A review by readingwithtrey
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • 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

This book was not at all what I was expecting. BUT, it was in a good way. I didn’t really love In Five Years so I was nervous going in. I’ve also seen mixed reviews for this one and to be honest, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it in the beginning. Katy was not the most likeable character for me, but I chalked it up to her grief. 

As the story went on, I found myself really drawn to Positano. Though I’ve never visited, I felt like I could truly appreciate everything about it and now it’s at the top of my bucket list of places to visit one day. The author did really well with that aspect of the story. 

The last few chapters of the book are what sold it for me. I thought the message around women and motherhood was beautiful and will resonate with a lot of people. I don’t give this one five stars, because something just didn’t work but I can’t quite put my finger on it. Whatever it was kind of kept me from looking forward to picking this one up. I do feel like it would work better as a movie and would not be surprised if it’s made into one.

{ Favorite Quotes }

“History, memory is by definition fiction. Once an event is no longer present, but remembered, it is narrative. And we can choose the narratives we tell—about our own lives, our own stories, our own relationships. We can choose the chapters we give meaning.”

“I am my own, just as she was hers.”
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