Cover Image: The Secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti

The Secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti

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Member Reviews

What an absolutely beautiful, emotional family story mixed with a gorgeous love story.

While cleaning their mother Olivia’s house after she passed away, three sisters, Priscilla, Devon and Bailey, learn that their mother owns property in Italy on the Amalfi Coast after finding the deed to the house along with a stack of love letters signed with the initial “R”. They embark on a trip to Italy to learn more about the house, and search for the mysterious man known as “R” and uncover the truth of their mothers past.

The story is told from multiple viewpoints, between Olivia and her three daughters, and told over two timelines, present day and Olivia’s past. The fluidity of the writing and narration is just perfect and seamlessly flows between the characters and storylines.

The descriptions of Positano, Italy in the Amalfi Coast are just breathtaking. You truly get a feel for the location and people, the food, the sights and smells. Jennifer Probst really transports you to this stunning little piece of paradise on the Mediterranean Sea.

The Secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti is a beautiful story about family, love, forgiveness, grief and hope! I highly recommend picking this one up!

Thank you @netgalley and @berkleypub for this advanced Ebook copy for an honest review.

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This story was fascinating, it did take me a little while to get into but once I did I was hooked. The book is well written, with a captivating storyline, which, at times, I thought I had worked out but never quite did. It is told from multiple points of view, but it worked and at no time did I feel confused by this.

The characters are well developed and I really liked them all. The story is written around three sisters, Pris, Dev and Bailey, who, following their mother's death, uncover a secret house on the Amalfi Coast and a trunk of love letters from R. They visit the house to unearth her story and in the process, their own stories are revealed and their relationships healed. I really liked all three of the sisters, each had their own individual personality and their own problems.

Olivia, their mother, tells her own story throughout the book and it creates a wonderful blend of past and present. Her story weaves seamlessly with that of her daughter's present day lives. I really admired Olivia and desperately wanted her to find her true love.

I loved this story, it sucked me in and I became emotionally involved in the characters' lives. I did shed a tear at the end but smiled a lot too. It was a moving and emotional novel full of love, family connections and hope for the future. I highly recommend it.

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This book was an emotional, bittersweet love letter about family and connection. The dual timeline & multiple POV create a wonderful balance for the reader to see each woman's perspective on love & their romantic/familial relationships.

The main idea of the book is communication & being open to love in all forms. Understanding that people change and their needs/values can change as well, and understanding what is right for oneself in that particular point in time.

Each woman finds herself closed off to giving/receiving love in a different way, but discovers along the way, the right path for themselves, even if it takes longer to get there. Also, the love of family, especially that of for your child trumps all.

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En bref, l'autrice nous livre là un roman féminin assez bien fait et addictif dans l'ensemble, les personnages sont sympathiques même si elles ne m'ont pas toujours plu dans leurs réactions et actions et j'étais curieuse de voir si nos trois sœurs allaient démêler le passé de leur mère. Elles doivent aussi faire une introspection et ces vacances sont l'occasion de remettre beaucoup de choses à plat. Les événements s'enchainent, certains passages sont touchants et le final nous permet de les quitter avec le sourire ! Une belle aventure humaine dans un cadre qui fait clairement rêver !

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4.5 Stars!
Three estranged sisters from New York are forced to come together to settle their mother's estate. While going through her things they discover an old trunk that contains papers showing she owns a home in Italy as well as a love letter to a man they've never heard of. They have a lot of questions they want to find answers to about their mothers hidden past, so they take a trip to the Amalfi Coast where it all started. They head to Positano, Italy to search for their mother's possible secret lover, and hope they can maybe understand her better. The sisters all have unique personalities that are so different, and their relationships with one another are complicated. As they take this journey together will they bond again as sisters while searching for the truth about the one woman that connect them all?

The Secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti by Jennifer Probst is a heartwarming, emotional, romantic story about young love, family, adventure, forgiveness, regrets, healing, choices, self discovery, soul mates, beautiful connections, and finding your joy in life. It is told from past to present, and we are taken on an unforgettable journey. It's intriguing and the way this couple loves so deeply will touch your heart. It's a rare occasion I cry while reading, and this story got me good! It hit me in all the feels, as well as making me feel like I took a magical trip to Italy. <333

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THE SECRET LOVE LETTERS OF OLIVIA MORETTI is an emotional read! Olivia and her daughters take turns telling the story in alternating chapters from their perspectives. The story really hit a home run for me because it’s set in Italy in vivid detail. The colorful descriptions really made me feel like I was there.

The prologue sets the stage and shows the importance of the love letters. After Pris, Dev, and Bae lose their mother unexpectedly, they learn more about her, especially about her time spent in Italy and her lost love—they find hidden letters along with the deed to the house in Positano. When they travel to Italy together to see the house, they also search for her long lost love. Each of the women find themselves while there and make decisions about their own lives. They also reconnect as sisters.

While exploring their past actions, we learn about many of their love interests as well as details about their lives. There were plenty of heartwarming moments throughout, and the terrific descriptions of the country act like another character in the story.

There is a nice flow to the story, told skillfully despite several narrators. The characters have a depth to them, as does the story. There’s wonderful closure with the epilogue. The cover is vibrant, multicolored, and spot-on.

Ms. Probst is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. I look forward to reading more of her books.

A RECOMMENDED READ!

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The Secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti follows three estranged sisters who unearth a hidden trunk full of secrets their mother kept harbored away from the prying eyes of her girls. Inside they find a life, love and mystery home on Amalfi Coast in Italy where their mother, Olivia, spent her summers in 70's.

This novel transported me to the Italian seaside village where a love-affair bloomed across oceans. It is told from multiple points of view and two timelines - 1970's Italy and present day. Its an emotional story full of love and rebuilding family connections. The love letters weaved throughout the story were heartfelt and heartbreaking.

The secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti was a journey I had fun reading.

Thank you Berkley Publishing and Valentine PR for the advance reader copy.
#currentlyreading #jenniferprobst #WomensFiction #SecretRomance

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For fans of Sarah Morgan or Mary Kay Andrews. This was a great book about mothers and daughters, sisterhood and uncovering family secrets all while exploring Italy during one life changing summer. Thoroughly enjoyable and made me want to book a trip to Positano pronto! Highly recommended, especially if you enjoyed One Italian summer by Rebecca Serle. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy!

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My review is probably not going to do the book justice but I'm going to try! I absolutely LOVED this book. If I could describe the book in one word, I would say it was "magical' - and not like in a magical realism way, but more like a "there's magic in the air" kind of way. If you've been to the Amalfi Coast before, then you'll know what I mean. There's just something special about that place.

The book revolves around three estranged sisters, Priscilla, Devon and Bailey, whose mom died recently, far too soon. They haven't been close in years but are forced to come together to settle their mother's estate. While going through their mother's belongings, they discover an old trunk filled with love letters from an anonymous man named "R." The most recent letter promises to meet their mother in Italy on her sixty-fifth birthday - a promise sadly her mom could not keep. In addition to the love letters, they also uncover a deed to a house on the Amalfi Coast.

The three sisters are now questioning everything they knew about their mom and what her life was like before they were born. They decide to embark on a trip to Positano, Amalfi Coast to try to unearth some answers and track down their mother's mysterious ex-lover. The trip ends up being life-changing for each of the sisters - it makes them re-evaluate everything in their lives, life choices. The trip tests the power of their sisterly love, makes them ponder their destinies and purpose in life, as well as, identify what love means to them.

This book gave me all the feels - it's a beautiful, emotional story about a bond between sisters, the bond between daughters and mothers and about true love. It was perfect for a hopeless romantic like me. The book will restore your faith in love and I guarantee you'll want to hug the book after you're done reading it. This book is easily one of my favorite books this year! It gets all the stars!

Thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Pub, and Jennifer Probst for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

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Reading this book felt like an amazing journey with all the emotion and feelings I love and want in a book. Jennifer Probst's writing made me feel like I was in Italy and I could not put the book down.

After their mother Olivia dies suddenly, 3 sisters, Pricilla, Devon and Bailey find love letters and a deed to a house on the Amalfi coast in Italy they knew nothing about. So the three of them decided to go to Italy to find out their mothers story. That is where the story begins. They learn about their mother as well as things about themselves.

