Jennifer Probst has an amazing ability to describe things in a way that allows one to mentally visualize what is happening in her books. I could envision this beautiful Sicilian backdrop without having been there and their mouth-watering 7 course meals all due to her rich vocabulary. I really enjoyed the main character’s arc and feel like there’s a good message in it. This book was a good reminder as to why it’s important to never leave things unsaid. I think there’s also a good lesson in the book about the messages targeting women about having to “do it all” and “be it all.”

The first quarter of the book started out kind of slow for me as the main character and the boyfriend were unlikable but it got much better when the main character arrived in Sicily. I have read one other book by this author, which is why I requested this one and it did not disappoint! At the time, I did not realize the book was part of a series and I will be going back to read the first three. However, it can be read as a standalone.

I loved this book from start to finish. I really enjoy a book that is set in Italy ever since I read One Italian Summer, and this one was perfect to add to my read list. Jennifer Probst transported me right to Italy, I truly felt as if I was there. Through her writing I felt like I was right by Auroura's side this whole time. The way she described all of the sites and dishes was incredible. Don't read this book on an epty stomach but do make a list of all the foods she mentioned so you could look up the recipes later and create them at home.

I truly enjoy a book where the main character is able to grow and realze just who they are and that is exaclty what happened in this book. Auroura, a life coach, thinks she has it all figured out. She loves what she does... so she thought. Faced with tragedy and finding a lost family, she truly goes on an adventure of a lifetime to discover not only her lost family, but who she truly is as well. And that is what makes a good book a great book, in my opinion. Add this book to your shopping cart right now!! I think this book would make for the perfect read whether you need a plane book, a book club book or justg simply a book to transport you while you read in your very own living room.

Aurora is an uber-focused life coach/podcaster living in New York, with an equally motivated boyfriend, Jason. Every aspect of their lives and relationship are rigidly planned out, including their diets. When Aurora's mother suddenly dies, her world, and career, come crashing down around her. Grief doesn't fit into her detailed plans. Neither does finding out her mother lied about her background, and there is an entire family eager to meet her in Sicily. Aurora's new reality leads her to Sicily, where she realizes she must rethink her career as well as the future she planned with Jason. Though Aurora isn't a very likable in the beginning (her smugness and addiction to work are most likely written like this on purpose), but as her character opens up to different options in life, she becomes someone for whom the reader roots. I love Jennifer Probst's books that are set in Italy, because it transports me there and makes me want to go! Her writing of the supporting characters in this novel are enjoyable, and bring color and emotion to the very sterile backdrop of the beginning of the novel.

The grieving is so emotional and raw. If you've ever lost a loved one or even harder, multiple, then you need to read this as part of your healing journey

This book was both an emotional portrayal of grief and a love letter to Sicily and family roots.

Aurora has just lost her mom, five years after her father passed. As an only child of two only children, she is set adrift in the world and struggles to come back to herself. Her boyfriend callously tells her it's time to move on, and get back to life. But, when she finds out her Mom had a whole life that Aurora knew nothing about, she decides to travel to Sicily and meet her family. She never would have predicted how that decision would change her life. Everything she thought she knew about herself, her family and her relationship is turned on it's head and she begins to question whether it's time to make some changes and start living a life that will bring her true happiness. And when she meets Quint, the handsome Italian man who works with her cousins, she slowly discovers what true love actually means.

This book was one that I read slowly. The writing was lovely, and the story itself was quiet, heartbreaking and restorative all at once. Watching someone shatter with grief and have nobody to turn to was devastating, and made me feel so grateful for my own support system. And when Aurora traveled to Sicily, I found myself falling in love with the country! The descriptions of the food, customs, shops, and people made me feel like I was right there, walking through the streets with the characters. I'm not a big traveler, but if I ever do, Sicily will be on my list! The romance in this book was secondary to the plot, and while I enjoyed Quint,I didn't feel like I knew him very well. But watching Aurora move through her sorrow and blossom amongst her family and their country warmed my heart, and I'm so thrilled to have had the opportunity to read this book!

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Aurora is a podcast host and a life coach with many clients. She has a boyfriend that is arrogant and pretty unlikable. Her mom dies young of a heart attack. She takes a DNA test and finds out her mom was not an only child but has a whole family in Sicily. The story takes a turn and she goes to Italy for the summer. This changes the direction of her life.

