NO JUICY SPOILERS
It’s tempting to want to share spoilers - however- this sexy-romantic-historical fiction comical spy story with secrets that keep coming and coming - is such delightful entertainment—that personally - I suggest JUST READ IT —skip reviews until AFTER you’ve read it. The surprises are a comic-tragic-kick-of-fun.....pushing your curiosity buttons as to how and the heck are these guys going to weasel out of these situations.

This novel is a delicious adventure from start to finish. Oh....and hungry? You’re in Italy for goodness sake.. the best Italian cuisine in the world! I had the best laugh when a can of Del Monte peaches, topped with whipped cream with a maraschino cherry on top ( as seen in the June issue of LIFE), was ‘desired’ ( American canned food) over ‘anything’ Italian. Instead of Gelato? Really? Gotta laugh!

“The Italian Party” is filled with hanky panky enjoyment.
The secrets that American newlyweds Scottie and Michael have kept from each other adds lots of chuckling to Christina Lynch’s debut novel.


There was much that Michael and Scottie didn’t know about each other—yet this handsome American couple ( he always dressed nicely in a cut suit with a camera around his neck -and she a blond knockout always in an elegant hat and pearl choker) —-glided into Siena, Italy....( 1956)...looking charismatic as if they were a royal couple: “young, healthy, wealthy, and in love”.

Michael felt as if he had won the lottery when Scottie agreed to marry him- A Vassar girl from a good family out in California. “And the best part was, she wasn’t smart. Because that’s what Michael wanted. What he needed.”
Michael was from the Bronx.
“Scottie was taught that a woman likes to feel beautiful, and a man likes to feel superior”.

Scottie, too, felt like she won the lottery when she married Michael: A Yale Handsome sensitive man with an artistic soul. She thought of Michael as compassionate- having endured the tragedy of losing his brother. He wasn’t wealthy but he was hard working and had a good job with a Ford tractor agency....(so he told her).

Actually - Michael didn’t work for Ford—( coming to Siena to open a Ford Office) —It was only his cover job. His real job was to secretly make sure Catholic party candidate, Gianni Manganelli, won the Siena mayoral election.
Michael, unbeknownst to Scottie, was working for the CIA. His purpose was to make sure the Communist mayor, Ugo, was defeated.
Michael was on a top secret mission. Clare Boothe Luce, American ambassador to Italy was counting on Michael to sway the election so that Western civilization didn’t come tumbling down. “Sway the election”.....Hm? Seems we’ve read about this news in our own more current events — seems history really does repeat itself.

I learned a little more about the Cold War - and the 1950’s when communism was grabbing hold of the country - and the influence the United States had over local politics.
There are many colorful -wonderful characters that I haven’t even mentioned - ( with their secrets and drama)- subplots - horse racing - sex - mystery - politics - crime -

The heart of this story belongs to: Scottie & Michael. I found them both ADORABLE!!!
Their individual insecurities - their unhappiness - their hidden happiness - their hidden pain and grief - their flaws - their humanness touched me.
Both of them had a likable tender side.

If historical spy stories are this much fun - humorous- sweet - sexy - educational - charming - adventurous- with terrific characters - I’ll take more please!!!

Thank You St. Martin’s Press, Netgalley, and Christina ( you’re great - I look forward to your next book filled with secrets)

The Italian Party is a smart, sharp, and satiric take on 1950s American culture and politics.

The newlyweds were picture perfect American ideals in the flesh: Michael, twenty-four, a handsome, well-dressed man who shaved four times a day, and twenty-year-old Scottie, Vassar educated, beautiful, blond haired, and dressed in pearls, heels, gloves, hat-- and girdle and underarm perspiration guards.

Their whirlwind courtship and quick marriage was secretly a marriage of convenience for them both. The bride was pregnant and the husband was told a wife was good for his new job. Neither knew much about the other, and they liked it that way.

They are beginning their lives together in Siena, Italy.

"They seemed to have stepped right out of an advertisement for Betty Crocker, Wonder Bread or capitalism itself."
Post-war Italy was still rebuilding after WWII--both its infrastructure and its political structure. American cultural imperialism was in full swing, hoping to lure Italy away from the Communist Party and Soviet influence. The CIA and the Communists covert operations have converged on Siena's mayoral election.

Michael works for Ford and has been sent to Siena to sell tractors, hoping to lure farmers into modernization, but the locals are not very receptive.

