Carmela del Bosco lives on her family farm near Naples during World War Two. One night, her sleep is disturbed and she is confronted with a badly wounded young man who needs to be hidden. Initially reluctant, Carmela finally agrees to hide the man, Sebastiano, in an old watchtower.

It turns out that Sebastiano is an agent for the SOE and wanted by the Nazis and Italian fascists. In trying to assist him, Carmela finds herself in danger, along with other members of her family including her half-brother Danielo.

Inevitably, as events unfold, Carmela and Sebastiano admit feelings for each other but there are many challenges to overcome before they can be together. There is also the secret that Carmela carries of a previous love affair that she struggles to put behind her.

This was a beautifully written and emotive story, taking you deep into the Italian countryside and the fight for liberation. The characters and their relationships are well-drawn and realistic.

Not having read any of Natalie Meg Evans's books before, I will definitely be looking out for more.

I received a free digital ARC of this book via Bookouture, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Heartbreaking, this book was utterly heartbreaking. I was sucked in by the blurb and only got deeper when I started reading it. Such amazing writing and character development with this book. Throw in Italy, WW2, intrigue and forbidden love and you have this heartbreaking, beautiful book.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley

This historical fiction novel set in Italy during the second world war is a great read for WWII histfic fans! I haven't read many wwii books sent in Italy, so reading a book that gives a clear picture of the events leading up to liberation in Naples. Another thing that makes this one stand out is the fact that it also sheds light more on the daily life of citizens as opposed to some of the others I've read lately which seem to focus on members of the resistance.

The author found a good balance of character development, especially with the two main characters, Carmela and Sebastiano, while also keeping the pace of the novel steady throughout. This made it hard to put down both because you want to know what happens to the characters but also about the events going on around them in the bigger storyline as well.

This was a great book with enough emotion to keep readers invested, as well as enough detail to be able to picture the events and connect with the characters and understand the world they were living in. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book!

I received this e-book from Net Galley for an honest review. This is The Italian Girl's Secret by Natalie Meg Evans. This was a historical fiction set in the WW2 Era. I enjoyed this one.

Heartbreaking, emotional and fantastic. Great characters and plot. Fabulous writing style too, which captivates and enthralls.

This story offers an intensely powerful view of wartime Naples and surrounding towns from an Italian woman’s perspective. By 1943, it has been four years since Carmela del Bosco returned from England, where she attended school and experienced terrible loss. She now lives in a farmhouse with her Nonna in the hills outside Naples, growing tomatoes and raising animals, while the occupying Germans roam the countryside, rooting out dissent. When her half-brother Danielo, a resistance fighter, asks her to conceal a wounded soldier, Sebastiano, she resists bringing the stranger into her home, fearing her Fascist second cousins’ wrath. Instead, she reluctantly agrees to harbor Sebastiano nearby within an abandoned vedetta, a stone watchtower. His wits confused by morphine, the man speaks in English to Carmela and reveals his mission to find a wireless operator to communicate crucial information to the Allies. From that point on, every action Carmela takes draws her into danger.

Despite the publisher’s blurb (which is partly inaccurate), this story is not primarily a romance but a tale of a woman’s and family’s struggle for survival when there are no safe places—not even a beloved home—and split-second decisions have major repercussions. Knowing who to trust is paramount, and while Carmela may seem annoyingly naïve in letting some secrets slip, her flawed nature makes her seem more real in the end. The family interactions are riveting. Carmela’s father, Don Gonzago, is a minor nobleman with a messy romantic history, and his palazzo, with its underground vaults, is the scene for many vivid moments. Carmela’s beloved dog, Renzo, is part of her family, too, and her concern for his welfare is heartwarming. In a taut, action-filled style, Evans exposes the unsentimental brutality of wartime and digs deep in revealing her characters’ emotions as Carmela faces her past and makes choices that affect her future.

From the Historical Novels Review, Feb. 2022.

I’m a sucker for a WW2 novel. The fact that this one was set in Italy and dealt with a bit of a different piece of the history was an added bonus. The ever shifting balance of power between the Germans and the Black shirts and the added level of fear and pressure it placed on the Italian people is not something often talked about but an important piece of history.

The beauty of this novel was in the characters. Each on played a role, different yet crucial to the war story being told. Natalie Meg Evans did an excellent job of bringing the characters to life, showing us what they were thinking and feeling and how each wrestled with the decisions they made along the way.

A story of love and humanity, of fear and hope, I would recommend this book to all historical fiction readers.

