One Italian Summer

One Italian Summer

  • Downloads:3434
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2022-03-07 11:21:40
  • Update Date:2025-09-07
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Rebecca Serle
  • ISBN:1797136127
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

6 hours, 21 minutes

The New York Times best-selling author of the “heartwarming, heartbreaking, and hard to put down” (Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author) modern classic In Five Years returns with a moving and unforgettable exploration of the powerful bond between mother and daughter set on the breathtaking Amalfi Coast。

When Katy’s mother dies, she is left reeling。 Carol wasn’t just Katy’s mom, but her best friend and first phone call。 She had all the answers and now, when Katy needs her the most, she is gone。 To make matters worse, their planned mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: one week in Positano, the magical town Carol spent the summer right before she met Katy’s father。 Katy has been waiting years for Carol to take her, and now she is faced with embarking on the adventure alone。

But as soon as she steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, Katy begins to feel her mother’s spirit。 Buoyed by the stunning waters, beautiful cliffsides, delightful residents, and, of course, delectable food, Katy feels herself coming back to life。

And then Carol appears - in the flesh, healthy, sun-tanned, and thirty years old。 Katy doesn’t understand what is happening, or how - all she can focus on is that she has somehow, impossibly, gotten her mother back。 Over the course of one Italian summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mother, but as the young woman before her。 She is not exactly who Katy imagined she might be, however, and soon Katy must reconcile the mother who knew everything with the young woman who does not yet have a clue。

Rebecca Serle’s next great love story is here, and this time it’s between a mother and a daughter。 With her signature “heartbreaking, redemptive, and authentic” (Jamie Ford, New York Times best-selling author) prose, Serle has crafted a transcendent novel about how we move on after loss, and how the people we love never truly leave us。

Download

Reviews

Andrea Leilani

Okay I try really hard not to rate books 1 star, but this book was not good at all in my opinion。 I did not like the main character at all and although she was supposed to show growth throughout the book, I felt like that didn’t happen。 She was selfish and I did not like how she was towards her husband。 Also, this book was not really what was portrayed in the description。 Overall I found it very boring, lacking a real powerful moving story which it really had the potential to be! I forced myself Okay I try really hard not to rate books 1 star, but this book was not good at all in my opinion。 I did not like the main character at all and although she was supposed to show growth throughout the book, I felt like that didn’t happen。 She was selfish and I did not like how she was towards her husband。 Also, this book was not really what was portrayed in the description。 Overall I found it very boring, lacking a real powerful moving story which it really had the potential to be! I forced myself to finish it really hoping it would get better, but unfortunately fell short on all ends for me。 。。。more

Brit

Not as good as in five years。 It was an okay story

JoAnne

This book has it all; food, romance, loss, finding yourself, fashion, motherhood, and of course travel。 It made me want to book a trip to Positano for a summer and enjoy the Italian seaside。 I absolutely loved it! Rebecca did it again。

hope

one thing rebecca serle is gonna do is pour a whole lot of heart in her stories and it just speaks to me

Katelin Howell

Rebecca Serle has done it again。 Wow。 Wow。 In Five Years was a favorite of 2021。 And now One Italian Summer is a favorite of 2022。 What do you have planned for me in 2023 Rebecca?I gasped, I swooned, I laughed and I CRIED。 It took me about 15 minutes to read the last four pages because I was crying so hardA favorite author, an excellent writer, a beautiful story

Chelsie Jensen

I was so excited to get my hands on this book! Rebecca Serle also wrote In Five Years which I read a couple years ago and really enjoyed。 This book has that same magic! A little bit of time travel, grief, and love all rolled up together。The main character lost her mom and she decided to take a trip to Italy as a way to grieve and connect with her mom’s memory。 When you lose someone you care about, places that were once their favorite places can take on a new meaning。 The author captured this per I was so excited to get my hands on this book! Rebecca Serle also wrote In Five Years which I read a couple years ago and really enjoyed。 This book has that same magic! A little bit of time travel, grief, and love all rolled up together。The main character lost her mom and she decided to take a trip to Italy as a way to grieve and connect with her mom’s memory。 When you lose someone you care about, places that were once their favorite places can take on a new meaning。 The author captured this perfectly in her depiction of the Italian towns in this book。 This book was about discovering who you are and celebrated women for being themselves, separate from a husband or child。 The story is about mothers and daughters and marriage and loss。 The book was very touching at times and definitely pulled at my heart strings, but overall I’d say it was on the lighter side and it was a good read。 。。。more

Samantha Cox

This book perfectly encapsulates the daily longing that’s left in a daughters heart after her mother, & best friend, passed away (a feeling I am all too familiar with)。 It’s a heartfelt & warm book that will bring a tear to your eye but comfort you along the way!

