A small aging town in Tuscany finds itself in financial trouble. When the community comes up together to find way to generate interest and tourisim the miraculous happens with the discovery of the worlds largest truffle. There is a host of quirky characters, some wonderful animals and alot of zany circumstances. I found the first part of the book slow, mostly because of the writing style... lots of over the top description that stood in the way of the story. This is a light read, often heartwarming with a charming wrap up.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc to read and review.

This was a pretty good book! It was a bit hard to follow in the beginning since there were so many characters being introduced so quickly with lack of full background info initially. I did enjoy the story, I liked the themes of family, relationships, etc. It was an entertaining read, and it was enjoyable!


Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

Italian Mayberry
Ever read a book you didn’t want to end? People you wanted to spend more time with? This is that book- it’s cozy, and funny, and has so much heart. Words can’t do justice to how much I enjoyed spending time with this village, these people.
In the beautiful ancient Italian village of Lazzarini Boscarino, there is a secret that sits down below the soil. A marriage of fungus and chestnut, soil and damp waiting to be found. As the story opens at Bar Celebrità, the last open establishment of a crumbling Italian village, we meet a few of our colorful cast of characters:
Giovanni and his soulful, intuitive truffle hunting dog Aria.
Giuseppina barmaid extraordinaire . A 50 year old sex symbol loud and brash and bursting with love, life and passion. She was my favorite character
Farmer Leon who’s floozy elderly wife has disappeared, but he has the distraction his animals including the town’s 22 year old beloved donkey Maurizio, who incidentally almost was elected mayor.
Delizia grew up in the town and left as soon as she could, she became a veterinarian and finds herself back home and elected mayor, with the daunting task of saving this town.
When Giovanni finds a massive world record breaking truffle he knows that it can bring in enough money to save the town or ruin it with the insanity of such fortune.
This would make a good book club read. While on the surface its a simple story, there is a lot to unpack here and discuss. The role of community, grief and grievance. What does one owe their village, their family? How comfortable and yet stifling a small town can be, when everyone knows your business and your past. How empty success can be.
Before you start you really need to stock up on some good Italian food because you will be craving it as the delicious descriptions are pepperd throughout the story.

I hope there is a sequel! Please make this delightful book in to a movie. My casting suggestions Marisa Tomei as Delizia and Stanley Tucci playing Chef Umberto.
Highly recommend.

I absolutely adored this story and every character in it about a small town in Tuscany slowly fading to the senior community left behind to carry on the traditions of generations, while the youth that have been raised go off to the big cities. I read this book while in a similar small town town in Calabria. Ironically, I met so many similar colorful characters and wonderful human beings, loving life and embracing the heritage of their land. This is an absolutely beautiful book, especially so if you love all things, Italia, food and have respect for tradition while moving forward into this fast-paced world of self-driving cars and AI. That these people are so connected to the soil, relationships and the traditions of the past is really the thing that moved me and resonated with me to the core. Core. The story of the truffle itself was almost incidental to me despite being the core character. This book would make a beautiful movie one day. If they do, I hope they do it justice .

🍄🇮🇹 BOOK REVIEW! [e-ARC] 🇮🇹🍄

Tartufo by Kira Jane Buxton
Genre: Humor & Satire, Literary Fiction
Length: 352 pages
Pub Date: Jan. 28, 2025
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟!

Thank you to @netgalley and @grandcentralpub for the opportunity to have this e-ARC! The opinions in this review are solely my own.

Synopsis:
Welcome to the small medieval village Tuscan village of Lazzarina Boscarino. Though it is modern times, the village is made of a cast of inhabitants that are all family, some by blood, others by generations of shared history. The village is in major financial trouble, but the tide appears to be changing as local truffle hunter, Giovanni Scarpazza, unearths the biggest tartufo the world has ever seen, with the help of his trusty dogs. Major planning ensues to host an auction with bidders from all over the world. The current mayor, Delizia, is determined to help save the village with the large payout from this wonder, but something, or someone, just may be in the shadows with some darker intentions...

Opinion:
Nothing I could possibly say would really do this book proper justice. It was SO beautifully written - the setting was so picturesque, each and every villager and their personalities were depicted so perfectly. It was honestly a book about relationships and their growth through beautiful and difficult times. I felt like I was honestly right there in this adventure with the whole cast of characters. They were so lovely, from the disgraced postman, to the wise 'nonna' of the town. This book highly exceeded my expectations and was very funny and charming at times! I loved how I felt so many different emotions throughout the story. It was a real winner and I highly recommend this one to anyone that needs a heart-warming read, a little adventure, and a good laugh!