This book was full of nostalgic descriptions and endearing moments. I enjoyed exploring the theme of going to the home of one’s ancestors. Well, I appreciated the overall story arc as well as the dialogue. I found that an execution this story came across lacking. I wasn’t invested in any of the characters as there was not a lot of time spent in characterization. While this book was a bit slow in parts, it was overall quite a sweet story with good theme.

This was such a great read. Walking through the chaos of grief, learning about yourself because it changes you, and coming out in a total different person.

Having lost my Mom, this book really spoke to my heart about trying to find your way through it.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest review.

#NetGalley #JenniferProbst #ToSicilyWithLove

Thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Probst, and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review of To Sicily With Love. I really enjoyed this book and loved continuing the series. This is the second book of this series I've read and I think this might be my favorite!

To Sicily With Love is a beautifully told story that makes me feel like I've walked the streets of Sicily even though I've never been. I love the attention to detail and how Jennifer Probst describes the location perfectly. This is a single-POV story and a closed-door romance.

Aurora is struggling. She just lost her mother suddenly, and she realizes just how much her relationship with her mother affected her. Lost and untethered, Aurora decides to use a DNA kit to find out if she has any other family. She finds out her mother wasn't an orphan like she was told, and has a huge family in Sicily ready to meet her.

I loved reading about Aurora's journey and finding out there's more to life than just checking boxes and being successful. She learns it's ok to slow down and enjoy your life. I loved reading all about her loud, nosy, and hilarious extended family. They seemed like the kind of family everyone wished they had in their corner.

This story focuses more on the relationship between Aurora and her new family, with a sprinkle of romance on the side. If you are looking for a romance novel, this is not it. It's a "falling in love with yourself first" novel. I appreciate that vibe.

Jennifer Probst delivers a heartwarming and evocative story with this stunning romance set against the breathtaking backdrop of Sicily. Aurora York’s journey is one of self-discovery, healing, and the magic of family, making this a truly unforgettable read.

Aurora’s transition from heartbreak and chaos to finding a place where she belongs is both touching and relatable. The Sicilian setting bursts to life with rich descriptions of family dinners, lively traditions, and vibrant characters who embrace Aurora as one of their own. Her emotional journey is beautifully balanced by the swoon-worthy romance with a kind and charming Italian man, adding just the right amount of sparkle.

Probst masterfully captures themes of grief, belonging, and second chances, making Aurora’s choice between returning to old habits or embracing a new life in Sicily feel deeply authentic. This is a perfect read for anyone longing for a getaway filled with love, family, and the beauty of life’s unexpected turns. Absolutely five stars!

This was my second book by Jennifer Probst and I enjoyed this one immensely! To Sicily with Love is a single POV, closed door romance about a woman whose life and career start to fall apart after the unexpected death of her mother. It deals with grief, career changes and expectations, loneliness, and relationships evolving from what you thought you wanted.

The story is a little slow in the early chapters right after the mom passes. Aurora is not dealing as well as she expected annd is flailing. After several months of intense grief, she randomly does a DNA kit and finds out she has an entire family in Sicily. Her mom had maintained she was an only child whose parents had died so Aurora is beyond shocked at the revelation. It takes a while for Aurora to decide to go meet her new family- but once she travels to Sicily the story really picks up!

I loved her big, loud, Italian family! The food, the sights, and the history were all so incredibly detailed. The romance that is introduced builds very slowly but Quint is an all star book boyfriend. He is kind and patient and is just the opposite of her American boyfriend. I loved how it was realistic about the drama that went down with Aurora’s mother and the guilt involved with the grandparents. The relationships built with the cousins and grandparents were really special. I also loved how Quint and Aurora were so stable and steady in their approach to being together.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves travel romance and I would definitely want to go back and read the other Italian books in this series!

Aurora is winning at life and coaching others to win too until her mother dies and she struggles. A lot. Enter a DNA test that gives her family in Italy when she thought her mom was an orphan. And enter a trip to Sicily to meet that family. A joyous read of learning to relax, learning what makes one happy, finding family and finding love.

I was really impressed by this book!! I was expecting it to be light and fluffy, and it was, but with some surprising emotional depth. The main character was incredibly frustrating sometimes, but in a relatively believable way. Her fixation on perfection and diet culture was incredibly annoying but obviously that's a plot point.

The Sicilian vibes were amazing - I would read more in this series!

I’m the kind of reader who reads several books at the same time. However, this book captivated me from the beginning and I set the others aside. The characters are genuine and are people I would like to know. They are dealing with life changes that will affect most of us at some point so it’s not difficult to empathize with them.

