One Italian Summer: A Novel | 
so-soI love magical realism. This one was ok, fine, meh.
I‘m one hour into this and have already looked up how to get to Positano, places to stay and restaurants. Just checking to see if that‘s normal 😂
pickAs a person who loves Italy, and has lost my mother- albeit many years ago now— this book certainly hit a sweet spot. After her mother‘s death, Katy takes the trip to Positano that she and her mother were supposed to take together. There she comes face-to-face with the past. Good read.
I‘m in! I was mostly crap at my summer readathons, although I did read a fair amount. My big goal is to finish all the books set in the summer on my BookSpin list as well as both my BookSpin & DoubleSpin. #SummerEndReadathon @TheSpineView
pickOkay. First off, I gave this 5 stars. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Lauren Graham who was perfect for this book. I loved it, but I have to warn you, if you are considering this book and you are BFFs with your daughter or your mother, make sure you have a supply of tissues handy. It was a good story and there was a twist that maybe I should have seen coming, but I didn‘t. Anyway, Lauren Graham was great! #BookSpinBingo #BFC #BookChain
pickKaty‘s mother died and her world stopped. She decided to travel to Italy as she had planned but with the absence of her mother, who was supposed to go. She will discover herself in this travel.
I didn‘t expect that this novel would be a time traveling. This is a story of second chances.
I liked the atmosphere, you felt like you were there. I traveled too with the help of Google☺️But this character is so annoying⬇️
pickWow! This book was incredible.The story about learning to live for yourself and appreciate all the beautiful tendencies of those you love was wonderful in addition to the vivid illustrations of Italy through delicious foods and breathtaking views. As someone who views my mother as my best friend, I found the story to be emotional yet remarkable and would definitely recommend it.
Made it up 400 steps in 90-degree weather to the hotel in the book.
On my way to Positano!!
This book started it all. 🥰🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹.
pickAlthough marketed as a romance, it is also about family, self discovery, and that things aren‘t always as they seem with magical realism thrown into the mix. I enjoyed both Katy and Carol‘s stories plus you can‘t beat an Italian coast setting.
No book has ever made me want to travel somewhere more. Inspiration for my 10 year anniversary trip, perhaps? This book was transportive. I enjoyed the magical element of it and hope to experience some of that coastal Italian magic for myself some day.
so-soGiving someone freedom feels a lot like love. Sometimes you have to let people go, to have them come home. Sometimes you have to see someone in their own element, not as your mother or your husband or in any relation to yourself, but just as themselves - to see them for who they are and not just what you have thought them to be.
so-soI don't know if I would enjoyed this book more if i had read it (instead of listening to it) or if it just wasn't the right moment in my life to pick it up but this book was just OK for me. 3⭐️
so-soOne Italian Summer was a light, breezy read perfect for a lazy day and easily finished in one sitting. I enjoyed living vicariously through Katy while she was exploring beautiful Positano and now want to visit the Amalfi coast even more than before! #netgalley
Book sleeve by @mapleleafstitching. Use code BOOKLOVER10 to save 10% on your purchase in their Etsy shop!
pickI have complicated feelings about this time travel story. I enjoyed it for the setting and its depiction of a woman coming into her own, but I found the mother Katy grew up with (as opposed to the mother she meets in her time slip) extremely controlling, and the novel leaves minimal space for her to unpack the toxicity there. I appreciated how the book dealt with grief; I wanted more nuance from the wider relationship.
pickNow I want to go to Italy even more than I did before. Beautiful story about seeing different sides of people and their lives before you knew them. Deals with relationships, grief, appreciation, and finding yourself. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
pickI tried this on audiobook for the first time because Lauren Graham read it. This was such a comforting book with a touch of magic realism that I could not have read earlier in my grief process after losing my own mother.
New #bookmark acquisition! 1 of 2, actually. I'll have to share her buddy later with a different read 😁😊
These are by ⭐️ Rather Puckish Illustrations ⭐️
https://www.ratherpuckish.com/collections/bookmarks
Our orange & white November 🧡🌲 tree in the background; the Texas (📣 HOOK 'EM!! 🤘🏈🐮🇨🇱) vs. TCU game beside it.
Hubby and I had a busy day full of errands and all he wanted to do was avoid score spoilers and get home ASAP so he could watch his recording.
So y'all know what that means for me... 😁😁😊
Got my chai latte beside me and my current read in front of me!
pickSietje cleaned the whipped cream bowl tonight, using her whole face 🤣.
Katie‘s mom was the most important and influential person in her life, and when she passed away Katie didn‘t know how she could continue. The two of them had a trip to Italy planned, so Katie decided to go alone and see if she could find some direction.
Even with the grief of losing a loved one, I found this a light and enjoyable read. It made me want to go to Italy to eat!
pickWe read this for book club and I enjoyed it, the others attending, not so much! While most found the mother-daughter relationship toxic (and not saying they‘re wrong) I could relate to it. I too had a very dependent relationship with my mother…even when married. It caused issues, forced me to work on myself, and stand on my own. I learned marriage is work and not always sparks and butterfly‘s. So I felt some of what Katy was going through.
