I loved the premise and of course, am always pro-Italian food descriptions… but, this one well flat for me. The lead character is a life coach and while managing the grief of family loss, discovers long-lost family in Sicily. She travels to meet them and ends up finding herself. I feel like I’ve read this book before, plus the lead character was too basic, no depth. I wanted to love it more! But just wasn’t for me…

Plot:
Aurora is a perfectionist who's built this seemingly perfect life as a life coach. She's smart, ambitious, and work-obsessed, with an equally work-obsessed and ambitious boyfriend named Jason. Their relationship is built on pushing one another to achieve the next milestone until Aurora's mother unexpectedly passes away opening up a plethora of [both old and new] grief and chaos. Aurora's life [mostly work but a little personal] is spiraling out of control. She decides to finally take the DNA test that has been sitting unopened in her apartment. When the results come back, Aurora quickly finds out she has long-lost relatives coupled with decades of family secrets. With her career falling apart she decides to book a trip to Sicily to meet her relatives and try to make sense of these newfound family secrets.

Aurora spends the next month in beautiful Sicility learning about not only her heritage, but the family secrets that were kept untold. She meets her entire extended family, uncovers traditions, and even experiences a bit of culture shock all while she begins to process the grief of losing the only family she had back home. This is a beautiful story of one processing grief and loneliness as told from the perspective of a type-A workaholic. Throughout her time in Sicliy Aurora challenges everything she knew and thought she wanted as she begins to peel back the layers of who she is, what she values, and what she wants for her future.

This was a quick and easy feel good read. I loved how the book was set in Italy and I think Probst did a wonderful job painting a beautiful and accurate depiction of the island. What kept me going with this book was the imagery she drew about the island and the food. My gosh, the food was descriptive and I want to book my next flight to Italy asap. Her cultural references were by and large accurate, and the use of the Italian language was fun with minimal grammatical or colloquial errors, which I appreciated. There is this entire concept of "la dolce far niente" that Aurora figures out on her own, and although never mentioned resonated deeply with me and the cultural difference between the US and Italy.

Slight trigger warnings for those who suffer from anxiety and/or panic attacks, eating disorders, and those experiencing parental grief. Probst did a great job at bringing emotions to life. There are strong tropes of the main characters' journey, finding love in unexpected places, grief and loss, strong familial ties and family dynamics, loneliness, and family secrets.

The ending was so beautiful. The author wrapped things up nicely and quickly. I did not feel anything was missing or left unanswered. I'm giving this book 3 - 3.5 stars. As much as I enjoyed this light and easy feel good romance read set in Italy, it was not a page-turner and took me a week to finish. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light romance/feel-good novel set in Italy.


Thoughts/SPOILERS BELOW***


Jason's character was done nicely because I found myself annoyed with him anytime he was mentioned. Aurora's complicated relationship with her grandfather was my favorite. I wish Probst had included additional family relationships this deeply throughout. Perhaps with Catena and/or Aunt Philomena. Also, Philomena in Italy would never be spelled with a Ph, but ok. Falling in love so quickly after experiencing such grief is possible, but it did seem a bit unrealistic from Aurora's type A and rigid character. I think a beautiful relationship Probst could have explored would be between Aurora and Quint's sister Carmella, with both women having lost their mothers and such close relationships with Quint. Also, the name Quint...not very Italian perhaps a nickname for Quinto? I loved the concept of Aurora learning how to slow down and enjoy life and the journey vs going through the motions robotically just to achieve results. I also would have liked a bit more spice because it did not exist here. I was left hanging a bit. The dynamic between Quint was a bit cringe at times, but nothing unbearable. Having Jason come back into the picture momentarily at the end provided Aurora and the readers some closure which I enjoyed. With her ending the relationship via facetime and never knowing what life would be like with him back home in a "normal" setting. I appreciated the closure with him. I resonated deeply with Aurora's need for perfectionism and adoration for Italy and Italian culture. I would recommend this as a light and quick romance novel set in Italy.

