This is a long book and you will need to devote some time to it
The pace of the book did slow down a bit in the middle.
It was a very emotional read.

This book takes place in the fictional town of Monterini. The first chapter is placed in 1912, when two women are pregnant at the same time, and give birth at the same time. Santina is a catholic, a farmer's wife and she gives birth to Ricco. Bella is a jew, the wife of an intellectual, a library owner, and she gives birth to a girl. Unfortunately, Bella dies that night and her daughter, Bella, and Ricco are brought closer together than it was expected. They grow up together and their story is closely weaved together.
This is not a happy book, but there is hope in it's pages. It is a book about human cruelty, but also compassion, love, loyalty and resilience. Monterini is a place where two religions live together in harmony and where the Catholics protect the jews in face of persecution by the Fascists and the Nazi.
As I said, this is not a happy ending book, and it broke my heart, but I do not regret reading it at all. It is a book that shows the resilience of the human spirit.

An emotional story of two families one Catholic and one Jewish in Italy during WW2. Great characters and storyline during the terror of the wartime fascist times in Italy makes an interesting story especially with the "forbidden" love between the families

I really wanted to get into this book, but I just couldn't. In my opinion, the story lines weren't clear enough and I found myself not remembering where certain chapters ended since there were many changing points of view. I also think the story itself didn't grab my attention early on, so I had no motivation to know the ending of the book. I'm sure there were those who enjoyed this book, but it just wasn't for me.

A beautiful, yet heart breaking read that captures your heart from the first page.

With a wonderful storyline, endearing characters, and a truly unique ending. I adored this book.

I haven't cried like that in a long time. This book has everything - love, betrayal, friendship, war, drama ... I think it touched every emotion possible at one point or another. I've read a lot of WW2 historical fiction and this is by far one of my absolute favorites.

The Tears Of Monterini is the story of four people - Jacobo and Angelo, best friends, and their children - Bella and Rico, respectively. Jacobo and Bella are Jewish while Angelo and his son are Catholic. Bella and Rico are joined at the hip and in love but because she is Jewish, Bella decides to marry another Jew to please her family. But, then Italy erupts in chaos as World War 2 is declared and Mussolini declares Italy will join the fight. Now instead of love, everyone is fighting for their lives. Will Jacobo and Bella survive the horrors destined for their people? Will Bella and Rico be together in the end? This is one of those books that's so good that maybe the dishes don't need done right now ... Or the laundry, or anything other than finishing it. There were a few parts that dragged a bit but honestly I didn't even mind because I didn't want it to end anyway.

Thanks to Netgalley and Red Door Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This was a gem!

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

I loved the cover and the descriptions were vivid. I was transfixed by the descriptions of events but no connection to the characters to keep me hooked

The Tears of Monterini is a historical women’s fiction set in the fictional town of Monterini, Italy. The novel is set in time period of 1921-1946 when Mussolini rose and fell from power in Italy.

The novel is about two families of different faiths, a Jew and a Catholic, but with friendship lasting for six generations.

Yacobo is Jewish and has a book store and Angelo is a contadino, who is a winemaker.

Yacobo’s daughter, Bella falls in love with Angelo’s son, Rico. Their love is forbidden in the eyes of the society and due to condemnation of Jews, as Hilter rose to power. The peaceful town of Monterini is torn apart, as the villagers decide what to do with the Jews in the village. No Jew was safe in that tumultuous time and the small town of Monterini was not an exception.

I loved the descriptions of the town of Monterini and the various residents of the town. The reader follows the life of Bella and Jacob from their birth to adulthood. Reading this novel was a cultural experience in the day-to-day life in Monterini and how it changed with time and political strife. I was surprised that this novel was from a first-time author because the writing was perfect.

The Tears is Monterini is a story of Love, Friendship, and Betrayal. It is a great read for historical fiction lovers interested in the ‘world’ literature.

This is an emotionally charged story about two families, one Catholic and one Jewish living in a small village in Italy. The story is beautifully written, set in Italy through the war and the fascist regime of Mussolini and the Nazis. An incredible debut novel that will certainly take hold your heart as you read the pages. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book really tugged at my heartstrings. I’ve read many historical fiction books set in the years around WWII, but they don’t all affect me as emotionally as this one did (All the Light We Cannot See and The Nightingale are others that really got to me). Weinbeg did a wonderful job in her debut novel bringing the (fictional) village of Monterini, Italy and its inhabitants to life.

The book was a bit of a slow start for me but I’m glad I stuck with it. There are a lot of historical, geographical, and cultural facts at the start of the book and it almost felt like I was reading a history book instead of a novel. But as the story moved forward and I got to know the characters better, I was so engrossed that I whipped right through the second half.

This book begins with the story of Jacobo, a Jew, and Angelo, a Catholic. They begin the story of Bella (Jacobo’s daughter) and Rico (Angelo’s son). Born on the same night, they are lifelong friends, then lovers. But their story is not an easy one and they face many obstacles as Mussolini puts racial laws in place and Italy marches towards WWII. Their religion isn’t the only thing that separates them; it’s also their class, family, and educational differences.

Once I settled into the alternating narration from the main characters, I couldn’t wait to see what fate would hand them. This book has a magical aspect - Jacobo and Bella both see a “presence.” Normally I would love this addition to a story, but I felt like it missed the mark a little bit. I wanted more of Tanaquilla, but we don’t learn much about the history of her presence or the magic in the village, just that it exists. We do learn quite a bit about Angelo singing to his grapes though; another mystical part of this book.