Brian Larson

Cute, but not all that memorable (but maybe that’s the point?)。 Serle knows her niche and she writes in it quite well。 The novel takes place in Positano, but could easily do double duty and take place in *insert your dream vacation city here*。 Recommended reading for a long flight or a night-in after failing to book your dream Italian getaway。

Kristen Datte

Quick read and overall ok story … although the realist in me had hard time believing some of the story line。

Paula White

First of all I loved the setting of this novel- Italy, of course。 The food, the people, the places so vividly brought to life。 I would call this a book about complex mother- daughter relationship, finding ones own identity separate from another, grief and love。 It left me pondering my own journey through life。 I loved it。。

Becca Packer

"This book was dumb"- my words after finishing the last page。 A girl is best friends with her mom。 and then her mom dies。 Which is sad but this girl's whole entire personality is being best friends with her mom。 She has never made an decisions for her self in her entire 30 year life。 She doesn't even know where to buy flowers because her mom did it for her。 She told her husband it was too soon for kids because her mom said she wasn't ready。 She literally has no other friends except her mom。 At o "This book was dumb"- my words after finishing the last page。 A girl is best friends with her mom。 and then her mom dies。 Which is sad but this girl's whole entire personality is being best friends with her mom。 She has never made an decisions for her self in her entire 30 year life。 She doesn't even know where to buy flowers because her mom did it for her。 She told her husband it was too soon for kids because her mom said she wasn't ready。 She literally has no other friends except her mom。 At one point she goes to Italy, but she just meets a new guy who isn't her husband and then poof! her mom is there somehow and everything is good again。 I stand by my final thoughts。 。。。more

Erica

I bought this book to share with my mother。 I felt very connected to the book in the sense of reality of how we deal with loss and uncertainty。 I loved how the book took place in Italy and just imagined myself there with how descriptive the writer was。 I really enjoyed this book and will recommend

Jeannine

Feeling conflicted … this book drew me in and I read it quickly, which is always a positive sign for me … a narrator I can latch on to is always welcome。 but I’m not sure how I feel about the overall trajectory that the story took。 I remember having this same feeling after finishing In Five Years。 3。75, rounded up。

Urvi

3。5 stars

Jodi Fischer

This book was a light easy quick read。 Very much a vacation read! I think the time warp portion may throw people off by I enjoyed it。 I rated a 4 because I do wish there was a bit more drama to it。

Jennifer Philbrook

This would be a great summer read。 It's like a Hallmark movie。 This would be a great summer read。 It's like a Hallmark movie。 。。。more

Shuang

I’m sorry but I just cannot stand this book! DNF @ page 54。 Katy, the protagonist, is quite a character that I just want to roll my eyes towards constantly。 This book, I assume based on what I’ve read, is centered around the mother- daughter relationship。 I’d have loved reading this relationship if Katy’s likable and/or their relationship is healthy。 Katy said, in verbatim, “if your mother is the love of your life, what does that make your husband?” - now, if this is not some unhealthy sh*t I do I’m sorry but I just cannot stand this book! DNF @ page 54。 Katy, the protagonist, is quite a character that I just want to roll my eyes towards constantly。 This book, I assume based on what I’ve read, is centered around the mother- daughter relationship。 I’d have loved reading this relationship if Katy’s likable and/or their relationship is healthy。 Katy said, in verbatim, “if your mother is the love of your life, what does that make your husband?” - now, if this is not some unhealthy sh*t I don’t know what else is。 Made me cringe! Maybe this story eventually will develop and take a different turn but I just cannot sit through it。 Besides unlikeable character who seemed so self-absorbed and immature, and a uneventful & unbelievable plot, the writing is also simplistic and boring。I do have the author’s other book In Five Years and will give it a shot。 。。。more

