Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

39 reviews

readwithkel's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Overall, I enjoyed this read. 

It was sadder than I expected, and sometimes a tad confusing, but the vivid imagery really makes you feel like you’re in Positano with Katy. 

This is a touching story with a beautiful setting, and I’d recommend it.
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thefoxcharmer's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.25

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hannalizzy's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-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

5.0

When Katy’s mother dies, she is absolutely and completely devastated. Her mother, her “soulmate,” her best friend, is suddenly gone, and right before they were supposed to go on their dream trip to Italy. Katy decides to go on the trip alone, hoping to be brought back to life by Positano.

But once she’s there, she finds her mother. Not just her spirit, but her mother, in the flesh, exactly as she was when she lived in Italy as a young woman. This unexplainable magic allows her to get to know her mother all over again, but as her equal and friend. 

This. Book! I showed you all my favorite summer romance read, but this is my favorite fiction read of the summer, hands down. As someone who is also best friends with her mom, I resonated so deeply with Katy. Plus, the lush and beautiful descriptions of the scenery and Italy, the food, the wine… it felt magical! 

Loved every second of it. 5 stars all around! It was a perfect lakeside read.
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martapsalvado's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is one of those books that are far from perfect, but so entertaining. Some things that the characters did or think didn't reasonate with me and some aspects of the plot itself didn't make much sense. The ending compensated some of these flaws. Nonetheless, I had a lot of fun reading this and loved the descriptions of Positano. The character devolpment is there too, although sometimes it felt a little abrupt. A good summer read overall! 
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kcarney86's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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vanesst's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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ruthaltcap's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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persikan_05's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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thatswhatshanread's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This is quite possibly the Italian escape novel. Immersive, light, and magical. It’s almost like the book is four dimensional because I could basically taste the fresh Neapolitan food, feel the brush of warm sand between my toes, smell the sea, and trek up and down the steps of Positano and beyond. 

Rebecca Serle’s writing is very comforting. I think that’s the best way to describe it. It’s not abrasive or trying to prove anything earth-shattering—it just tells a story like it’s been written by your grandmother. Like you’ve heard it before, but find it special every time you read it. This book instantly felt like a memory to me, a summer in Italy to find my way back to myself.

There are some plot holes and parts I didn’t quite understand the reasoning for, but overall I really enjoyed this one. Bellissima! 
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betsygrace's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A firm four stars! I really enjoyed this; it was a light read that kept me wondering what would happen next— but not in a stressful way. Super makes me want to visit Italy. 
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