A good story about family and how important it is to foster those connections set in a beautiful location!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

Our Italian Summer gave me the travel bug! The way this story was written really made me feel like I was traveling to Italy. When I was 16 I went on a two and a half week tour of Italy and this book brought me back to that amazing trip. The dynamic between Allegra, Francesca and Sophia was transformed throughout the novel. I loved that it wasn’t just about their relationship with one another, but also about themselves as individuals. Ian and Enzo were such great additions to the story and I loved reading about each character. The scenery was so well written and I cannot wait to get back to Italy, eat some delicious food and see everything Italy has to offer. This book was an A+.

I love Jennifer Probst's writing and this was no exception. I thoroughly enjoyed this Women's Fiction novel. My only "complaint" is that is was not really a romance to me!

Another great read for these cold, wintry days is Jennifer Probst’s Our Italian Summer. Pre-Covid, my family and I visited Italy nearly every summer so I’ve really been missing our travels. While we don’t have any plans to visit this year, it was wonderful to take a virtual trip via this book!

Probst weaves a lovely and emotional tale about three generations of women seeking to reclaim happiness in their lives. Sophia Ferrari is struggling with an illness and no longer feels close to her daughter Francesca; Francesca is a workaholic who barely has any time to spend with her own daughter Allegra; and, Allegra is getting into all sorts of trouble as a result. The Ferrari women are all in need of reconnecting with each other, and Italy is the perfect place for this to happen. The interactions feel real and not forced, and Probst does an excellent job of depicting the often fraught relationship between mothers and daughters. And, I loved how all of the women reconnected while exploring Italy. Filled with gorgeous descriptions of the Italian countryside and some heartfelt romances along the way, Our Italian Summer was the perfect escapist read during this rough winter!

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Books for my digital copy in exchange for an honest 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!

They say that reading is one of the cheapest ways to travel. With Our Italian Summer you can escape to Italy and experience a fabulous trip to the other side of the world with its vivid imagery and delicious food descriptions that will have the reader craving the real thing.

This character driven story about a three generations of Ferrari women is easy to read with the very relateable and charming ladies who travel to trace their family roots and reconnect with each other.

Told from Francesca, Allegra and Sofia’s perspective, this moving story about family, forgiveness and second chance Is heartwarmingly uplifting.

Our Italian Summer is a stand-alone book by Jennifer Probst. If you are familiar with the author, you will know that she writes romance and this book's main genre is not romance, but women's fiction, which means that it's more focused on the dynamics between the three women and not on their potential love interests.

The book was hard for me to read because there is so much negativity between them. The characters fall into the usual cliches and what they needed as obviously some communication, which didn't happen for quite some time. Things started to get better after 2/3 of the book. Up to that point, there was so much tension and the characters weren't willing to listen to the others. Anyways, after that point, I started to actually get into the book and enjoy it and I was going to rate it with 5 stars, but I wasn't a fan of the ending. What I disliked about that is that while some characters got closure and their ending is certain we got others whose ending is up to interpretation. I might not have had a problem with that if it weren't for the sudden and abrupt things that happened in only one chapter (which was also and the last one in the series). At least that's how I feel.

As I mentioned above, the characters were pretty cliche. Francesca is the workaholic parent who misses every single event their child is a part of, is married to their job, and almost dies from it. Allegra is the stereotypical child who acts out because of that. I find it interesting that the blurb mentions Ian for two reasons. A) I feel like the blurb should have mentioned that Allegra was arrested because she was in a car where the driver was stoned and b) because Allegra (and the rest of us) don't find out about Ian wanting to become a priest until like 70% of the book. I was on Allegra's side for most of the time, but she lost me a little during her last days in Italy due to her reaction to a crisis her mother faced. Sophia reminded me of my grandmother, mainly because I kept thinking that she should have gone to a doctor. In her very first chapter, we learn that she is not ok and that she refused to see a doctor until after the trip.

Speaking of chapters I have to add that we get to see the story from the point of view of the three of them. The narration always follows the same order (or at least most of the time), Francesca, Allegra, and then Sophia. It can become a little confusing to some, but at least we get to know who is narrating each chapter at the begging of it.

The book is a hit or miss for me. I struggled with some parts and I found the constant negativity very tiring at times so if you are looking for a light-hearted book this is not the one for you. The characters have a lot of issues they have to work through and for 1 step forward they took 2 back. The bright side of that is that later on, we got to see them talk about what was bothering them and make choices that there good for them. It's the reason I am not giving it 3 or fewer stars. The women actually stopped seeing things only from their point of view and actually started thinking about the others too. Francesca is my least favorite character for the most part because not only was she neglecting her own daughter but also because she seemed to look down at her mother who wanted only the best for her.

