The Queen of Italian novels is back with another winner! I felt as if I traveled right along beside Jess as she found her courage to leave the hold of her Italian mother and set off on a direction of her own. I absolutely love Trigiani's writing style, and can see the characters and settings as I read thanks to her vivid descriptions . This View From Lake Como will make you feel as if you too are seeing all the wonders of Italy from Jess's balcony as well as taste the delicious flavors of the foods she enjoys in the piazza. Meravigliosa! Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the DRC. I cannot wait to hand sell this one upon publication!

Adriana Trigiani has done it again - created strong independent characters who you quickly fall in love with. It was such a treat to follow Jess as she learned who she was and what she loved and wanted to do with her life. The interactions with her Italian-American family were wonderful and often made me smile or laugh out loud. The best parts of this book were when Jess described her family relationships - the moving back home and living in the basement, and the way her parents and siblings interacted was priceless. I also love that even though this was a romantic comedy, it isn't about Jess finding love so much as about Jess finding out who she is and where she belongs in the world. Watching her grow strong was beautiful, as were the gorgeous descriptions of Italy - I want to go to Siena and travel around the countryside after reading this novel! I highly recommend this novel to fans of Trigiani or to readers who have yet to pick up one of her books. It is a treat - so take an afternoon and pour yourself an espresso or cappuccino, grab an Italian pastry, and immerse yourself in the world of Jess Capodimonte Baratta. Thank you to NetGalley and @duttonbooks for this e-arc!

The View From Lake Como evoked in me a sense of late but powerful liberation. Jess’s story is not only about breaking free from family and social constraints, but also about rediscovering one’s roots to find oneself. Adriana Trigiani seems to have cleverly linked traditional craftsmanship (working with marble) with a journey of self-discovery, a subtle metaphor for “carving” a new life from the fragments of the past. I was particularly drawn to the author’s use of geography from humble Lake Como in New Jersey to the majestic Carrara Mountains as an internal journey.

The View From Lake Como is a heartfelt and beautifully written novel that captures the importance and beauty of self-discovery.

The book is focused on a woman in her 30s, newly divorced and navigating a difficult chapter of her life. When the chance to travel to Italy arises, she embraces it. Through this experience, she begins to fall in love with herself again.

Adriana Trigiani’s storytelling is vivid, and deeply intentional. Her words paint each image so clearly.
It's relatable, moving, and the perfect poolside read.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. The View from Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani was a nicely written book with developed characters, locations, and story line. It was a joy to read and feel as if I was right there in the middle of the story. The one thing the story lacks is a feeling of “I can’t put this book down”. For me that came once in the book. I would have liked to see it more.

I gave it 4 stars. My recommendation is to read The View from Lake Como. I think you will enjoy it!

A recently divorced and uninspired Italian-American woman, Giuseppina Barratta, finds herself caught in a purgatory of a transition period amid a sudden and unexpected change in her tight-knit family. As the youngest of three siblings, her life was always seemingly laid out for her until she is left with a gift from her uncle, a plane ticket to her ancestral home in Carrara, Italy. Ready to connect with her roots, see the marble quarry her uncle worked in with her own eyes, and figure out who she is if not a member of the Barratta and Capodimonte clans of Monmouth County, New Jersey, Giuseppina sets out on a journey of recovery, discovery, and in search of a real love and passion for her life. Adriana’s latest book is a brilliant confession of what it feels like to grow up even if you’ve already experienced adolescence. Giuseppina’s experiences of heartbreak and loss are relatable and healing. Her complex relationships with her family are reminiscent of classic Italian-American loyalty highlighting the love and care of a big family along with the nuances and guilt which come along with fleeing that nest. Not to mention, Giuseppina’s enrollment in online therapy offers the perfect amount of humor and humanity to make the book relevant to today’s world. Yet again, Adriana’s vivid descriptions of Italy take readers on a detailed mental vacation while the plot tells a beautiful story of transformation, resilience, loss, and love. I cannot recommend it enough!

Ms Trigiani has this abilty to pull you in the lives of the people in the her stories. She makes you care about them and become involved in their lives to the point that i felt I Know Jess Capodimonte Baratta. Jess Is has always gone along with the wishes of other ,her mother then her husband family must come first. Jess has divorse the "pefect husband" and is floating . Her Uncle Louis believe in her ablity to run the business and think all she just need to get better clothing and maybe see Carrara, Italy. When tragedy strikes Jess make the decision to go to Italy and learn about family secrets and also find herself.

