What a great summer read, especially at a time when I really want to be traveling, but can't. The mystery of her parentage is the start to the story of Zia's trip to Italy. Who was her father? Why are there discrepancies in her mother's name and death certificate? She arrives, with a friend, at the cabin they've rented, next to a winery. She immediately meets a dashing man who is one of the winery owners, and who also has a dilemma about selling that winery and its land. The story involves some mystery, romance and family drama, all set in the beautiful Italian countryside. It's a great escape from the real world and would be a great Hallmark movie!

this book was a cute story of self discovery with the usual romance tropes of mis-communication and horrible ex's.

I found the start of this book a little abrupt and thought there could have been a bit more discovery at the beginning and felt that chapter 1 read like a prologue. so an extra chapter between 1 and 2 would have rounded out the start for me. That being said I really enjoyed this tale of finding family and finding your place in the world. It was an uplifting and charming tale all with the wonderful backdrop of Italian vineyards and sunsets.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book for review

I was looking for a book that was a bit fun, a bit of suspense and easy to read and this one hit the spot.

Sue Moorcroft writes so fluidly and this story flowed from start to finish. It was interesting in that it was the story of a life that wasn't real and then trying to find your true self. In the mean time there is the beauty of Italy and the romance of vineyard owner. What more could you want.

A great read, an enjoyable but sometimes emotional story and a bit of fun along with the backdrop of a glorious sunny Italy.

Highly recommend this one. Take it on holiday or read it as if you are on holiday.

I'm not a wine-drinker but I could become solely because of the this book! All the landscape, beverages, food- it sounds (reads) delicious!
Another funny and easy romance story from this author. I loved it.

This book was such a joy!!! My usual interest lately is historical fiction around WW2 so to have selected and receive this book was indeed a joyous moment. The writing and descriptions of the area, the mountains, the vineyards, you couldn’t help but want to be there. Zia was a character that was like a big hug every time she was on a page. I smiled my way through this book and will definitely be recommending it to reader friends!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley

This was a fun beach read that I really enjoyed reading. It was fairly short and didn't have a massive emotional impact. It's one of those books that I don't know if I will remember this book in a year but I also spent a fun enjoyable afternoon reading it. If you're looking for something light and flirty, this is a good pick.

Sunshine and secrets are a heady mix! Fantastic scenery and food, great characters and a dash of intrigue. I found this book very entertaining and hugely captivating! Heart warming and romantic throughout. Thoroughly enjoyable. Perfect read any time of the year.

Thank you Netgalley

Thank you Harper Collins for giving me the opportunity to read this fabulous book.

I was taken to the vineyards of Italy without leaving my house.

Beginning in Brighton looking through her deceased grandparents belongings, Zia-Lucia Costa Chalmers has uncovered a family secret she needs to unravel to find herself.

Her journey takes her to Italy with her best friend Ursula to discover her heritage and who her father is.

The vineyard next door, owned by a very handsome Italian, Piero, is set amongst a mountainous backdrop, with cicadas singing and beautiful views for miles.

Zia-Lucia and Ursula find out who her father is but not necessarily a good thing, she meets further family members but remains anonymous to them, all while her duplicitous ex boyfriend reigns havoc from afar and Ursula’s marriage is on the rocks.
They return to England to fill other gaps of Zia’s history which is heartbreaking but gives a clear understanding of why her mother did what she did.
The clear attraction between Piero and Zia fizzes throughout and the amazing setting does not disappoint.
Many highs and a few lows made this a thoroughly enjoyable read.

This story from Sue Moorcroft gave me the perfect armchair travel, which with the weather we’ve been having was very much appreciated. Set in Umbria, Italy I appreciated the nod to the problematic restrictions that Brexit has given us, acknowledging the length of time Zia was permitted to stay in Italy before having to return home.

Zia uncovers family secrets and feels she needs answers that she can’t find at home, so she heads to Monteliberta with her best friend Ursula, who is having marital difficulties. Upon arrival in Italy Zia finds herself distracted by a growing chemistry with handsome neighbour Piero.

It is a complicated journey for Zia as she unravels her family secrets, and things she believed were true turn out to be very different. At the same time, Piero is battling to save his family vineyard from intimidation from a corporation intent on buying the business and the surrounding land.

This story was absolute escapist joy for me, and with a lovely slow-burn romance to lighten the family dramas. The side characters in particular Lucia brought so much heart to the story that I felt completely transported to Italy.

There were plenty of dark moments relating to mental health issues, alcoholism and vindictive ex-partners along the way, all tempered by the warmth of the romance and the gorgeous setting. This really was escapist perfection in a novel.

