Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

Such a good book, highly recommend it.

There were too many povs in this book. If we could have stick with two, then it's fine to read. But there were too many chapters to keep up with. I found myself confused half of the times. It left me disconnected with the story.

This story follows Varina and her large Italian Family and I was here for it. The story opens up on Christmas Eve with a large family dinner and it really got me into the holiday spirit. I am a jersey girl and really related to so many of the characters in this book. Varina also reminded me a lot of my mother and I found myself wanting to call her and squeeze her so tight after finishing this book.

Each chapter opens with a little tidbit about Italian culture and I loved that! This was a fun read!

This is my personal opinion, but this book took me longer to read than it should have. I enjoyed the premise and assumed it would be like I picture my Italian family to be. But I’m sorry to say, I just could not connect to this book. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the writing, it was simply a lack of connection on my part. I’m sure others will love it.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for the eARC of Varina Palladino's Jersey Italian Love Story! All opinions in this review are my own.

This was easily one of my favorite books I read this year! My family is Italian so I was able to connect with a lot of the language and traditions described in the book. While the novel deals with some heavier subjects, it felt like a very cozy read for me. I felt like I was reading about people I know, and I especially loved Paulie and Dante! I can't wait to read more from this author!

I ended up listening to the audiobook after having a hard time getting into this story. The cover of this book is PHENOMENAL, however, it didn't work for me. I found this family drama to be frustrating and meandering. Not a super memorable plot for me and I felt as though maybe there were too many characters so I wasn't able to dig deep on any specific character. The ending had a heartwarming nice touch, but it wasn't enough for me to say I loved the book.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Varina Palladino has been the heart of her large Italian family for decades. Caring simultaneously for multiple generations including her elderly mother and children. By day she manages her family’s local Italian goods store, by night she dreams about going on a European cruise along the French Riviera.

Set against a backdrop of meddling mothers, fighting children and strained personal relationships, Varina Palladino’s Jersey Italian Love Story isn’t a romance between two main characters, but instead a love letter to a dynamic family searching to figure out it’s place in the world.

This was a great one - it hit close to home in more ways than one, and the characters were relatable and flawed in the best way.

Thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow and Terri-Lynne DeFino for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is great family drama book that was a quick read and kept me reading throughout. It feels like a warm (if smothering) hug and you really feel a part of the family (for better or worse). Every character feels universal, but unique and play into each other so well.

It does feel a bit dated with mild homophobic language and micro-aggressions abound, and the pacing is slow so it can seem to drag.

A good read for anyone looking for a messy family drama.

𝗩𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗼'𝘀 𝗝𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘆 𝗜𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 by Terri-Lynne DeFino
Publishing: February 14, 2023 by @williammorrowbooks
Reviewed by: Mel
Format: Audiobook and eBook ARC [thank you @netgalley]

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆
✽ Family drama
✽ Accidental love
✽ Cultural insights (Jersey Italian)
✽ Multiple story lines


𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
I went into this one fairly blind because I didn't want to have any preconceived notions or expectations and boy was I so happy I did! This book was nothing what you'd expect from a book with "Love Story" in the title -- and I would definitely classify this as more of a family drama than a romance.

Considering it has multiple main characters, multiple story lines, and we don't actually find out who the narrator is until the very end of the book, it sucks you in and keeps you completely engrossed throughout. I love love loved the multiple love stories that ebb and flow throughout the book - and the snippets of Jersey Italian and explanations at the beginning of each chapter were GOLD. While I'm not a Jersey Italian, I am part Connecticut Italian, and a bunch of my friends are New York Italian, so I definitely knew most of these words and traditions :)

It was such a fun read, especially on audio, and I hope you'll consider picking it up to enjoy as well!

I’m thankful to the publishers for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

It was difficult to decide between 3 and 4 stars for me. While I enjoyed most of the book, I did feel like it was a little too long due to redundancy. It seemed like there was a lot of repetition in the story line that could’ve been cut to streamline the story more. However, overall I really enjoyed the book. As you read this, you can definitely get the feeling that you are part of this family. I loved how food became almost another character and was used in many ways throughout the book. I also liked that they addressed mental health issues in such an appropriate way. While not entirely a “fun summer beach read,” I could definitely recommend to take this book along on your trip down the shore…as long as you pair it with some good wine and delicious Italian food!

