A warm and picturesque little island off the coast of Sicily is the destination for an Irish woman needing the chance to take stock of her life after a recent spate of difficult, live-changing circumstances. Sue Moorcroft is a new to me author of British Chicklit who specializes in warm feelgoods in a holiday setting. I love following characters who start out low and come into their own so I settled in to venture across the seas to travel to sunny Sicily right from my comfy chair.

Starting slow and setting up Ursula Quinn’s complicated background of a trauma experienced in her youth, a recent mental health crisis after the difficult end of her marriage and divorce, her parents long-time volatile marriage, her boss selling up and closing down, and now a chance to launch her life into a new direction studying ceramic art which has long-been an interest through all the tattoo shop years that wasn’t the exciting job people make it out to be. Her uncle nudges her to take up work for a small family-owned Sicilian hotel where she can work part-time and study from a true ceramics artist in a nearby town for the rest of the time.

Alfio comes home from Barcelona minus his girlfriend and his excellent job to do his duty toward his mother, sister, and the family hotel only to find Ursula already installed and doing what he thought to be his responsibility. They get off to a rough start as a result, but soon learn to work together and even feel some attraction, though neither are really in a place to jump into a new relationship. The hits just keep coming to their fledgling chance together when Ursula’s ex shows up and family secrets pop up, too.

The drama was there and so were the emotions, but this was also very much a holiday vacation atmosphere destination story with Sicily just as big a star character as Ursula or Alfio. I felt the balance of food, art, and Sicilian landscape and sea with slow burn romance, character growth and family conflict needing sorting was done well. My heart went out to Ursula and Alfio when the secrets from their family came out. I suspected some of it and I was right.

I learned afterward that this is something of a standalone sequel with Ursula’s best friend Zia having had her story in a previous book, Under the Italian Sun. More fun in the Italian sun, it seems to me.

All in all, I enjoyed Sue Moorcroft’s writing and the story. Chicklit is not generally my go-to genre, but for some reason I am most drawn to it in the summer and when a travel destination is involved. I can definitely recommend An Italian Island Summer for your beach bag or armchair travel stack.

Making the most of a Sicilian Summer……. Will one Summer in Sicily change her life forever?? When her marriage falls apart, Ursula has the chance to spend the Summer working at a hotel on the beautiful island off the coast of Sicily, Italy. And so begins a wonderful adventure…

This book was a wonderful read and a great way to do some armchair travelling, it was a wonderful Summer read that made me want to go and visit Sicily and i loved it.

An Italian Island Summer was a wonderful escapist read, full of sun and sea and delicious Italian food that all made for a page turning read - perfect…….

An Italian Island Summer - Sue Moorcroft.
It’s always a joy to get hold of a new #SueMoorcroft book and to see where she will be taking us next.

#AnItalianIslandSummer catches up with Ursula, who we previously met in #UnderTheItalianSunwhere she was on holiday with her best friend Zia.
With her marriage now over, we find Ursula at a pretty low point in her life.
An opportunity to change direction presents itself and Ursula finds herself heading to a small island just off Sicily, where a fresh start awaits.
Of course the past isn’t far behind Ursula and she will need to face those ghosts before finding her own happiness.

There are of course many new characters to meet and get to know.
As always, Sue Moorcroft draws her characters brilliantly.
Ursula is a resilient lady, who keeps going through life’s trials.
I loved the strength of the Trinagli family. They had eachother’s backs, whatever life threw their way.

One of Sue Moorcroft’s strengths has to be her ability to capture the essence of a setting. In this book, she brings Ortigia to life. With its rustic Italian charm, you can so easily picture yourself there and feel the warmth of the sun on your face.
I was inspired to take my own tour around the island - all be it via google maps!

Sue Moorcroft doesn’t shy away from tough life issues, and she puts her characters through their fair share of troubles.

#AnItalianIslandSummer is a wonderful read. The story bounces along at a good pace and has great warmth and heart.

A must read for this summer.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to Netgalley, #AvonBooksUk and Rachel’s Random Reads for a digital arc of this title.

Ursula Quinn needs a change. She has endured a divorce, her parent have split up and now her employer is closing down. But she is done with being a tattoo artist. Her heart is calling her to go to Italy to learn more about traditional ceramics. Luckily her uncle has some connections and so it is that she finds herself working at the small family hotel that is owned by the Tringali family. Little does she know the connection is a little complicated, something that will blow up badly later in the book

In exchange for working in the morning helping guests with breakfast, Ursula gets to stay in a small attic room with a balcony, and in the afternoon she is free to learn all she can from Fabio, a local ceramic artisan.

