Historical fiction and historical romances make up a good chunk of my library. Many of the dual timeline stories all start with a similar premise - the main character discovers an item and wants to unravel the mystery surrounding it. The same is true with "The Postcard from Italy", however, as this story unfolded, it took some interesting turns and I fell in love with Puglia, Italy, and became emotionally invested in Anto & Roberto's story as well as Suzi's.

Full of family secrets, mystery, and lies, Postcard from Italy takes us to the beautiful Italian seaside towards the end of World War II. A young man wakes with no memories of who he is, and by the time he discovers the truth, it is too late. He has fallen completely in love. When his former life calls him back and his memories return, what does he do? In the present day, Susannah chases a family mystery from England to Italy and finds a lot more than she bargained for.

I enjoyed the description of the Italian seaside and definitely felt transported there. The concept of forgetting your old life and embracing a life that is not yours is compelling. The conundrum of regaining memories and then having to choose between the former life and the new is intriguing and does not disappoint here. There is also another element in memory loss: As a young man loses his memories temporarily, an elderly gentleman’s recollections are fading away forever. The character development in the 1945 timeline is very strong. Overall, this is compelling, heart-breaking, family-based historical fiction. It’s about navigating a no-win situation the best way you possibly can. And it’s about how an accident can change a family forever.

I received a free copy of this book via Bookouture. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

The Postcard from Italy is part WWII story, part a love note to Southern Italy, part family dysfunction, part romance, part mystery, part a foodie's dream and thoroughly enjoyable. I requested to read it through NetGalley because my father served in Italy in WWII, returning home in May 1946. He was stationed fairly close to where the story takes place. Sadly, our collective family stories are those told over the years when some experience popped up in his head and we have no coherent oral history of his time there. So I want to thank Angela Petch first for her capacity to make the ordinary people in Italy and the ordinary towns during the late war period come alive, creating an atmosphere I could just about imagine my father experiencing. But what a bonus to find that Petch writes beautifully and tells a heck of a story. An addled old Italian fisherman rescues a man who falls from the sky like an angel and assures his grandson Anto that this is Roberto, the grandson believed lost at war in Africa. The stranger speaks Italian and thinks in English and has no idea who he is, experiencing flashbacks of images that tell him little. Anto and his grandfather (Nonno) are staying on remote land they own, using Trullo buildings to sit out the war. All of their family has passed and Nonno has dementia. Their city is not safe and he is doing much better in this familiar place. We fall in love with these two men, young and old, who care for "Roberto" and bring him back to health.

Meanwhile, in present day, with COVID-19 just now allowing for some travel, Susannah is still coming to grips with her beloved father's death. Her mother died first and her only remaining family is Elsie, her father's mother, who has always been cold and even emotionally abusive to Susi and Sylvia, the sister Elsie favors in a seriously problematic way. Susannah was involved in and has taken over her father's shop filled with collectibles including furniture and bric a brac. Her father's friend Maureen is also Susannah's friend and she offers to retire from teaching and run the store so Susi can take some time to recharge. Susannah's father Frank took an art class with Maureen and he rendered a painting of a large and fascinating house. On its back is taped the postcard that inspired the painting. It is in Italy. Susannah is helping to clear out Elsie's house because they need to sell it to pay for her nursing home care. Taped to a bureau is another postcard with a love message. It is related to the first one. Why not try to find this beautiful place, try to figure out why her father and grandmother had these postcards and recharge at the same time? So, off she goes to a small fishing town in Italy. The novel continues, alternating between the past and the present and resolving very satisfactorily.

A beautifully told story of love, war, and heartbreak. Angela Petch describes the sights, sounds, and aromas of Puglia so perfectly that you can imagine you're there, and the characters become friends you're sorry to leave at the end.

When Susannah decides to take some time off from her life to investigate a postcard she found among her deceased father's belongings, she has no idea what she will uncover or how it will affect her future. I loved how the chapters alternated between the past and the present, hidden secrets gradually being revealed.

I found this to be a wonderful wartime story that is different from all the rest, and I enjoyed the journey it took me on. I love Angela Petch's books, they are always a joy to read, and I highly recommend this one.

