Thank you so much to @netgalley and @atriabooks for this e-ARC. One Italian Summer comes out March 1st! 🥂

One Italian Summer follows Katy as she deals with the death of her mother. She ends up going solo on what was supposed to be a mother-daughter trip to Positano, Italy, to try and heal and uncover what her mother once loved so much about the coastal town. On her trip, Katy learns more about herself and her mother than she bargained for and ends up discovering some difficult truths about them both that she can no longer ignore.

I so badly wanted to love this book! The sea, pasta, romance…it was all going in the right direction until all of a sudden it wasn’t. Katy’s character was difficult to relate to and I couldn’t help but judge her actions and decision making the whole way through. I kept wanting that “heartwarming” feeling, but I was consistently let down.

Serle does hit the mark with the twists and turns she incorporates into the story, but it wasn’t enough to keep me hooked. I also wasn’t fully immersed in the storyline - I felt like I had one foot in Katy’s world and the other was out. Even the romance bits that usually keep me hooked fell flat.

Don’t take my word for it on this one because I’ve seen a ton of very positive reviews, maybe it just wasn’t for me 🤷🏼‍♀️ This one doesn’t come out until March 1st so you have a bit of time to decide if you’ll get it.

Are you planning on picking this one up?

Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca Serle and Simon & Schuster Canada for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I have to say that somehow everything Serle writes is beautiful. They are short and sweet but still powerful and with a message that makes you really think. I loved the story behind this one and even know you think oh this can't happen, a few chapters later you fully believe that it is happening and can happen because her writing is that good. You are totally immersed into the story and characters. I will forever read anything that she writes and I highly recommend this one.

Wow I feel Ike I’ve just been on the trip of a lifetime through Italy, the food , the sights, so descriptive. I just could not put this book down, it was the perfect book to get lost in. When Katy loses her mother to cancer, someone she counts on for all her life’s decisions and is her one true love. She decides to take a break from her marriage and go on the trip to Italy her mom and her had planned for that summer. During her stay she travels back in time 30 years to a time her mother was also contemplating her life and future. It’s a beautiful story of finding yourself and looking forward to the future and what you really want for yourself.

I received a free copy from NetGalley and all opinions are my own .

I would recommend this book to all my girlfriends and I would love to read it in my book club

Still reeling from her mother’s death, Katy heads to Italy. Katy seemingly finds everything she needs including great food, a gorgeous man, scenery and improbably her mother; as she was when she was 30. This is a great heart-wrenching story. The descriptions of Positano were the highlight for me.

Look for it on March 1/22. Thanks to NetGalley and @SimonSchuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I feel that I should start with a disclaimer: I love Italy. I have been fortunate enough to travel there twice in my life and would go back in a heartbeat. I am half Italian on my father's side and I have always felt a connection to Italy, its people, and culture. I cannot say whether this book would have resonated with me as strongly if Italy did not have such personal meaning.

With that being said, I adored this book. I loved Rebecca Serle's "In Five Years", and she again tugged right at my heartstrings with this one. This book captured all of the things I love most about Italy - the picturesque scenery, the food, the wine, the architecture, the warmth of the people - I felt like I was on holiday in these pages. Serle's exquisite taste in adjectives lit up all my senses so that I was smelling, tasting, visualizing what it would be like to be right there in Italy with Katy and Carol.

But this is more than a travel guide. In addition to the Italian beauty that illuminates every page, there is a delicately woven story centered on grief and the mother/daughter relationship. This is where the magical elements that Serle is becoming known for shine through and where you are left with the tingling release of emotion and need to hug your mum.

Would highly recommend it!

Pub Date: March 1, 2022
3.5 STARS

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

This is a love story between a mother and a daughter, and how we deal with grief after such a significant loss.

When Katy’s mother dies, she is left with the all consuming grief of her passing. She decides to embark on the trip she planned with her mother to Italy and the Amalfi Coast. There, she begins a journey of healing, self discovery and so much more when her mother Carol suddenly appears…. And she is thirty years younger.

I have a very close relationship with my mother, who is also my best friend. As I was reading I thought about what I would do if I met my mothers younger self. What type of things would I want to know, what questions would I have for her?

