This was great for the 'boss babe' girlies who need to learn to love wholeheartedly again. Hardening your heart and making a name for yourself only goes so far!! - @Southern.Lady.Reads

If you've enjoyed Jennifer Probst's work before, you're in for a treat with "To Sicily with Love." As a long-time fan, I dove into this book with high hopes, and let me tell you, it didn't disappoint!

This contemporary story, with just the right touch of romance, swept me off my feet and straight to the sun-soaked shores of Sicily. But what really got me was Aurora's emotional journey. Her character arc is so raw and relatable, it felt like I was right there with her, experiencing every high and low.

Probst has this incredible knack for crafting family dynamics that feel real. The banter, the tensions, the love - it's all there, making you feel like you're part of this big, messy, wonderful Sicilian family. And let's talk about that family reconnection theme - it's heartwarming and healing in all the best ways.

Now, Aurora's loss - oh boy. Probst writes about grief with such poignancy, it cut straight to my heart. But don't worry, she knits it back together by the end. It's a beautiful exploration of healing and forgiveness that left me feeling both wrung out and uplifted.

I also listened to the audiobook version, and Dominique Salvacion's narration brought Aurora's emotions to life, and the way she voiced the Italian cousins? Perfection. It felt like a full-cast performance!

If you're into family-centered fiction with depth, heart, and a sprinkle of romance, "To Sicily with Love" is your next must-read. It's the perfect blend of entertaining and emotionally satisfying.

Thank you, Berkley, PRH Audio, and NetGalley, for my free books.

To Sicily with Love is a profoundly moving narrative that explores the complexities of family, loss, love, and the transformative impact of food. This story delves into the themes of resilience and personal growth, as the protagonist navigates the pain of loss and discovers her true self. Aurora, having experienced the loss of her father five years prior, believed she was familiar with the depths of pain. However, when another tragedy strikes, her life is turned upside down, and her perceptions are challenged. As a life coach, Aurora had a boyfriend and a clear vision for her future. Yet, following her loss, she feels isolated and disconnected. Being an only child with no known relatives, Aurora's sense of disconnection intensifies. A genealogy test sets her on a path of discovery, leading to a newfound family, a transformative journey to Italy, and life-altering events. This narrative will transport you to the picturesque towns of Sicily, immersing you in the vibrant culture, rich flavors, and stunning landscapes of Italy. The story will resonate deeply with your heart and soul. As Aurora delves deeper into Italian culture, you will feel as though you are alongside her, experiencing every moment. Meeting her newfound family marks a turning point for Aurora, enabling her to reframe her thoughts, emotions, and perceptions. Her journey is one of hope and inspiration. I found this book to be utterly captivating - the narrative, characters, food, and vivid descriptions all blended together seamlessly. Jennifer Probst weaves this tale with finesse, leaving the reader feeling uplifted and inspired, with each page touching the heart.

TO SICILY WITH LOVE is an enormously, engaging story filled with spirit, risks, and discoveries. Ms. Probst's new book is an absolutely, enlightening story about finding joy after experiencing deep grief. It stars Aurora York, a lovely lady with a promising career, whose life falls apart after her parents unexpectedly die. She journeys from New York to Sicily after her friend encourages to take a DNA test and then learns she has relatives! Why did her mom keep that a secret?

So, she embarks on a trip where she meets an extended family of aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins and more. There she learns about her Sicilian heritage, the culture, enjoys delicious food, seeks connection, direction and maybe even romance! Will Aurora leave her life, friends and career behind in New York to stay with her new found family?

Come on a wonderful saga as a pretty lady travels to Sicily and discovers relatives she didn't know existed. Aurora learns to cope with grief, guilt, anger and more as she navigates new relationships, emotions, romance and living situations. The locale is gorgeous and the food mentioned sounds delicious! This is an incredible, inspiring story that made me cry, so have Kleenex on hand. The story has a lot of heart, love and touched me deeply. TO SICILY WITH LOVE is a perfectly, blended familial plot that has chutzpah!