When Alfio Tringali has a foreboding dream, he makes the sudden decision to return from Barcelona to his family hotel. His mother has recently had surgery and still doesn’t seem herself, and his sister’s husband deserted her when she was pregnant and now her small baby also requires surgery, all while trying to run the hotel. He asks his English girlfriend to come home with him and is quite surprised by her negative response.

When he returns he is somewhat miffed to find that not only is his family coping well enough, thanks in no small part to Ursula’s assistance, but the Irish woman is staying in the room he thought would be his for the duration of his stay.

Gradually though, as they are forced to spend time together, Ursula and Alfio begin to feel a growing connection, but both of them have complications. Neither of them know what their future hold. Ursula is in Sicily for the summer, and Alfio doesn’t know where he will be living in the future. And then there is Ursula’s possessive ex husband who is being a nuisance, contacting her friends and family in order to try and find out where she is. And now Alfio’s ex girlfriend is wondering if she was too hasty in saying no to him.

I really enjoyed reading about Ursula and Alfio. Ursula has had a lot to deal with. There was a traumatic event which led to the breakdown of her marriage, and she didn’t cope well at all. As a result of that, her family are always worried about her, about her mental wellbeing. She also has no intention of having a relationship, knowing that she would find it difficult to trust a man after everything that happened.
Ursula finds great satisfaction in learning as much as she can into her new career in ceramics, where she is combining her tattoo designs with traditional motifs. I loved the sound of the ceramics that Ursula and Fabio make. I found myself looking at ceramics online. Who knows I might still buy something Alfio just sounds like a really nice guy. He wants to do the right thing by his family, not just now but for the future. And as a family they have to decide if they want to keep the hotel that has been in their family for generations, or if it is time for all of them to find a new direction in life.

Earlier this year we went to Italy. Originally the plan was to go to Sicily but we ended up cutting that out of the trip so that we wouldn’t be rushing around so much. Now, I really want to go to Ortigio. It sounds like such a lovely place. It would be fantastic to stay at the kind of family run hotel that is described in the book, although I would require lifts. My husband would kill me if I booked into another hotel which would require hefting bags up stairs!

I have been thinking about why I enjoy reading these kind of escape/travel romances. A lot of it is to do with my love of travelling, learning about new places and feeding that hunger to visit these places.I have also determined that I really enjoy these stories when both of the characters are unsettled. I do like it when someone goes to a new place and meets a local, but I prefer it when they both are having to work through the process of settling into a new life. I know that Alfio’s family is from the town but he is having to reestablish his life there after living away for many years.

Sue Moorhouse has written a lot of books, many of them set in Italy and France. I will be reading more! I did wonder if maybe Ursula’s best friend’s story might have been told in a previous book. If so, I will be starting with that book. If not, there are plenty of other options. (It is now confirmed that this story was in Under the Italian Sun)

Rating 4/5

When we first met Ursula in Under the Italian Sun, she was escaping from her marriage problems for a while on a break with best friend Zia – and I was delighted that this book picked up her story, at the point where she has some big decisions to make about her future.

Licking her wounds while staying with her family in Ireland (although her parents do have a few issues and challenges of their own) – her troubled marriage ended in divorce, the tattoo parlour where she works is closing, and the tenancy on her flat isn’t being renewed – Ursula’s thinking of a fresh start and a total change of direction, living in Italy for a while, learning more about ceramics. And, through some family connections, she has the chance to help out at a small hotel in Ortigia – the historical island city of Siracusa, linked by bridge to the Sicilian mainland – and learn her craft with a ceramicist in the afternoons.

The hotel is run by Agata – currently in poor health – and her daughter Nanda, not without their daily struggles to keep the business going. And that’s what brings Agata’s son Alfio home from Barcelona – leaving his rising career and English girlfriend behind to offer support to his family. He’s none too pleased at first to find Ursula doing all the work he thought he was needed for – but as they grow closer, he discovers what a troubled soul she is, and their growing friendship begins to develop into something more. Until… well, perhaps enough to say that an ex-husband who refuses to let go and a few distinctly unexpected family complications begin to make life rather difficult.

