To Sicily with Love by Jennifer Probst

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

This was my first Jennifer Probst book, and wow, it was so relatable. If you’ve ever felt like you’re trying to do everything for everyone while barely keeping yourself afloat, this book will hit home. It explores grief, self-reflection, and the avoidance of mental health struggles in a way that feels deeply authentic.

I found myself pausing mid-read just to sit with my own thoughts—this book really makes you reflect on life choices, what truly matters, and how we process emotions (or avoid them). It’s not heavy-handed, but it is one of those reads that sneaks up on you with its emotional depth.

If You Like…Women’s fiction with depth
✈️ Travel stories with a heartwarming journey
❤️ Family relationships and self-discovery

Themes
✔️ Escape to a new place for healing and carbs
✔️ Finding love when you least expect it and carbs
✔️ Strong emotional growth thru carbs
Honestly...the food talk had me running for a snack...and a bowl of spaghetti.

Spice Rating: 🌶️ (Very mild, more emotional than steamy)
Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely! If you’re feeling like your life is spiraling and need a book that offers perspective (without being preachy), To Sicily with Love is a perfect pick.--TBH...I will be adding all of Probst books to my TBR.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to devour this book!!!

Loved this book and love the series! One of my fav authors. The stories are always written so beautifully

If you can tell me of a place that I'd like to travel to and it's more beautiful that the GORGEOUS & Sunny Italian coast that's described in this book? Well, I'd sure like to know where that place may be because oh my goodness! The only thing I was missing while reading. this book was a beautiful loaf of freshly baked bread, and a huge bowl of caprese salad.

This story was beautiful - Aurora is just living her life when grief hits her hard - while grieving her mom Aurora decides to travel to Italy in order to grieve and learn more about her culture. The small town feels and the beautiful family and hot man? Sounds delicious to me! This was just a delightful and fun read - perfect for a warm summer day laying on the beach. It's light and comforting all at once!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to Berkley & NetGalley for the e-ARC.

I picked this book because of its title and cover. I knew I'd enjoy the book after reading the first chapter. The plot and character development were extremely well done. How lovely it is to find lost love and family. There are happy, sad, and healing moments, and Probst does them all with such kindness and elegance. I strongly recommend this one. I hope to visit Italy eventually because I truly like the descriptions of the country's surroundings!

Aurora York is a successful life coach who is on the brink of a major breakthrough in her career. She has plans to write a book and launch a podcast, and her handsome boyfriend, a fitness guru with a strong following, adds to her excitement. Aurora’s star is on the rise, inspired by the untimely death of her father several years ago, which pushed her to figure out her life and channel her pain into something meaningful. However, living this kind of life is challenging for Aurora; she has many rules and expectations to meet. Everything changes when her mother passes away unexpectedly. This loss hits Aurora particularly hard because her mother had urged her to live joyfully and suggested that perhaps Aurora wasn't truly happy. She realized she needed to stop planning every second of her day and start doing the things she loves. To Sicily with Love by Jennifer Probst is the fourth book in the Meet Me in Italy series and offers a delightful escape.

As someone whom others count on to change their lives, Aurora finds herself unable to get out of bed after her mother's death. Her boyfriend starts to pull away, and her success begins to dwindle. Aurora takes a DNA test and discovers she has relatives in Sicily. After connecting with them, she realizes she needs a break from her hectic life and decides to spend a month in Italy. During her time in Sicily, she meets family she never knew existed and wonders why her mother kept them hidden from her. The trip is filled with romance, delicious food, fine wine, family dinners, sightseeing, and, of course, more good food.

My favorite aspect of the Meet Me in Italy series is the escapism. It's the perfect book for some armchair traveling to a sunny spot filled with warm breezes, excellent food, limoncello, and other Italian delights. I can always count on Probst's novels to provide a mental vacation for me and that was the case with To Sicily with Love.

While I did find Aurora to be annoying at times (a life coach...ugh), I did enjoy her transformation in To Sicily with Love. Sicily has always been a destination I'd love to visit and this book definitely made me want to plan a trip. So, in the comments below, let me know if you have read this series and your thoughts. Is To Sicily with Love on your TBR list?

To be honest, I chose this book based off of the cover and the title. However, from the moment I read the first chapter…and then kept reading, I knew I was going to love it.

This read was so bright and pleasant and hopeful. The feel when Aurora found her lost family was absolutely beautiful. The words were written so vividly that I could see myself in Sciacca. And now I have the travel itch.

The character development and storyline were done so well and got to my emotions multiple times. What a beautiful story of finding lost family and love. I definitely recommend this one.