Cozy, heartwarming story. Quick read that felt like getting to the people and last of a small town. Lots of rich description of people, places, and events.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m not sure why, but I had it in my head that this story was about a giant magical truffle that came to life. So, needless to say I went into this book expecting the same foul humor and absolute silliness of the authors first two books and that isn’t this story at all. The story was more about the relationships and strong bonds between the family and friends in a small struggling community. There is a fun and quirky cast of characters that you get to know throughout the story so there is a little bit of the same silliness I had hoped for. It had a nice lighthearted humor to it that I enjoyed too. The author did an amazing job of describing the food and comune because I almost felt like I was there and I’ve never wanted a truffle more in my life than I do now and I don’t even like mushrooms!

Thank you to the publisher to allowing me a to read an advance copy of this book through Netgalley.

This was a delightful story. It is a funny book, but it mostly touches on the power of love, especially the love towards others, your environment, your town.

The author does not shy away from creating unusual protagonists: The town’s donkey who was also a mayoral candidate and Al Pacino, the cat that acts as if the whole town is her personal playground.

I am not usually drawn to these types of stories, but something about this one called to me and I’m so glad I was given the chance to read it.

And the food descriptions had me wanting to jump on a plane and live in Tuscany for a season.

Loved!

Truly delightful read! Such a terrific story stuffed full of humor, warmth and a wonderful engaging cast of characters! I loved the prose and the author’s creative knack for describing things. Many times I laughed out loud as I read her descriptions of the small Italian village that served as her setting and all the people and animals that lived there. It appears that the little village of Lazzarini Boscarino is dying. It needs something to place it on the map, draw the tourists in….something that will bring in much needed funds! Who would believe a giant truffle might just be the answer. The little close knit community gathers together in their quest to sell the truffle to the highest bidder and you will not want to miss out on the fun. You will love the townspeole who are full of life and care deeply for their town and each other, the descriptions of the food and wine, the village, the truffle hunting, the animals, and the ending! I feel like I could walk into Lazzarini Boscarino and know all the townspeople by sight. Then I’d love to sit down and share some of the delicious food and wine with them and catch up on their lives! It really makes me want to go back and visit Italy and find some small towns just like this one. Tartufo does not disappoint! Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for a chance to read this ARC.

I am not usually one for humorous books, but Tartufo caught my eye, largely because it is set in Italy where I lived for a number of years.

The village of Lazzarini Boscarino is dying. Young folks have all left heading to Milan or other big cities. The old mayor died never revealing that he squandered money he got to help the village. The new mayor, his daughter, Delizia Micucci, is a veterinarian who’s lived and worked all over Italy, usually leaving her current job when she’s passed over for promotion in favor of a male. She’s come home with her husband to Lazzarini to heal. She’s voted in as mayor, but the ballot included a donkey named Maurizio. In the forest nearby, Giovanni Scarpazza, a truffle hunter, finds a huge truffle worth a lot of money. He, in turn, donates it to the village where, in the end, it causes more to-do that it is worth. Tartufo is about the connection between the village, the villagers, the land, and all nature. The characters lives intertwine, separate, and then rejoin.

Tartufo has a large cast of oddballs, all of whom are well-conceived, though the village itself serves as a character. The prose is gorgeous with sensuous descriptions of food that will have your mouth watering but is also a sensuous feast for all the senses. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book in which the reader’s senses are so titillated. The novel is quirky but truly brilliant with lovely prose and lovelier characters, and is absolutely charming, life-affirming, and heart-warming—and often laugh-out-loud funny. Tartufo is told in an omniscient point of view and includes life as seen, for example, through the eyes of a bee and truffle-hunting dogs.

Tartufo was a book that was so beautifully written, not only could I visualize the scenes but I could smell them, too, despite never having been to Italy. The language used throughout the book was so perfectly descriptive, it really pulled you into the story and if you love truffles like I do, this book is for you. The book takes place in a very small town in Italy which is losing funding, residents and homes (the latter due to landslides), so a very real situation for some, but overall, a story of resilience, food, love, and journeys that I really enjoyed reading and already miss. If you want to dig into a small town with punchy residents, follow Giovanni and Aria for truffles and learn their stories, this is the book for you!

Do yourself a favor: look up glis glis before you dive into the book to make it that much funnier when referenced.

Thank you, Hachette Book Group and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC).

What a life affirming story this was. Like others have said it started slowly and I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep reading. Once the pace picked up and the focus of the story became clear I enjoyed following along anticipating what would happen next.

There’s a huge cast of characters in this story with Tartufo being the main character. The action takes place in a small Italian village that is definitely not a tourist attraction. The villagers are a tight knit bunch supporting each other while also squabbling like any family does. The vivid descriptions of the setting including the surrounding forests added so much to this story. I felt that I could taste the food that Nonna Amara made and see her crumbled farm house and garden. I saw Giovanni’s dirt encrusted hands and warm eyes and heard Giuseppina’s dramatic screams. I can’t forget Al Pacino or Maurizio the animal characters who are just as important as any human. This book reaffirmed the truism that it truly “takes a village” to do anything.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this book. From the moment I saw the author had a new book coming out several months ago, I was excited. I love Hollow Kingdom and couldn’t wait to read this new story about an Italian village. Tartufo is definitely a fresh new story and I loved it. She has a unique way of writing, very beautiful and descriptive, making you wish you were inside the story. I found myself wishing I was in a small Italian village, friends with the villagers, and could go on a truffle hunt myself. She writes animals so well, if you are an animal lover you are sure to love the personalities she creates for them in her stories. I think the start of the book could be difficult for some, it is very descriptive but is worth it to get a feel for the environment of the village. It is well worth it once you get into the adventures of the story. I could see myself rereading this one in the future.

