What an absolutely beautiful, emotionally gripping story about grief, loss and love. Serle paints a stunning portrait of Positano, Italy as the backdrop for our main character, Katy, to learn more about herself, her mother and their past.

While some of the storyline's magical realism does ask the reader to suspend reality, I loved the intertwining storylines between past and present. The writing was just so, so good: I felt like could actually see each breath-taking view, smell each delicious meal and feel each emotion that Katy felt throughout the book.

I highly recommend this novel to anyone who wants to read about the power of family, the weight of grief and the ways that the magic of one trip, one summer can change your life.

Katy is bereft at the death of her mother. Katy's mother, Carol was her touchstone. She guided and imbued every aspect of Katy's life. When Carol dies, Katy decides to take the trip to Italy they had planned to take together. When she leaves, Katy is unsure of both her identity and her marriage to Eric. Once in Italy, Katy meets a variety of people who help her heal. She also meets her mother, Carol, as a 30 year old! Katy's perspective is transformed, and the story ends with her in the present day.

This book was so emotional and moving! With a unique twist and a little bit of magical realism, this might be my favorite Rebbeca Serle book yet. Her writing completely draws you in and makes you buy each twist as it comes. Emotional, moving, heartbreaking, and soul-affirming!

Katy is mourning the loss of her mother, her best friend and confidante. They had a beautiful trip to Italy planned together, but unfortunately Katy will have to go alone. Katy's mother Carol had an intense connection to this small town in Italy, Positano- she spent a summer there 30 years ago.

When Katy arrives in Positano, she is taken with the city..and then magically her mother is there, 30 years younger and alive. Katy has no clue how this is possible but she will take any opportunity to get to know her mother. 

This is my third Serle novel and I just love the magic that she brings to her stories. These are pull on your heart strings novels that keep you wanting more. I loved Katy and her journey to mourn her mother. She is ready to experience it all even though it is painful to go without her. Her spending time with her young mother was my favorite part of this book. Although I didn't love all of Katy's decisions, I really loved her story.

Rebecca Serle is an auto read author for me. I will read anything she writes.

If you loved Serle's previous bestseller, In Five Years, this one should be at the top of your 2022 reading list! Rebecca Serle is a master when it comes to her signature blend of emotional contemporary fiction and magical realism.
After losing her mother, Katy decides to go on the trip to Italy they had been planning before her passed. In the midst of immeasurable grief she is hoping to hold on to a little piece of her mother by spending time in a town that was such a transformative part of her life. The last thing she expected was to see her mother, 30 years younger, standing on the shores of Positano. Katy gets the chance to know her mother, not as the nurturer who raised her, but as the imperfect young woman so full of life and depth.

Readers of Rebecca Serle’s previous books will be glad to find that One Italian Summer maintains the magical, pensive quality that they have come to know and love from this author. One Italian Summer is an ode to the process of grief and how it shapes our sense of self. Not only that, but this book also brings attention to how our relationships shape and warp our identity, and how our preconceived notions about others affect the course of our own lives. Set in the gorgeous Positano, Italy, this book transports readers to warmer weather, blue skies and seas, and sunshine.

One Italian Summer is a great light read that will truly make you feel like you're vacationing in Italy.

Katy just lost her mother, and her best friend, so she decides to take a trip to her mother's favorite Italian city in hopes of reliving her experience and feeling a connection with her. When she meets a very unexpected woman near her resort, Katy finds herself rethinking her life choices and priorities, as well as her understanding of her own mother.

I highly recommend this journey of self-discovery and love for anyone looking for a heartwarming escape from reality.

Rating: 4.75/5
Genre: Women’s Fiction with a Romance
Warnings: death of a parent
Read if you liked: In Five Years meets After I Do
Steam: 1/5

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. One Italian Summer will be released on March 1st, 2022

Rebecca Serle has been one of my favorite authors since I read the Dinner List nearly three years ago…and to this day it is one of three books that have ever made me SOB. Go read that one too! Rebecca has this way of creating amazing, slight quirky, not always based in reality but beautiful worlds that tackle love, loss and what/who you truly value. Her writing is sentimental and truly beautiful.

Okay, so let’s talk about One Italian Summer…I knew this book was going to be special. I adore Positano, it’s one of my favorite places in the world and my mom is my person. She and I (along with my dad + family) have spent time in Italy (perks of being a dual citizen) and one of my favorite memories is our time on the Amalfi Coast. This might be her best book yet and I will continue to be a die-hard fan.

Things I loved: Gilmore Girl’s quote. All of the adventures, wine and food. If you know Italians, you know how much we value food and the experience of food. The lovely staff at Hotel Poseidon and their kindness. The bus ride, those are seriously no joke. The fashion, gosh to go summer in Italy again. The way the depth of emotion is shown when you lose your person. I really did like what Adam added to the story, Katy needed a friend to push her in this journey. Jewish representation as always.

