A great read, with lovely characters and setting. I always love how the author immediately transports you to somewhere else, in this case Italy, and you feel like you're there with the characters,

Have you ever wanted to get on the property ladder? Ever wanted to buy a house in Italy? How about if it was only €1?

In theory I'd love to have seen the advert from the mayor of Montenello, in his efforts to revitalise the local community. For just one euro, you could purchase a house that needed large amounts of renovations, and need to be able to contribute to the local community.

It's a wonderful idea, and until last year I'd never seen a book featuring this sort of plot, but this is now the third I've read, so at the back of my mind were unfair comparisons, as they are all incredibly different.

I loved the location for this book, a small hill top town, near to Puglia. And applicants that were chosen to move into the town, all had completely different reasons for taking the plunge.

Each chapter is split into sections between the three hopeful new residents of the town, and also the town's mayor, all nicely labelled and allowing you to get to know all the key people really quickly and easily.

I loved all of the delicious descriptions of Italian food, there are a couple of small restaurants that made tasty sounding food that had my tummy rumbling. Added to the picturesque and vivid descriptions of the town itself, I felt as though I was there, soaking in the sun, looking at the crumbling buildings and eating the meals alongside our intrepid characters.

From the moment I started the book I was hooked, I just love Nicky Pellegrino's writing and this was no exception. It is full of love for a small town in Southern Italy and I enjoyed everything, from the initial discussions about the advert for these houses at only a Euro, to the first views of their assigned properties and then just trying to work out if this was a completely mad idea or not!

I also really enjoyed the story-lines involving the mayor's assistant, who is rather wily and clearly knows more about everything than he tries to let onto immediately, the re-discovering of Italian roots, the regeneration of this town. But most of all i adored Donna Carmela, the mayor's mother, who is a master matchmaker, wonderful cook and just all around friendly person full of great advice. Donna brought a great warmth to any scene she was in.

Another incredibly enjoyable book from an author who I always love to read. If you have ever dreamt of owning your own corner of Italy, then this is certainly the book for you too!!

Thank you to Orion and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This is a lovely book about friendships, relationships and of course, Italy! Nicky Pellegrino clearly loves the Italian way of life, culture and the place itself and her love comes through in every page of her books. I have enjoyed all her books, not least of all because they always transport there too!

This book is an absolute delight.
The descriptions in the book actually took me to Italy
I will be looking for more books by this author

I think I have read all of Nicky Pellegrino’s books, all of which are set in beautiful Italy. In the news we have all heard of these hill top towns and villages offering houses for sale at a cheap price with the condition being that you restore the house within three years and be part of the community, and this is the premise of this book. Mimi, Elise, and Edward are all at stages in their life where they want a change, to get out of a rut. Salvio Valentini is Mayor of Montenello, a beautiful town in the mountains near Puglia, and wants to reinvigorate the town, bring in some new residents, so puts an advert on the internet offering property for one Euro, if you can restore the houses and add to the community. Will this new venture be a success, and will the new residents fit in the La Dolce Vita.

I am a real Italophile, I love the culture, food, drink, beautiful countryside and its history, and the premise of this book is something my dad and I have talked about doing. Nicky Pellegrino always has stunning locations, mixed with some delicious food descriptions that leave your mouth watering (in some of her books there are recipes) and a great storyline, which is why I love reading her books. Her love of Italy, its customs really comes through in her writing as does the warmth of the sun and the Italian people, and leaves me wanting to pack up and jump on a plane immediately.

Mimi, Elise and Edward are chosen from the many applicants to come to Montenello and start a new life. Mimi is recently divorced from a man who made all the decisions in their marriage. Moving to Italy is a small act of rebellion, a chance for her to be in control of her life and be who she wants to be, and assert her new independence. Her natural mothering instinct comes into force with Elise, whom she takes under her wing as they start this journey together. Elise is only in her twenties but fed up with the all work and no play lifestyle she and her boyfriend have as they struggle to save up for a deposit for a house in Bristol. She shows great tenacity but is maybe a bit naive in her approach to her move to Italy, but I admired her enthusiasm, and happy disposition. Edward lives with his partner Gino, whose family is from Montenello, live in Sydney. Edward feels their relationship is stuck, and wants to try something different, and taking Gino back to Italy seems like a brilliant idea. Gino is not as keen, happy as they are and worried how Italians will react to their relationship, as his parents have struggled with it in the past. They make a perfect partnership, their personal strengths and weaknesses complimenting each other to make them a formidable team. With many memorable and colourful supporting characters like Salvio, the young Mayor, Donna Carmela his mother and Alessandro, his elderly assistant, Montenello and its residents vibrantly come to life.