Guiseppina (Jess) is a good girl. She faithfully stayed home in Lake Como, New Jersey to help her Italian American family, married the local heartthrob she grew up with and worked for her Uncle's marble business. Her marriage is over, she is living in her parent's basement and Uncle Louie has just died leaving her the business. Jess needs to break free (and let the FBI sort out some of the business dealings) so she heads to her ancestral home of Carrera Italy. She finds new family, a deep connection to the land, stone and history and a deeper connection to at least one other. This is a coming of age story that begins with a woman in her thirties. Jess learns what she wants, what is important and what to let go of. The joyful mishmash of big personalities who meddle with love blend with the mouthwatering food, incredible scenery and art of Italy like a good bottle of Super Tuscan red with homemade pasta and gravy. Readers of HELLO BEAUTIFUL, 7 OR 8 DEATHS OF STELLA FORTUNA and Adriana Trigiani's faithful fan base will all eat this up. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

The View From Lake Como is Adriana Trigiani at her best. She incorporates an extended family drama with humor and insight into this novel about finding yourself and what’s actually important to you. I love all the NJ references since I am a forever resident and can easily relate. Her characters come alive and I found myself rooting for many of them. Secrets are slowly revealed as the story progresses and I found myself totally surprised with an Italian secret and let out a little gasp. Love her writing style and found a little Stephanie Plum written into this tale! Whether you are Italian or not there is so much to enjoy in all her vivid descriptions.Well done and highly recommended! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
#TheViewFromLakeComo #AdrianaTrigiani #NetGalley #PenguinRandomHouse

The View From Lake Como
Jess was a 34 year old woman living in her parents basement in Lake Como, NJ after her recent divorce. She was employed by her Uncle Louie, the owner of a marble supply business. She and her uncle were close but she was shocked after he died and she learned he left her in charge of his business.
They had discussed going to Italy together to explore the area that supplied the marble right before his death. Her grandparents had emigrated from that area many years before.
As Jess was sorting through her uncle’s papers she made several discoveries. One of them was an illegal offshore corporation that her uncle used to evade taxes. Soon government inspectors discovered it as well.
Then there were a couple tickets to Italy made out in both their names.
Jess helped the IRS and FBI with the illegal money problem. She also decided to travel to Italy alone to discover her roots. What she found there changed her life. The trip by herself also helped her with her personal problems.
I enjoyed this book as it gave a realistic view of the lives of Italian American family members. One of the two settings was the NJ Shore, an area with which I am familiar.
I received this ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The View From Lake Como
By: Adriana Trigiani
Pub Date: July 8, 2025
Publisher: Dutton
Tour: MB Communications

Hard to believe this is my first novel by this author. I have so many friends who enjoy her novels. I am so glad I was able to read this novel with MB Communications. Finding new-to-me authors is always fun!

I never knew there was a Lake Como, NJ so imagine my surprise when this novel opens up with a NJ city. I have been to a few places in NJ and was introduced to White Castle hamburgers and the quaint village of Mount Tabor and several towns filled with Victorian homes.
Jess Capodimonte Baratta is recently divorced to Bobby and she is at a crossroads. She has always been the dutiful, but overlooked daughter. She has a unique job as a draftswoman in a marble business working with her uncle Louie, who adores her.

When her and her ex’s family endure a tragic loss, they discover long lost secrets and Jess starts to question everything she knows.
She does end up in Tuscany and finds more than she ever imagined. I can tell the author is Italian as it takes the readers on a wonderful journey into the land of Italy. I have been fortunate to go to Italy and it sparks some nice memories for me.

Thank you MB Communications for having me on tour with Trigiani’s beautiful book.

The View from Lake Como is an absolutely amazing read! I loved the entire book from start to finish! Adriana captures the attention of the reader from the very first sentence and holds it until the last word on the page. The characters grow in your heart as you continue reading and by the end, you are so attached you want more! Somehow she is able to capture every moment of drama, tradition, grief, and love so that the reader experiences alongside Jess, the main character.

The journey Jess took was captivating and emotional, on the way to find who she is and live out her dreams at the same time! This is super close to home for me as I am about to embark on my own journey halfway across the world from my home to achieve my dream of studying abroad. I always love reading books that connect to me in some way, and this is one of those books that has something for everyone!

It felt as though I was in the book experiencing everything alongside everyone. I could taste the food, feel their emotions, and have a true adventure when reading! It is one of those books that you can simply not put down once you pick it up! This is a book for the ages; one that will grow and grow until it is timeless!

Giuseppina (Jess) Capodimonte Baratta is a member of a close knit Italian American family in Lake Como, NJ. Yet, as a divorcee now living in her parents’ basement and seemingly “chief cook and bottle washer”for them, she is unsettled with her life and feels stifled creatively. Working with her Uncle Louie in a family marble business, his death brings some surprising and unsavory news about the business. That, along with a promised trip to Italy from him and a long held secret revealed by her parents causing a rift, provides an opportunity to reset her life. Will traveling to Italy resolve her inner conflicts and mend her and her relationships?