The characters in this book are – as you’d only expect from the author – quite wonderfully drawn. Ursula has been through a lot and certainly bears the mental scars, but it’s a joy to see her unwind and find a place she can call home, even think about a happier future – until her new life is impacted by some secrets it proves difficult to move beyond. Alfio is a character I really warmed to – caring and supportive, definitely one of the good guys – which made it quite difficult to take sides when things began to go awry. I really liked the realistic family relationships, and the friendships – and it was especially good to see Zia and Piero again, but worry not, their brief inclusion won’t be an issue if you’ve never had the pleasure of meeting them before.

I really must say a word or two about the book’s setting – immaculately researched and recreated in a way that made me feel I was there in the Sicilian sunshine, sharing Ursula’s walk to the ceramics studio or sitting on her small attic balcony. The buildings, the marina, the bridges – when I was able to tear myself away from the story and its superb descriptions, I lost a whole evening doing my own reading about beautiful Ortigia as a holiday destination (and it’s just teeming with small hotels just like Agata’s Residenza dei Tringali… so maybe next year!).

The story? Well, it’s just excellent – and beautifully told, as you really hope (but severely doubt at times…) that Ursula and Alfio might find happiness together. There are a few touches of darkness, especially in Ursula’s troubled past – a few tears too, but every issue is handled with the author’s unfailing sensitivity. And there’s also a great deal of joy – the whole book filled with warmth (and not only from the sunshine) and the promise of healing.

I always so enjoy the author’s books, but this might just be my new favourite – and it might just be yours too. One I’d recommend really highly for your summer reading list – I loved it.

Ursula is in Sicily after her marriage ends. She is there to do a favour, but also to learn about ceramics. She meets Alfio, son of the family she is working for, and they have a connection, but secrets are being kept so what ill happen when they emerge. A great summer read.

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I like all books Italian, but unfortunately this fell a bit flat for me. I enjoyed all the little stories that made up the main one about Ursula and her time in Sicily, sorting her head and life out after everything fell apart. But there was something missing as I felt my concentration waning in the middle of the book.

There was a lot of “will they, won’t they” with Ursula and Alfio, and her parents too. There was the ceramics storyline, the job in Barcelona, her parents arguments, her ex suddenly reappearing claiming she had something of his, the hotels future - almost at times too much to remember.

Overall, a good story that all elements did come together but just felt like something was missing for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 (3.5/5 rounded up to 4 for Goodreads and Amazon)

Ursula is offered the opportunity to work in beautiful Italy then she meets the son Alfio. Will sparks fly for Ursula? I rejoiced in this beautifully told story, it has a few surprises that are unexpected. The settings are absolutely delicious and make me want to travel to Italy although they are described so well that you can't help but feel you are already there. I loved getting to know each and every character and found myself cheering for them. The perfect book to take you on a beautiful getaway.

I love Sue Moorcroft books and this one was devoured in less than 48 hours.

Starting off in Breezy Brighton, Ursula’s world is turned on its axis after losing her job and flat, leaving opportunities open.
Going home to Ireland and her family decisions are made to travel to Sicily.
Not sure I would enjoy the heat in summer but the stunning settings had me transported there having a cold cerveza in a bar next to the marina, watching the boats bob up and down on the aquamarine sea.
Meeting the loyal and friendly characters in Ireland and Sicily, a particular sultry sexy Sicilian male love interest!
I loved catching up with Zia, Piero, Lucia and Durante from Under the Italian Sun.
Ursula's journey is about coming to terms with the past to be able to look forward and all becomes right with the world.
Fabulous beach read

Another fantastic read from this talented author.
If you haven't read her books, then you really ought to!
This is filled with family dramas, an emotional roller coaster ride,
With brilliant characters, great settings and lots more beside!

Visiting her parents in Ireland, Ursula is shocked to discover
That, after a year apart, they're back with each other.
With things falling into place, Ursula is looking to change
A summer ceramics school course she'd like to arrange.

The chance to spend the summer near Sicily seems ideal
A job there, accommodation and a course - is it real?
Going out there she's welcomed and things are going well.
Though the son of the owner seems reticent, she can tell.

However there are dramas that are about to unfold
With family secrets, offers and surprises to be told.
There's also the opportunity for a heartwarming romance
If only she can trust and give love another chance.

