One Italian Summer

A Novel

By: Rebecca Serle

Narrated by: Lauren Graham

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

In this “magical trip worth taking” (Associated Press), the New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years returns with a powerful novel about the transformational love between mothers and daughters set on the breathtaking Amalfi Coast.

When Katy’s mother dies, she is left reeling. Carol wasn’t just Katy’s mom, but her best friend and first phone call. She had all the answers and now, when Katy needs her the most, she is gone. To make matters worse, their planned mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: to Positano, the magical town where Carol spent the summer right before she met Katy’s father. Katy has been waiting years for Carol to take her, and now she is faced with embarking on the adventure alone.

But as soon as she steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, Katy begins to feel her mother’s spirit. Buoyed by the stunning waters, beautiful cliffsides, delightful residents, and, of course, delectable food, Katy feels herself coming back to life.

And then Carol appears—in the flesh, healthy, sun-tanned, and thirty years old. Katy doesn’t understand what is happening, or how—all she can focus on is that she has somehow, impossibly, gotten her mother back. Over the course of one Italian summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mother, but as the young woman before her. She is not exactly who Katy imagined she might be, however, and soon Katy must reconcile the mother who knew everything with the young woman who does not yet have a clue.

“Rebecca Serle is known for her powerful stories that tug at the heartstrings—and her latest is just as unforgettable” (Woman’s World) as it effortlessly shows us how to move on after loss, and how the people we love never truly leave us.

©2022 Rebecca Serle. All rights reserved. (P)2022 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Eric Doesn’t Deserve Katy!

Okay, first, I have to say that I didn’t choose this book; it was for my Book Club & it wasn’t my choice of book. I don’t really like magical realism, in general. Okay, that way of the way, I was really excited to get to read this book because I heard of Rebecca Serle before & knew she was supposed to be really good (& also because the audiobook is read by one Lorelai Gilmore herself of the show Gilmore Girls; LOVED that show when I was younger)! HOWEVER, unfortunately I had a problem with the main character, Katy. I found her to be really unlikeable; she’s very selfish & very whiny! First of all, she leaves her ENTIRE grieving family & goes off to Italy, a trip that she was supposed to take with her mother before she (the mom) died. She also leaves behind her lovingly & supportive husband who is the SWEETEST guy just because she’s “bored” of him—or @ least that was just the impression I got. Like she never really loved him; she just married him cause it was the “right answer” to the “Will you marry me?” question. So, then she gets to Italy & she meets her dead mom—but just 30 years younger (not a spoiler; this was in the little “summary” for the book) & a man called Adam … oh, Adam, you really didn’t need to be there … That’s the “romance” part of the book, I guess, if you can call it that …. 😒 Honestly, Adam came off as creepy & a little stalker-y to tell you the truth … I got the impression that he just wanted to sleep with Katy (which Spoiler Alert: he does! Totally not caring that she’s MARRIED & neither does Katy, it seems)!! Like honestly, Adam didn’t have to be in the story at all … This could have been a lovely story about grief & coming to terms with losing your mother & then coming back to your husband … with NO Adam @ all ANYWHERE!! And that’s another thing: Katy’s relationship with her mother seemed REALLY unhealthy & co-dependent for a 30-year-old woman, even if you ARE really close to your mother. Like seriously, Katy asked her mother if she thinks it’s okay to start having KIDS!! Like, c’mon!! No, woman!! That’s not something you discuss with your MOTHER—even if you are close with her!! I’m siding with poor Eric (her husband) on this one!! (I sorta get “I broke his heart cause he was nice” (I’m a BIG Swiftie) vibe with their whole marriage.) Okay, now, for the BIG * Spoiler Alert * : we find out, towards the end of the book, that WHOLE time Katy sees her 30-year-old mom in Italy is because she’s gone back IN TIME to the 90’s!! Yep, time travel … Now, in general, I don’t like time travel books (unless they involve saving a hippogriff & a man who’s been wrongfully in prisoned for 12 years 😉; sorry, not sorry, I’m a huge Potterhead). Think ‘Back to the Future’ or like “Manifest”, the TV show, back in reverse, instead of 5 years in the future, Katy goes BACK 30 years in the PAST & the whole time she doesn’t REALIZE it!! I’m sorry, but HOW can you not realize it’s the 90’s!! Hello!! NO cell phones, big bulky computers, instead of iPads, the fact that EVERYONE has cash, not credit cards … !! 😒 I don’t care that everyone reacts to grief differently, but still … I would DEFINITELY notice if my iPhone wasn’t working … And that’s another thing: What 30-year-old doesn’t check her phone @ least once a day, even if she IS “trying to escape” her life back home!! This also means that Adam, the guy she CHEATED on her husband with, would be in his 60’s in the “real world” when Katy sleeps with him!! I’m sorry, WHAT?!?! And Katy doesn’t EVER question ANY of this or freaked out, either!! In fact, we (the reader) don’t ANY explanation for the time travel @ ALL!! Was it all just a crazy dream, alternative reality, a complete mental breakdown as a result of grief, what?! And that’s ANOTHER thing: we (again, the reader) never really FEEL Katy’s grief, either—@ least that’s the impression I got—we are TOLD (by Katy herself) that she was EXTREMELY (again to the point of it being unhealthy) close to her mom. We don’t get to see like a flashback—other than 30-year-old mom in the weird time travel thing—or something to when her mom WAS alive. Maybe if we got flashbacks, I would have FELT Katy’s grief better, instead of just being TOLD it by Katy herself … But, anyway, I gave it 3 stars ⭐️ because, in the end, I DID like the ending. 😊