Kara

Well, I am sad to report that even Lauren Graham's narration could not make this one enjoyable after all。 The main character was unlikeable from the start but I kept going hoping the ending would be worth it。 But when I reached the end, I don't know what I was supposed to come away with on the topic of coping with grief and loss。 I wish the focus had been on the mother/daughter without bringing in romance as I really hated that aspect of the story and don't know why it was written this way。(view Well, I am sad to report that even Lauren Graham's narration could not make this one enjoyable after all。 The main character was unlikeable from the start but I kept going hoping the ending would be worth it。 But when I reached the end, I don't know what I was supposed to come away with on the topic of coping with grief and loss。 I wish the focus had been on the mother/daughter without bringing in romance as I really hated that aspect of the story and don't know why it was written this way。(view spoiler)[She leaves for Italy with a very ambiguous relationship with her husband, which you know is going to be trouble。 It makes sense that she wants space after a difficult loss and that it may affect how she views other relationships。 But it just didn't sit right with me that she goes there and makes out with this new guy (who was very bland and had no personality) and talking about how the sex is the best she's ever had and how she shouldn't have gotten married when she did, when her marriage was not over。 She just told him I don't know if I can do this and hopped on a plane。 But of course, what would be the point of discussing anything when next thing we know, she has an epiphany that her husband is great and everything she complained about is actually great and she loves him only after he shows up and she realizes this other guy she cheated on him with existed 30 years ago in the past, oh okay。 Guess it doesn't count and you can just pretend it didn't happen。 It seemed like the author was trying to connect her mother back to this relationship in some way like what she learned from her or what her mom would want for her but I didn't really understand it。 It just felt like the author was trying to wipe away her cheating and give us some happy, deep ending (which I found messy and unsatisfying)。 (hide spoiler)]I won't read another one of her books。 The lack of morals in this one bothered me but In Five Years was even worse (I think I need to go lower my rating to a one on that one now that I am remembering it), so if you feel compelled to read one of her books, read this one。 At least there are some nice descriptions of Italy。 。。。more

Patti Kearney

Thought I would love this story, but it was a little too strange for me; it was almost too weird in parts。

Etain

love Love LOVE this story and the way the author captures the amalfi coast

Katherine Perez | TMU

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 This book was a cozy, fun read for those in-between-work breaks or to enjoy on a Saturday morning。 I did have some problems with it, however。 Katy was a difficult character to like, even at her best moments。 I did love and enjoy the times when Carol and Katy spent time together in Italy, I wish there were more moments of them together! I also did not like how Katy just glosses over her night of cheating on her husband -- she didn't even talk about it with Eric, that's unfair to him。Overall, I en This book was a cozy, fun read for those in-between-work breaks or to enjoy on a Saturday morning。 I did have some problems with it, however。 Katy was a difficult character to like, even at her best moments。 I did love and enjoy the times when Carol and Katy spent time together in Italy, I wish there were more moments of them together! I also did not like how Katy just glosses over her night of cheating on her husband -- she didn't even talk about it with Eric, that's unfair to him。Overall, I enjoyed the book! The twist was great, I loved loved loved the twist, Serle did excellent there。 The book touched on the questions we all have about life, purpose, the choices we have to make and how they effect those around us。 It was a thought-provoking book, for the characters and myself。 。。。more

Delores13

Very sweet and readable; a trip to Italy!

Alec Huntley

This book was very stunning to say the least。 As someone who has been to Italy several times and felt the magic of that place, I feel the story helps share a small amount of that feeling to the reader。 It was a beautiful story about the connection of a daughter and mother and I feel that anyone can relate to that connection。 It had some beautiful quotes and lessons about love, life。 I have it at 4 stars because I did find the structure of the chapters to be repetitive。 There was a pattern regard This book was very stunning to say the least。 As someone who has been to Italy several times and felt the magic of that place, I feel the story helps share a small amount of that feeling to the reader。 It was a beautiful story about the connection of a daughter and mother and I feel that anyone can relate to that connection。 It had some beautiful quotes and lessons about love, life。 I have it at 4 stars because I did find the structure of the chapters to be repetitive。 There was a pattern regarding the flow of the story; nevertheless, it was still a good story and captivated me。 。。。more