I also really enjoyed the setting in Sicily and learning about the culture, family life, customs and values there, and the descriptions of the food were wonderful!

This is the first book I’ve read in the “Meet Me in Italy” series, but I’ll definitely be looking for the others now.

This is not my first Jennifer Probst book, but I must say it is my favorite (so far). Aurora's story of growth, self-acceptance, and awakening is full of tenderness, all the emotions, and finding what has always been missing from her life.

While this is classified as a romance, it is nothing like your standard meet-cute book. It has depth and breadth of the many characters. Yes, there is romance, but it's not the love is not just for another person, but learning to love yourself in spite of any past mistakes, downfalls, and choices and loving others as they are. A major theme is grief: how it can encompass your body and soul, make you feel as though your life is imploding. It teaches us that loss can bring good things into your life and that your mental pain can also bring you pleasure.

There is a line with "raw, honest, vulnerable" in it which has so much depth when you read it in context and pretty much sums up the book in three words. It's almost as if this is a fiction "self-help" book! Other key concepts throughout the story are love, faith, growth, grief, and most of all family.

This would make an excellent book club choice!

Jennifer Probst is a master at developing characters and making them real to her readers. This book places us first in her protagonist's "life" in New York and then in Sicily where she meets her family for the first time. I wanted to read this book because my grandparents immigrated from Sicily and I visited in 2019. Jennifer captured the Sicilian family, described the food to a T and made me want to go back. It's a love story with a place, with a people, with a culture. I had a very hard time putting it down- and once we got to Sicily- I read it right through. It tugged at my heartstrings throughout.

I ended up enjoying To Sicily with Love more than I initially expected. While the story started off slow and I wasn’t impressed with the main character’s influencer/life coach career, everything changed once she arrived in Italy. From there, the pace picked up, and I became genuinely invested in seeing how it would all wrap up.

Aurora’s journey of self-discovery and personal growth was a highlight for me. Watching her evolve throughout the story added depth and made the book more enjoyable as it progressed.

Overall, I’m rating it 3.5 stars.

3.5 stars! I have read books by Jennifer before, and went in expecting more of a romance plot but still very much enjoyed the family/healing journey. Aurora found she has many relatives in Sicily, and her grandparents are still living after taking a DNA test. I easily enjoyed her character and enjoyed her development! This made me want to pack by bags and go to Sicily! The setting was so fun and the details were well written. It wasn’t my favorite book by her but definitely enjoyed it.

To Sicily with Love by Jennifer Probst wasn't quite the type of book I typically gravitate toward. While I initially expected it to be a romance, it turned out to be more about family, loss, and healing. Although the story includes a relationship that falls apart, one that grows, and even some weddings, the heart of the book revolves around a family coming together and navigating grief. It would make for a great vacation read since you can easily pick it up and put it down without losing track of the plot. While I didn't feel deeply invested in the characters, I did find some of their dialogue heartwarming. If you're looking for a feel-good story about Italian family dynamics, this one would be a perfect choice. However, if you're after a romance novel, you may want to look elsewhere.

I have relatives in Sicily?

My mother never told me - she said she was an only child, and her parents were gone.

All of that was not true. Aurora found she has many relatives in Sicily, and her grandparents are still living.

How disheartening to learn all of this, but also how wonderful.

Aurora found this out after submitting a DNA test and being contacted by her cousin in Sicily.

Would this be the perfect time to visit Sicily since her career is at a bit of a standstill and she hopefully will find out why her mother never told her about her family.

See what Aurora does in this delightful, delicious read with descriptions so vivid, mouth-watering food, and welcoming characters, you will want to get on the next plane and see if you have a long lost loving, Sicilian family. :) 5/5

Even though this is fourth in the series, I easily read it as a standalone.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced eARC.

Overall, I liked the messages and themes from this book. I resonated with Aurora’s character deeply having lost my own mom unexpectedly and feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the grief of it all. Aurora’s journey to rediscovering her identity and trying to understand how to navigate loss while in the midst of grief was very real and raw. Couple those complex feelings with her also dealing with the loss of her dad and you have a story that I believe sticks with a reader, especially one who finds themself without the only family they know.

I liked the idea of Aurora being reconnected with a sense of family as she navigates to Sicily to meet her mother’s family that she didn’t know existed. Unfortunately, I think there were several instances where the writing just fell short and I found myself just wanting to get to the end of the book.

This is a good read, but felt rushed in some places and too drawn out in others.