While I am 1/2 Italian, I am not Jersey Italian, so some of this was foreign to me. I did laugh at some of the descriptions of the terms, and the infighting and meddling in each other's lives. Part of the story was very sweet and loving, and other parts were a bit over the top.
This is basically a story of a messy Italian family, multiple generations of men and women - butting into each other's lives, usually with a whole lot of love. There are some issues - pregnancy, depression, aging, and more, but overall not too taxing.
For anyone with a large family, this is a love story to you!

Light on the love story and heavy on the family culture, love and drama. This is a fun, cozy story that takes place over a year and will leave you with a smile at the end

Unfortunately this one missed the mark for me in a few ways. Mileage may vary- maybe those who have an attachment to the Jersey Italian culture, for example, will relate to and enjoy this more. I found that it felt a little casually homophobic and racist, even when intending not to be, and it was way too long. Great characters and a sweet sense of community that ultimately fell flat.

I enjoyed this book for so many reasons. Most had to do with the family. The grandmother always had something to say weather in the kitchen or just around and did not mind if anyone asked to hear a question. Varina or Vicki was doing everything to keep her family together with food which in a lot of cultures is one way. Growing up in an Italian home it was like this for me except it was my father that was the cook and I would help him in the kitchen yet we would have the big dinners. Really I would experience this type of family when I would go to New York and be with them for they were in every part of your business but I know it was out of love. That is what you get out of this book a family that has family problems yet they are still together working all together, and you get to see the grandmother finally move on with a gentleman and Vicki take a trip which was huge for her. So much more to this story, the characters are all wonderful and this book is worth the read.

I'm pretty bummed that I couldn't get into this book.

The writing style was just not my cup of tea. I know a lot of people loved this but it just wasn't for me. I couldn't really follow the story very well.

You guys. There's no way you won't fall in love with Varina and her family. Coming from an Italian family in North Jersey, I related so much to these characters and the multigenerational story is one you won't forget. "Modesty is for suckers" is going to me new life mantra, too. Thanks, Varina!

Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the copy to review.

Ok, this was another almost dnf but I’m glad for the guilt of DNFing an ARC from NetGalley.

LIKES:
1) I grew up in NJ, still live here, so it’s so fun to see places on the story that I know and don’t get me started on…
2) the Jersey Italian. Growing up in Essex County you are surrounded by this and now being married into a Jersey Italian family, these phrases are part of my everyday!
3) found families and queer rep. She didn’t beat around the bush about how some families will drop you once you “come out of the closet” but showing the love that can still happen from a found family was true beauty.
4) mental illness. One, well two, of the characters had bipolar. It was handled in such a respectful way that you really felt the pain for all involved
5) the self awareness of being unintentionally racist. Some people are a product of the time they grew up in, but making strives, not denying or becoming defensive that some words/phrases are offensive.
6) strong women… I think of my godmother, her daughter, my mother in law and her sisters, my sister in law and her feisty daughter. They were all represented in this book about a nonnina, a nonni, daughters, nieces, granddaughters all figuring their way in life!
7) I loved Ruth… everyone needs a friend like Ruth

DISLIKES:
1) It dragged. It dragged so much that I almost dnf’d because I thought this book was gonna stay with it micro-aggressions and homophobic slang. But it definitely did not.

I am sad that I could not get into this book.

The writing style was horrible. It's a shame because I do think De-Fino had a fun story to tell but it gets lost in the writing.

I highlighted this book on my Booktube channel. The video can be accessed here: https://youtu.be/tyPqL0vzWtI

Varina Palladino's Jersey Italian Love Story has been described as Moonstruck and My Big Fat Greek Wedding set in NJ, and I think that's a very good description (and there are even recipes)!
Varina is in her early 70's and has her hands full with running her own Italian specialty food store, taking care of her mother, and watching over her children and grandchildren. She loves her family and their traditions, but would also like to have a little time for herself and perhaps a second chance at life....in between all her family craziness.
Varina Palladino's a fun book with great portrayals of life for older people (somewhat unusual in fiction these days) and of a large, noisy, and nosy family facing present day challenges. One of my favorite characters was Paulie, a close family friend and an important member of the family.
Each chapter starts with teaching us some "New Jersey Italian" words with an unknown (until the end of the book) author's definition of the words. That was an interesting element of the book and I liked it better than the storyline about the possessed Victrola, Vicky.
I enjoyed Varina Palladino's Italian Love Story and am now off to make a pot of pastafazool....or maybe some spaghetti with puttanesca sauce!
Thanks to Netgally, Book Club Girl Early Read Program, and William Morrow for the opportunity to read the book in exchange for an honest review.