This is a coming of age story which is written absolutely beautifully
The novel is very quiet and reserved. The ending was very unexpected
A great book

Gorgeous writing, this book really transported me. Perfect read for the hot summer holidays.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

Early reviews likened this to Patricia Highsmith & The Virgin Suicides hence this novel went straight to the top of my TBR pile! I totally agree that the book has an atmospheric otherworldly feel with a killer plot but for me the writing is what I remember. Lush, vivid & complex with the 1950s setting beautifully evoked.

somehow manages to capture the familiar sting of curious yearning that clung to those awkward 'coming-of-age' years. Elegant and uncomfortable, with insightful commentary of race and class. It's not plot-driven, so you'll have to be patient with its wistful scene-setting,

Such a gorgeous book - somehow manages to capture the familiar sting of curious yearning that clung to those awkward 'coming-of-age' years. Elegant and uncomfortable, with insightful commentary of race and class. It's not plot-driven, so you'll have to be patient with its wistful scene-setting, which some readers might just deem as too slow and perhaps an underwhelming ending.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
I'm torn about how I feel about Belladonna - at times, the writing style was subtly beautiful, and there were definitely moments where the setting was perfectly conjured - I felt just like I was there in the stifling heat, by the lake in Italy. However, something about this novel just didn't click with me - I spent the first half of the book disliking Isabella, and the second half disliking Bridget. I would agree with other reviewers who have said that they seem very young for their age - perhaps this is a side effect of the period setting. I was intrigued to see where the plot went, though it was quite slow paced, but I didn't feel a desperate need to pick the book up again once I put it down. By all means, my misgivings about the book are mostly personal taste - I felt quite claustrophobic being inside Bridget's head, and almost wished we could have seen more of what Isabella was thinking too.

Belladonna explores the relationship between two young women - Bridget and Isabella. Seen through Bridget's adoring eyes, Isabella is sophisticated and mature compared to the other girls at their school. She's the sort of girl who effortlessly becomes the centre of attention. Conversely, Bridget is an outsider with a home life that she is anxious to conceal. In search of acceptance and a sense of belonging, not least because of her mixed race heritage that makes her the object of insidious racism, Bridget cherishes "the luxury of hope" that Isabella will become her friend.

Always alert for small signs of Isabella's favour - a glance, a word, a gesture - Bridget is overjoyed when Isabella returns her affection. Even better, there is the prospect of them spending time together studying art along with a group of other girls at the Accademia, housed in the convent of an order of silent nuns in northern Italy.

Arriving first at the Accademia, Bridget feels protective towards Isabella, wondering how the other girls will regard her. "Isabella had such a certain kind of boldness, it was hard to tell how the other girls would take to her. How much she would be hated, or loved." The fact Bridget imagines Isabella provoking such extreme emotions and not anything in between is in subtle contrast to the quiet restraint exhibited by the nuns.

As term starts, the author really captures the atmosphere of a boarding school-like situation: the petty jealousy, the cliques, the strained friendships, the fallings out over perceived small slights. The reader witnesses how Bridget continually tries to anticipate Isabella's changing moods, taking heart from small acts of kindness, even relishing being the only one who can understand Isabella's quirks and then pondering on things she's afraid she might have said wrong.

The nuanced depiction of the relationship between the young women was one I found fascinating and thought-provoking. I came to think that perhaps Isabella was more dependent on Bridget than Bridget supposed and that Bridget undervalued herself. As the reader witnesses through her dealings with others, Bridget is kind, witty, patient, a keen student. People like her. However, her desire to retain Isabella's affections - 'I'd have to be more interesting, more delightful' - when they seem to be directed elsewhere leads to a series of actions that will have unforseen consequences. In the end, there is a sense of betrayal on both sides.

One of the things I loved about the book was the way the effect of the changing seasons on the landscape surrounding the Academy was described. For example, arriving there for the first time in August, Bridget notices the fields "strumming with cicadas in jouncing waves of noise, the air gritty with toasted grass". Conversely, in winter, "The wind was sharp and sought out vulnerable skin to slice, slamming unseen doors, whistling frosty arias in the courtyard." The arrival of spring is marked by the plum trees in the orchards surrounding the convent springing into blossom so that, "The hills around the lake were a mantle of pink and white, a flurry of pastels and silk that flew in the air and settled on the water."

Belladonna is an acutely-observed exploration of the dynamics of a relationship. As Bridget learns, "Setting your heart on something doesn't mean it's a good idea... No matter how much you want it" and that "Sometimes love isn't enough."

Thank you for sending me a copy of Belladonna. I’m afraid that it did not turn out to be my sort of book and so I shall not be reviewing it on my blog as I do not think that fair to the writer.

A captivating tale of adolescent friendship, love and longing. When Bridget meets the enigmatic Isabelle at their Catholic High School, she becomes obsessed with becoming her best friend - but is that all there is to it?
Set in the 1950s, this is a beautifully atmospheric coming of age story that follows Bridget and Isabelle from the US to Italy as their friendship evolves. Whilst the themes of teenagers battling with identity, sexuality and eating disorders that are pervasive in this novel are nothing new, the story feels heightened against the atmospheric backdrop of an Italian convent of silent nuns.
I found this a beautifully evocative novel that made me feel almost uncomfortable at times - the level of self-absorption of these girls left me trying to remember what I was like at that age, which surely shows how real this story felt! Highly recommend.

