Skip to content

The Binding - Bridget Collins

For Adults

Imagine you could erase your grief.

Imagine you could forget your pain.

Imagine you could hide a secret.

Forever.

Emmett Farmer is working in the fields when a letter arrives summoning him to begin an apprenticeship. He will work for a Bookbinder, a vocation that arouses fear, superstition and prejudice – but one neither he nor his parents can afford to refuse.

He will learn to hand-craft beautiful volumes, and within each he will capture something unique and extraordinary: a memory. If there’s something you want to forget, he can help. If there’s something you need to erase, he can assist. Your past will be stored safely in a book and you will never remember your secret, however terrible.

In a vault under his mentor’s workshop, row upon row of books – and memories – are meticulously stored and recorded.

Then one day Emmett makes an astonishing discovery: one of them has his name on it.

THE BINDING is an unforgettable, magical novel: a boundary-defying love story and a unique literary event.

–––––––––––––––

‘Brilliant’ JOANNA CANNON

‘Spellbinding’ Guardian

‘Magic’ ERIN KELLY

‘Immersive’ Sunday Times

‘Gorgeous’ STELLA DUFFY

–––––––––––––––

We’re offering 10 book clubs, copies of THE BINDING by Bridget Collins. To participate, please email lipfon.tang@harpercollins.co.uk with the quantity you require and any details about social media handles you use.

News

Book clubs – Get Ready to Connect! How to make the most from the site

The Book Club Hub, formerly known as Reading Groups for Everyone, is packed with amazing features to keep you and your fellow readers connected — not just within your club, but with the entire Book Club Hub community. Find out how to have members join your online book club.

Resources

Read to the Beat Collection - Book Information

The Reading Agency and public libraries are working to change this with the Summer Reading Challenge – a FREE, UK-wide programme. Last year, over 575,000 children took part with nearly 12 million books being read. Sing from the rooftops! We’re so thrilled that the theme for the Summer Reading Challenge 2026 will be music. Our exciting partnership with Universal Music Group UK will open doors for children to explore the creative power of reading and music. The link between music and...

News

Meet the Nibbies' BBC Radio 2 Book Club Award judges

Meet the judges who will be selecting the book to win the new BBC Radio 2 Book Club Award at The British Book Awards (aka Nibbies) 2026!

View our other programmes