A review by maddycat13
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

emotional reflective relaxing sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I really enjoyed the mother daughter relationship in the book. The Italian landscape was so tangible, the writing decadent. 
My only qualm was
how angry Katie got with Carol for taking the trip to Italy after she was born. I understand that she felt deceived, but I feel like Katie’s reaction implied that she thought Carol taking this time discounted every single memory they ever had together and morphed her into an absent mother. I understand Katie’s shock, I just found it incredibly overblown.
 
The message of the story is poignant and really has something to say about the nature of life and our place in it. The power we have to make our own choices and change our perspective.
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