Quite a fascinating book, which, although I am not a great fan or romances or historical novels about WW2, I did enjoy reading! I think it was the setting that made me interested in reading it, and I am glad that I did.
I did find the style of writing of this author a little simple, which made me think of giving it four stars, but when I read at the end how much research she had done, which some authors do not do enough of, it went back to five stars.
Even though the ending was predictable, it was great to see just how it would come about.

This book makes a nice change in the genre of WWII stories, in that it tells of the Italians side of the war and how it affected them all. How they were victims along with the rest of the participants, they lived and died, mainly believing they and their leaders were doing what was right.

I found it a bit slow to start, and there were some characters I would have liked to know more about but it is an enjoyable read, very well written and gives a real flavour of the hardships of the era. Very well researched and I love that the author named the main characters after her Italian grandparents. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Ms Morris tells a sweet tale of love, war, loss, and hope.

Of all the many WWII stories I've read, this was the only one that focused on Italy and how that country's people were affected by the war. I found myself cringing in dread over Concetta's sleazy supervisor, weeping over Gaetano's experiences during the war, pondering the reveal of the 'treasures' that had been kept safe for so long.

I found the story very relatable and one I would recommend for 16+.

I received an ARC; this is my honest review.

Lindsay Marie Morris does a great job in writing this book, it had that historical element that I was looking for and enjoyed overall in this historical period. The characters had that that realistic concept and was glad everything worked together to tell the story. It was emotional and left me wanting to read more.

I loved The Last Letter from Sicily. It was an emotional story about love, war, and tough choices.

The story started in 1939, in a small Sicilian village, where 17-year-old Concetta was in love with Gaetano, a boy her family would never have approved of. But when her family announced they were moving to America, her world turned upside down.
Before she left, Gaetano gave her a special fountain pen and made her promise to keep their love alive through letters.

Life in America got hard for Concetta. She faced prejudice, gruelling factory work, and the loneliness of being far from home. Her letters to Gaetano became everything to her. But then war broke out, and his letters stopped. She started wondering if he was still alive.

This was a heartfelt story about love, hope, and courage, with powerful descriptions of Sicily and life as an immigrant in America. It was a brilliant read that kept me turning the pages to see if Concetta and Gaetano could find their way back to each other. If you love historical romance, try this book

Gaetano and Concetta are lovers split by World War 2 and the story follows their trials and tribulations throughout the war. There are glimmers of greatness throughout the story, but there are too many characters that have been half developed with random stories throughout. The characters of Gaetano and Concetta have been well developed, while the supporting characters seemed to be thrown in haphazardly. I think the author has potential and I will continue to read books by her and hope to follow her growth as a writer.

I don’t typically read historical fiction, but The Last Letter From Sicily completely won me over. Lindsay Marie Morris weaves a rich tapestry of love, loss, and resilience, set against the stunning backdrop of Sicily during a pivotal moment in history.

Concetta and Gaetano know each other on Sicily and promise to marry each other one day. However as the Italians join the WW2 Concetta moves to USA whereas Gaetano is enlisted to fight for the Italians in Sardinia. Eventually they meet once agin but have both of them moved on to much. Thanks to Lindsay and her publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley

The Last Letter From Sicily by Lindsay Marie Morris is a book that truly touched my heart. It starts in 1939 with two young people in love in Porticello, Sicily, in Italy - a small seaside village with fishermen who sing "O Sole Mio" in the evenings as they prepare their nets for a night of fishing. The beauty of the sea and evening stars along with the music makes for an idylllic setting for Concetta and Gaetano to declare their love for each other. It is this love that is a guiding force in their lives over the next six years until World War II is finally over. Shakespeare wrote: "The course of true love never did run smooth" and this is true for the lives of Concetta, Gaetano, and the people closest to them during the years 1939 - 1945. I consider this novel to be a love story but it is also historical fiction as we see Concetta and her family become Italian immigrants in America and Gaetano get conscripted into the Italian army. As the book goes back and forth between their two very different stories we gain insights into the hardships the Italians faced during those years as "foreigners" in the U.S. as well as the nitty gritty details and dangers of men in the military in Italy. I highly recommend this book to those with an interest in the WWII time period, the Italians invovement in WWII, and daily life of immigrants. I received an ARC from Storm Publishing and @netgalley but all opinions are my own.

