Our Italian Summer

Our Review

OUR ITALIAN SUMMER is a wonderful read that takes us to Italy. The scenes come alive, they’re so descriptive. This is a multi-generational story where Allegra, an eighteen-year-old, travels to Italy for an Italian tour with her mom and grandmother. Allegra and her mother have a strained relationship, as does her mother and grandmother. Allegra and her grandmother, however, have a special bond, and it shows. They show their love through food, cooking together then sharing their meals.

The story has a nice flow, especially set in Italy. The women bond but still have moments of estrangement. The other characters on the tour round out the story nicely, especially Enzo, their tour guide, and Ian, a college graduate who comes on the tour with his parents before he takes the next steps in his life’s journey. 

OUR ITALIAN SUMMER is more women’s fiction than it is a contemporary romance, although there are elements of romance and love throughout. The cover is colorful and beautifully portrayed and fits the book nicely. The Note to Reader, which describes how the book came about, as well as the Reader’s Guide Discussion Questions makes the reader reflect on the story. Having traveled to Rome, Florence and Venice, I reflected on my own family’s travels while reading this book.

Ms. Probst is an author whose books I enjoy and haven’t read enough of.  I have quite a few on my TBR list and can’t wait to get to them.

A RECOMMENDED READ!