I imagined the things we would do together, the places we would go, restaurants we would eat at, the conversations we would have.

My main hesitation to give this a full star is that I felt a bit of the storyline fell flat for me. As I was reading I was just hoping for a little bit more between Katy and Carol. And maybe less of the side relationship with Adam. I guess I was comparing so much to what 𝙄 would do if I had this experience with my mom and I felt like some moments were missed in the story.

The real winner in this story is Italy and the Amalfi Coast. The descriptions of Positano and the food were just perfect. I felt like I was traveling along side everyone, taking in the breathtaking views and eating all that amazing food. This is a dream vacation of mine and I loved that I was able to have a mini vacation through the pages.

"𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧. 𝙄𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨. 𝙄𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚."

I really liked this!!! First off, I've had the pleasure of travelling to Positano and this story brought back all of the memories. The descriptions of the food and scenery were spot on. Following Katy on her journey of discovery of herself and her mom was fun especially as Katy discovers all Positano has to offer. I liked the time travel element which kept me guessing throughout the book. There is a good twist at the end that I didn't see coming either. Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this advanced copy!

After Katy’s mom, Carol, becomes sick and passes away, Katy is devastated. She left her job to be by her mother’s side and care for her until the very end. Katy and Carol had been planning a trip to spend the summer on the Amalfi Coast in Italy. Despite losing her mom and grieving her loss, Katy decides to go on the trip anyway. While in Italy, Katy meets some new locals, and learns a great deal about her mother’s past and love for the country.

This is truly a heartwarming story, full of every emotion. My heart ached for Katy in losing her best friend. I can’t even imagine what she would have been going through. Serle did a phenomenal job of developing each character and creating a beautiful story. There’s so much I want to say about this book, but I can’t put it into words. I HIGHLY recommend it and hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!

Have you ever read a book and wanted to make travel plans? The descriptions of the food, wine and various places in Italy were so vivid and evocative, it felt like I was actually there. I found myself looking up the hotels and restaurants mentioned and wanting to plan a whole trip I the area.

Katy and her Mother, Carol, we’re supposed to go in a trip to Positano together, but Carl died shortly before they were due to leave. Katy, despondent over her loss, and unsure about her marriage, job and what to do with her life for that matter, decided to continue with the trip anyway.

Katy always relied on others to make decisions for her. During this trip Katy found herself so to speak and learned what was important and what was enough. She learned a lot about herself and her Mother. However I found Katy to be selfish, a bit immature and not all that relatable.

The story focuses on themes of the loss of a parent, grief, love, life decisions, and relationships

There were definitely some moving elements to the story. The thing is, I didn’t overly connect to the characters and found part of the plot not believable. So as much as I really really loved the descriptions and the settings, this one is a 3.5 stars for me rounded to 4.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my second Rebecca Serle read and I enjoyed it even more than the first (In Five Years). Serle really loves a twisty, time warp plot! I'm definitely sending a theme. In this novel, Katy is dealing with the death of her mother - the love of her life - and changing feelings towards her marriage when she decides to take the trip to Italy that her and her mother had planned to take together. Once she arrives to the beautiful Amalfi Coast, she begins her soul-searching journey of self-discovery.

This one was a rollercoaster for me. Initially, I loved it. Then the first twist came and I was doubtful. With more plot twists and such a touching ending, I absolutely loved it by the end - and read it in less than 24 hours! A beautiful message and beautifully written to feel like I was alongside Katy in Italy. I recommend One Italian Summer for lovers of Under the Tuscan Sun and Italy in general! Lovely paired with a delicious bottle of Italian wine.

Katy and her mother have a trip planned to Italy. To the Amalfi Coast, Positano. Before the trip can take place, the mother passes away but Katy decides to take the trip anyway.

This book is a wonderful travelogue to this region of Italy. Everything, from the description of the wonderful scenery to the food and wine, to the people who greet you like family.

It is also a trip of healing for Katy. She was extremely close to her mother and is having a very difficult time coping with her grief. While in Positano she meets a special person who helps her overcome her sadness.

This book has many themes: friendship, loss, self-realization and more. I urge any readers of this book to suspend your thoughts in what you believe is real and lose yourself in Katy's magical journey. I did!

