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Our Italian Summer
by Jennifer ProbstSeries: Meet Me in Italy #1
Published by Berkley on January 12, 2021
SubGenres: Women's Fiction
Format: AudioBook, eBook
Pages: 371
Narrator: Cassandra Campbell, Holly Linneman, Suzanne Toren
Length: 12 Hours And 44 Minutes
Source: Library - Libby
Audience: 18+/Adult
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From
New York Times
bestselling author Jennifer Probst comes a new women's fiction novel featuring three generations of Ferrari women who need to heal the broken pieces of their lives...and one trip of a lifetime through Italy.
Workaholic, career-obsessed Francesca is fiercely independent and successful in all areas of life except one: family. She struggles to make time for her relationship with her teenage daughter, Allegra, and the two have become practically strangers to each other. When Allegra hangs out with a new crowd and is arrested for drug possession, Francesca gives in to her mother's wish that they take one epic summer vacation to trace their family roots in Italy. What she never expected was to be faced with the choice of a lifetime. . . .
Allegra wants to make her grandmother happy, but she hates the idea of forced time with her mother and vows to fight every step of the ridiculous tour, until a young man on the verge of priesthood begins to show her the power of acceptance, healing, and the heartbreaking complications of love.
Sophia knows her girls are in trouble. A summer filled with the possibility for change is what they all desperately need. Among the ruins of ancient Rome, the small churches of Assisi, and the rolling hills of Tuscany, Sophia hopes to show her girls that the bonds of family are everything, and to remind them that they can always lean on one another, before it's too late.
Our Italian Summer is the first book in Jennifer Probst’s Meet Me in Italy series. I wanted something different to read and knew this Women’s Fiction novel would be enjoyable. I enjoy Romance, but lately I wanted a change. This book has romantic subplots, but they are not the main focus. I wanted something that would evoke many emotions and relate to me. This book truly hit me in the feels, especially as a mother of two daughters, one adult and one teenager, who’s been keeping me on my toes. I related to these characters and understood their frustrations and happy moments through their POVs.
Yes, this book upset me at times, maybe because it hit close to home. It evoked many emotions, including happiness. I related to each character and felt for them individually. The story is told through three POVs. The teenager, Allegra, reminded me of my own, who is going through things, acting out, and trying to find herself. The mother, Francesca, reminded me of myself, working too hard, not slowing down, and ending up in the hospital. The grandmother, Sophia, my favorite character, noticed her daughter and granddaughter needed intervention and decided a vacation to Italy would help them slow down and be together, even though she was putting aside her own issues.
Each character needed the trip to Italy, and I loved reading their adventures and how they worked through their issues. It took time. I was also there as each found love/friendship. It’s not the main focus, but I loved how each woman found someone, even when one of them had to let go of the relationship after the trip. This was hard, but I loved how it was handled.
In the end, the women work through what they need to, and their relationship with one another is stronger. They also got to experience Italy together, even though in some moments they had some hard times. Reading this book reminded me to plan a return trip to Italy; my last was twenty-three years ago during my Navy days. I’d love for my girls to experience Italy. Italian food and wine remain my favorites, and I’ve been to several countries thanks to the Navy.
Overall, this was an impactful and emotional book, and I give it 4 stars. I look forward to reading more in this series from Jennifer Probst, especially since she made me want to plan a trip to Italy because of the delicious foods and places the characters visited. Some I remember visiting.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you are looking for a Women’s fiction novel that follows three generations of women who go on vacation to work on their relationship together, but also experience Italy for the first time, then check out Our Italian Summer. This is one book I’m definitely going to recommend my girls read because there are some things that are said that would resonate with them, like it did with me.
Audiobook Recommendation: If you enjoy listening to your books, then I highly recommend the audiobook for Our Italian Summer. The narrators did a fantastic job bringing the story and the characters to life.
What to Expect:
🇮🇹Women’s Fiction
🇮🇹Three Generations Storyline
🇮🇹Family Vacation/Forced Proximity
🇮🇹Troubled Teen
🇮🇹Workaholic Mother
🇮🇹Romantic Subplot
Favorite Quotes:
Motherhood was a complicated maze of disappointments and failures, peppered with the occasional wave of pure love that made it all worth it.
Mothers will never be perfect, my sweet girl. We make many, many mistakes.” Her eyes turned sad and a bit haunted, which made my heart hurt. “The only thing we can hope is for our children to forgive us and believe we did our best.”
“Rose, leave them alone. Here, listen to your Kindle. I thought you were at the good part,” his dad said. “Oh, I am. Beau and Daisy are pretending to be married, but I think they’re going to shag tonight.” Ian turned his gaze upward. “Lord, please help me.” I giggled. “Rose, can I borrow that book when you’re done?”
“Your job is to make many mistakes, and that’s okay. Own them proudly. But choose your mistakes carefully.”
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