Thanks to NetGalley for my advanced copy!

DNF @ 46%

I set this one down since it was not holding my attention. I normally love WWII stories so I am not sure what is preventing me from loving this one. It has a ton of great reviews so I do believe that this is a "me" thing. The pacing is just very odd and overall I just didn't like any of the main characters. If the synopsis sounds interesting to you, pick it up because I know I am in the minority.

I love stories about the resistance and this one didn't disappoint. Set in Italy the bravery of Sebastien and Carmela made compelling reading, with plenty of action, danger and suspense this was an unputdownable book that stays with you long after you have finished reading it

Beautiful. Poignant. Heart breaking. Heart warming. Thought provoking. So beautifully written. This author is a master storyteller.

Nail-biting, adventure-filled, and action-packed; I recommend for readers of WW2 spy fiction as well as those looking to learn more historical tidbits about the era.

a couple of months ago I read another story set in Naples during September / October 1943 when the inhabitants op Naples liberated themselves from the Germans. So when Netgalley offered me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review I didn't need long to think about it.

This book tells the story of Carmela del Bosco, a 27 year old woman who has returned to her grandmothers farm when her English fiancé had died before the start of the second World War. Carmela tries to keep the farm working but has to struggle against the opposition of her fascist cousins. When she hides Sebastiano, a spy that has been brought to the farm by her half-brother, she gets into deep trouble and eventually has to flee to her fathers house in Naples, leaving her grandmother with an aunt and the farm in the clutches of her cousins.

In Naples she meets Sebastiano again and she starts helping the partisans and, together with the "Scrugnitzi", the Neapolitan street rascals, they play an important role during the liberation of Naples.

This book kept me enthralled during it's 300+ pages and I found it very difficult to put down. Loved the characters, even-though I found Carmel a bit overly naive at times.
Well written en easy to read, but also well documented.

I highly recommend it.

Like many of the other books I have read by this author I found this a greatly enjoyable read. At it’s heart, a love story but also much more. A story of loss, heartbreak and hardship in war torn Italy.

This is a fantastic book!

This is the first book that I've read that is about the resistance movement in Italy.

It had me so intrigued and entertained that I went and brought this in paperback version to have a personal copy of my own.

The writing, the setting and Just everything about this book is so amazing that you won't regret reading this.

Highly recommend

I am a huge fan of this author’s work (see links to my reviews for previous books at the end of this review). She always manages to create wholly realized scenes that make it seem as if the reader is watching a movie. She also has a unique writing style that makes it possible to smell and feel the same things as the characters.
Or maybe that’s just my imagination. But I know I have mentioned it in past reviews, and it still occurs in this book.
Anyway, the main character in this book (Carmela) is the “Italian Girl” of the title (or is she – more on that later). She and her grandmother live relatively simple on a farm above Naples Bay. Sounds picturesque (and the descriptions of it absolutely are) …until you note that the time is September 1943, and Italy is pretty much anything BUT picturesque.
Their simplicity is uprooted by an old friend asking for a favor, and that favor completely disrupts Carmela’s life. Because the secret in the title isn’t exactly what you think it is. Or rather, it is, in addition to the new one.
I know that sounds convoluted, but I don’t want to give away any major plot points – even though the blurbs can explain what I mean.
I thought the story was a good one. It captured the urgency of the time (and the mission) but also allowed the reader to fully embrace the Italian countryside. Let me try to explain.
I think therein lies the authors real talents. Descriptions like that of a bubbling pot of tomato sauce that fills a kitchen with the scents of garlic and basil are easy for readers to imagine which in turn makes it easy to put themselves right in the action. It also conveys the simplicity of life that did continue even during the fraught days of 1943 WWII Italy.
But the urgency of the stranger’s mission is also conveyed smartly without it being overly dramatic. The author wisely lets the reader come to their own conclusions about what is important (although it should be obvious).
I keep wandering in this review, but the author doesn’t in the plot. Once Carmela is fully aware of the stranger’s mission and what needs to be done, she finds the courage to help him because she knows that it could mean the difference between living under occupation or helping to fight for freedom.
I mentioned earlier that Carmela may or may not be the Italian girl of the title. I think it does fit her, but there are other characters who could be that character – a fact that the author reveals nicely toward the end.
The juxtaposition of the idyllic and the urgent, the beautiful and the ugly made for a dynamic read. And, as the action takes place over the course of less than a month, it moves along quickly.
I would highly recommend this historical fiction novel to anyone interested in the genre. But especially if you are someone who wants the background of WWII without the emotional drain of the concentration camps that are so often the center of this genre.
The author makes it a habit to set her novels in other arenas of the war, and that alone makes them intriguing reads.