Lindsey | bookmeallnightlong

Rebecca Serle。。。one of my favorites。 She can do no wrong in my opinion。 OIS is an excellent book that will be perfect for the beach, or ideally, the Amalfi Coast if you can swing it。 Either way, you will be absolutely transported to Positano where the scenery is vivid and picturesque and the food is mouth-watering and abundant。 I've never craved Italian cuisine and a bottle of wine so much in my life。 Serle played upon her strengths in highlighting human connections, particularly the strong rela Rebecca Serle。。。one of my favorites。 She can do no wrong in my opinion。 OIS is an excellent book that will be perfect for the beach, or ideally, the Amalfi Coast if you can swing it。 Either way, you will be absolutely transported to Positano where the scenery is vivid and picturesque and the food is mouth-watering and abundant。 I've never craved Italian cuisine and a bottle of wine so much in my life。 Serle played upon her strengths in highlighting human connections, particularly the strong relationship between mother and daughter - and in this case, when you are grieving the loss of that relationship。 I liked In Five Years a tad more (it's an all-time favorite) but think others will fall in love with this one。I'd also be remiss if I didn't miss the gorgeous cover with gold foil。。。STUNNING。 。。。more

Lesa

There was Frances Mayes’ Under the Tuscan Sun。 I read it, but the book that really makes me want to visit Italy is Rebecca Serle’s novel, One Italian Summer。 And, it’s not Rome or Florence or Venice。 It’s Positano on the Amalfi Coast, with its views and the food。 And, really Positano is the setting for a moving mother-daughter story。Katy Silver’s mother, Carol, had all the answers。 Katy relied on her for everything, the woman who was the love of her life。 But, Carol just died。 And, Katy spent th There was Frances Mayes’ Under the Tuscan Sun。 I read it, but the book that really makes me want to visit Italy is Rebecca Serle’s novel, One Italian Summer。 And, it’s not Rome or Florence or Venice。 It’s Positano on the Amalfi Coast, with its views and the food。 And, really Positano is the setting for a moving mother-daughter story。Katy Silver’s mother, Carol, had all the answers。 Katy relied on her for everything, the woman who was the love of her life。 But, Carol just died。 And, Katy spent the last months taking care of her。 It was little to give to the woman who Katy felt tied to for thirty years。 Now, she’s lost。 She doesn’t even know if she wants to be in her marriage to Eric anymore。 After her mother got sick, she “Began to ask myself if this was the marriage I wanted to die in。”Carol and Katy never even had the chance to travel to Positano together。 It was supposed to be a mother-daughter trip so Carol could show her daughter the city she loved when she stayed there one summer。 Now that her mother is no longer here, Katy decides to go there herself, and stay at Hotel Poseidon as they planned。 Maybe she’d find why her mother loved it there。When the owners of the hotel welcome her, they assure Katy that “Positano is a good place to let life return to you。” Katy, who is feeling lost and dead inside, with no idea how she’ll go on, responds immediately to the water and sunsets, to the kindness of people, to a handsome man who shares breakfast。 But, she doesn’t know how to react when a woman turns around at the reception desk, and it’s her thirty-year-old mother。For her entire life, Katy’s mother took care of her。 Katy doesn’t know who she is without her mother。 But, Carol at thirty isn’t the woman with all the answers。 Katy has the chance to do something no one else has the chance to do。 She can meet her mother as a young woman and learn that she had a life that Katy never knew。 And, Carol isn’t who Katy expected。Maybe you’ll pick up One Italian Summer for the setting, and you won’t regret it。 But, this is still the story of a young woman who lived her whole life as a reflection of her mother。 Now that her mother is gone, she has to decide who she is。 Who are you when the person you love most in life is gone? 。。。more