The Last Letter from Sicily is a stunning and moving World War II historical novel that transported me over two continents and into the heart of a forbidden love tale. Set in 1939 Sicily, it follows seventeen-year-old Concetta as she receives the heartbreaking news that her family is leaving their beloved village for America. Her love for Gaetano, a fisherman's kid her father would never approve of, is undeniable, and their final night together under the Sicilian stars cements a bond that time and distance cannot break. Gaetano presents her a fountain pen, and their love is memorialized in letters, each one promising that they will one day be reunited.

As Concetta adjusts to her new life in America, her letters to Gaetano serve as an emotional anchor, but the outbreak of war upends everything. When Gaetano's letters end abruptly, Concetta's determination to find him leads her on an emotional and risky trip across a war-torn seas in quest of the man she pledged to never forget. The work delves brilliantly into themes of love, sorrow, and the persistence of the human spirit, and I was glued to the pages to find out whether Concetta and Gaetano's dream would ever come true.
Morris has crafted a story that is both painful and inspirational. The rich historical background, the emotional connection between Concetta and Gaetano, and the eternal question of how far you would go to keep a promise made beneath the stars all combine to create a novel that will stay with you long after you've read it. The Last Letter from Sicily is a must-read for readers of emotive historical fiction, and it will inspire you to trust in the power of love, even in the darkest of times.

4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of The Last Letter From Sicily.

It is 1939 in Sicily and teenagers Concetta and Gaetano are young and in love. They plan on getting married until Concetta’s father says they are going to America. She does not want to leave Gaetano and everything she knows. Once in America life is hard for her family and Gaetano is drafted to fight. They communicate over letters until the war halts the letters. They both hold on to the dream of being together but as the years pass it becomes more difficult but can there love stand the test of time?

I really enjoyed this story. I liked the characters and the dual points of view. I liked that there were historical elements involved too. Overall I enjoyed it.

Book: The Last Letter From Sicily
Author: Lindsay Marie Morris
Published: January 16, 2025(Today!)
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(5/5)
Review:
What to expect:
- Family expectations
- Love
- War
- Heartbreak
- Racist Terms
- Italian words throughout

What a captivating, emotional read. 👏
There are a few time jumps, but the plot still flows well. The author has a note at the beginning of some changes that were made that didn't happen, but other than that, she followed it accurately. 👏 I loved the characters. They had depth. The fact that it was inspired by a true story is why I wanted to read this.

*I also want to give a shout out to an Italian exchange student who told me how to say some of these names and words correctly.*

Thank you to NetGalley , Storm Publishing , & the author for this eARC.

*All thoughts & opinions are my own.*

#TheLastLetterFromSicily #NetGalley #StormPublishing

The story is about love, love during the WW2. It is based on a true story. Concetta and Gaetano are separated from each other when Concetta's family moves from Porticello, Sicily, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Both dreamed of being teachers, but the war made them separate and forced them to work in completely different professions. It is a love story! Read the book to find out the ending.

I've been a fan of historical fiction set in the first half of the twentieth century for some time now. I’m also drawn to stories that vividly bring the past to life, with settings that feel as though they leap off the page. The Last Letter from Sicily satisfied both of these interests beautifully.

Set in 1939, the novel follows seventeen-year-old Conceta as she leaves Sicily with her family, drawn by the promise of a better life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As she embarks on this journey, she leaves behind more than her homeland—she also leaves behind a secret love, a young man she dreams of reuniting with someday. But the obstacles are immense: the war, thousands of miles of ocean, and the divide between their social classes.

The author masterfully portrays the struggles of immigration and the longing that ties Conceta to both her past and her future. The story’s characters are vibrant and relatable, and the emotional depth of Conceta’s journey keeps you turning the pages.

If you enjoy historical fiction, vivid settings, and themes of love, resilience, and hope, The Last Letter from Sicily is a novel you won’t want to miss. It’s a story that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you both to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this WWII non-fiction work by Lindsay Marie Morris.

