Although this is a love story, it is also a lot more. It explores the impact of war on people, the immigrant experiences and gender issues. In creating the character Conchetta, we are treated to the pull of family and duty over love. However, Conchetta, despite everything, stays true to herself. I would have liked more detailed author's notes, as I didn’t know a lot about the war in Italy, or about the treatment of POWs from there. Despite that I enjoyed the story, and learnt things along the way. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy to read, and freely review.

This book fixes on a lesser observed aspect of ww2, the relationship between Italy and USA. 8n particular, it focuses on the treatment of Italian immigrants as the war progressed. The book relates a realistic immigrant experience including arrival at Ellis Island. Within the narrative is a love story, where the female lead is caught between her promise to an Italian soldier serving in Sardinia and the attentions of an Italian American, leaving her with difficult choices to make. It’s an interesting read.

If you enjoy historical fiction and love stories, this book is right up your alley. It's set against the backdrop of WWII and tells the story of an unbreakable love. This book was a quick read for me and although I found it a bit slow at times, I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this captivating novel.

Set against the backdrop of WWII, The Last Letter From Sicily tells the poignant love story of Concetta and Gaetano. Their romance begins in Sicily, a place steeped in tradition and family ties. Concetta dreams of becoming a math teacher, and through her friend Alessandra, she meets and falls in love with Gaetano, a dedicated Latin scholar. However, their love faces an insurmountable obstacle when Concetta’s family emigrates to America, leaving Gaetano behind.

The novel alternates between their separate journeys—Concetta’s challenges as an Italian immigrant in Wisconsin and Gaetano’s harrowing experiences as a soldier in the Italian army. Their correspondence is a lifeline, but when war severs their communication, both must navigate profound uncertainty.

Lindsay Marie Morris vividly brings Sicily and wartime America to life. The descriptions of Sicilian culture and traditions, paired with the harsh realities of immigrant life in the United States, create a rich and immersive experience. The narrative deftly portrays Concetta’s resilience and determination as she carves out a new life while holding onto her love for Gaetano. Similarly, Gaetano’s story is deeply moving, offering a glimpse into the sacrifices and struggles faced by soldiers in wartime Italy.

While the central romance is compelling, I found myself wishing for a deeper exploration of their relationship at the beginning of the novel. A more detailed portrayal of their life in Sicily and the early stages of their love would have strengthened the emotional connection to their story.

Nonetheless, the book’s strength lies in its portrayal of love and perseverance during tumultuous times. The dual settings of Sicily and America, coupled with the challenges of war and immigration, make this a unique and memorable historical fiction novel.

My only regret is the ending, which left me yearning for an epilogue to tie up loose ends. Despite this, The Last Letter From Sicily is a beautifully written and heartfelt debut.

I highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction and wartime romance. Thank you again to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC!

I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Letter From Sicily. I like historical fiction and this one did not disappoint. I thought that the book was a good and easy read. I knew a few of the words in Italian, but not most of them. They were pretty easy to figure out because they followed the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC.

A lovely novel that moves between Sicily and the US to tell the story of Concetta and Gaetano who are separated when her family moves to the US as WWII grows larger. It's not only a romance, it's a story of family, the immigrant experience and resilience. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

4 out of 5 stars.

'The Last Letter From Sicily' follows the relationship between Concetta and Gaetano, as they navigate their separation caused by Concetta departing Sicily to migrate to the USA and Gaetano being drafted in the Italian Army during WWII.

This novel initially appealed to me for multiple reasons. I enjoy reading a romance novels where the main characters face hardship and struggles appropriate to their time. I also enjoy historical fiction; particularly based around war time. I enjoyed learning more about the Italian experience during WWII, as I haven't previously focused on this. I also enjoyed learning more about immigration to the USA and the hardships faced upon arrival.

My only disappointment in this novel, was that the initial world building and building of the relationships of the main characters felt lacking. I wish there had been more time spent learning about life in Sicily pre-war, and having more insight into the early stages of Concetta and Gaetano's relationship. I believe this would have created a stronger emotional attachment to this relationship from the start, which would strengthen the readers experience with this novel.

