4 1/2 stars
Advice radio-show host Ginny Splinter gets her heart broken on her anniversary and gets stuck with an Italian holiday that she can't get refunded. So she decides to take 4 heartbroken strangers on the vacation with her.

This story is very much about the journey and discoveries made along the way. I liked Ginny. She has a great character arc in this story and really looks at herself and her relationships in a thoughtful and meaningful way once her heart starts to mend. All of the characters are interesting in their own way and there's a nice level of humor to keep things from getting too sad.

The setting at The Little Italian Hotel was lovely and added to the story. The author's descriptions of this really worked for me and made it easy to feel that I was transported along with the characters to this vacation spot. The secondary characters are a likable bunch and while their stories weren't completely resolved, they round out the heartbreak aspect to the story.

Overall, an entertaining women's fiction story with interesting characters and a great setting that can be read in a day. A perfect vacation or beach read.

A cute story, but nothing too memorable or exciting. The multiple characters/storylines didn't really mesh well, although I did enjoy the protagonist's story.

Wow I discovered Phaedra Patrick's books last year and after devouring my first one I immediately checked out the rest at my local library. I love this authors writing style and the way you feel right at home in her stories. You want to jump into her books and never leave. She is definitely a one in a million author in my opinion.

This is another interesting book by this author. Ginny is shocked when her husband of 25 years asks for a divorce. She had planned a trip to Italy to celebrate their anniversary so after his revelation she then asks four people that listen to her radio show to come along. Ginny is an advice expert so this makes for an interesting trip as everyone gets to know one another and themselves. This was a heartwarming story with amazing descriptive writing with great details about Italy.

Poorly written and completely lacking in character develop I cannot in good conscience recommend this book

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing Park Row for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Phaedra Patrick - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Ginny Splinter is a radio host and advice expert, so she knows that a surprise trip to Italy is the perfect 25th wedding anniversary gift to her husband, Adrian. She found the perfect hotel where they can renew their vows. However, Adrian has a surprise for her - he wants a divorce! A rash proclamation on air about her heartbreak ends up with a contest for four strangers to join her on the trip to help heal them all.

Phaedra Patrick has again created a wonderful world of quirky, charming characters as well as a love letter to Italy. You'll feel like you are along on the journey with this eclectic group, as Ginny realizes it's much easier to talk about fixing other people's problems than it is to recognize and fix your own. A heartwarming read that shows you the power of other people in our lives. Pack along on your own vacation!

The perfect summer read for those looking for a good women’s fiction with some emotion but also a beautiful setting! This is my second book by this author and it didn’t disappoint! Not a new favorite, but super enjoyable and great book to recommend for the summer.

A really enjoyable read, I loved the characters, the location, the mix of older and younger people and stories and issues and problems. Really well woven together, and I was a bit thinking that I didn't want it to end. I was very happy with the ending, though, I was afraid it was going to go a different way which I would not have been happy with, honestly. As if that matters, my opinion is just that, my opinion. And the author gets to do whatever they like!

A quick read, would work great for a book to read while on holiday.

Quick storyline that folds in various characters and their life circumstances as they heal together while on holiday in Italy. 
Focusing more on the personal stories of healing along the way rather than the splendid Italian village and hotel! The story helps the reader remember what's important in life.

Ginny is a radio host who talks to people who call in with their problems. Well she finds out she has a problem of her own! Her husband wants a divorce! She was hoping to surprise him with a trip to Italy but instead of taking him, she takes 5 strangers from her call-in show. I did feel like I was in Italy with them all. What a great story. I loved all the characters and it made me want to visit Italy one day. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my advance copy. It’s available now.

I liked this one much more than I liked Patrick's previous book. I adored the Italian setting and the wide variety of characters.

Ginny has been known for giving advice to others on her radio show. One day, a woman calling herself Miss Peach calls in and accuses Ginny of basically being a fraud because she doesn't know what is going on with her own husband Adrian. Ginny has planned a three week trip to Italy for the two of them to celebrate their 25th anniversary, but when she tells him of the trip he says he wants a divorce, and says he hasn't been happy for a while and she discovers he's on a dating site.

She offers the trip on her show to four people with broken hearts to travel along with her, and the five set out for Italy. They stay at a very small hotel owned by Nico and his eighteen year old daughter. The group gets to know one another and participate in activities to help each of them heal from their heartache.

I'm a huge proponent of marriage and staying married. However, in this book the marriage relationship totally bothered me and in the end I thought everything resolved too easily and too succinctly. Adrian was a caricature and his feelings seem to turn on a dime without real change and growth taking place.

As for the rest of the book, I liked the characters and the different activities they participated in. I thought all of their growth and learning was sweet and poignant. This was a pleasant read, but not as emotionally impactful as I was hoping it would be. Still worthwhile and an enjoyable summer read, one that will give you serious urges to travel to Italy.

Ginny Splinter makes her living giving advice as a radio host. Her life is dedicated to helping others and she’s sure she knows what’s best for everyone. As Ginny and her husband, Adrian, approach their 30th wedding anniversary, Ginny knows the perfect way to celebrate. A trip to Italy. She’s sure her husband will love it. When Adrian has a gift of his own, Ginny is stunned to say the least. Adrian wants a divorce.

Unable to get a refund on the trip, Ginny comes up with a new idea. She will take four of her radio listeners with her to Italy. She chooses the ones who are heartbroken and suffering from their own troubles. Five strangers in a very small Italian hotel - all suffering from heartaches is not an easy trip to handle but Ginny is determined to see it through.