I love reading historical fiction, especially stories surrounding WWII. Now throw in a little romance combined with the beauty of the Italian coast and I’m sold!

This book tells the story of a man who wakes up off the coast of Puglia, Italy in 1945 with no memory of who he is or how he got there. He is saved thanks to Alto’s Nonno, who is convinced this man is his grandson Roberto, but Alto knows he died during the war. Regardless, the man takes on the grandson’s name and helps them around their property with the hope that his memory will eventually return.

Fast forward to present day England, where Susannah is still mourning the loss of her father, Frank. He had always wanted to visit Italy and with the help of a postcard and a letter she found in her grandmother’s belongings, Susi travels to Puglia to uncover the mystery behind her family’s past.

This was such a wonderful and emotionally-driven book, and I couldn’t help but fall in love with the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and loved getting to know the backstory of Susannah’s family and seeing the lengths her grandmother Elsie went to keep it hidden.

Highly recommend!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4609009617

The Postcard from Italy is set in dual times, 1945 Italy and present day England. In 1945, a young man is discovered after having parachuted out of his plane. He has no memory but quickly discovers that Italy feels like home. Present day England where Susannah, owner of Cobwebs antique shop, struggles to find her bearing after her beloved father dies. Susannah finds a yellowed postcard with a picture of a beautiful Italian farmhouse tucked away in her grandmothers dressing table. Her grandmother is suffering with dementia and can offer no help in dealing with this mystery. Susannah decides to visit Italy and try to put the pieces of the puzzle back together. As she does so, she discovers so much more than she ever could have imagined. From feeling broken to feeling whole, from feeling like the puzzle pieces are scattered to seeing the whole puzzle together. This intricately woven story is beautifully done and easy to follow but hard to put down! As I finished the book on the 1st day of Spring, sitting on the back deck in the sunshine, hearing the waves on the lake in the distance, I could have closed my eyes and imagined I was sitting under the Italian sun. This book is beautifully descriptive and I and I didn't want the story to end any more than I wanted that 1st day of spring sunshine to sink behind the trees. Brava for a beautiful story!

Rating: 4.5 Stars

The Postcard from Italy is the latest emotional, immersive and heart-wrenching novel from Angela Petch.

Antique shop owner Susannah is in her grandmother’s house tidying away her belongings when she comes across a shocking discovery that takes her breath away. The yellowing postcard from Italy from decades ago reveals a secret from her grandmother’s past during the Second World War that compels Susanna to travel all the way to Puglia to discover the truth. Arriving at a derelict hotel by the sparkling Mediterranean sea, Susannah immediately feels at home and she soon strikes up a friendship with handsome Italian waiter Giacomo, who is determined to help her in her quest.

As Susannah begins to track down the Italian farmhouse that had been on the postcard sent to her grandmother, she finds a dusty chest tucked away in a forgotten corner of the building that reveals a World War 2 parachute and a name tag that will bring Susannah ever closer to the truth. Can Susannah at long last manage to the discover the shocking secret at the heart of her family? Can she help to heal old wounds and lay past ghosts to rest? And will Italy – and Giacomo – help her to find the happiness that she has been seeking for so long?

Angela Petch is a terrific storyteller with a wonderful gift for writing lyrical, engrossing and atmospheric novels that grip readers from the start and keep them engrossed until the last page. The Postcard from Italy is a poignant, evocative and enchanting tale of dangerous secrets, divided loyalties and second chances with characters so well drawn that they will live on in the reader’s heart long after the last page is turned.

A magical tale from a writer who never lets her readers down, Angela Petch comes up trumps yet again with her latest novel, The Postcard from Italy.

