This was just such a PHENOMENAL and BEAUTIFUL well written book!!! I jumped right into this one blind and my goodness I couldn’t be happier about it.

The dual narrative, the setting about it all was perfection! It’s AMAZING!!! Thank you NetGalley, Sarah Penner, Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me this opportunity.

I tried so hard to get into this one but it’s just so dull. The premise or magic and witches and Italy intrigued me but this one hasn’t had any thing to hold my interest in the past 100 plus pages

Thank you HTP for the gifted eARC!!

4.25⭐️

This book was such an emotional roller coaster! I adored the dual timeline bc it worked so cohesively with this story 🫶 there was so much suspense that had me on the edge of my seat!

This Italian coastal setting was so stunning! I adored seeing this world come to life with penner’s words. And the touch of magic with the sea witches was so fun for a fantasy lover like myself!

I really enjoyed our MCs! We follow the story of Haven as she navigates a potential archaeological discovery and a budding romance with an Italian local. Our other timeline follows Mari, a streghe, and her heartbreaking and suspenseful love story. Both of these women are so strong and I loved getting to know them. And I am a certified Conrad hater 😤

In The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner, nautical archaeologist Haven Ambrose travels to the stunning village of Positano to investigate mysterious shipwrecks — and secretly search for a hidden trove of gemstones her late father once discovered. But when strange storms and disasters start hitting the coast, Haven wonders if something darker than nature is at play. As she dives deeper into the mystery, she uncovers an ancient story of magic, love, and sacrifice tied to the legendary art of stregheria. Set against the breathtaking Amalfi Coast, this novel weaves together romance, mystery, and the untamed power of the sea into a spellbinding adventure.

Thank you to Park Row and HTP the Hive for the copy of this for a review!

Another phenomenal story by Sarah Penner that I could not put down! The dual timelines wove together perfectly, and I could not wait to see what was going to happen next. Filled with magic, love, grief, and mystery, this is the perfect summer read!

I loved Sarah Penner's previous books but this book was just not for me. In my opinion the book would have been better if it wasn't so informative and descriptive but that's just this readers opinion. It sounds like a great story for historical fiction fans.

Magic. Location (Amalfi). Treasure. A terrific protagonist. High stakes. Suspense. What more could a reader want? This was a fun read and one that it is easy to recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HTP for this title. All opinons are my own.

🛟 Thank you @parkrowbooks + @htp_hive for the gifted ARC ♡

⚓️ Brimming with adventure, a hunt for lost treasure, a romance (closed door), and a sprinkling of witches + magic.

🌊 This book certainly made me want to pack my bags and head to the Italian seaside pronto. I’m ready to throw on my mask, snorkel, and fins 🤿 to go exploring shallow reefs and shipwrecks.

🪸This is Sarah Penner’s best book yet. The two timelines both held my interest and I enjoyed the multiple character POVs.

⛱️ Overall a charming, feel good story that’s perfect for summer vacation and beach reads.

🐚 The Amalfi Curse releases this Tuesday, April 29.

TW: Assault, Murder, Kidnapping

4.25 - This one was such an interesting read!!!! It had me hooked from the very beginning. It went between present day & the 1800s, with mention of magic (& magical realism), witches, curses, love, despair - all the good things especially with the setting being in Pasitano, Italy & the Amalfi Coast. I really loved the dynamic & the back story of the MC’s so much - it was so unique! I adore books with flashbacks in them, especially when there’s so much history there!! A few times my jaw dropped & I can’t explain how many times I felt awful for setting the book down because I neededdddd to get it read to figure out what happens!

There were a few parts where it felt somewhat rushed & I was wanting a little bit more of the story & more story between a couple of the characters themselves! The ending I felt as if it was quickly sorted out like there was a lot of buildup then it just somewhat fell flat for me. Nonetheless, the overall ending itself was a great idea just maybe executed a little too quickly.

The love story between the FMC & MMC in the beginning (flashbacks) are one of my favorite love stories that I have read. It made me so attached to them!! The author did an amazing job executing them. It felt like this was based on a true story with how this was written!

I thought this book honestly started out rather slow, but as the story continued to build, I fell in love with the magic of the characters and the romances in the story. I definitely want to read more from Sarah Penner.

The scene, the streghe del mar... salute! It took my a little while to get into the book, but once Savina entered the picture, things started to pick up, and I was hooked until the end. I loved the 1821 story timeline. Would make a good book club read.

I received an advance copy via NetGalley.

<i>The Amalfi Curse</i> is a breezy, fascinating work that feels perfect for book clubs. In the present, nautical archaelogist Haven Ambrose is preparing to stay for a year on the Amalfi Coast of Italy, working the biggest project of her career alongside her team. The nearby sea is littered with wrecks, and area has long been referred to as "cursed." Meanwhile, a parallel plot thread in the 1820s follows the women who made the curse real: red-haired witches with a strong connection to the sea. Their secret is about to be revealed in the worst way, changing their lives forever.

This is a book that feels light but has some heavy research to give it structure. The characters in the past and present are incredibly relatable, and the tension really ramps up. There are nice romances in both plots as well.

Thank you Harlequin for providing me with an advanced copy to read.

