Hotel Portofino

A wealthy Englishwoman, Bella opens an upscale hotel with her family in 1920’s Portofino, Italy. Each is trying to make a fresh start. The loyal staff is treated more like family. Once the guests start arriving, the hotel is put to the test. The upperclass guests are complex and demanding. The head of the local facist party keeps showing up to remind Bella that the war isn’t completely over.

Hotel Portofino is the first book that I have read by author, J.P. O'Connell. Rather than plot driven, Hotel Portofino is character driven. The biggest problem is that most of the characters are not especially interesting or well defined. There are a great many characters, as would be expected at a hotel, but they are difficult to keep straight, largely because they are so superficially described that they all seem to blend together. While I was reading Hotel Portofino I kept trying to visualize it was some sort of mini-series. But unfortunately, most of the characters are not interesting enough to want to follow for 6-8 episodes.
I suspect that many readers will want to compare Hotel Portofino to Downton Abbey, which is also character driven. The big difference is that Downton Abbey includes characters with depth and complexity. Even if not always likable, they are never boring. The same cannot be said of Hotel Portofino. This book was a struggle to finish reading, which is too bad. The description sounded quite interesting, but the execution did not follow through.

Hotel Portofino takes place in 1926 Portofino, Italy. It centers around the Ainsworth family who decide to open an upscale British hotel in Italy. The Ainsworth family brings their entire family and staff with them to Portofino. Portofino is a place that Bella Ainsworth fell in love with when she and Cecil visited on their honeymoon.

The story has its share of ups and downs, crooked politicians, especially as Mussolini is making his rise, romances. Everything you would expect on the Italian Riviera. The only issue I really had with the book was the way the author jumped from one character to another so you basically needed a scorecard to keep up with each time he switched characters.

For the most part, I really enjoyed the story and would read another book by this author.

Thank you #netgalley and #blackstonepublishing. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wow! What an array of characters. So many side plots and drama and I was hooked. The setting is Portofino Italy, with the picturesque backdrop of sandy beaches and the sea. Bella owns Hotel Portofino and has an assortment of guests staying there for the summer. This story has Downton Abbey, Mama Mia and mysterious Agatha Christie vibes. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. It did make me wonder if there maybe a sequel in the future.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

i enjoyed Hotel Portofino - a period piece set in the 1920's on the Italian Riviera in Portofino surrounding a British couple's opening of an upscale hotel. I am looking forward to seeing the upcoming PBS adaptation as I'm sure the acting, sets & costumes will all be fantastic.

There is a large cast of characters, most of whom have problems they need solved or ambitions to they hope to advance. Will British owner Bella Ainsworth be able to satisfy her demanding guests and make a go of her hotel? Will she and her cad of a husband resolve their difficulties and find a suitable match for their son Lucien? What are the art dealer and professional tennis player really up to? There is "downstairs" drama with the hotel staff, a cast of interesting British & Italian guests, some corrupt Italian politicians, and many other characters with mixed agendas. Set against the backdrop of rising fascism in post WWI Italy political issues impact many as well. A most enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced copy. #HotelPortofioBook # NetGalley

It’s not surprising that PBS is going to dramatize this book. It’s basically Downton Abbey on the Italian Riviera. It’s got all the usual soapy elements: sexual peccadillos, complicated love interests, dissolute husbands, blackmailers, war-induced PTSD, political strife and intrigue, eeeevil villains. And in this book it’s all done to the feel of summer sun on the skin, the whirr of cicadas, and the scents of oranges and the sea.

This book has a very visual feel to it, as if it was always intended to be brought to life on the screen. Some of the plotting is a bit silly, especially a caper-ish bit concerning an ostensibly valuable painting. There are so many characters that it’s difficult to feel a lot of depth to them. Instead, I was left wanting to know more about about them.

What puzzles me about this book is that it ends abruptly with little resolution. It feels as if it’s meant to be part one of a series, but I don’t see any indication that that’s the case. I don’t imagine PBS plans to have the story end with so many plot points still up in the air. So, while this book was entertaining, I was left disappointed at its abrupt ending.

I was immersed in this story from the beginning. I devoured this book in a day. Great characters, a bit of mystery, a wonderful setting, and the set up for a sequel! I am so happy it's been optioned by PBS!

