would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

well i have to admit the title put me off this book and i admit to finding other books to read before this one but when i started it boy was i wrong about so many things.... and i was always hungry whilst reading this book lol

1943 italy and they are at war.... and the small town of amatino is about to have the germans there...though they are fighting on the same side the nazis run roughshod over the towns people.....

its a very dangerous time for all

but at the heart of this town is Trattoria di Luca a place run by di Luca and Capaldi patriarchs and when one of them dies sophia hopes to run it by herself but she is soon disillusioned by this notion as Giorgio capaldi is asked to take over...and at that time in mussolinis italy womens only place was to have a husband and children

but this story is far more than this and deserves to be read....its about the bravery of people at war and how the resistance started...

The Capaldis and di Lucas have long been entwined, but when Sophia di Luca’s father leaves the running of the Casa Maria restaurant to wounded and widowed Grigorio Capaldi, complications arise within their closely knit families. As the events of 1943 unfold within Italy, there is cause for celebration as Mussolini loses power, and the war intrudes further into the village of Amatino than ever before as it becomes occupied by the Germans.

This is a wartime story of family issues, the beginnings of a Resistance movement, and complications that affect the possibility of a future together for Sophia and Grigorio. Along with the unexpected beauty of the author’s descriptive prose in an ultimately devastating prologue, the choice to use active present tense made this an even more compelling read, and it quickly became clear that I knew much less about the timeline of World War II within Italy than I had supposed.

From the clattering of pans in the Casa Maria kitchen to the furtive efforts to thwart the Nazi agenda, The Enemy of Love is an exciting page-turner of a Historical Fiction novel by Annabelle Thorpe.
Highly recommended.

My thanks to Aria for the invitation to read a temporary digital galley via Netgalley. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.

The funeral for her beloved Papa left Sophie di Luca gutted, with most of the small town of Amatino there to farewell a much-loved man. But it was 1943 in Italy, and the Nazis were just beginning to make their presence felt. The Trattoria di Luca was a magnet to food and wine lovers and with Sophie assuming the trattoria was now hers, she was shocked to see Giorgio Capaldi in the kitchen, preparing to cook up a storm. Could the two young people form a partnership to run the business? With the Capaldi wines and the Di Luca food, even with restrictions, it could work. Giorgio's grandmother, Elena, had always worked in the kitchen - her food was divine.

With Mussolini's fall from grace, the Nazis had arrived in droves. The cruel, the brutal, and the quietly kind - they were all there. But danger was everywhere and as the soldiers returned home after Mussolini's fall, they had to hide from the Nazis who were sending those they found to camps in Germany. Hiding Jews and returned soldiers, plus their families, was proving to be a challenge for those in the Resistance, and Sophie, Giorgio and others were soon deeply involved. When one of their number was killed, it made them all far more determined to oust their village of the Nazis...

The Enemy of Love by Annabelle Thorpe was an intriguing look into wartime Italy, their horrors and heartbreak being much the same as others places brutalized by the Nazis. There was a little too much in-fighting between the family members - it went on too long. With a war on, focus needed to be there. And there was one particular event which wasn't addressed before the end of the novel, so I still don't know the answer, and that's frustrating. But apart from that, I found this another good historical read which I'm happy to recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book I would never have picked up myself. Even though I love books set in the World Wars I tend to stick to the ones set in England.
The story is mainly about two families, the di Lucas and the Capaldis who have known each other all their lives but Sophia di Luca and Giorgio Capaldi butt heads when Sophia realises her late father has nominated Giorgio to run their restaurant when she had been expecting to take over. Giorgio has been fighting in the war and has also lost his wife so he is in no mood for arguing. The war impacts the village suddenly and violently and Sophia and Giorgio learn to work together against the hated Germans.
I couldn't put this book down once I started reading, it's a fantastic story. The descriptions of the village, the people, the war and the atrocities committed were brilliant.! Sometimes I had to put the book down, the tension was so palpable I needed a break. Elena, is Giorgio's Nonna and she is a wonderful character. She may be getting old but she knows how to keep them in line. She has suffered a lot because of the war but she has an indomitable spirit.
Food plays a big part in this story. Reading about what they were cooking and the ingredients made me salivate.
The ending suited the book but there was one thing happening throughout and we didn't get closure on it and I felt let down by that. There could easily be a sequel but I think it's going to be a stand alone book. Anyone who enjoys stories set in the war years is in for a treat with this book.