I have to admit that when I first started reading The Postcard from Italy, I had the strangest feeling that I had read the book before. I don't think that it was because it was similar to other books that I have read, although I have come across similar themes, I think instead the book is so well written that it feels like an old and familiar friend.
I always find books written from two different times to be interesting and the way that this story unfolds, both in the modern-day and back in post-war Italy makes for an interesting read. For me, the historical story was the most interesting and I really wanted to know how Anto and Billy's story would unfold.
I was a little less taken with the modern story. For me, Susannah didn't quite read like a woman in her mid 30's, she seemed a lot older. Or at least she seemed a lot older than me (who is also older than mid 30's) It was an interesting way to bring out the story and add some extra mystery to it.
Overall, this was a great read. I really enjoyed it and wanted to find out exactly how the story would unfold and playout.

The Postcard from Italy is a dual timeline historical fiction.

1945 - Billy, a gunner with the RAF, is shot down over Puglia, Italy. He is found unconscious by Domenico and together with his grandson Anto they nurse him back to health. Billy has lost his memory and has no idea who he is or how he came to be on the beach. Domenico is becoming frail and Anto secretly wishes Billy, who they call Roberto, will stay. However, both Domenico and Anto are harbouring secrets.

Present day - Susannah's grandmother is in a nursing home and whilst Susannah is clearing out her home she finds a hidden postcard from Italy dated 1947 with professions of love but unsigned. Did her grandmother Elsie have an affair with an Italian soldier?

Billy's story in 1945 is narrated in first person and then later through his diary entries. He has forgotten his previous life and feels writing snippets of thoughts could bring back details of his past.
The descriptions of the scenery of Puglia are visceral and the day to day life of the simple country people was amazing to read about.

I also enjoyed Susannah's story and how she was eager to find out more about the writer of the postcard and her trip to Puglia held a small romance. We all know those Italian men are pretty hot!!
I was much more invested in Billy's story however I was still intrigued as to how Angela Petch was going to tie it all together. This was executed well and the events that led to Susannah finding out the full story were quite believable.

I loved everything about the small country town of Puglia, it's past and present day. The characters were real and heartwarming, the scenery was spectacular and the food was mouthwatering. I almost felt like I was experienced it all firsthand.

My Thoughts:-

So a bit of a mystery with a love story or two thrown in. I have never visited Puglia, the heel of Italy's boot with its characteristic trulli so often converted into holiday lets, but I have stayed in the neighbouring region of Chieti, a beautiful area largely ignored by international tourism, which is beautiful. I was thrilled to find an overlap between the geography of my trips and the terrain covered in this story, in the coastal town of Vasto. However, I digress.

There is the mystery of the identity of the young man who descends from the sky to the sea for an elderly fisherman and his grandchild to rescue and nurse back to health, who has no memory of who he is and where he came from. He speaks Italian, however, and gradually he recovers physically and begins to work alongside them, but what will happen when he remembers who he is and where he came from?

Then there is the mystery of the titular postcard that Susannah discovers, hidden in her grandmother's dressing table. She is still reeling from the death of her beloved father, who brought her up after her mother died soon after giving birth to her. Her grandmother has always been reticent about the past and is now losing her memory, so needs to be in a nursing home. It has fallen to Susannah to clear her grandmothers home and as she runs an antique shop, she is carefully sorting what might be sold from what needs to be disposed of. Her father was a bit of an artist in later years and had painted a beautiful scene in an Italian farmhouse which bears a striking resemblance to the one on the mysterious postcard she discovers.

There are some interesting themes to explore in the story and to think about, including the nature of family and that of love, and whether secrets in the family can be protective or damaging, so that this might prove a good choice of reading for book clubs,

The story passes between the two time periods and the different groups of characters skilfully, so it is easy to keep track of who is who and when. The characters are well described and engaging, with perhaps the exception of difficult grandmother Elsie. The stories develop in parallel and the reveals are skilfully managed, creating a compulsive, immersive and very satisfying read, which I greatly enjoyed and an very happy to recommend.

The descriptions of Puglia, Italy in this wonderful dual timeline read from Angela Petch really brought this story to life. The food, language and countryside described were so evocative. I loved getting to know Susannah and Roberto - their history, their connection, their love of Puglia and the people.
The two timelines flowed effortlessly between Susannah’s and Roberts’s stories with the link of the postcards and picture to remind us of the fragility of family. This is an emotional read and reminds us of the many sacrifices made by ordinary men and women in the Second World War.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Postcard From Italy' by Angela Petch.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Angela Petch, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 16th March 2022.

