*Her Tuscan Summer* is a delightful escape into the scenic beauty of Tuscany, where the protagonist embarks on a journey of self-discovery and romance. The vivid descriptions of the Tuscan landscape and the charming local culture add warmth to the story. While the plot is predictable, it’s a feel-good read perfect for anyone craving a light, summery romance.

Vanessa Carnevale’s Her Tuscan Summer is an escapist, emotional and enjoyable contemporary romance perfect for losing oneself in.

Becoming an artist had been Mia Moretti’s most cherished dream. Unfortunately, a devastating illness had not only taken its toll on Mia’s body, but also left her unable to paint like she used to. Crushed and heartbroken, Mia cannot help but worry about what the future holds, so when she gets an opportunity to spend a summer in Tuscany, she jumps at the chance. Mia hopes that the majestic beauty of Italy will help her heal and give her the fresh start which she had been hoping for. But Mia hadn’t counted on meeting a gorgeous local mechanic who will turn her life upside down – but will it be for the right reasons?

Luca Bonnici looks like he just stepped out of every woman’s sexiest romantic fantasy. As handsome as sin, charming and laidback, Luca loses no time in sweeping Mia off her feet. Offering to show her the sights on the back of his motorcycle, Luca manages to make Mia feel more alive than she has felt in absolute ages. For the first time in a long while, Mia is hopeful about the future and begins to feel as if she has finally found somewhere she belongs – until tragedy strikes and she finds herself back at square one.

Will this second chance at happiness end up slipping through Mia’s fingers? Or will Luca manage to show her that life is for living – but only if she has the courage to let go of the past and take a chance on love…

A tender, touching and intensely romantic tale which will make readers feel as if they are in Italy, Vanessa Carnevale’s Her Tuscan Summer is a beautifully told love story about courage, finding a place to call home and the healing power of love that will touch readers’ hearts and bring a smile to their faces.

Mia and Luca are two nuanced characters readers will fall for the moment they appear on the page. They are strong, flawed, vulnerable and have fears and insecurities that readers can relate to. The chemistry between Mia and Luca is positively electric and readers will find themselves swept away by their emotional love story.

Best read with a box of tissues handy, Vanessa Carnevale’s Her Tuscan Summer is guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings and lift your spirits.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. If I am being honest, I will read any book that comes my way about Italy...especially one that involves doing things that scare you and growing from the experience. This was a great book all the way around for me. Mia is given the chance to spend the summer in Italy and she is hoping for a fresh start...she has been sick and she can no longer paint like she used to...her heart just isn't in it the way it once was and she is hoping that Italy will help get her back to who she used to be. Not only does it help in that respect, but she finds a new love and she grows from the experience. Great book.

Loved reading this book and author. I highly recommend her and her books. Happy reading and I hope you liked it as much as I did

A beautiful story that is a real emotional rollercoaster. I loved everything about it, the location the characters and the romance and I couldn't put it down until I had finished it.... good job I am retired!

Starting live and love anew, tragedy struck Mia's life where she had to find the strength to fight for her love. The story was sweet and poignant. The descriptions of locales were beautiful. That kept me glued to the book. Overall, an emotional read.

This book had me sucked in from when I picked it up to read and I really enjoyed the storyline.

Mia is recovering from an illness and decides to go to Italy where her Grandparents came from to maybe make a new life for herself. She meets Luca and we see their love story unfold from the start. The description of the scenery in Tuscan makes you want to go there.

Mia is a wonderful painter and through her paintings the story of her romance is shown which makes her feelings come out with the wonderful paintings.

You will need tissues at the ready as I found this an very emotional book.

Her Tuscan Summer by Vanessa Carnevale

Beautiful story. It tells o9f heartbreaking struggles that have to be conquered. Great characters…. Loved the details about Italy. Loved the artists at work. It contained romance like none other. I recommend, thinking s book.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.

I thoroughly enjoyed being transported to Italy in this book. Loved the characters, loved the descriptions and even though it took me on an emotional rollercoaster, it was an absolute pleasure to read.

What a brilliant book from start to finish it kept you reading on a tearful happy and a beautiful story line such a great read

Mia Moretti has always dreamed of becoming an artist. But after a fierce battle with cancer that she is terrified will return, Mia is heartbroken to find herself unable to paint like she used to, and is forced to give up her place at art school.

So when an opportunity to spend the summer in Italy presents itself, Mia jumps at the chance for a fresh start. She hopes that by travelling to the sun-drenched streets of Florence, surrounded by art and Tuscany’s rich green vineyards and sweeping hills, she will finally be able to heal.

What Mia doesn't count on is meeting handsome local mechanic, Luca Bonnici. With his easy smile, endless warmth and irresistible joie de vivre, Mia can’t help but fall for him. And, as she slowly lets down her walls and opens her heart to Luca, Mia starts to fall in love with life again too.

But just when she is ready to let go of her past, tragedy strikes. Will Mia’s strength and her love for Luca be enough to save them both, or is it already too late?

What a heartbreakingly wonderful story! Yet another amazing book by one of my favourite authors!

The plot is so beautifully written and descriptive that you get the feeling of having visited Italy without moving an inch from your seat.

The characters are all lovable, jovial and so full of life, just like how Italians are! But Mia’s journey is the highlight. Her story is an inspiration to everyone who is scared to trust easily or live freely after experiencing something so difficult. And everybody needs a Luca in their life to give the encouragement to start pursuing your passion again.

