Cover Image: One Italian Summer

One Italian Summer

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Member Reviews

Katy Silva has always been close to her perfect mother, Carol. When Carol passes away a devastated Katy decides to take the trip to Italy that they planned to take together. Much like Rebecca Serle's other books there is a magical fantasy element to the book, as shortly after Katy arrives at the hotel on the Amalfi Coast, she meets her mother. A younger version and they have a wonderful time. She learns more about her mother and her life when Carol was a new mom. The characters are interesting, and the mystery surrounding Carol's appearance made me keep reading. The descriptions of the Amalfi Coast were devine and made reading this book amazing. Want to visit the Amalfi Coast but can't get away? Read this book.

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While I enjoyed the virtual travel to Positano and the Amalfi Coast, this is my least favorite of Rebecca Serle's books. Which is a shame since I was really looking forward to reading this. I think the only reason I kept reading it was because I wanted to see how it ended, but honestly, I felt the mother/daughter relationship bordered on obsessive and a bit dysfunctional. And I'm saying this as a daughter. My mom and I have a very close relationship, but Katy and Carol's relationship just felt like too much to me.

Unfortunately this one didn't work for me. The time travel aspect of this book was okay, but the story just overshadowed that part.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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The draw of this book was the setting on the Amalfi Coast. I did enjoy this one, but I am not sure I really liked the character of Katy's mother. I could not tell if she was a ghost, a figment of Katy's imagination, or what, but it just did not work for me. I won this in a giveaway, so I do not think this is one I'd have bought myself.

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This didn’t make sense to me. A grown woman divorces her husband… because her mother was the love of her life?? Everyone processes grief differently though. I just couldn’t connect or relate to the main character all that much.

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One Italian Summer at its heart is a story about a mother-daughter relationship and a daughter grieving the loss of the one person who made her feel whole. When she travels to Italy to try to find herself on a trip she'd originally booked with her mother, she ends up finding bits of the woman who shaped her in stories she never knew.

Serle's ability to blend magical realism with romance and life's obstacles in this novel felt like a love letter, and she wove it all in together so beautifully.

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I have some mixed feelings about this book. It was definitely well written and tugged at the heart strings, but I didn't love the main character. The setting was amazing, though, and I loved all the descriptions.

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I enjoyed reading One Italian Summer especially since I had just returned from Italy! This story made me want to go back and see the sites and try the food again. I enjoyed reading about the relationship the character had with her mother. There was some unexpected twists and turns but it was an enjoyable ride.

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I unfortunately did not enjoy this book, I was very disappointed because I saw how others were giving it high ratings but I really don't understand where that is coming from. I wasn't able to connect with the main character so there was no way to save the story from there. I don't think that I would recommend this book, unless they already like her other stories

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I'll start by saying that I didn't love this one as much as In Five Years. I also think I'm just not really into magical realism in general. The whole magical twist was unnecessary for me, to be honest. I was interested in the messy realities of Katy's emotional turmoil, though. I can't relate to the weirdly close relationship she had with her mother, and I SUPER can't relate to her (borderline inhumane) treatment of her poor husband, but maybe that's why I found her to be an interesting character.

The real charm of this book is the way it makes you feel like you're really there, in this idyllic Italian coastal wonderland. I immediately added Positano to my travel bucket list, and looked up Youtube videos of all the areas/places mentioned in the book.

All in all, this was a quick and atmospheric read, but not one I'd likely go out of my way to recommend or pick up again. I enjoy Serle's writing style and pacing, and I will definitely continue to check out her future work.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

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A charming story and a pleasure to read! It was a touch predictable, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book.

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A love story to Italy and the mother/daughter relationship. The entire book was written in a way that you felt you were in the Almalfi coast right alongside the characters. The time travel twist was a cleaver way to twist the plot and I loved every second of this adventure.

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I know this book is everywhere and it seems to be making a lot of lists but I was turned off instantly by the over emotion of the main character.

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Katy is devastated when her mother dies, just before they were taking an Italian vacation. Still reeling in the wake of her mother's death, Katy is questioning everything in her life, including her marriage. She departs solo for Italy, hoping to find solace in her trip. Instead, she runs into her mother - but her mother is in her 30s. Together, they enjoy Positano, get to know one another in a new way, and Katy begins to come through her grief. Throw in a hint of romance and incredible scenery, and you have an escapist read that is sure to please.