This is the second book I have read by this author. The first book was 'The Tuscan House' which I would also recommend.

I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching and colouful cover and its captivating synopsis. I also wanted to read something a bit different from the same genres I've been reading lately and this historical novel seemed to attract my attention. I am also a fan of Angela and if this as half as good as 'The Tuscan House' it is guaranteed to be an excellent read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 42 chapters. The chapters are medium to long in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in both England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 UK 🇬🇧 and Italy 🇮🇹.The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.

This book is written in third person perspective with the protagonists being Billy (1945 onwards), Antonella (1943 onwards) and Susannah Ferguson (present) . The benefits of books written in first person perspective, especially with multiple protagonists, are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on.

Another absolutely stunning holiday where I was swept away to Italy but sadly I need to unpack my suitcase after a gorgeous journey.

Well done Angela you have done it yet again!!! Another absolutely stunningly written book whose vivid descriptions completely arrested my attention. I could feel the sand in my toes and the wind in my hair. The cover and synopsis suited the storyline perfectly.


The storyline itself is captivating and heart warming but also devastatingly heart breaking in a way. A perfect summer read filled with mystery, romance, deceit, love, family, secrets and is perfect for anyone looking for an escape. I was absolutely hooked from page one until 2.30am in the morning when I finished having not being able to put it down. The overall atmosphere worked perfectly with the storyline and I felt myself surrounded by the sea, countryside and sounds of Italy and most definitely wanting to go back. There were two storylines that were woven together perfectly throughout along with romances. You have the storyline of Susannah who runs her antique shop but comes across a postcard hidden by her elderly grandmother. This postcard takes her on a journey to Italy where she discovers much more than she bargained for. You also have the storyline of Billy and Antonella running alongside it but in the past. Billy has woken with amnesia in Italy and discovers Antonella. Billy slowly gets his memory back and makes a journey to England. The both storylines are woven perfectly and I LOVED reading them both. The plot was very realistic making it all very easy to picture. I am so glad the way it all turned out and for me it ended perfectly. An absolutely stunning book that would make an absolutely gorgeous movie!!! I loved finding out all about both Billy and Antonello's history and backgrounds. I did have to Google a few words but being set in Italy I thought this was appropriate and it also shows that the author did her research on the language, either that or knows Italian. Angela's use of Italian throughout the storyline made it more authentic. The author emerges her readers into the storyline as well as the settings and actions and emotions of the characters. I fell in love with Puglia and would love to return in the next book the amazing Angela writes. I also wanted to say that I love the fact that she mentions Angela Marsons at one point as she is one of my favourite crime authors. I have noticed she appears in several books by several different authors and I love that authors support each other in this way. Some of the storyline is written in diary entries which, again, I found this made the plot more authentic and I really enjoyed becoming totally submerged into it.

This book is fascinating and gloriously intriguing, a devastating, beautiful, heartbreaking, compelling and riveting page turner. It is perfect for fans of historical and WWll stories and of course any fans of Angela's previous books. I for one am looking forward to reading the previous and next books in this series. I definitely believe Angela has done plenty of research and it shines through.

DO NOT PICK THIS UP UNTIL YOU HAVE CLEARED YOUR SCHEDULES AS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!

Get ready to pack your suitcase and depart on a journey to history and Italy, you won't regret it or forget it!

It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.

The characters are absolutely fantastic as well as intriguing, unique and realistic. I loved discovering and delving into their history and background. I loved watching both Billy and Antonella's along with Susannah and Giacorna'e relationships develop as well as Billy and Antonella's friendship with Fortunata, Eva and Maria and Susannah's friendship/relationship with Frank, Nonno, Mario, Maureen Bella and along with the other characters, Although I absolutely adored many of the characters there were two I actually despised. I could not stand either Elsie or Sybil regardless of what happened with Elsie I had no sympathy for her and thought that the way William and Susannah were treated by her was disgraceful. However, you cannot get along with everyone and I absolutely loved the rest of the characters who all worked perfectly in this stunning storyline.