Thank you so much to Berkeley Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

WOW - I was absolutely blown away by To Sicily with Love! I am not the type of person who cries while reading books, but I cried three times because of how moving it was.

Having lived in Italy for 6 months, this book really struck a cord with me. I was instantaneously transported back to my second home. Probst captures the beauty of the Italian lifestyle like no other. Coming from a loud Italian family, there were so many moments I couldn't help but laugh at (esp. during the initial dinner scene). Aurora's nonna and babba reminded me so much of my own nonna and nonno, both of whom have passed away in recent years. It felt like getting a warm hug whenever they would appear on page.

Overall, I HIGHLY recommend To Sicily with Love. I cannot believe it has taken me this long to discover Jennifer Probst's works, as she is easily one of my new favorite authors. I cannot wait to read another one of her books soon!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is nothing short of perfect. It weaves together the beauty of tragedy, the warmth of romance, the bond of family, and the comforting joy of food in a way that feels truly magical. It’s the ideal read for February, a celebration of all kinds of love—whether for the people closest to us, the meals that nourish our souls, or the quiet moments that bind us together. The pacing is just right, allowing you to feel as though you’re walking through the streets of Sicily right beside Aurora, fully immersed in her world. If you’re looking for a story that tugs at your heart and leaves you with a lasting sense of connection, this is the book that will do it.

I picked up this book in hopes of being able to be fully immersed intro an Italian experience, and it delivered! I will say that the plot was nothing innovative, in fact I have read several books with an almost identical plot. However; I didn’t pick it up with the expectation that it would be full of plot twists. I could practically see, smell, and taste all the beautiful details this author put in. Fun book to get excited for summer travel!

To Sicily With Love:

Thank you @prhaudio @berkley for my gifted copies! #PRHAudioPartner #BerkleyPartner

Aurora has the perfect life from the outside. Bangin bod?! Successful podcast?! Trophy boyfriend?! Then tragedy strikes. It’s time for her to reevaluate what she thought was true and perfect. First stop, to her extended family, which she had NO idea existed.

Aurora was frustrating for sure. But, it was like your best friend that you know she just needs to go through it the hard way to be better on the other side. I hate she really didn’t have a support system because I feel like they would have slapped some sense into her something. But she grew and that journey was the beautiful story I was so happy to read about. I did feel like was disingenuous for a bit. I get she’s living a life that’s not really hers, but even as she found herself, she just felt kinda fake.

Regardless, I loved the highs and lows she went through with her new family in trying to learn about herself. I’m also happy she was able to find reciprocated love.

The audio was great. I wanted it just for the accent and pronunciation alone, but it was truly a work of art. Highly recommend the audio.

I didn’t realize this was a series and this was #4 in the series, so definitely ok as a standalone. Out Feb 18th!

QOTD: Destination vacation. Where we going y’all?

Thank you @berkeleyrom for my early copy of Jennifer Probst’s new novel, TO SICILY WITH LOVE, publishing February 20, 2025.

Aurora’s world is as scheduled as it can possibly be, including her “love”...her partner, Jason is as flat and annoying as they come- great props to Probst for making him EXACTLY as he should be- a dude who owns 3 gyms (insert eye roll here).

Aurora’s life is turned upside down and as she navigates grief, more of her walls crumble and those who should love her most are NOT there to uphold her. So, like any smart woman does, she heads to Sicily to meet some of her newly discovered extended family.

I loved the rest of the novel, set in Sicily- just lovely! My favorite might have been the fishmonger debacle! Ha!

Aurora builds a beautiful relationship with her grandfather by the end of the novel and its just chef’s kiss.

This is the third book I've read in the series, Meet me in Italy. To Sicily with Love is an emotional read about grief. Aurora has lost both her parents, and has not properly given herself permission to absorb the loses in her life. Instead, she forges ahead lying to herself and her clients as a life coach. Believing herself alone in the world, she uncovers secrets to her mothers past in Italy and family she never knew existed.

Probst brings alive Sicily, its food, and a found family in an exotic locale. This is a heartwarming coming of age, love story.

