Our Italian Summer is the perfect escape for everyone needing a distraction from these dark times and life in general.

It most definitely provided a much needed escape for me. It gave me the opportunity to travel to Italy and it made me very happy, even though it was traveling there via book instead of a real trip. Hey, i’ll take what I can get.

The descriptions of Italy and all of the delights to behold there were marvelous, and I felt like I was right there alongside the characters taking it all in. My wanderlust soul was overjoyed tagging along on this adventure.

The characters were well written, likeable, and easy to love. The family as a whole was interesting to read about, as it was lovely seeing them reconnect and take this one-in-a-lifetime trip together. I cherished their bond, and wanted nothing but the best for each and every one of them.

The scenery is breathtakingly realistic, and I marveled at it all. The writing flows easily, and makes you eager to keep flipping the pages!

This book is a wonderful, sweet story filled to the brim with treasures that will put a smile on your face (and make you want to travel) and I urge you to pick it up!

Highly recommend!

Overall this was a fun read that swept me away to Italy. The characters were well written and the story flowed easily. It kept my interest most of the time.

Super sweet read! I especially enjoyed speaking with the author via IG Live about the inspiration for the book. This story was the escape I needed during the pandemic... now if I could only order in a giant plate of pasta, life would be perfect.

What's not to love about three generations of women touring one of the most beautiful places in the world?

In this generational story, grandmother Sophia, her daughter, Francesca and granddaughter, Allegra end up on a summer vacation in Italy.
And it’s not necessarily something they all wanted to do, but Sophia insists. Francesca works too much, and Allegra, now a teenager, has been getting in trouble. Sophia, who has another reason for them to spend some time together, convinces them that she was to trace their family roots.
Francesca and Allegra have some problems with each other, and with learning to let go of work and technology to spend time together.
Through this trip, eyes and hearts are opened.
I could see this as a movie for some streaming channel. The characters are likable and easy to care about.

Francesca is too busy for family. She doesn't have time for either her mother or her teenage daughter. Until she need to go to the police station to pick up Allegra for drug possession. Francesca's mother, Sophia knows there is trouble ahead and talks Francesca and Allegra into a summer vacation in Italy. It takes time but the 3 finally learn that family is important and they can count on each other. More bonding than romance this is a nice story that is easy to read. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

In all, this book was everything I wanted it to be; an easy read about a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy. I think it's a nice book that provides a little taste of travel! I loved it. I highly recommend it.

This took a while for me to get into (probably because I'm used to other genres and this was a departure for me), but once I did, I didn't want to put it down.. The descriptions of Italy and all it's treasures were amazing and family conflicts and secrets were deep and not easily fixed in a few pages. It was a refreshing read, and it makes he want to visit Italy and take my entire family, as crazy as they make me sometimes.

The three generations of Ferrari women need to reconnect with one another. Francesca is career obsessed, building her advertising company and refusing to give up any control, but she’s out of touch with her eighteen year old daughter. Allegra is nearing the summer before her senior year of high school and wants to travel with a group of undermotivated musician friends. Grandmother Sophia knows she is ill, but wants to take a last trip to Italy where her parents met and fell in love.
This is the book my wanderlusting soul needed right now. Not only did I enjoy the story of these three women and their relationships with one another, but the tour through Italy, the sights and smells and smidge of romance absolutely won me over. It was a vivid virtual tour, but also a healing, uplifting, beautiful novel about missed opportunities, second chances, relationships and forgiving.
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Meet Francesca, Sophie, and Allegra. Three generations of the Ferrari women each with their own strained relationships. We follow the three women as they take a trip across Italy trying to renew bonds, build trust, and learn how to feel and let go.

I really loved how this was told in the different point of views so we get a chance to hear from all three women and their sides. There was plenty of moments for love and laughter as well as finding true family love. I really appreciated how the author made a way to showcase each woman individually and their ties together. I really enjoyed the writing style, allowing each woman to shine and deal with their own troubles. I am giving this four stars because it had a solid writing style, but I wasn’t sold on Allegra’s story ending. It didn’t really seem to fit the flow of the rest of the story. Other than that, I loved it.

This is a lovely journey through Italy with three women who learn how to connect with each other. I enjoyed the descriptions of the beautiful Italian countryside as much as the budding romances and importance of family.

This is my first Jennifer Probst book and it was fantastic.

This is a beautiful story of three women who are on their own personal journeys...they just happen to be related.

Sophia (mom/grandma) knows something is not right with her body and is watching her daughter and granddaughter grow apart. Her mission is to bring the three of them together on a once in a lifetime trip.

Francesca (mom/daughter) is a workaholic, not giving her daughter the attention she needs/wants and a bit jealous of the relationship her mother and daughter have. But she’s not willing to sacrifice work to make them a priority.

Allegra (daughter/grand-daughter) is a junior in high school who is trying to get her moms attention, willing to take chances to get her attention and trying to get the courage to stand up for what she wants her future to look like.

As events unfold the three of them head out on a three week trip to Italy. Along the way they discover the hurt, miscommunication, regrets, dream and desires the three of them have experienced. It’s a journey of not only healing old wounds but self discovery, live and forgiveness.

I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Jennifer Probst has given us a book for the ages. Her descriptions of Italy, the food, wine, churches, art and countryside carry you there and bring a calm to your soul. The story of 3 generations of woman looking for something tangible to bring their family together will touch your heart and soul.

The dynamics between Sophia, Francesca and Allegra are complicated. All family connections have their challenging aspects and Ms. Probst brings all the feelings, good and bad, into this story. As we travel with them and learn more about them, you will come to understand that each has their motivations and intentions for going on the trip. The women’s interactions with each other and other characters lead us on an incredible journey.