If you’re looking for a book with a happy ever after, this might not be the read for you. I’m not sure what exactly I was expecting (more triumph? hope?) but the book’s ending surprised me. It felt real to the times though - there were very few happy endings after WWII. Even though this is historical fiction, Weinbeg captured the struggles, heartache, and perseverance of those who really had to live through the war. I felt the telling of events at the end of the novel was a little too mater-of-fact. I personally would have liked more emotion in the final chapter, but that’s my sappy side looking for another reason to cry. :)

This book came out on August 6th so you can pick it up now!! For historical fiction lovers, this one will be a great addition to your shelves.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This is a debut book from this author, wow, what a great book to start with! This heart-wrenching yet hopeful story is based on true life events in the fictional Italian town of Monterini. Two families living next door to one another, sharing a wall, two families who couldn’t be more different yet are so similar. One family catholic and one Jewish, the fathers, Jacobo and Angelo have been best friends since childhood, and it makes sense that their children Rico and Bella would follow in their footsteps; now their lives are turned upside down during the fascist regime of Mussolini and then World War II. It is a story of love and courage, of unwavering faith in others and it definitely left me in tears.

Wonderful first book will definitely be watching for more books from this author.

A stunning debut novel - heartbreaking in places (including at the start as Bella and Rico) are born. Stayed up late reading this - didn't want to put it down.
I'm taking part in the blog tour next week - will add a full review for that.

Thank you for this ARC. Unfortunately I forgot to download this one, so I cannot leave a review. I will give 3stars as I don't want to negatively impact ratings.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
This is a lovely book with good, descriptive writing that really evokes the imagery and scenery. The novel is full of twists and turns, each brought with good pace so it fits within the story.
The subject matter can be quite dark at times, see the time period, so it is best to be aware of that. However, it brought a gritty realism to the book with a story that had to be told.
The characters are interesting and multifaceted, giving depth to the book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of historical fiction.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book! The Tears of Monterini is a beautiful, heartbreaking novel about two families living in Monterini, Italy (a made-up town) prior to and during World War II. The two families, one Jewish and one Catholic are very close, despite their differences in religion and background. The story follows the ill-fated romance of the son and daughter of these families and what happens to the Jewish community of Monterini.

Stars: I thought the author's descriptions were pitch-perfect. I could imagine the town and its inhabitants easily. I enjoyed learning about this place and time as I was not familiar with stories of pre WW2 Italy.

Wishes: I am probably not the right reader for this book. I should have knows that if a title has the word "tears" in it, there's probably a lot of sadness in the book. I wish the book had had a happier, more hopeful ending and hadn't ended so abruptly.

My thanks to Amanda Weinberg and Red Door Press for the ARC of THE TEARS OF MONTERINI.
Beautiful, a really stunning, heart-rending story of forbidden love and danger in the time of Il Deuce. A fabulous story, beautifully written. The characterisation is so good, you can see them all in your mind's eye and the village where they lived. Wonderful! More please!

This book is based on true events and tells the story of Bella and Rico, born on the same day in Monterini, a small (fictional) village in Italy. As the two children grow up, they become almost inseparable; however, Bella's family is Jewish and Rico's Catholic. They fall in love, but Bella ends up marrying a Jewish boy to please her father.

War intervenes and Bella finds herself working alongside Rico to save a group of Jewish orphans. Bella chooses to remain when her family is forced to flee but this places her in the greatest danger of all.

The rise of fascism and its grip on Italy during the inter-war years is described in detail. Bella's father, Jacobo, has a sense of the danger posed by Mussolini but is not believed at first. His friendship with Rico's father, Angelo, is severely tested but survives.

Bella has the sense of being watched over by an unseen presence that her father, unknown to her, also experiences. She often feels distant from her father, who cannot let go of the memories of his first wife, also named Bella, who died giving birth to their daughter.

I enjoyed this book, even though it was sad at times and particularly towards the end as it described the arrival of the Germans in Monterini and the impact this had on the Jewish population. The descriptions of the countryside and the way of life of the village people are well conveyed, and there is a palpable sense of unease as events begin to spiral out of control.

At the heart of this book is a love story, yet it also has a powerful message that the human spirit can survive even when hope seems fragile, even impossible.

This is Amanda Weinberg's first novel and I look forward to reading more by her.

I was sent an advance review copy of this book by RedDoor Press, in return for an honest appraisal.

I would give this book 4.5 stars! I was instantly transported back in time, and I found myself turning the page to find if love and friendship could survive the unimaginable. However, the ending was a bit abrupt which left me disappointed, and I think a brief epilogue would have perfectly wrapped up the book.

This was a unique historical fiction read about two families in the Tuscany region of Italy during Mussolini's reign. Jacobo, a well-educated Jewish shop owner, and Angelo, a Christian farmer, have grown up as best friends and next door neighbors. Their families have been intertwined for generations, and they always have found ways to reconcile arguments. Yet, as Mussolini comes to power they struggle to remain close and both want the best for their children, Bella and Rico. Can their friendship outlast the war? Can those who are madly in love get married despite religious differences? How can the villagers in Monterini care for their neighbors when there is so much to lose?

This is such a beautifully written heartbreaking book about two families, one Catholic and one Jewish, living in a small fictional Italian village from about 1920ish - 1946. The characters were developed so well and I really liked how easy it was to follow them throughout so many different events. The little bits in Italian (always with the English after) were done in a clever way and it really helped the fictional village come to life. I felt like the author handled the topic and the era in a really sensitive way and it's definitely one of my favourite books of this genre/time period that I've read.