4.25 finding yourself stars

What happens when a life coach loses her way? How can she coach anyone when she melts into an emotional puddle during her podcast? Aurora has good reasons, though. She just lost her mother and her father before that and feels totally alone. And her boyfriend, a health coach/trainer, keeps encouraging her to push through the pain and have an action plan.

Aurora decides to do a DNA test to see if she has any other family. She discovers that she has a whole side of her mother’s family in Sicily. When her career struggles continue, Aurora decides to take her cousin up on the offer to visit Sicily.

What a life-changing trip! She discovers an authentic family and begins to learn the tragic story of her mother leaving Sicily many years ago to marry her English father. She also discovers that Italian food is so delicious! She eventually turns off the voice in her head that forbids carbs and sugar. Food should feed your soul and give you joy. I loved that advice.

As Aurora is embraced by her family, she realizes she is changing, healing, and finding a new path. And that boyfriend? He’s just not worth her time, so she breaks things off with him. It’s a good thing, too, because there is a handsome Italian man who is very interesting! The romance here was heart-warming, with enough heat to be fun, but a good relationship for Aurora.

This is my third Jennifer Probst book, and I really liked this one! I finished it on Valentine’s Day, and I think the romance was spot-on for that special day! I loved reading about the food, the traditions, the family connections, and the scenery!

This is Meet Me In Italy #4, but can be read as a stand-alone.

Life coach and podcaster, Aurora York has her life turned upside down when her mother suddenly dies leaving her with no living relatives (or so she thought). A DNA test later reveals she has first cousins in Sicily and a whirlwind trip has her travelling there for the summer where she connects with family she never knew she had and finds love along the way. Sweet, heartfelt and good on audio. This was an easy, enjoyable read that is sure to appeal to fans of books like The Sicilian inheritance by Jo Piazza. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

If you don’t come into this book hungry, you will certainly leave that way. This is apparently the fourth book in a series, however this is the first one that I have read. That being said, it worked perfectly fine as a standalone and I will be looking to read the rest of the books in this series soon! I thought this was such a good story. I found our main character Aurora to be such a lovely protagonist. The character development and change in her was heartwarming, and I appreciated how much she changed for the better throughout this book. It was hard not to want to jump on a plane immediately to Italy while reading it. This book reads like a love letter to Sicily, and it made me want to go and be a part of this family! Not only that, I learned about Italian culture. It also had such good discussions about grief and dealing with loss of a parent. This is such a difficult topic to address, but I think that the author did such a good job of navigating through this and Aurora came through on the other side a completely different person. Truly, this was a delight to read and I look forward to more from this author in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced reading copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

I haven’t read the rest of this series so I was a bit lost in some of the conversations that happened previously. However it was fun and light hearted, not super deep but made me want to visit Sicily

This was a heartwarming and cute read, but I didn’t love it. It’s #4 in a series (I haven’t read the previous books), but it worked fine as a standalone. That said, I struggled to connect with the characters, which made it harder to fully enjoy.

Once we got to Sicily, the story picked up with beautiful descriptions of the landscapes, family dynamics, and mouthwatering food 🇮🇹🤤. Aurora’s relationship with her Boppa was a highlight, and the emotional themes of grief and self-discovery were well done. But the romance? Barely there. And Jason? Immediately no. 😤

The writing was strong, but the pacing dragged, and some parts felt repetitive. If you love immersive settings and family-focused stories, this could be worth the read—but don’t expect a sweeping romance or fast-paced plot

This is another great story in the Meet Me in Italy series. It has some wonderful characters with the main character Aurora going on her own emotional journey to healing and self discovery. You will want to travel to Sicily and eat all of the food when you are done reading this book. This story's emotional roller coaster takes you on a fabulous journey. It is a very enlightning read!!

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.