The Lake’s Water Is Never Sweet is a bleak, quietly furious coming-of-age novel that left me conflicted. Not because it isn’t good—it’s beautifully written—but because it sits so deeply in discomfort that reading it felt, at times, like wading through silt.

Gaia lives a poverty-stricken life with her domineering mother, her disabled father, an older brother drawn to anarchist politics, and near-silent twin brothers on the outskirts of Rome. When the family gets a rare opportunity to move to a lakeside town, it’s meant to signal a step up. But the truth is, little changes. The poverty just wears a different face. Gaia, surrounded by classmates with money, freedom, and futures, finishes school under the weight of everything she doesn’t have.

Her relationships are brittle, uncertain. There’s vulnerability in them, but also jealousy, resentment, shifting allegiances. Gaia herself is hard to warm to: bitter, defensive, sharp-edged. She’s quick to blame, slow to trust, and seems to carry a deep belief that the world owes her—and that it will never pay up. I couldn’t shake the sense that she didn’t feel hope was for someone like her.

It’s a novel more concerned with atmosphere than plot—voice, memory, mood. The prose is often lyrical without being overwrought, and many will (rightly) compare it to Ferrante. But while there are clear echoes—working-class girls, social immobility, female rage—Caminito’s world feels even darker. Where Ferrante’s Naples is almost operatic in its intensity, The Lake’s Water… is colder, more airless. Her lake is lovely on the surface, but offers no escape. It makes Ferrante’s Napoli seem positively opulent.

I admired the craft here—the restraint, the control—but I didn’t always love the reading experience. The emotional tone so heavy, the characters often feel like they’re slipping through fog. Gaia’s unrelenting despair weighs everything down. It’s effective, but at times exhausting.

That said, the final chapter worked for me. It has a softness, a sense of reflection and distance that offered a bit of light after so much bleakness. Others may feel differently, but I found it quietly moving.

It’s not an easy novel, but, sure, a raw and unflinching look at social inequality was never meant to be.

Many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy via NetGalley; as always, this is an honest review.

I think something was lost in translation for me, as I had a really hard time following this and connecting to it. It may also be cultural.

"It wasn't about that horse, it wasn't about the competition, and it wasn't about not having enough money, it was that no one seemed to care about hurting you."

The narrator, Gaia, takes us with her from childhood to young adulthood as she tries to make sense of her relationships with her family, her peers, and perhaps most difficult of all, herself. She's an unreliable narrator in the way that pretty much all of us are: No matter how much we might try otherwise, ultimately we can rely only on our own perceptions.

If all this sounds philosophical and cerebral, "The Lake's Water Is Never Sweet" somewhat is, especially for a coming-of-age story. There's not much joy in it either; Gaia seems to be a poster child for persistent depressive disorder. Much of the writing is beautiful, however, without being showy. And though I don't necessarily want to admit it, I could relate an awful lot to Gaia. She's a character that resonates, and I'm glad I made her acquaintance.

Thank you, Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited to read this award-winning Italian novel, and having read quite a few Italian novels in translation there's some distinctive characteristics I noticed in this novel -- namely the character-driven plot. It also touches on the "ugly" reality of Italy -- public housing, poverty, difficulty in advancing your socio-economic class. Unfortunately for me the way the book was written just didn't work for me. I wasn't compelled to turn the pages and the main character, Gaia, was unlikeable in her (at times) cruelty, and lack of gumption. Perhaps that's what the book's really about? Gaia was given opportunity but ultimately she just sort of succumbed to her situation. Her malaise just sort of oozes out of the book, and it seems like she's just quick to blame everyone else but not turn a mirror on herself. The book doesn't have a distinctive cohesive plot, and is mainly focused on the teenage years of the main character, but time jumps ahead unevenly in the course of the novel. The characters of her young brothers are almost afterthoughts in the plot, and her father is there but not really there at the same time. In the end it just wasn't a book for me. The lack of plot and unlikeable characters made this a hard one (for me) to want to pick up and read.

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑳𝑨𝑲𝑬𝑺 𝑾𝑨𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑰𝑺 𝑵𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑹 𝑺𝑾𝑬𝑬𝑻 𝒃𝒚 𝑮𝒊𝒖𝒍𝒊𝒂 𝑪𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒐 was #gifted to me via @NetGalley and will be out from @spiegelandgrau on July 8th.

This is an English language debut from an author who has captured an emotional story of a young girl on the impoverished outsides of Italian society.

The unnamed narrator of this tale, at least until the very end, takes us through her fraught relationship with her mother that leaves her feeling frustrated with the rest of her family to put it lightly. It is a complicated family with a disabled father growing more despondent, an older brother who leaves, and two young boys to watch.