I thought this was a fantastic book. I loved how we saw so many different POV's that were so incredibly distinct that I never had an issue distinguishing between the characters. Such a perfect glimpse into a small Italian village and the people that make it up. It was funny, bittersweet, heartwarming and a captivating read. While I don't think this writing style (lots of purply prose describing scents, and feelings, and very metaphor heavy), I felt it was very appropriate given the subject matter. I was so invested in this little town and all the problems it was facing, and while it was hyperbolic, I thought that was the right choice for this novel. If you like a very character-driven plot that touches on the ridiculous at times, while also drawing you in, this is an excellent book to pick up!

The beginning bit of the book felt laborious, with many details and characters. Once it settled in to the story of the town, the truffles, the people, I was won over!

The premise of this is lovely and it is definitely atmospheric and cozy. It is sort of like an Italian version of a hallmark movie with community members banding together to save their town from ruin but instead of a romance, there is an enormous truffle.

It is charming though I found it to be uneven, and with way too many characters (not all of them compelling). My interest would waver depending on who the chapter was focused on. I would recommend it to readers looking for an antic-filled comedy (though there are also a few tragedies) about the power of community.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Yesterday in book club, we discussed the problematic nature of rating books with stars. Do you rate a book based on its quality within its genre (i.e., did it meet your expectations for what the genre and synopsis hinted at), or do you rate books based on the rolodex of books you've read in your entire life? If it's the latter, then how can anything compare to masterpieces like, for example, <i>Lord of the Rings</i>? It has to be the former, or at least a mixture of the two, depending on how suitable the book is for your typical taste. <i>Tartufo</i> is not a book I'd typically pick up, but when I read its synopsis (Italy, quirky little village, one truffle to rule them all), I sent a request for it.

That being said... I loved this book. Breezy, comedic novels are not something I lean towards because they are often a corny, poorly-written mess. In the first few pages of <i>Tartufo</i>, I debated whether this book would be for me, but it didn't take long for me to adore the caricature-like villagers and feel for their woes as their tiny town fell into ruin. Especially towards the end, I laughed out loud at certain moments, and I loved how little details came together. I found it to be smartly comedic and very entertaining, and I would die for a mini-series based on it. While this may not be 5 stars based on everything else I've rated 5 stars in my life, this is a solid 4.5-star light novel. There were moments I felt were a bit wordy and could have been condensed, but overall, this is a book I can see myself recommending to a lot of people looking for a good time.

Despite this being what I'd typically call a "summer read," the tiny Italian village's atmosphere and truffle-hunting season make this a lovely "cozy fall read." Although, sadly, you'll have to wait until it publishes in January to pick it up!

Thank you Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the e-ARC :)

What a serious delight of a book! Stop me if I sound like SNL's Stefon, but THIS BOOK HAS EVERYTHING. It contains the most charming cast of characters, decadent food, lots of great humor, and the most gorgeous prose. Oh, and there's even a donkey who is very nearly nominated as mayor. Wait, there's also a female cat named Al Pacino. I told you- everything.

The book takes place in the struggling little Italian village of Lazzarini Boscarino. The town is not a tourist attraction and has no money.... a donkey almost became mayor, for goodness sake! But it's truly the residents that make the town. They may not always get along and they certainly don't agree on everything, but they so endearing.

The story starts off a little slowly for me, BUT I was pulled in by Buxton's writing from the first page. I figured even if the story was a little boring, at least I'd get to experience something really beautiful in the meantime. However, the story quickly picks up when Giovanni Scarpazza and his dogs find a really, really big truffle. Like the kind that could change the course of your life. Or the future of your town.

I don't want to give anything away because part of the beauty of the book is the unfolding of the story. Honestly, I feel like I'm not a good enough writer to truly describe the beauty of this novel. But even if you don't care about prose, you'll want to read it for the cast of characters.

I'm so excited for this book to publish and for everyone to read it. And I feel so lucky that I already had the chance to. It's the kind of book that, once it's released, I'll definitely want to read again. The people of Lazzarini Boscarino feel like friends now and I miss them so much now that the book is over.

I adored this book! Each character is so well written, both animal and human. It made me want to visit and meet each and every one of them. The setting is vibrant and Buxton’s writing is charming and witty.

3.5 / 5. Sweet, silly, and made me want truffle fries. Shakespearean comedy vibes set in a modern day (though at times it does not feel modern at all) Italian village. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC