Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman

6 reviews

emeryboyd's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A little slow to start but the pace picks up about 3/4 of the way through. The growth of Emilia throughout was inspiring and emotional. This book made me cry more than once. 
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starshine1's review against another edition

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adventurous funny medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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elliez's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious 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

This isn't my usual type of read, but I gave it a shot because I love Italy and there was a supposed family curse on second-born daughters. Let's go for it!

I figured I would enjoy it well enough, but WOW did I get way more than I expected! The journeys of Emilia and her aunt Poppy. The family drama and secrets surrounding their family. It was distressing, devastating, and painful. I thought "How? Why?" My heart was crushed.

I thought I had an idea of where this book going when I started it, but boy was I wrong. In the end, I felt both broken and filled with joy...I sobbed like a baby.

This book made me feel so many things that I didn't have a choice but to give it five stars. 
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kimveach's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing 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

3.75

This is a charming and sweet story set mostly in past and present Italy.  It was especially good on audio.
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readwithde's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

Wow. I loved everything about this book: the family and political drama, the curse of Fontana second-born daughters, the travel through Italy, everything. 

As a girl with an Italian grandmother and German grandfather, Poppy and Rico's story hit me in a different way,
especially when a twist revealed Emilia (and Daria) were their grandchildren, not Rosa's.
How the curse affected the family -- from Rosa's desperation to wed and bear children, to Daria's prison of family, to Lucy's self-betrayal, and Emilia's forced contentment -- the women of the Fontana family suffered for generations, each poisoning the last in defense of their own actions and choices. 

If nothing else, the book taught me so much about hope and determination, that no matter what obstacles lie before you, "it's possible." This was a cathartic getaway and poignant reminder to choose love, life, and joy.
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dianasreadingcorner_01's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-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? Yes

5.0

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