Book info

• Title The Red Notebook
• Author Antoine Laurain
• Year 2014
• Genre Romance

Bookseller Laurent Letellier comes across an abandoned handbag on a Parisian street, and feels impelled to return it to its owner. The bag contains no money, phone or contact information. But a small red notebook with handwritten thoughts and jottings reveals a person that Laurent would very much like to meet. Without even a name to go on, and only a few of her possessions to help him, how is he to find one woman in a city of millions?

Thoughts

This is just a lovely story from start to finish, detailing how a woman is mugged and loses her bag with so many precious memories in it. However, the bag is found in the street by a bookseller who proceeds to try and find her. The way these two twist in and out of each other’s lives without contact is incredibly moving, and I love the simplicity of the writing that draws you in to each moment.

Even though it’s only short, there’s plenty of time to get to know the characters. I particularly enjoyed Chloe, the demanding daughter who gets her own way far too often but is the reason everything all works out okay in the end. You get a sense of these two people and their entire lives without having to read endless streams of detail. It’s wonderful.

Rating: 5 / 5