Before the Oscar-winning film. Before millions of wishes were tossed into the Trevi Fountain. There was Coins in the Fountain.

First published in 1952, John H. Secondari’s luminous debut novel captured hearts around the world and helped spark a global fascination with Rome’s most famous fountain. Set in the vibrant years following World War II, the story follows four American women—Priscilla, Anita, Virginia, and Theresa—drawn to the Eternal City in search of reinvention. Sharing an apartment overlooking the rooftops of Rome, they pursue love, independence, and meaning in a city still rebuilding yet shimmering with possibility.

As they fall in and out of love, challenge convention, and wander through sunlit piazzas and shadowed ruins, each woman confronts the tension between romantic fantasy and emotional truth. Their friendships deepen even as their desires pull them in different directions. With warmth, wit, and keen observation, Secondari captures the exhilaration and vulnerability of Americans abroad at a moment when travel promised transformation.

Written with breezy yet emotionally resonant prose, this expat romance offers a portrait of international glamour tempered by uncertainty, and of women quietly claiming autonomy in a changing world. Rome itself emerges as a central presence—its cafés, fountains, and ancient streets serving as both backdrop and catalyst for longing, heartbreak, and joy.

Out of print for more than fifty years, this long-awaited reissue reintroduces a forgotten classic to a new generation of readers. Reissued by the author’s daughter, this edition includes a new foreword and a curated selection of midcentury-inspired Italian cocktail and snack recipes. Perfect for fans of Beautiful Ruins and Under the Tuscan Sun. Coins in the Fountain is a timeless novel about travel, love, and the enduring hope of second chances.