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emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Hotel Portofino is a rich and textured novel that takes place in the 1920’s on the Italian Riviera. It follows the comings and goings of the guests and staff at an English run hotel, and the dramas that ensue. The perfect pacing feels almost languid, but never boring. It perfectly fits the setting and story, truly placing you there. It takes place during the early rise of fascism in Italy, which is was a new setting for me in historical fiction. I listened to the audiobook and the narration was also excellent. I would highly recommend this audiobook!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone publishing for the chance to read and review Hotel Portofino. This story has a lot of potential, a lush and vibrant setting, an engaging premise with resort life and coming of age vibes, and a historical backdrop that remains important to understand. I loved the focus on the hotel, which to me presented itself as the main focus and draw, and I think found that the plot and characters were engaging at times. I would recommend this for a quick read and for readers who become engaged with I believe the related PBS series. I did though find the plot under developed with an incomplete resolution at the end (perhaps more books are planned?) and for me the writing style, which read as some short and brief sentences and somewhat underdeveloped points/characters, did not really work for me as much as I had hoped it would.
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
medium-paced