Many thanks to Aria and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

During the last years of World War II, life for Sophia di Luca is perilous. After the death of her father, Giorgio Capaldi has returned home to take over Trattoria di Luca. For decades, the trattoria was run by the di Luca and Capaldi patriarchs. Sophia envisaged that she would take over the running of the trattoria but a fascist society, dictates that she remains in the home. Giorgio is in turn, grieving the loss of his wife and unborn baby, killed during an allied air raid. Despite being childhood friends, both struggle with the changes of working together. When Mussolini is deposed and German forces begin occupying Italy, life changes for everyone in
Amatino.
The intensity of war is intricately interwoven into the lives of Sophia and Georgio, together with many of the secondary characters such as Elena. The historical aspect was well delivered and highlighted the struggles faced by those trying to keep some normality in their lives, despite the ever-growing threat of war and invasion. An interesting read with the Italian culture and language interspersed throughout.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In Annabelle Thorpe’s latest, The Enemy of Love, Sophia is mourning the death of her father while preparing herself to take over his restaurant, Casa Maria, when Giorgio, a long time family friend, announces her father gave him the restaurant to run. Giorgio is in mourning himself of his wife and unborn child who had been killed a couple of years earlier in an Allied bombing in their Italian town of Amatino. Giorgio tells Sophia they can run the restaurant as partners since both learned true Italian cooking at the elbow of her father, so they can carry on his meals together.

When the Nazis arrive in town, things take a turn. Suddenly, deception becomes part of the recipe that Sophia and Giorgio are dishing up. Mixing in the Resistance, Allied decoders, and the true meaning of family, you have what is not only a story of Italy in WWII, you have a budding romance between two people who weren’t looking for it. You have a family of characters looking to save their town from all the Nazis bring with them. I really enjoyed the development of the story and was devastated by some of the choices the author made (though necessary) over the course of the book. I felt it ended abruptly, so I don’t know with the unanswered questions left at the end that there will be a sequel or not. If so, my intention is to read it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and House of Zeus Ltd for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book is set for publication on April 13, 2023.

#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #annabellethorpe #theenemyoflove #houseofzeusltd

I was impressed with the author’s ability to accurately portray the cultural differences in emotional complexity! I KNEW the book was set in Italy and written by someone who understood Italians within the first few pages. It rings authentic. Kudos to the author for immersing herself in the culture while she wrote this fantastic historical fiction account.

Thorpe’s love of these medieval towns and the bucolic landscapes of Umbria shows in her writing, endearing her book and characters to her readers. I’ve been to Orvieto, but had no idea about the tunnels and their history. After reading about how these tunnels sheltered the terrified townsfolk, escaping PoWs, and returning soldiers when Italy changed allegiance until the end of the war, I promised myself to return and take an underground tour of Orvieto.

My inner history geek was as excited as my inner foodie when I discovered this book is peppered with food references and information about Italy during WWII. The tug of war between joy and sadness was echoed throughout the book with the family drama and political reality. I’d become attached to the characters early on and this added to my enjoyment.

Thank you for a superb novel - a time-travel and immersive experience - that I will remember for quite some time. Umbria and the di Luca and Capaldi families have nestled deep in my heart and I can’t wait for a sequel.

I was gifted this copy by Aria & Aries and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This book will take the reader through the emotional time of war, the hope of romance and life’s realities! The storyline, setting and characters all bring Italian life to the pages.
The storyline is very descriptive of family connections, beliefs and also managing a restaurant in a town dealing with upheaval!
Sophia loves cooking and expects to be in charge when her father passes away, her commitment and passion is no match for tradition!
Giorgio returns from war carrying baggage, his Nonna suggests a partnership with Sophia may ease the tension, to allow the restaurant to survive.
The characters are brave, the emotions are high and there is a real sense of how the community coped with so much hardship and fear of the situation.
A story of strength, capable men and women and sparks flying! An amazingly diverse journey!

Thanks so much to the publisher, NetGalley and author for the opportunity to read this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A moving and tragic story of the lives of two families in a Nazi infiltrated Italian town. Amid the horrors of the Nazi occupation is the love of Giorgio and Sophia both working to defend their families and the town. The lovely scenes of Georgia and Sophia play against the absolute ugliness and horrible treatment of the Nazis and of life. at times a very hard read but so worth your time.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Italy 1943, Sophia is grieving the loss of her father when she discovers that instead of leaving his restaurant to her to run , he has left it to Georgia Capaldi.
Family drama turns to historical drama as Mussolini is deposed and the village is infiltrated by Germans.
This historical novel kept me entertained throughout, the characters made me want to be on their side and the scenery absolutely amazing.