That said, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the challenges faced by Concetta and her family during their immigration, and how they overcame these. I also enjoyed reading about Gaetano's experience of war and his mindset throughout.
I enjoyed seeing the character growth for both of these characters; their independent strengths and resilience really shone through.

Ultimately, this was a strong debut novel for the author, and I'm excited to see what else is created in the future!

Thank you to netgalley and Storm publishing for the opportunity to read this arc.

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. I very much enjoyed the love story of Concetta znd Gaetano. They met as young people on Sicily, before Italy entered the war on the German side. Their love was a secret, from Concetta's parents who chose to emigrate the whole family to America before the impending War. The couple wrote to each other as long as they could. Concertante started work in America to support the family. Gaetano was called up to the army and served in Sardinia. Communication became impossible. How would this story end?
The dtory is told through the experiences of the main characters. It is a well written story that reflects o n the Italian & American experiences of war and the emigrants trying to settle in America.
I like the characters and felt for them after their separation and their worry over their new lives. I can recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction and romance.

The Last Letter From Sicily by Lindsay Marie Morris
Publish Date: Jan 16th
Three and a half stars.

‘The Last Letter From Sicily’ appealed to me for a number of reasons. My favourite kind of historical fiction are those that surround war, and in particular has a focus on the vulnerable and enduring sort of love that comes from living through the hardest of circumstances. I had not read a book before which has explored Italy during this period of time. I also was drawn to the concept of immigration to a new country, and how that would look for a couple in love.

I did enjoy the concept of this book. My one wish for this book would be that there had been more time given for Concetta and Gaetano to build their relationships at the start of the novel, between themselves and side characters, and explore life in Sicily in a bit more detail. I got a good sense of who they are as characters individually, but when they were together at the beginning of the story, I felt the relationship building and the world changing happened together so quickly that I didn’t build an emotional connection to the relationship.

I particularly enjoyed watching Concetta and her family settle into their new life in America. Concetta became such a strong person who did not lose herself or what she believed in even after so many changes and difficulties.

Overall, I believe this is a solid debut novel, and I will look forward to seeing what the author has to bring in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

This book follows two individuals, who fell in love secretly while living in Sicily. Concetta, the FMC, dreams of being a math teacher, and through her good friend Alessandra, Concetta meets Alessandra's brother Gaetano. Gaetano is studying to be a Latin teacher, and Concetta slowly falls in love with him. However, Concetta's parents don't know about Gaetano, so when her father decides to take the family from Sicily to America (Wisconsin to be exact), the couple decides they should get married. Enzo, Concetta's father, rejects Gaetano's asking of Concetta's hand and the family departs to America. The story then flips back and forth between the MMC and FMC, as well as Concetta's little sister and Enzo. The book takes us through WW2 in Italy and being an Italian American immigrant during this period.

This is a fantastic historical fiction. I found the setting of Sicily to be interesting as most historical books during this period are set in Nazi Germany, France, or Poland. The author did an excellent job of flipping us back and forth between all the settings - I was invested in every area of the book. The book shows strong-willed characters who use their love for one another to fight the tests of time and distance, the author makes you root for these characters.

My only real complaint about the book is the ending. I wish we would have at least gotten an epilogue.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. This book follows secret lovers Concetta and Gaetano - young and in love, but separated when Concetta moves away with her family in 1939. They vow to return to the other in the future, and write letters to one another until then. A problem for them surfaces when Italy declares war on America, and the letters then stop. Thus, Concetta becomes determined to find Gaetano, even if it is in the middle of a war.

This book takes place in Sicily and America, and I loved being able to go back and forth between the two locations. Sicily is such a great choice for a book setting, and the author did a wonderful job of making the reader feel like they were not only in the country based off of the descriptions, but present during a war time, as well. This success also applies to the life that Concetta leads in America, as well. The author also did a great job of depicting that true love can stand all sorts of tests, and I liked that the Concetta was written as a strong woman who was not afraid to go after what she wanted in her life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What an excellent read! It is the perfect love story where time and distance apart doesn't matter. When the love is there, it stands the test of time. Thank you to the publisher and NetGallery for the advanced copy in return for an honest review, I loved it!