The Shoemaker's Wife: A Novel

Trigiani’s biggest novel to date--a breathtaking multi-generational love story that spans two continents, two World Wars, and two oceans, replete with the all the drama, sumptuous detail and heart-stopping romance that have made her “One of the reigning queen’s of women’s fiction” (USA Today).

Beloved New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani returns with the most epic and ambitious novel of her career—a breathtaking multigenerational love story that spans two continents, two World Wars, and the quest of two star-crossed lovers to find each other again. Fans of Trigiani’s sweeping family dramas like Big Stone Gap and Lucia, Lucia will love her latest masterpiece, a book Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help, calls “totally new and completely wonderful: a rich, sweeping epic which tells the story of the women and men who built America dream by dream.”

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496 pages

Average rating: 7.32

71 RATINGS

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Anonymous

Apr 19, 2025

8/10 stars

I just loved Adriana Trigiani's Big Stone Gap books. I listened to this story while knitting. I loved listening to all the Italian names, the narrator was really good. I didn't want this story to end.

Anonymous

Apr 01, 2025

8/10 stars

I loved this book. It was one of those where you want to know what's going to happen but you don't want it to end. I had to go and grab a copy off the shelf and finish it without waiting to listen to the rest of the audio. My only complaint is that I felt the ending was a bit abrupt, perhaps a sequel will happen? This keeps it from being a 5 star book.

Anonymous

Jan 14, 2025

6/10 stars

I really enjoyed the first two thirds of this book. The description of Italy was beautiful. She really captured well the way immigrants came to America and worked their tallis off to achieve their goals. The sacrifices Enza makes for her family are amazing. The last third of the book dragged for me.

GymnasticsFan

Feb 19, 2024

10/10 stars

Honestly, one of the most well-written books I've ever read. While the story is somewhat predictable in parts, the pictures painted by the author's words are just amazing. Sometimes I'd be in a waiting room or at physical therapy reading and when I'd look up from the book, I'd be surprised I wasn't in early 20th century Italy or NY. I could SEE the mountains and SMELL the sauces and FEEL the breezes. The author is truly brilliant at descriptive writing. She also writes with incredible historical accuracy, as evidenced by the acknowledgments at the back of the book. I'm looking forward to finding older books by her.

margardenlady

Dec 27, 2023

10/10 stars

This novel about an orphan from Italy has fairy tale woven through it in wonderful ways. Trigiani did an excellent job researching and placing the novel historically - early 20th century NYC and Iron Range ring true, so I can only imagine that the rural Italy scenes are to be believed, as well. The love story spans many false steps and life changing events, and warmed my heart - even while other events broke it.