When you read this make sure you also read the letter from Angela. I always make sure u turn every page in a book and I absolutely loved reading Angela's letter and discovering how the story came to life and that she based Billy on her uncle William and Frank on her own father. I always enjoy reading how a story comes to an authors mind and this was one of the loveliest reasons I've come across.

Congratulations Angela on an absolutely stunning book that I fell in love with. Here is to your next success 🥂!!

Overall a devastatingly beautiful, heartbreaking and memorable historical page turner.

Genres covered in this novel include Historical Fiction, Romance Novel, War Story, Historical Romance, Diary Fiction and Holiday Fiction amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of historical and WWII fiction and anyone looking for a beautiful, romantic yet devastating page turner which will shock and leave you thinking about the story for a long time .

387 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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If the absolutely stunning cover for Angela Petch’s new novel The Postcard from Italy doesn’t want to make you delve straight into this book then the brilliant and captivating story that awaits you most certainly will. Angela once again transports us away to the beautiful country of Italy. That image on the cover is pure perfection and on these cold dreary days where spring hasn’t quite arrived yet, I’d give anything to be sitting at that window looking out on such a beautiful vista. Sadly that wish can’t come true but the excellent descriptions of the Italian countryside within a story full of twists and turns more than make up for it. This is a dual timeline story set between the present day and it follows one women’s search for answers inspired by a letter she finds and also that of a man who falls from the sky in March 1945.

The Postcard from Italy has an intriguing opening which sets the scene perfectly for the story that unfolds and I found myself quickly settling into the rhythm of the story eager to uncover the answers to so many questions that swiftly arise. The plot, the setting and the pace of the story are all perfect. Nothing is dragged out nor at the same time it doesn’t feel rushed. Instead, things are revealed piece by piece at just the right moments which make for an interesting, engaging and a very much enjoyable read.

In March 1945 on the Italian coast, a man has fallen from the sky and found himself on a beach and subsequently rescued by Domenico and his grandson Anto. Domenico believes this man to be Roberto, the sibling of Anto, but we know this cannot be the case as Roberto was killed in action in Africa. But Domenico’s mind is letting him down and to put him right in his thought process would only add to his confusion and upset. The man who we know as Billy from the chapter headings has no recollection of who he is or where he came from. He needs to claw back his memory and discover what is hiding in the darkest recesses of his mind. Hidden away on the small landholding in the unique building known as a trullo, Billy must heal from his wounds and then he hopes his memories will return. Surrounded by beautiful landscapes and the coast he soon settles in but finds that perhaps Anto hides his own secrets too. For Anto is not all he seems and Billy soon discovers that Anto is in fact a woman named Antonella. Why has Antonella changed her appearance and why is she living in such an isolated place with her grandfather? The reasons for which become apparent fairly early in the story but the fact that this occurs doesn’t in anyway distract from the overall plot. In fact, it only adds more depth and understanding and allows the reader to appreciate how brave and courageous Antonella truly is.

It’s fairly obvious that there is a connection much more than a friendship of a rescuer developing between herself and her rescue but it’s the path to admit and establish these feelings that dominates a lot of the story. There are many obstacles in their path, not least the real reason that Antonella hastily left her hometown at a time when the Germans were gaining ground and it was dangerous to travel. Her reasons are very much valid but you sense that she is always living on a knife edge and worried about being discovered and is wary of what the consequences will be if this does occur. When Domenico passes away whilst fishing, Billy vows that he will protect Antonella for as long as he possibly can. But what happens when some memories slowly start to return? Will the little ideal they have created amongst the olive groves away from the war that continues to rage on be shattered? Will Billy when he learns the truth of who he is be forced to go back to a time and place that is no longer who he is anymore? For his experiences have changed and moulded him into a new person and he is not sure if his old life is the one that he wishes to live in anymore. I loved the pace of the unfolding of the real story behind Billy. We see him wrestle with his conscious with what he has been brought up to believe is the right thing to do yet this new life that he has established for himself is not one that he feels he can easily walk away from? He feels a duty to Antonella and also a job has presented itself at the restaurant /farmhouse Masseria della Torre where he feels a part of everything but yet the past and his duties come calling.