Coming of age

Coming of age with a little bit of magic. This read will make you want to eat pasta and drink champagne.

Great summer read.

Loved it!! Very entertaining story. I will be looking for more from this author.

I didn’t want it to end!

This is one of the best books I have read (listened to) in a while. It really gave me such a deep feeling of finding and loving yourself. That you don’t always have to have it together and life will guide you where you need to go.

A welcome Vacation

A friend recommended this with the knowledge that I would likely relate to the setting , having spent several days in the heart of Positano
Though I tend to favor historical narratives, I had been looking for something lighter as a break. I am sure that the ability to visualize the settings , from my own memories, added to my enjoyment but it is a good , at times sentimental , read. It’s exploration of a mother/daughter relationship is authentic and relatable

Half decent book, terrible narration

While I have read books that are much more beautifully crafted, I thought this book had heart, and I liked the element of magical realism that occurred within the story. The descriptions of the beauty of the Amalfi coast I found accurate. The food descriptions made me hungry! I am still not fully sure how I feel about the protagonist who comes across as needy and self absorbed through much of the book. It’s hard to see what is special about her. I understand grief well, and the power love has to transform us. The book was about that, as well as about the importance self determination and having the bravery to forge your own path, but I found my lack of connection with the protagonist made the message of the book fall a little bit flat.

What might be at stake here, however, is the absolute abysmal narration. It was so horrible I found myself cringing and trying to listen past Lauren Graham’s brash, whiny and oftentimes flippant delivery. It was as though she’d never heard a human conversation before. She spoke in clipped phrases and her voice was heavy and mismatched to the content. Ugh it was actively bad. Also the Italian words she spoke were terribly mispronounced. More cringe. I wonder what I would have thought about this book if I had read it, instead of listening to Graham. I think this was a case of the narration really negatively impacting my overall impression.

So overall it could be a decent but forgettable beach type read, but read it!! Do not listen!

Excellent!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author paints a beautiful picture of Positano. The relationships, how family makes us who we are, how we don’t always realize what we are capable of and the fragility of life. Highly recommend.

Story good but audible hurts it

I think the premise and the story is beautiful and well written. The person who narrates the story is, unfortunately, too dry and masculine. She lacks feeling and tenderness. I feel she rushes thru And doesn’t not have the intimate connection to the character. It’s distracting and fails to highlight the emotions and passions of the characters.

Always Travel

Weather your young or old this story will help you understand Life and Love!!
KAWIII

Wonderful story

I loved the story and the characters.
I did not enjoy the narrator…I think her reading was abrupt and choppy.
It would have been so much better if read by someone who expressed feeling.