The Enemy of Love is set in the small Italian town of Amatino during World War II. It's 1943 and. Sophia Di Luca has just lost her father, who ran the Casa Maria Restaurant with Elena Capaldi. Reluctantly, she now finds herself working with Elena's grandson Georgio, newly returned from the war. Sophia has dreams, ones which do not include the expectation she will settle down, raise a family and become a housewife. She has ambitions to run her own restaurant, and to visit New York where one of her uncles now lives. Georgio, is mourning the loss of his wife Angelina in an allied air raid, which killed both her and their unborn child. Sophia and Georgia know each other well having grown up together, but childhood friendships are a thing of the past. Now Sophia finds him a challenge as they take on the responsibility for running the restaurant. When Mussolini loses control of Italy, Hitler moves his troops in, occupying Amatino and life changes for everyone. The feel of a town occupied during wartime is written so well. You can feel the fear, see the cruelty and understand how everyone who lives there is under a constant threat, not only from the Germans, but from would be collaborators.
A wonderful read, beautifully written with some great characters. Elena, the wise, perceptive matriarch, made me smile with some of her observations. Bertelli, the larger than life film director living in his grand palazzo while wanting to help the resistance and, of course Sophia and Georgio who seemed to be destined for each other, only to have events, mostly beyond their control, pull them apart.
There is danger, drama and tragedy in this story, but through all the characters' struggles, also love and hope. There are hold your breath moments too. And the ending left enough loose ends for me to wonder whether a sequel is planned. I do hope so as there is great potential to continue the story. Well deserving of five stars – an exceptional read.
My thanks to Netgalley, Annabelle Thorpe and Head of Zeus for an ARC of The Enemy of Love in exchange for an honest review.

I heard about this book and thought it sounded like a good read.

From the beginning of the story, the setting and the characters were brought to life. I was interested in the characters, and the book felt like an escape while I was reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

I had never read books that were set in Italy in WWII, so my interest was piqued when I read the synopsis - I’m also a fan of Italian food! The enemy of love is a heart-warming story that follows the families of Sophia and Giorgio and the German occupation of Amatino, a small village in Italy.
The book will suit readers who enjoy historical fiction and especially those who are looking for one told from a different angle for a change.
Thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries, Aria for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this compelling book

A lovely (odd word for a WWII novel) story set in 1943 Umbria, Sophia and Giorgio find themselves at odds when her father wills his trattoria to Giorgio and this dominates the early parts of the book until the Nazi's arrive and then everything changes, Know that there's a fair amount of Italian, all of which is understandable though context, and that it actually adds to the atmospherics. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read for fans of historical fiction.

At first I think this enemy to lover story, i am so wrong. Live during war time is hard, high tension and stressfull.

Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.

#TheEnemyOfLove #AnnabelleThorpe #AriaandAries #NetGalley #ARC

“War is the enemy of love, cara – it tries to teach us that hate and brutality is all the world is capable of”

I haven’t read a good ‘weepy’ for some time now and although romance was just one element of this multi-layered storyline, it formed the bedrock for everything else, ably demonstrating the impact war can have on mind, body, soul and relationships. Thus, I make no apologies for the number of memorable moments I featured from the book, as they truly reflect the wonderfully poignant and evocative quality and descriptive nature of the narrative and dialogue.

So, The story in a nutshell…

...

When, in 1943, Luigi de Luca dies, the future of Trattoria de Luca, a joint venture between the di Luca and Capaldi families, is thrown into disarray. With the men engulfed in a war no one is certain they can win, or even know what they are really fighting for, Sophia di Luca expects management of the Trattoria to fall to her. She has worked alongside her father day after day and is almost as good a cook as he was. She is independent, strong-minded and has a good business brain. However, she has underestimated her father’s strong traditional views, that an Italian woman’s place is in the the home, as a daughter, then wife and mother. So, when she discovers that before his death Luigi had sent to Rome to ask his old partner’s eldest son Giorgio Capaldi to come home and take over the Trattoria, you just know that sparks are going to fly.