The time frame is 1943. The Italian Girl’s Secret is a heartbreaking and heartwarming war story about the resistance movement in Italy.
Camela, a young Italian woman, is the main character. She lives in a small village where her family has a tomato farm as well as cows, chickens and goats. When she is forced into helping the resistance, she is unsure if it is the smartest thing to do. Will it cause problems for her Nonna and her?
A story of tragedy…
A story of overcoming adversity…
A story of finding true love…
Highly recommend reading for historical fiction readers.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

It’s 1943 and the war rages on through Europe. Carmela del Bosco lives a quiet life at her grandmother’s remote farmhouse. Carmela is asked by her brother Danielo to hide a fugitive Sebastiano at her house. Reluctantly she agrees even though she knows that the Germans will kill anyone that they think is an enemy. She takes the risk and everyday Carmela tends to Sebastiano’s injuries while keeping him rested, fed, clothed and bathed. As she and Sebastiano develop friendship and a bond, she knows that they are each other’s hope to make it through the darkest days of their lives. When Sebastiano escapes Carmela is forced to run away to Naples to live in her estranged father’s home. This story was absolutely amazing, beautiful and gave a wonderful example of people helping each other when they need it the most. I enjoyed the character of Carmela so much. She was like an old friend that I’ve known for years. There was such a connection with storyline, the author pulls you into the story at the very first page.

Thank you Natalie Meg Evans for such a heartbreaking and riveting story. I felt as if I wanted to reach out and walk side by side with the characters. The hope that the people had during those horrible times was so amazing. I had such compassion for them. This phenomenal story is a must read and I highly recommend this book.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book – a WWII story told from the perspective of a young woman Carmela, who lives with her grandmother in the Italian countryside just outside of Naples. They work the land, as they try to hang onto the family farm, even though Carmela’s Fascist cousins have made it clear that they want and deserve the land. Late one night Carmela’s half-brother brings a wounded friend to the house to shelter for the night. Soon Carmela realizes the wounded friend, Sebastiano “Sebbe” is working for the resistance with the wire operators, providing the allies with much needed information. As she becomes more involved in the resistance operations, she must leave the relative safety of the farm, and step into the unknown. At the heart of the story is a young woman learning what it means to live in the present without giving up her past that shaped her into the person she is and finding the courage to set a new path for herself. A compelling book- I look forward to reading more from this author.

Italy 1943, and Carmela del Bosco lived on their tomato farm with her Nonna, where it was situated not far from Naples. It was dark, late one night when she heard noises outside. Her brother had a badly wounded man he wanted her to hide – just one night he said. But that one night would be the beginning of a long and drawn-out list of terrifying events which would shape Carmela’s future.

When Carmela’s cousin, Tino, one of the Blackshirts and a person she hated, discovered the stranger, it was sheer luck that Tino was injured, and the stranger escaped. Carmelo wondered if she’d see him again. But the loss of her beloved dog Renzo, was occupying her thoughts and when she discovered him starving and close to death at the back of Tino’s place she was furious. Rescuing Renzo led her to being ordered from the farm, abandoning Nonna and heading for Naples and her father.

With the Germans on every corner, Naples wasn’t safe. But her father’s old retainer was still there, loyal as ever, her father the same, and a person who was sheltering from the Germans, Sebastiano, exhaustion covering his features, was also there. The next months would be the most dangerous in their lives with the Germans determined to murder everyone and the resistance determined to kill the Germans. What would happen to Carmela and Renzo? Would she ever see her Nonna again? Would the war ever end?

The Italian Girl’s Secret is an exceptional historical fiction novel by Natalie Meg Evans which I loved. Full of action, with courage and bravery on show, the horrors of what the Germans delighted in doing, along with the selfless acts of daring, and the spur of the moment decisions that needed making, filled this book. Heartbreaking and heartwarming, The Italian Girl’s Secret is one I recommend highly.

But be warned, the blurb is misleading and incorrect in places.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read a spate of books recently set in Italy during World War Two and I have to say The Italian Girls Secret by Natalie Meg Evans has definitely been the best of them by a mile. Right from the get go the author brings the reader straight into the action. There was no pointless preamble with a long drawn out introduction not relevant to the plot instead what needed to be explained was done as the story progressed and it worked very well. The plot was exceedingly well developed and executed with a real strong opening, middle and end. There were no points at which the story dragged or became staid. Instead everything moved along at a fluid pace and my interest was held throughout and rose with each turn of the page as the intensity and sense of danger and urgency increased the more I delved deeper into the book.

