One Italian Summer: escape to the Italian sun with this heartbreaking read

Positano, Italy - if you have not visited the place where this novel is set, then you soon will as Serle's descriptions of this little town on the Amalfi Coast are one of the most captivating things that I will take away from this book - and I've already been to the Amalfi Coast. However, the Hotel Poseidon, where Katy Silver, our narrator, finds herself staying during the book is definitely on my list of places that really do need to be seen, lived and enjoyed.The setting is a treat and the actual story is not bad, although it is difficult to discuss it without spoiling the main conceit of the book. Katy is grieving and her whole life is in question and quandary as a result of the death of her mother. Their mother-daughter relationship is phenomenally close and so, Katy is literally reeling when trying to come to terms with the fact that the person who is the centre of her world is now no longer there- an enormous void is absorbing all of the light and energy and Katy can no longer see a way forward. What is perhaps unusual in this story is that Katy has a husband, Eric, a college sweetheart who she married and thought she loved; however, with her mother's passing, she is not sure how she feels about anything anymore and in particular, her love for Eric.Prior to her death, Katy and her mother were planning a joint trip to Positano. Katy still has the tickets and after the funeral, she decides that she will still go but on her own, despite the fact that she has two tickets - no Eric.And so, we experience Positano through Katy's eyes. She knows that the place held a special place in her mother's heart and she has always been keen to see it, but she expected it to be shared experience with the person she loved the most so there is a rawness to it mixed with the excitement of exploration.The story extends from the people that she meets there and her interactions with two in particular: Carol and Adam. Both extend friendship to her and both are outsiders who love Positano; however, they have very different reasons for being there as Katy discovers.Warm, surprising and evocative, One Italian Summer is the perfect beach read.

Katy Silver feels undone - her mother - her best friend, and soulmate - has just died and nothing in Katy's life will be the same. She ends up leaving her husband and taking off on a dream holiday she and her mom had planned, revisiting Positano, a beautiful Italian city her mom stayed in when she was Katy's age. But when she gets there, she ends up meeting her mom, 30 years in the past and discovering different parts of her beloved parent she never knew about.I really enjoyed this - it's a really quick, gripping read and transported me to the gorgeous coastal town of Positanto and I want to go there so bad now after reading this. I felt like I could feel the sun on my shoulders, the tingle of sunburn on my nose from the Italian sun, the sand between my toes as I drank a crisp white wine on a balcony overlooking the coloured houses on the hills. The setting and atmosphere in this book is 10/10.I always love seeing how grief is explored in books, as every person's experience is so personal to them and I don't think anyone grieves the same way. Katy needed to shake off her entire life, and be absent with herself and figure out who she was going to be without a mom in her life. Of course, she ends up discovering her mom in a different way and I thought it was an interesting way to do it. I did feel a bit sad in all the way's Carol was different in Katy's memories in comparison to the Positano Carol from how joyous and free she was to simpler things like allowing herself to wear a beautiful swimming costume, and eating what she wanted.There's definitely a selfishness in Katy's grief which I think is hard to read but also something you couldn't not understand. She leaves behind a husband who obviously adores her, and her dad who has lost his life partner and most likely could use the strength and support of his only child during his time of grief.The story felt like it had an old school filter on it, that made it vintage and glamorous. A very different Positano than one you may find today but that doesn't make either more beautiful than the other. I think this makes the perfect summer/holiday read and would recommend people picking it up.

This flashback in time puts into perspective how sometimes we are drawn to a place we have never been before but feel we know it so well. Fascinating story plus the description of the Amalfi coast has me booking my flight eager to experience some of its magic.

I so enjoyed the descriptions of the Amalfi Coast, However I was rather confused by the time frame of the main character meeting her dead mother as a younger self .

Beautiful book, I wish it could be true, I would love to meet my mother when she was younger, I was 30 when I lost her and this book resonates with me so much. Fantastic story, I recommend you read it whether you are male or female, it's full of so much tenderness.

Devoured this gorgeous book, I felt transported to another time and place and every emotion going! A wonderful read I am sad it has come to an end, but what a lovely ending x

Poorly drawn characters. Weak storyline. Unconvincing background. That’s my opinion anyway. Try it for yourself. It seems loads of people think differently.

Great read when you’re on your summer hols. Transports you to Italy you can really picture each location. A heart warming tail that particularly strikes a chord with anyone who has ever lost a parent.