Follow four women during their stay at an exclusive hotel in Venice. You will be swept away and feel as though you are right there in the thick of Venetian life, and completely invested in these stories. Absolutely loved it!

Tess Woods is back!

After a bit of a hiatus from writing Tess is back with an exceptional story.

The Venice Hotel was one of my highly anticipated reads of 2024. It did not disappoint!

From the moment I picked it up I couldn’t put it down, I was invested right until the very end. This book has all the makings of a great read, there is drama, strong female connections, tragedy, a wonderful setting, delicious food and a story told from multiple points of view.

Set in the picturesque romantic Italian city of Venice the story centres around the Hotel Il Cuore where the lives of four very different women become entwined, each woman has a secret and throughout the novel the secrets are unraveled and the connection between the women grows stronger.

This is a book about strong female connections, initially unknown to each other, these women form an incredible bond as they navigate some difficult situations.

The author tackles various themes in this book and I feel she has done this with great care and sensitivity.

This book made me feel all the highs and lows, I laughed, I was angry, sad and relieved… and I also agree cake for breakfast is the best thing ever!

The Venice Hotel is out now and I highly recommend it.

Unfortunately I’d have to say this isn’t my favourite Tess Woods book to date. While I loved the setting of the book in Venice and hearing about the environmental concerns of the rising waters I found the hotel guests all just had too much drama going on. I did enjoy the descriptions of the food and local areas.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.I

The Venice Hotel engaged me from the first page and was something special. Told in multiple viewpoints from four very different women who all have a connection to the Venice Hotel, the famous cook/hotel owner (Loretta) and three guests (Elena, Gayle and Sophie). The women's lives intertwinned in very clever ways and I grew to love them all. I felt strong emotions at times, which tells me the story had that something extra.

The story covers some serious topics including climate issues, domestic violence, religion, sexuality, alcoholism, and has a strong focus on religion, family, love and romance.
Definitely a 5 star read.

I first spotted "The Venice Hotel" by Tess Woods on the physical bookshop shelf. The cover jumped out at me and I knew I HAD to read it....and thanks to NetGalley I have.
Tess Woods paints a diverse range of characters, many with deep secrets that will become exposed while staying at Venice's Hotel Il Cuore. Loretta, Elena, Sophie and Gayle develop a bond as they address their present lives and recreate themselves. They support each other in this time of crisis that has culminated in their all being in the same physical site. The tension of Elena's "escape" hangs over much of the book and I became invested in each ladies personal struggle - highs, lows, temptations and regrets .....not a lot of sleep happening for them but thank god for the epiphany cake that gives a place to be in the middle of the night.
Set against the gorgeous city of Venice, we get to explore the markets, the people and the looming (and currently topical) disaster of tourists causing the city to deteriorate in a physical way, due to a combination of huge cruise ships, global warming and large numbers of day visitors.
The metaphor of drowning is masterstroke theme - a physically drowning city and characters emotionally drowning under the burden of their secrets and relationships.
And the finale - wow - not all guests will leave the hotel alive is an understatement! If "The Venice Hotel" was a movie, I'd definitely be there....vibrant backdrops housing exciting personal dramas.
Thanks to NetGalley, Tess Woods and Penguin Random House Australia for my copy to read and review.

I thoroughly enjoyed being swept away to Venice, a place I’ve never been before but now I have a rough idea of this beautiful city.

Tess has penned a love letter to Venice and covers some very interesting scenarios in this big book that didn’t feel like one, the pages just kept on turning rapidly!

The story of four women in four different circumstances had me glued to the pages of this book. We have Gayle - the American on holidays with her husband who does his very best to get as much as he can for free. Elena who is with her husband - a handsome neurosurgeon who is living a life she hides from everyone. Sophia - the Australian food writer who is in Venice to write about the famous restaurant and its chef and Loretta who runs this restaurant and is working like a Trojan keeping everything ticking whilst keeping a secret herself. Tess also incorporates environmental issues, faith and of course Italian cuisine, all of which makes the story very believable and a pleasure to read. It’s always good to learn something when you read a book, despite it being fiction.

This book is an absolute masterpiece of women’s fiction. I’ve read everything Tess has written and I am so glad to see her back writing again, this book is a must read!
Thank you so much to Penguin Random house Australia and Net Galley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I loved this one so much, it grabbed me from page one and I fell into the story as I visited Venice and met four woman, woman who had issues that were playing on their minds, problems that had to be sorted, will they get there? Come along and meet these woman and the other fabulous characters and a sinking Venice, this story has everything that is sure to keep the reader turning the pages.

Signora Loretta Bianchi is the owner of Hotel II Cuore a boutique Hotel in the heart of Venice, she is also a famed and popular cook, married to Alberto for thirty years and the mother of twins Rocco and Marina, but when someone from her past arrives in Venice during the twelve Days of Christmas Loretta must make a decision, will it be the right one?

Sophie is Australian and writes for a Foodie Magazine and is on assignment for the famous restaurant at the hotel but when she arrives there is mayhem and she steps in to help rather than return home, she does not want to be with her mother over Christmas this year, but her time in Venice not only brings to light the dangerous water levels of the town it also is opening her heart to handsome Rocco but he comes with problem that she may not cope with.

Elena’s world in sinking just like Venice as she returns to her hometown from Australia where she is living with her Australian Doctor Christian for her Papa’s funeral, she has made a big decision she must run, leave her husband, but what will it cost her and others to do so?

Gayle is on holiday from America with her husband Mike she is a grandmother and very religious, but there are problems with her family back home and she is stressed but then her caring heart may put them in danger, how will things turn out for Gayle and her family?

This story not only takes in the problems Venice is having but it brings together these four woman and shows what they can do when they open up to each other, the strength to help one another when times are hard, this is a brilliant story and one that I highly recommend. I loved visiting Venice and meeting these woman and getting to know the city, the food, the descriptions took me there from my armchair, a must read.

Thank you Tess Woods for such an awesome story, so many emotions, tears and smiles from this reader, I can’t praise it enough.

My thanks to Penguin Random House AU and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

Another absolute winner by one of my favourite authors Tess Woods . The Venice Hotel is a wonderful novel . As with Tess's other novels it's character driven and touches on a lot of social issues without preaching.

Told in 4 voices of 4 very different women the story is set in Venice over a 10 day period .

I was so invested in all the characters , even the ones I didn't like ! A fantastic read .

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for and ARC to read and review .

Now I do love a good book by Tess Woods and I really enjoyed this book and once I got started I just couldn't stop reading. And although quite a long book/read it didn't feel it as I got so immersed in it I felt I was there, with the women in this story, ion this beautiful setting.

Four women come together in the Venice Hotel in ways they never thought they would. There are plenty of secrets, lots of intrigue and the perfect setting. There is plenty of drama and intrigue, moments of tension and emotion which will keep you glued to the pages of this book. The characters are perfectly crafted to fit so well within this story. The setting is so real you feel as if you are there. The writing is flawless.

There is no way you cannot fall in love with the women in this book and the story itself. It is a true gem of a read.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Australia for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.