Really glad to see this is going to be a TV series - it was a fun read, but I think it would be better with the visuals. I like books that jump to different characters' perspectives - but think this one did it a bit too much, and only got in deep with a few of them. But it was overall well written, and made me want to plan a trip to Portofino - it sounded fabulous, even with all the corruption. I did like the contrasting of the British culture to the Italian (And Indian, and American), and wish there was more of it. And more details of the Italian food! This seems like there's a sequel coming, so I look forward to more of it.

“Hotel Portofino” by J.P. O’Connell is a ride and a half. Pretty much from the beginning, the reader is transported to Portofino, Italy post WWI. We follow a cast of characters - mainly the Ainsworths - Bella (trying to run Hotel Portofino), her husband (who doesn’t really want the hotel), their son Lucian (who wants to be an artist), their daughter Annie (who helps out at the hotel), and their grand-daughter. There’s also the guests … and the hotel staff … and dealing with the local authority. After reading this book, I can see why PBS is making it a program next year - it sounds/reads like something that would translate to the screen very well. There’s tension (family ones, but also between guests), there’s romance, there’s scheming, there’s blackmail, there are hidden secrets - in other words lots going on at this hotel. My one criticism - and it’s minor - is that this is a very character driven book, but with such a large ensemble it wasn’t possible to develop them all as much as I would’ve liked. But, if you want a fast enjoyable escapism read, pick this one up and give it a try. A very solid 4.25 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC copy of Hotel Portofino.
I requested this book as I saw that it was to be serialized for Masterpiece Theatre and I'm a huge fan. Many reviewers gave it five stars. That was good enough for me.

The story is not unique--an English couple picks up roots and opens up a hotel in Portofino, Italy in between the two world wars. There is drama galore and one can certainly see many episodes in the hands of a good scriptwriter. Portofino is one of the most beautiful resort areas of Italy and the country is growing full of fascists who often appear at the hotel.

There is no drama that is particularly novel, no surprises, and no character demands more sympathy than others. The book is not well-written. But the action moves on and as I said above, in the hands of a good scriptwriter, I can see an excellent series coming out of this and am looking forward to it.

So I suggest skipping the book and waiting for the BBC who rarely makes a misstep

Absolutely loved this book historical fiction at its best.Ivwould love to stay in the Hotel Portofno .The characters come alive can’t wait to watch this unfold on pbs.#netgalley #hotelportofino

Italy, 1926. After the Great War, Bella convinces her husband to leave the past behind in England and to buy a hotel in Portofino, where they honeymooned, and have a fresh start. And they do so with their children and household help. Their hotel is known for English speaking guests and the first of them are mother and daughter, who are British, and quite charming and opposite, setting from the start an interesting atmosphere.

The story is character-driven and there are a lot of them. So I wished they were a bit more developed to help remember who is who and what distinguishes them as individuals.

Events of the story happen mostly in one place, there is not much to the plot. It is mostly filled with everyday events and conversations.

It is certainly written with originality, you can hear the British accent and humor. As the synopsis claims, it is perfect for fans of Downton Abbey and The Crown.

I’m ecstatic to watch the PBS series after reading this. I think it’ll be fabulous on screen. I enjoy books like this a lot!

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

Oh my goodness, there is a lot going on in this book! I can totally understand why it's being done as a series on PBS next year. There are a lot of layers in the storyline and so many interesting characters.

Set at the Hotel Portofino on the Italian cost, there are so many storylines - Bella is running the hotel, her husband is a disgrace - they're trying to find a match for their son Lucien. Their daughter, Annie, and her daughter live at the hotel with them. Their guests are so eccentric and demanding!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

I want to stay in the Hotel Portofino in the Italian Riviera. 1920’s clothing and hair styles, intrigue, great food, swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. Snooty and bad-tempered guests, dangerous liaisons, raconteurs, crooked local politicians, jealous paramours, arranged marriages. You disappear into this novel from the start. I didn’t want to finish this book – I want more!

4.5 stars

Wow -- what a book! This is not a feel-good story but it is so fascinating. I stayed up late to finish it. I cannot wait to see the PBS version in 2022.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blackstone Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Blackstone Publishing.