Overall, I have mixed feelings about the book, with the positive outweighing the bad, even for a little bit. If I didn't have an issue with the ending as I explained before I would have recommended the book with no uncertainty. Now I am a little hesitant, to be honest.

Sophia knows something is not quite right with her body but instead of rushing to the Dr, she decides to do something she’s been dreaming of for years. She plans a trip to Italy, but not just for herself. Sophia sees that her daughter Francesca and her granddaughter Allegra have lost their way within their relationship and their lives. Sophia makes a plan to reunite the way with a trip to Italy while making memories that will last a lifetime, or however long she has left.

First off this book not only epitomizes what an Italian dream vacation would be but it goes a step further and describes in great detail every place you’d want to see cafes to eat at, and love stories to adore. Sometimes I feel that a lot of details and description can get in the way of a story but with this there was just enough to make it feel as if I was seeing The Colosseum and waking the Spanish Steps, having dinner in a local restaurant drinking wine and dancing to the chicken song with fellow travelers. The art, the history, the architecture, and the food of Italy make it sound like the trip of a lifetime! I thought I wanted to visit Italy before but this just lit a fire under me.

I thought this was such a beautiful story. When I first started reading I felt nervous seeing the similarities of symptoms of my grandmother's cancer develop within Sophia's narration. I thought this book might be a tear-filled and hard read. However, the health issues with Sophia are minimal in the story and what really shone was the dynamic relationship within these women. The travels they had and the love they found.

I love the details and the hardship these three women go through within their families. Jennifer writes a perfect example of what a Mother-daughter relationship can sometimes be. I know I gave my mother my fair share of troubles as a teen.

This story is full of drama, family, travels, and love. It’s a wonderfully easy read. I really enjoyed it.

Our Italian Summer by Jennifer Probst is the perfect antidote for escaping dreary winter days. While I cannot travel to Italy right now, readers can join three generations of Ferrari women as they travel.

Sophia, Francesca, and Allegra all come to the trip with their various burdens, but a trip away may be just what they need. This is ultimately a book about family and the power of forgiveness set against a lush backdrop.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

If you want a book that makes you want to pack your bags and plan an Italian getaway then look no further!(or just pretend because you know Covid life...)

This story of three generations of women was heartfelt and a great escapist kind of read. It touched on the compelling issues of mother/daughter relationships and the importance of honest communication and taking the time to understand one another. I loved the descriptions and felt like I was there on the tour with them enjoying the beautiful ruins and landscapes of Italy.

While yes there was some romance infused in the story (as it should be with Italian men in the picture), it was the family aspect and the lessons they learned about themselves and each other along their journey that kept me smiling through the chapters. If you want a feel good read that also tackles some family dynamics and imagine your traveling through Italy then this is a must read for you!

Thank you Netgalley & Berkley Publishing for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I absolutely adore Jennifer Probst and Our Italian Summer is a great indication of why. She writes so beautifully, with attention to the lush surroundings, without ever losing the thread of the story.

In this book, the story is one of family—and its smart, at times heartbreaking, and oh, so rewarding. There’s little more I can say about this book except that I am thrilled to have read it, and recommend the experience to anyone and everyone.

Let me say that this is not a traditional Jennifer Probst book, however the book is an amazing story. The book focuses on the relationship of 3 generations of women, traveling through the Italy. Sophia wants to show her daughter, Francesca and granddaughter, Allegra, that there is more to relationships than what you see on the surface. The book is a little slow to get started but once it does, I found it very profound and so many lessons learned throughout the story. I honestly was able to pull so much from the evolution of these women, that correlates to my life as a woman, daughter, wife snd mother myself. Jennifer did an amassing job making the characters relatable without making the book too heavy for a fictional novel. I absolutely recommend this book!

DNF at 60%
This books just moved too slowly for me. It was repetitive and nothing new. If I had to hear one more time about how Frannie has promised Allegra she wasn’t gonna work on the trip and then she works on the trip I was gonna scream.

“We swear we’ll never be like our mothers, but after enough time and experience pass, you realize we’re all the same. Doing our best. Making mistakes. Pushing forward.”

This is a story about the power and pain that are present in mother-daughter relationships. How there is so much love while simultaneously so much potential to wound and heal. The Ferrari women take an epic summer trip to Italy after Allegra gets busted with drugs and Francesca has a panic attack at work. Over the course of four weeks, they explore their family roots, their relationships with food and each other.