There are so many emotions running through this book from marital problems to grief to moving on with life. Each character is expertly crafted. Their personalities come to life on each page. My heart broke for all of them.

The author did a wonderful job of transporting me right to Italy. I felt I was right there beside Ginny. It’s an emotional look at relationships with a few surprises thrown into the mix. It’s an engaging tale that will stick with me for a long time.

I haven’t read anything by this author before, but she’s on my radar now. I’ll be looking for more books by her.







FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick is a heartwarming and uplifting tale of friendship, family, and healing that will keep you turning the pages to the end. This wonderful tale features five strangers coming together and helping each other deal with their grief, which comes in all shapes and sizes. Whether it is the loss of a marriage, a beloved pet, one’s own health, and one’s independence, or a relationship one never expected to change, the grief these losses cause are all portrayed as valid and devastating. The hotel where the group stays is smaller and traditionally Italian. The owner and his teenage daughter have their own backstory surrounding loss. Ms. Patrick does an amazing job allowing each character to tell their own backstory as they begin to feel comfortable with the group. As each of the characters come to terms with their situation, they grow personally and develop a closeness that will last them a lifetime. The descriptions of Bologna, Italy, the beautiful locations for the day trips that the group takes to nearby areas such as Venice, its culture, and the delicious food provided a vacation within one’s mind. I highly recommend The Little Italian Hotel to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Emotional story, with the ending of a marriage and a middle age woman finding herself in Italy at an inn with strangers. Fun to read about the trips through Italy.

Radio host Ginny Splinter is an expert on giving advice, so she is caught off guard when her own marriage hits the rocks. With a non-refundable trip to Italy booked, she decides to trade in her and her husband’s luxury hotel stay for a stay for five at a smaller hotel, and offers up the chance to join her to 4 lucky listeners. These five heartbroken strangers embark on a vacation of healing, adventures, and memories.

The novel offers an eclectic group of characters, each suffering from their own form of heartache as they travel Italy together. I appreciated the author’s descriptive writing about the Italian scenery, landmarks, and tourist attractions, and felt fully immersed in the atmosphere. The story seemed to slow towards the middle, so my attention dwindled a bit. Overall, it’s a decent summer read, especially if you have been or plan to travel to Italy.

Thank you to Park Row Books and NetGalley for my gifted eARC!

I've enjoyed many of Phaedra Patrick's books. Her latest is The Little Italian Hotel.
If you're like me, I find sometimes I just need to take a break from my usual murder and mayhem reads and pick up a tale that tugs at the heartstrings.

Ginny hosts a radio advice show. But the tables are turned when Ginny is in need of some help herself. She decides to share a planned romantic getaway for two - and instead she'll meet up with four of her listeners in a different, smaller Italian hotel.

Each of the five players is mourning a loss and they're heart broken. Can they find some solace with new friends? A different setting? Talking about it? Trying new things? Getting out in the world again? The group tries all of these. And slowly....

Patrick has done a good job with drawing five very different characters and portraying their loss. You'll empathize with at least one, if not more of them. There's lots of food for thought in this plot.

The supporting cast in Italy is just as engaging. And the setting is so well drawn. I'd live to check into Nico's little hotel.

I'm not one hundred per cent on the final chapters. I think my decision would be different for Ginny. But it suits the character. Overall, The Little Italian Hotel is a warm, funny, sad and yes, uplifting tale.

Ginny was on the air giving her advice to her listeners, when one of her callers outed her husband. Ginny was flabbergasted. But she soon realizes her marriage is on the rocks. On a whim, she invites total strangers to go on her anniversary trip to Italy. This trip turns into an eye opening experience!

This is a such a sweet and enjoyable read. I love all the characters. Each one has their own and very different grief that they are working through. Poor Ginny, she is completely blindsided by her husband and it opens her eyes to many problems, including some that may have been her fault. I love when a character recognizes that they are not perfect. Add in this beautiful setting and you have an all around joyful book about healing!

Need an invigorating story with the great charm of Italy…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

A sweet and moving women's fiction novel that follows five strangers suffering from heartbreak and how a stay at a unique Italian hotel helps them cope.

Phaedra Patrick’s new novel, The Little Italian Hotel, is a welcome escape. I didn’t find it quite as charming as her novel The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, but I was equally engrossed in the story and characters. In the novel, a motley crew of characters accompany the main character, an radio advice expert, on a trip to Italy to mend their broken hearts and souls. While this might sound a bit sappy, Ms. Patrick presents her characters and their healing process in a fun and engaging manner.

At the quaint, if not a bit run down, Hotel Splendido, the group meets for the first time, and the hotel owner, Nico and his teen-aged daughter, Loretta, are introduced. This quickly becomes a group of seven people who are in need of a village to help them move forward in their lives. Ginny, the radio advice specialist, doesn’t have much of a plan as she is trying to salvage a nonrefundable trip she had planned with her estranged husband. The activities she does come up with slowly bring the group together and help her process her own grief and loss as well. Each of them find some solace in their new found friendships and the various activities suggested by the group members.

The story could easily have taken a sappy turn, especially with the reintroduction of Ginny’s husband, but Ms. Patrick steers the story on a cleaner path toward friendship, love and hope. I appreciated the empowering messages of the story, and especially that Ginny follows not a trite, presumed path but one that will ultimately bring her to her most satisfying life. The Little Italian Hotel is about friendship, family, and second chances. It is a sunny, empowering story that I will not soon forget.
4.5 stars

This little gem should be on everyone's summer reading list. The cover alone will draw you in and have you feeling like you're in Italy. The characters are all unique and I managed to find something endearing in each one. The food and atmosphere of the countryside is divine. A real keeper.