A Dream of Italy brings sunny Italy into your home; you can feel the sun on your back, and taste and smell the delicious food and drink described in the book. This is a story about fresh starts, friendship, love, family and hope. As with Nicky Pellegino’s previous books this has a touch of romance, and air of mystery, an engaging plot and affable characters which combine to make another brilliant read, and one I highly recommend. Charming, warm and full of La Dolce Vita, a perfect summer read.

I have read and enjoyed all of Nicky Pellegrino's previous books so was looking forward to reading this one and I wasn't disappointed.

Easy to read, great characters, beautiful location - what more could I want. This is a book about new beginnings, second chances, friendship and community spirit. I loved the idea of the regeneration of the village - it is a place I would love to live in. The mouth watering descriptions of the Italian food made me so hungry!

Highly recommended - a treat to read. A perfect summer holiday book or for a cosy afternoon in an armchair.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the perfect holiday read!

Salvio Valentini has the enviable job of being the youngest ever mayor of a small, picturesque town in Southern Italy. Although pretty, and with a close-knit community, Montenello is now far from the once majestic place it once was. It has nothing to draw tourists to it; no attractions or gimmicks. And it’s sadly falling into disrepair, with many of its buildings and former homes left crumbling and empty.

Together with his aging (but tech savvy) right-hand man, Augusto, a plan is concocted to entice outsiders to purchase a home in Montenello for just 1 Euro! T’s & C’s apply – naturally! Surprisingly the advertisement goes viral and thousands of applications come flooding in. After a stringent selection process, a final three are chosen and these hopefuls arrive in Montenello full of hopes and dreams for a new beginning.

Mimi – a ‘Silver Divorcee’ – lonely and afraid to get back into the dating arena, and finding herself unable to quite fit in with the other ‘Silvers’ who seemed to have slipped seamlessly back into single life despite their age.

Elise and Richard – working their fingers to the bone and seeing absolutely no reward for it, and no hope at all to ever being able to buy a decent home for themselves in England, where they’re slogging away.

Richard and Gino – they’ve been together for so long and Richard is starting to feel more than a little anxious at the thought that this is ‘it’ for the rest of their lives, day in and day out. The routine is starting to strangle him.

This book is told from the different points of view of all the protagonists. Their anxieties, their vision for the future and the way their journies play out. The reader is allowed into their lives, and into their hearts and we get to share their joy, their triumph, and their pain … deeply.

But apart from that I also felt like I was right there, in the midst of this beautiful town that was trying to breathe new life again. Pellegrino’s descriptive writing is beautiful and she successfully transports her readers into each and every scene. She’s created characters who are likable and you literally want to imagine them succeeding so that you can see the (imaginary) smiles return to their faces. You want their burdens to ease and their lives to have hope and happiness again. When an author is able to encapsulate all of this effectively within their pages, then you know they have a winner on their hands. That’s what Nicky Pellegrino has here!

4 stars for this uplifting, enjoyable book!

A dream of Italy was an absolutely delightful read and one that I read in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down.

Salvio Valentini is the mayor of a small village in southern Italy called Montenello, he’s the youngest mayor the village has had and really wants to inject some life back into the place he feels like the place has been stuck in the past and wants to change that.

Between the 2 of them Salvio and his elderly assistant Augusto come up when a plan to sell off the uninhabited derelict houses for only €1 each! – once the scheme hits social media they are inundated with applications and have to find 3 applicants that feel just right for what they’re trying to achieve.

Firstly we have Mimi who is an older woman who has recently got divorced, her application starts as a group thing and a bit of a joke but she soon realises that this is what she wants & after not being able to decide anything for herself in her marriage she jumps at the chance to have something that is just hers.

Then we have Edward and Gino, Edward feels a little bit stuck in his current surroundings and also feels like this relationship with Gino has gone a little “stale” – when he sees the advert and realises that the homes for sale are where Ginos parents were brought up (and fled from) he decides he can’t pass it up, but keeps it a secret from Gino until the last minute because he knows he won’t like it, can he get him to agree?

And lastly, we have Elise and Richard, who are unhappy in their poky little flat above an Indian restaurant, they soon come to realise that they are bored of saving every penny they own and never just enjoying life, buying a dream home in Italy for next to nothing seems the ideal solution, but whilst Elise is excited Richard just feels like it’s too good to be true.

Everyone’s story is different but essentially they all want the same thing and I adored reading about how everyone, including the ling standing residents of Montenello achieve their dreams, watching everything come together made my heart happy. ❤️

Sometimes a book just hits the spot and Nicky Pellegrino’s A Dream of Italy did just that. Good books — even great books — don’t work for every reader and I confess I’m a bit picky, but I thought this book was utterly fabulous.

It’s set in the small, declining village of Montenello in southern Italy where the mayor, Salvio — young, handsome, single and with a matchmaking mamma at his back — decides that the way to attract new blood is to offer some of the derelict properties to foreigners for a Euro apiece on condition they renovate them. The first three properties sold bring very different newcomers to the village. Divorcee Mimi is looking for a new start; Elise applied for the project with boyfriend Richard but carries on alone after their relationship breaks up; and middle-aged couple Edward and Gino are struggling with what they both want from their relationship.