And now, I want to make plans to go to Positano. That's how good the descriptions of this place were!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an Advance Readers Copy.

I liked this book for the most part. I loved the setting in Positano and the parallel universe element was an interesting dynamic. Overall, it was a good quick read but I don't think it will be a book I think of often.

I give this a 2.5, the beginning and the end were definitely my favorite parts but the actual story i felt like dragged. Which is weird since it is a pretty short book. What i didn't like was that i really did not get the Italian scene vibes i was so hoping for from the title and description of this book! I didn't get a sense we were even in Italy.

this was a very Rebecca Serle read but i way preferred "In Five Years"

What a beautiful read! Rebecca Serle has this way of transporting you to a new world. I felt like I was truly in Italy, basking in the sun, with the smell of the ocean and the taste of wine on my lips.

One Italian Summer centres around a young women named Katy, who is grieving the loss of her mother. They were each other’s best friend and had planned to visit Italy together before her passing. Katy decided to attend the trip alone where she was met with her 30 year old mother, Carol in the year 1992. This story made me realize the importance of finding yourself, being with family and appreciating what life has to offer.

A quick read that will make you want to visit Positano and all the beauty that comes with it. Follow Katy through grief, love and acceptance. Rebecca Serle has this ease and simplicity to her writing, making One Italian Summer a memorable read.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. A beautiful and heart moving story that will touch many.

One Italian Summer is a heartfelt and dreamy read packed with emotion and love. 🥰 Be prepared to be swept off your feet with sunshine, cliff side villas overlooking the Mediterranean and charming little restaurants with the most gourmet food. ☀️🍋🍷🥗

One Italian Summer is a love story between a mother and daughter. Katy is grieving loss of her mother. They had planned a trip to Italy together. Her mother wanted to show her all of places she had visited earlier in her life, the place she was so passionate about. Suddenly Katy sees her mother there! Live and in the flesh but 30 years younger! How is this even possible?! Katy spends time getting to know the younger version of her mother. She learns things she never knew and more importantly she gets the clarity she needs to move forward.

Well done @rebecca_serle 👏🏻 Thank you to @simonschusterca and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book releases on March 1st, 2022.

#bookadoration #bookstagram #canadianbookstagram #netgalley #rebeccaserle #simonandschustercanada #oneitaliansummer

Thank you NetGalley, Simon and Schuster and Rebecca Serle for providing me with this digital advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest and reliable review.

What an escape! I read this book in one sitting. The whole time I felt like I was vacationing on the Amalfi Coast. I loved the detailed descriptions of the sea-side scenery and delicious Italian delicacies that make up a large part of my heritage and my heart.

This captivating story follows Katy, whose mother, Carol, has just passed. Katy and Carol had planned to vacation in the Amalfi Coast for Carol’s 60th birthday but unfortunately, Carol passes just 2 weeks before the trip. Katy questions her life and her marriage, and takes off on a vacation to her mother’s favourite place in the world, Positano. On arrival, Katy runs into her Mother and gets to know Carol in a different way than she has ever known her - not as her mother, but as a friend. New secrets come to light and Katy questions the woman she has depended on her whole life.

I had a great time following Katy along on this adventure! This book is a powerful story about love and loss, and living in the now. It also conveys the importance of forgiveness and giving people we love the benefit of the doubt. Our decisions are our own and indecision is a choice in itself.

This is a bingeable book and I devoured it in one sitting. I loved the short chapters and Rebecca Serle’s writing had me hanging on every word. I highly recommend this read!

READ IF YOU LIKED:
- In Five Years
- The Summer Villa

4/5 stars

Spoilers ahead!

This is a difficult review to write. I absolutely adored In Five Years, and had high hopes for this follow-up. The writing and descriptions of Positano and Italy are amazing - the food, the scenes, the people ... it's as if you are there.

A couple of things didn't work for me and the main being the relationship that Katy had with her mom. The emotions tied to her - and to losing her - seem over the top. The whole 'my mom is my best friend and I am devastated at the loss' just seems so overplayed here, and I felt it needed to be scaled back a notch.

