This book is just a delight!  Set in Italy in 1956, THE ITALIAN PARTY depicts post-WWII Italy with rich detail and casts the complexities of Italian politics in a whole new light.  The story follows a young American couple who relocate to Italy, ostensibly so the husband can sell Ford tractors.  In reality, he was with the CIA, a fact he keeps hidden from his wife, along with an even bigger secret.  His wife has a secret of her own though.  The wife embraces life in Italy as her husband covertly tries to sway an Italian election (a timely topic!).  The story of the couple and how they come to truly know each is beautifully and charmingly told, in spite of the seriousness of some of the themes.  This would be a great book to read on a trip to Italy but I thoroughly enjoyed it from the comfort of my Midwestern living room.  I look forward to reading Christina Lynch's next books and plan to buy several copies of THE ITALIAN PARTY as gifts for family and friends..

The story about a young married couple from the US coming to live in Italy was great to read from the first to the last page. I enjoyed how the author described the country and people Italy's in the 50s. I'd say: a must read! Trust me. I'd love to read a sequel

I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for my candid review.

What a thoroughly delightful, but thought provoking book.

The book takes place in Italy in 1956 when a young, new CIA operative and his recent wife are sent to Siena Italy by the CIA. The man's mission is to do all in his power to prevent the Communists from gaining a stronghold in Italy. The story is at time serious, at times delightful, sometimes almost farcical. The book really asks some questions about the US's role in manipulating politics in many countries, but it does it in an almost gentle manner. It is one of those rare books that gets its point across in a manner that does not beat you over the head. I loved the characters, some right from the start, and some as they developed over time. It was an excellent story about how a newly married couple learned about married life, about how idealistic beliefs can sometimes blind you to realities. It is a wonderful tale of a beautiful country and a people that are fraught with their own strengths amd faults. It has been a long time since I have read a book that takes me to a place that I really want to go.

It is also a book about real events and politics and people that shaped the world we now live in.

I highly recommend this book. It is the best book that I have read this year.

Fascinating take on the world post-WWII. Charming, smart, and plenty of delightful plot twists and surprises.

This was such a lovely read. The unreliable-narrator itch at the back of my neck never really panned out, as they revealed themselves to each other over the course of the book. As they both skim into concerning behavior, they avoid becoming anitheroes. The imagery and personalities of Siena and the era were spot-on (to this American :) ) - i didn't want it to end. highly recommended!

The Italian Party 
by Christina Lynch (Goodreads Author) 
108416
Nancy Cunningham's review Sep 25, 2017  ·  edit
really liked it

THE ITALIAN PARTY is that rare contemporary novel that manages to entertain and stimulate thought at the same time. I was engaged in this book from the very beginning and it never let me down. It was able to charm me with its descriptions of the Italian countryside and its people, while also sending its message that America's role abroad is many shades of gray (as is our political behavior).

The young couple at the center of the novel started a relationship based upon mutual deceit and as their innocence disappears the complexity of sorting out their lives unfolds. The personas they created were initially built on pragmatism and personal necessity, but as they mature (in a rather short time!) they address their identities in a candid and thoughtful manner.

I tend to look at the 1950's (in all its post-war glory) as an innocent and somewhat glamorous time. American's were confident, the economy was growing, and we were reveling in our freedom and our future. Christina Lynch takes a young couple with those attributes and places them in a small Italian town that looks at them through a very different lens and the reader's challenge is to sort out the reality and focus the picture.

The world in Christina Lynch's novel is truly technicolor: I feel like I know everyone in the village and would have no problem navigating through the world she has created in her book. It was a wonderful reading experience.

NetGalley provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderful story, I found myself yearning to be back in Italy. This was a fun romp and an interesting story. I will be buying a copy for my mother I think she would love this.