You hear/read of so many stories of wounded soldiers during the war and how their time away from home changed who they were. That the women and families waiting for them at home whilst they battled in Europe couldn’t comprehend the changes their men have gone through. In Billy’s case, the truth behind who he really is and his background at first made for a cut and dried solution. But delve a little deeper and think about what you are reading and you as a reader will see how Billy is faced with a difficult decision. Perhaps his choice has already been made for him but can he go back on what he did to someone.? Will that someone welcome him once again with open arms? Are they willing to open their heart given the damage that has been done to them and the fear and apprehension that exists for them daily? I am purposefully being vague here regarding specific details as one little slip would give the entire plot away but suffice to say I thought the story told in the past was very well written and really captured and held my attention throughout and I loved how it eventually intertwined with the story in the present.

In the present day, Susannah Ferguson has recently lost her father Frank whom she cared for her in his final illness. Her 97-year-old grandmother Elise recently went to live in a care home and whilst Susannah is cleaning out her house she finds an envelope with a letter from a man in in Puglia, Italy hidden underneath a dressing table. Susannah has always had an eye for things that are old as the bric a brac shop she owns has become her sanctuary. This discovery intrigues her, even more so because there was little love lost between herself and Elsie and Susannah could never out her finger on the reasons for this especially seen as her sister Sybil was always treated with the utmost of respect and love. Susannah is battered and bruised following the death of her father and this chance discovery ignites a small spark in her. What is the significance of the postcard that her father used as inspiration for a painting he once did and does it connect to her grandmother’s letter? Who would have been writing to her grandmother from Italy and even more importantly why did she keep it secret? Maureen, Susannah’s friend, agrees to take care of the shop so she can travel to Italy for a month. She now has a quest and is determined to find answers especially as Elsie is not of sound mind to provide them. Susannah hopes this time away will help her come out of herself and to be more able to go with the flow. She needs to stop overthinking things, take a few risks, open her mind and see where her journey will take her? To happiness or trouble when she discovers the truth?

The scenes where Susannah was in Italy really brought this wonderful country to life. As with Billy in the past, I could really visualise the small streets, the blue sea, the food, the herbs and the heat. Susannah soon discovers the Masseria della Torre and wonders is it the same building that her father had painted from a postcard. She meets the owner Mario and here is the only small criticism I have of the book. At this point I felt the story went a little off track and became too caught up in Mario and Susannah caretaking the farmhouse. It ventured into a ‘chick lit’ type romance and the historical element was lost before once again getting back on track. Mario was like a diversion that wasn’t needed in the book. But once I got passed this part I found I engaged more with Susannah’s story and the journey that she was on to bridge the gap between the past and the present and to find the answers that her grandmother can’t give her. She has always felt something missing and that she didn’t belong. Will she find what she is searching for and just how do the two strands of the story connect? To find out, I would have no hesitation in recommending this wonderful book from Angela Petch whom I feel is an author who is going from strength to strength and the enjoyment she gets from writing is really coming across in her books. I’m already looking forward to her next book. Let’s hope it’s set in Italy again.

My first by Angela Petch and I absolutely loved it. It is beautifully written and draws you in right from the beginning and will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

Lovely characters and descriptions of Italy which definitely transport you there.

I look forward to reading more books by the author.

Highly recommended and totally worthy of five stars.

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley.

TW: Dementia, an incident of sexual assault
A beautiful setting in Italy, World War II, dual storyline, romance, antiques and a mystery comes wonderfully together in The Postcard from Italy. Susannah is intrigued by a postcard of Italy that she finds in an old wardrobe of her grandmother. But no one in her family has ever visited this place to her knowledge and then she embarks on a journey which will change her life. How and why is the beautiful story of this novel.
I have never been to Italy yet but Puglia comes to life in this novel and imagining the vibrancy of this place is not at all hard. I was really invested in Billy's and Anto's story and loved their characters. The ending I cheered. I really enjoyed reading this novel and now I really want to go and stay in a trullo.

