Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. This book was super cute! I got even more into it because I am a lover of old movies so the entire old Hollywood scene spoke to me and the intrigue of it all. Oh, so good!

Recently I was watching one of Joanna Lumley's shows, Great Cities of the World, where she visited Rome. One of the segments in the show was about the 1950's when Hollywood came to Rome. She interviewed Gina Lollobridgida, and talked about Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton and other big stars. In this book, a lot of the action centres around the same time period, when big name Italian film stars came to film their movies on the small island of Ischia, which is just off the coast of Naples.

When Ornella moved to England from Ischia, she knew she was leaving her previous life behind. She didn't want to talk about her life before the UK, about her family or the experiences that caused her to move away.

One day Ornella and her granddaughter Alessia see something celebrating the life of a famous, glamourous movie star from the 1950s, Alessia is surprised when her grandmother starts taking about her previous life. She is even more surprised when they decide to visit Ischia. Given that Alessia has had her heartbroken and lost her job recently, there's no reason not to go! The plan is to go to the island, stay for a couple of weeks and then return. However, plans have a funny way of not working as expected, and Ornella runs into one of her best friends not long after landing.

When Alessia meets a handsome journalist named Roberto, she doesn't realise that their paths are going to interconnect. Roberto is writing a piece about a reclusive famous film star whose beautiful wife and daughter were killed in a tragic car accident. It turns out that Ornella worked on the film set of his last hit film, and her own family's fate was intertwined with that of the star.

We get to see the stories unfold and Alessia and Roberto visit various landmarks and uncover some of the story, plus we see some of Ornella's story in flashback scenes. There are many secrets, twists and turns, until the truth is finally revealed. There are a lot of threads running through the book and the author does a great job of bringing them all together.

The last book I read by Victoria Springfield was set on the nearby island of Procida. Once again, the author does a great job of bringing the island culture to life on the page. I am not sure that we will ever get back to Naples, but if we did, I would like to visit Ischia and Procida!

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews, and the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge which I host. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.

Rating 4/5

What a fabulous book! It’s a riveting read. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I was totally engrossed. There’s so much life between these pages. Loss, heartache and sadness. Joy, warmth, family. Raw and emotional. Love, second chances and new beginnings. Many secrets from such a long time ago, long buried, resurface. Wonderful characters with interesting tales. Highly recommend

A dual time line, multi point of view story with a wonderful sense of place. As the story unfolds secrets and lies emerge from the past. Poignant and emotional, the blend of romance and Italian lifestyle is just the thing for a cold winters day.

Recently dumped and out of work, Alessia travels with her grandmother Ornella from England to Ornella’s birthplace of Ischia, Italy. While Alessia explores living on the island, takes stock of what matters and learns how to slow down, the death of a classic Italian actress opens old wounds and threatens to expose Ornella’s past secrets.

An Italian Island Secret is sweet story, in which you’ll come to care about the characters and want to hop the next plane to Italy. If you can get past unnecessary verbiage that adds nothing to the story, the author’s fantastic imagery puts you right there in town. I’ve never been to Italy and felt like I knew each road and place the characters visited. And the food descriptions! My mouth was watering and I could almost taste the dishes.

I enjoyed getting to know Alessia and Ornella, and was equally interested in the supporting characters. There were some smart subplots that could absolutely make for sequels!

The book has an interesting storyline but unfortunately was scattered and, at times, confusing. Still, I was able to push through and overall enjoyed the book. I haven’t read from this author before but would definitely be willing to read from her again.

I was given a digital ARC of this book by Boldwood Books in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.

Well, that’s another destination added to my “must visit” list – as always in the author’s books, the setting is far more than a mere backdrop, described in such wonderful detail, infused with sunshine, rich in history. And Ischia’s past as a favourite location for the burgeoning film industry – until then, it was an island touched by poverty, sustained only by its agriculture – adds a touch of real glamour and intrigue to this very engaging story.

Grandmother Ornella has never spoken about her past, although Alessia knows she left the island sixty years before and has never returned. But when Alessia unexpectedly loses her job as a seamstress, and is at a loose end for a while, they decide to travel to Ischia together for a holiday. When things go wrong with their booking, they find themselves staying with a former friend and her family – and as painful memories are revisited, long hidden events of the past slowly begin to emerge. In the 1950s, Ornella worked as a hairdresser on a film set – her story partly told in flashback – becoming embroiled in the lives of the rich and famous, but it was a time that ended in tragedy with the untimely death of her starstruck sister.