A tense and moving prologue sets the tone for the entire story and instantly the reader is on alert for what is about to unfold. The consequences of one man’s betrayal sets in motion a chain of events that makes for a very good read. Your heart is in your mouth as the prologue ends on a cliff-hanger and then we are taken to the countryside and hills outside of Naples where Carmela Del Bosco resides on a farm with her grandmother Rosario. Carmela has her own secret that is kept very tightly to her chest and just the right of information is supplied as to what the roots of her secret are. To be honest I could guess from the clues what said secret was and why she did what she did but it didn’t matter in the slightest that I guessed fairly early on.

Carmela’s secret is something she is haunted by and she hasn’t moved on from it but it’s not the main focus of the story. It may form the title of this book but I felt it was there to explain what motivates her and why she feels a certain way and how its exposure would affect the general family dynamic rather be the overall dominant plot of the book as a whole. Family and upholding one’s reputation was everything in Italy and to go against the grain for whatever reason was severely frowned upon as was shown by the actions of Carmela’s cousin Tino who was an utter horror of a character.

Carmela awakes one night as she hears a noise. Her half brother Danielo arrives with a person who needs refuge. Under the cover of darkness Sebastiano is taken to a tower on the farm. He is injured due to a betrayal and he has barely escaped with his life. Sebastiano works for the SOE and he has vital information that needs to be passed on but with no wireless operator nearby he has to set another plan in motion. He knows so many lives are at stake but he is determined said information will get through to those that need to hear it. Carmela is torn in two as to what to do as she knows if he is discovered than the repercussions for everyone will be severe. But Carmela has such strength and determination and she wants to do her best to help in any way she can.

Over the course of the book she becomes aware as to what has been going on around her and more specifically in Naples where her father and Danielo reside. A bigger game is at play that she soon becomes a part of and Sebastiano takes her on an exhilarating and terrifying journey but I thought she was more than able for it. At times I felt people were trying to keep her out of the loop in order to protect her but I don’t think they always valued her worth. Rather they saw her as a woman who couldn’t do much but when Sebastiano is discovered, and they are forced to flee to Naples, the story became even more exciting and I was loving every minute of it.

As I was reading I found Sebastiano to be a frustrating character because he was so elusive. I felt we never got to know him and his inner workings but on reflection he played his role brilliantly never giving anything away for to do so could endanger so many. I did feel the passion that developed between himself and Carmela but the overall driving force of trying to find the right source in order to pass on vital information was what drove the book on. All the other subplots flowed around it magnificently and the author had each strand of the story so carefully plotted and had everything come together in an amazing way that had me hooked.

The setting whether it be at the farmhouse and the local village or in the city of Naples dominated by Germans and its residents living on a knife edge were so brilliantly described. I felt I was right there alongside Carmela and co as they forged ever onwards in the face of so much horror, brutality and of course a certain someone who wanted to think he held so much power over the overall situation. I cant’ fail to mention Renzo the dog and Nearco the donkey, so wonderfully apt for the story. It could have been laughable to feature a dog and a donkey but my god did it work well.

I really enjoyed the fact that there wasn’t an awful lot of characters to keep track of. Whoever was mentioned was utilised so well and it was easy to understand what was going on. The secondary characters were well placed and valued and weren’t surplus to requirements as can often be the case. Every person had an important role to play and in the bigger web that was being woven they each played that role to perfection. Carmela, Sebastiano and all the others that featured were engaged in a battle of good against evil and were determined in any way possible to achieve this. Lives were constantly put on the line and no one gave a second thought to do this because they were all in it together with one aim in mind. To bring about the downfall of the Germans and have their country back again and to live in peace. The fact that romance does feature too only added to the story, it wasn’t too in your face. It didn’t need to be, it was evident what was unfolding but other more urgent matters took over but I was glad how this aspect of the story resolved itself.

The Italian Girl's Secret in my mind sees Natalie Meg Evans return to the form of some of her earlier books which I thoroughly enjoyed. You could tell how much she enjoyed researching and writing this story. The reader is taken on an incredible journey with twists and turns, mystery, intrigue, danger and lots more and it’s definitely a book that I would recommend.