Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the early copy of this book! It was sweet, and humorous, but not too funny in my opinion. I loved the setting and the small town saving! Signor Spirenza, the self-appointed mayor of small town Prometto, was a fun main character to follow along with especially as things started to spiral out of control- it was fun! The ending was a bit predictable, but overall still enjoyable and a quick read. Love that the characters were based on real people too, because they were charming! 3.5/5 stars.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

The Patron Saint of Second Chances by Christine Simon is about a small town facing destruction and a scheme to save it that starts with one little lie and then takes on a life of its own. The story is silly, funny, and sweet. Ultimately, it is about people and caring and a community coming together to save its place in the world. As this is a debut novel, I look forward to seeing what Christine Simon writes next.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2024/01/the-patron-saint-of-second-chances.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

This story was charming and sweet, and I enjoyed the quirky characters. I did struggle with the last 1/3 of the story, and while I wanted to love it, I struggled to finish it. (Characters can be too quirky for me, I discovered)

The premise isn’t exactly unique, but the setting, characters, and execution are. Lovely read if your heart needs some warming- with some Italian flare.

I could not get into this book, so unfortunately it was DNF for me. The story just seemed so far out there and kind of goofy. Better luck next time I guess. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Signor Speranza is the self appointed mayor of Prometto, a tiny Italian village. He finds himself under pressure when plumbing issues arise for which there are not enough funds to cover the cost to repair. He becomes desperate to solve the problem so that the town of 212 people are not forced to move to another town.

I found this story to be more of a folktale with lively colorful characters. Signor Speranza has ideas and proposed solutions to the town’s financial problem that are ridiculous. He ultimately receives the town support when they believe that a famous actor is coming to their town to make a movie. Speranza goes to great lengths to create this pretend situation including setting up auditions. It soon becomes difficult for him to keep all his lies straight.

Although he seems to feel guilty by all his deception he can’t seem to stop once he starts building this story which will fall like a house of cards! It’s silly and humorous.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Edelweiss and NetGalley for review.

I found this to be a fun and charming read. I really loved the small town feel of this book where everyone is familiar to everyone else. Signor is not only the self appointed mayor, but the head cheerleader of this tiny town as well. He will attempt to save it in any way possible, but it will not be easily and will definitely be overcomplicated. I did not really find this book overly funny yet was drawn to some of the preschool antics that Signor and his assistant pulled throughout the book. I had few chuckles with these from time to time. I think the overly exaggerated, obviousness of this book was definitely a good break. I liked that writing and would be interested to see what else this author has up their sleeves. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

Entertaining novel about the tangled web of lies that the main character creates to help save his town and get the town's residents to have some hope and care about the future of their village. Plus flatulence jokes. 2.5 rounded up

If you love a tale with a quirky cast of characters, then The Patron Saint of Second Chances by Christine Simon is for you. I fell in love with the town of Prometto and the quest of one man to save it.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

This book was LOL funny and so cute. The characters in this quirky town were so unique and you couldn’t help but love them all. I think this book would make the best comedy movie! Really enjoyed it

Signor Speranza, is a vacuum cleaner repairman, with few customers. The town of Prometto Italy is feeling the same financial pressure. Signor Speranza, is the self proclaimed mayor and he is the only one that knows that the town owes 70,000 euros to fix the towns pipes. The ten consists of 212 people and it will be near impossible to raise the funds. If they can’t raise the funds they will have to move. Speranza, in an attempt to raise funds, tells them that Dante Rinaldi, is coming to town to make a movie. The town can’t believe their luck, such a great movie star coming to their town. The plan works so well that money pours in. The town people want roles in the movie. Their excitement is out of control and Speranza has to tell the truth, right? As time passes people start putting their own money it the movie. They just can’t wait for him to film his role. But what if Dante doesn’t come? What if this plan eventually fails? What happens to the people and Speranza? This book was such a good read. It was quaint and I fell in love with all the characters. Reading this book felt like I was in Italy. This was a 4 star read for me. I want thank Netgalley & Christine Simon for my copy for an honest review. It was my pleasure to read and review it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Another wonderful debut novel read from a new-to-me author, Christine Simon, THE PATRON SAINT OF SECOND CHANCES is a heartwarming comedy of errors story with an imperfect cheeky cast of characters that are a delight and so easy to fall in love with. Simon’s character work reminded me of other great character-driven master novelists like Rachel Joyce and Fredrick Backman. I could easily see this being turned into a limited TV series or movie. Readers in which audiobooks are their chosen book/reading format are in for a treat with the chosen narrator of this tale, Tim Frances, who does a fabulous job and only enhances the story with his deliverance.

