To Sicily with Love by Jennifer Probst

This is my first book by Jennifer Probst and book #4 in the Meet me in Italy series. I will admit I didn’t feel motivated to read this book because it was #4 in the series and I hadn’t read the others. However this book read well as a stand alone story. I have yet to read the others but didn’t feel I was missing out on anything by starting here.

This is a book about grief, love and finding yourself through life’s difficulties. It was a fairly lighthearted read that felt positive throughout and the book moved nicely. I would venture to call it a heartwarming story, and certainly one that makes you want to leave the hustle of NY living behind for a slower paced lifestyle, perhaps in Sicily.

I’m not sure I will be searching down other books by this author, but glad I finally scratched it off my ARC list. Thank you NetGalley for the free copy!

To Sicily with Love had me wanting to sell all of my belongings and move to Italy. The food descriptions, the leisurely lifestyle...Probst described it all in such detail that I could almost taste it! A beautifully told tale of a family relationship where family ties are truly unbreakable.

Why do I love reading a messy main character? I'm kidding. I know why I love them so much. The messy main character are always so relatable because they are truly being their shelf. They just don't have everything together like most people. Nothing to be mad about. It's more about the main character journey in finding their shelf without being perfect all the time. No one is.

Unfortunately, at this time I cannot finish this book. I have faith that in the future I could find Aurora’s story enlightening and healing, but after reading the first few chapters I have realized that I am not at a good place in my personal grief journey to yet take on this book. I lost my mom tragically and was disturbed and sad at Aurora’s attitude towards her mom (I’m sure some readers who haven’t lost their moms felt this too), as well as her sudden death. Before reading, I was aware that she lost her parents but I didn’t know that one of the deaths would take place in the current timeline of the book. I incorrectly assumed that their deaths would be mentioned casually as part of her backstory. My situation is personal to me and I will give this book another try later down the road but from what I read so far, I can tell it would be a heartwarming, inspiring book. I just cannot allow myself at this time to let the bratty attitude of a daughter towards her mother, plus the triggers of grief and death of a mom, negatively impact my mental health.

This was just such a good feel good romance book that I needed! Missing my trip to Italy last year! But loved this book! More formal review to come on Instagram.

This book was like a warm, sunny escape to Sicily but with a side of romance and family drama. Aurora’s journey from grief and burnout to healing and connection felt really genuine, and I loved watching her discover her roots and reconnect with herself. The big Italian family was chaotic in the best way, and the romance was sweet without overshadowing her personal growth. It had a few slower moments, but overall it was heartfelt, charming, and full of that “new beginning” energy.

“If we never stop to question ourselves or our happiness, how will we ever know we lost our way?”

I had a great time with this read. It made me want to go back to Italy sooooo bad 🥹. This book covers ALL the topics. I truly think it has something that will hit home for everyone! I was not loving the FMC at first, but she really grew on me. Huge personal growth and the romance was amazing💘!

This book is out now and you honestly need it for a beautiful sunny day! Thank you @netgalley and @authorjenniferprobst for this heartwarming ARC. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

I really wanted to love this one, but it just didn’t click for me. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters, Aurora especially. She’s a social media influencer and life coach, which could’ve been fun, but she came off a bit flat. Early on, I found her really dismissive of her mom, who just wanted to spend time with her, and that kind of set the tone for how disconnected I felt from her journey.

The first part of the book dragged for me, and honestly, I was reading just to get through it. Things finally picked up once the story moved to Sicily, that’s when the book actually started to shine a little. The descriptions of the food and scenery were chef’s kiss and probably the most enjoyable part. That’s also where I started to warm up to Aurora a bit more, though it still wasn’t quite enough.

As for the romance with Quint…it felt totally rushed and unnecessary. It didn’t add much, and honestly, could’ve been left out. The heart of the story seemed to be more about grief, healing, and family, which I appreciated, but the emotional payoff just wasn’t there for me. Overall, this one had potential, but it missed the mark.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the free ARC via NetGalley!

Wow. This was the best book in the Meet Me in Italy series so far. I loved how Aurora went through the loss of her mother and had a realization of a family she has never known. While showing vulnerability she also had strength and flexibility to learn about her connections and openness to meet and try a new world. She was brave to start over and in doing so, met wonderful people and started a whole new life. I highly recommend this book for the story but added benefit of the descriptive scenes of Italy. I could picture the stunning scenes as I was reading. As a matter of fact, I looked some up on YouTube to see what they looked like in real lfe.

