One Italian Summer
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This was my last read of 2024 and I could not have been more pleased! This book took me on such a beautiful vacation with the most emotional roller coaster of all. There was so much character development and vivid scenery in this story by Rebecca Serle - she absolutely hit it out of the park with this one!
Synopsis
Katy and her mother have been planning their trip to Positano, Italy for YEARS - to the one magical place her mother adored so much as an adolescent. Just a few weeks before the trip, Carol passes away and leaves Katy drowning in her own grief. How does one go on after losing their best friend?
She decides to separate herself from the day to day life her mother is no longer a part of and travel to Positano alone. Immediately, she can feel her mother’s presence and swears she can almost see her. Wait, she actually CAN see her. Magically, a thirty-year old sun-kissed Carol appears and takes Katy on the most amazing adventures. Katy doesn’t know why or how her mother is here, but she will soak up every minute she can.
Leaning on her new friend for comfort, she navigates this new world of loss and grief, while discovering things about her mother, and herself, she had never known before. One Italian Summer is a fast-paced magical story with vivid imagery and raw emotion. Read about the magic and beauty of Positano, Italy while Katy rediscovers life and love.
“My mother, you see, is the great love of my life. She is the great love of my life, and I have lost her.”
Favorites
I first must acknowledge the setting. Rebecca Serle must have crafted Italy with her own two hands. I mean, the vivid descriptions of the ocean, the towns, the food, the hotel, the boat, the ENTIRE atmosphere - unreal! If heaven were a place on Earth, Rebecca has convinced me it would be Italy. Along with the environment, she crafted each character in such a comforting and welcoming light. When traveling, you want those assisting you to be friendly. This is definitely the case for Katy, although the friends she makes along the way are truly something special. A man who builds her confidence and respects her boundaries? Check. A young free-spirited version of her recently deceased mother? Check. An emotionally available husband who would drop everything and everything for you? Check, yet again.
“Actions only have the weight we give them. We can decide what something means.”
Final Thoughts
I have not stopped thinking about this book since I put it down. It was truly such a magical and relatable story - it made me feel so much less alone in each of my own worries and struggles. Every character was so loveable and I have NEVER wanted to travel anywhere so badly before. Rebecca Serle described Italy as if it was the only place on Earth worth visiting and I truly believe it. This book is a fantastic read and I highly recommend it - to travelers, to those who are close with their family, to those in a long-term relationship, to TRULY anyone looking for a great read.
“What got you here won’t get you there.”