I would like to invite you to joyfully settle in with a smile as you are whisked away to a little Italian village called Prometto, to watch all it’s inhabitants get involved in making a movie with a local film star that could save the town’s future and better everyone’s lives. From the local butcher who is the father of 15 sons to the village’s Catholic priest to the town mayor who not only doubles as the owner of a vacuum repair store but also as a proprietor of the hotel that he lives in with his family, these are just a few of the cast of characters the reader will follow along on this hilarious bumpy ride!

Really good book. The plot was well-written and engrossing. I look forward to reading more from this author.

A really sweet and funny story of a man desperate to save his small Italian village from a quiet death, and so starts a rumor that a famous movie star will be filming locally. A lot of hijinks, a great cast of characters, and just a really nice time.

This book started out so well! I loved Signore Speranza and the residents of the tiny town of Prometto. Despite the premise, which some might think a little outlandish, I bought into it all the way because of the heart that Christine Simon infused into the book.

However, the novel fell down in the last third for me. Once it looks like the movie is really going to be made, things start happening way too fast and way too conveniently. I really wanted to love this from start to finish; instead, the rushed ending just disappointed me.

I did enjoy spending time with these characters, however, and I'm glad I read this book. There were some really lovely moments, and I look forward to reading more from Christine Simon.

This one was cute and I wanted to love it so much. Unfortunately, the story didn't grab me as much as I thought it would. I would definitely try this author again.

Thanks to Atria Books & NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This was a sweet, charming, feel-good comedy that takes place during present day in a small Italian village. The colorful bookcover hints at the entertaining story promised inside. If you like Alexander McCall Smith’s novels, you’ll enjoy this laugh-out-loud small town tale with quirky characters and themes of honesty, faith, and hope.

The publisher’s summary: “Vacuum repairman and self-appointed mayor of Prometto, Italy (population 212) Signor Speranza has a problem: unless he can come up with 70,000 euros to fix the town’s pipes, the water commission will shut off the water to the village and all its residents will be forced to disperse. So in a bid to boost tourism — and revenue — he spreads a harmless rumor that movie star Dante Rinaldi will be filming his next project nearby.”

That “harmless rumor” is just the first of many that Speranza finds himself telling, all because he cares about his village and its future. One thing leads to another as the town believes Dante is coming to make a movie with the villagers included in the cast. Speranza finds himself twisting the truth little by little, not unlike the convoluted plots of Larry David’s sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm.

This humorous novel is told from Speranza’s point of view, and I found myself chuckling, laughing, and reading parts of this to my husband because it just had to be shared. But in addition to being amusing, author Christine Simon skillfully expresses Speranza’s thoughts in a way that gives depth to this heartwarming story. “Signor Speranza was clearly in a tricky situation. On one side, there was truth. There was truth, and there was also devastation. There was losing the village. There was losing Gemma and Carlotta. There was losing his father’s shop. There was everyone he knew being chased out of their houses. On the other side? Yes, there was a lie, but there was also hope. Was hope not as important as truth?”

Despite his twisting of the truth, Speranza has a strong conscience, especially prompted by the town’s priest. Throughout the novel Speranza consults "The Compendium," a booklet listing the saints and what they specialize in, so he can petition them for a distinctive need. Who knew there was a saint just for plumbing problems?

I loved this endearing debut, and recommend this if you’re looking for a lighthearted and entertaining read.

This book was such a pleasant surprise. When a mayor in a small Italian town needs to come up with a lot of money to make repairs to the town's plumbing, he devises a plan that becomes a comedy of errors. He tells everyone that a famous movie star is coming to town to film a movie. Things get completely out of hand and the next thing he knows, he is putting together an actual movie!
This book is like nothing I have ever read before and I would love nothing more than for this to be turned into a movie (Irony). It is hilarious and a truly feel-good read

This one was a cute light read. Signor Speranza is desperate to save his beloved town and needs to come up with the funding to do it. In an effort to bring in more tourism, he spreads a rumor that a famous actor is shooting a movie in town. The patrons of the town get incredibly excited and all want to help out, and what was a little white lie quickly snowballs out of control. Humorous and witty, it’s hard not to fall in love with the little town of Prometto.