Reviews with content warning for Miscarriage - The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany

This isn't my usual type of read, but I gave it a shot because I love Italy and there was a supposed family curse on second-born daughters. Let's go for it!

I figured I would enjoy it well enough, but WOW did I get way more than I expected! The journeys of Emilia and her aunt Poppy. The family drama and secrets surrounding their family. It was distressing, devastating, and painful. I thought "How? Why?" My heart was crushed.

I thought I had an idea of where this book going when I started it, but boy was I wrong. In the end, I felt both broken and filled with joy...I sobbed like a baby.

This book made me feel so many things that I didn't have a choice but to give it five stars.

Content Warnings

kimveach's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing medium-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

3.75

This is a charming and sweet story set mostly in past and present Italy. It was especially good on audio.

Content Warnings

readwithde's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

Wow. I loved everything about this book: the family and political drama, the curse of Fontana second-born daughters, the travel through Italy, everything.

As a girl with an Italian grandmother and German grandfather, Poppy and Rico's story hit me in a different way,

especially when a twist revealed Emilia (and Daria) were their grandchildren, not Rosa's.

How the curse affected the family -- from Rosa's desperation to wed and bear children, to Daria's prison of family, to Lucy's self-betrayal, and Emilia's forced contentment -- the women of the Fontana family suffered for generations, each poisoning the last in defense of their own actions and choices.

If nothing else, the book taught me so much about hope and determination, that no matter what obstacles lie before you, "it's possible." This was a cathartic getaway and poignant reminder to choose love, life, and joy.

Content Warnings

madsmcw_reads's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional reflective slow-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

3.0

Content Warnings

dianasreadingcorner_01's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

claudiamacpherson's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-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

3.0

To be honest, I expected a lot more from this book. I’d heard good things about it and the premise sounded interesting, but it ended up being just okay. The characters were pretty one-dimensional and a bit annoying, and I got secondhand embarrassment for them in more than one scene. I did like the ending though!

I was so worried that the author was going to let Emilia end up with her childhood friend despite her clearly not having real chemistry with him, so I was happy that it worked out. I wish he hadn’t ended up with her cousin (was that their relationship? idk) and reminded me a little of the Jo/Laurie/Amy love triangle in Little Women, but better than ending up miserable with your childhood bestie, amiright?

Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just the vibe of the ending): Happy! It definitely got very close to the end before things were resolved, so I was fully prepared for it to end in a way I didn’t like, but thank god things got wrapped up eventually!

Content Warnings

herbivorereader's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-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? No

4.0

Content Warnings

More...