Perfect Italian

From award-winning author Kiki Petrosino comes a poignant exploration of identity, heritage and belonging for readers of Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong, Slow Lightning by Eduardo C. Corral and Seamus Heaney’s North

Through vivid imagery and spare, precise verse, Kiki Petrosino’s Perfect Italian examines the complexities of cultural inheritance, the nuances of language, and the emotional weight of diasporic identity as a Black and Italian American. The collection weaves personal memories with ancestral echoes, reflecting on themes of family, grief, and the search for connection across generations and geographies. From the sensory experiences of travel in Italy to the tension of navigating dual identities, Petrosino’s work captures the beauty and struggle of self-discovery. Her language creates a rich tapestry of emotions and landscapes, offering a profound meditation on the intersections of race, culture, and belonging.

Perfect Italian is the third and final installment in Petrosino’s series on heritage and identity. Previous books in the collection, also published by Sarabande, include White Blood (2020) and Bright (2022)