What a wonderful story. This book had me hooked from the very beginning.
Young married couple, Scottie and Michael are sent to Siena Italy, in the 1950's so that Michael can sell American tractors to the Italian farmers, or so we think.
This story was wonderfully told, well developed characters and a great story line.
This story has a lot of different components to it and, and we experience a feeling of naivete, from some of these characters, along with secrets, longings and true friendships. There are some complex issues that they go through and it was fun to see how they navigated these challenges.
One really gets the feeling for what life in Italy was like for this couple, and the team work it took to accomplish the mission presented to them.
This is a story very worth reading. I will not give away the plot though others may have. Find out for yourself and enjoy the journey.
I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book

This book was a fun read. It has a slight comedic style about a newlywed couple that starts their new life together in Siena, Italy where Michael's new job is to start selling Ford tractors. Actually, that's his cover. He's a new CIA agent in the middle of a very red communist sympathetic town in Italy, trying to convert the Italians to the American capitalist way. And the truest reason why Michael took this job, is to be close to his friend in Rome.

The wife Scottie has her own secrets as well. And is trying to figure out how this marriage is going to work and how to get by in Italy. I loved her character. Seemingly naive, at least sexually, but that is accurate for the time period - mid-century 1950's.

Overall I found this a book a little more interesting that what it first appeared, much like this couple. A good read!

Scottie married Michael and they moved to Siena, Italy, both bringing secrets and gathering more, so that they appear to be a happily married couple, he selling American tractors to Italians and she his adoring housewife. Showing Italians the American Dream fulfills a larger agenda for Michael, while Scottie tries to look behind the curtain and see his true self. She seems to have a lot more freedom than expected for a woman in the mid-50s, and Italian men are portrayed as oversexed political creatures. Homosexuality is handled in a sensitive, if somewhat stereotypical, manner considering the times—adultery is inexplicably given more tolerance. When the couple open up and confess all, they become a team, and Michael learns that political secrets are larger than his own agenda, gobsmacked by his own company. This is a great historical fiction, with Siennese culture, the fallout from being overshadowed by Florence, and the political turmoil of Communism versus pro-Western leaders vividly portrayed. It shows the complexities of the world players’ motives and relationships, and how this plays out in the individual lives of the Italian people.

I was fortunate to receive a digital copy of this wonderful book from the publisher through NetGalley.

I posted my review on my website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and B&N.

I must admit immediately that I did not finish this book. I always give books at least 10% before deciding, but at that point, this book hadn't pulled me in. I had no interest in the characters or what secrets they were keeping from each other, and I had no interest in reading more about their involvement with Communist Italy. There was something about the flippant way it was written - which, upon reading other reviews, I do know was purposeful by the author - that just didn't work for me. I didn't finish it and wouldn't recommend it to any readers that I know based on my experience.

My Rating: 3 stars

I will admit that I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I thought I would, probably because I knew this book was categorized as historical fiction and so I was expecting a story with a bit more substance, a bit more seamless blending of history and story, a bit better balance of seriousness and lightheartedness. To me, the story felt a bit all over the place, at times being overly serious, other times bordering on comedic. I did love the setting though and I felt the author Christina Lynch did a good job capturing the atmospheric charm of the Italian countryside as well as the local food, culture, and people – reading the descriptions of the various places Scottie went to during her exploration of the city, also the palio races, the descriptions of food that made my mouth water, and other aspects of Italian culture, I definitely felt I was there in Siena alongside the characters. For me, this was when the story was at its best – when it covered the historical aspects and the culture and how the local people lived. Unfortunately, I found my mind wandering during most of the segments about politics, especially the ones that go a bit too in depth about the various political factions and parties.

Aside from the setting, the other aspect I appreciated with this story was the author’s treatment of the characters. Lynch did a great job presenting realistic, flawed characters in Michael and Scottie, both of whom had many secrets they were keeping from each other and in some aspects, were living in a world of lies – both made many mistakes throughout their lives and yes, did things that were morally questionable, as did most of the other characters in the story, yet I still found it difficult not to like these characters. The relationship that Michael and Scottie had was unconventional and I found it interesting the way it was developed and the direction they eventually went. I find it refreshing whenever I see authors write characters and relationships that are well-developed and outside the stereotypical “norms” – this was definitely an area of strength with this book and one of the aspects that kept me engaged even though the overall story itself was a bit slow at times.

