Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Honestly, I had a hard time deciding what to write. Hotel Portofino sounded promising. I love a book that details the scenery, it takes me to the place like I’m existing in the story together with the characters. I was so excited to start reading this. However, I felt a little disappointed. I just don’t see the main plot, maybe it’s the matchmaking between Lucian and Rose but even that didn’t give me the “can’t put it down” feeling. It was an easy read, I love the way the author describes the scenery, although I think it was more focused on the setting rather than the plot. There were times when it looks like the plot will thicken only to be spoilt as another story continues. I continued reading thinking maybe the ending will be heavy and that will make up for the rest of the book but the ending was just okay. It was just the guests leaving, saying good bye with friends they met on the hotel. Other than that, nothing. Some stories didn’t have any closures as well. Lots of stories were opened with any proper resolution.
The redeeming factor for the book would be the place, the description of the hotel, the gardens, even the beach. It was a light book, relaxed. The book description said it’s perfect for fans of The Crown and as a big fan, I didn’t see much resemblance.

This book stars a large cast of characters staying or working at the new Hotel Portofino, the budding business enterprise of Bella Ainsworth and her husband. Between blackmail, political rebellions in the midst of Mussolini's Italy, an arranged marriage, and scandals galore, none of these characters will be the same when they leave.
When I tried describing the plot line of this book to someone else, it sounded massively complicated, a little confusing, and altogether immensely interesting. Unfortunately, while reading it I was bored and confused for a majority of the time.
The book begins by throwing you into Bella Ainsworth (the owner of the hotel) 's world, with little explanation as to who each character is, but more than enough backstory for the first few pages. At 3% in I was still overwhelmed with the amount of plotlines happening at the same time, and kept having to search names to remember who they were again. As the story went on I began to understand what was happening, but until 3/4ths of the way through the book it went much too slow and basically felt like a bunch of people milling around the square mile around this hotel. Each character's struggles and narrative could have been interesting and adventurous, but instead the book felt like it was dragging each person along, and only showed them when they were thinking, instead of when they were doing things. By the time the climax of the book hit, I was already ready to set the book down out of lack of excitement, but things picked up a little, making me interested to see what would happen. Unfortunately, the ending was so disappointing to me. It tried wrapping up most of the stories, but left me really dissatisfied and with a number of questions. And although I understand a non happy-go-lucky ending, I really would like something that makes me feel remotely joyful in where the characters ended up. It seemed like the author picked the path of least resistance for each storyline's conclusion, making it a bland ending with little conflict.
Although this story was not at all what I hoped for or expected, I wasn't so bored I set it down half-way through, and part of the middle of the story was entertaining enough to read while in between my classes. I would only recommend if you want something without many stakes, with lots of characters and plot lines, and are prepared for a simple, no risk ending. I rated this a 5/10 stars, and rounded it down to 2 on a 5 star scale.

I really enjoyed this book ! If you like historical fiction with a large cast of characters give this a read.
Set during the 1920’s in beautiful Portofino, Italy. It revolves around an expat British family who opened a hotel that caters to guests from all over the world. This story has a little bit of everything. Romance, friction and a bit of mystery along with the raise of fascism make up this delightful story. The only downfall for me was I thought the ending kind of rushed. Overall I would recommend this delightful novel to anyone who loves a good rounded story.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review The Hotel Portofino.

Overall quite an enjoyable reading experience. This is a character-driven story with a large cast. Set in 1920s Italy, the setting is palpable and may have you making travel plans. The arc of the narrative follows the events of several weeks at the Hotel Portofino, as seen through the eyes of the family that runs the hotel, their servants, their guests, and the citizens of the town. Bella has long been enamored of Italk and has finally convinced her husband Cecil to open a hotel for English travelers. They are ready to welcome their first batch of guests and the stakes are high, especially since money is tight and they have yet to turn a profit. Among the guests are Cecil‘s old flame, Julia, and her daughter Rose, whom Cecil plans to set up with his son, Lucian. There is also an Italian count, a dowager and her great niece, the new governess, and an American playboy with his companion, a French dancer. The fun of the story is in watching all of these people interact, butt heads, fall in love, and so on. The Downton Abbey comparison is deserved.

This book has already been sold to PBS masterpiece and I think it will make an excellent television adaptation, since there are so many characters and storylines to explore. The pacing of the book is steady; not much happens but it’s all very enjoyable and witty. The ending however was a little abrupt and I felt that several of the storylines were resolved hastily. Anyone looking for an easy read to sink into and perhaps imagine traveling to Italy should pick this one up.

"For fans of Downton Abbey and The Crown...welcome to Hotel Portofino, where romance, revelry, and intrigue await.

A heady historical drama about a British family who opens an upper-class hotel on the magical Italian Riviera during the Roaring Twenties.

Hotel Portofino has been open for only a few weeks, but already the problems are mounting for its owner Bella Ainsworth. Her high-class guests are demanding and hard to please. And she's being targeted by a scheming and corrupt local politician, who threatens to drag her into the red-hot cauldron of Mussolini's Italy.

