Review: One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle (audio)

Publisher: Atria Books / Simon and Schuster Audio

Published: March 1, 2022

Source: Print – Netgalley / Audio – ALC via Simon & Schuster Audio

 

Summary:

The New York Times best-selling author of the “heartwarming, heartbreaking, and hard to put down” (Laurie Frankel, New York Times best-selling 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: to Positano, the magical town where 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, suntanned, and 30 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.

 

My thoughts:

This is the third book I’ve read by Rebecca Serle and I just love the stories she writes. Once again she writes a story that I was not expecting but one that I loved just the same.

I absolutely love how this author is able to weave in magical realism without making it seem hokey. Somehow it just works and I love it. While this story might seem like it would be a sad read, it really ends up being quite a beautiful story. And once again, the author has managed to work time travel into her story in such a unique way that for someone who really isn’t a fan of that plot device, I loved it!

While I didn’t necessarily always love Katy and the choices she made, I did still really love this book. And I think that’s ok. I love seeing how characters go through life and analyzing their choices. Plus – the setting of this book more than makes up for any slight negatives this book could possibly have. Now I am desperate to visit Positano, though I have to say, I do feel as if I was there with the characters as the writing was so vivid.

While this one is a bit emotional at times, I definitely recommend it and cannot wait to see what comes next from this talented author!

 

Audio thoughts:

I just love listening to Rebecca Serle’s books on audio – they translate so well. And the narrator could not have been more perfect – Lauran Graham nailed this one! She really brought this book to life with her narration and I just loved the personality she gave Katy. Definitely worth a listen if you enjoy audiobooks.