This was a well-written book. I loved that it focused on an area of Italy we don't often see in literature. I enjoyed the dual timeline and that we learned Roberto's past as he did, we never knew more than he did. I was a little put-off by Susannah's use of daddy, but that's just a personal thing that irritates me. I did want to thump her upside the head at times, but in a loving way. Like you would thump your clueless best friend that doesn't realize her crush is flirting with her. The whole thing with Mario was a little weird. I think it was needed to push her into staying with Giacomo, but after the confrontation, Mario and that storyline just drops off. Overall the story outweighed these flaws and I would love to read another of Ms. Petch's book, as this was my first.

This is how historical fiction is done. WWII. Dual timelines. Mystery. Family drama. Romance. And of course, the absolutely stunning descriptions of the land and the food that made me want to book a ticket asap.
As usual, I preferred the historical timeline, but I did very much enjoy the present day story as well. It maybe could have been a little bit shorter by leaving out a couple of things that weren’t really vital to the story and I problem would have given it 5 stars, but I’ll still happily give it 4. I don’t usually like a wrap it all up in a bow ending, but in this case it worked and warmed my heart. And running an antique shop sounds like a dream to me now. Very much enjoy his one!
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my review.

Nonno was the one to rescue the young man from the sea. He and his grandson Alto nursed him back to health in their small home, his burns and damaged head taking the longest to heal. And when he woke, he had no idea where he was, or who he was. He took the name of Roberto, Nonno’s grandson who’d died in the war but who Nonno believed had returned to them. It was kinder that way. And Roberto helped Alto and Nonno as much as he could around the small olive property. It was 1945 in Puglia, Italy and the war had finally ended. The allies were helping in the area, when Roberto was recognized…

In present day England, Susannah was missing her father desperately. Frank had died six months prior, and now, working in her antique shop, Cobwebs, she felt disconnected. When a good friend offered to look after Cobwebs while Susi took a break, she decided to go to Italy where her father had wanted to go before he died. There was a postcard from the area and Susi decided to investigate the mystery surrounding the card and a letter she’d found in her grandmother Elsie’s belongings. Arriving in the small Italian village of Puglia, she was transformed. A beautiful, peaceful place with the ocean so close, Susi could feel her heart settle. But could she find out about the mystery surrounding her family and the past?

A Postcard from Italy by Angela Petch is a beguiling, well-written historical novel set in the latter war years and beyond, plus the current day. I loved the historical aspect of the novel, and once Susi went to Puglia the story melded beautifully. Spectacular countryside, friendly Italians, delicious food – this is my first by this author and I’ll be looking for more. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. It is really beautifully written, it is heartbreaking, as well as beautiful, devastating as well as uplifting, compelling and riveting. There were times in the book that I was absolutely shocked by the big reveals as I didn't see them coming. It was a really great book.

This book took me on a magic carpet ride to Tuscany as Suzannah, the strong female lead character, went searching through her grandmother's past after finding a postcard that was hidden in her old dressing table.  Angela Petch's rich prose had me feeling as though I was back in Tuscany, experiencing the romantic ambiance, delectable food, and the laid back countryside of Italy as it existed post World War II. 
 
My emotions were on a roller coaster ride as I traveled back in time to meet a rescued WWII rear gunner that had fallen from the sky, and watch his long recovery from his injuries and amnesia.  Somehow this serviceman is linked to Suzannah's grandmother and the postcard that Suzannah had found. 

This book has mystery, romance, and adventure with heartache along for the ride.  It is a beautifully written novel that brings the reader on a ride to experience the tastes, the romance, and love of the Italian people while at the same time allowing them to enjoy the adventure and mystery that Suzannah experiences in solving this long ago family connection.

Pure joy to read this very talented author's novel!  
Eccellente, as the Italians would say!

My thanks to #NetGalley, the publisher, Bookouture, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a double romance set both in wartime Puglia and the present day and I must say that it sucked me in from the very first page! Once I started reading I just couldn’t stop.
Towards the end of the 2nd World War an airman is rescued by an Italian family. He has. landed with “Angel” wings and as he has a head injury causing amnesia he is subsequently known by the name of Roberto, the dead brother of Anto who has found him. Gradually he starts to recover and make a life in Italy and realises he can speak both Italian and English but still he can remember nothing of his past life. However he feels settled and happy in his new environment and enjoys spending time with Anto and Nonno.
In the present day Susannah is mourning her father Frank and trying to run her antiques shop in Hastings. When she discovers a picture of an Italian farm house painted by her late “Daddy” as well as a hidden letter from Italy taped in a drawer by her grandmother Elsie she resolves to discover who the writer of the letter was and what connection he had with her family. Grandma Elsie has dementia and has never shown any love for Susannah, preferring her sister. When Susannah asks Elsie about the letter she cannot get a sensible reply so a trip to Italy seems to be the only solution.
I loved both the stories and unlike some dual time zone books this one flowed effortlessly between the two periods. I immediately warmed to the character of Roberto and his desire to discover his past. Anto’s difficult situation and ever present fear was also well described. The horrendous wartime events which separated all the main characters leading to hidden family secrets was only too believable.
I really felt as if I was living in Puglia as the author had made such an excellent job of her research. I could picture Anto’s hidden grotto and beautiful beach where Nonno fished as well as the “trulli “ where they lived.
This is my first book by Angela Petch but it certainly won’t be my last. I recommend this as a five star read to anyone who enjoys a well researched wartime romance set in a beautiful and sunny part of the world! Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my review copy.