Nicky Pellegrino weaves together these diverse characters and the village locals to create and intriguing and uplifting tapestry. As I read I felt the sun on my skin and the sweet sugar blast of cake from the pasticceria on my tongue; I saw the vivid colours of the deep Italian south and heard the lilt of the accents.

All of the characters were well-drawn, believable and appealing and their stories drew me in, individually and collectively. As their stories progressed and Salvio’s dream of a revived Montenello (not to mention his mother’s dream of a daughter-in-law) met with bumps in the road, I became entirely absorbed in this new and entrancing world.

It’s rare that I rave about a book quite as completely and maybe another reader will spot flaws in it. If there are any, I don’t care. It swept me along and I kept reading until it was done. A lovely, lovely read.

Thanks to Orion and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Excellent storytelling and riveting characters. Highly enjoyed the flow of this book and would love to read more novels by this author.

Over the last few years there have been quite a few instances of old villages in mountainous areas trying to rejuvenate and reinvigorate the population by offering their abandoned houses for very low prices. A Dream of Italy by Nicky Pellegrino has taken this concept and brought it to life in her book.
Mayor of Montenello, Salvio Valentini decides that he wants to bring the hillside town back to life by selling off some of the vacant houses. Putting an add online he starts with just four properties that the previous owners had agreed to sell, he is surprised by the interest and number of applications. With the help of his assistant Augusto he finds three potential tenants. The final property is taken by one of the descendants of the original owner much to Augusto’s displeasure. As to why he is not happy with this turn of events you will really have to read the book as I am not going to give it away.
Each of the potential residents has their own reasons for applying to become a resident…Mimi is escaping her failed marriage and sees it as an opportunity to reinvent her life and do something just for her for once, Edward wants to try to recapture the closeness with his partner Gino, plus he sees it as a chance for Gino to reconnect with his history as Montenello is the town that his parents emigrated from and Elise sees it as a way for her and her partner Richard to finally be able to get on the property ladder.
Nicky Pellegrino has created a truly heart-warming book with characters that you can connect with and a location that has you wanting to put down the one euro cost and follow that dream for yourself. As the book goes between each of the new residents and its mayor, I found myself easily drawn in following as they forged new lives and new friendships and constantly wanting proper Italian food. It was nice to see the villagers the newcomers and embrace the changes to the community. I will admit that I was glad when Elise decided to go it alone without Richard and strike out alone and I loved Salvio’s mother Donna Carmela as she managed to convince people to stay and do a little matchmaking along the way.
A Dream of Italy is a great holiday read that will keep you engaged right to the end. Although this is the first book I have read by this author I can see me checking out other books that she has written.

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
A very good read and one I can highly recommend to others.
I could not put this down.
Thoroughly enjoyable with an amazing cast of characters that you cannot help but engage with.

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
Having read a few of this author's other works I love this fascinating story of rebuilding a village the camaraderie between the villagers was heartwarming a fabulous summer read can highly recommend

A great summer read! I loved the unusual Italian setting, the well written cast of characters and how heartwarming this book is.
The plot kept me hooked till the last page and I appreciated the fleshed out cast of characters.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I love books by this Author, as the locations in Italy are wonderful, and I love the authentic recipes, they always make me hungry.
I was offered a copy of this book to review by Netgalley and the Publisher.
This book has an interesting storyline, where four strangers are each offered the opportunity to buy a house each for 1€ in return for helping to regenerate a crumbling village.
I really enjoyed reading this book, it is a great summer read, and very enjoyable.

This ARC was courtesy of netgalley - all thoughts and opinions are mine and unbiased

This is my dream combination - ~Italy (which I love) and Nicky Pellegrino (who's novels I absolutely adore) - what could be better

I was thrilled to be able to read this and, as usual, was not disappointed

This is Nicky Pellegrino at her best - I was sad to finish

5* for me - only wish I could give it more

Can't recommend this highly enough - the perfect holiday read

I absolutely loved the book, but then Nicky Pellegrino is one my favourite authors. As usual it was full of wonderful characters and mouth watering descriptions of Italian food. I really did feel like I'd been in Italy with Salvio, Augusto, Donna Carmela and the new residents from the UK and Australia, whilst reading this. A perfect summer read.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I liked this book but to be honest found it hard going in places hence the lower rating

This is an enjoyable, feel good book that paints a delightful picture of Italy.

It is an easy read with likeable characters that would make an ideal beach read this summer or an escapism to chase the winter blues away.

Classic Nicky Pellegrino. I always look forward to a new one. Oh for the chance to buy a wreck in Italy for €1. I remember the news stories at the time this actually happened. I couldn’t help feeling a 2nd book detailing the further adventures of these characters is called for.