Thank you, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley

I read this book while in the middle of a snow storm, and Probst described the gorgeously sunny Italian coast so well, I literally forgot about the -3° windchill outside. It also felt extremely wrong to read this book without an Aperol spritz, freshly baked bread, and a fresh tomato dish in front of me.
This was a simple and sweet story about Aurora, a stereotypical NYC girlie who has been running full steam ahead for the last 5 years. Then her mother suddenly dies, and Aurora finds herself in a tailspin. She also discovers she has family in Italy thanks to a DNA kit, and decides to go to Italy while she grieves her mother’s death.
The plot is pretty classic in a Hallmark type of way. Overworked city girlie has an annoying city boyfriend and loves things like spin class, mantras, and iced matchas. Then she finds herself in a small town surrounded by family and a hot stranger who’s definitely NOT family. Suddenly, she realizes nothing in her city life mattered, and everyone lives happily ever after. It’s still fun to read, but there wasn’t anything groundbreaking or attention-grabbing.
Thanks to Berkley for the free book in exchange for an honest review!

My first 5 stars read of the year! It was so easy to fall in love with the FMC! We could really feel her grief and pain through the story! I had a craving for travelling in Italy for a while, but now I must return! It reminds me a lot of "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert, like the same vibe; and it is one of my top read of my life so that says a lot! Like we say in French: "Chapeau!"

Really sweet read! I appreciated the pace. Often times the romantic storylines get rushed in less than 400 pages. This author did a great job with character development, family reconciliation, break ups, falling in love, career shifts, and traveling without it feeling rushed. I actually believed the protagonist’s choices.

A DNA test prove to be the thing that propels Aurora to rethink her life and priorities in this novel about grief , family, and Sicily. The death of her mother sent Aurora spinning but the discovery that her mother had family in Italy-a family she never mentioned- leads her to travel there. Whatshe finds is a second chance at happiness. This felt very familiar (the family, the romance) but the atmospherics are nice, Probst is a good storyteller and that's why I kept turning the pages. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

3.5 star for me⭐️ I am not sure if I had no idea this story was apart of a series, I think I might of read it out of order. I throughly enjoyed the characters and storyline it reminded me of Eat Pray Love. This book also wanted to make me make a trip to Italy. The way Jennifer writes I adore and I can’t wait to read more of hers.

Thank you for giving me a chance to read

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this early copy!

3.5 stars for this sweet book.

If you want to visit Italy through the pages of any book, this is the one. This story was so immersive into the Sicilian culture that I could smell the food, hear the passionate conversations, see the city as described.

It also took a hard look into grief, healing, loss, acceptance, and change, but told through a beautiful story of finding oneself surrounded by family.

This story was sweet, and I very much enjoyed it while I was reading it. Yet, while I was softly lulled into continuing to read, there was never a desperate need to know what would happen next.

I would also not really classify this as a romance book. It definitely focuses more on Aurora finding herself, healing from her losses, and getting to know her family. The romance comes later in the book, and I would describe it as subtle and soft.

While I felt like I was part of a huge family while reading, I didn't feel like I got to really know any character well except Aurora (and maybe Jason). And while there were aspects of Aurora that were relatable to me, there was also a lot that wasn't to me.

So, all-in-all, this was a sweet read that took me to Italy with every page, but didn't become a lasting favorite.

I really appreciate the opportunity to read! My review is up on Goodreads and a review will be up on my instagram page on Wednesday, February 12.

This book actually took me much longer to read than usual. I found the writing at times to be too vague which stopped me from being engrossed in the story. I was able to relate to the aloof boyfriend after the death of the mother.

