venice is a bittersweet tale. Margaux DeRoux weaves together two love stories, one set in the present and one set in a sixteenth century Venice on the cusp of war with the Ottoman empire.
Ms. DeRoux brings Venice to life quite well. The gorgeous clothing and scenery we like to envision is there, but also the darker elements. Antisemitism, sexism, religious zealotry, harsh conditions, and more aren’t overlooked and are, in fact, major elements of the story. Gio is the most well-drawn of all the main characters; an artist on the cusp of losing his sight who finds love when he’s close to giving up hope. I wish his relationships with secondary characters had been better fleshed out because it would have made the world stronger and the story richer. And I desperately wish we’d had more than brief moments in Chiara’s point of view. She’s hands-down the most fascinating character in the book, lovely and intelligent, bold and secretive. She’s a mystery in many ways throughout the book and as the pieces come together I wish we got to see her inner thoughts and feelings more. It’s a case of missed opportunity, for as Chiara’s past is revealed I found I could read a whole book just about her. The love story between Chiara and Gio is one of stolen moments and it’s beautiful and sad. Perhaps if the book were solely set in the sixteenth century the characters and the background scenes involving the battle over control of Cyprus would have had more depth, making the story go from good to great.
The modern-day storyline is where I struggled the most with The Lost Diary of Venice. I enjoyed the bits of the story where Rose was working on the restoration of the palimpsest and found those interesting. But the attraction between Rose and William never lived up to its potential, and not just because William was married. William and Rose’s love story is set up as a parallel of Gio and Chiara’s and it just doesn’t work. Rose and William aren’t as well drawn as their historical counterparts and their parts of the book felt flat to me. I couldn’t get emotionally invested in the modern day storyline so the book dragged in parts because of that. Still, though The Lost Diary of Venice takes a while to build steam, once it does it’s an engaging read. I had mixed feelings when I finished the book but the potential was there and I would be interested in reading more of Ms. DeRoux’s work.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Rose Newlin is a book restorer in a small college town whose life has been in stasis after the death of her father. But when William Lomazzo, an artist who Rose is instantly attracted to, brings in a sixteenth century palimpsest for restoration Rose finds her spark again. The treatise on art that’s the primary text is fascinating in its own right, but it’s the sketches and writings that had been scraped away underneath that truly capture William and Rose’s attention. As Rose works on the book, she and William are drawn to one another. But William is married and struggling with his troubled marriage. Past and present start to bleed together as they uncover a tale of forbidden love…
In the sixteenth century, Giovanni Lomazzo has already lost his wife and son. Now he’s losing his sight and despair is taking hold of him. He’s been tasked with one last commission: a portrait of a courtesan who takes his breath away. There’s more to Chiara than meets the eye and as she and Gio are drawn toward each other, the threat of what happens if they are discovered becomes more and more of a possibility…
The Lost Diary of Venice is a bittersweet tale. Margaux DeRoux weaves together two love stories, one set in the present and one set in a sixteenth century Venice on the cusp of war with the Ottoman empire.
Ms. DeRoux brings Venice to life quite well. The gorgeous clothing and scenery we like to envision is there, but also the darker elements. Antisemitism, sexism, religious zealotry, harsh conditions, and more aren’t overlooked and are, in fact, major elements of the story. Gio is the most well-drawn of all the main characters; an artist on the cusp of losing his sight who finds love when he’s close to giving up hope. I wish his relationships with secondary characters had been better fleshed out because it would have made the world stronger and the story richer. And I desperately wish we’d had more than brief moments in Chiara’s point of view. She’s hands-down the most fascinating character in the book, lovely and intelligent, bold and secretive. She’s a mystery in many ways throughout the book and as the pieces come together I wish we got to see her inner thoughts and feelings more. It’s a case of missed opportunity, for as Chiara’s past is revealed I found I could read a whole book just about her. The love story between Chiara and Gio is one of stolen moments and it’s beautiful and sad. Perhaps if the book were solely set in the sixteenth century the characters and the background scenes involving the battle over control of Cyprus would have had more depth, making the story go from good to great.
The modern-day storyline is where I struggled the most with The Lost Diary of Venice. I enjoyed the bits of the story where Rose was working on the restoration of the palimpsest and found those interesting. But the attraction between Rose and William never lived up to its potential, and not just because William was married. William and Rose’s love story is set up as a parallel of Gio and Chiara’s and it just doesn’t work. Rose and William aren’t as well drawn as their historical counterparts and their parts of the book felt flat to me. I couldn’t get emotionally invested in the modern day storyline so the book dragged in parts because of that. Still, though The Lost Diary of Venice takes a while to build steam, once it does it’s an engaging read. I had mixed feelings when I finished the book but the potential was there and I would be interested in reading more of Ms. DeRoux’s work.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
lnich's review
4.0
Historical fiction Romance fans will enjoy this book.
It was a page turner for me and I couldn’t put it down. It was fast paced. Beautifully descriptive and intriguing. A great story that spans between time.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read An early copy for my honest review.
It was a page turner for me and I couldn’t put it down. It was fast paced. Beautifully descriptive and intriguing. A great story that spans between time.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read An early copy for my honest review.
jellyybunn's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nici2023's review
4.0
I chose to read and review this book because I love all things Venice; it's my ultimate travel destination. The Lost Diary started a little slow for me, but it really started moving about halfway. It's set in 2 time periods, which I love! It's based on true events, so I actually learned a few things, too. Overall, I thought it was pretty good. Thank you Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book.
katiedavis's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0