To Sicily with Love was exactly what I hoped it would be: breezy, warm, and packed with food, feelings, rich family ties and a whole lot of personal growth packed into a story that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Olivia’s burnout and career crossroads felt super relatable—especially if you've ever hit that “what am I even doing with my life?” phase. Watching her rediscover joy (and herself) through Sicilian culture, food, and family was the real heart of this story. And the details? So vivid I could practically smell the citrus trees and garlic.

The setting? Dreamy. Between the lemon groves, Sicilian coastlines, and pasta dishes described in borderline erotic detail, I was ready to book a flight and never come back. Jennifer Probst really leaned into the vibes, and honestly? She nailed them.

A few moments dipped into Hallmark-movie territory (you know the ones), but it never lost me. The mix of humour, heart, and healing made it a perfect vacation read—even if I was just mentally vacationing from my couch.

If you’re looking for a feel-good escape with lots of heart and a setting that does half the heavy lifting—this one’s for you.

I couldn’t put this book down once I started reading. This book was witty, fun, hard, loving, tear inducing, and absolutely beautiful. Each character jumped off the page and made me wish that I was a part of the story! And Sicily was a character itself. Probst did such an amazing and beautiful job bringing Sicily alive through her words. I almost felt like I was there.

Aurora is such a strong character and watching her life fall apart and seeing how she rebuilds it while relearning everything about herself… it’s inspiring to say the least.
I recently went through my own loses and seeing how she couldn’t do it on her own spoke volumes. She needed people around her who cared and who she could lean on. Something I had to learn as well.

Finally, Quint was a perfect love interest and match for Aurora. His demeanor and quiet strength while being confident in who he is was so important to see. The way he would speak his mind, but also let her realize things for herself made my heart so happy! The two of them together was kismet!

I was so sad when it ended but this is one of those books that I I’ll stay with you forever!

To Sicily with Love by Jennifer Probst

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

This was my first Jennifer Probst book, and wow, it was so relatable. If you’ve ever felt like you’re trying to do everything for everyone while barely keeping yourself afloat, this book will hit home. It explores grief, self-reflection, and the avoidance of mental health struggles in a way that feels deeply authentic.

I found myself pausing mid-read just to sit with my own thoughts—this book really makes you reflect on life choices, what truly matters, and how we process emotions (or avoid them). It’s not heavy-handed, but it is one of those reads that sneaks up on you with its emotional depth.

If You Like…Women’s fiction with depth
✈️ Travel stories with a heartwarming journey
❤️ Family relationships and self-discovery

Themes
✔️ Escape to a new place for healing and carbs
✔️ Finding love when you least expect it and carbs
✔️ Strong emotional growth thru carbs
Honestly...the food talk had me running for a snack...and a bowl of spaghetti.

Spice Rating: 🌶️ (Very mild, more emotional than steamy)
Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely! If you’re feeling like your life is spiraling and need a book that offers perspective (without being preachy), To Sicily with Love is a perfect pick.--TBH...I will be adding all of Probst books to my TBR.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to devour this book!!!

Loved this book and love the series! One of my fav authors. The stories are always written so beautifully

If you can tell me of a place that I'd like to travel to and it's more beautiful that the GORGEOUS & Sunny Italian coast that's described in this book? Well, I'd sure like to know where that place may be because oh my goodness! The only thing I was missing while reading. this book was a beautiful loaf of freshly baked bread, and a huge bowl of caprese salad.

This story was beautiful - Aurora is just living her life when grief hits her hard - while grieving her mom Aurora decides to travel to Italy in order to grieve and learn more about her culture. The small town feels and the beautiful family and hot man? Sounds delicious to me! This was just a delightful and fun read - perfect for a warm summer day laying on the beach. It's light and comforting all at once!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to Berkley & NetGalley for the e-ARC.

I picked this book because of its title and cover. I knew I'd enjoy the book after reading the first chapter. The plot and character development were extremely well done. How lovely it is to find lost love and family. There are happy, sad, and healing moments, and Probst does them all with such kindness and elegance. I strongly recommend this one. I hope to visit Italy eventually because I truly like the descriptions of the country's surroundings!

Aurora York is a successful life coach who is on the brink of a major breakthrough in her career. She has plans to write a book and launch a podcast, and her handsome boyfriend, a fitness guru with a strong following, adds to her excitement. Aurora’s star is on the rise, inspired by the untimely death of her father several years ago, which pushed her to figure out her life and channel her pain into something meaningful. However, living this kind of life is challenging for Aurora; she has many rules and expectations to meet. Everything changes when her mother passes away unexpectedly. This loss hits Aurora particularly hard because her mother had urged her to live joyfully and suggested that perhaps Aurora wasn't truly happy. She realized she needed to stop planning every second of her day and start doing the things she loves. To Sicily with Love by Jennifer Probst is the fourth book in the Meet Me in Italy series and offers a delightful escape.

