Adriana Trigiani's *The Good Left Undone* is a novel steeped in the charm of familial bonds and Italian heritage. With its richly drawn characters and evocative setting, the book offers a heartfelt exploration of legacy and identity. However, while the novel's strengths are notable, it also falls short in certain areas, resulting in a mixed reading experience.

Trigiani excels in creating vivid, atmospheric scenes that transport readers to Italy, weaving in the cultural nuances and traditions that enrich the story. The novel's focus on the importance of family and the ways in which our past shapes our present is both poignant and relevant. The narrative structure, which oscillates between past and present, adds depth to the characters' stories and provides a nuanced view of their lives.

The characters, especially the matriarch of the family, are well-developed and resonate with authenticity. Their struggles and triumphs are portrayed with sensitivity, and their interpersonal dynamics are both engaging and relatable. Trigiani’s prose is imbued with warmth and a genuine appreciation for the human condition, which is one of the book's most redeeming qualities.

However, the novel's pacing can be uneven at times, with some sections feeling overly drawn-out or meandering. The plot occasionally loses momentum, and certain narrative threads could have been tightened to enhance the overall cohesion of the story. Additionally, while the book’s emotional moments are impactful, there are instances where the melodrama feels a bit heavy-handed, detracting from the novel’s more subtle strengths.

Overall, *The Good Left Undone* is a touching and beautifully written exploration of family and heritage, but it is not without its flaws. Readers who appreciate a deep dive into familial relationships and cultural history may find it worthwhile, though those seeking a more tightly woven narrative might find it lacking. It is a commendable effort, yet it leaves room for improvement in both pacing and plot development.

This is a beautiful multigenerational family story that focuses around an Italian family, specifically the matriarch, who reflects on decades of her life. Really beautifully written and poignant.

The Good Left Undone is something that I wanted to love because of the setting and summary. The reviews from other book lovers have also been favorable, but this was not for me. I gave it 20% and ended up having to DNF the book.

It may have been how the story started. The book's first chapter put me in a foul mood and made it hard to get into. I know I am in the unpopular opinion category, and maybe one day I will return to the book to give it another read, but unfortunately, I can't get into it now.

I think Adriana Trigiani writes family better than any other author I've personally encountered. I'm not Italian, but she always makes me feel like I would like to be!

In The Good Left Undone we time hop between present day Viareggio where we find an aging Matelda, who is sensing an urgency to share the stories of her family before her life comes to a close. We will learn of her beginnings, which start with her mother Domenica's life. We walk with Domenica through childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. See her grow from a precocious child to a capable nurse who will suffer injustices that bring her both joy and pain; as well how Domenica's experiences and choices still impact the family today.

The world is in upheaval during World War II and we meet many interesting characters during this time that play pivotal parts in the lives of this family. I appreciated that the author gave them more than just a passing mention, giving each a small story of their own. It felt in the end like old friends had come to visit when you hear Matelda mention a name and you say, ah yes, we met him in the past.

Overall I enjoyed the segments set in the past more than the present day sections, but that's just the history lover in me. It was all wonderful.

What a beautiful story! The characters climb right into your heart. A much larger scope than her Big Stone Gap novels which I have previously enjoyed, but Trigiani writes her characters with the same warmth and heart.

This cover is begging for a spot on a beach house bookshelf or a summertime library display. In this multigenerational family saga, Trigiani introduces us to the hardworking Cabrelli family, who have lived for generations in an Italian coastal town. A poignant epigraph introduces the first part of the family story: “Let whoever longs to attain eternal life in heaven heed these warnings: When considering the past, contemplate these things: The evil done; The good left undone; The time wasted.” Its meaning is slowly revealed over the course of the novel, which employs an interesting structure to portray a series of strong women and the choices they made—or chose to avoid—through the decades. Aside from the gorgeous cover, well-drawn characters and a stunning seaside setting makes this an attractive summer read for those interested in its themes of identity, legacy, and redemption.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dutton for the opportunity to read this book.

The Good Left Undone is just one of those books that never leaves you. A book that as you are reading makes you want to go to Italy, live there, buy jewelry, and cook wonderful food. From the gorgeous cover to the last page Adrianna Trigiani has created an epic saga!

We meet the Cabrelli family living in a small village where everyone knows your name and your business. Matelda, the matriarch, is close to the end of her life and wonders about the future of her family. She wants the past to be remembered by her family most importantly the story of her mother Domenica.

We meet Domenica at the early whispers of World War ll and from there we are taken on a sweeping journey that I just didn't want end. As we follow Domenica on her path we see her face prejudice, dishonor, love, heartbreak and joy.

I highly recommend any book by Adrianna Trigiani but especially this book! The writing is wonderful and her talent shines through in every sentence. Believe me when I tell you that you don't want to miss this book. Please read the book! Now if you'll excuse me I have to go buy some Italian Jewelry and cook some Italian food.

It's always a treat having a new Adriana Trigiani book to read - and this one doesn't disappoint. The characters, setting, and plot make the pages fly by.

Adriana Trigiani is a masterful storyteller and this is one of her best books to date. I fell in love with the Cabrelli family and loved learning their history, especially the scenes set in Scotland.

Have been unable to review due to illness. Review coming soon! This novel looks fantastic and I highly recommend this author to everyone! Can't wait to read this one!