To make matters worse, her marriage is in trouble, and her children are still struggling to recover from the repercussions of the Great War. All eyes are on the arrival of a potential love match for her son Lucian, but events don't go to plan, which will have far-reaching consequences for the whole family.

Set in the breathtakingly beautiful Italian Riviera, Hotel Portofino is a story of personal awakening at a time of global upheaval and of the liberating influence of Italy's enchanting culture, climate, and cuisine on British innocents abroad."

Exotic Bright Young Things, yes please!

Enjoyable historical read in the vein of Downton Abbey, made more substantive by the inclusion of fascists. My biggest gripe with the book was that it just...ended. I thought there were missing chapters from my e-book! I would recommend it more strongly to others if it had nailed the ending.

Hotel Portofino is wonderfully written and captivating historical fiction. It's not the type of I normally read but it sounded interesting so I took a chance on it. I'm so glad I did! I was immediately swept away in to this wonderful world. The setting was a delight to read about. The story was quick moving and full of interesting characters. Bella convinces her husband to open up a hotel in Italy. They move their family to the place they honeymoon and start all over. It's not easy because hotel guests come with lot of drama. Her family also has their issues adjusting to the new adventure. I really enjoyed Hotel Portofino and I can't wait to watch the new show!

I think this is a very well writer book, however I found it very hard to identify with the characters, which in turn made it a difficult book for me to read. I think the premise and setting are interesting but it just was not for me.

3.25 stars

Already destined for a TV adaptation, I can absolutely see this book as a BBC miniseries that will appeal to the Downton Abbey period drama. Throughout the process of reading this book, I would be in the middle of a scene thinking about how this would translate so well onto the screen. More often than not, however, the exact thought was "Wouldn't this be so much better on screen?"

For me, Hotel Portofino exists in this liminal space between "all vibes, no plot" and "character-driven drama". I enjoy both when they are executed well, but I think that O'Connell's choice to swing between them results in a book with characters that are given enough dimension that the reader is disappointed to not learn more about and a plot where pacing is a bit erratic. I appreciate the effort that O'Connell makes to craft this multi-layered story and it is enjoyable for the most part, but it never quite reaches the depths to which it aspires for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

With a vivid and beautiful setting, Hotel Portofino is a book that will whisk the reader away to 1920’s coastal Italy. Touted as “a very English hotel, on the Italian Riviera,” the hotel and surrounding beaches act as the main settings for an “Upstairs Downstairs” or “Downton Abbey” sort of drama. We encounter a marriage on the rocks with another being arranged, crooked political dealings, the mounting tension of impending war, secret romances, a cast of (mostly) snooty guests and servants with their own intrigues and ambitions, and a myriad of secrets that lurk behind every decision and conversation.

I found most of the book to be engaging, dramatic, and delightful as the secrets started to come out and threaten to overturn each of their lives. I loved some of the characters and despised a few others, which was no doubt intended by the author. There was ample character development, as well as a fun little Agatha Christie-ish homage of a mystery. I did feel like the ending came pretty abruptly and that there were several strands left unraveled, and I’m not sure that I liked the open-endedness of it.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. The sensory language made me feel as if I could see the details in the hotel design, smell the salty ocean air, and taste the delectable kitchen creations. This feels like a book made to be dramatized in a screen adaptation!

Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this advanced readers copy of the book!

I can't tell you how excited I was to read this book; I love Italy, the roaring 20's, vacations, it all seemed like the perfect cocktail.  Unfortunately after the first chapter which was much too long in my opinion I was seemingly very disappointed.  There are so many characters in this book and not enough character building.  There were a few characters that I really did enjoy and had fun following their stories, but was wishing for a little more depth. It was like a soap opera full of secrets and scandals with a hint of mystery at the end.  It definitely had me wanting to get on a plane and go visit the Italian Coast. This is going to be made into a PBS series and I think I might enjoy this one more on the TV screen.

Thank you NetGalley & Blackstone publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: Jan 18 2022

Hotel Portofino caters to the upper crust of vacationers with its break taking views of the Italian Riviera and coast. This historical drama set in the 1920’s is the cat’s pajamas.

A British family decides to begin anew in Italy as owners of this luxurious retreat. In turn, they convince their children, who each suffered greatly in the war, and their domestic help to make the journey with them. Set mostly inside the hotel, this character driven story is filled with holiday revealers seeking fun in the sun instead we find romance, devilishness and a mystery. All manners of things are soon afoot after everyone’s check-in.

O'Connell's lush descriptions of the food, wine, beach and views will have you soon booking a vacation to this beautiful area. This novel is perfect for fans of Downton Abbey, The Crown and The Great Gatsby.

Historical Fiction is my favorite genres to read, and this novel did not disappoint. From the locale to the drama, this hotel is a dream come true. It was incredibly easy to immerse yourself in the debauchery unfolding morning, noon and night with guests and staff.

Please tell me there is a sequel planned after this ending - “Whatever her future holds, Bella has plans, grand plans - it would have nothing to do with Cecil. Not anymore.” I truly look forward to the PBS adaptation in 2022.

