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3.27 AVERAGE
3.27 AVERAGE
Venice, Rome, Paris, wealth, luxury fashion, family history mixed in with romance between an Italian woman and a French man...what's not to like? I did think it got slow towards the last 3/4 of the book, but it's an easy and light summer read. 3 stars ⭐
slow-paced
This was like reading a modern day fairy tale! But it included purses and I’m a mad woman for a good bag! Family drama and high travel made for a very entertaining read! Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for review
I received an advanced copy of this book.
This story follows the typical Danielle Steel layout - long, descriptive paragraphs that lay the setting for the first third of the book, and then progression of the story line with a conflict and eventual resolution. This story introduces us to Cosima, an Italian young woman who now leads her family's business after her parents were killed. Beyond learning the business, she also needs to provide guidance to her wild younger brother and her youngest sister who was severely injured in the accident and now requires a wheelchair.
Cosima holds on to family traditions and locations, including a historic palazzo that the family has fond memories of. She eventually meets Olivier who runs a handbag company that is a lower tier of products than hers. Olivier becomes a source of comfort and a great listening ear as more and more challenges arise.
This story follows the typical Danielle Steel layout - long, descriptive paragraphs that lay the setting for the first third of the book, and then progression of the story line with a conflict and eventual resolution. This story introduces us to Cosima, an Italian young woman who now leads her family's business after her parents were killed. Beyond learning the business, she also needs to provide guidance to her wild younger brother and her youngest sister who was severely injured in the accident and now requires a wheelchair.
Cosima holds on to family traditions and locations, including a historic palazzo that the family has fond memories of. She eventually meets Olivier who runs a handbag company that is a lower tier of products than hers. Olivier becomes a source of comfort and a great listening ear as more and more challenges arise.
Unrealistic but entertaining enough and, as with many novels these days, too many “coincidences” to be believable.
I read this book as an experiment to finally try and understand the appeal of these books.
I do see it in a way, it's a fast read that you don't have to think too much about; the story is laid out in a very simple way, and key details are repeated often. The characters are very clear-cut, with no grey morality. Everything is meant to be taken at face value, and there is no real deeper meaning in it.
Having said that, there were a lot of issues I had with this book.
The main one is the aspects of Italian culture that were depicted. Trastevere is described as bohemian, and that really pulled me out of the story as someone raised in Rome. I was also hesitant to continue when the mother's name was spelt as Tizianna rather than Tiziana, the real Italian name.
My other gripe is the fashion side of it. I was promised a look at "the cut-throat world of italian fashion." I got anything but that. All I had was a brief, uninspired glance at what some parts of the business side look like. Any details about the actual bags the Saverios design is left to your imagination, but this is a weak choice, and the book would've benefited from more research on the matter.
Then there is Allegra. I wish I could adopt her as a character. She doesn't deserve to be in this novel. She is a brilliant, enthusiastic, creative girl who uses a wheelchair. Everyone she comes into contact with loves her, yet they all comment on how she "doesn't let her wheelchair slow her down" and how she's never had a serious boyfriend because "a wife with a serious spinal injury is a real undertaking" and "a wheelchair weeds out the good men from the bad". Both of these are completely false, and I can tell the author has never interacted with a disabled young person in her life. Disabled people can often be in relationships, serious long-term ones, that turn out abusive. Nearly as often we can also be in lovely, fulfilling relationships with people who care about us, but that doesn't make our partners inherent "heroes." We are desirable, AND we use mobility aids. We are not less than our able bodied partners, and we are not loved in spite of our disabilities.
In general, I wasn't a fan of the writing style. I felt like I was spoon-fed information I should've seen in action, and I couldn't bear another second of information that we spent a full chapter being shown reappear as a zombie of itself at least 5 more times throughout the following chapter. It did feel like an editor could've helped, and yet it was so part of the book that I doubt it would've been half the length.
Overall, it was alright. I didn't really enjoy the writing style, but I was interested in the characters, and I can see why this is a fun, easy read for people with nothing else to do.
I do see it in a way, it's a fast read that you don't have to think too much about; the story is laid out in a very simple way, and key details are repeated often. The characters are very clear-cut, with no grey morality. Everything is meant to be taken at face value, and there is no real deeper meaning in it.
Having said that, there were a lot of issues I had with this book.
The main one is the aspects of Italian culture that were depicted. Trastevere is described as bohemian, and that really pulled me out of the story as someone raised in Rome. I was also hesitant to continue when the mother's name was spelt as Tizianna rather than Tiziana, the real Italian name.
My other gripe is the fashion side of it. I was promised a look at "the cut-throat world of italian fashion." I got anything but that. All I had was a brief, uninspired glance at what some parts of the business side look like. Any details about the actual bags the Saverios design is left to your imagination, but this is a weak choice, and the book would've benefited from more research on the matter.
Then there is Allegra. I wish I could adopt her as a character. She doesn't deserve to be in this novel. She is a brilliant, enthusiastic, creative girl who uses a wheelchair. Everyone she comes into contact with loves her, yet they all comment on how she "doesn't let her wheelchair slow her down" and how she's never had a serious boyfriend because "a wife with a serious spinal injury is a real undertaking" and "a wheelchair weeds out the good men from the bad". Both of these are completely false, and I can tell the author has never interacted with a disabled young person in her life. Disabled people can often be in relationships, serious long-term ones, that turn out abusive. Nearly as often we can also be in lovely, fulfilling relationships with people who care about us, but that doesn't make our partners inherent "heroes." We are desirable, AND we use mobility aids. We are not less than our able bodied partners, and we are not loved in spite of our disabilities.
In general, I wasn't a fan of the writing style. I felt like I was spoon-fed information I should've seen in action, and I couldn't bear another second of information that we spent a full chapter being shown reappear as a zombie of itself at least 5 more times throughout the following chapter. It did feel like an editor could've helped, and yet it was so part of the book that I doubt it would've been half the length.
Overall, it was alright. I didn't really enjoy the writing style, but I was interested in the characters, and I can see why this is a fun, easy read for people with nothing else to do.
3.5 ⭐
Is there any truth to the rumour that Danielle Steel is writing her swan song in 2024?
I read this one solely on the title/cover and must admit that I wasn't 'wowed' by this one.
While I liked the characters and was invested in the storyline, it just lacked pizazz. It was a good read, just won't be memorable.
I loved this message: "Don't be too busy to have a life."
Is there any truth to the rumour that Danielle Steel is writing her swan song in 2024?
I read this one solely on the title/cover and must admit that I wasn't 'wowed' by this one.
While I liked the characters and was invested in the storyline, it just lacked pizazz. It was a good read, just won't be memorable.
I loved this message: "Don't be too busy to have a life."
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Meh, a bit boring
Disappointed in this book. Repetitive thoughts expressed repetitive times throughout the story.
This was a big meh for me. The storyline just didn't do it for me.