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.

To Sicily with Love is book 4 in the Meet Me in Italy series by Jennifer Probst and a great addition. 4.5 stars

When Aurora loses her parents unexpectedly she finds herself going off track from her life. She discovers she has a family in Italy and decides to go and meet her extended family. What happens next is family drama, laughter, tears, second chances, forgiveness, finding love and more…read on to see how it all ends…

I voluntarily read a copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a fantastic story!

I loved the descriptive writing, reading about Aurora coming into her own power and learning so much about her family and herself, and Quint 🥵 I’m so sad this book is over, easiest 5 star review I have given in a long time!

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkeley and Jennifer Probst for this ARC

Aurora is a social media influencer and life coach. She enjoys her job and feels that she has her life pretty much together. That is until she loses her best friend and her mom all in one. Grief has struck her hard, then her boyfriend tells her he wants a break.. She loses it during one of her podcast and now has her career in a bit of a standstill. Aurora believes that she is an only child until a DNA test reveals that she had a family that she never knew. With her life not being what she wants to be, she embarks on a journey for a month that will end up with lifetime, lasting memories and impressions.


Jennifer Probst gives us a heartwarming story of dealing with grief, discovery of family you never had and finding a new part within yourself. Her words transform you to a place of beauty and culture. The setting is written, absolutely stunningly to where I could perfectly envision the places she was talking about around me. I love the family aspect. She changed while on her trip. Too many times we forget how to live after someone that we truly love is no longer here. I do believe that our Author did a wonderful job in conveying those feelings. Aurora is able to deal with her grief and find herself again while discovering a new family.
To Sicily with Love was the book that I was easily able to relate to and very much enjoyed.

I really enjoyed this book! It definitely gave me Eat Pray Love vibes, but still very good. I feel like I want to go to Sicily now just to explore and eat! I cried a few times in this book, but I loved the big extended family and the descriptions of Sicily. I got tired of the motivation aspect, but that's just me. What works for 1 person doesn't always work for everyone and I think Aurora figured that out eventually. There's no right way to grieve and no timeline.

A touching story about Aurora rediscovering herself after loss and grief. Set in the beautiful landscape of Sicily, the book explores how Aurora navigates her emotions and healing process while also finding love. The chemistry between the characters was strong, and the family dynamics added depth to the story. While the pacing was slow in parts, the themes of self-discovery and healing made it a meaningful, heartfelt read.

I write haiku reviews on Instagram and on Goodreads but am happy to provide more feedback, if desired.

To Sicily with Love is the fourth book in the Meet me in Italy series. Unfortunately, I didn't realize it was a series until after I finished book three, A Wedding in Lake Como. But I promise you are fine to read them out of order. If you love dreaming of vacations in Italy and reading about beautiful landscapes and delicious food you are going to want to read them all.

Aurora has a very structured life and everything is perfectly in order. She's got a business working as a life coach and she's at the top of her game. Her weight is perfect after a few years of struggling with it and her boyfriend owns a couple gyms which perfectly compliments her life. They also swap clients back and forth which is very convenient.

Aurora's mom doesn't think her boyfriend is right for her. She's not happy that Aurora won't eat the nice meals her mom makes. Unfortunately, her mom suddenly passes away and their last conversation is a fight. Now Aurora is struggling because both her parents are gone and was her mom right about things? If only she could talk to her one more time.

A surprising twist has Aurora flying to Sicily to meet long lost relatives that she didn't know existed. She didn't even know her mom was from Italy! Now she's gone from no family left in the world to a large family of cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

To Sicily With Love is a wonderfully written novel and I intend to go back and read book one and two in the series and looking for other books by Jennifer Probst. Also, I googled it so you don't have to - the author is no relation to Jeff Probst the Survivor host.

Aurora thought she had it all – the career and the boyfriend until unexpectedly loses her mother. She doesn’t know anything about her parent’s past so when she finds out she has relatives in Sicily she’s shocked. After a public breakdown during a work event, she decides to pack for bags and go to Sicily.

This might be my favorite book of the series. I was enamored by the backdrop of Sicily and the culture. I loved Aurora’s journey of self-discovery and bonding with a family that she didn’t know existed. There was a touch of romance with added to the theme of the importance of connections. It was such a heartwarming read about family and personal growth.

Jennifer Probst’s books always have me feeling I’m right back in Italy. (Missing Italy, pick up this book)
So many layers in this beautiful story, you’re fully invested in Aurora and where her journey is taking her.

If Jennifer Probst is writing about Italy, I’m reading it. (And falling in love with the characters)

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this advanced copy

This book was the dreamy, wanderlust romance I hoped it would be! My first by Probst and definitely not my last.