The newlyweds try to live up to the glossy ideals of advertising, being the kind of husband and wife seen in on a magazine cover. But each is living a lie.

Meanwhile, they are surrounded and befriended by people with hidden agendas, secret liaisons and complicated backgrounds.

All that is hidden eventually is outed, taking the newlyweds into surprising and very non-Norman Rockwell territory.

I enjoyed the satire and the historical background. The story had lots of twists and complications. The ending felt far-fetched to me in terms of how Michael and Scottie resolve their marital challenges. But the characters are quite happy and eager for new adventures.

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Italy in the 1950s. The book is very descriptive and makes you feel like you are actually there with the characters. Moving story that was hard to put down.

A step back into a time when most women were hidden beneath make-up and girdles and were taught not to trust each other. Coming of age, a woman has her eyes opened to parts of life she did not know existed and seeks to find her way. However, the happily-ever-after ending of this tale is unfortunately disappointing. While the ending is what perhaps a woman (and a man) in their predicament might have imagined at that point in time, to give it credence is exceptionally dishonest and painful to almost any married couple actually living such a life.

I love stories about Americans living abroad - I hope to do the same someday! This book is set in Italy 1956 as the country attempts to rebuild after WWII. Scottie and Michael meet and marry quickly, barely knowing each other. They both have secrets that threaten the stability of their relationship. Michael is there for reasons he keeps secret from Scottie and Scottie is not honest about her past. Throughout the book you are introduced to a host of characters that bring Italy alive. Delightful read.

Set in Siena, Italy in 1956, The Italian Party is an entertaining and interesting read. Scottie and MIchael, the couple who recently relocated from America so he could open a Ford Motor Tractor franchise, are newly married and barely know each other or their pasts. It seems they are each keeping big secrets which slowly reveal themselves to the reader before coming into the open. Through the novel, we meet local royalty, local Communists, and learn of the annual horse race and its importance in the culture of Siena. Mix in a dose of deceit and a smattering of Cold War history, and the nowel is engaging and moves quickly. Highly recommended, especially for fans of Amor Towles (Gentleman in Moscow; Rules of Engagement), and readers of historical fiction and family dramas.

With thanks to the author, Christina Lynch, the publisher, Macmillan USA, and NetGalley.com for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Striking and enjoyable. This story is thought provoking regarding our country’s role. The characters draw you in to the plot and invite you to share their secrets.

This is an excellent portrayal of the Cold War in the 1950's. The deception and lies rang true to the times. Good descriptive writing about Italy and a kind of historical fiction for those who did not experience the Cold War.

This book made me feel like I was in Siena, Italy in 1956. The young American couple, their secrets, the threats of communism and homosexuality all seemed very realistic. I liked that the story was set to the backdrop of the historical horse race, the Palio. The way in which the author revealed the charcacter's secrets was well done. I'd give this book a 3.5 star rating.

Part spy novel, part romance, part historical fiction, this charming book is set in Italy during the Cold War. Michael, recruited by the CIA upon graduation from Yale, hastily marries a young Radcliffe coed, Scottie, whom he meets at a college mixer. Love at first sight it is not, rather a marriage of convenience for both; neither knows each is using their new marital status to hide a "shameful" (to them) secret.
As Scottie begins building a home for them in Siena, learning to speak the language and assimilating into the sensuous Italian culture, Michael spends long hours at his cover job as a Ford Motor Company executive. Yet he also travels frequently to Rome, where he secretly rendevouses with a former lover, leaving Scottie alone, vulnerable, and confused about the state of her marriage. While the vivid description of the Italian countryside and cuisine alone would be sufficient to engage the reader, the author also offers a sensitive and realistic portrayal of a marriage between two people who, while at first using each other for their own selfish purposes, wind up giving each other just what they need in a life's companion.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free digital ARC of this book. This book is true to its title description. The reader won't be disappointed when reading this book.

Spies, sex and secrets. Sounds like the perfect recipe for a fun and fast-paced read. This novel does deliver in some ways, but overall, fell a little flat for me.

What a wonderful book! Set in post-war Italy during the 1950's, Michael, a newly minted agent, is sent by the CIA to Siena Italy to root out Communists. His cover is a tractor salesman, and he has his lovely and naive wife Scottie with him as part of his cover. They are both young and barely known each other. As their stay in Italy goes on, their marriage goes through some turbulent times.

The writing is eloquent and the descriptions of Italy are beautiful. I loved the characters in this book; they've got depth and you want to learn more about them.

I highly recommend this book. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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.