This is the second novel by Trigiani I have read and enjoyed. She has a great way with words, and I like her witty, sometimes biting humor in the midst of the drama of life. She has a good feel for family relationships with all the joy and angst they bring. Her vivid descriptions of Italian life (both in the US and in Italy), transport the reader to the actual locations where one can experience the tastes, smells, climate, the beauty. I liked the subplot addressing the plight of women of a certain age who were too early for the advances brought by the feminist movement. For some, there may be too much time spent on descriptions of all facets of the marble business; to others it will be instructive.

By the way, as a former Jersey resident, I can attest that there really is a Lake Como borough, albeit small, in NJ. It formerly was known as South Belmar and there really is a lake there.

As a girl from Jersey with a crazy, loud, loving Italian family, reading The View from Lake Como felt like coming home. Adriana Trigiani has always had a way of weaving warmth, humor, and truth into her stories, but this book—this one hit something deeper.

It’s not just the setting (though the vivid beauty of Italy practically dances off the page). It’s the people. The voices. The traditions. The drama. The fierce loyalty. The multigenerational love that is sometimes loud, sometimes complicated, but always unshakable. These are the same rhythms I grew up with—the kitchen arguments, the Sunday dinners, the big personalities with even bigger hearts.

Trigiani captures something that’s hard to explain to anyone outside of it: what it feels like to be shaped by a family that gives you everything, whether you ask for it or not. Her characters remind me of my nonna, my cousins, the friends who feel like family, and the way our roots both anchor us and push us to grow.

If you’ve ever been raised on pasta, passion, and family stories that always seem to get a little bigger every time they’re told—this one’s for you.

If you moved Stephanie Plum from Trenton to Lake Como, NJ, she'd fit right in especially coming from a crazy Italian family just like Jess's. Instead of working for her cousin Vinny's bail bonds company, Jess works for the family's marble importing business which has some shady bookkeeping going on thanks to Uncle Louie. Feeling like a failure for divorcing the hunkiest, most-eligible Italian male in the neighborhood and moving back into her parent's basement, Jess is struggling to find her place in the family and in the world. When Uncle Louie promises to take her to Carerra, Italy so she can learn how to run the business, Jess is ready for the adventure. But things don't go as planned and Jess finds herself in Italy by herself with the FBI and the IRS tracking her every move. With laugh-out-loud moments balanced with quiet introspective ones, Trigiani brings to life a New Jersey girl who finds the courage to break free from family obligations and forge a new life for herself --despite the guilt trips placed on her by her loving, overpowering, big New Jersey Italian family. A triumph for Jess and the reader too!

I love Adriana Trigiani's works and have seen her at talks several times. Although this book reads more contemporary than her normal writing, I enjoyed it immensely. It felt like an authentic Italian American family. I devoured it in 2 days and would love more.

📖 Book Review 📖 “A worldview doesn’t do you much good when you live in a small town, unless your passport is current.” Lake Como, NJ may just have a grandiose Italian presence but when the pasta hits the plate, it’s still the Jersey shore. Jess has sacrificed her own dreams and goals, staying close to home and taking care of everyone but herself. Newly divorced from the boy she grew up with and living in her parent’s basement, life feels pretty stagnant until a major loss brings major changes. Can a one way ticket to her ancestral home in Italia bring the shake-up she has been dreaming of? The View from Lake Como is a gripping read about love and loss, generational dreams and drama, and manifesting the existence you deserve. Adriana Trigiani beautifully pens a book that spans generations and continents, with complex layers and characters that will captivate readers to expand horizons. There is no shame in dreaming big and breaking out of places that shape us; and Trigiani finds this sweet balance in growth that stems from expanding our horizons while appreciating our roots.

I've been a big fan of Adriana Trigiani since reading Big Stone Gap and was excited to receive an ARC of her latest, The View From Lake Como. As expected, this one did not disappoint. The settings are beautifully described, and Jess is so relatable. The story pulls you in and embraces you as if you are part of the family. This may be Trigiani's best book yet!
I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

I absolutely love this author and have read many of their books
I feel very fortunate to be able to read this

Absolutely loved it
Great characters and a wonderful read

Highly recommend

My favorite stories are told from two perspectives, one past and one present. This book is slightly different being told from two different settings, both Lake Como but one in New Jersey and one in Italy. A book about starting over and second chances, Jess is in the marble business when an unexpected loss hits the family. To Jess, family is everything. The ever dutiful daughter, Jess has to learn of deep family secrets and process that information while coping with her own divorce. I enjoyed this story. It was a slow start for me but I was really invested in Jess and curious to see how her story would evolve. I love all things Italy and Adriana Trigiani's descriptions of Italy were spot on, especially the food. This is a good summer read! Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Group Dutton for the advanced copy.