This was an excellent book, i really enjoyed it and thought it was well written, pacy With numerous engaging characters. I liked the descriptions of the Italian village life. I would recommend this book.

Some books challenge. Some inform. And others fill us with joy and offer a wonderful escape. Chasing the Italian Dream does just that.

Lucia is on holiday in Italy, staying with her Nonna and Nonna, and helping out at the family pizzeria. It made me want to taste the authentic pizzas described so evocatively. The fresh cheeses and tomato sauces, the fresh dough cooked in the traditional wood fired stove. Mouth-watering!

When Nonno announces his pending retirement, a face from Lucia's past reappears - her ex-husband Giacomo - he is interested in taking over the pizzeria. But he wants to break with tradition and Lucia wants to preserve it. Leaving her job in Wales, her and Giacomo begin competing - whoever has the most orders in the next month, wins.

Lucia takes on an awesome all female team but has to cope with salacious gossip, sabotage and tensions with her ex. But it's clear her and Giacomo's story is far from over. And in a final and last challenge to decide who wins the restaurant, he proves his love for her is truly unconditional.

A sweet and charming story of love, family, food and a testament to strong women everywhere.

I love Italy so it is a joy to read books about life there. This one finds a lawyer going home each summer to her grandparents and helping them in the pizzeria. She did not anticipate working with her ex so how to get rid of him and prove to everyone she was capable of running the restaurant. Did she want to give up her job that she had worked so hard for? This is a super story that all turns out in the end so they all go on to enjoy lots more pizzas.

Started this with high hopes to escape to Italy but I only manager to read 30% of the book before I gave up. I couldn't connect with any of the characters which was a real shame.

What a sweet summer read. Just what you need on a summer holiday. Thanks to netgalley for this Arc.

3.5 stars

What a lovely read. I felt like I was there. Could almost taste the food. Perfect holiday read. Highly recommend

A light escapist summer read with a sprinkling of romance. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

Very good book to read just wanted to keep turning the pages till the last one, Heart warming read and just wanted to be in Italy eating pizza.

A nice summery holiday read.. I loved the location and felt like I was there at Nonnos pizzeria almost smelling the pizzas being cooked.

Jo has a knack of transporting her readers to the places in the books by her accurate detail and I could see Giac performing for the customers with his pizza making skills while the ladies with Luce were making their meals in the intense heat of the kitchen.

Several setbacks along the always but with a happy ending eventually for Nonno, Nonna, Luce and Giac. It was a little bit drawn out in places I felt, hence the rating but still loved it and wished I could have been there with Luce. She made the right decision which I knew she would.

Thank you once again Netgalley for this lovely Arc. I do appreciate it.

This book is like summer on a page or the perfect pizza on a plate.

Lucia takes her annual vacation to visit her grandparents in Italy, but when she gets there she finds out that her grandfather is planning to retire and sell the family pizzeria….to her ex-husband. Rather than being the usual relaxing weeks away her trip normally are, Lucia finds herself questioning what it is she want from life.

Reading this book by Jo Thomas, you are transported to the sunny streets of Italy, I felt that I was part of the Lucia’s family, sitting at the table being served nonna’s delicious food. The writing in this book makes you feel like you are there in Italy with Lucia.

Not only is the setting gorgeous, so are the group of characters. Lucia is the lead character and we meet her grandparents as well as her ex-husband, Giacomo, as well as her friends. Nonna and Nonno are what you imagine the elder generation of Italian’s to be and you feel reading this as if they are welcoming you in as the reader with open arms. Giacomo, seems as unsure with life as Lucia does, and they both end up re-evaluating what it is they want from life now.

This story shows the passion for local community, especially with the nonna network, everyone pulling together to help one person, Lucia, achieve their dream.

This is the second book I have read by Jo and what this does, as did the other, is pull you in from the very first page and transport you into the pages of the books.

This book makes you smile, and I can’t wait to read more from Jo.

I enjoyed this book and it definitely made me want to go back to Italy for the sights, sounds, and most importantly - food! I craved pizza while reading this. The characters and storyline were a bit predictable at times but this was altogether a very light and excellent beach read.

