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A review by stephanieluxton
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
After Katy's mom/best friend passes away due to illness, Katy decides to go on the trip they were supposed to take to Italy together anyway in hopes of feeling close to her mother in a place her mother loved. Shortly after arrival, Katy sees her mother although 30 years younger at her hotel and what follows is a chance to spend more time with a her mother at a different stage in her life.
I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would but it was still enjoyable. I didn't like Katy very much. She is kind of an asshole to everyone around her but she's dealing with grief so I'll cut her some slack. I was low key hoping this would be like Mama Mia but it's not. It's just about Katy stepping away from her old life to try to find herself with the help of a version of her mother that doesn't know her and another man she meets at the hotel. This isn't a romance book but I kind of wish it was and it had the potential to be (minus Katy's super nice husband existing). There's a slight twist in the end that I didn't expect. Overall, I wanted more out of the beautiful setting but it still makes a good beach read.
I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would but it was still enjoyable. I didn't like Katy very much. She is kind of an asshole to everyone around her but she's dealing with grief so I'll cut her some slack. I was low key hoping this would be like Mama Mia but it's not. It's just about Katy stepping away from her old life to try to find herself with the help of a version of her mother that doesn't know her and another man she meets at the hotel. This isn't a romance book but I kind of wish it was and it had the potential to be (minus Katy's super nice husband existing). There's a slight twist in the end that I didn't expect. Overall, I wanted more out of the beautiful setting but it still makes a good beach read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Death of parent, Chronic illness, Grief, Alcohol, and Sexual content
We already know that Katy's mom dies at the start of the book.
There's some shenanigans with a man at the hotel which is a little upsetting because Katy has a nice husband at home.