Cozy, heartwarming story. Quick read that felt like getting to the people and last of a small town. Lots of rich description of people, places, and events.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m not sure why, but I had it in my head that this story was about a giant magical truffle that came to life. So, needless to say I went into this book expecting the same foul humor and absolute silliness of the authors first two books and that isn’t this story at all. The story was more about the relationships and strong bonds between the family and friends in a small struggling community. There is a fun and quirky cast of characters that you get to know throughout the story so there is a little bit of the same silliness I had hoped for. It had a nice lighthearted humor to it that I enjoyed too. The author did an amazing job of describing the food and comune because I almost felt like I was there and I’ve never wanted a truffle more in my life than I do now and I don’t even like mushrooms!

Thank you to the publisher to allowing me a to read an advance copy of this book through Netgalley.

This was a delightful story. It is a funny book, but it mostly touches on the power of love, especially the love towards others, your environment, your town.

The author does not shy away from creating unusual protagonists: The town’s donkey who was also a mayoral candidate and Al Pacino, the cat that acts as if the whole town is her personal playground.

I am not usually drawn to these types of stories, but something about this one called to me and I’m so glad I was given the chance to read it.

And the food descriptions had me wanting to jump on a plane and live in Tuscany for a season.

Loved!

Truly delightful read! Such a terrific story stuffed full of humor, warmth and a wonderful engaging cast of characters! I loved the prose and the author’s creative knack for describing things. Many times I laughed out loud as I read her descriptions of the small Italian village that served as her setting and all the people and animals that lived there. It appears that the little village of Lazzarini Boscarino is dying. It needs something to place it on the map, draw the tourists in….something that will bring in much needed funds! Who would believe a giant truffle might just be the answer. The little close knit community gathers together in their quest to sell the truffle to the highest bidder and you will not want to miss out on the fun. You will love the townspeole who are full of life and care deeply for their town and each other, the descriptions of the food and wine, the village, the truffle hunting, the animals, and the ending! I feel like I could walk into Lazzarini Boscarino and know all the townspeople by sight. Then I’d love to sit down and share some of the delicious food and wine with them and catch up on their lives! It really makes me want to go back and visit Italy and find some small towns just like this one. Tartufo does not disappoint! Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for a chance to read this ARC.

I am not usually one for humorous books, but Tartufo caught my eye, largely because it is set in Italy where I lived for a number of years.

The village of Lazzarini Boscarino is dying. Young folks have all left heading to Milan or other big cities. The old mayor died never revealing that he squandered money he got to help the village. The new mayor, his daughter, Delizia Micucci, is a veterinarian who’s lived and worked all over Italy, usually leaving her current job when she’s passed over for promotion in favor of a male. She’s come home with her husband to Lazzarini to heal. She’s voted in as mayor, but the ballot included a donkey named Maurizio. In the forest nearby, Giovanni Scarpazza, a truffle hunter, finds a huge truffle worth a lot of money. He, in turn, donates it to the village where, in the end, it causes more to-do that it is worth. Tartufo is about the connection between the village, the villagers, the land, and all nature. The characters lives intertwine, separate, and then rejoin.

Tartufo has a large cast of oddballs, all of whom are well-conceived, though the village itself serves as a character. The prose is gorgeous with sensuous descriptions of food that will have your mouth watering but is also a sensuous feast for all the senses. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book in which the reader’s senses are so titillated. The novel is quirky but truly brilliant with lovely prose and lovelier characters, and is absolutely charming, life-affirming, and heart-warming—and often laugh-out-loud funny. Tartufo is told in an omniscient point of view and includes life as seen, for example, through the eyes of a bee and truffle-hunting dogs.

Tartufo was a book that was so beautifully written, not only could I visualize the scenes but I could smell them, too, despite never having been to Italy. The language used throughout the book was so perfectly descriptive, it really pulled you into the story and if you love truffles like I do, this book is for you. The book takes place in a very small town in Italy which is losing funding, residents and homes (the latter due to landslides), so a very real situation for some, but overall, a story of resilience, food, love, and journeys that I really enjoyed reading and already miss. If you want to dig into a small town with punchy residents, follow Giovanni and Aria for truffles and learn their stories, this is the book for you!

Do yourself a favor: look up glis glis before you dive into the book to make it that much funnier when referenced.

Thank you, Hachette Book Group and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC).

