Aurora seems to have it all. An amazing career, a hot, successful boyfriend, and her mom who keeps her grounded and makes her comfort food for Sunday dinners. But when her mom dies unexpectedly, Aurora has a difficult time managing her grief. She has a very public meltdown which costs her clients and contracts, and her boyfriend decides they need a break. Aurora sinks further into her grief.

After sending off her DNA to an ancestry site, Aurora gets a familial match and a message from a woman in Italy claiming to be a cousin. But Aurora has no family. She is an only child and her parents were only children. Weren’t they? Suddenly Aurora is thrust into a Sicilian family with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and a really good looking family friend. As Aurora digs for answers about her mom, she realizes a lot about herself and what she wants. And maybe what she wants is Sicily.

I absolutely loved this book! This was the first book I read by this author and I’m hoping the rest of her books are similar in style because I can’t wait to read more. I loved the depth of the characters and how well their development flows through the book. They seem so real to me and not just written on pages. The descriptions of Sicily and the ocean and the food and everything Aurora encounters are so well written I feel as though I was there watching with her. Makes me want to go visit Italy again because I clearly didn’t appreciate it enough when I was there the first time. Excellent story.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Berkley Publishing for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.
Publication date Feb 18, 2025 5⭐️

To Sicily with Love started out slow and I struggled with it until we get to Sicily. I loved that this story centers around found family, reinventing yourself, and navigating grief. I did find some of the book to be repetitive and I don’t believe it needed to be as long as it was. Reading auroras transformation genuinely brought a smile to my face and you could feel the love emanating from her family through the pages.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the e-arc for an honest review!

I won't lie, when I started To Sicily with Love I didn't have the highest of hopes. Our main character, Aurora, is a social media influencer/life coach and I just can't stand that plot line. The first 20-30% seemed to drag on and I almost put it down.

However! Once we got to Sicily, things started to pick up for me. You get lost in the Italian landscape, descriptions of food, all while you're sifting through themes of grief, guilt, and self-discovery. I really began to enjoy Aurora more as well as the additional characters. I especially loved Aurora's relationship with her Boppa.

This book did remind me a little too much of One Italian Summer but without the magical realism and cheating trope. This was a nice quick read and I'd recommend picking it up when it comes out in Feb 2025!

3.5 stars

To Sicily with Love by Jennifer Probst is a charming, heartwarming read that swept me away to the sun-soaked landscapes of Sicily. As someone who loves a blend of romance, family dynamics, and evocative settings, this book hit all the right notes. Probst masterfully weaves together themes of love, healing, and self-discovery, with well-drawn characters that feel incredibly relatable. The way she captures the magic of Sicilian culture made me feel like I was right there, savoring every detail. If you’re a fan of romantic, feel-good stories that transport you to another place, this one’s a must-read.

Jennifer Probst’s evocative writing captures the essence of Italian life and traditions with such vivid detail that you can almost taste the local cuisine and feel the warmth of the Mediterranean sun. Aurora’s personal growth and the rich, dynamic relationships she builds with her relatives, along with a charming love interest, create a story that’s as heartwarming as it is inspiring. The themes of healing and transformation are handled with sensitivity and depth, making Aurora’s story a compelling and emotional read. If you’re looking for a novel that combines romance with self-discovery and offers a glimpse into a world of new beginnings, this one is a perfect escape.

The cover drew me into the book but I stayed for the sweet story of family and finding yourself. This was such a good read with an amazing message but I at times I felt like it was a bit repetitive. Also the travel vibes were just beautiful and fun to read about! Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

To Sicily with Love, written by Jennifer Probst, is the fourth novel in the Meet Me in Italy series.

Format: NetGalley ebook
Genre: Contemporary fiction, romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️
Characters: Aurora (FMC) & Quint (MMC)

After losing both of her parents, and suffering a public meltdown, Aurora decides to take a vacation to Sicily to visit some recently discovered family members.

Quint helps run the family bar in Sicily and forms a connection with Aurora after they discover they have both lost their parents. The openness in the way that Quint talks and shares with Aurora is so refreshing! I adore when authors know how to write MMC’s that know how to, and are comfortable, sharing with the FMC’s.

No OW/OM drama, and no third act breakup. Guaranteed HEA! ❤️

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title!

This story focuses on new beginnings and managing grief parallel to a beautiful romance. Aurora goes on an adventure to find her lost family in Italy and in turn finds her true love. It's a heartwarming story that feels relatable and so enjoyable.

I loved this book! I’m a sucker for anything set in Italy and so this immediately drew me in. The romance was amazing but it wasn’t just romance - just a really nice book about finding happiness. I would recommend and will be adding to our library!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing this book, with my honest review below.

I loved reading To Sicily with Love not only due to the amazing descriptions of Italy (and the food!) but due to the lessons this novel reminds me of. While Aurora is likely different than most of us, as a high powered life coach with a strong social media following, her bump back down to earth may be one we are all familiar with in some ways (it hits on my own fear of not valuing my family as much as I can only to have regrets when they are taken away). Thanks to a DNA test she finds she has more family than she knew of and soon enters their warm cocoon, gaining a valuable touchstone that changes her trajectory. The characters in this novel were as vivid as the scenery, and the gentle lessons it introduced were ones that are important but didn’t come off as patronizing.

Whether you are looking for an escape or a bit of a mental break that has you feeling a little more introspective when you’re done reading, I recommend this as a great novel to provide both.

I wasn't sure I would like this book. Aurora and Jason were so annoying in the beginning I almost said enough. I am glad I kept going because when Aurora goes to Sicily the book really moved. Having had so much grief in my life I understood some of what Aurora was going thru. Read this book to the end!

This book is a heartwarming exploration of finding new beginnings and the joy of connecting with family and love in unexpected places. I would definitely be recommending it.

This book is an emotional whirlwind set against the stunning backdrop of Sicily. Aurora York’s unexpected journey to reconnect with her Italian family unfolds into a deeply moving experience. The way Probst captures Aurora’s healing process, intertwined with the sizzling romance she finds with a charming local, is both enchanting and heartfelt. The novel isn’t just a romance but a vivid exploration of love’s power to mend a broken heart and ignite new passions. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

As I delved into the pages of this book, I felt an undeniable connection to Aurora. She evoked in me a desire to be her protector, her biggest supporter, and her source of solace. This narrative is a poignant exploration of self-discovery and the journey of healing oneself from the outside in. It's a tale that beautifully captures the essence of uncovering a lost part of one's identity and the transformative power of self-healing.

After losing her parents and her career in short order, Aurora decides to follow up on a DNA test that reveals she has family in Sicily. There she meets her large, boisterous family and starts a new life, filled with love, laughter and surprises. You cannot be sad after reading this joyful story