Marissa Mars

☀️ At the start of the book we find Katy lost in her grief of losing her mom, her best friend, the greatest love of her life。 She explains their relationship beautifully and also explains the devastating loss she now feels without her。 As Katy runs away to Italy, to the place she planned to go with her mom, Positano itself becomes a major presence in the book and I loved being transported there。 I’ve been to Italy but not the Amalfi Coast so it was fun being able to explore it through this book。 ☀️ At the start of the book we find Katy lost in her grief of losing her mom, her best friend, the greatest love of her life。 She explains their relationship beautifully and also explains the devastating loss she now feels without her。 As Katy runs away to Italy, to the place she planned to go with her mom, Positano itself becomes a major presence in the book and I loved being transported there。 I’ve been to Italy but not the Amalfi Coast so it was fun being able to explore it through this book。 I felt like I’d just gone on an Italian summer and could practically feel the sun on my face。I don’t want to give too much away but similar to In Five Years, Rebecca Serle bends and plays with the concept of time and the here & now in a truly interesting way。 While it was a good read, I felt like it was lacking something overall。 The relationship between Katy and her husband wasn’t explored enough for me。 And there were parts of her mom’s backstory I didn’t love。 ⚠️ In this book, Katy’s mother has just died。 If you have recently or at any time lost your mom this may be a tough read。 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5Takeaway: a love story between a mother and a daughter that is explored in unexpected ways on the Amalfi Coast。 。。。more

Chantel

Contrary to how it might appear, I do not enjoy rating books so low。 I do not enjoy coming across a story that I had been hopeful to savour。 Yet, here we are again wherein I have had to stop reading because I was so utterly devoid of emotion towards the entire cast of characters & the plot that I felt no inclination to pursue finishing the book。When Katy's mother, Carol, passes away she is understandably riddled with grief & the reader meets Katy as she attempts to understand how she is meant to Contrary to how it might appear, I do not enjoy rating books so low。 I do not enjoy coming across a story that I had been hopeful to savour。 Yet, here we are again wherein I have had to stop reading because I was so utterly devoid of emotion towards the entire cast of characters & the plot that I felt no inclination to pursue finishing the book。When Katy's mother, Carol, passes away she is understandably riddled with grief & the reader meets Katy as she attempts to understand how she is meant to go on without her mother。 Had Serle stopped there we could have had a wonderful story about the exploration of grief in adults who learn to maneuver the world without their parents。 Unfortunately, what we read about instead is Katy claiming that her mother was the love of her life & that she was Carol's as well。 Here we find ourselves at my main reason for not finishing the book。When I have to pause in my reading to question why I am so annoyed I pose myself an honest question: am I annoyed at this character because their actions differ from those I would take or, am I annoyed because their decision making process lacks logical sense?In the case of this book it was the latter。 Katy maroons endlessly about her love for her mother being the ultimate & only love that mattered, ever。 I could not relate to that nor would my own mother want me to be able to。 I admit that this is where expressing my feelings becomes a bit tricky。 I am not trying to say that sharing a strong love with ones parents is wrong or bizarre。 However, I was not raised that way。 My own mother would not want for the love of my life to have been her, nor would my grandmother have wanted it to be for her daughter, so on & so forth。I could not understand how a thirty (30) year old adult lacked any sensical abilities to work through life。 Katy goes on about not being certain she wants to stay married to Eric because they never had any tangible obstacles to overcome。 This is ridiculous。 Obstacles, struggles & heartaches are not something you will upon your relationship。 Such behaviours left me feeling as though Katy wanted to be able to say that she 'fought' for something in her life whereas we knew she never held enough gumption for that。Plot annoyances aside, I did not appreciate the writing style either。 I found myself wondering whether or not an editor had read through the final work。 For example, Katy says she is going to get a dress - she puts on the white frill dress。 Another example, the waiters all wear white shirts - a man in a white shirt comes forward。 These are not inherently bad sentences but they could have been worked to flow with more ease。 The approaching waiter could be described as wearing a white shirt, rather than have all the wait staff attire reported to then restate those same details moments later。 It left me feeling as though there was a word count。All in all, I did not enjoy this book。 I could not relate to Katy; I could not find it in myself to empathize with a person who felt that neither Eric nor her father were allowed to feel sad at Carol's passing because she herself, was her mother's true love so, no one else's emotions mattered。 It was difficult to root for someone who was severely out of touch with reality。Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada & Rebecca Serle for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!#OneItalianSummer #NetGalleyMedium Blog Post 。。。more

Ann-Marie

Read for the beautiful portrayal of Portofino

Kris Hill

I felt like I was there with her。

Elora Cook

Beautiful。 Like always。