This book gave me definite wanderlust, especially reading it while the COVID pandemic continues to rage and travel is off the table. I thought it could have been just a touch shorter but overall I loved this story. It’s my first Jennifer Probst book but I look forward to reading more of her backlist.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

A Review of “Our Italian Summer” by Jennifer Probst, Berkley Publishing, January 2021, by Linda Zagon
Jennifer Probst, the author of “Our Italian Summer” has written a delightful, entertaining, and memorable novel. The genres for this novel are family fiction, and romantic fiction. The timeline for the story is set in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events.. The author describes her characters as flawed, likable,complex and complicated. Most of the story is set in parts of Italy. I love the way Jennifer Probst vividly describes the food, the scenery and the events in Italy.

This is a novel with three generations of women in the same family. Sophia has a feeling that her daughter and grand daughter need some intervention, and plans a trip to Italy to enjoy the sights, and bond the family. Francesca, her daughter is a workaholic and single mother that often forgets to attend important meetings for her daughter Allegra. Allegra’s feelings have been hurt by her mother, and she starts to hang out with a different crowd.

This special summer trip to Italy is wonderful to read, and I wish I could purchase a ticket and head there now. I enjoyed the family dynamics, and I highly recommend this wonderful book for others.

A wonderful story of the dynamics of mother/daughter relationships. There’s secrets, first love, regrets and growth of characters and relationships.

You know when you pick up a JP book you are going to get a heartfelt, wonderful story that you are going to fall in love with.

And Our Italian Summer is no exception - though I think I fell in love with the scenery as much as the lovelies in our story this time.

It is more women's fiction in feel than other JP books I have read in the past - with a story of self discovery thrown in . It was Eat, Pray, Love-ish in its vibe (but better than EPL)

I won't lie, there were a few times that I wanted to throw my reader across the room with Frannie and also Allegra. I could understand their actions/reactions most of the time, but it didn't stop me from hating on them either - especially Frannie.

And Nonni reminded me of Sophia from The
Golden Girls - she was my favourite of the three ladies.

This story has mad me want to travel to Europe more than ever.

I did like where their journey ended up taking them, and I look forward more stories like this from Ms Probst in the future.

Experiencing Italy during these days when we are staying home, even if through the eyes of characters in a book, was exactly what I needed! To have the opportunity of a family trip with my mom and daughter is not something I could ever hope for, but living it vicariously in Our Italian Summer was spectacular.

I easily related to Francesca as a workaholic who doesn’t quire have her priorities straight. The relationship between a mom and daughter can easily become frayed if not nourished properly. Feeling like you are responsible for everyone and everything can bring out frustrations and stress relationships. A trip to Italy could solve a lot if everyone opens up to the experience of a lifetime and absorbs the beauty in it.

I was enthralled by the Ferrari women, likely because I saw myself in them, and the story kept me captivated from the very beginning. The blurb intrigued me, which is why I decided to read it, and it gave me a feeling of warmth and completeness. It tugged at my heartstrings and I cherished every moment. If there is a country I’d ever want to visit, it is Italy, and when authors set their stories in Italy, you can always count on me to gobble it up.

Our Italian Summer is my first book by author Jennifer Probst and I am so pleased that I picked this up. It isn’t exactly the genre I would normally read and I was pleasantly surprised. It was a good change of pace for me. I will definitely be searching her backlist and watching for future releases.

Our Italian Summer is a poignant tale of 3 generations of women dealing with life's challenges while enjoying trip of a lifetime. While this is more chick lit than the romance I love from this author it is still a book I enjoyed very much and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys getting lost in a great story. The writing is superior and these characters will find a place in your heart. Be prepared to kick back and enjoy a lovely slow paced journey.

WARNING: This book should not be attempted on an empty stomach. I may have ingested multiple bowls of pasta and several ̶g̶l̶a̶s̶s̶s̶e̶s̶ ̶ bottles of red wine during the reading of this novel.

Our Italian Summer follows the three Ferrari women - workaholic single-mom Francesca, her resentful teenaged daughter Allegra and Francesca's aging, widowed mother, Sophia - on a family trip to Italy. Sophia has long wanted to see her parents' homeland but her husband died before they had a chance to go so when Allegra starts acting out and Francesca's work stress begins causing panic attacks, she insists they get away in the hopes that they can all relax and reconnect before it's too late to repair their fracturing relationships with each other.

The story is told from each of the women's POVs and I liked getting their different perspectives on what was happening. You will totally be transported to Italy along with Francesca, Sophia and Allegra - I could almost taste the pasta they ate and see the sights they were visiting. It's like taking the vacation we all wish we could right now and I dare you not to bust out some prosciutto and a class of Chianti while you're reading.

Aspects of the plot are a bit predictable but Our Italian Summer is a great escape and I appreciated that the men the women get involved with don't take over the story - Probst keeps the focus on the Ferraris where it should be.

3.5 stars

Thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy to review.