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3.16 AVERAGE
3.16 AVERAGE
Did not like at all. Too many characters and too slow
Bella and her family leave England and open a hotel on the coast of Italy after the Great War. While the novel is centered mostly on Bella, her husband Cecil, and her two grown children (her son having fought in the war and daughter widowed due to the war), it also follows many of the guests of the hotel and weaves in Italy’s political turmoil. Among the guests of the hotel are a young woman that Cecil has chosen to be the future wife of his son and her difficult mother, a tennis star and his wife, a Count and his son, as well as several others. The hotel staff also have story lines.
The number of characters and their role was a bit difficult to keep up with, especially in the beginning, but I also enjoyed the multiple story lines and how the author wove the stories together. I listened to the audio version of this book which was read by a single narrator.
This was a fast paced and fun historical fiction in a stunning setting.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced audio copy. This is my honest review.
The number of characters and their role was a bit difficult to keep up with, especially in the beginning, but I also enjoyed the multiple story lines and how the author wove the stories together. I listened to the audio version of this book which was read by a single narrator.
This was a fast paced and fun historical fiction in a stunning setting.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced audio copy. This is my honest review.
Firstly, I would like to thank NetGalley for my copy of this book.
Honestly, I had a hard time deciding what to write. Hotel Portofino sounded promising. I love a book that details the scenery, it takes me to the place like I’m existing in the story together with the characters. I was so excited to start reading this. However, I felt a little disappointed. I just don’t see the main plot, maybe it’s the matchmaking between Lucian and Rose but even that didn’t give me the “can’t put it down” feeling. It was an easy read, I love the way the author describes the scenery, although I think it was more focused on the setting rather than the plot. There were times when it looks like the plot will thicken only to be spoilt as another story continues. I continued reading thinking maybe the ending will be heavy and that will make up for the rest of the book but the ending was just okay. It was just the guests leaving, saying good bye with friends they met on the hotel. Other than that, nothing. Some stories didn’t have any closures as well. Lots of stories were opened with any proper resolution.
The redeeming factor for the book would be the place, the description of the hotel, the gardens, even the beach. It was a light book, relaxed. The book description said it’s perfect for fans of The Crown and as a big fan, I didn’t see much resemblance.
3 stars: I like it but it’s not likely I will recommend to anyone.
Honestly, I had a hard time deciding what to write. Hotel Portofino sounded promising. I love a book that details the scenery, it takes me to the place like I’m existing in the story together with the characters. I was so excited to start reading this. However, I felt a little disappointed. I just don’t see the main plot, maybe it’s the matchmaking between Lucian and Rose but even that didn’t give me the “can’t put it down” feeling. It was an easy read, I love the way the author describes the scenery, although I think it was more focused on the setting rather than the plot. There were times when it looks like the plot will thicken only to be spoilt as another story continues. I continued reading thinking maybe the ending will be heavy and that will make up for the rest of the book but the ending was just okay. It was just the guests leaving, saying good bye with friends they met on the hotel. Other than that, nothing. Some stories didn’t have any closures as well. Lots of stories were opened with any proper resolution.
The redeeming factor for the book would be the place, the description of the hotel, the gardens, even the beach. It was a light book, relaxed. The book description said it’s perfect for fans of The Crown and as a big fan, I didn’t see much resemblance.
3 stars: I like it but it’s not likely I will recommend to anyone.
Ugh. What a trite, flat, uninteresting take on what could have been a really wonderful book. The historical accuracy was for shit, there was no sense of place, the characters are all one-dimensional and all are scheming. This reads like a soap opera script, mustache twirling villains and shrill women included. DNF. Boo.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of “Hotel Portofino” through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The rights have been sold and filming has already begun by PBS for a series based on this novel before it even came to publish. Premiering later this year (2022), Hotel Portofino (TV Show) has created a rather big hype around this novel and getting to be one of the few approved for an ARC. Thankfully, I was one of the lucky ones selected by NetGalley – even though my blog has come more of a past-time instead of my driving hobby. I must say though, this novel did not disappoint.