You know what I love? A sweet romance.
This is it.
I also love it when our fmc discovers a whole new part of her life that she didn’t know existed.
This is it.

The story of Aurora learning about her family that has been kept a secret from her was so heartwarming. In loss, she found so much love.

I felt that a few scenes could have been a little longer, but other than that, I loved this book!

Thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Jennifer Probst for the opportunity to read this advanced copy.

This was a 3.5 star read for me! I’ve been a fan of Jennifer Probst for many years and was excited to see a new book of hers on NetGalley. I didn’t realize it was part of a series but you do not need to read the prior books to enjoy this one. I liked this book a lot and read it very quickly. It was an easy read that packed an emotional punch. I really felt for Aurora and how lonely she was after losing both her parents. I disliked Jason and his behavior really frustrated me throughout. I wanted to yell at Aurora that she deserved better and to break up with him already.
I did love the true found family theme- at a time when Aurora needed others, she found exactly her people. And she was that for them as well. At a time when she was stuck emotionally, socially, and professionally, they provided her with a loving and nurturing environment to sort herself and her goals and aspirations out.
My only complaint was the love story that was woven in. I felt like we didn’t get enough early development of Quint as a character to really feel connected to him. I also felt like as soon as Quint and Aurora got together it was a little too insta-love for my taste.
Overall, an easy and enjoyable read! Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Aurora is a woman who has her life on track and is well on her way to reaching her goals. Until her mother passes, and she isn't so sure of herself anymore.

A trip to Italy helps her rediscover herself, what success in life truly means, and the importance of family.

The character is relatable, and the descriptions of the Italian culture, landscapes and food added a richness to the story that was truly enjoyable.

This book was "molto bene" and had me dreaming of a trip to Sicily.

3.25/5 rounded down

Thank you Berkley Publishing for the advanced reading copy!

LIKED this book a lot! First of all, the setting was amazing. Jennifer Probst does a great job of adding detail to help the reader truly visualize the where the characters are. My family is Sicilian and it’s my dream to go there, so this was a really cool way to see a hint at what life is like there.

Our MC had great character development & growth, though I did find her inner monologue sooo draining towards the beginning. It was beautiful to watch her mindset shift, though. We spent too much time with Jason at the beginning, too, imo. I think the set up took a little bit too long for me, but the meat of the story was great. A cute and clever premise overall, with family drama and culture and travel and growth and love and lots of found family!

#ToSicilywithLove #NetGalley

A love letter to family bonds and mouthwatering cuisine.

Aurora's steely determination and single minded life's focus is sideswiped by an unexpected loss and an unforeseeable discovery. This leads to her (gorgeous cover, by the way) to Sicily where the sometimes immediate, other times gradual, developing relationships has her take a hard look at who she is, what she wants, and where she wants to be.

This was beautifully done by the author. Past books (see: "Sunshine Sisters", "Stay Series" by her have more of a romantic bent and believe NetGalley got it right classifying this as "Women's Fiction". Still, there are "Marriage to a Billionaire" vibes with the physical description of Aurora.

And, the food. The glorious food descriptions so vividly described the reader can envision the smells, the texture and the taste on the palate.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley , via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Every time I read a book by Jennifer Probst I feel like I’m transported to a new place and took a trip. I think about her book characters long after I finished the book and have to remind myself that I didn’t actually go there. She’s just THAT good.

This book was honestly so beautifully written. I actually wasn't really prepared for how emotional this book was going to be. I am a sucker for books that really walk you through a self discovery journey. I truly felt connected to Aurora in a way that I think only one can know if they have went through unimaginable grief from loss of a loved one. When you literally feel like your life is falling apart. It was truly wonderful watching her find herself again. Meeting new family, friends, love interests. I must admit that I think my favorite part of the book was how much food played apart in this story lol. I have never wanted to go experience this place more than I do now.

This was a beautiful story of healing after loss, self discovery, and just really loving yourself. It has a great romance element but isn't the main part of the story. This is a great one to add to your tbr if you are in the mood for an emotional journey!

