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martapsalvado's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is one of those books that are far from perfect, but so entertaining. Some things that the characters did or think didn't reasonate with me and some aspects of the plot itself didn't make much sense. The ending compensated some of these flaws. Nonetheless, I had a lot of fun reading this and loved the descriptions of Positano. The character devolpment is there too, although sometimes it felt a little abrupt. A good summer read overall!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Death, Cancer, and Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment, Medical content, Alcohol, and Child death
kcarney86's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Abandonment and Alcohol
vanesst's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol, Infidelity, Abandonment, and Cancer
stephanieluxton's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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
After Katy's mom/best friend passes away due to illness, Katy decides to go on the trip they were supposed to take to Italy together anyway in hopes of feeling close to her mother in a place her mother loved. Shortly after arrival, Katy sees her mother although 30 years younger at her hotel and what follows is a chance to spend more time with a her mother at a different stage in her life.
I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would but it was still enjoyable. I didn't like Katy very much. She is kind of an asshole to everyone around her but she's dealing with grief so I'll cut her some slack. I was low key hoping this would be like Mama Mia but it's not. It's just about Katy stepping away from her old life to try to find herself with the help of a version of her mother that doesn't know her and another man she meets at the hotel. This isn't a romance book but I kind of wish it was and it had the potential to be (minus Katy's super nice husband existing). There's a slight twist in the end that I didn't expect. Overall, I wanted more out of the beautiful setting but it still makes a good beach read.
I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would but it was still enjoyable. I didn't like Katy very much. She is kind of an asshole to everyone around her but she's dealing with grief so I'll cut her some slack. I was low key hoping this would be like Mama Mia but it's not. It's just about Katy stepping away from her old life to try to find herself with the help of a version of her mother that doesn't know her and another man she meets at the hotel. This isn't a romance book but I kind of wish it was and it had the potential to be (minus Katy's super nice husband existing). There's a slight twist in the end that I didn't expect. Overall, I wanted more out of the beautiful setting but it still makes a good beach read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Death of parent, Chronic illness, Grief, Alcohol, and Sexual content
We already know that Katy's mom dies at the start of the book. There's some shenanigans with a man at the hotel which is a little upsetting because Katy has a nice husband at home.ashleynewman's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.0
So I did not love In Five Years and this book did have a few similar elements that I did not like (infidelity, an ungrateful and often immature protagonist who doesn’t appreciate their loving partner for no good reason), but I preferred this over IFY.
There were many things I did not like about Katy. She was obsessed with her mother, Carol, convinced that their relationship was a truer love than either woman’s relationship with their respective husbands (which I found completely laughable and ridiculous…not to mention unhealthy and not something any mother (at least not my mother) would/should want for their daughter).
The mother daughter relationship is very Lorelei/Rory co-dependent and toxic and causes the daughter to treat everyone in her life besides Carol like total garbage. Katy (who is 30 years old, I think that’s important to point out) is incredibly self-centered and believes her mother’s life should revolve around her. I understand loving a parent, but being (self-proclaimed!) “in love” with them in the way Katy describes is quite bizarre and off-putting.
She acts as if her father and her own husband are not allowed to grieve her mother because SHE was Carol’s great love, and obviously this should be about Katy. Her husband is loving and supportive in a way I don’t see many husbands be, but she gets annoyed at him for grieving his mother-in-law, leaves him to go to Italy alone, and has an affair with a random hotel guest.
However, nearly all the flaws I found in Katy were intentional, and she realizes by the end that she’s been going about life the wrong way. THAT is what made me end up loving this book.
The setting was its own character and definitely makes me want to get to Positano and stay at the Poseidon.
There were many things I did not like about Katy. She was obsessed with her mother, Carol, convinced that their relationship was a truer love than either woman’s relationship with their respective husbands (which I found completely laughable and ridiculous…not to mention unhealthy and not something any mother (at least not my mother) would/should want for their daughter).
The mother daughter relationship is very Lorelei/Rory co-dependent and toxic and causes the daughter to treat everyone in her life besides Carol like total garbage. Katy (who is 30 years old, I think that’s important to point out) is incredibly self-centered and believes her mother’s life should revolve around her. I understand loving a parent, but being (self-proclaimed!) “in love” with them in the way Katy describes is quite bizarre and off-putting.
She acts as if her father and her own husband are not allowed to grieve her mother because SHE was Carol’s great love, and obviously this should be about Katy. Her husband is loving and supportive in a way I don’t see many husbands be, but she gets annoyed at him for grieving his mother-in-law, leaves him to go to Italy alone, and has an affair with a random hotel guest.
However, nearly all the flaws I found in Katy were intentional, and she realizes by the end that she’s been going about life the wrong way. THAT is what made me end up loving this book.
The setting was its own character and definitely makes me want to get to Positano and stay at the Poseidon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Alcohol, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Abandonment
persikan_05's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Alcohol, Cancer, Death, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Grief
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
betsygrace's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A firm four stars! I really enjoyed this; it was a light read that kept me wondering what would happen next— but not in a stressful way. Super makes me want to visit Italy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Death, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Medical content, and Infidelity
sba2x's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Death, Grief, Cancer, Child death, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Terminal illness
stampest's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, Cancer, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity and Sexual content