Free courtesy of Netgalley

First book I have read from Victoria Springfield but it won't be the last. I couldn't put the book down, and I read it in two days. It made me want to go back to Venice (which is a breakthrough as I didn't enjoy it on my only visit?). I was only there for the day and didn't get to see or experience all the wonderful places talked about in this book.

The story centers around 3 main characters. Firstly husband and wife, Phil and Cate (Cathy) who have signed up for a house swap for 2 weeks for a television show. They got to swap with a Venetian couple, but both of them got their own secrets around Venice which could threaten their Marriage. Then Natalie works for the television company who is making the show, she is asked last minute to stand in for the usual presenter, as she is in hospital. Natalie has her own demons about Venice but doesn't want to let her boss down, or pass up the opportunity to enhance her career.

With many twists and turns, the story weaves around the present and when all three main characters were in Venice on a school trip.

It has a wonderful array of supporting characters and really touches on the beauty of Venice and what it has to offer, if you step outside of the tourist traps.

I would definitely recommend this book, as I love a book that can take you on a journey to another place whilst led in your own bed.

A truly joyful read!
One Summer In Italy follows the story of Natalie, a tv presenter sent to Venice by her friend and manager to be the host of a very popular tv show. But that's not the first time Natalie's been to Venice, as she visited during a school trip when she was a teenager. Unfortunately the memories of Venice she built at the time are not great, a lost friendship, betrayal, and something more...
But this story is all about second chances and everything takes a new course when Natalie discovers that the protagonist of her tv show is Cathy, her best friend during her teenage years but that Venice and a series of misunderstanding took away from her.
We then follow along the stories of both ladies reunited unexpectedly and with a lot to discover about themselves, their lives, their past and even their future!

What I loved the most about this book is how authentic it felt, and how much the love for Venice as a gem of a city that needs to be preserved, came through every single page. As an Italian I'm always weary of books set in Italy, because more often than not, they depict the culture and life in a way that might seem realistic to the general public but usually full of cliches... This one was a truly different story, it felt genuine, it felt real, it felt researched in the best possible way, it felt honest and I genuinely loved all the little details, the description of the arts and crafts, food, architecture and art that make Venice the unique city it is. I might be a bit biased because I love Venice with a passion, but this book did not disappoint, if anything made me want board the first flight to Venice and go for a morning stroll by the canal in Cannaregio. Truly recommended!!

Thanks to Boldwood Books for providing with an advanced copy of this book on Netgalley! Couldn't be happier