Jennifer Probst is one of my top authors. To Sicily with Love was fantastic, layered, and had a wonderful set of characters.

Devoured this one in 24 hours like every morsel of Sicilian food in this book.

Thank you so much to Berkley for this eARC— this one really made me feel all the things.

Aurora, the main character, is a life coach and influencer/motivational podcaster who “has the life” - the hot boyfriend, the nice house, the huge social following, and great success. After losing her father a few years back, she is still finding her way in the world and helping out her mom, who can’t seem to move past the grief.

Aurora’s life is completely turned upside down, and she soon finds herself in a Sicily, meeting people who transform her life in every way, make her see the world differently, and make her truly consider what is important— has she really been life coaching the right way? Does she actually like what she does for a living? Does she like herself?

I loved this book. I love Jennifer Probst’s voice. It is honest, clear, and thoughtful. She writes incredible imagery and heartbreaking, real feeling. The descriptions of food? *deliziosa* You could find me drooling for half of this book, probably.

One major factor I want to make sure I call out in my review - as someone who has experienced a fair amount of grief in my lifetime - To Sicily With Love really hit home for me. There is a very strong theme in this book: family is everything.

Lovers of family bonds, self-discovery, FOOD, and most of all, love, please read this book. I think you’ll find it so fulfilling.

I loved this book! Aurora is a life coach, who has it all together. When she loses her mother suddenly, her life goes into a tailspin. She takes a DNA test and finds she has family in Sicily. After they reach out to her she decides to head over to Sicily to meet them.


This was such an enjoyable read! It’s a great journey of self-discovery as she heals from her loss and tries to figure out what she wants to do next in her life. It's a great story of grief, loss, family and the quest for meaning in your life. The author's descriptions of Sicily and her family members are wonderful. They are like a warm hug. I’d so love to head over to Sicily and spend some time there. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.


Thanks to @berkley, @netgalley and the author for this arc.

*3.75 stars

I absolutely fell in love with our protagonist and the discovery of self through family. I laughed, I cried, I swooned.

3 stars ✰
⤿ this was actually really sweet 🙁

💌 plot:

this beautiful story follows aurora, as we watch her rediscover herself in the beautiful land of sicily <3 she’s only ever had her mother, no father, and no relatives. her mom was her best friend, and when she passes away, aurora’s whole life feels meaningless. she’s so heartbroken and instead of her bf consoling her through it and showing her love he.. breaks up with her?? kinda? but they’re still together but taking a break? idek. but when she discovers she has family in Italy, she drops everything and goes to meet them— and it changes her life completely 🤍

💌 my thoughts:

this was actually really comforting and refreshing. it was nice to see so much happiness and light be brought back to auroras life after what happened, so I really liked that for her. she’s also so easy to relate to. like loneliness can take such a toll on someone and affect their mental health horribly. I have to live away from my mom for uni and it puts me in misery, and aurora had to literally lose the only person she ever relied on!?!? and forever. it’s crazy how she even stayed so hopeful but I’m glad she followed her heart and found her people— it literally made me so emotional 🥹🫶🏼

what I did struggle with, though, was the writing at times. i don’t know how to put it but it feels very diary-like? I know that’s only natural when reading in first person but i found it hard to get into when it felt like she was just reciting the things she’s doing— i would’ve liked it to be a little more descriptive.. more creative perhaps? im not sure. I might be being nitpicky but I found it really hard to fully immerse myself. nonetheless, I still had a great time!! I would recommend reading this in the summer or at the beach I think it would be so good 🤭🤭

💌 conclusion:

i recommend this if you’re looking for something quick and relaxing, something easy to read with no major dramas or conflicts, defo pick this up!! obviously it does deal with heavy topics, mostly grief and how to cope with it but for the most part the book is pretty lighthearted. this was super fun 💐

thank you to netgalley and berkley publishing group for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Aurora has a rising career, a boyfriend and is happy. Her mother passes away and her world comes crumbling down around her as she is all alone. The author does a great job of showing how traumatic this experience was and how it changed her. Jason her boyfriend is not supportive or helpful during her grief. She takes a DNA test and learns that that she does have family in Sicily on her mother's side. She goes to Sicily to meet her family that she never knew existed.