Every now and again when looking through up and coming release catalogues, I come across a book that makes me excited beyond belief. It's usually a contemporary romance book or else a thriller that I've had my eye on, although my taste is extending beyond these genres to fantasy and sci-fi as of late. Belladonna by Anbara Salam, a contemporary novel, jumped out at me immediately. A coming of age novel set in Italy, the premise was fantastic and I requested a copy of it from the publisher immediately.

Belladonna by Anbara Salam Book Review

Belladonna by Anbara Salam focuses on Bridget and her best friend Isabella, students in a Catholic High School in Connecticut. Bridget is mixed race and doesn't fit in the way others do, constantly feeling an outcast, whilst Isabella is beautiful, popular and everything Bridget wants to be. The two girls are offered an amazing and prestigious opportunity to study at an art history school run by nuns in Northern Italy and quickly take up the offer, relocating there for the year together. There, they undertake lessons in Italian, spend time exploring the beautiful Northern Italy landscape and delving into aspects of their personalities that they had never unraveled before.

Bridget quickly develops feelings for Isabella, feelings that aren't necessarily in line with the expectations of a Catholic school girl. She becomes increasingly jealous when Isabella befriends and grows close to one of the Nuns, Sister XXX, and is certain that Isabella is keeping an enormous secret from her. She tells lies, spreads rumours and does all the things a 'friend' would definitely not do - and it's no wonder that Isabella and her friendship is flawed and unnatural.

A Coming of Age Tale set in 1950s Italy

The story itself's setting is what really intrigued me - I absolutely adore Italy, I taught English there myself for a very long summer in 2014 outside of Milan, and definitely fell in love with its stunning landscapes and remarkable culture. The school was hosted in a silent convent, with only one sister able to speak to the others. The concept is an unusual one and naturally I was inclined to research the concept, and apparently this is something that happens even here in the UK. It raised with me the idea of being completely absorbed and within your faith, which I imagine can be quite telling. That said, outside of the landscape, the story didn't quite tick all of my boxes. I enjoyed the story itself but I didn't find myself connecting with the characters - I found Isabella to be incredibly controlling and manipulative but Bridget was equally as manipulative in the way she built relationships with the other girls. She sees herself as an outsider, overwhelmed by her Egyptian mother and her sick sister, but doesn't have any interest in connecting with her culture. I would liked to read more about her identity and coming to terms with it, as well as understanding her sister's illness but it definitely wasn't a deal breaker.

I enjoyed the exploration of the relationship between Bridget and Isabella, and how Anbara Salam highlighted the unhealthiness of it. It became quickly apparent that Bridget would do whatever she deemed fit to keep Isabella to herself, even resorting to nasty and vindictive methods to keep her on side and away from the tempting friendships of others. It was definitely a quick read and I was absorbed throughout, but there was a little something that was missing from Belladonna by Anbara Salam and stopped it from living entirely up to my expectations.

3.75/5 stars

A good read with a female relationship at its heart. It was a deep look at these characters, and well written.

Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

Even if it's well written I couldn't connect to the characters and the story fell flat.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I found “Belladonna” to be an engaging read, a coming-of-age story about a girl and her female friend who study for a year at an Italian monastery. The words and writing flowed easily off the page with descriptions of the monastery and relationships coming to life and transporting the reader to late-1950s Italy and Connecticut.

Belladonna is a story of obsession, friendship, and desire set at an Academy that is connected to a convent in Northern Italy. In Connecticut in 1956, Bridget desperately wants to be Isabella's friend, and to study at the Academy together. The Academy is where a small group of American girls learn Italian and art history, lodging in a convent with nuns who've taken a vow of silence, and Bridget sees this as her chance to be close to Isabella. The following year, they both start there, and they do grow close, but Bridget stays desperate for Isabella's affection, as well as keeping up lies about her own family, and she'll resort to anything to keep Isabella close.

This is a very vividly imagined novel, bringing to life the closed off world of the Academy, its petty dramas, and Bridget's love for Isabella. It looks at the inability to see the wider picture, or to realise that you cannot only plan for the immediate moments, which works well with a group of fairly self obsessed teenagers. The retro setting is important for the general aesthetic and for the narrative (considering half of the girls are engaged), but it also has a sense of being outside of time because of them being in the Academy amongst the nuns. The vibe and setting (and the obsession theme) make it easy to compare to The Talented Mr Ripley, but this is more of a coming of age novel, as Bridget learns that just being obsessed with and manipulating circumstances to be with Isabella doesn't convert into being able to be Isabella's sole focus.

Some people will love the aesthetic and lingering feel of the novel, whilst others will perhaps find the characters too unlikeable or immature, but this is a look at female friendships and desire, and what it takes to be a particular person, that makes a good immersive read.

Bridget and Isabella are two young women from New England playing at being grown ups at an Academy in 1958 in Italy. The pair are balancing friendships and feelings in a time when nice girls are expected to get married and become obedient wives. Bridget aspires to be Isabella's best friend, and tries a little hard to be loved. Isabella, meanwhile, has feelings for her secret fiance, and A N Other to consider. This is a fun, fairly light read.

This feels unfinished, as if it needs a critical edit to weed out the overwriting ('my pulse shot into my eardrums', ' the sugar spiralled into my brain', 'a fizzy swell of hysteria surged in my chest'), and bring clarity to the storyline. The characters feel young and simplistic, as if this were YA, and the whole thing lacks complexity. Female relationships are complicated and can be intense but this one doesn't succeed in getting to the heart of its characters. Ultimately, this feels like fan-fic of Ferrante's Elena and Lila.