Despite this one not being what I expected, I still feel it was worth reading, especially for the insight it gave into the time period and the historical context of post-war Italy. I think if the story had been a bit more tightly-written and less inconsistent, I would have rated this one somewhat higher, as the characters and the setting truly did draw me in. I know many readers enjoyed this one and I can definitely see why, as certain parts of the story were intriguing and fun and I think as an relatively light-hearted story about spies, this one works fine overall – just not really for me due to the different expectations I have towards historical fiction. Perhaps check out some of the other reviews as well for a more balanced view before deciding whether to pick this one up!

Received ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley

A whole lot of secrets everywhere!
The Italian Party was a fun and enjoyable read... Perfect for the summer!

I almost quit reading for the simple writing and knowing that the decisions made would cost the individuals. But I continued and discovered that true love is the acceptance of the love given knowing this is the true love offered.

This is portrayed as a light, fun read about a newlywed couple set in Italy in the 50's. I wanted to like it so bad but it wasn't enough. The description set the scene (Italy) to be a glamorous setting for this couple to begin their new lives together. It is more of a satire on the political climate back then. The "Italian Party" signifies the Communist party trying to take over the rural parts of Italy. The people did not welcome Americans. The dynamic of this young couple trying to engrain themselves into Italian society is meant to be funny but felt forced. Add in the spy element and it was predictable. I'm giving this 3 stars for keeping me engaged and curious. It was a new style for me, and while I didn't love it, I wouldn't leave it unfinished. I'd possibly recommend it to Italian expats or lovers of Italian food and culture. Just don't expect a high quality piece of literature.

Fun story and great summer read. Scottie's naivety, her desire to find good, and the challenges life as she expected, gives the reader a glimpse into her inner struggles.

The Italian Party is full of surprises - for the reader right along with the protagonists. Is everyone who they seem to be? Is everything what it seems to be? I loved this book to the moon and back.

While I found the description of The Italian Party to be accurate, I felt it was only partly reflective of the novel as a whole. It is the story of Scottie and Michael's time in Italy as newlyweds. It is also an examination of personalities and relationships. This novel is cleverly and deceptively a much deeper novel than it appears to be.

There are lovely descriptions of the scenery of the city and the countryside, as well as tense scenes of mystery and danger -- the novel somehow covers all the bases. The reader gets to learn about this young couple and their backgrounds, their history and watch them navigate this new and in many ways unfamiliar world they find themselves in.

Every time I attempt to explain some aspect of the novel that I really liked, I end up giving away something important and have to delete that paragraph. I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed The Italian Party and how quickly I was pulled into the story. Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down. This was such an enjoyable read! The Italian Party is the perfect book for a bit of excitement, espionage, beautiful scenery, local color, world history and just plain fun. I would highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Christina Lynch for allowing me to read and review The Italian Party. I really enjoyed this book. Solid 4 stars.

The Italian Party was an interesting tale...men's and women's roles in relationships, societal expectations and the world view in the 50s add for an interesting mix of intrigue with secrets and suspense. I will probably end up adding this book to my permanent collection.

This was a very good book. Scottie and Michael are newlyweds who move to Italy after WWII, where Michael is set to open a Ford tractor dealership. But things are not what they seem, both Michael and Scottie are holding secrets that could greatly impact their lives.

This book kept me interested, and I did not see the twists coming. This was also a very-well researched book, and I enjoyed the other characters in the book.

My only complaint with the book is that sometimes I felt like it was dragging. At the end I found myself wishing for the story to finish already. But it was great read overall.

This is one of those books where you pick it up thinking you know exactly what to expect and then blown away because it is much more than the frivolous summary may imply.

The expectation: Clueless Americans seeking for an idyllic Mediterranean getaway move to Italy.