I felt so many emotions reading this book and I loved every minute of it! It takes you on a journey of love, friendship, understanding and loss and I highly recommend this book. I have loved every Jenifer Probst book I have read but this one touched me deeply.

Thank you so much Jennifer Probst for writing such a beautiful book and Valentine PR and Netgalley for granting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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This book hits on so many emotional levels it’s not even funny. Like My Italian Summer, this book is emotional, funny, deep soul searching events, and a storyline that will stick with me for a long time. The Secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti tells the story of a soul mate love, only to take two people meant to be in another direction, but always finding a connection back to each other. Absolutely gut wrenching in parts, but also tells the story of never having regrets for going down the path life takes you. I adored Olivia’s daughters, I ached for Rafe and Olivia and what tore them apart, but longed for the loved they had for each other. I swear, if you don’t cry while reading this book there’s something wrong with you! Incredibly well written, loved the backdrop of Italy and the town of Positano, loved that hoe the events of losing their mother brought the girls closer together after their trip to that beautiful town, and of course the ending was incredibly emotional. This book is definitely going on my bookshelf, I need to read it again to get the details I might of missed during my breakdowns!

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

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The Secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti is a beautifully written story about three estranged sisters traveling to Italy to find out information on their recently deceased mother. I was intrigued by Priscilla, Devon and Bailey’s journey, I was excited to see how their journey panned out and all I’m going to say is this book was everything I expected and so much more.
Having not seen each other for years it took their mothers passing to bring these sisters together. While settling their mothers affairs they find a deed to a house on the Amati Coast and they decide to take a trip there together but this journey is going to affect each of them in very different ways because of the secrets they are all hiding. So what does the future hold for these siblings, will this trip bring out the sibling love or will it tear them apart……
Ms Probst did a wonderful job describing the Amalfi Coast but she did an even better job in drawing me in with each sisters story. I was captivated from the first few pages and there was no putting down until the final line had been read because I needed to know if these sisters got the future they all deserved. This is a very different read to what I’m used to from Ms Probst but for me this book just proved how diverse and how very talented she is.

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The Secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti
4 stars

This is my first book by Jennifer Probst and it definitely won’t be the last! I really enjoyed this women’s fiction novel about love, loss and the strength of family.

While cleaning out their mother’s house after her death, sisters Devon, Priscilla and Bailey find more than what they expected. Hidden in an old trunk in the back of their mother’s closet is a stack of old love letters from someone named ‘R’ and a deed to a house in Positano, Italy that no one knew existed. The sisters decide to travel to the Amalfi Coast to unravel the mystery of ‘R’ and discover who their mother really was.

This was a beautifully written and deeply touching story about the choices we make and how they affect not only us, but the people we love. The story is told in dual timelines with multiple POV’s (each of the sisters and their mother, Olivia) which I loved. Each sister dealt with their grief differently, while also juggling their own love lives and the hurt feelings and old grudges amongst them. Their impromptu trip to Italy was supposed to help them uncover some of the secrets their mother was keeping but to also help bring the formerly estranged sisters together.

There is a lot of love in these pages that also comes with a lot of heartbreak. This beautifully crafted story had me frantically turning pages and reaching for the tissues by the end. I would recommend this book to fans of contemporary women’s fiction and clean romance. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Valentine PR for the advanced copy to read and review.

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Oh, what a heart breaker this one is! It's been a while since a book pushed all my buttons as this one did. I read the final pages wiping tears and wondering "what if". Needless to say, The Secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti is an emotional, heart touching read that deals with events from both the past and present. I love the way Probst pulls readers in by allowing them to read the love letters from "R" as Olivia reads them in the past and the sisters read them in the present. I'm going to be vague about most of this, because the beauty of the story for me was the unknown . . . the promise hanging in the air that love will prevail in spite of all. And in many ways, I guess it does.

