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The Bookbinder's Guide to Love
A witchy, witty, wickedly sexy romance about love, books, friendship and the unexpected connections that bind us together…
Bookbinding (verb): the art of creating something magical out of fabric, leather and paper.
As a lonely foster kid, Serafina Conte sought refuge in handmaking journals—and writing her wishes within their pages. Now, in the quirky new age store she shares with her two best friends, Sera’s intentions have paid off. Her journals are in the spotlight—and rumored to manifest great things. Whether it’s witchy skills, real magic or not, Sera’s finally ready to be the leading lady of her life story…
Until her plot hits a twist.
After the death of her mentor, Ford Sitwell, all the loneliness and insecurity of her past returns. The only balm is the box of antique books he left to her. But Ford’s suspicious brooding grandson, Wes, is ready to think the worst of her—and get his grandfather’s books back! The first part doesn’t bother her. The second? Forget it. Sera won’t give Wes the books so easily. But it’s clear he’s seeking something more, an emotional connection no book can replace. So she offers a deal—work in her store for six weeks, and in return, she’ll help him get closure by sharing memories of his late grandfather.
Yes, Wes seems grumpy, but actually he’s hot…and maybe kind? Deep down? And when desire and vulnerability work their charms, Sera begins to wonder if the best stories aren’t the ones you intend, but the ones that take you where you least expected…
From showing up to glowing up, these characters are on the path to leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way.
Don’t miss these other fun titles from Afterglow
The (Fake) Dating Game by Timothy Janovsky
The Devil in Blue Jeans by Stacey Kennedy
Frenemy Fix-Up by Yahrah St. John
The Boyfriend Subscription by Steven Salvatore
Manila Takes Manhattan by Carla de Guzman
Fake Flame by Adele Buck
Out of Office by A.H. Cunningham
Bookbinding (verb): the art of creating something magical out of fabric, leather and paper.
As a lonely foster kid, Serafina Conte sought refuge in handmaking journals—and writing her wishes within their pages. Now, in the quirky new age store she shares with her two best friends, Sera’s intentions have paid off. Her journals are in the spotlight—and rumored to manifest great things. Whether it’s witchy skills, real magic or not, Sera’s finally ready to be the leading lady of her life story…
Until her plot hits a twist.
After the death of her mentor, Ford Sitwell, all the loneliness and insecurity of her past returns. The only balm is the box of antique books he left to her. But Ford’s suspicious brooding grandson, Wes, is ready to think the worst of her—and get his grandfather’s books back! The first part doesn’t bother her. The second? Forget it. Sera won’t give Wes the books so easily. But it’s clear he’s seeking something more, an emotional connection no book can replace. So she offers a deal—work in her store for six weeks, and in return, she’ll help him get closure by sharing memories of his late grandfather.
Yes, Wes seems grumpy, but actually he’s hot…and maybe kind? Deep down? And when desire and vulnerability work their charms, Sera begins to wonder if the best stories aren’t the ones you intend, but the ones that take you where you least expected…
From showing up to glowing up, these characters are on the path to leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way.
Don’t miss these other fun titles from Afterglow
The (Fake) Dating Game by Timothy Janovsky
The Devil in Blue Jeans by Stacey Kennedy
Frenemy Fix-Up by Yahrah St. John
The Boyfriend Subscription by Steven Salvatore
Manila Takes Manhattan by Carla de Guzman
Fake Flame by Adele Buck
Out of Office by A.H. Cunningham
Audible Audio
Published January 27, 2026
About the author
Katherine Garbera
820 books664 followersKatherine Garbera is a USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 100 novels, which have been translated into over two dozen languages and sold millions of copies worldwide. She is the mother of two incredibly creative and snarky grown children. Katherine enjoys drinking champagne, reading, walking and traveling with her husband. She lives in Kent, UK, where she is working on her next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 4, 2026
So far I haven’t been impressed by the language/swearing. 27 January 2026.
Serafina (Sera) grew up without anyone to depend on. She has a bookshop with two friends who she trusts in a limited way.
Wes comes into Sera’s life when his grandfather Ford died and she inherited some of Ford’s books.
Their first interactions are negative. Both have trust issues and other limiting beliefs from their pasts.
They grow over the course of the book with the final outcome being that they choose to stay together. This is of course the point of a romance novel.
Wes and Sera fall into bed together quickly. And both view sex in a way that feels foreign to how I have thought about things.
I like the book for the things I learned about the interactions of two wounded people and how thoey chose to grow beyond where they started.
I listened to the audiobook, which was released about a year after the book released. I liked the audiobook.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin audio for the opportunity to listen to the book.
Serafina (Sera) grew up without anyone to depend on. She has a bookshop with two friends who she trusts in a limited way.
Wes comes into Sera’s life when his grandfather Ford died and she inherited some of Ford’s books.
Their first interactions are negative. Both have trust issues and other limiting beliefs from their pasts.
They grow over the course of the book with the final outcome being that they choose to stay together. This is of course the point of a romance novel.
Wes and Sera fall into bed together quickly. And both view sex in a way that feels foreign to how I have thought about things.
I like the book for the things I learned about the interactions of two wounded people and how thoey chose to grow beyond where they started.
I listened to the audiobook, which was released about a year after the book released. I liked the audiobook.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin audio for the opportunity to listen to the book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm so glad this one FINALLY came out on audio!! It's been on my #tbr for TWO years and I was excited to finally read/listen to it! The first in a series featuring three friends who co-own a new age store featuring crystals, tarot, tea and more. This one follows former foster child Serafina who loves to hand make journals and inscribe them with good wishes for the owners. She also works as a bookbinder and is grieving the unexpected death of her former mentor. What Sera didn't expect was to have his grumpy grandson barge into her store making demands of her. What starts off as an enemies to lovers story quickly heats up as the two give in to their insta lust and mutual loneliness and grief. Overall this dual pov love story was good on audio and I liked the female friendship aspects of the story but wasn't the biggest fan of the insta-lust to love plot or the major use of miscommunication trope in the third act breakup. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review. I do still look forward to reading the other two books in the series.
February 5, 2026
I really wanted to like this book.
I think it has a great premise, but theres nothing about this book that really makes it ‘good’.
The dialogue is clunky and boring in spots,
I’m finding I do not care about how this book ends and that doesn’t happen often.
This was an audio arc provided by NetGalley. The audio production was okay. I didn’t notice anything amiss with that.
I think it has a great premise, but theres nothing about this book that really makes it ‘good’.
The dialogue is clunky and boring in spots,
I’m finding I do not care about how this book ends and that doesn’t happen often.
This was an audio arc provided by NetGalley. The audio production was okay. I didn’t notice anything amiss with that.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews