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A review by beate251
A Place in the sun by Jo Thomas
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.5
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld for this ARC.
Thea's husband Marco has recently died, so now here she is in Tuscany with their children Aimee and Luca, to renovate the dilapidated Casa Luna that he had bought shortly before his death. Apparently it needs to be done within two years of purchase to avoid a fine which Thea wasn't aware of, and there are only six weeks left.
She also hadn't counted on the strong sense of community and soon has plenty of helpers, most notably Chef Giovanni who ropes her into helping with his community kitchen in exchange for his handyman skills. Marco was a chef and they lost their restaurant after his death, so the kitchen is the last place Thea wants to be now but she lets herself be persuaded.
Enter three Italian nonnas, sisters and sisters-in-law who have been waging war over a lasagne recipe for over thirty years. The hilarious "try my lasagne, it's the best" scenes evoked memories of Geraldine Granger's three Christmas dinners in The Vicar of Dibley.
Then a mysterious young woman named Stella turns up who seems to know her way round Casa Luna a little too well. Who is she and what is her connection to Marco?
This is a heartwarming read about family and community against the backdrop of gorgeous Italian landscape, yummy food and a laid-back lifestyle, with enough animals including a herd of lawnmower goats and nonnas to shake a stick at. However, the romance is barely there and the nonnas with their matchmaking are beyond clichéd. I liked the children though who seemed to have more sense and better ideas than the adults.
If you like lasagne and new beginnings in Tuscany in another story that ignores the realities of Brexit entirely, this book is for you.
Thea's husband Marco has recently died, so now here she is in Tuscany with their children Aimee and Luca, to renovate the dilapidated Casa Luna that he had bought shortly before his death. Apparently it needs to be done within two years of purchase to avoid a fine which Thea wasn't aware of, and there are only six weeks left.
She also hadn't counted on the strong sense of community and soon has plenty of helpers, most notably Chef Giovanni who ropes her into helping with his community kitchen in exchange for his handyman skills. Marco was a chef and they lost their restaurant after his death, so the kitchen is the last place Thea wants to be now but she lets herself be persuaded.
Enter three Italian nonnas, sisters and sisters-in-law who have been waging war over a lasagne recipe for over thirty years. The hilarious "try my lasagne, it's the best" scenes evoked memories of Geraldine Granger's three Christmas dinners in The Vicar of Dibley.
Then a mysterious young woman named Stella turns up who seems to know her way round Casa Luna a little too well. Who is she and what is her connection to Marco?
This is a heartwarming read about family and community against the backdrop of gorgeous Italian landscape, yummy food and a laid-back lifestyle, with enough animals including a herd of lawnmower goats and nonnas to shake a stick at. However, the romance is barely there and the nonnas with their matchmaking are beyond clichéd. I liked the children though who seemed to have more sense and better ideas than the adults.
If you like lasagne and new beginnings in Tuscany in another story that ignores the realities of Brexit entirely, this book is for you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Infidelity and Suicide