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marieeveparentroy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Cancer, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Blood
thatswhatmegread's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this started out really strong. Great writing, great theme of working through grief, BUT this went downhill for me real quick. Most reviews I saw hated the FMC, or thought she was obsessed with her mother, or that she was selfish. That wasn’t my problem. The twist (it’s in the blurb, but if feels spoilery to put it here for some reason) with this one just felt weird and like it didn’t belong at all. Like it completely took me out of the story. Liked this one enough, but overall felt odd to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
fifteenthjessica's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
One Italian Silver follows thirty year old Katy Silver, whose life has spun out of control because of her mother's recent death. She hopes that taking their planned mother-daughter trip to Positano, Italy will help her figure out what to do with her confusion about her future, including her marriage. What she doesn't expect is to see and befriend a thirty year old version of her mother there.
This is very much a three star book for me. It was an overall enjoyable experience, but oftentimes, phrases would kick me out of the narrative with thoughts of "Why is Rebecca Serle describing this that way?" or "This character's reaction seems a little on the melodramatic side." Still, if you want a quick read about mother-daughter relationships that are more fraught than they seem with a side of romance and time shenanigans, this is your book.
This is very much a three star book for me. It was an overall enjoyable experience, but oftentimes, phrases would kick me out of the narrative with thoughts of "Why is Rebecca Serle describing this that way?" or "This character's reaction seems a little on the melodramatic side." Still, if you want a quick read about mother-daughter relationships that are more fraught than they seem with a side of romance and time shenanigans, this is your book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Abandonment, Death of parent, Death, and Cancer
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Infidelity
greatexpectations77's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Fun little story of magical realism, but holy goodness does the MC need a therapist to work through the fact that she and her mother were enmeshed. And using a Lorelei Gilmore quote and having Lauren Graham narrate just drives the enmeshment home even more. Also, I'm pretty sure that cheating on your husband even though in your current timeline, you are not married yet is still cheating??? And like? Did it magically make her sex with her husband better? I little too tidy of a tie-up there, for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Cancer, Alcohol, Abandonment, and Infidelity
Moderate: Death and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
Flag for anyone who wants to keep away from reading about alcohol - the drinking is near-constant.thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is quite possibly the Italian escape novel. Immersive, light, and magical. It’s almost like the book is four dimensional because I could basically taste the fresh Neapolitan food, feel the brush of warm sand between my toes, smell the sea, and trek up and down the steps of Positano and beyond.
Rebecca Serle’s writing is very comforting. I think that’s the best way to describe it. It’s not abrasive or trying to prove anything earth-shattering—it just tells a story like it’s been written by your grandmother. Like you’ve heard it before, but find it special every time you read it. This book instantly felt like a memory to me, a summer in Italy to find my way back to myself.
There are some plot holes and parts I didn’t quite understand the reasoning for, but overall I really enjoyed this one. Bellissima!
Rebecca Serle’s writing is very comforting. I think that’s the best way to describe it. It’s not abrasive or trying to prove anything earth-shattering—it just tells a story like it’s been written by your grandmother. Like you’ve heard it before, but find it special every time you read it. This book instantly felt like a memory to me, a summer in Italy to find my way back to myself.
There are some plot holes and parts I didn’t quite understand the reasoning for, but overall I really enjoyed this one. Bellissima!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Terminal illness, Alcohol, Cursing, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Infidelity
Minor: Child death and Medical content
jpisano's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, and Infidelity
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
juliaraimondi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
The main character does not handle the death of a parent very well resulting in grief-stricken behavior includingpurplepenning's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Cursing and Suicidal thoughts
michellesbooknook's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I cannot say enough about this book!! I read it in one sitting. I am so sad that it is over. I want to be back in Positano. I want to climb the steps, look out over the ocean, feel the salt air and sun on my skin. I miss Katy and Carol and Adam… I felt like I was with them. Like I spent my time in Italy exploring. Having lost my own mother it also brought a certain peace for me with that, as well. Everything right down to the “last minute gifts” the author shares in those last pages. One of the best books I have read in a Long Long Time!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
It is one thought, but graphic. But drives the characters story forward so you understand.savvyrosereads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Out March 1, 2022 [Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!]
Rating: 5/5 stars
When Katy’s beloved mother passes away, she decides to go alone on their planned trip to Positano, Italy—and promptly runs into the thirty-year-old version of her mother, very much alive and not exactly the woman Katy knows and loves.
I’ll be completely honest, I hit the Request button on NetGalley for this one because I was seeing everyone talk about it and I wanted to be in the loop. Then I almost immediately regretted it because it sounded ridiculously sad and the last thing I needed for the headspace I’ve been in lately. I went in with low expectations—honestly, if I made it through without upsetting myself, I figured it would be a win.
FOMO-induced requesting paid off this time. I am so so so glad I read this, because I have a feeling it is one of those books I won’t stop talking about or thinking about for years. As I expected, it is definitely sad (I was near tears by the middle of chapter one) but it is also gorgeous, and brilliant, and clever, and luxurious, and somehow, some way, it is FUN. The characters and the setting leapt off the page and I found myself racing to a picture perfect ending and a plot and character arc that was all I could ask for and more. Truly, One Italian Summer is a delight, and one that will stick with me for many many seasons to come.
Recommended for anyone, but especially those who like: mother/daughter stories; magical realism; luxurious beach aesthetics.
CW: Illness/death of a parent; abandonment; brief discussion of suicidal thoughts.
Rating: 5/5 stars
When Katy’s beloved mother passes away, she decides to go alone on their planned trip to Positano, Italy—and promptly runs into the thirty-year-old version of her mother, very much alive and not exactly the woman Katy knows and loves.
I’ll be completely honest, I hit the Request button on NetGalley for this one because I was seeing everyone talk about it and I wanted to be in the loop. Then I almost immediately regretted it because it sounded ridiculously sad and the last thing I needed for the headspace I’ve been in lately. I went in with low expectations—honestly, if I made it through without upsetting myself, I figured it would be a win.
FOMO-induced requesting paid off this time. I am so so so glad I read this, because I have a feeling it is one of those books I won’t stop talking about or thinking about for years. As I expected, it is definitely sad (I was near tears by the middle of chapter one) but it is also gorgeous, and brilliant, and clever, and luxurious, and somehow, some way, it is FUN. The characters and the setting leapt off the page and I found myself racing to a picture perfect ending and a plot and character arc that was all I could ask for and more. Truly, One Italian Summer is a delight, and one that will stick with me for many many seasons to come.
Recommended for anyone, but especially those who like: mother/daughter stories; magical realism; luxurious beach aesthetics.
CW: Illness/death of a parent; abandonment; brief discussion of suicidal thoughts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness and Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
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