An enjoyable book which took me back to our holidays in Italy (not that I ever cooked the pizzas, but I certainly ate them!). Have to be honest and say the story wasn't earth shattering, just a pleasant easy to read book, where I suspect most people will probably guess where it is going to end up. I also found that some parts / themes seemed to be repeated quite a bit, which was a little boring / frustrating.

Thank you to Net Galley & the publishers for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review, which is what I have given.

The ideas in this book are lovely but predictable, not the best that I have read by this author. This would make for a good summer read when you have nothing else to think about except relaxing. I must admit you will really wish to be in Italy as you read this. I am still giving this 4 stars as I know a great number of people will enjoy reading this.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

Lovely escapist tale. The usual formula of building a business, romance, mixed with local information and detail. This time it's Italy and pizza. The romance is between Lucia and her estranged husband, Giacomo and a competition about which of them will take over her grandfather's pizzeria.
A tale of tradition vs updating and modernising pizza, viewpoints and how to be your own person and find your own way.
Jo Thomas has done the research making this story authentic. A warning:all the food descriptions make you hungry!!
Recommended

The book follows Lucia who is visiting her Nonna & No no in Italy for her annual summer holiday.
The setting was lovely but unfortunately I found the storyline a little predictable and not as good as previous books I have read by this author.
Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for this read.

My first book by this author and I absolutely adored it! I’ve always wanted to go to Italy and I almost feel like I’ve been after reading this, the descriptions of the ‘piazza’ were so vivid I could almost feel the sun on my face and smell the gorgeous food cooking in the restaurants. I found the story uplifting and it was a breath of fresh air to have a subplot that was so gripping alongside the romance side of the story. Lucia was so relatable as a character and I enjoyed watching her grow in confidence and strength as the story progressed. The books ending was pure perfection. All in all a fabulous read.

I usually enjoy Jo’s books but this one was so boring I struggled to finish it. There was no real plot. The story simply revolved around day after day in a pizza kitchen. It might have been suitable for a short story in a magazine but not as an entire novel. I wouldn’t recommend it but thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read it.

What a fabulous summer read set in a small village outside of Naples, Italy. The sun is shining and Lucia is heading over to see her grandparents for the usual 2 weeks holiday and she usually helps then run the piazza when she's there.
Upon arriving she bumps into her ex husband, as stern as usual with his barriers up. Nonna wants to retire from the pizza place and wants to give it to someone but Lucia is a woman and no woman will be respected if shes to take it. So what happens? No males in the family so Nonno next choice is Lucia ex. Things cant get any worse for her and then do decide on sharing the cooking by half half of each side of the pizza menu, whoever wins can win the pizza place. Ready steady make pizza.
Someone is trying to ruin Lucia though as all her team are females and many don't like the change so someone keeps ruining their foods. Is it her ex??
Lucia wanted to go back to wales to receive the legal partnership shes been working towards for many years but doesn't get it. Shes isn't too happy but shes found her happiness in the cooking by her grandparents.. does she go home to wales or stay to claim what is hers.
A great read, a tasty choice of meals and desserts in this book. Nutella and marshmallow.pizza anyone .. keep reading.. I loved Lucia and especially nonna..
Brilliant setting too..

Lucia has been working hard as a lawyer in Wales and is due a promotion. She decides to take a little holiday to Italy and visit her grandparents only to learn he is ready to retire and sell his pizzeria. When her promotion falls through it gives Lucia a chance to rethink her life and where she truly belongs but could she make it in Italy and take her over the pizzeria.

Oh this is the perfect beach read if you like a light story with some romance thrown in. It does also focus on a woman's place in Italian culture and the start of changing times. I really enjoyed this, I wasnt sure at the start but the setting and the characters won me over. The plot is a slow steady burn but the ending I must admit was beautiful. Yes a bit cheesy and predicable but as a bit of a hopeless romantic I loved it. Fitted perfectly with the story and the characters. I loved Nonna so much, she was my favourite character in this. A fun summer read.

An enchanting romantic novel set in the warmth of Italy. Lucia has flown to Italy to be with her grandparents for her annual 2 week holiday as a break from her life as a lawyer trying desperately to gain a partnership in the law firm she works for. Her grandfather wants to retire from his pizza business . While there Lucia needs to reassess her life. Come with her on that voyage of self discovery meeting a cast of individuals who will help her shape her life