This book is a MUST READ for anyone who has ever dreamed of Italy and those that haven't.

Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book. I have never read a Jennifer Probst before and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I travelled a couple of years ago to Italy and loved reading about all the places the Ferrari women visited. It brought back such wonderful memories. If you have never been to Italy you will definitely want to go once you have read this book!!! I loved the strong women characters in this book who each had their own internal struggles but managed through their trip to re-bond and find a strength in each other and being together. If you are looking for a good woman's read about family relationships, then this is the book for you. And if you are looking at getting away during this pandemic while you are stuck at home, read this book and you will feel like you have travelled to Italy!

Francesca is a workaholic, self-made business woman who is beginning to spiral. Her daughter, Allegra, is has also begun to stray - she has begun to lose her path as she navigates adolescence without a father and a mother who is always working. And Sophia, Francesca's mother, is not sure if she can bridge the growing divide between her daughter and granddaughter and hopes that a summer trip to Italy for the three of them could be just what each of them needs.

Will Franny find a balance to work and family? Can Allegra figure out who she is and what she wants for her future? Will Sophia succeed in making her family whole again?

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3811023671

I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I never read a book by Jennifer Probst but certainly read my share of this type of book. The author writes with a winning formula—a family of women of different generations, conflict, stress and love.- a romantic setting-you have a winner but not a winner for me. Nonni is too nice. Allegra is a brat and Francesca rigid. What I loved about the book is the setting. I visited Italy on an escorted tour 20 years ago. We visited many of the cities an attractions. I loved that part. My peeve is that the characters always commented of the smells of fellow characters. They must’ve been sniffing through the entire book. If this is your type of genre, this book is for you.

ARC for honest review with no compensation received from NetGalley 4.5 stars

Our Italian Summer by Jennifer Probst is about three generations of women, mother, daughter and granddaughter taking a trip to Italy where they rediscover what has been missing in their relationships, connecting as a family, healing those relationships and finding what has been missing ... love!

This was a lovely novel about 3 generations of woman and the relationship between them.

They've decided to take a trip to Italy for the summer, all for different reasons.

Francesca has a very successful business and is a workaholic. She puts her job first, instead of her daughter, Allegra. She's missed so much of Allegras teen years, that Allegra has become resentful.

She doesn't have much of a relationship with her mother but she adores her relationship with her grandmother, Sophia, as she has pretty much raised Allegra while Francesca established her business.
Allegra gets in trouble with the law, and the trip to Italy that Sophia has been pestering Francesca about for a few months, finally becomes a reality.

What I really liked was that the story is told from the 3 different viewpoints of each generation and their struggles, triumphs and what they each were going through and learning and growing.

This was my first book by Jennifer Probst and it will definitely not be my last. She has a beautiful way of weaving each story together yet keeping them separated.
Beautiful read, I definitely recommend it!

I'd like to thank the author #authorjenniferprobst
And #netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very good read! It was definitely a little different than many of the other Jennifer Probst books. This story followed 3 generations of one family. Francessca, her Mother Sophia, and her daughter Allegra. It followed these ladies in a summer as they travel in the summer to Italy. I thought this was so well written and I loved each chapter was from their point of view. You have the agnst of a teenager really wanted attention from her Mother. A Mother who wants to successful in her career and a Grandmother who wants everyone to get along. They each find a little romance along the way but it wasn't the main focus. Finding themselves to build better relationships was the main focus and I loved it! I loved the flow of the story and the details of their trip. It felt like I was right there with me. It was a beautiful story, and I really enjoyed it.

FULL AUTHOR INTERVIEW ON FRESHFICTION.COM

1--What is the title of your latest release?

OUR ITALIAN SUMMER

2--What is it about?

Three generations of women in the Ferrari family must heal the broken pieces of their lives on a trip of a lifetime through picturesque Italy.

3--What do you love about the setting of your book?

The book literally takes you through a tour of Italy, from Rome all the way to Tuscany. It’s full of amazing food, wine, and experiences that Italy is beloved for.

4--How did your heroine(s) surprise you?

There are actually three heroines in this book. Francesca is 49, Allegra is 18, and Sophia is 75! I love diving into the various points of view for each age. I think what surprised me the most about all of them is the inner strength each of them have to keep them pushing through challenges.

5--Why will readers love your hero(es)?

There are two main heroes in this book! Enzo is the Italian tour guide, and Ian is one of the tour members from Ireland. Enzo falls for Francesca, and Ian falls for Allegra. These love stories are both very different but extremely emotional and poignant. I know these two men will make my readers swoon!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for my #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Due to potential spoilers, content warnings are at the bottom of this post.

Our Italian Summer takes us on the journey through 3 generations of women of the same family and how they vacation in Italy after each one has issues in their lives they want to escape from.

I loved being in the head of these three ladies that thought and felt completely differently from each other while at the same time I wanted to shake them and make them realize how they were screwing up and continuing their fights. There were several times that they they would acknowledge what would be the better option to do so that there wasn’t a fight or tension and they would do the opposite out of spite.

The tour of Italy was wonderful! It’s one of my dream places to travel to and then to have all the insights and thorough descriptions of what they were exploring and seeing made me feel like I could picture it and sometimes felt like I was there.

The food content was perfection too. I related a lot to Allegra (the teenager) and how she dreams of a career involving food. Her fascination with the food they ate and what made it so good is something I tend to do too.


Recommended if you like:
-Italy 🇮🇹
- Travel ✈️
- With The Fire On High 📖


CW: anxiety, grief, discussion of sexual assault and victim blaming, panic attacks, discussion of miscarriage, cancer