I was invested from the very beginning of a different perspective on WWII and a romance that spanned both years and continents. I always appreciate learning something new about what took place during WWII and it also shed some light on WWI as well.

Dual timeline historical fiction covering a period of time I was interested in learning more about.

The writing is very straightforward and the characters draw you in immediately. It was obvious how this was going to end which was comforting but also meant it couldn’t be a 5 star read for me.

An enjoyable book but it lacked a little depth. I enjoyed the different perspectives but as it jumped between characters in one chapter often it took a couple of paragraphs to realise whose story we were reading.

First and foremost, I want to say that I have the utmost respect for those men and women in our military, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!!!!! For those of you that have served and long since retired, thank you, my heart is always and forever with you. The Last Letter From Sicily written by Lindsay Marie Morris was honestly a mid read for me for many reasons, which I will state in my review. After finishing this book, it took me a few days to put a rating because I didn't hate this book nor did I love it, I decided to settle on a three star rating, which isn't necessarily bad, but it was in the middle for me. When I saw that stunning cover, I knew I had to get my hands on this book immediately, I mean look how beautifully detailed it is. Now, let's get into the issues I had with this book, the biggest issue I mostly had was despite it taking place during World War 2, we didn't really get an outlook on the front lines, we had a few incidents here and there, but nothing too big despite it being a war novel, the other issue I had was the ending, there was no epilogue, it just kind of ended out of the blue, also I didn't even sob reading this book like I anticipated. Despite the issues I had, I still recommend reading this book because others might feel different than I did. So, mark your calendars for January 16th, 2025 to get your hands on a copy. Please don't let my review persuade you, reading is subjective and everyone is entitled to their OWN opinions.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND STORM PUBLISHING FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!!

LEMON FLOWERS
Pale white,
Sweet to the nose,
Blossoms into bright,
Yellow fruit,
Sour on the lips,
Tart on the tongue.

"My dearest Gaetano, if this letter reaches you, know that my heart remains under the Sicilian stars where we made our promise......"

"Mathematics reveals it's secrets to those who approach it with pure love for it's own beauty".

"You are seventeen years old. When will you stand up for yourself and say what you want?"

"Tu eris super domum meam". -You shall take charge of my home.

The Last Letter From Sicily is a work of fiction, but several dates in this book match those of actual events. On July 11th, 1939, Concetta Balistreri, Enzo her Papa, Celestina her Mamma, and Giuseppina her sister all leave their home country of Porticello, Sicily for Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Enzo said America is the land of opportunity, he just wants a better life for his family. In Wisconsin, the Balistreri's live with Concetta's aunt Marcella until they find a place of their own. In Wisconsin, Concetta is learning to speak English by doing workbooks, Concetta also has to get a job to help pay rent for their apartment until her Papa finds a job to bring in more money, so Concetta decides to get a job doing sewing work in a factory. When Concetta's little sister, Giuseppina starts school, she gets made fun of and laughed at for not speaking perfect English. In America, these two sisters get called wop, guinea, and dago which are offensive Italian names, which just broke my heart because there's absolutely no need to be rude. Before leaving Sicily, Concetta was going to school to become a math teacher, but that's when her Papa decided to move to America, and Concetta could no longer attend college. On July 10th, 1939, seventeen year old Concetta vows to return to Sicily to be with her love, Gaetano. My heart broke for how these two sisters were treated during their time in America.

Gaetano Alioto is Alessandra's older brother, and Alessandra is Concetta's best friend. Gaetano is attending school in Palermo, Sicily to become a teacher. In Porticello, Sicily, Gaetano teaches Latin while working at his mother's grocery store market. Before Concetta and her family leave for America, Gaetano decides to ask for Concetta's hand in marriage so they don't have to be apart from each other, but Concetta's Papa will never approve of Gaetano. On the night before Concetta leaves, Gaetano gifts her a pearlescent green fountain pen in the promise of writing Gaetano letters everyday while she's living in America. On December 7th, 1941, on the Hawaiian island of O'ahu, the American military was attacked by enemy planes that were believed to have been from the Empire of Japan. On December 11th, 1941, Italy declared war on America. Being five thousand miles from Porticello, Sicily, the letters between Concetta and Gaetano stop because Gaetano is fighting in the war and America is now home to Concetta and her family. I wanted to see more of Gaetano's time in the war, It feels like I didn't really get enough insight of his time fighting on the front lines while trying to defend his country of Sicily. Like I said before, don't let my review stop you from picking up this book, these are just my own opinions on how I felt.