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Katy decides to take the mother-daughter Italy trip to Positano without her mother, her best friend. Her mother, who has just died of cancer. Positano is the magical place that her mother spent right before she met Katy's father and right as Katy steps foot off the plane, she feels her mother around her. The Amalfi Coast is beautiful and Katy feels herself healing from her loss. And then...she sees her mother-- her thirty-year-old mother. She doesn't know how to explain it, but over the course of the trip, Katy gets to know her mother. She gets to know the woman she was before she became Katy's mother. But she's not exactly who Katy imagined.

This book was beautiful and, of course, made you wanderlust for the Amalfi Coast. It wasn't the story I thought I was going to read about grief and I really liked the twist when Katy realizes she didn't truly *know* her mother. This book made Serle a new favorite of mine.

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Girls with moms that are not in their lives beware - you probably aren’t going to love this book, or at least you won’t relate to it. I love a book with Italy as a setting but that’s really the only thing I enjoyed here. If your mom is your BFF - read this book!

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I was a little nervous to start this after hearing really mixed reviews, but I really liked this one! The Positano porn alone was amazing and I want to go immediately. But I also really loved the premise of getting a peek at and trying to understand who your parents were as people before you existed. The audiobook narration by Lauren Graham was also perfection, I love listening to her talk. The end lost me a bit, but overall it made me think and had some really poignant quotes, and I liked it a lot.

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I enjoyed this quick paced story about the perplexities of the mother-daughter relationship. Most daughters can relate to the main character's discovery of self in and apart from her relationship with her mother. The writing was both descriptive and heartfelt. The words transport you to the Italian coast. Prepare to be hungry by all of the deliciously described food and drinks.

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a little quirky, but I enjoyed reading the book. I liked the idea of time traveling and meeting your mom when she was young and adventurous in Italy. It was a quick, great read. Good for a day at the beach!

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Katy is beside herself after the loss of her mother, Carol. Her lifelong best friend, Carol was everything to Katy. She was a mentor, a listening ear, and by far the best cook she ever met. When she was diagnosed with cancer a few years before, Katy assumed they’d have more time. That’s when they booked a girls trip to Positano. For Katy it would be her first visit, but for Carol it would be a long awaited return.

In her mother’s absence, Katy is not only left reeling, she’s left holding two tickets to Italy. Logically she could go with her husband, but the loss of her mother has her reassessing many life decisions, one of them being her marriage. As a result, Katy does something she never thought she would, she goes to Italy alone, just like her mother did some thirty years prior.

Upon her arrival, Katy is instantly swept up by all that Italy has to offer. While grateful for the extravagant escape, Katy can’t help but feel a little sad and foolish that she’s on the trip alone. Then the unexpected happens- Katy runs into her mother in the past. It’s a proposition so preposterous, and yet it seems to be oddly true. Katy always said she wanted to take the trip with her mother, who knew she’d turn out to be right?

One Italian Summer is a definitive love letter to Italy, capturing many breathtaking sights and mouthwatering meals that are sure to inspire interest, or envy. In its short 272 pages it has a lot of ground to cover, both in homage to the country, as well as the relationships, both past and present, that unfold. This is why I felt the book fell short. In some ways it felt like going on vacation- eat, drink, explore- repeat. In between all of this we are seeing the pedestal Katy has put her mother on her whole life. The redundancy started to weigh down the story though, all drawn out unnecessarily until the anticlimactic climax. I also found myself having a hard time relating to Katy. Instead I saw her as rather childish and selfish throughout most of the book.

Readers looking to be transported to another place, and even, another time might consider giving One Italian Summer a try. I, however, was left wanting a little bit more out of the trip.

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In similar style to her previous novels, One Italian Summer brings past and present together. While taking the trip of a lifetime, Katy somehow meets her mother…decades younger. Throughout the trip, Katy and her mother Carol become closer and learn all about one another in a new way.

One Italian Summer is the perfect summer read. I felt transported to the Almalfi Coast and loved the descriptions of the food and location. Between a semi-coming of age story and living with grief, I felt connected to Katy. I look forward to reading what Rebecca Serle comes out with next!

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