I was so impressed with this book! Honestly I wasn’t sure what to expect. I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely and beautifully written story of Aurora and her newfound life and family in Sicily.

Aurora is a podcaster/life coach with a large social media following. After her parent’s tragic death, she spirals. Then she discovers she has family in Sicily. Her cousin there encourages her to visit. Once in Italy, Aurora experiences new culture and many new people in her life.

I really loved the descriptions of the Italian surroundings and how welcoming her Sicilian family are.

Who doesn’t love a good book set in Italy? Jennifer Probst is a best-selling author with several books to her name including the “Meet Me in Italy” series, four stand-alone women’s fiction/romance books in various settings around Italy (read my book review of A Wedding in Lake Como). To Sicily with Love is the fourth installment and it doesn’t disappoint: there’s a woman trying to figure out her life and a trip to Italy helps her find her answers.

As expected, the book has romance, growth, insight into Sicilian culture, and, of course--mouth-watering descriptions of food and drink.

Ultimately, To Sicily with Love is the kind of book that leaves you feeling warm and uplifted. It’s full of heart, charm, and meaningful lessons, all wrapped up in a setting that is both picturesque and deeply rich in culture.

Book: To Sicily With Love
Author: Jennifer Probst
Format: Digital
Genre: Romance, Women's Literature
Places Featured: Sicily, Italy
Review Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 (rounded down)

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this eARC!

Jennifer Probst’s To Sicily with Love is a 5-star gem for 2025. Trust me when I say, you will want this book on your shelves. This is far more than just your typical romance novel—it’s a deeply emotional journey that explores the complexities of grief and how it affects everyone differently. Probst masterfully reminds us that grieving is not a linear process, and it often takes longer than we expect.

The story follows Aurora, a woman who is grappling with the devastating loss of both parents, feeling adrift and unsure of how to navigate life without any familial ties. Her journey of rediscovery begins when she takes a DNA Heritage Test and uncovers unexpected family connections she never knew existed. This journey of healing and reconnection is beautifully portrayed, and I couldn’t help but get lost in Aurora’s emotional growth.

What really sets To Sicily with Love apart is Probst’s vivid descriptions of Italy. She doesn’t just describe a place—she brings it to life. The breathtaking scenery, the flavors, the people—every detail immerses you in the beauty of Italy, making you feel as if you’re experiencing it right alongside the characters. It’s a book that makes you long to pack your bags and head to Sicily.

This novel truly tugged at my heartstrings. As I read, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own grieving process, relating to the raw emotions Aurora experiences. I cried multiple times—not just from the sorrow of the story, but also from the understanding of the emotional journey she was undertaking. There are moments of joy, moments of grief, and moments of healing, and Probst handles them all with such tenderness and grace.

To Sicily with Love is a heartfelt, transformative read that I highly recommend to anyone looking for an emotional escape. It’s a perfect balance of romance, self-discovery, and healing. If you’re looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and reflect on your own journey, this is it.

To Sicily with Love is book 4 in the Meet Me in Italy series by Jennifer Probst and a great addition. 4.5 stars

When Aurora loses her parents unexpectedly she finds herself going off track from her life. She discovers she has a family in Italy and decides to go and meet her extended family. What happens next is family drama, laughter, tears, second chances, forgiveness, finding love and more…read on to see how it all ends…

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

What a fantastic story!

I loved the descriptive writing, reading about Aurora coming into her own power and learning so much about her family and herself, and Quint 🥵 I’m so sad this book is over, easiest 5 star review I have given in a long time!

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkeley and Jennifer Probst for this ARC

Aurora is a social media influencer and life coach. She enjoys her job and feels that she has her life pretty much together. That is until she loses her best friend and her mom all in one. Grief has struck her hard, then her boyfriend tells her he wants a break.. She loses it during one of her podcast and now has her career in a bit of a standstill. Aurora believes that she is an only child until a DNA test reveals that she had a family that she never knew. With her life not being what she wants to be, she embarks on a journey for a month that will end up with lifetime, lasting memories and impressions.


Jennifer Probst gives us a heartwarming story of dealing with grief, discovery of family you never had and finding a new part within yourself. Her words transform you to a place of beauty and culture. The setting is written, absolutely stunningly to where I could perfectly envision the places she was talking about around me. I love the family aspect. She changed while on her trip. Too many times we forget how to live after someone that we truly love is no longer here. I do believe that our Author did a wonderful job in conveying those feelings. Aurora is able to deal with her grief and find herself again while discovering a new family.
To Sicily with Love was the book that I was easily able to relate to and very much enjoyed.