This was a lovely read. It was a dual time line and was easy to follow. I loved the descriptions of Italy and could actually feel the warm sun on my body as I was reading it. This was my first book by this author and hopefully I will be reading more. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

About the Book
Angela Petch weaves together a captivating dual time novel in The Postcard from Italy. She created this mesmerizing novel from her imaginings of what could have happened to her own uncle during WWII. The Postcard from Italy takes place in Puglia, Italy in the 1940s and modern-day England.

While the story begins with Billy’s tale, The Postcard from Italy revolves around the main protagonist, Susannah and her journey of discovery. Some might disagree that there are actually two main characters. However, I think that Billy’s story adds dimension, as well as added drama. Without his tale, The Postcard from Italy would remain two-dimensional.

Settings
The Postcard from Italy introduces England on a limited scale. Comparatively, most of the book takes place in Puglia, Italy. I was first introduced to Puglia about three years ago when a vendor popped into the office to describe the beauty of the region.

Have you ever seen pictures of Puglia? It looks beautiful! In my opinion, it shows a different side of Italy I was not aware of. Stone buildings undulate across the landscape that borders the sea. Yes, the Amalfi coast stuns with its magnificent vistas and regal bearing. But, Puglia. Puglia tends to be the underrated sibling of the more elaborate western side of the country. If I were to travel to Italy again, Puglia would definitely be on my list.
Another fun fact: Masseria delle Torre is a real boutique hotel. When I read the name of the hotel, I thought to myself, I’ve heard that name before.

Analysis
The Postcard from Italy is complex story with multiple intersecting storylines. Through it all, Ms. Petch writes vividly. My attention was held captive throughout the entire story. I have to admit I was again eagerly anticipating reading the Author’s Note at the end.

I love how the book finishes. As you read, you feel hope that Susannah will find what she is looking for. And she does. The book comes full circle, bringing Susannah closure on her past and allowing her the freedom to embark on her future.

Who Should Read The Postcard from Italy?
Lovers of WWII fiction will likewise fall in love with Ms. Petch’s tale. I will admit, the first few chapters of Billy’s story took some time to dive into. But once you realize that The Postcard from Italy moves between the 1940s and present day, it makes it much easier to read. You quickly become enmeshed in both story lines and want to know how they will all end.

Travel connoisseurs and Italy buffs will likewise enjoy reading The Postcard from Italy. Ms. Petch’s description quickly transports you to another time and place.

Triggers
Yes, The Postcard from Italy contains a few triggers. The book deals with rape fairly early on. COVID-19 and the pandemic are mentioned on several occasions, which, when you’re dealing with “present day” is a good and bad thing. I think it dates itself in a bad way, on one hand. The reader can’t just assume it’s in “their present day”. The Postcard from Italy will always remain a book written post-pandemic. However, as small as the representation is, it will also go down in history, right? Finally, there are sensual scenes that I skipped. You understand enough about the characters that you don’t have to read them if you’re not comfortable with them.

Is The Postcard from Italy Book Club worthy?

While The Postcard from Italy offers a formulaic plotline, similar to The Lost Carousel of Provence, it is definitely book club worthy. Ms. Petch does a wonderful job of drawing you in to the story, with all of the secrets and mysteries, that you are unable to put the book down!

What do you think? Do you think you’ll pick up a copy? Let me know. Let me know what you think of the book when you read it.

Happy reading.

This was a lovely time-slip novel with beautiful scenes of Italy. You could almost smell the salt air and taste the delicious Italian food that Angela Petch describes. It does have one harrowing scene, though.

When the young man wakes up in Italy, he can't remember who he is or why he is there. Cared for by an old man and his adult child Anto, he finds out that a war is raging. He has to find out the truth about his past and about Anto.

In the present day, Susannah, who runs an antique shop, wants to learn about her dragon-like Grandma's mysterious past. Could it involve a romance and what does it have to do with a villa in Italy? She travels there to find out and finds herself attracted to two handsome Italians...