Amid the present day drama surrounding an upcoming marriage, deeply hidden secrets begin to emerge – including the promise Ornella made when forced to leave the island. Alessia finds romance through a chance meeting at the quayside – but Roberto’s also a journalist, digging into the past of the film’s stars, and that adds an intriguing extra dimension to the story. And there’s another thread to the story too, an enigmatic character choosing a solitary life because of her disfigurement, whose own story becomes entwined with theirs.

The whole story had me entirely gripped throughout, with so many well-handled twists and turns as we gradually discover the full and particularly emotional story of Ornella’s past. And the modern day story provides a nice counterpoint – things going badly wrong with the plans for the local wedding, but also the developing relationship between Alessia and Roberto – with the transitions to past events very smoothly done, the stories unspooling in parallel. All the individuals who play their part in the story, both past and present, are beautifully drawn and well developed, with more than a touch of well-written drama – and the author has a very sure emotional touch with the content, with the events of the past proving particularly heartbreaking. And the drawing together of all the threads at the end? That was so perfectly done, with both Alessia and Ornella looking forward to whatever the future may bring – the secrets of the past finally laid to rest.

The whole story is told with real warmth, matching the sunshine of its gorgeous and vividly drawn setting – very much my kind of read, and one I very much enjoyed.

The story is told from different perspectives, and on a dual timeline. Loved the setting. Though I struggled a first as the book started off slow. Good ending, I didn't feel gripped by the story. Thanks to Victoria and her publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley.

This is captivating story that effortlessly blends romance, family secrets, and the allure of Italy. The narrative takes you to the stunning island of Ischia, and the descriptions are so vivid and lush that I could almost feel the warm sun on my skin.

The plot revolves around Alessia’s journey with her grandmother, Ornella, who finally opens up about the secrets she’s been keeping for over sixty years.

This is a lovely read that’s perfect for summer, and while it didn’t completely blow me away, it was still a perfectly fun and enjoyable story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

This story takes place on the Italian island of Ischia near Naples and has a confusing amount of characters which I won't all name.

Ornella, 83, left Ischia with husband Gennaro and daughter Silvana for England when she was in her twenties. She has never talked about her time there with granddaughter Alessia, 34, but suddenly she is keen to return for a month long holiday. The "everything was better then and people dressed properly" nostalgia was a bit much at first especially because it isn't true, but thankfully that died down a bit the more we delved into that era and its sexism.

What follows is a reunion with old friends and the making of new ones. In 1957, the island was used as a film set, and there seems to be a link between a famous film star couple and Ornella's family. Secrets and lies are exposed, family history is discovered and romance blooms. There are flashbacks, but not too many, and the story is well-rounded, capturing the warm island feel and delectable Italian food.

This is well-written and interesting and will warm you on a cold winter's day, though the twists are easy to guess. Read if you like family drama and Italian film stars.

I liked the story being told from different perspectives, and the dual timeline. Loved the setting. Thought the book started off slow. Good ending. It's just, I didn't feel gripped by the story. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alessia knows her grandmother grew up on the beautiful Italian island off the coast from Naples. But Ornella seldom talks about her life there – or why she never went back. So Alessia is amazed when Ornella reveals that as a young woman, she had worked on the set of a famous 1950s movie filmed on the island. Is there a link between the film set and the tragic death of Ornella’s teenage sister?

Ornella has kept her past – and the life-changing promise she made – a secret for over sixty years. She has tried not to think about the love she gave up. But now, perhaps the truth should finally be revealed. Travelling to Ischia together, Alessia falls in love with the captivating island. Meeting handsome journalist Roberto helps her dig deeper into her family’s past, too. Just what happened to Ornella’s sister? What heart-wrenching secret is her grandmother hiding?

This was a lovely trip to southern Italy! I love books about family secrets, and this one was very well done. I enjoyed Alessia and Ornella's characters, and loved the mystery of the past. Great read! 4.5⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

What a way to escape the freezing cold winter and snow I am in the middle of! It was fun to imagine myself on the beautiful Italian island of Ischia and to watch this story of a young woman and her grandmother unravel/come together

This is a heartwarming and evocative story set on the picturesque island of Ischia. The novel delves into themes of family loyalty, hidden truths, and personal sacrifices, presenting a deeply emotional and authentic narrative.