Absolutely loved this book. Set mainly in Italy a love story that is set towards the end of the war and after and also present day. History shouldn't be ignored and secrets always come out. A must read.

A new book by Angela Petch is always a reason for celebration, and her latest doesn't fail to deliver. This one might even be my favourite so far, with its intimately personal origins and deft weaving of dual timelines. Two worlds separated by decades but drawn together with the eternal threads of hope and love.
We first meet Roberto after he falls from the sky with his 'long white wings'. But his identity is unclear, and it is up to young Anto and his beloved grandfather to care for him and help as he struggles to piece together the fragments of his past.
The story beautifully depicts life in 1940s Puglia, Italy with the author's trademark references to food, Italian expressions and cultural nuances. Equally, the present day chapters add a layer of mystery as the titular postcard leads a young woman on a voyage of discovery.
I adored the characters — major and minor – who added the flesh to the bones of this moving and memorable tale. Just a few standout lines for me:
<i>Like a hermit crab, she retreats again into her shell, What difference is it to me if we keep it simple … There must be thousands of others swallowed quietly into the land by this war.</i>
<i>She waggled a plump finger at him. 'There are two mistakes in life: not beginning something you want to do and not striving until the end.'</i>
<i>'This war has blown us to all corners like dandelion seeds in the wind, to plant ourselves wherever we landed.'</i>
During these difficult times, it's easy to forget what our ancestors survived and our own ability to find light in the darkness. This book depicts all of this with candour, warmth and skill.

Wow! Just Wow! To quote character Suzannah’s words when she describes a special Italian setting. What a creative way to explore your own relative’s past as this novel was inspired by Ms Petch’s own uncle and his experiences in the war as a rear gunner. In real life he did not survive but what if he had? Angela has woven a magical story around a ‘what if’ scenario that captured my attention from the beginning and carried me on an exhilarating journey across time, place and hearts.

A mystery surfaces of a hidden postcard found by Suzannah behind her failing grandmother Elsie’s dressing table that leaves her all at sea and curious of its story. The picture is an Italian stone farmhouse and it has a strange message with a post date from World War II years. Did her grandmother have a secret love? This person is marked with an uncertain identity in both past and present timelines which gives us much to think about. Who really is the pilot that has fallen from the sky and landed in Puglia, Italy? We follow Suzannah on her journey to find the missing pieces from the past to restore a puzzle in the present, all the while grieving the loss of her beloved father.

The world building is phenomenal in this novel. The author has certainly done her homework. I felt as if I had visited Italy and it certainly left me wanting to go there even more. Italy’s history and culture are finely spun into the story’s fabric giving us a glittering, explosive palette of garden, sky and sea colours that shape the atmosphere exquisitely. The plot and moods were beautifully rendered through clearly defined images, character speeches and actions. The dual timelines were both engrossing and the transition between them, seamless.

What a journey we are taken on through the hearts of these characters that we come to care about (even those that annoy us). Having a family connection to this story, I believe has given the author an extra benefit. Also, her own interest in the topic of the effects of war on people’s lives is clearly visible making us feel this story is passionate, genuine and straight from the heart. What a delivery! It is a novel I will never forget. I felt my heart soaking and breaking in the family chaos but also drenched and at peace in the setting’s wonder and profound beauty. I enjoyed this imaginative journey to a world where people get a second chance and where love eventually reigns supreme. It is also a story about finding your way home, where you can be yourself, as in a place not necessarily where you were born but where the long branches of ancestral memory extend and surface unexpectedly. Brilliant work, Ms Petch!

5 Glorious Stars for whisking me away to Italy and to the lives of those deeply affected by the war but who have a chance to regain a place in the world and in the hearts of those who truly love them. Yes, I highly recommend this beautiful novel, The Postcard From Italy.

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a review copy. Review will be posted on Amazon once released.

From the moment the airman wakes and remembers nothing of who he is, I was hooked on his story and spent many happy hours wondering how on earth it could be resolved. I like that in a book; I like to be kept guessing, and wishing for the happiness of characters an author is clever enough to make me care about.