However, Giorgio, having been injured and invalided out of the army, is a man still very much drowning in his own grief and being back home, surrounded by his well-meaning family and friends, is not at all what he had in mind, especially as none of them know the full extent of his sorrow. His Nonna Elena, lives above the Trattoria and despite her advancing years, her word carries a lot of clout, both within the Capaldi family and in the wider environs of the town itself. When the arguing and bickering between Sophia and Giorgio, over the management of the kitchen becomes more than she can stand, she comes up with the idea that they should run the Trattoria together, as equal partners.

Right now, as a result of the life-changing events he has had to deal with, the Allies are the primary focus of all Giorgio’s anger, so when Mussolini falls, the new President surrenders to the Allies, and the Germans sweep into town, he is in the very small minority of inhabitants who are cautiously optimistic. The Allies now suddenly want to set up Resistance Units in Italian towns, which doesn’t sit well with Giorgio and splits the population down the middle, dividing families and pitting brother against brother, father against son. However, when the new regime becomes imbedded in the community and begins to show its true colours, rounding up the Jewish community and hounding down the very youngest of boys to be conscripted, everyone is forced to take sides, even Giorgio, especially when Sophia’s young brother Matti is well and truly in their sights. Two terrible, gut-wrenching incidents, which show their German masters up for what they really are, serve to pull everyone together ready to fight for the common cause and this time Giorgio is ready to be front and centre of any assault, fighting alongside Sophia who is determined that she wants to play an active role in avenging her family and is refusing to stand on the side-lines.

Alongside all of this, the growing feelings between Giorgio and the feisty Sophia cannot be ignored, as much as they both try to deny it, to the amusement and frustration of family, friends and indeed, the rest of the community. Even Giorgio’s hot headed brother Rocco, who, before he had headed off to fight and having now returned, thought he had an agreement with Sophia, eventually has to accept that his was probably a rather one-sided arrangement and eventually gives Giorgio his blessing. The constant denials of any feelings between the two lovebirds only leads to more fighting and acrimony, until it is not only Elena who is at her wits end, but also the young padre Massimo, who is determined that his two friends should sort out their feelings for one another, just in case the worst should happen.

When everyone’s unimaginable nightmares come true, salvation for the young couple comes from a selfless act of kindness and gratitude, which although in itself is not the panacea they might have wished for, will hopefully keep them both safe until hostilities are over and they can be reunited.

...

It seems to me that Italy’s place in WWII at this time, was very complicated, with the country’s leader Mussolini, pushing his people first one way and then the other, leaving communities quite divided about who their enemy really was. Author Annabelle Thorpe did an excellent job at illustrating the confusion that caused, in this microcosmic, single timeline snapshot, of wartime life in a small fictional town in the Umbrian district of Italy. The wider theatre of war was of course, alluded to, but in no great detail and certainly not enough to detract from the narrow focus she had set herself for this story, which although beautifully executed and told with a panache and verve, was thoughtfully tempered by a deep sensitivity to the needs of her individual characters.

The timeline is easy to follow, the storyline is multi-layered, and the narrative is beautifully textured and nuanced, full of emotion and feeling. In such a close and insular community, which finds itself under German occupation, every strata of society is affected to varying degrees and no one escapes the wrath of an army flexing its military muscle. Jews, and people from other secular races, regardless of gender or age, are being rounded up, often beaten for the merest show of passive resistance, and with little order or supervision from higher authority, small clusters of unmarked graves begin to appear in secluded spots above the town. Young men of fighting age are also targets of the new regime and whilst there are those who can’t wait to stand up and be counted, some, such as Sophia’s young brother Matti, question exactly who and what they are fighting for, and seek to avoid capture, choosing instead to help the Allied Resistance movement which is gathering pace and strength across the country.

This open and descriptive style is also reflected in the cast of characters Annabelle has assembled, who are well developed and defined, and more than capable of telling their own story, which they do without any prompting. The really strong, standout characters for me were, Sophia, Isaac, Elena and Massimo, although to be honest, everyone played their parts to perfection. The two women, despite the vast difference in their ages and the eras in which they have been brought up, are remarkably united in their belief that despite their gender, they are more than capable of running a home and family, whilst still being independent enough to hold down a job, take their places and have their voices heard outside, in the wider society. Thus, any relationship between Giorgio and Sophia, is never going to be plain sailing, saccharine, or peaceful. However, when they can accept that they are equals in all aspects of a partnership, they will definitely work effectively and successfully as a good team.