Sicily, 1939. Seventeen-year-old Concetta has just received life-changing news: her family is leaving their sun-drenched Sicilian village and moving to America. Desperate to stay with her secret love Gaetano—a fisherman's son her father would never accept—Concetta spends one last night with him beneath a blanket of stars. There, among the citrus-scented air and cricket song, he hands her a leaving gift: a fountain pen, with a promise to keep their love alive through letters – and return to one another one day.

In America, Concetta refuses to let go of her dream of returning to Sicily, even as she struggles to navigate a strange new world of factory work and prejudice. Her letters to Gaetano become her lifeline, each one carrying fragments of her heart across the ocean. But when Italy declares war on the United States, Gaetano’s letters suddenly stop. As Concetta faces pressure to let go of her past and accept her new American life, she yearns to discover Gaetano's fate—even if it means crossing a war-torn ocean to find him.

I really enjoyed this one. I love historical fiction, and WW2 is one of my favorite time periods to read about. This offers a new twist, being set in a different place than most books about that war. I loved the picture of Sicily, the tragedy of being separated, and the ending. I really enjoyed this, but Lindsay Marie Morris, please write an epilog for us! 4⭐

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

Whilst an interesting premise, I just couldn’t get into this book. The writing felt quite simple, and the plot line very linear. Some things felt like they were added just for the page count or because during the research, the author heard of this happening and just decided to mention it but in reality, it felt like a random interlude (like the extended Ellis Island bit).

I didn’t feel connected enough to Concetta and Gaetano to really care that they were separated. Also her father calling her a wh*re on two separate occasions really just turned me off the whole book. It’s a book that aimed to showcase some of the civilian pain of war but frankly it fell flat.

2.5 / 5 stars ⭐️ Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Seventeen-year-old Concetta and her family leave their hometown of Sicily for the brave new world of America. She is forced to leave behind her secret boyfriend Gaetano. But she vows to write to him and return to his arms one day. America is full of challenges for the new immigrants, and they are faced with prejudice and unemployment. Her father Enzo struggles to obtain work so Concetta supports the family by working in a clothing factory, foregoing her dreams of becoming a teacher. She writes to Gaetano planning to return to him when she has saved enough money. Then Italy declares war on America and Concetta's dreams are dashed. Suddenly, the Italians are the enemy and Concetta fears she will never see Gaetano again.
Faced with personal crises and forced to choose between loyalty to her family and her love for Gaetano, Concetta is caught up in an emotional battle. Can long-distance love overcome the many obstacles thrown at Concetta and Gaetano?

The Last Letter From Sicily is a love story that reveals the reality of wartime with a strong focus on loyalty. As the main protagonist, Concetta has our sympathy as she is forced into changing her life, as a dutiful Italian daughter should. The struggle of Italian immigrants settling in America is realistically represented - arriving with basic belongings, no English and no job. The bravery of all immigrants during the 30's and 40's cannot be understated. Concetta and Gaetano both face many challenges in their separate lives across the sea and when the war prevents further correspondence, they are forced into getting on with their lives while still wondering if their own love story is now at an end.
This is a sensitively written story. The author has created characters we can empathise with in their various struggles. The war setting is well-researched and a true snapshot of both sides' perspectives. I felt there could have been more correspondence between the two lovers. The stakes did not feel quite as high as they could have been when the letters stopped. I also felt that some of the conflict between certain people in Concetta's life in America could have been taken even further to add to the drama of the story.
The Last Letter From Sicily is an enjoyable love story and will take you on a journey from Sicily to America during a significant time in world history