What a delightful read this proved to be
I really enjoyed it, I hope you try it and agree.
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

My thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for the tour invite and to the publisher for the copy to review via Netgalley. Sue Moorcroft has appeared on this blog, both with author guest posts and my reviews of previous books so many times, using the index page or search bar will show all of these. An Italian Summer Island was published by Avon Books/Harper Collins on 25 May and is available in all formats.

An Italian Summer Island is a standalone although if you’re a fellow fan of Sue’s writing, you might recognise one or two characters. Ursula Quinn, last appeared in a supporting role in Under the Italian Sun. This time she has a starring role in her own story.

The story is mainly set on the island of Ortigia, Sicily, with short visits to Ireland. Having left Brighton after massive life changes, tattoo artist Ursula returns to the family home in Ireland and through some family machinations ends up in Italy assisting an Italian family at their hotel, Residenza dei Tringali. Agata Tringali the mother and her daughter Nanda are in desperate need of help following personal and health issues and Ursula also takes the chance to follow her dream to retrain as a ceramics maker, (another connection to Under the Italian Sun). Her arrival doesn’t please everyone however and the son of the family, Alfio, is rather put out after changing his own living arrangements in Barcelona to find that Ursula has made him surplus to requirements.

This is the cue for some drama, misunderstandings and romance that you would expect. Despite her happiness, life does not go smoothly for Ursula, her family is rather complicated and when secrets come to light, it threatens to destroy everything she has worked for. I did feel for Ursula, trying to put her past life behind her wasn’t easy as she had trust issues and it felt as though everyone she relied on let her down.

As ever with a Sue Moorcroft book, this isn’t just straightforward romantic fiction. There are other more concerning issues involved which give it depth and relevance. I love books set in Italy and although I’ve been to Sicily I haven’t been to this part and the location of Ortigia sounded wonderful with its harbour, cobbled streets, outdoor restaurants and cafés – and of course the food! One or two characters from the earlier book also make brief appearances and although you don’t need any prior knowledge to enjoy this one, I always welcome the chance to catch up with much loved characters.

A picturesque setting, engaging characters with a slow burn hot sizzling chemistry all make for a lovely story. Sue Moorcroft never disappoints and An Italian Summer Island was another thoroughly enjoyable read.

I’ve loved my time in Sicily with Ursula. The descriptions of the Italian island were beautiful and brought back some lovely memories of my time in Italy.
Ursula is such a great character - brave and stronger than she thinks, she is so warm-hearted. The support from her family was lovely to read about and as we follow her to Sicily you just see her confidence grow as she fuflfils her dreams as an artist.
I thought the romance within the story was beautiful but also really enjoyed seeing Ursula enjoy her time at the hotel and build wonderful friendships. I’m a huge fan of Sue Moorcroft’s writing and loved this trip to Italy

I will start this by saying I have not read the previous book Moorcroft has written which features similar characters. At the start of this book it says this can be read as a standalone but I do not think this is the case. Yes, the plot is probably different but some of the characters are the same and Moorcroft does not explain the backstory well enough and I spent the majority of this book confused as to what was going on. Previous plot threads are referenced but not fully explained which again only added to my confusion. I did like the story and the beautiful setting is perfect for a Summer read but there was too much confusion for me to enjoy this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy.

Wonderful book, loved every minute of reading it. Well written and entertaining.
Lovely summer reading giving that holiday feel.

I love a good story about a woman reinventing herself after a loss and An Italian Island Summer does just that. Ursula Quinn has recently experienced a traumatic event and then the loss of her marriage. Looking to escape the memories and revisit her artistic future, she accepts a job helping a family in their hotel off the coast of Sicily.

Working each morning and learning the craft of painting ceramics each afternoon with an island artisan, Ursula feels herself healing. Although the position at the hotel is only for the summer, she can see herself staying on the island afterwards. When she meets the hotel owner’s son Alfio who has left his position and girlfriend in Barcelona, she has just one more reason to want to stay on.

The book is as much about change and the importance of family as it is about romance and the author does a great job of combining these two. The descriptions of family love and the beauty and food of this island make this a lovely escape read.

I appreciate the key message that life isn’t just about making more money. It’s about being true to yourself and what brings you joy and being there for your family when it’s needed. I enjoyed the backstories and character development of Ursula and Alfio – two highly likeable protagonists.

I recommend this book to those readers who enjoy Romance or Women’s Fiction.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Another great book by Sue, she really knows how to set a scene, the characters are very likable, this is a lovely holiday read, would have enjoyed it round a pool with a cocktail in hand.