Massimo, takes his role as padre to this small community, very seriously and is more than willing to put his own life at risk, in offering sanctuary to those who need it most. He is especially close to the Capaldi and di Luca families, and thus the Jew, Isaac, who has maybe not too secretly held a candle for Elena for many years, feelings which are reciprocated by the lady in question, although she might never openly admit it. Massimo stages his own small rebellion against his German captors, for which Elena and Isaac will be forever grateful. Whilst Isaac in his turn, makes the final and ultimate sacrifice of selfless love and devotion.

Annabelle gathers together in this story, all the emotions in the spectrum, with her strong, independent and feisty females. The impetuosity, over-enthusiasm and exuberance of a youth which doesn’t want to be suppressed. The compassion and selfless kindness of those least able to help themselves or others. And the sheer brutality and feral behaviour of those who have been indoctrinated with the belief that they reign supreme over others and can do no wrong.

She also uses a mix of real and fictional locations, although pertinent details enabled me to pinpoint whereabouts in the fantastic Umbrian Italian countryside I was. The ardent armchair traveller in me was teased by a genuine sense of time and place that I could almost step into and an atmosphere which lingered long after I had closed the final page. Annabelle definitely used the full palette at her disposal to paint both the physical location of her storyline and the portraits of her characters.

What typically makes reading such a wonderful experience for me, is that with each and every book, I am taken on a unique and individual journey, by some amazing authors who fire my imagination, stimulate my senses and stir my emotions. This storyline gave more than I could have hoped for on just about every one of those fronts, so thanks for some lovely memories to treasure Annabelle, although I might still have longed for a more conclusive ending, which neatly tied up all those ‘what if’ loose ends and denouements.

Such a beautiful depiction of Italy in WWII, 1943. The description of the setting, characters, food etc. enamours you towards the book. I also loved how rich with history this is and not just a cliché romance, I felt like a learned a lot and it was a really heart-warming story of love and family. Overall this was such an amazingly poetic book and I highly recommend.

Set in Italy 1943, during WWII, it follows 2:families who are trying to keep going, despite the German occupation of their part of Italy, Amatino. The Capaldis’ and Da Lucas’ have known each other for years, but find themselves initially at odds when Giorgio Capaldi arrives back in the village to take over the running of Casa Mia, which Sophia Da Luca assumed she’d be doing, after her father dies. Soon, they have more to worry about than who rules the kitchen.

There have been quite a few books in a similar vein this past year, but I found this one more interesting and readable than most. It offers a more authentic telling than some. There is a really good picture painted about the village and all of its occupants., including the Germans they have to deal with, whilst still trying to remain their own people. I liked Sophia and Giorgio’s story, but also Elena and Isaacs friendship. I enjoyed this authors style of writing, and hope there may be another in this series, to find the answer to an unanswered question.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Gorgeously-written The Enemy of Love is set in Umbria, Italy in 1943 WWII. Casa Maria is usually a place of idyll and celebrating family with good food and wine but freedoms are yanked away when the Nazis take control. Overnight Italy changes. Most take sides and even allies become enemies, friends turn against friends. Trust, loyalty, sorrow, love and hope intertwine and become blurred. People hardly had time to breathe before their families started disappearing.

Sophia di Luca is an excellent cook and is shocked when her father leaves the family trattoria to Giorgio Capaldi instead of her. Neither is thrilled but the two decide to work side by side and produce minor miracles in the kitchen. Sophia is proud and independent and stands up for what she thinks is right; Giorgio has tragically lost his wife and lives in grief and chooses not to take sides. Spitfire matriarch Nonna announces the trattoria would remain open and only those who could should pay. The dishes they lovingly create are described with mouthwatering detail and I love that Italian phrases and menus in Italian are included. Italy is beloved to me and author Annabelle Thorpe's stunning details transported me instantly, heart and soul.

Nazi Germans were often brutal and vicious but not all Germans shared their mentality. War details are not glossed over which contribute to the layer of reality which is painful but necessary. Mussolini is in power and loyalties are torn. Do you fight for country or family and to what lengths?

Food, nature character and emotional descriptions are living poetry, one of my favourite aspects of this novel. So easy to read in spite of the subject matter. This book has soul written into each word and engages all the senses. If you are a Historical Fiction fan, please do not pass this one by. I like that it is not canned or cookie cutter and descriptions aren't trite.

My sincere thank you to Aria & Aries for providing me with an early digital copy of this phenomenal novel.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Sophia is surprised to learn that her father left the restaurant to someone else. She asks herself why. She is trying to get along with the new owner, but he makes it hard to do.