I loved the descriptions of the big boisterous family, the many meals they shared and all of the family traditions. The family embraces her with open arms and she learns about her mother and why she left Italy. I liked watching her relationship grow with her grandfather and how he grew to love and accept her. Aurora finds love and happiness and it is beautiful to watch it all unfold. Warning-all the food descriptions will make you hungry and crave Italian food.

Get transported to Italy and enjoy the food, wine and family banter.

First, I'd like to extend my gratitude to NetGalley, Jennifer Probst, and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I really loved this one! Aurora’s journey through grief felt incredibly real and relatable, making her a protagonist I truly connected with. Jennifer Probst’s descriptive writing transported me straight to Sicily—the stunning landscapes, rich culture, and, oh my gosh, the food! I was starving while reading this book!

Quint was the perfect blend of sexy and mysterious, keeping me intrigued from start to finish. I also adored how quickly Aurora found herself immersed in her newfound family—the warmth and love she experienced made the story even more heartwarming.

I 100% recommend To Sicily with Love to lovers of romance and general fiction. This novel beautifully captures healing, love, and the magic of a fresh start in one of the most breathtaking settings imaginable. Don't read it on an empty stomach! 🍝❤️

First off, Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Let’s get started!

If I’m being honest with you all, the first quarter of the book was a doozy. Aurora is our main character who is a social media “influencer”, life coach etc, if you get what I’m implying and as someone who always wanted to try the “influencer” life, it’s an okay plot line to me.

The first quarter I wasn’t feeling it until the setting have changed and we was now in Sicily. I adored the descriptions of the landscape and food which is a chef kiss touch. That’s when I kind of bonded with our main character Aurora.

All in all, i recommend reading this book if you want something quick and will give you that welcoming spring summer feeling!

To Sicily With Love by Jennifer Probst 🥘🇮🇹✈️🍕

Description:
Aurora seems to have it all: the career, the boyfriend, and a life in NYC. But her world falls apart when she loses her mother. Through DNA testing, she discovers family in Italy she never knew existed. A spontaneous trip to Sicily takes her on a life-changing journey filled with discovery, connection, and love.

My Thoughts:
How do I describe a book that’s perfect? This story was phenomenal—a beautiful mix of tragedy, relationships, romance, food, and family. It’s the perfect February read because it celebrates all kinds of love: love for others, love for food, and, my personal favorite, love for grandparents. Aurora’s bond with her Nonna melted my heart—SO cute and heartwarming! The story’s pacing was just right, and I felt like I was walking the streets of Sicily alongside Aurora. If you want a book that will tug at your heartstrings and make you crave Italian food, this is it!

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Fiction
Age Range: Adult
Favorite Quote:
“Wait for the love of your life, even if it’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done.”

Publication Date: February 18, 2025

Acknowledgment:
Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for the ARC!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I will post this review on my profile on February 6th, 2025: https://www.instagram.com/musiesmamareads?igsh=OXIyY2gxYTd2YjE1&utm_source=qr

Aurora York has a successful business and a great boyfriend. Everything is going great until her mom dies, and her life goes in a tailspin. She aways thought her mom was an only child with no family, but she soon finds out she has a large extended family in Italy. Her mother left Italy with her father to come to the United States and never looked back. Aurora goes to Italy, reconnects with her family, and finds herself again. The descriptions of the scenery and food brought this book to life, even if some of it veered on stereotypical.

3.5 stars.

Since the author went out of her way to show the reader how awful Jason was for Aurora, I hated the fact that it took Aurora so long to figure that out for herself.
Then, we didn’t get enough time and scenes with Quint to really feel emotionally connected to him like Aurora does.

I loved all the descriptions of the food, the setting of Sciacca, and the scenes with her family, especially Catena and her grandfather. What I found relatable about Aurora was her grief and search for belonging.