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carolyn0613's review
3.0
This is a pleasantly engaging book. The main characters of Allie and Nick are best friends. Allie is looking into her past to answer questions about her dead mother and her old Italian boyfriend. Nick has moved out of his marital home but is reluctant to tell Allie why. Nick decides to go with Allie to Italy to help her and have a break to clear his thoughts. While in Italy they find out plenty about their pasts.
The Italian setting is described beautifully and the author clearly loves Italy and writes from the heart. I found the characters a little one-sided however and felt they all could have been given more depth. It was an interesting story but I felt it was weak in places and strung out a little, and that the whole trip to Italy could have been avoided if Allie had just sat down with her grandmother and had a proper conversation!
I do recommend it as a light summer beach read, especially if you are holidaying in Italy
The Italian setting is described beautifully and the author clearly loves Italy and writes from the heart. I found the characters a little one-sided however and felt they all could have been given more depth. It was an interesting story but I felt it was weak in places and strung out a little, and that the whole trip to Italy could have been avoided if Allie had just sat down with her grandmother and had a proper conversation!
I do recommend it as a light summer beach read, especially if you are holidaying in Italy
thewoollygeek's review
5.0
Highly recommended read, I adored this, such a moving story about family, grief, loss, friendship and seeing beyond friendship. Wonderful twists and turns, amazing writing that makes you want to keep reading after the book ends. A completely unpredictable read for me, nothing predictable at all which I loved.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
athravan's review
3.0
Hard working scientist Allie has her world rocked when she finds an old letter in her grandmother’s house which suggests that her mother was involved with a mysterious Italian – just before she was pregnant with Allie. Along with her best friend of decades, Ed, who is dealing with a messy separation from his wife, she takes an impulsive holiday to Italy to try and track down the man who might be her birth father. She’s looking to uncover the secret of her past, but along the way we find out the secrets of her grandmother as well as her parents, the secrets that Ed has been hiding and the secret she has hidden from him.
The following section contains minor spoilers.
My only complaint is that Allie is a really shit friend to Ed to be honest. On multiple occasions he tries to tell her about the abuse he’s suffering at the hands of his wife, something that must be incredibly hard for a man to speak up on, and she simply tells him she doesn’t want to hear it because she doesn’t want personal information that could make things awkward. I do understand her motivations, and so will you when you read this book, but at the end of the day her best friend needs to talk and she keeps shutting him out and that was an uncomfortable read. I didn’t feel like it dealt with domestic violence – especially female perpetrated – in the best of ways, although perhaps it highlighted the reality, that men can’t talk about it and people don’t take it seriously. A reality that needs to be changed.
Rant over, aside from that, I did think it was a good story and a good read. Uncovering the secrets of the characters and watching the story unfold was enjoyable. It’s just a shame that I felt the topic of domestic violence wasn’t well handled.
The following section contains minor spoilers.
My only complaint is that Allie is a really shit friend to Ed to be honest. On multiple occasions he tries to tell her about the abuse he’s suffering at the hands of his wife, something that must be incredibly hard for a man to speak up on, and she simply tells him she doesn’t want to hear it because she doesn’t want personal information that could make things awkward. I do understand her motivations, and so will you when you read this book, but at the end of the day her best friend needs to talk and she keeps shutting him out and that was an uncomfortable read. I didn’t feel like it dealt with domestic violence – especially female perpetrated – in the best of ways, although perhaps it highlighted the reality, that men can’t talk about it and people don’t take it seriously. A reality that needs to be changed.
Rant over, aside from that, I did think it was a good story and a good read. Uncovering the secrets of the characters and watching the story unfold was enjoyable. It’s just a shame that I felt the topic of domestic violence wasn’t well handled.
katrina_likes_reading's review
3.0
Messy, Wonderful, Us follows Allie as she discovers a family secret that has been hidden since before she was born. Travelling to Italy with her best friend, Ed, Allie aims to uncover the truth and help bring clarity to those she loves most.
This book was a nice, feel-good read. It focused on the relationships we have with our families and how secrets can put a strain on them. It also focuses on friendships we have had for our whole life and how even hidden feelings can be reciprocated .
Whilst I enjoyed this book, I have to say I didn't enjoy it as much as You, Me, Everything. I found some of the plot to be quite predictable. However, I would still recommend this book.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.
This book was a nice, feel-good read. It focused on the relationships we have with our families and how secrets can put a strain on them. It also focuses on friendships we have had for our whole life and how even hidden feelings can be reciprocated .
Whilst I enjoyed this book, I have to say I didn't enjoy it as much as You, Me, Everything. I found some of the plot to be quite predictable. However, I would still recommend this book.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.
annarella's review
5.0
What a well written and entertaining book. I loved how the author describes Italy as much as the great characters and the well crafted plot.
It's a story that keeps you hooked, complex and engrossing.
An excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's a story that keeps you hooked, complex and engrossing.
An excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
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