I really thought I would loved this one. But... I just couldn't. I just didn't. I couldn't feel the characters or the story. I wanted to DNF but I stick till the end, but sorry nothing changed.
2.5 stars

Absolutely loved this book. I am a big fan of Sue's books, and I am also very critical of books written featuring Italy as I am a fluent Italian speaker and have been there many times, and I hate inauthenticity - well, I needn't have worried about that with Under the Italian Sun. It was everything I could have hoped for. I could completely envisage myself at the villas and vineyard with Zia-Lucia, Lucia and Piero. The subplots with Ursula and Stephan and Zia-Lucia's ex, as well as that of Piero's family were fabulous. A fantastic cast all round. And the story started with such a huge shocking revelation too. This is my favourite Sue Moorcroft book so far. Can't wait for the next one.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this one around the 25% mark. I couldn't get into the story. It all felt a bit too melodramatic for my taste, with the family secrets and relationship problems and legal issues. I've enjoyed previous novels from this author, and I'm definitely not writing her off, but this one was a miss for me.

Under the Italian Sun is another brilliant summer read from Sue Moorcroft.

As the blurb says ‘welcome to Italy’ and what a warm welcome. I felt like I was on holiday and on an exciting adventure to discover a mystery. This book really does have it all. It also includes a hot romance with a hot Italian called Piero but more on that later.

Under the Italian Sun draws you in right from the start, with Zia making a dramatic discovery which will take her to Italy. Alongside her best friend who is also in need of a holiday, Zia heads to Italy to meet her family and to find out the answers to the questions she has since the discovery. Piero the handsome Italian mentioned earlier is there to greet them and with his own family dramas going on, it makes for an interesting read, especially when the romance heats up.

There is one particular part in the story that I found so romantic and loved reading about, but no spoilers here. I wanted to close my eyes and leave the characters to it but at the same time I wanted to look at the landscape. The setting for this book is amazing and perfectly written. I felt like I was right there throughout Zia and Piero’s journey with all the twists and turns that occur. Piero has to be one of my favourite hero’s that Sue has created and Zia is such a strong women standing up for what she believes in that I cannot help but really route for them the whole way through their story.

Under the Italian Sun is what everyone needs to read in 2021! A perfect summer escape.

I really enjoyed this book. Loved the characters and the way the author described the setting. Felt like I was there. Would recommend

Another fabulous read from Sue Moorcroft. This has it all ... family, romance and a mystery or two! Loved the characters in this book, particularly Piero who might now be my new book boyfriend! There's a lovely sense of place in this book and I could really identify with the Italian setting.

4.5 Stars

Warm-hearted, feel-good and emotional, escapist summertime reading does not get any better than Sue Moorcroft’s Under the Italian Sun.

Zia-Lucia Costa Chalmers has always had questions about who she really is and where she comes from. Her family’s past is shrouded in mystery and after revelations close to home end up turning her entire world upside down, Zia decides that the time has come to search out the Italian family she’s never known – who knows maybe she will even find out why she has ended up with such a mouthful of a name! Zia is determined to uncover the tangled mystery of the past and she hopes that her quest for the truth will yield the answers she so desperately seeks. Zia cannot afford any distractions of any kind. However, she hadn’t counted on the gorgeous vineyard owner next door Pietro who is far too distracting for his own good…

During a summer of discovery, Zia sets out to solve the mysteries of the past, however, the more time she spends in Italy, the more she begins to wonder whether she might have just found the future she has always hoped for. Has Zia finally found a place she can call home? Has she at long last found somewhere she belongs? Or will the past rear its head and end up jeopardizing the life she has always longed for?

Sue Moorcroft can always be relied on to deliver a gripping read that sweeps readers away into a world full of humour, wit and warmth and Under the Italian Sun is certainly no exception. Wonderfully lyrical, beautifully evocative and absolutely irresistible, Under the Italian Sun is a stellar tale about forging your own path, finding somewhere to belong and getting a second chance that readers will not be able to put down.

Sue Moorcroft has a terrific gift for characterization and in Zia, she has created a wonderful protagonist readers will cheer on and fall in love with.

A heart-warming, romantic and immensely enjoyable tale, Sue Moorcroft has got another hit on her hands with Under the Italian Sun.

Family secrets, friendship, romance, and more all set in a beautiful Italian setting. I read this to keep myself distracted and it worked. I could have done without the Ursula and Stephen story because wow was Stephen a terrible person. The rest was nicely distracting.

This book was great, you could tangibly feel that you were in Italy overlooking vines...

Zia-Lucia Costa Chalmers is on a mission to find out who she is. She has finally opened some letters which have been stuffed in a cupboard implying that her father is in Italy, so decides to go and find out for herself with her best friend, Ursula.

I love that this wasn't a family story, but also one of a beautiful holiday, and an adventure.

I read this almost in one sitting and would love to read it straightaway again. This one needs a lovely drink and a sunshade so you can enjoy every syllable.

A fantastic five star.read from Sue Moorcroft. The reader feels that they are in Italy, the locations are described so well. Great characters which are relatable and likeable, and a plot which draws the reader in !
A fantastic staycation read, pure escapism
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon books and Sue Moorcroft for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

The concept for this was super interesting but I just wasn't all that sold on it when I read it. The writing wasn't great and while the scenery was described beautifully the story just didn't do it for me.