The Great War [WWI] has ended, and much of England is feeling the effects of the Trench War. Many have lost loved ones, and those lucky enough to have returned have been experiencing a touch of shell shock. Bella Ainsworth, our protagonist, decides that the best decision for her family is to start life anew by opening a luxury bed and breakfast in the Italian Riviera. After searching the newspaper classifieds, the perfect property is finally found – The Hotel Portofino.
I must say, this story is extremely character-driven, very stylistic of the novels of the time period, and can become a little confusing. The high volume of characters too means that plenty of them seem rather flat then well-developed. This also limited the amount of character development in a few of the guests.
Overall, I give this novel a 4 out of 5 stars!
The rights have been sold and filming has already begun by PBS for a series based on this novel before it even came to publish. Premiering later this year (2022), Hotel Portofino (TV Show) has created a rather big hype around this novel and getting to be one of the few approved for an ARC. Thankfully, I was one of the lucky ones selected by NetGalley – even though my blog has come more of a past-time instead of my driving hobby. I must say though, this novel did not disappoint.
The Great War [WWI] has ended, and much of England is feeling the effects of the Trench War. Many have lost loved ones, and those lucky enough to have returned have been experiencing a touch of shell shock. Bella Ainsworth, our protagonist, decides that the best decision for her family is to start life anew by opening a luxury bed and breakfast in the Italian Riviera. After searching the newspaper classifieds, the perfect property is finally found – The Hotel Portofino.
I must say, this story is extremely character-driven, very stylistic of the novels of the time period, and can become a little confusing. The high volume of characters too means that plenty of them seem rather flat then well-developed. This also limited the amount of character development in a few of the guests.
Overall, I give this novel a 4 out of 5 stars!
They said this is great for people who like Downton Abbey, that’s a lie depending on why you like the show. Personally, I did not love this book but I love Downton Abbey.
This is a case of "you can't judge a book by its cover" and the lure of an upcoming PBS TV show. I wanted to like this book; it had many alluring elements: beautiful Italian landscape, 1920s setting, Brits, and a "Downton Abbey" appeal. Perhaps the TV show fares better. I just didn't enjoy the writing. With so many characters, there was no time to fully develop them. Feelings/motivations were announced in 1 or 2 sentences. The episodic structure rapidly changes every few pages, and onto a new character. Why include them all? Just to check boxes and/or imitate Downton Abbey? Yes. Some characters were rather stereotypical (all the Italians, of course). Athough set in the late 1920s, it was extremely contemporary and "woke". How dare Lucian stare at a beautiful woman on the beach! He's lecherous and invading her privacy! In the last chapter, a sentence went something like this: "How dare he colonize her bedroom as he did her body". Sorry, but I laughed out loud. The author obviously did some research for this book but maybe J.P. should read Julian Fellows' novels. But there was just too much to cover (without much of a plot) for any kind of depth.
i enjoyed reading this, and the setting of the novel was cool. but it felt like there was so much going on during the novel and then at the ending so much was left unresolved, not even attempted to be resolved. it just didn’t feel like this book went very deep at all into anything, not the characters nor the plot. it was a fine read, and i will probably watch the show to see if that’s better, but yeah not a standout novel. ALSO i read the paperback copy of this book and it was like worst made book ive ever read. the book was like impossible to open up fully without genuinely ripping the cover off the actual bound pages.
Loved this! It's like if you took Downton Abbey and made the setting a hotel in Italy. This book has just about everything - Upstairs / Downstairs love triangle, shocking secrets about the various hotel guests, political intrigue and blackmail and bribery, racial tension and bigotry, adultery and forbidden love. I love the large cast of characters and would love to read a sequel / series. I did read that there is a television miniseries based on the book that released prior to the book release - I'll definitely be searching that out to watch! I listened to the audio version of this book and it was great - the narrator did a good job of capturing the emotional ups and downs of the various characters, and I found myself looking forward to chores and car rides (when I normally listen to books) so I could keep listening to the story. The narrator's American Accent was a bit off, but it somehow fit with the telling of the story and didn't bother me.
Thank you to J.P. O'Connell, Blackstone Publishing, and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this audiobook in exchange for this honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Thank you to J.P. O'Connell, Blackstone Publishing, and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this audiobook in exchange for this honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.