January

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle, 2022

I had seen and read recommendations for this book, but had not been ready to read it since it revolves around the death of the protagonist's mother. Otherwise, a tale taking place in another country is my jam.

While in New York City for the holidays, I saw this at Rizzoli's bookstore and decided that I was ready to read it (and support such an beautiful bookstore).

Katy's mother has passed away and she is no longer sure of anything, including her husband Eric. Katy and her mother Carol were best friends.

Before Carol's passing, she and Katy had planned a trip together to Positano, Italy, where Carol had spent formative time in her thirties. Katy decides to continue with the trip anyway, and goes alone.

At the Hotel Poseidon in Positano, Katy is able to breathe and consider her life and how she met Eric in college and then ended up marrying him. She wonders if she has really lived.

While in Positano, Katy befriends Nika and Marco, owners of the hotel, and fellow guest Adam, a businessman who returns to Positano often. On this particular trip, Adam is looking to acquire Hotel Poseidon, which is struggling financially.

While in Positano, Katy also meets her mother, aged 30... Befriending Carol, Katy learns of her mom's past and realizes that her mom had a life before becoming a mother. That she was complicated and not always the organized taskmaster for the family.

A sweet story with details about the delights of Postitano, the ocean the city overlooks onto and the delicous food, One Italian Summer is a fun read and makes one consider the lives parents led versus how they are known to their children.

Another fun detail is that Hotel Poseidon is an actual hotel that the author stayed at, inspiring the novel.