Thank you Black Stone Publishing and BookSparks for the complimentary copy in hardcover.

Based on the book description and its comparison to Downton Abbey (which I loved), I took on this book knowing it was also being made into a TV program. Unfortunately, it reads like a TV script, but compressed into a novel length. It takes place at the Hotel Portofino in Italy, which was opened by Bella, a British woman with a wealthy father who funded the endeavor. We see a cast of characters come to stay at the hotel, and there is also a political aspect to the story. A crime is committed (which I will not reveal here), but I believe this happens way too late in the story, causing it to fall flat. I just didn't care all that much about the characters, nor do I care to guess who committed the crime. I am curious to see how it plays out on television, and how the characters are cast. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance reader's copy of this book.

The cover is what drew me to this book, it is stunning! However, I could not finish this book for several reasons.

The sheer number of characters and POVs was so overwhelming! I couldn't see any attempt at character development, they were all so one dimensional. Not even full chapters were dedicated to a POV, but rather it would switch POV every 2-5 pages ... Not enough time to get invested in a character before you're jolted out of their story.

It is so dull! There wasn't a single storyline, not a single character I was interested in learning more about.

I had such high hopes for this book, especially since it has already been picked up for a TV adaptation. I don't think I've ever been so disappointed about a book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me this ARC for an honest review.

As I was reading this book I thought that this would make a great television show- and then I found out that it actually is slated to be released on PBS Masterpiece theater next year. While I found the book to be entertaining, the big “mystery” was introduced later in the book and resolved rather quickly. There were a lot of characters whose stories were barely explored as well, which honestly could make for a good television show because they could be explored later on. For a book, however, it left me feeling that the story was incomplete. One of the main characters, Cecil, was portrayed pretty surface level. He seemed to be a cliché of an abusive alcoholic who only looks out for himself.
I still would give this book 3 stars because I did find it entertaining, however this may be one case in which the movie/TV show is better than the book.
You might like this book if you are a fan of Downton Abbey, so go for it!

This historical fiction novel finds an ensemble of characters at the Hotel Portofino in Italy at the end of WWII but with Mussolini's reign looming. Mostly English aristocrats vacation at the seaside hotel, making this book have a Dowtown Abbey feel. I loved the characters, especially the matriarch Bella, but did have a little trouble keeping them all straight. This is clearly meant to be the start of a series as it has a very loose ending.
If you want a historical fiction with good, juicy characters and a WWII adjacent (but no fighting) and like an upstairs/downstairs storyline, this book is for you! I hear that a PBS series is upcoming also.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review. Bonus points for the beautiful cover!

The stunning cover of J. P. O’Connell’s new historical fiction novel, Hotel Portofino, caught my eye, so I read the description and thought I would give it a try. I am so glad I did!
In a nutshell, Bella Ainsworth and her husband, Cecil, move from England to the Italian Riviera, where they had honeymooned, and purchase a hotel there to operate with their children and hired help. They had recently lost their eldest son in World War I and view this as a fresh start for their grieving family. Bella quickly establishes the hotel as a luxury resort for English-speaking guests, and initially things seem to be going well. However, a variety of issues come up among the family and hotel guests that make this far from a simple story.
Set in 1926 at the time Benito Mussolini is rising to power, this book is packed with all the elements that make a good drama, including tragedy, romance, politics, and intrigue. It features a fascinating cast of characters and deals with important, emotionally charged issues that are relevant to readers today.
Hotel Portofino is a perfect choice for those like me who are fans of Downton Abbey. I am greatly looking forward to watching the PBS version of this story that is now in the works. I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley; however, I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

What a well written book about a super hard period of time. While I have read many works war two pieces I have read very few about Italy and none about the ruling of Mussolini. The cover of the book drew me in immedietly and I found the book to be very well written. I liked that there weren’t too many timelines or pov either.

This was a good book with an interesting story and a little historical component with regards to Mussolini and the fascist movement in Italy. I did have a little trouble getting into the story, but mostly because there were so many characters. I had to keep going back to remind myself who was who. It seems this is the beginning of a series, or at least book one of two - there were just too many loose ends left at the end. This did result in a little let down as none of the storylines really gets a full resolution. I look forward to potential next book and the PBS series that is supposedly in the works. I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley and I appreciate the opportunity to read this book.

I did enjoy the writing on this one - a varied cast of characters who interested me, both the "aristocratic" guests, the down-to-earth family running the hotel, and the behind-the-scenes servants whose lives were as rich as any of them (although it was sometimes hard to keep them straight due to the sheer numbers.) The locale was intriguing plus I'm a sucker for the time period but for me, it was hard to see what the actual point of the narrative was meant to be. Life went on, things happened, relationships ebbed and flowed, and suddenly, the book was over. I see this is being turned into a long-form drama series and maybe that's the point - this is the first part of what will be a continuing saga. But if so, I think that could have been more clearly explained and a stronger story told in this first part..