Things I didn’t care for: I wanted more, the end was wrapped up so quickly and I need a bit more.

I literally read this book in one sitting in about 4 hours traveling…I literally devoured it. So go request on NetGalley, pre-order and look for at you local library because you need to read this one.

I could not out this book down! Wow! I was so immersed in this story. I loved everything about this from the food to the family history and relationships to Italy in itself. This will definitely be a memorable one for me!

Another emotional, moving, powerful story. This is a tearjerker in all the right ways that feel earned. I absolutely loved. Will read anything by this author.

Wow I loved this book! It was so good. I devoured it in almost one sitting. Rebecca Serle really brings Italy to life in this story. She also just really tugs at emotions and heartstrings. I just wish I could have had a mother like Carol.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
A young woman loses her mother prior to the women taking their dream trip together. Katy goes alone missing Carol desperately. While in Italy, Katy awakens back in time and meets her mother as a young woman. They forge a friendship and Katy learns a lot about her mom that she had never known. Great closure.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. Serle is becoming one of my favorite authors. I have enjoyed her last best sellers, so I was very excited to read this one. Katy is trying to navigate her life now that her mother has passed. She decides to travel to Positano, Italy where her and her mother were planning to travel. What happens this was a magical transformation for Katy. Definitely recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was invested in this book right from the first chapter. Rebecca Serle’s writing is captivating and engaging for the duration of this novel. I loved the premise, the magical realism, family dynamics and the portrayal of mother-daughter bonds. I felt instantly connected to the main character. Katy was lovable, complex and real. We saw her pain, happiness and growth as a character in a short time frame.

Serle challenges the reader to question how we move and grow through life. This story focuses on grief, growth, dreams, regrets and love. There were so many dimensions to this story. From the wonderful descriptions of the beautiful town of Positano to the mouthwatering food in each chapter, I felt this story and the environment come to life on the page.

The one thing I didn’t fully feel invested in during this read was Katy’s relationship with Adam. I don’t think that the progression of their story together needed to happen, mostly because of Eric and what she left behind at home. Overall, the other aspects of the story were captivating enough that this did not take away from how I felt about the book as a whole.

I cried, I laughed, I smiled, I grieved with Katy and I think a lot of readers will feel emotionally connected to the story and characters in One Italian Summer. This was a powerful, touching story that will remind readers to connect with those you love while you still can. I will most definitely be buying a physical copy of this book when it’s published and recommending to all readers who are looking for thought-provoking and powerful novel.

I will be posting this review closer to the publication date as specified by the publisher.

Give me a novel set in Italy and you’ve already got a head start on the way to a positive review. This one really nailed the descriptions transporting the reader to the dreamy Italian towns the characters visit. I can’t wait to return to Italy!

The first few chapters weirded me out the way Katy’s relationship with her mother is described. Seemed a bit overboard. I particularly found the way she treats her husband Eric, off putting.

But then we get to Italy and all is forgiven. I really loved how the story unfolded and the overall message. How well can we really know our mothers as women? How well can our children really know us?

I confess that I was reading the last few chapters on an airplane and had to put the book down a couple of times to remind myself that these people aren’t real. Hold back your tears, these people aren’t real. It’s fiction!

I recommended this title to my own mother and will do so to my patrons as well.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Part weird, part wonderful! How well do you know the people closest to you? is there anything they could have done that would change your opinion of them? It's Italy and romance and food and wine. I want to go!

It may have been me, but it took awhile to find its groove--once it did, there were plenty of plot twists and turns, plus gorgeous scenery to keep me interested. I would've liked an explanation on how the big time twist happened, but maybe not. will recommend as a decent beach read.

This book was just lovely. Perfection. Different. Engrossing. Sweet. It is everything a book should be. And if you haven't read it yet, then what are you waiting for?

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I have loved everything I've read by Rebecca Serle and she hit another homerun with this one. This story is so touching about the love between a mother and daughter AND who also doesn't love anything to do with a trip to Italy? So, so good! Make sure you have kleenex close by! Thank you so much for the chance to read this early! Loved it!

I absolutely loved this author’s
In Five Years and requested One Italian Summer as soon as I saw it. I was not disappointed - it is a wonderful story of the love between a mother and daughter, set amidst the gorgeous Italian backdrop of Positano.

When Katy’s mother Carol dies, she decides to go alone on a trip that they had meticulously planned together to the beautiful seaside town of Positano. She immediately feels her mother’s spirit and begins to heal, when suddenly her mother appears in the flesh - and thirty years younger. Can Katy reconcile this woman who is so different from the mother she knows? And will seeing this version help heal her broken heart?

Full of heartfelt moments and the ever present themes of the love of a mother and daughter, this novel tugged at my heart. It also caused me to consider how our parents know our whole lives but we only see glimpses of theirs.