To Capture What We Cannot Keep by Beatrice Colin (Early Review)

To Capture What We Cannot Keep by Beatrice Colin (Early Review)

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What a cover! *dreamy eyes* Caitriona Wallace, or Cait, is a chaperone for Jamie and Alice Arrol on their “Grand Tour” of mainland Europe from Scotland. Their final stop is Paris, where they meet Émile Nougier, one of the engineers who designed the Eiffel Tower for Gustav Eiffel. Chapters alternate between Cait and Émile; the transition is smooth, not confusing, and done very well. Cait and Émile are attracted to each other but haven’t spent enough time together to pursue it. After the Grand Tour, they go back to Scotland but Jamie soon decides that he must be an apprentice with Monsieur Eiffel (also a small character in the book, very fun), and his uncle agrees to finance the move if Alice also goes and Cait agrees to be their chaperone once again. Plenty of other things are going on, but the driving force of this book is Cait and Émile wanting to be together but life getting in the way.

I really, really loved this book. I was nervous while reading because I was afraid the ending wouldn’t suit. You know the kind; where the whole book (or trilogy. Ahem, Hunger Games and Red Rising) is so great but the lackluster ending ruins all those hours you spent reading and enjoying the book. This totally could have been one of those but Beatrice Colin really pulled through.

There are also several fun minor characters or mentions in this book: Gustav Eiffel, as I mentioned; Degas, Surat, and other artists, musicians, and writers. So neat! The ending is quiet and great all at once. The feel of the book overall is slower but still very interesting. So, buy it, borrow it, just be sure to read this lovely book.

5/5 Stars

This book will come out on November 29th, 2016.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.