I‘m a little surprised at how many prompts I was able fill for #booked2022 this quarter. I‘ll send in the official form later today.
@Cinfhen @alisiakae @BarbaraTheBibliophage
pickVery readable! Easy to get into. The quickest I've read a book in a long time.
Slightly annoying how much the mc seems to obsess over her mother. That sounds terrible..but I'm guessing you'll understand if you read this. I love my mother too, but Katy and her mother are extremely close.
I love the idea of time travel. Especially in a place where there is such atmosphere and delicious food and wine. I really must take a trip to Italy someday!
pickThis is an interesting story of self discovery with a little bit of time travel
I started reading / listening to this book yesterday.
I love this quote from the author‘s acknowledgments, I had to share: “One if life‘s most important challenges is determining what to hold onto and what to let go of. Don‘t be fooled into believing that you do not know which is which. Follow the feeling, follow it all the way home. ❤️❤️❤️
pickSuch a lovely book! Getting to know Carol and Katy and their special mother-daughter relationship was a beautiful heartwarming experience. Seeing them each go through the challenge of unearthing your life‘s purpose and who you want next to you while you do so was unique and meaningful. And the setting and how Serle describes it? Just book your tickets to Positano Italy now! #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks
panI really loved the descriptions of the Amalfi Coast, and this book heightened my desire to visit Italy, but that‘s where my enjoyment of this novel ends. Main character Katy is insufferably selfish and immature (I think she‘s supposed to be 30), the ‘romance‘ is cringey, and the bit of magic combined with powerful grief doesn‘t do anything to excuse Katy‘s behavior.
Bummer that this was my free birthday BOTM. 😂
⭐️⭐️1/2
pickThis book hit close to home. I, too, lost my mother to illness fairly young — she was 50, I was 24 — and the summer after she passed I visited Italy for the first time, a trip largely paid for by her so I could have an experience like she did when she was in her 20s. When I got home from the trip I compared our pictures — hers from the 70s, mine taken ~30 years later — and some were nearly identical. It was creepy & comforting, much like this book
I‘ve been devouring the books on my iPad that I have from the library but decided that it‘s time to switch to a paper book while on vacation. Easier reading on the beach. I‘ve had this on my shelf for a while but never realized it was set in Positano which is one of my favorite destinations.
so-soMy second time travel book in less than 3 weeks!! That must please you @Centique 😜This was fine, nothing outstanding - Audio was less than 5 hours so a super short book - a pleasant pallet cleanser but nothing that will stay with me #BorrowNotBuy
#AudioCooking #ArmChairTraveler Atmospheric, slightly cheesy but engaging ❤️💚🤍
pick⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
I loved this story and now I want to visit Italy to live through the experiences that she did! A little slow for me at first but it definitely picked up. Also, love just relaxing in the camper on a long, hot day at the lake for the 4th of July 🎆
#oneitaliansummer #rebeccaserle
pickI picked this to read on vacation, and at first I was wondering if I made the right choice. The book starts in a very sad place, but slowly weaves the story around to a satisfying conclusion. The backdrop of Positano and Capri really made the story come alive for me, and I need to start planning a trip to visit! Enjoyable, quick and easy read!
pickI finished this last Friday about an hour before I left for vacation. 😂
Just now having a chance to post, but I really enjoyed this one. I think Serle is now an autu-buy author for me!
#bookspinbingo
pickFirst book I‘ve read by this author. I don‘t generally pick time travel books but I enjoyed this one.
📙Not one thing about it is a go to for me but I enjoyed it one afternoon sitting in the sun on my patio. 🤷🏻♀️
📙🖤🎩👒
📙 It‘s soothing
📙Cover Art
Consider yourself tagged ! #THOUGHTFULTHURSDAY
Reading about a summer vacation while on summer vacation at the beach! This is close to heaven!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Love this book. Barnes & Noble Bookclub pick.
When Katy‘s mother dies, she is left reeling. Carol wasn‘t just Katy‘s mom, but her best friend and first phone call. She had all the answers and now, when Katy needs her the most, she is gone. To make matters worse, their planned mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: two weeks in Positano, the magical town Carol spent the summer right before she met Katy‘s father.
pickListened to this one. Read by Lauren Graham. Very entertaining. Having traveled to the Amalfi coast it brought me right back!
1. I think so!
2. Not a bit! I bought this one because it was on sale and I read it because it was short. Ended up being a good one!
#two4tuesday
@BethM
One of y‘all kindly posted that this was on sale on Amazon (the hardcover-$8.64) so I snapped it up! Thank you dear Litten!
Day 8: finished 11 audiobooks, 1 physical book, 1 ebook
My top 3 are The Judge‘s List, One Italian Summer, and The New Girl
#MarvellousMay @Andrew65
pickSuch a great read. A contemporary with a magical realism twist. Lighthearted with good emotional content. Highly atmospheric & wonderful writing. A beautiful commentary on mother/daughter relationships. Both sad & lovely. Katy's overwhelming grief & the resulting trauma to her own self-worth are painted so well. Though I didn't necessarily like her all the time, I felt like I understood her. Highly recommend the audio, narrated by Lauren Graham.