I appreciated the deeper, more emotional layers with themes involving loss of a loved one, discovering more about your identity and heritage, and coming to terms with what you deserve in both love and life.

Aurora was relatable and endearing! I was rooting for her from the first page to the last. I enjoyed going on this journey with her as she took a leap of faith and followed her roots all the way to Sicily in hopes of connecting with family and finding out more about her mother. Her big Italian family was heartwarming. I loved them all! The romance in this was delightful. And one of my favorite parts-the FOOD! All of the detailed descriptions of the food was delectable and the setting absolutely picturesque! What a refreshing read this was!

Thank you so much to Berkley and NetGalley for my early copy!

A young, lonely woman travels to Sicily to Eat, Pray and Love

Sicily is a magical island afloat in the Mediterranean Sea and filled with ancient ruins, welcoming people, and delicious local cuisine. In bestselling author Jennifer Probst’s new novel, “To Sicily with Love” (Berkley Books), Probst shares the story of Aurora York, an ambitious New York millennial driven to tackle the world of self-help. Aurora is a rising social media star, life coach, and author who has established her goals, and will let nothing hamper her success. Even her hunky boyfriend, Jason, a gym owner and health enthusiast, pushes her to be her best self. Aurora has it all!
Until one day, her loving mother unexpectedly dies. Having previously lost her father; Aurora feels alone in the world. She attempts to summon her strength to work, but when she publicly melts down, everything she has worked for is on the line. An only child and with no relatives, she feels adrift, and out of desperation she takes a DNA test.
The results are shocking. Aurora discovers her mother was Sicilian, and there is a match in Sicily. She is stymied as she believed her mother was an only child, too, and her grandparents had died long ago. But this does not seem to be the case. Faced with this irrefutable scientific evidence, Aurora wonders whether her whole life has been a lie, why her mother hid the truth from her. And who are these people in Sicily?
Aurora’s podcast, book contract, and career are all in danger, but she finds the courage to make a bold move. With nothing to lose, boards a plane to Sicily in search of her mother’s past, her own identity, a way to heal her grief, and to meet the big Italian family awaiting her on the other side of the ocean.
Her emotional and physical journey takes her to Sciacca, a small village in the south of Sicily. Will the trip serve as an emotional awakening for her, or will it be a disaster? Will her religious, traditional family explain her mother’s backstory, or will they reject Aurora and remain silent about the haunting past?
Read the full review at booktrib.com/2025/02/14/to-sicily-with-love-jennifer-probst/:
"“To Sicily, with Love,” is like a granita al lemone, an icy lemon Sicilian treat, which melts on your tongue with delight."

Aurora was such a great character to follow. She thinks she has her entire life together, until her mom suddenly passes and she’s left to pick up the pieces. In turn, she finds she has an entire family in Sicily she knows nothing about.

Grief is such a hard topic to depict in a book, and I think Jennifer Probst handled the delivery incredibly well while discussing some difficult topics with grace. This story was a tear-jerker and I found myself crying on several occasions.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

After losing her parents tragically, Aurora is left all alone. Aurora had it all it seemed; to crashing down all at once. Her career is in question after her public meltdown. She just lost her parents and has no relatives that she knows of. After taking a DNA test, Aurora is stunned when she hears from her blood relative in Sicily who eagrly invites her to meet there.
Aurora jumps on the opportunity. In Sicily she meets a handsome Italian man, a charismatic family of her own and a grandfather who is less than pleased of her arrival. As things unfold Aurora finds herself healing from grief.
When her trip is over she is left questioning her life and who she wants in it. She knows she wasn't fully healed and Sicily and still has to continue doing the work. What choices will she make?
This is an enjoyable read that drags in some spots but overall a great family/life story.

To Sicily, With Love, indeed!
I enjoyed reading this book quite a bit. The main character, Aurora, suddenly finds herself on her own in life when her last living relative passes away and her boyfriend wants some space.
After completing a DNA test and finding that she has many relatives and in Italy, she goes on a physical and emotional journey through her past, flying to Sicily and learning about her parents’ secrets.
The food descriptions in this book were heavenly! I think the food was my favorite part of the book. I love that in Italy it is a cultural experience, eating. Every time we sat down with our characters and experienced each course, I was ready to devour the next few paragraphs.
I would have liked to see more personality in our love interest. I like the romance aspect but I felt like we didn’t really find out a lot about the guy before they fl in love. Oh well! He was definitely cute!
As an American with ties to Italy, I felt more connected to this book, putting myself in Aurora’s shoes. Anyone with ties like mine would have fun with this one. It’s also an awesome idea for a book club.