Historical Fiction | Adult
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I’m starting to think we need a name for this genre – flashback fiction? I have read several books by Adriana Trigiani and have really enjoyed them all, and this is no exception. A multi-generational saga, it is filled with memorable lines and moments of great humour, but as with all her books, at its core this is a celebration of family, tradition, all things Italian, and the wonderfully flawed and lovable human condition. In this novel, Trigiani tells the story of feisty Domenica Cabrelli, born and raised in the seaside Italian town of Viareggio, in the early years of the 20th century. She is the matriarch at the centre of this novel, though it is her daughter Matelda who opens the story in modern-day Viareggio as she celebrates her 81st birthday. Matelda is reminiscing about her life, recalling stories of her own childhood growing up in Viareggia and delivering zingers as she does so. But the heart of the story is Domenica’s, as she trains to be a nurse and launches her career as the world teeters on the start of World War II, with Italy choosing to support the Nazis. After openly discussing birth control and challenging Catholic doctrine on the issue, Domenica is sent away to work in a Catholic hospital in Marseille, where she meets a Scottish sailor who changes her life. (Here Trigiani introduces us to the tragic true story of the sinking of the Arandora Star, torpedoed by a U-boat off the British coast as it carried German and Italian internees, including some 100 Scottish citizens of Italian descent.) While this novel also focuses on Domenica’s daughter Matelda and great-granddaughter Anina, I loved Domenica’s story best of all; I wish Trigiani had given us the second half of her life. Still, this is a saga that brings the reader into the very heart of Italian life and culture, celebrating all that is beautiful to create this heartwarming, touching, funny, and sweeping story that lingers long after you close it with a satisfied sigh. My thanks to Dutton Books for the digital reading copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Grand Forks & District Public Library has a copy in its adult fiction collection, as well as e-book and e-audiobook editions.
More discussion and reviews of this novel: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58065358

A family saga that is richly told. You feel like you are in Italy throughout the years. This was the first time I have read Trigiani and I will be reading more of her novels in the future.

Of course no one really needs me to say what others have already said about this book: Adriana Trigiani always writes in a way to captures my imagination. I want to know about these characters' lives. This is, once again, a book that you can't put down!

I loved this book. Following an Italian family who live in an Italian coastal town from pre-World War II to the present, the story opens on the night before Matelda’s 81st birthday. It’s a family of jewelers, and Matelda is going to let her granddaughter choose a piece of jewelry as a wedding gift. Unfortunately, the piece Anina picks is the one piece her grandmother is unwilling to give up. The story centers around the history of the watch and the history of the family. Of course, Amina is upset, but as she learns more and more about the strength of her family and that sacrificing, and persistence are important. Rich in not only geographic description and mouth-watering descriptions of food, but the book would also make a wonderful moving.

This book started out slowly, but I have read many of this author's novels and have enjoyed them all. Once this story got going, I really enjoyed it.
Much of the plot took place during WWII on the home front. It included very interesting storylines about how Italians living abroad were treated during the war. In this case, the Italians were living in Scotland. I have not read about WWII from this perspective before. It was well-researched and well-written.
I truly cared about Dominica and her story. Unfortunately, she died at some point, but this was never discussed, or if it was, it was covered so briefly that I missed it or it made no impression on me. I guess the idea was that she lived on through the following generations, but I was disappointed that she just vanished from the narrative to be replaced by people I knew were probably related to her, but I wasn't sure how. Those relationships did not come together until the end of the novel. Maybe that was the point. However, for me Dominica's story lacked satisfying closure.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Based on a true story, this dual-timeline saga spans 100 years while chronicling four generations of strong, fierce Italian women and their loves, losses, secrets, and heartaches. Relayed through the matriarchs’ flashbacks, the story depicts the fallout from the sinking of the Arandora Star by a German U-boat and all that follows as a result. As the two timelines come together, long-buried and surprising secrets are revealed as Trigiani addresses the universal themes of identity and belonging. This is a beautiful read that kept me captivated.

Thank you for the chance to preview this title for our Independent Bookstore! A beautifully written, compelling historical fiction novel! We have featured it in the store and it will be included in our subscription boxes!

Although I really enjoyed this historical family saga, I did think that it could be a bit confusing with the plethora of characters, the Cabrelli family is the true heart of the book, am Italian family of gem cutters. I was engrossed in Dominica’s story, which included the sinking of a ship by Germany. Dominica was sent away from her home town where she was a nurse, for offering birth control options. Matelda is an interesting character, blunt, but feels that as an older person she offers good advice for her granddaughter, Anina. We travel to Germany, France and Scotland. Join us on this journey. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC.

The sweeping story of an Italian family matriarch Domenica and her love story was charming. Her coming-of-age story told the tale of her life trials and was the anchor of this novel. #partner @duttonbooks

While her story covered the 1920s, WWII, and beyond, the book also switched over to her daughter Matelda and Matelda's granddaughter. Sadly, I found that portion of the story to be lackluster.

After seeing all Domenica went through over her life, the challenges facing her great-granddaughter fell flat.

I would happily have cut out all the chapters without Domenica so I could spend more time in her fascinating story.

I thought this was a lovely book. My favorite realistic fiction contain family drama; multi-generational characters; and secrets. This was terrific.