Her home life cannot but affect her friendships, with all the angst of adolescent coming-of-age. She is consistently insecure, and not without reason as people all around her seem dismissive or mean, and she begins to rely on only herself, while pining for connection. As more and more aspects of her world seem to unravel, she grabs hold of the anger inside.

I was really torn when reading this novel. It felt like a crash from which I could not look away. The protagonist was so hardened, yet it become too clear why and that gave me more understanding. It was a harsh look at what being dismissed by society as well as family can do. I was riveted the entire time, yet felt sad throughout. I think it may be the point. It also has not left me, as I finished this a week or two ago and just wanted to process it more.

This would make a fantastic bookclub choice for anyone wanting a deeper summer read, but still maintaining a summer-esque setting.

I think it deserves a good look for family drama fans, but just be ready for a rocky road.

gorgeous work. the writing is lyrical and impeccable, the plotting is perfect and filled with intense moments, and the overall story is great. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Like many other reviewers have pointed out, this novel is definitely reminiscent of Elena Ferrante's brilliant Neapolitan novels. It's written with the same sense of rage and urgency, and paints a vivid portrait a society where poor people--especially women--have to work every minute to claw themselves out of poverty and then fight to maintain whatever gains they've managed to achieve. If you're a fan of Lila and Lenu, add this one to your to-read list.

Thanks to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for the advanced reader copy.

I was curious about this literary novel, especially since it was comped to Emma Cline's THE GIRLS, but I think it's other comp, to Ottesa Mosfegh is more apt, in the style of writing---and I'm not a fan of Mosfegh's work. This one just didn't do it for me. Had to DNF.

Gaia lives a poverty stricken life with her domineering mother, disabled father, older brother who is embracing Anarchism, and younger twin brothers in Rome. An opportunity arises for the family to move to a lake community where Gaia completes her schooling. The family struggles financially and Gaia never has the material goods or opportunities of many of her peers. Her vulnerable relationships with female and male friends are fraught with self doubt, resentments, changing loyalties.

Beautifully written, the prose is almost lyrical at times. Many will find this reminiscent of a Ferrante novel; I thought it darker. Caminito paints a bleak picture of those at the bottom of the social/financial ladder. Coming of age in the 1990s, Gaia is filled with insecurity. sadness, fear, anger, rage at times. I really didn’t get the sense that she felt any hope for her future.

People will have differing reactions to the final chapter. I liked it. I enjoyed the evocative reminiscence.

Thanks to #NetGalley and @spiegelandgrau for the DRC.

This novel really impressed me. I enjoyed the author’s style; the writing is very straightforward yet at the same time rich with meaning, and leaves space for some ambiguity that makes you stop and think. Sometimes you can tell that you’re reading a translation but that isn’t the case here. If you like bildungsromans and metaphorically rich novels, I think you will enjoy this. The short introduction likens it to Moshfegh, Euphoria, and Parasite, but I can say gladly that I disagree with this.

Overall, it surprised me in its depth. As the narrative went on, I found that it made me reconsider previous chapters and imagery. Caminito has woven social commentary, class commentary, the growing pains of young girlhood, and lore. I will say that the last two chapters threw me for a loop and I wish there were more English reviews here so that I could see how others interpreted them. They were very unexpected and I’m not sure how to make sense of them; they almost seem out of place and disjointed but I think that’s simply my lack of understanding and not the author’s shortcoming.


I received an ARC of this novel through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful prose, and wonderful depiction of coming of age and the fragility of friendships between young women.

Really enjoyed this story. Started a little slow for me but then I really got into the story mid way through. I really enjoyed the main character and her mother. The mother was such an interesting character. I grew up in the 90s and it made me reminiscent of that time period. Excellent book.

‘The Lake’s Water is Never Sweet’ felt so reminiscent of Elena Ferrante in the best way. This is a gorgeous coming-of-age story where Gaia navigates a society that just wants to keep pushing her down. The dynamics that Caminito depicts feel so expertly done, both believable and heart wrenching in equal measure. I felt like the setting and the depth of character combine throughout the novel to give the story a richness that kept me turning the pages. I got so invested in Gaia’s full spectrum of emotions and it is definitely a novel that will stay with me for a long while to come.

*The Lake's Water is Never Sweet* by Giulia Caminito is a hauntingly beautiful coming-of-age novel that really makes you feel. The story dives deep into the complexities of family, love, and self-discovery, set against the backdrop of a stunning yet harsh landscape. Caminito’s writing is vivid and evocative, making the emotions of the characters hit you hard. At times, the pacing felt a little slow, but the raw honesty of the story kept me hooked. If you enjoy books that are emotional, thought-provoking, and full of rich, complex characters, *The Lake's Water is Never Sweet* is definitely worth checking out!