We first met Ursula in One Summer in Italy, where she visited her best friend, Zia. This time, the focus is on Ursula as we follow the effects of her life-changing decisions after divorcing her controlling husband. Snatching an opportunity to work at a hotel in a Sicilian hotel, she leaves her past behind and throws herself into the hotel each morning, and training as a ceramicist each afternoon.
At the same time, Alfio has a vivid dream that convinces him to return to his family’s hotel and support his mother and sister. He separates from his unsupportive girlfriend and high-powered job in Barcelona and returns to Sicily.
This is not a simple story, it has many elements that are each handled beautifully by Sue. There are complex family issues which include infidelity, bereavement, and health challenges, all approached with an inimitable skill that saw me fully invested in the story.
Ursula is a complex character who carries more baggage than is usual for a woman of her age. She bears the scars that are associated with having escaped from a controlling marriage. Her relationships with friends and family have all been affected, and moving on emotionally is too huge a challenge. For now, she just focuses on starting over in her new life.
Alfio is a breath of fresh air, he’s determined to help his family, at all costs, and to get to know Ursula. He is fully aware that she is not looking for anything like a relationship, but he offers a reliable friendship and is happy to offer that level of support. I must admit, the more I read about Alfio, the more I liked him. His gentle nature and caring manner helped me fall a little bit in love with him.
I thoroughly enjoyed briefly revisiting Sofia and following Ursula’s story. The descriptions had me feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin. I could see the marina and imagine the sounds of the birds. This book is ultimately joyful and fulfilling. Of course, you have to earn the final pay off, or what’s the point? I honestly feel as though this is one of my favourite books from this wonderful author, and I’m now excited for her Christmas book.

My Review: Such a fun and dramatic read. By dramatic, I mean there's family drama, ex drama and decision drama, along with great characters with good foundations. We have an Italian in Spain who returns home to Italy to support his family and an Irish girl who lived in the UK, ends up back in Ireland and then heads off to Italy to study ceramic painting. Ursula has been through the mill and is in search of peace and happiness. I love that google translates is brought up in the story. I use it sometimes too. Did you know that in Italy, women don't automatically take on the mans last name? I didn't know that, until I read it in An Italian Island Summer. We follow Ursula's journey, her parents have a complex story, she has a few siblings. Her ex is a pain. Alfio is a grumpy fella, bewildered as to why Ursula is staying with his family and upset they didn't tell him that they were struggling. His mother is tired and his sister Nanda is a single mum who is in desperate need to have some life back to herself. Hettie his inconclusive girlfriend type appears in the mix too. It's well put together and beautifully written. Highly recommended as a relaxing afternoon read.

Sue Moorcroft really is the Queen of summer sunshine stories! I always look forward to my travels in her gorgeous books, and so I was absolutely delighted to see that this time we were heading off to stunning Sicily, a destination that I would love to visit!
Straight away I was immersed into the beautiful location, and I had instantly warmed to Ursula, and her ambition to try a new creative career. The opportunity to travel for the summer was incredibly serendipitous, and I enjoyed watching her progress in Italy.
Alfio’s own story was also very interesting, his desire to come home to support his family was admirable and I loved seeing him reconnect with his former life and to allow himself to re think his own life too.
Such an uplifting story, some awesome twists too, this fantastic story kept me avidly occupied and longing to go over to Sicily to experience the sunshine ☀️ and wonderful communities described so vividly in this perfect holiday read.

Sue has this remarkable ability to write love stories that have a tremendous amount of depth and heart. I’m always blown away by how many emotions I feel while reading her stories. An Italian Island Summer was such a fabulous book; I could not put it down. First, I need to gush about the setting. If you are looking for a book that will transport you to a lush and gorgeous destination, I highly recommend reading this book. Sue did a marvellous job transporting her readers to the island of Sicily. I fell head over heels in love with this setting and me wishing I could pack my bags and spend the summer there.

All the characters in this book felt so genuine and raw. They felt relatable, and I always love it when I can connect with characters. It allows me to make that deeper connection with the story. I found myself rooting for Ursula and Alfio. You want good things for these two characters. Their relationship has a delicious slow-burn feel to it. The chemistry between these two was so enjoyable, and I devoured every conversation and heated look between them. There are plenty of misunderstandings and secrets between Ursula and Alfio, which creates a few hurdles they must overcome before getting their HEA.

An Italian Island Summer is the perfect book to escape in this summer.