The Secret Love Letters of Oliva Moretti is a beautifully rendered story of three estranged sisters discovering decade-old love letters written to their mother when they gather at the house to clean out their mother's possessions after her sudden passing. Old wounds, hurt feelings and grudges among the sisters are still raw, causing tempers to flare and nit-picky arguments to fester. When they discover the love letters hidden in a trunk in the attic, they also find a deed in their mother's name for a home on the coast of Italy. They're stunned. No one had a clue their mother owned a home in Italy. The sisters realize they'll have to smooth hurt feelings between them and band together to uncover the secret their mother kept hidden her whole life. Each sister is carrying secrets of their own, but each one slaps on a smiley face, buries her feelings and anger - yet again - and off to Italy they go. Their mission is to find the house . . . and reveal the identity of the mysterious man who signed longing, highly emotional love letters to their mother with a "R".

The Secret Love Letters of Oliva Moretti is a highly emotional, gut-wrenching story of love and what happens when fate steps in to send soul mates on different paths in life. It touches on different types of love and the roles they play over one's lifetime. It speaks of love and loss, hard decisions and sacrifice. It speaks of truth and trust and learning when to hold on and when to let go. Three sisters travel to Italy in search of the truth of who their mother really was - the "woman" vs. the "mother" they grew up loving. During their time spent there, hard truths spill out causing each sister to take a long, hard look at their own life and relationship with their siblings. Readers are privy to each sister's thoughts and feelings which makes this story extremely intimate and personal. And the heart wrenching love letters take it all to another level. From the characters to the plot line to the setting to the pace, The Secret Love Letters of Oliva Moretti is first class all the way. The highs, lows and overwhelming emotion of this thing called love . . . and what one will sacrifice for it is front and center in this book. I couldn't put it down and highly recommend it to readers everywhere.

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Thank you to Jennifer Probst and Valentine PR for the ARC of this amazing book.

I finished this book at 1:30 in the morning because I just couldn't bear to part with it. It's a story that takes you on an adventure through time, love, and personal growth. I'm not sure I'll be able to find the words to correctly articulate just how special this book is, but I'm damn well going to try.

As the synopsis states, the book is about three sisters who have come back together after the sudden death of their mother. Like many of us, Priscilla, Devon and Bailey have drifted apart and decide to take the trip to Positano, Italy to discover the secrets their late mother has been hiding.
This book is written in both third person and first person POV and is also told from the perspective of each sister and Olivia, their mother. It's such a unique way of writing and I think it was absolutely perfect for the story Jennifer Probst was telling.

The girls embark on the trip with only letters from their mother to a mysterious "R" and their own ideas as to what happened and what they will get from their trip. One of the most beautiful things about this book is how each sister has a little piece of Olivia. Through the chapters from her POV, we get to see Olivia grow from a teenager overcome by first love into a mother that will do absolutely anything for her kids. Priscilla has the ideals that a mother should do anything for their child, including sacrificing part of herself. Devon has the mindset that success in one's professional life is what we must strive for and Bailey is the free spirited, artistic heart Olivia let run wild in her love with "R".

Through their journey to learn more about such a fundamental part of their mother, the sisters end up learning about themselves. They find the strength and courage to be themselves, be open to love and are reminded of the beautiful bond they have with one another.

This is by far one of the most beautiful stories I've had the pleasure of reading. It's a story about love in all its forms. Love for your soul mate, love for you kids, love that never dies no matter the distance or time, love of accepting yourself, flaws and all, and of course, the love of siblings. I cried for the loss of time and loss of dreams, but I also cried for the beauty of a love so pure it lasted a lifetime even without the two parts of that soul never being together. With no regrets for her life, Olivia is that type of woman I strive to be. She had hardships, but she lived a life that she loved and in the end that was all that mattered.

As I sit here writing this review, I have tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat as I think of this story. This is easily in my top 5 favorite books ever and I am beyond thrilled that I had the chance to read this ARC. I want to curl up in a bright sweater and experience the story again, from the beginning over and over; I'm just not ready to let go yet. I will close this review out with a quote that summed up the story and while I wish I could just quote the entire page, I'll pick one small part.

"I realize we don't have to be one person or another. We are all of them, and supposed to change as we live - we pick the people we can love who will accept us, support the change, grow with us."

