Review: The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani

The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani

Publisher: Harper 

Pages: 475 

Format: book 

Buy the Book: Amazon 

Goodreads:  The majestic and haunting beauty of the Italian Alps is the setting of the first meeting of Enza, a practical beauty, and Ciro, a strapping mountain boy, who meet as teenagers, despite growing up in villages just a few miles apart. At the turn of the last century, when Ciro catches the local priest in a scandal, he is banished from his village and sent to hide in America as an apprentice to a shoemaker in Little Italy. Without explanation, he leaves a bereft Enza behind. Soon, Enza's family faces disaster and she, too, is forced to go to America with her father to secure their future.

Unbeknownst to one another, they both build fledgling lives in America, Ciro masters shoemaking and Enza takes a factory job in Hoboken until fate intervenes and reunites them. But it is too late: Ciro has volunteered to serve in World War I and Enza, determined to forge a life without him, begins her impressive career as a seamstress at the Metropolitan Opera House that will sweep her into the glamorous salons of Manhattan and into the life of the international singing sensation, Enrico Caruso. 

From the stately mansions of Carnegie Hill, to the cobblestone streets of Little Italy, over the perilous cliffs of northern Italy, to the white-capped lakes of northern Minnesota, these star-crossed lovers meet and separate, until, finally, the power of their love changes both of their lives forever. 



Kritters Thoughts:  A historical book that sets the standard, and this is my first Adriana Trigiani read, must admit!  For my first read of hers, I was blown away and am hoping to read more of hers very very soon.  A sweet love story that spans over 30 years that has many ups and downs, but in the end the reader is more than satisfied with the journey between these two Italians who must immigrate to the United States and start a new life without their immediate families.  

I loved how their love story wasn't easy and you, as the reader, never know when they will meet up and if this could be the time where it clicks and then end up together forever.  As a woman who loves to have a career, I loved having a woman character set in a very different culture in our country who valued having a career and providing for herself and her family.  

This historical story will be passed among many of my female friends and family members because the story is just too good to put down. 

Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Partner in Crime Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Here's the tour schedule: 

Tuesday, August 21st: The Written World

Wednesday, August 22nd: The Lost Entwife

Thursday, August 23rd: Booktalk & More

Monday, August 27th: Twisting the Lens

Tuesday, August 28th: Stiletto Storytime

Wednesday, August 29th: Book Reviews by Molly

Thursday, August 30th: Teresa's Reading Corner

Monday, September 3rd: No More Grumpy Bookseller

Tuesday, September 4th: The Well-Read Wife

Wednesday, September 5th: A Chick Who Reads

Thursday, September 6th: Oh! Paper Pages

Monday, September 10th: Kritters Ramblings

Tuesday, September 11th: Paperspines

Wednesday, September 12th: Reflections of a Bookaholic

Thursday, September 13th: Shall Write

Friday, September 14th: Drey's Library

Tuesday, September 18th: My Bookshelf