The second thing was the way Katy treated the men in her life, specifically her husband. The poor guy deserved better, and if you want to understand my issue with Katy and her mom, Katy's marriage is a prime example.

Was it all a dream? Was it time travel? Was it just a very exhausted emotional crisis? We may never know, and while it doesn't sit 100% right with me, I can let it go, because it is just a story. Still worth the read and I look forward to the next one!

One final point - did anyone else have 'Only You' vibes at the end when Katy's husband showed up? Or was that just me?

When Katy’s mother passes away, she feels lost. Her “soul mate” is gone and she doesn’t know how to live in a world without her. Katy and her mom Carol had planned an Italian vacation to Positano, a cliff side village her mother visited before she met Katy’s father. Determined to feel that closeness with her mom Katy takes the vacation herself and what she finds in Italy will change the relationship she has with her deceased mom.

The writing in this book was great. The first chapter detailing the loss Katy feels is brilliant. But I did not like Katy, at all.
And this made it difficult to connect to her journey through this book.

I adored this book.  The story is magical and written such that it brings the reader along for Katy’s journey.  Having travelled to Positano and the Amalfi Coast several years ago, I can even taste the food and wine that embraces Katy as she heals from a terrible loss.

I felt connected to this book.  I have the type of relationship with my Mom that Katy held with Carol.  The amount of courage it must have taken Katy to travel alone on this trip meant for the two of them is remarkable.  Particularly so soon after Carol’s passing.

Her two weeks away were instrumental for Katy.  As she heals from the trauma from a year of watching her mother pass, she is faced with choices about her future.  Swept away by the beauty of the area, she begins to see her life more clearly.

Before her death, Carol had spoken to Katy about her summer in Italy before she met Katy’s father.  She wanted to show Katy all the best restaurants and places to stay and visit and had planned an itinerary before her timely death.  This gave Katy some order to her life and her time in Italy - just as her mother always had.  When Katy recognizes a much younger version of Carol in her hotel lobby she instantly decides she must get to know her.

As Katy and younger Carol begin to enjoy each other’s company, Katy is presented with information that turns her world upside down.  This begins a time of strength and personal growth that changes her.  The conclusion is ultimately satisfying.

4.5 stars (rounded to 4)

Have you ever failed to tell someone how much you appreciated them or loved them before it was too late? What if you had a second chance to tell them?

Rebecca Serle explores the powerful bond that exists between a mother and her daughter in this novel set on the picturesque Amalfi Coast. Serle focuses on how we move on after loss and how the people we love never truly leave us.

Reeling from the death of her mother, Katy decides to continue with the mother-daughter trip they’d planned for Carol’s sixtieth birthday. What she hadn’t counted on, but is entirely grateful for, is meeting a younger version of her mom. Yes, you read that correctly. She travels back in time 30 years and sees her mother in a different light. It's beautifully done. It's not weird.

I may not have agreed with the protagonist’s choices and actions regarding the men in her life; however, Serle’s message about offering someone a space to share resonated with me. Think about that. Offering someone a space to share. So often it’s about us or about what’s going on around us. Give the person we’re with space to share. When Katy shared that there were parts of her mom’s life she never made an effort to see and that she recognized how selfish it was, it was a mind-blowing moment for me.

I loved Adam’s character! Who wouldn’t swoon at a guy who reads and visits little free libraries?! Too bad he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The setting was the winner for me - especially since I’ve been to Hotel Positano. Serle really did it justice. It’s truly an amazing place. I can’t wait to get back to the Amalfi Coast and Via Amore. Serle has hit a home run with this one; it’s magical!

Now is a good time to pivot. Reach out to someone. Tell them you care. Find out one more thing you didn’t know about them.

“There is more to life than just continuing to do what we know. What got you here won’t get you there.”

“Postiano is a good place to let life return to you.”

“One of life's most important challenges is determining what to hold on to and what to let go of. Do not be fooled into believing that you do not know which is which. Follow the feeling, follow it all the way home.”

Simon & Schuster Canada: Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sending this ARC. I was as giddy as a kid on Christmas morning when I opened my email to find you’d sent it.

I was gifted this advance copy by Rebecca Serle, Simon & Schuster Canada, Atria Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.