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A review by beate251
An Italian Secret Island by Victoria Springfield
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.
This story takes place on the Italian island of Ischia near Naples and has a confusing amount of characters which I won't all name.
Ornella, 83, left Ischia with husband Gennaro and daughter Silvana for England when she was in her twenties. She has never talked about her time there with granddaughter Alessia, 34, but suddenly she is keen to return for a month long holiday. The "everything was better then and people dressed properly" nostalgia was a bit much at first especially because it isn't true, but thankfully that died down a bit the more we delved into that era and its sexism.
What follows is a reunion with old friends and the making of new ones. In 1957, the island was used as a film set, and there seems to be a link between a famous film star couple and Ornella's family. Secrets and lies are exposed, family history is discovered and romance blooms. There are flashbacks, but not too many, and the story is well-rounded, capturing the warm island feel and delectable Italian food.
This is well-written and interesting and will warm you on a cold winter's day, though the twists are easy to guess. Read if you like family drama and Italian film stars.
This story takes place on the Italian island of Ischia near Naples and has a confusing amount of characters which I won't all name.
Ornella, 83, left Ischia with husband Gennaro and daughter Silvana for England when she was in her twenties. She has never talked about her time there with granddaughter Alessia, 34, but suddenly she is keen to return for a month long holiday. The "everything was better then and people dressed properly" nostalgia was a bit much at first especially because it isn't true, but thankfully that died down a bit the more we delved into that era and its sexism.
What follows is a reunion with old friends and the making of new ones. In 1957, the island was used as a film set, and there seems to be a link between a famous film star couple and Ornella's family. Secrets and lies are exposed, family history is discovered and romance blooms. There are flashbacks, but not too many, and the story is well-rounded, capturing the warm island feel and delectable Italian food.
This is well-written and interesting and will warm you on a cold winter's day, though the twists are easy to guess. Read if you like family drama and Italian film stars.
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Car accident