I enjoyed this novel so I will look for more books by this author.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

World War II? Check.

Dual timeline? Check

Lovely cover? Check.

Set in Paris? Hold on a moment.

Whilst it is true that I tend to be quite Paris-centric in my reading, that doesn't mean that I can't expand my horizons on occasion. And with this novel, it's not even the more usual Italian settings of Rome or Tuscany. This time the majority of the story is set in the region of Puglia in the 'heel' of Italy

The book opens when an when an injured man comes out of a coma. He had been cared for by an old man and his grandson. The old man is very excited. He believes that the injured man is his grandson Roberto who has been off fighting the war. The grandson, Anto, knows that isn't true, but he doesn't know who the man actually is. What Anto does know is that they need to hide "Roberto" to give him a chance to recover from his injuries.

Anto and his Nonno (grandfather) live a very simple life. They fish and grow their own vegetables and pretty much stick to themselves, and as he recovers Roberto helps them out with these tasks. Anto shows him the secret caves in the coastline and he swims to help recover physically. Roberto has flashes of memory but none of it is enough to help him remember who he really is.

Whilst Roberto can't remember who he is, Anto has his own reason for staying hidden away from outsiders. But it is isn't possible to remain hidden forever. After Nonno dies, Roberto goes to work in a nearby restaurant to help supplement their income, and it is here that a chance encounter sheds light on who Roberto really is.

In the modern thread of the story, antiques store owner Susannah is grieving the loss of her beloved father, Frank, six months earlier. She is also having to deal with emptying out her grandmother Elsie's house. Elsie is elderly and suffering from dementia and has recently moved into a nursing home. It doesn't help that Susanna has always known that she isn't her grandmother's favourite person. She has no idea why Elsie doesn't like her. Just that she doesn't.


Whilst cleaning out the house Susanna comes across an envelope that contains a postcard with a picture on it and a mysterious message. The image on the card matches a painting that has hung on the wall and Susanna is sure that if she can find the location then she can find out what the message was about and who it was from. And maybe, she can get some answers about her own life as well. After all, she can't ask Elsie who gets distressed quite easily and doesn't seem to be making sense if she does answer any questions.

With her loyal friend Maureen looking after the antiques shop, Susanna heads to Italy to see if she can unlock her grandmother's secrets. And if she gets some much needed rest and relaxation and maybe some romance as well that's a bonus.

I really liked how the threads of the two stories came together. As is generally the case if you asked me to choose I would say that the historical part of the story was my favourite, but that is no surprise to me.

Image from Wikipedia

I really enjoyed the book. I was fascinated by the setting of. The author mentioned houses that are called trullo - round houses with conical roofs and trabucco which are used for fishing, and I found myself googling. Lots of trullo (or trulli for multiple trullos) in the Puglia region are now bed and breakfasts or hotels. It would definitely be a more unusual destination to visit in Italy. Maybe we will get to go to visit one day.

I hadn't read this author before. In this book, she was inspired by her late uncle who was a rear gunner and died in a plane crash during WWII. She has four other books set in Tuscany as well as a couple of others. I am definitely planning to keep an eye out for her other books. It's clear that Petch knows and loves Italy. It shines through on the pages.

Oh, and I think that the cover gods were definitely smiling on this book! The cover is lovely. Makes me feel as though I am there instead of sitting at my desk!


Rating: 4/5

I will start off by saying that I was drawn to this book by the beautiful cover, once I saw the cover I just had to read this book. The author is a completely new author to me and as usual I always feel slightly nervous reading a new author for me. What if I don’t like the book and feel like giving up half way through ? Well I needn’t have worried as I absolutely loved this book. The story is told in dual timeline 1940’s just after WW2 and present day. This book utterly captivated me, especially those based in the past and reading about the lives of Roberto and Antonella . This author has a wonderful way of describing her characters and the surroundings in each chapter. At times I honestly felt I was there in Italy and eating all that glorious food that was described so well. This is a wonderful story that had me totally captivated from the very beginning.