The reality: While Scottie's main interests were fashion and celebrity gossip, her husband--An American male true and true--wanted to bring capitalism into Italy as he feared that the lure of communism was still too strong in that country so shortly after WW2. Because of this, we get didactic passages that place many things in historical context.

While there are glimpses of a romanticized Italy, the book is more about the United States and its place in world politics and economics. This was unexpected and made me appreciate the book all the more for it.

2.5 STARS

Ehh, this one was kind of a mess for me, and not what I was expecting. The book's description bills it as "fun" and "funny" but it was really neither of those things for me. I didn't catch the spy angle that much either. Yes, one of the main characters is a spy...but he seems like Spy Lite compared to others like James Bond or Michael Westen.

It's the mid 1950's, and Scottie and Michael are a recently married American couple who have moved to Siena, Italy to sell Ford tractors to technologically impaired Italian farmers--or at least that is the husband's cover story. In reality, Michael works for the CIA, and he's on a mission to make sure Siena isn't taken over by communist factions in the delicate wake of WW2. Scottie, for her part, is intent on being the perfect housewife, because she is concealing a secret of her own. Until the day her teenage Italian tutor goes missing, and she feels compelled to spring into action.

The part of this novel that was kind of funny to me is also the part that's true--the fact that Michael is trying so hard to live his American life in another country. You can't just move to Italy and expect that you'll be able to have instant dinners and fast food and other American conveniences. But America was so afraid of anyone other than themselves after WW2, this was the attitude a lot of people had. Michael's higher ups send him copies of American magazines like Life and Time and encourage him to leave them around for Italians to find. Scottie is requested to make dinner one night and she has to scrounge around the city to find American ingredients, because Michael is afraid of becoming "too Italian." It's all a ridiculous notion but rooted in fact.

The characterization in this book is good for some, and basic for others. It's true that almost no one you meet in this novel can be trusted at face value, and some that you might have preconceived notions about are actually hiding much deeper issues than you would have thought.

There's not very much action, to be told, and the biggest mystery of the plot gets solved rather accidentally. The end is also kind of bittersweet. Although Michael and Scottie are not the best people, you end up kind of rooting for them and wish them the best.

British philosopher Bertrand Russell famously said that “Italy and the spring and first love all together should suffice to make the gloomiest person happy.” One might think however, that if Russell had read Christina Lynch’s debut novel The Italian Party, perhaps his reflections about Italy being a source of happiness for all, would have been slightly altered.

The story circles around newlyweds Scottie and Michael Messina, who make their way to the Italian city of Sienna in 1956, with plans to settle down and make of the Tuscan region their home and a base for Michael’s tractor business. But from the first pages, it’s clear that something is amiss between the two. The warmth and effusiveness that characterizes most couples in the first days of their marriage is missing. As the story moves on, it’s clear that their union is more of convenience than love, although this fact is unbeknownst to each other.

They had known each other just a short time, and no courtship is entirely honest. It was convenient for Michael that Scottie had been taught that asking questions — as long as they were not too personal or impertinent — rather than offering opinions, made a man feel like he was being listened to and supported. She had been taught that a woman likes to feel beautiful, and a man likes to feel superior.

Although the excerpt may reek terribly of misogyny and patriarchy, we must remember that the novel is set only a few years after World War II, when women had yet to find their voice and the majority of men still believed they unquestionably owned their wives. Scottie and Michael circle each other like two hounds seeking recognition and information, but find that they often fail miserably. In a scene where after Michael’s stubbornness and ignorance of signs leads their flashy new yellow Fairlane to end up trapped between a street’s narrow walls, and in consequence having to be helped out after being mocked and laughed at by locals, Scottie wonders who is this angry and stiff man that has replaced her husband.

Lynch evokes in the novel such a vividness and nostalgia that the words can be read like images in an Italian neorealism film, where we almost expect Marcello Mastroianni and Monica Vitti to play Michael and Scottie if only they were Italian instead of American. In truth, they’re described in the beginning as they are disembarking from the ship as a couple that “seemed to have stepped out of an advertisement for Betty Crocker, Wonder Bread, or capitalism itself.”