The ending was obviously expected but it was definitely satisfying and I would have been disappointed if it had ended in another way!

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

I am not a huge fan of romance books which end or deal with tragedy. I am all for a good, hearty, full-blown sympathy evoking story with considerable hurt feelings and heartbreak that ends in a happily- ever- after. But not ones that actually end tragically. (It should be easy to guess whether or not I have read a lot of Nicholas Sparks.)

Vanessa Carnevale's Her Tuscan Summer actually begins with a really difficult illness the heroine has come through, travels through the heroine's fears and conflicts and ends with an unexpected turn life throws at her. How and whether she manages to overcome her several battles forms the story and it has been told in as much a poignant way as possible. The story is beautifully written, wonderfully described and most importantly, completely human. 

For all the troubles and problems the lead couple and others in the book face in their lives, they all just power on and fight through life. They never give up and so, are all truly inspiring. The book ended in such a positive note that all the negativity we are exposed to throughout the book just vanishes. The book deserves the 5 stars that it has gotten from me. All that being said, this type of book is just not my cup of tea and I am fairly sure I will not be reading this author's other books. Which is a shame because I really liked Vanessa's writing style and her way of narrating a story. 

I have gotten this book from Bookouture in exchange for an honest review and all the views expressed in this review are my own.

Although a story about a painter, the real art in this story are the words on the page. Carnevale’s narrative is beautifully written and hard to put down. After doing though serious health issues, Mia decides to get a fresh start and moves to Florence to rediscover her passion for life and art. She finds friends, a job and love and starts to feel happy again. But a health scare puts a stop to that. And then further disaster strikes. Will Mia regain her passion? Will she be able to right wrongs? This is a beautifully crafted story that you need to read.

Actual rating: 3.75/5
Check TW: cancer, death, grief, accident

Her Tuscan Summer is the story of Mia, a young Australian girl, who is in remission for cancer. She goes to Italy to find herself again and discover Florence. She meets Luca and he shows Tuscani to Mia.
First, I always really like it when books are set in Italy and this one didn't disappoint. It just made me want to visit Florence and discover art. The setting was amazing.
Second, I didn't enjoy the trope of the romance: insta-love, the characters just met and they are already so in love... However, individually I liked the characters, especially, Stella and Clara.
Last but not least, when the synopsis says it is heartbreaking, it is. I almost cried a couple of times.
Overall, a good book set in Italy if you want a little cry...

A well done book. I was hooked from the moment that I read the summary. It is the perfect summer read that is so enjoyable while you are laying out on the beach. The characters are likeable and this book leaves you wanting to be friends with them. A great read for anyone!

Seeing the cover I just had to stop and check the blurb out. Plus being set in Italy I just needed to read it. I was meant to go Italy(Rome, Tuscany and Florence) last year but you know Covid happened. So reading this helped a little.

This is just the perfect summer book for just kicking back and falling in love. I loved Mia and Luca so much. I can't wait to read more from this author xx

This is the perfect summer book for kicking back and falling in love. Not just with italy and Mia, but the book itself. It is so vivid in description. You cannot help but be drawn to Mia and what she is going through. Will she be ok? Will she find her art again? Will she experience love?

All questions you will have to read the book to find out.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

The story is not new and very predictable.

Mia is traveling to Italy to find herself after years of fighting cancer and there she not only finds herself but finds love and friendship and life.

I thought Mia and Luca happened way too fast, it really bothered me.

But I totally enjoyed reading about their relationship.
And I absolutely loved the Italian setting, they way it was described it really took me there.

The cancer talk got me really emotional, but I saw it from the mother’s point of view and it was scary.

Luca is too good to be true.

An enjoyable read.

Mia Moretti arrives in Tuscany, excited but anxious. She has finally been given the all clear from her cancer and now wants to follow her dream of painting. She meets and falls in love with Luca but will her fears about the future get in the way?
Her Tuscan Summer is a warm novel about love and hope. It has an important message about not taking our lives for granted, to challenge ourselves to make the most of every day.
Mia has been through an awful few years and has lost the ability to paint. Now she uses art as a therapy, to capture and appreciate the beauty of life. Yet her fears about her illness and her future leave a shadow hanging over her. The link between physical wellbeing and mental health is strongly emphasised.
The book is written in the first person so we are witness to Mia's hopes and fears. She falls in love quickly and completely with Luca, a man who has experienced grief and equally understands how precious life is. The first half of the book is a simple love story but then there is a twist halfway through which causes the couple to evaluate their future.
The landscape and culture of Italy is wonderfully brought to life and is almost the third main character in the book! The food, the art, the lifestyle combine to provide a backdrop to the plot.
Her Tuscan Summer is an emotional book with an important message about appreciating those we love.

A delightful title that just may have you wanting to book a trip to Tuscany by the time you are done!

Mia goes to Tuscany without a job or any real direction beyond the desire to find herself again. She's seeking to heal after losing her desire to create works of art like she used to before getting sick.

Soon after arriving, she meets Luca, a local mechanic who is just the kind of Italian guy many dream of meeting.

They soon find a connection neither expected. And, Mia soon finds not only a job to pay bills, but inspiration to paint thanks to her surroundings and new relationships.

The question is can the fairy tale romance last.

Overall, a great choice for anyone wanting a romantic read with just a bit of tension included.