I also revelled in being lost in Italy, both in the 1940s and in the present day. Angela Petch has a fantastic knowledge of the country and that means both her settings and her research are impeccable. The wonderful descriptions of the landscape, the people, the food… it drew me in in a way that meant I could feel the sun on my back and a visit to Puglia is now definitely on my bucket list.

Every character is perfectly crafted, even those with little more than walk on parts, such as the village priest who dances the night away at a wedding. Little by little you come to know them as their stories unfold, their misunderstandings play out and ultimately the mystery of exactly how the airmen fits into both his past – and the future – is resolved.

Loved it!!! This is probably my favorite book by the author. I would give it 4.5 stars. The description of Italy was beautiful. I enjoyed how the book alternated between the past with Billy/Roberto and Anton and the present with Susannah. My favorite part of the book was Roberto and Anton's story. He was lucky Domenico found him. Loved the relationship between Anton and her grandfather. She was stronger than she realized. Billy definitely dodged a bullet with Elsie, but also missed out knowing his son. Elsie was a nasty woman and treated Susi horribly. She definitely showed favorites between her two granddaughters. Loved Susi's adventures in Italy.

Definitely recommend the book, especially if you enjoy historical fiction. Loved the characters, writing style and story. Look forward to reading more books by the author. Loved the cover of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

Loved this
Evocatively written

Can't wait for my next trip to Italy

After reading Angela Petch's book, I feel a deep urge to visit Italy. A lovely story, beautifully written.

I have enjoyed all Angela Petch’s books so was really looking forward to this new title.
Ms Petch certainly knows how to draw you into the story and take you on a journey.
This is a dual time line story that combines historical fiction with lots of drama, intrigue and a mystery spanning many decades.
It is WWII and an airman is rescued by an old Italian fisherman after his plane has crashed. He has lost his memory and begins to live life with the Italian and his daughter. They call him Roberto but he knows that’s not his real name. Parts of his former life come back in flashes but it isn’t until someone recognises him that he is forced to return to his former life in England.
Present day and Susannah is still grieving the death of her father. She can’t seem to get out of a rut a d badly needs a change in her life. Her elderly grandmother Elsie who helped raise Susannah but never showed her any love is in a nursing home and the family home is being cleared out. Susannah comes across a postcard from Italy and some letters hidden in a drawer. This sets Susannah on a trip to Italy to find answers to who sent the postcard and wrote the letters.
A really engaging read and one I recommend to historical fiction fans.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
It was a little slow at first, but then it improved greatly and pulled me into the two intertwined stories of Billy and Susannah. Relationships are complicated, but worth it as demonstrated in this book. If you want a book that will make you want to visit Italy as well as run an antique shop, then this is the one for you.

A beautiful written captivating story with characters that will stay with you for a long time. I loved the way Angela seamlessly used a dual timeline to combine historical fiction with an enthralling contemporary plot. I engaged with all the characters, even Elsie, and love how Roberto and Anto’s story evolved and the connecting contemporary story with Susannah. The Italian setting was so vividly and gorgeously described I felt that I was there. Highly recommended

Have the tissues ready! My first book to read by this author but not the last! This story is beautifully written and its characters will stay with you long after you finish it! Highly recommend!

“The Postcard from Italy” by Angela Petch, from the Publisher’s summary, sounded like a fantastic book. It’s got a WWII angle. A dual timeline. A mystery. Check, check, and check. Usually in dual timeline historical fiction books I prefer the older timeline - this book was no exception. I liked how Ms. Petch described the area of Puglia, Italy. I liked how she described the family members “Roberto” stayed with. But the section about Anto’s past I felt could’ve been skipped, except to add some drama it felt forced. As for the modern timeline with Susannah, the whole part at the hotel in the postcard I felt was really unnecessary - the box could’ve still been in the hotel, but maybe move the bar there instead? So, suffice to say that at times I was engrossed in this book and at others wondered why such-and-such was added. While I liked the “full closure” at the end, I also felt it felt a bit forced. There were a lot of “this thing just happened” events toward the end for me that felt a bit rushed, after the slow leisurely descriptive pace this book had had previously. However, this review is in the minority. If Ms. Petch’s writing is something you enjoy, I’m pretty sure you’ll also enjoy this book. I will most likely read another book by this author, as I liked the descriptive writing, so I’m hoping this is just one that didn’t work for me.

I cannot wait to read more by this author. This author has now become a go-to author. To have a book that is well written as well as entertaining is a delight. Reading is about escaping your world and entering another one. The word building was phenomenal in this historical fiction book. Here I forgot about my own life and was immersed in the world created by the author. I would recommend this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Enchanting, captivating and magical! A cosy historical fiction I didn't want to finish and part with the characters.
Full review saved for the virtual book tour next month.
Book recieved by my favorite publisher Bookouture.
Planning to read the rest of her books soon.