The Lake Water’s Never Sweet is a gripping coming-of-age novel set in Italy, following Gaia, a young girl growing up in poverty under the fierce control of her mother. The novel explores themes of class, family tension, and rebellion as Gaia navigates a world that seems determined to keep her down. Caminito’s prose is sharp and evocative. It paints a bleak yet compelling portrait of resilience and anger. The novel’s raw emotional depth and unflinching look at social inequality make it a powerful, if at times unsettling, read. I highly recommend reading it.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I was so pleased to receive this book in exchange for an honest review. As a literary fiction fanatic, and Ferrante fan, this was right up my alley.

This poignant Bildungsroman shares something special with Elena Ferrante's work. not simply their shared Italian heritage, but a talent for building vivid worlds through powerful, unashamed prose. As you follow the protagonist's journey here, her struggles, anger, loss and life become so real that her memories, her thoughts, what she sees and what she feels begins to feel like your own. You feel like you can touch it, you feel like you can breathe it, smell it, taste it. You feel like you are standing in her flip flops on the dark shores of Lake Bracciano, gazing out into the waters above the old city of Sabazia. (I can’t wait to share some passages I loved and highlighted once this book is published in English.)

Like Ferrante's Lila, our misunderstood but determined main character searches for her place in the world…although while navigating the complexities of provincial society around Roma in the 90s-00s.

Through the eyes of our fiercely lovable red-haired protagonist, we witness the awakening of class consciousness against the backdrop of Italian society. The story traces her path from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood, offering insights that resonate across cultural and socioeconomic boundaries.

In the book, the life of our protagonist revolves around a medieval lake in Anguillara--it’s there as a constant beside her as she grows, almost becoming a character in itself. I believe reader, regardless of background, will find something deeply familiar and moving in these pages, in these thoughts, in this amalgamation of the writer’s life, experiences, and mind. I have never been to Italy, I’ve never lived in government housing, I've not experienced grief, etc, but there was something in the way the author shared these struggles and experiences that made my eyes stay wide open, my heart glued to the story, the voice lingering in my mind as I go about my day.

The author writes with intensity and compassion, revealing life's harsh truths while guiding us through her character's path, pains, and power. In doing so, she's created what feels destined to become a modern classic. Favolosa.

Thank you to NetGalley for this early review edition.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story of an Italian family in the 1990s that is struggling to stay afloat in Rome and and then beyond in the suburbs. Antonia, the mother, is a powerful force and she fights for her family to get public housing in a better location for her children to grow up. She is beset by challenges, but she keeps striving and working to help her family survive. Gaia, her daughter, is a really intriguing character, and there are some shocking moments in her story. I really liked the setting of Anguillara and Lake Bracciano; I learned more about what it is like to grow up in a tourist area, but on the outskirts.

Some parts of the book where the author lists many things in a stream-of-consciousness way didn't appeal to me, but they were the exception. The story is captivating and keeps moving along at a good pace all through Gaia's childhood and into her early adult years. There was plenty of meat in the characters and plot to keep me interested. I would recommend this very original book to others looking for a coming-of-age story set in Italy.

So well written reminds me of Elena Ferrantes style.A family searching for a better life each character comes alive.I will be recommending expect this to be a 2025 top ten hit. #netgalley#spiegel&grau

In the same vein of The Neapolitan novels, Caminito creates a real and visceral Italian atmosphere for her novel, focusing on the struggles and relationships of a young girl at the turn of the century.

The almost entirely unnamed narrator is harsh and cold, yet the reader learns to love her and even root for her as she grows up—dealing with housing insecurity, family trauma, and the overall difficulty of being an adolescent girl. She’s often emotionless, yet resorts quickly to violence to enact her revenge on people who have slighted her. Despite her coldness, the narrator’s relationship with her rebellious brother, and then rocky friendship with one girl in the book, hold everything together. The heart of this novel focuses on the dichotomy between the harsh apathy of world and small moments of togetherness with others.

The writing in this book is delicious. The author creates a sweet and subtle setting with pricks of wickedness throughout. Any woman will see themselves in the messiness and pure anger that is shown here.

I did find the pacing of the first third of the book to be less enticing than the rest, and found the very end to be a bit of a let down considering the path taken to get there. Even so, the prose was fresh and left my heart racing. Would love to read another translation from this author.

Reminiscent of Elena Ferrante novels, this is a moving tale of an Italian family struggling for a better life and a place to belong. A fierce mother, damaged father, and the children struggling to belong and succeed as outsiders in a new community.