This is the third book I’ve read by Sarah Penner, and I continue to enjoy her writing. She creates fascinating historical fiction, which happens to be my favorite genre.

The story unfolds across two timelines: one set in 1820s Positano, and the other in the present day.

In the 1820s storyline, we follow Mari, a Strega living in Positano. She inherited her mother’s gift for using witchcraft to control the water and protect her village from pillagers. Mari’s life hasn’t been easy—her mother passed away when she was just eight, and her father eventually remarried. One day, Mari meets Holmes on the beach and slowly begins to fall in love with him.

In the present day, we meet Haven, a skilled nautical archaeologist who has recently lost her father. Determined to honor his legacy, she sets out to complete his mission: finding the buried treasure he believed he had just discovered before his untimely death from a heart attack.

Like her other books I’ve read, Sarah Penner weaves an absorbing story with just the right touch of magical realism—enough to make the story enchanting without overwhelming it.

The story only gets better as it unfolds, with each added detail bringing the bigger picture into focus. Having read Penner’s previous works, I found myself searching for subtle hints throughout, eager to see how the two timelines would eventually intertwine.

One of my favorite things about a book is when the setting is written so incredibly vivid that when I look up from it, I’m genuinely surprised that I’m just sitting on my couch and not where the book is set. The Amalfi Curse absolutely had that going for it. I loved the way Italy was written in both timelines. It was so clear to imagine and it made me want to travel there immediately. I also really enjoyed both Mari and Haven as characters. I thought the parallels between them each losing a parent and how it affected their love of the sea was so interesting. I did feel like the pacing was a little strange at times, but the story itself in both timelines always kept me intrigued. The ending for Mari’s timeline was perfect, but I felt like Haven’s was a little vague and open ended. I think if you enjoyed The Lost Apothecary, you’ll enjoy this one!
CW: death of a parent, death of a child, kidnapping

Thank you NetGalley, HTP Books and Park Row for the advanced digital reader’s copy!

A gorgeous and picturesque Italian setting, ancient magic, forbidden love, pirates and sunken treasure make for one heck of a read that will sweep you away!

Haven is a nautical archaeologist who has come to Positano to investigate the mysterious shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast. But she is hoping to find more than artifacts, she is secretly on a quest to find a treasure trove of priceless gems that her father claimed to have seen just before his death.

However, upon her arrival, misfortune is the only thing she finds. A sinking yacht, a town full of secrets, archival diaries that reveal things better left buried, old friends who turn out not to be so friendly and a betrayal so unexpected it leaves her unmoored.

With well drawn dual timelines and engaging characters, this immersive and lush story had me clued to the page. This is my first time reading this author, but trust me, it won’t be my last!

And that cover…utterly bewitching.

On the hunt for a treasure worthy of her father's legacy, Haven discovers a love story for the ages — and one of her own. I love seeing how Mari and Havens stories intertwined and the way both women took charge of their own fates.

Having loved The Lost Apothecary and The London Seance Society, I was excited to take a trip to the Amalfi Coast and Poistano in this dual timeline adventure. This cover is gorgeous and the vibrant descriptions of the setting make you feel like you are there while reading.

This book drew me in from the first chapter with sea witches, magic, mystery, scuba diving, shipwrecks, sunken treasure, murder, sacrifice and romance. There are many layers to this story and as Haven ties together the past and the present, she discovers her own strength and the strength of all the women who came before her. Thank you HTP Books, Park Row Books and Sarah Penner for the gifted eARC!! Add this one to your TBR!!

I received an eARC of The Amalfi Curse and Harlequin. My opinions are my own.

I picked up this book because I love The Lost Apothecary. This is a very different kind of book. It has magic, treasure, and a mystery to uncover. I really liked this book, it flowed really well and even though it was a dual time lime, it wasn't hard to keep everything straight.

This book is about Haven, a Nautical Archeologist who is trying to finish her fathers work on the Amalfi Coast. This story goes back to Mari, who is one of many sea-witches who use their magic to protect their home. Their stories intertwine in the best way and left me feeling satisfied with the ending.

This was such a beautiful story about generations of selfless women who call themselves streghe, or witches. Their powers over the sea weave together a tale that spans both past and present with stories of love, loss, and legends formed.

One such legend is The Amalfi Curse. Haven, in present day is searching for way to fulfill her father’s legacy through the discoveries of her diving expedition off the coast of Positano. Her real discoveries are such that could either repair or ruin generations of streghe women.

She delves deep into a long lost love story, while perhaps forging one of her own, and ends up on a path she never could have predicted.

I enjoyed this book so much. It so beautifully touched on its themes of love, and sacrifice, and family, and I highly recommend adding this to you TBR asap! Did it make me feel the need for an Italian vacation? Yes it did. It also made me care for these characters and their fates, and I loved the little twists sprinkled here and there throughout the story.

This is a perfect summer read, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! It felt very rich in surroundings and culture and personalities, and it’s one I’ll be thinking about for quite a while!

Thanks so much to the author and publisher for an early edition! All opinions expressed are my own!

I really enjoyed the author’s previous work and love that she keeps going with the dual timelines. Keeps the readers guessing and makes it so interesting. I think I am partial to The Lost Apothecary but this was a fun read! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I was so happy to have a chance to read it early!