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4 1/2

Told in two different timelines, The Secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti is about Olivia Moretti, a young American woman who goes to Positano with her flamboyant Aunt Silvia and falls in love, a once in a lifetime kind of love with Rafe, a boy with chocolate curls. And, it is the story of Olivia’s daughters, Priscilla, Devon, and Bailey who discover Olivia’s love letters to “R” after she has died, and that she has a home in Positano that they knew nothing about. So many secrets!

First off, huge kudos to Jennifer Probst because when I first started reading The Secret Love Letters of Olive Moretti, I didn’t like any of the sisters. The only person I liked was Olivia. However, Jennifer showed the vulnerabilities of these women, had them tangle with each other, ask for truths, and I began to love each one. Jennifer also showed how we hold grudges without knowing the true extent of their origin. If we did, would we continue to hold them? Thus, is the estrangement between Devon and Bailey that they are able to work through. And, I loved that Pris is able to come to terms with her own life and future in such a positive way.

Much of The Secret Love Letters of Olive Moretti is given to self-exploration between the sisters, settling old arguments, opening up, and much of this is a lovely experience. They laugh and learn not to take offense. They also startle each other with their observations, showing that they have always cared, even when each one thought they didn’t. They have observed, but just haven’t shared those observations because they thought they were unwanted.

I admit to shedding tears when the sisters finally discovered “R.” It’s heartbreaking but sweet. It reiterates: take that chance because you never know what is going to happen. Be open. Love. Tell the person you love that you love them. You never know when something might happen that will change all of your fortunes.

Another story in which Jennifer Probst hits one out of the ballpark.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This is a fantastic read! It really pulled at my emotions. One of my favorite books this year!

Three sisters come together to go through their late mother’s belongings. They find love letters and a deed to a house in Italy!

They start the journey to find who their mother really was and her Italian mysterious summer lover. The 3 women all are going through things in their personal lives & find more of themselves along the way!

The writing in this book is just superb! It flows so well with flashing back to Olivia’s life to the 3 sisters present lives.

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Beautiful read!!! Love this book.
Soul mates. Relationships. Sisters
Beautifully written book of 3 sisters settling family affairs. Their mom has passed away suddenly and discoveries are made.
Heartfelt and emotional story of choosing paths, finding oneself, forgiveness, and losing one’s way but upon realization becoming stronger. It’s all about listening and taking the time to be there - enjoy life to the fullest. Life is not black and white.
Still reeling from the story....so good!

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This is a story of love and relationships, as told from Olivia's love letters and her three daughters search to understand their mother upon her sudden death. It is the first book I have read from Jennifer Probst. I was drawn to her the warmth and love she created in her characters and the beauty of Positano, Italy.

The story is told through chapters from Olivia, Priscilla, Dev, and Bailey both throughout their past life experiences and the present search to learn more about their mother. When the girls uncover a stack of love letters and a deed to a home in Italy, they decide to travel abroad to search for answers. Who is the mystery man in the letters with love for their mother? Why didn't their mother tell them about Italy and the home?

I loved that a common thread throughout this book is love even amongst the pain of divorce, cheating, overworking, and the struggle to find happiness. While the sisters have grown apart over the years, the trip to Italy provides them the opportunity to help each other.

Probst has written a beautiful piece of women's fiction that leaves us all in a better place then when we started reading. I believe women will find a piece of them in the struggles of Olivia, Pri, Drv, and Bailey. Probst gives us hope for the future.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing for this heartwarming ARC.

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This story was so much more than described. It was about family, struggles, love, forgiveness, and the what ifs of life. After the passing of their mother, the three sisters travel to Italy to uncover the secret life their mother led before them. Staying in their mother’s Italian home, the sisters had deep meaningful conversations with each other and themselves and began to heal the rift between them.

I really enjoyed the dual timelines and multiple POVs. Each sister’s pov was different because they are so different yet they were all searching for the same thing without even realizing it. They were searching for a way to be a meaningful family again. The trip to Italy not only uncovered the mystery of their mother’s previous life but brought them back together again.


Thank you @netgalley, @valentine_pr_ and @authorjenniferprobst for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

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