What a life affirming story this was. Like others have said it started slowly and I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep reading. Once the pace picked up and the focus of the story became clear I enjoyed following along anticipating what would happen next.

There’s a huge cast of characters in this story with Tartufo being the main character. The action takes place in a small Italian village that is definitely not a tourist attraction. The villagers are a tight knit bunch supporting each other while also squabbling like any family does. The vivid descriptions of the setting including the surrounding forests added so much to this story. I felt that I could taste the food that Nonna Amara made and see her crumbled farm house and garden. I saw Giovanni’s dirt encrusted hands and warm eyes and heard Giuseppina’s dramatic screams. I can’t forget Al Pacino or Maurizio the animal characters who are just as important as any human. This book reaffirmed the truism that it truly “takes a village” to do anything.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this book. From the moment I saw the author had a new book coming out several months ago, I was excited. I love Hollow Kingdom and couldn’t wait to read this new story about an Italian village. Tartufo is definitely a fresh new story and I loved it. She has a unique way of writing, very beautiful and descriptive, making you wish you were inside the story. I found myself wishing I was in a small Italian village, friends with the villagers, and could go on a truffle hunt myself. She writes animals so well, if you are an animal lover you are sure to love the personalities she creates for them in her stories. I think the start of the book could be difficult for some, it is very descriptive but is worth it to get a feel for the environment of the village. It is well worth it once you get into the adventures of the story. I could see myself rereading this one in the future.

I thought this was a fantastic book. I loved how we saw so many different POV's that were so incredibly distinct that I never had an issue distinguishing between the characters. Such a perfect glimpse into a small Italian village and the people that make it up. It was funny, bittersweet, heartwarming and a captivating read. While I don't think this writing style (lots of purply prose describing scents, and feelings, and very metaphor heavy), I felt it was very appropriate given the subject matter. I was so invested in this little town and all the problems it was facing, and while it was hyperbolic, I thought that was the right choice for this novel. If you like a very character-driven plot that touches on the ridiculous at times, while also drawing you in, this is an excellent book to pick up!

The beginning bit of the book felt laborious, with many details and characters. Once it settled in to the story of the town, the truffles, the people, I was won over!

The premise of this is lovely and it is definitely atmospheric and cozy. It is sort of like an Italian version of a hallmark movie with community members banding together to save their town from ruin but instead of a romance, there is an enormous truffle.

It is charming though I found it to be uneven, and with way too many characters (not all of them compelling). My interest would waver depending on who the chapter was focused on. I would recommend it to readers looking for an antic-filled comedy (though there are also a few tragedies) about the power of community.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Yesterday in book club, we discussed the problematic nature of rating books with stars. Do you rate a book based on its quality within its genre (i.e., did it meet your expectations for what the genre and synopsis hinted at), or do you rate books based on the rolodex of books you've read in your entire life? If it's the latter, then how can anything compare to masterpieces like, for example, <i>Lord of the Rings</i>? It has to be the former, or at least a mixture of the two, depending on how suitable the book is for your typical taste. <i>Tartufo</i> is not a book I'd typically pick up, but when I read its synopsis (Italy, quirky little village, one truffle to rule them all), I sent a request for it.

That being said... I loved this book. Breezy, comedic novels are not something I lean towards because they are often a corny, poorly-written mess. In the first few pages of <i>Tartufo</i>, I debated whether this book would be for me, but it didn't take long for me to adore the caricature-like villagers and feel for their woes as their tiny town fell into ruin. Especially towards the end, I laughed out loud at certain moments, and I loved how little details came together. I found it to be smartly comedic and very entertaining, and I would die for a mini-series based on it. While this may not be 5 stars based on everything else I've rated 5 stars in my life, this is a solid 4.5-star light novel. There were moments I felt were a bit wordy and could have been condensed, but overall, this is a book I can see myself recommending to a lot of people looking for a good time.

Despite this being what I'd typically call a "summer read," the tiny Italian village's atmosphere and truffle-hunting season make this a lovely "cozy fall read." Although, sadly, you'll have to wait until it publishes in January to pick it up!

Thank you Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the e-ARC :)

What a serious delight of a book! Stop me if I sound like SNL's Stefon, but THIS BOOK HAS EVERYTHING. It contains the most charming cast of characters, decadent food, lots of great humor, and the most gorgeous prose. Oh, and there's even a donkey who is very nearly nominated as mayor. Wait, there's also a female cat named Al Pacino. I told you- everything.