To Sicily with Love is a beautiful love story that can be a bit of a tear jerker about family, love, grief, and finding and embracing who you truly are. The story dives into the raw emotions of how losing someone you love can affect you so deeply. The way the Sicilian culture was explained and used multiple times throughout the book was very refreshing and inviting. Aurora and Quint were perfect and their love story made my heart happy. It was simple and sweet but not over the top and unrealistic. It was such an easy read, while also dealing with grief and loss and how it is different for everyone. But that everyone makes mistakes and is doing their best, and that it’s never too late to begin again. Truly a wonderful read! Definitely recommend for a summer beach read!☺️☀️

I loved the premise and of course, am always pro-Italian food descriptions… but, this one well flat for me. The lead character is a life coach and while managing the grief of family loss, discovers long-lost family in Sicily. She travels to meet them and ends up finding herself. I feel like I’ve read this book before, plus the lead character was too basic, no depth. I wanted to love it more! But just wasn’t for me…

Plot:
Aurora is a perfectionist who's built this seemingly perfect life as a life coach. She's smart, ambitious, and work-obsessed, with an equally work-obsessed and ambitious boyfriend named Jason. Their relationship is built on pushing one another to achieve the next milestone until Aurora's mother unexpectedly passes away opening up a plethora of [both old and new] grief and chaos. Aurora's life [mostly work but a little personal] is spiraling out of control. She decides to finally take the DNA test that has been sitting unopened in her apartment. When the results come back, Aurora quickly finds out she has long-lost relatives coupled with decades of family secrets. With her career falling apart she decides to book a trip to Sicily to meet her relatives and try to make sense of these newfound family secrets.

Aurora spends the next month in beautiful Sicility learning about not only her heritage, but the family secrets that were kept untold. She meets her entire extended family, uncovers traditions, and even experiences a bit of culture shock all while she begins to process the grief of losing the only family she had back home. This is a beautiful story of one processing grief and loneliness as told from the perspective of a type-A workaholic. Throughout her time in Sicliy Aurora challenges everything she knew and thought she wanted as she begins to peel back the layers of who she is, what she values, and what she wants for her future.

This was a quick and easy feel good read. I loved how the book was set in Italy and I think Probst did a wonderful job painting a beautiful and accurate depiction of the island. What kept me going with this book was the imagery she drew about the island and the food. My gosh, the food was descriptive and I want to book my next flight to Italy asap. Her cultural references were by and large accurate, and the use of the Italian language was fun with minimal grammatical or colloquial errors, which I appreciated. There is this entire concept of "la dolce far niente" that Aurora figures out on her own, and although never mentioned resonated deeply with me and the cultural difference between the US and Italy.

Slight trigger warnings for those who suffer from anxiety and/or panic attacks, eating disorders, and those experiencing parental grief. Probst did a great job at bringing emotions to life. There are strong tropes of the main characters' journey, finding love in unexpected places, grief and loss, strong familial ties and family dynamics, loneliness, and family secrets.

The ending was so beautiful. The author wrapped things up nicely and quickly. I did not feel anything was missing or left unanswered. I'm giving this book 3 - 3.5 stars. As much as I enjoyed this light and easy feel good romance read set in Italy, it was not a page-turner and took me a week to finish. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light romance/feel-good novel set in Italy.


Thoughts/SPOILERS BELOW***


Jason's character was done nicely because I found myself annoyed with him anytime he was mentioned. Aurora's complicated relationship with her grandfather was my favorite. I wish Probst had included additional family relationships this deeply throughout. Perhaps with Catena and/or Aunt Philomena. Also, Philomena in Italy would never be spelled with a Ph, but ok. Falling in love so quickly after experiencing such grief is possible, but it did seem a bit unrealistic from Aurora's type A and rigid character. I think a beautiful relationship Probst could have explored would be between Aurora and Quint's sister Carmella, with both women having lost their mothers and such close relationships with Quint. Also, the name Quint...not very Italian perhaps a nickname for Quinto? I loved the concept of Aurora learning how to slow down and enjoy life and the journey vs going through the motions robotically just to achieve results. I also would have liked a bit more spice because it did not exist here. I was left hanging a bit. The dynamic between Quint was a bit cringe at times, but nothing unbearable. Having Jason come back into the picture momentarily at the end provided Aurora and the readers some closure which I enjoyed. With her ending the relationship via facetime and never knowing what life would be like with him back home in a "normal" setting. I appreciated the closure with him. I resonated deeply with Aurora's need for perfectionism and adoration for Italy and Italian culture. I would recommend this as a light and quick romance novel set in Italy.