One Italian Summer
A Novel
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4.0 • 774 Ratings
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
In this “magical trip worth taking” (Associated Press), the New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years returns with a powerful novel about the transformational love between mothers and daughters set on the breathtaking Amalfi Coast.
When Katy’s mother dies, she is left reeling. Carol wasn’t just Katy’s mom, but her best friend and first phone call. She had all the answers and now, when Katy needs her the most, she is gone. To make matters worse, their planned mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: to Positano, the magical town where Carol spent the summer right before she met Katy’s father. Katy has been waiting years for Carol to take her, and now she is faced with embarking on the adventure alone.
But as soon as she steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, Katy begins to feel her mother’s spirit. Buoyed by the stunning waters, beautiful cliffsides, delightful residents, and, of course, delectable food, Katy feels herself coming back to life.
And then Carol appears—in the flesh, healthy, sun-tanned, and thirty years old. Katy doesn’t understand what is happening, or how—all she can focus on is that she has somehow, impossibly, gotten her mother back. Over the course of one Italian summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mother, but as the young woman before her. She is not exactly who Katy imagined she might be, however, and soon Katy must reconcile the mother who knew everything with the young woman who does not yet have a clue.
“Rebecca Serle is known for her powerful stories that tug at the heartstrings—and her latest is just as unforgettable” (Woman’s World) as it effortlessly shows us how to move on after loss, and how the people we love never truly leave us.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Serle (In Five Years) sets up another time-warp conceit with a touching story about a woman grieving her mother. Katy Silver, 30, was planning a trip with her mother, Carol, to Positano, Italy, before Carol died from cancer. Katy decides to go alone, and while she's abroad she reconsiders her unsatisfying marriage. She also somehow meets her 30-year-old mother, along with the beguiling Adam Westbrooke, a single man in the hotel acquisition business, who offers a bit more adventure than her predictable husband. As Katy explores the Amalfi coast and eats fabulous local food, she comes to understand different aspects of her mother, a woman who, as an art gallery assistant, dreamed of her own design business and came to Italy to rejuvenate her sense of self. As Katy and Carol's friendship deepens, they have a pivotal dispute that threatens their relationship. Serle's fans may be forgiving regarding the trick she deploys to make it possible for Katy and Carol to meet across time, though for most it will strain credulity. Still, the mother-daughter bond is made palpable through Katy's grief and desire for connection. Once again, Serle gets the job done just fine. Agent: Erin Malone, WME.
Customer Reviews
Love it
I really enjoyed reading this book. It felt pretty repetitive until about the halfway point of the book though. After that halfway point, the book got really good and I enjoyed it! I recommend for sure 🥰
Phenomenal Read
One Italian Summer was a book I needed to read a few chapters at a time because, as someone who has also lost her mother, it was difficult reading at times. I echoed Katy’s grief and I was also envious that she was able to meet her mother again while on her trip to Italy. There were a few twists that surprised me, and I overall loved seeing Katy get to know a different side to her mother and learn a little more about her. I loved seeing Katy rediscover herself a bit here as well. I think Rebecca nailed the feelings one goes through after losing a parent. Especially a woman losing her mother. We’re left feeling lost and wondering how do we live without the person who gave us life and taught us everything. Except how to live without them. Between this and In Five Years, Rebecca has solidified herself as a must read author for me
Beyond my expectations
Surprising and not predictable … there’s a sweetness and a truthfulness in the packaging of the story that leaves you feeling no longer constipated with emotions. Good read.