The book takes place in the struggling little Italian village of Lazzarini Boscarino. The town is not a tourist attraction and has no money.... a donkey almost became mayor, for goodness sake! But it's truly the residents that make the town. They may not always get along and they certainly don't agree on everything, but they so endearing.

The story starts off a little slowly for me, BUT I was pulled in by Buxton's writing from the first page. I figured even if the story was a little boring, at least I'd get to experience something really beautiful in the meantime. However, the story quickly picks up when Giovanni Scarpazza and his dogs find a really, really big truffle. Like the kind that could change the course of your life. Or the future of your town.

I don't want to give anything away because part of the beauty of the book is the unfolding of the story. Honestly, I feel like I'm not a good enough writer to truly describe the beauty of this novel. But even if you don't care about prose, you'll want to read it for the cast of characters.

I'm so excited for this book to publish and for everyone to read it. And I feel so lucky that I already had the chance to. It's the kind of book that, once it's released, I'll definitely want to read again. The people of Lazzarini Boscarino feel like friends now and I miss them so much now that the book is over.

I adored this book! Each character is so well written, both animal and human. It made me want to visit and meet each and every one of them. The setting is vibrant and Buxton’s writing is charming and witty.

3.5 / 5. Sweet, silly, and made me want truffle fries. Shakespearean comedy vibes set in a modern day (though at times it does not feel modern at all) Italian village. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

Tartufo by Kira Jane Buxton takes place in Tuscany, Italy. I learned so much about truffles! I love to hunt mushrooms in northern Michigan, so this struck a chord with me. I also loved the community of people in the tiny struggling village of Lazzarini Boscarino. It was a bit jarring trying to figure out the timing of the book - the village is so old it seems like it should be from years and years ago, but then someone has a cell phone, bringing you back to the present. The story is touching and hilarious. I gave it 4 stars, because I got lost in all the detail, especially in the beginning. I also had trouble following some of the Italian words that weren’t translated. Even trying to infer the intent, sometimes I couldn’t figure out the meaning and had to let it go. Otherwise it is a feel good book!

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

3.5 stars. Tartufo is a story about a charming little Italian town that’s a little down on its luck. Newly elected mayor (the daughter of the recently deceased mayor who barely beat out a donkey for the role) gets a huge opportunity to save the town when one of the residents finds the biggest truffle that’s ever been seen. If the auction goes well, the money could put the town back on the map and save them.

I thought this was a cute story. I struggled a little to get into it at first, and ended dissatisfied by one of the story lines not being tied up. But overall, I enjoyed it! It was a nice light break from the dark thrillers I gravitate toward. A quick, fun read that I think most would enjoy.

**ARC review. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read it early.

This sweet story was set in a dying Italian village where the people of the village have fallen on hard times. Their businesses have no tourists and their castle is in disrepair. The village just elected a new mayor who barely beat the lovable town donkey. When a rare, enormous truffle brings hope to this charming little town, the hilarious townspeople ban together to revive their village to prosperity.

This was an enjoyable story with very likable, funny characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central for sending me an Advanced Reader Copy. #NetGally #Tartufo

4.5 stars. This was so charming and quirky. It's a story about community and coming together as one to help each other. It was beautifully done. Dummy me did not realize that tartufo is Italian for truffle, and a giant truffle is arguably the main character of this whole story. I absolutely loved each and every character, and there are a lot of them. There is a "glossary" of characters at the very beginning to introduce you to them. I was grateful for that, going back many times to refresh my memory if I had to put the book down for a bit. I am uncool enough to realize that my eyes tend to glaze over when reading foreign names, so I had a bit of a time keeping everyone straight. Nothing I couldn't get through though. I really enjoyed this and the any over the top players in this heartwarming story.

Sweet little novel with a lot of great character work and some lines that made me chuckle loudly in public. Opening with a summary of the townspeople feels overwrought at first, but ended up being a really helpful tool to flesh out the story. It felt like no character was wasted, and with the author noting that this book is all about good relationships, that makes total sense.
I did find the late-onset sentimentality to be a bit too on the nose. With an over-the-top plotline and scenes constructed like sitcom moments, it did feel a bit jarring and on-the-nose to start having characters directly giving us The Moral Of The Story.
Still, a good time and a fun escape. I think many others will enjoy this when it is published. 4.3/5 stars, rounded down to 4.