Unfortunately, at this time I cannot finish this book. I have faith that in the future I could find Aurora’s story enlightening and healing, but after reading the first few chapters I have realized that I am not at a good place in my personal grief journey to yet take on this book. I lost my mom tragically and was disturbed and sad at Aurora’s attitude towards her mom (I’m sure some readers who haven’t lost their moms felt this too), as well as her sudden death. Before reading, I was aware that she lost her parents but I didn’t know that one of the deaths would take place in the current timeline of the book. I incorrectly assumed that their deaths would be mentioned casually as part of her backstory. My situation is personal to me and I will give this book another try later but from what I read, I can tell it would be a heartwarming, inspiring book. I just cannot allow myself at this time to let the triggers of grief and death of a mom in a book negatively impact my mental health.

I really enjoyed this book! It definitely gave me Eat Pray Love vibes, but still very good. I feel like I want to go to Sicily now just to explore and eat! I cried a few times in this book, but I loved the big extended family and the descriptions of Sicily. I got tired of the motivation aspect, but that's just me. What works for 1 person doesn't always work for everyone and I think Aurora figured that out eventually. There's no right way to grieve and no timeline.

A touching story about Aurora rediscovering herself after loss and grief. Set in the beautiful landscape of Sicily, the book explores how Aurora navigates her emotions and healing process while also finding love. The chemistry between the characters was strong, and the family dynamics added depth to the story. While the pacing was slow in parts, the themes of self-discovery and healing made it a meaningful, heartfelt read.

I write haiku reviews on Instagram and on Goodreads but am happy to provide more feedback, if desired.

To Sicily with Love is the fourth book in the Meet me in Italy series. Unfortunately, I didn't realize it was a series until after I finished book three, A Wedding in Lake Como. But I promise you are fine to read them out of order. If you love dreaming of vacations in Italy and reading about beautiful landscapes and delicious food you are going to want to read them all.

Aurora has a very structured life and everything is perfectly in order. She's got a business working as a life coach and she's at the top of her game. Her weight is perfect after a few years of struggling with it and her boyfriend owns a couple gyms which perfectly compliments her life. They also swap clients back and forth which is very convenient.

Aurora's mom doesn't think her boyfriend is right for her. She's not happy that Aurora won't eat the nice meals her mom makes. Unfortunately, her mom suddenly passes away and their last conversation is a fight. Now Aurora is struggling because both her parents are gone and was her mom right about things? If only she could talk to her one more time.

A surprising twist has Aurora flying to Sicily to meet long lost relatives that she didn't know existed. She didn't even know her mom was from Italy! Now she's gone from no family left in the world to a large family of cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

To Sicily With Love is a wonderfully written novel and I intend to go back and read book one and two in the series and looking for other books by Jennifer Probst. Also, I googled it so you don't have to - the author is no relation to Jeff Probst the Survivor host.

Aurora thought she had it all – the career and the boyfriend until unexpectedly loses her mother. She doesn’t know anything about her parent’s past so when she finds out she has relatives in Sicily she’s shocked. After a public breakdown during a work event, she decides to pack for bags and go to Sicily.

This might be my favorite book of the series. I was enamored by the backdrop of Sicily and the culture. I loved Aurora’s journey of self-discovery and bonding with a family that she didn’t know existed. There was a touch of romance with added to the theme of the importance of connections. It was such a heartwarming read about family and personal growth.

Jennifer Probst’s books always have me feeling I’m right back in Italy. (Missing Italy, pick up this book)
So many layers in this beautiful story, you’re fully invested in Aurora and where her journey is taking her.

If Jennifer Probst is writing about Italy, I’m reading it. (And falling in love with the characters)

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this advanced copy

This book was the dreamy, wanderlust romance I hoped it would be! My first by Probst and definitely not my last.

I appreciated the deeper, more emotional layers with themes involving loss of a loved one, discovering more about your identity and heritage, and coming to terms with what you deserve in both love and life.

Aurora was relatable and endearing! I was rooting for her from the first page to the last. I enjoyed going on this journey with her as she took a leap of faith and followed her roots all the way to Sicily in hopes of connecting with family and finding out more about her mother. Her big Italian family was heartwarming. I loved them all! The romance in this was delightful. And one of my favorite parts-the FOOD! All of the detailed descriptions of the food was delectable and the setting absolutely picturesque! What a refreshing read this was!

Thank you so much to Berkley and NetGalley for my early copy!