As someone whom others count on to change their lives, Aurora finds herself unable to get out of bed after her mother's death. Her boyfriend starts to pull away, and her success begins to dwindle. Aurora takes a DNA test and discovers she has relatives in Sicily. After connecting with them, she realizes she needs a break from her hectic life and decides to spend a month in Italy. During her time in Sicily, she meets family she never knew existed and wonders why her mother kept them hidden from her. The trip is filled with romance, delicious food, fine wine, family dinners, sightseeing, and, of course, more good food.

My favorite aspect of the Meet Me in Italy series is the escapism. It's the perfect book for some armchair traveling to a sunny spot filled with warm breezes, excellent food, limoncello, and other Italian delights. I can always count on Probst's novels to provide a mental vacation for me and that was the case with To Sicily with Love.

While I did find Aurora to be annoying at times (a life coach...ugh), I did enjoy her transformation in To Sicily with Love. Sicily has always been a destination I'd love to visit and this book definitely made me want to plan a trip. So, in the comments below, let me know if you have read this series and your thoughts. Is To Sicily with Love on your TBR list?

To be honest, I chose this book based off of the cover and the title. However, from the moment I read the first chapter…and then kept reading, I knew I was going to love it.

This read was so bright and pleasant and hopeful. The feel when Aurora found her lost family was absolutely beautiful. The words were written so vividly that I could see myself in Sciacca. And now I have the travel itch.

The character development and storyline were done so well and got to my emotions multiple times. What a beautiful story of finding lost family and love. I definitely recommend this one.

I was so impressed with this book! Honestly I wasn’t sure what to expect. I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely and beautifully written story of Aurora and her newfound life and family in Sicily.

Aurora is a podcaster/life coach with a large social media following. After her parent’s tragic death, she spirals. Then she discovers she has family in Sicily. Her cousin there encourages her to visit. Once in Italy, Aurora experiences new culture and many new people in her life.

I really loved the descriptions of the Italian surroundings and how welcoming her Sicilian family are.

Who doesn’t love a good book set in Italy? Jennifer Probst is a best-selling author with several books to her name including the “Meet Me in Italy” series, four stand-alone women’s fiction/romance books in various settings around Italy (read my book review of A Wedding in Lake Como). To Sicily with Love is the fourth installment and it doesn’t disappoint: there’s a woman trying to figure out her life and a trip to Italy helps her find her answers.

As expected, the book has romance, growth, insight into Sicilian culture, and, of course--mouth-watering descriptions of food and drink.

Ultimately, To Sicily with Love is the kind of book that leaves you feeling warm and uplifted. It’s full of heart, charm, and meaningful lessons, all wrapped up in a setting that is both picturesque and deeply rich in culture.

Book: To Sicily With Love
Author: Jennifer Probst
Format: Digital
Genre: Romance, Women's Literature
Places Featured: Sicily, Italy
Review Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 (rounded down)

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this eARC!

Jennifer Probst’s To Sicily with Love is a 5-star gem for 2025. Trust me when I say, you will want this book on your shelves. This is far more than just your typical romance novel—it’s a deeply emotional journey that explores the complexities of grief and how it affects everyone differently. Probst masterfully reminds us that grieving is not a linear process, and it often takes longer than we expect.

The story follows Aurora, a woman who is grappling with the devastating loss of both parents, feeling adrift and unsure of how to navigate life without any familial ties. Her journey of rediscovery begins when she takes a DNA Heritage Test and uncovers unexpected family connections she never knew existed. This journey of healing and reconnection is beautifully portrayed, and I couldn’t help but get lost in Aurora’s emotional growth.

What really sets To Sicily with Love apart is Probst’s vivid descriptions of Italy. She doesn’t just describe a place—she brings it to life. The breathtaking scenery, the flavors, the people—every detail immerses you in the beauty of Italy, making you feel as if you’re experiencing it right alongside the characters. It’s a book that makes you long to pack your bags and head to Sicily.

This novel truly tugged at my heartstrings. As I read, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own grieving process, relating to the raw emotions Aurora experiences. I cried multiple times—not just from the sorrow of the story, but also from the understanding of the emotional journey she was undertaking. There are moments of joy, moments of grief, and moments of healing, and Probst handles them all with such tenderness and grace.

To Sicily with Love is a heartfelt, transformative read that I highly recommend to anyone looking for an emotional escape. It’s a perfect balance of romance, self-discovery, and healing. If you’re looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and reflect on your own journey, this is it.