So much for Vitti and Mastroianni.

But the description of the landscape and the characters in the city more than makeup for the apparent lack of depth in Michael and Scottie’s physicality: “The green fields they passed were dotted with red poppies. Scottie spotted distant villas tucked into greenery, her eye drawn to the occasional gray or pair of bays grazing in an olive grove.”

As it turns out, Scottie has a wondering eye for more than the landscape. When she meets a local candidate for city mayor, who flirts and comes on to her shamelessly, Scottie is quite compelled to reciprocate if even later she regrets it. Afterwards, she encounters the landlord of the villa the Messinas now call home, a dashing marquis with the name of Carlo Chigi Piccolomini. If this seems like a clichè description for a typical Italian playboy, it becomes even more so when Scottie finds herself mentioning her husband often “as a sort of talisman, a way of warding off the attraction she felt for Carlo.”



It comes at no surprise that later, Scottie thinks to herself, “she wished that she had married Carlo instead,” an undoubtedly foolish thought to have for a man she’s just met and who is, quite married himself. Predictably enough, Scottie and Carlo begin a steamy and passionate affair that is solely based on a dizzying physical and sexual connection, although Scottie often finds herself pretending otherwise.

The Italian Party-St. Martin’s Press
Should you feel sorry for Michael that his new wife is so soon engaging in an extramarital tryst with an aging Italian marquis, don’t feel too bad. Michael has some doozies of his own that he works hard to keep hidden, including his true reason for being in Italy and where his real interests lay.
As the novel progresses and Scottie’s encounters with Carlo become more inflamed, ironically her connection with Michael seems to grow stronger. When Robertino, a young village boy who is giving Scottie Italian lessons disappears, she begins a frantic search for the only friend she has managed to make since her arrival in Siena.

Soon, Scottie and Michael will be drawn together by more than their marital bond, as they find themselves discovering that this city and its people, may not welcome their presence as much as they thought. She learns this truth from the skeevy flirting candidate for city mayor, when he practically sneers at her in a evident derogatory tone:

You have come to Americanize us, so you may as well know what being an American really means. You love your country, but true love, remember, is the flower of knowledge. If you don’t really know something in its entirety, you can’t really know if you love it or not, can you?

For Scottie, this speaks true also in regards to her relationships with both her husband and her lover, two men whom she really knows nothing about.

Christina Lynch sets up the perfect 1950’s expat novel for the 21st century reader, a story that reads like it was made in the golden days of Cinecittá, where apparent post-war optimism was mixed with the real strain of poverty, injustice and desperation. Michael and Scottie Messina may have come to Italy not knowing the truth about each other, but by the end of the novel, they know more about their marriage, Italy, local politics and their own country than they bargained for.

As Scottie once says to Carlo after a shaking incident by the riverbank, where they come dangerously close to death: “Sometimes it’s better to let go of the rope. And sometimes it’s better to grab it.” With The Italian Party, you’re never quite sure which is the better choice.

But then again, that’s part of the thrill.

Secrets, secrets and more secrets. Starting in the first chapters, we learn that newlyweds Scottie and Michael have BIG secrets and they just keep coming. The Italian Party is a deceptively clever book. At first glimpse, it seems like a simple and straightforward read but don't be fooled....it isn't. There are layers upon layers from living abroad in the 1950's and the Cold War to Italian culture and marriage.

Having been to Siena, it was a pleasure to read about its history and imagine the streets, shops, people and events as they unfolded in the plot. The Palio was a central theme in the story. I enjoyed learning about this historical celebration as I have witnessed the parades and hoopla firsthand during my own travels.

The author brings the characters to life. They are multidimensional and complex, which keeps the reader invested. Although the plot is a little slower paced than I typically like, it held my interest for the most part. It is a comical and delightful read.

A gracious thank you to St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy.

This one was not a good fit for me..I am not a fan of the genre Romance. I thought it was something different.

I added this one to my Did Not Finish pile. I struggled to get into the characters and their constant lies to one another. There were too many stories within stories . After reading 50%, I just had to move on to a new book.