Through vivid and enchanting descriptions, the island setting comes alive, showcasing the author’s intimate knowledge and affection for Ischia. The characters, particularly Ornella and Alessia, embark on heartfelt journeys—one to confront a complicated past, the other to uncover a family history filled with secrets.

The romance in the story is tender and understated, allowing relationships to develop naturally, while the narrative’s depth and emotional resonance make it a timeless and memorable read. Perfect for fans of immersive storytelling with a strong sense of place, this novel is a celebration of connection, self-discovery, and enduring bonds.

I enjoyed this book set in the present day on the Italian Island of Ischia.
Alessia and her grandmother, Ornella are making a summer trip to the island and end up staying longer than planned. The trip rakes up plenty of memories, good and bad, for Ornella, with the recollections being set in a 1950's timeline.
I enjoyed the tales from the movie set and the multi-timeline descriptions of the island and its inhabitants.
There are plenty of twists along the way resulting in a captivating, emotional read.

3.75 stars.

What a charming story! Alessia and her 83-year-old Nonna, Ornella, have come to the beautiful Italian island where Ornella grew up. The author set a really lovely scene on Ischia, between the visual descriptions and all the little sightsee locations given throughout, I really got a feel for this place I've never been.

At first, I found Ornella to be quite a dislikable character and really wasn't sure if I would vibe with her at all. But over the course of the book, you get to know her complexities and her life story, her reasons for leaving Italy when she was young. The book includes several chapters from the 1950s perspective of Ornella, and the author has weaved those into the story in the right moments without it being confusing or aggressively time-jumpy.

Between that and Alessia's own journey of falling in love with the island, you really get pulled into the story. Beyond these two MCs, the other characters are very engaging and add much to the plot and to their individual and combined stories. I particularly enjoyed Anna's role in the story.

If you're looking for a nice escape to a whimsical island, some investigating of family secrets, and a dash of romance, I'd encourage you to read this when it comes out.

What an enjoyable read. The beautiful Italian setting on the isle of Ischia was just so magical. Springfield did a wonder job describing the island. I could see the plump tomatoes and feel the wind from the ferry ride from Naples. I loved the progression and resolution of the plot, especially for brutally burned and disfigured Anna. What a well written emotional story. Also, Springfield did a good job of developing a community of characters, from movie stars and journalist to farmers, hairdressers and seamstresses, all interconnected in the unfolding drama. I felt like I knew and liked each of the characters.
I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a good read that will pull on the heart strings!

A slow start but overall a good dual timeline. With secrets and twists and turns. Lovely scene setting of Ischia and a good mix of characters.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

I enjoyed An Italian Island Secret, a dual timeline story set on a beautiful island near Italy. A grandmother and her granddaughter return to her hometown and secrets are uncovered.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I loved this book by Victoria Springfield which is set on a gorgeous isle of Ischia, it’s a dual timeline story.

We follow Alessia, along with her grandmother, Ornella, when they leave London and go back Ischia, the place Ornella hasn’t been back to for decades.

I loved the descriptions of the island, the places and the characters.

It was interesting to read about the relationship both characters shared and how the past impacted their lives. How this mystery was untold, kept me turning the pages.

I highly recommend this book.

An Italian Island Secret by Victoria Springfield is a captivating read that transports you straight to the enchanting island of Ischia. The story is rich with substance and emotion, weaving together themes of family loyalty, hidden pasts, and personal sacrifices in a way that feels deeply authentic and moving.

The vivid descriptions of Ischia are breathtaking; I could almost feel the warmth of the sun and see the beauty of the landmarks as I read. The author’s intimate knowledge and love for the island shine through, and I found myself frequently Googling the places mentioned to immerse myself even further—each time, they were exactly as described. Reading about this idyllic setting while snow fell outside my window made it all the more magical.

What stood out most was how naturally the threads of the story came together. The narrative felt like life itself—unfolding in a way that was both simple and profound. The romance was understated and genuine, allowing the relationships to develop at a realistic and heartfelt pace, rather than overwhelming the story.

The characters were wonderfully crafted—each one memorable and endearing, except for a single exception, but they don’t deserve any more of my attention! Ornella’s journey to confront her past and Alessia’s discovery of her family’s history were both poignant and inspiring.

This book had the feel of a “proper” novel, the kind with real depth and heart, reminiscent of older stories that stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.

Victoria Springfield has created a masterpiece that I will treasure and happily recommend to others.