A nice escape into the Italian sunshine. Plenty of interest and good characters. I wasn’t sure how it was going to end.

One thing I have certainly missed since covid wrecked its havoc is jetting off around the world discovering hidden gems and tasting various cuisines, but I have had a little taste of what I am missing through Jo Thomas’s books!
This time we are taken off to Italy in her latest release Chasing the Italian Dream where our main character Lucia is heading back to see her Nonno and Nonna but when she discovers that due to her Nonno’s recent health issues he has decided he needs to step away from the family restaurant and that he had picked her not quite ex Giacomo to take over! Could this be the push that makes Lucia discover what and who she wants in life?
Jo Thomas has fast become one of my favourite authors as she never disappoints me and I think she has delivered her best book yet she reveals another masterpiece that transports me away to an exotic location with mouth-watering delights, strong independent female leads and a storyline that will capture my attention and not let it go meaning each book of hers has to be read in one greedy sitting!
This is certainly a book to be avoided if you are on a diet because this book has so many tantalising delights and left we with a mad craving for pizza and a desperate need to try tiramisu! I enjoyed the competition to see if the old traditional food would beat the new modern take on the pizzeria, I just would have loved to have had a sneak peek at the end!
Lucia was an instantly likeable and determined character and I loved how she brought women together to challenge the tradition of male pizzaiolo and the use of sourcing all local ingredients. There were new chances and fresh beginings for a number of characters which was humbling to see, it just shows we are never too old to make a big change in our lives sometimes we just need something to open our eyes to opportunities.
The romance that flowed through the storyline didn’t overpower the storyline which I liked but it also kept me intrigued and guessing what way it was going to go.
This was such a joyous read that I definitely will be recommending to all of my bookworm friends who love a feel good uplifting read.

When Lucia goes to visit her Grandparents in Italy for her annual holiday she doesn’t think for one moment that she won’t be going back in 2 weeks time.
However bad news forces her to re-look at her life and what she wants from it. Her Grandfather is retiring and Lucia decides that she wants to stay in Italy and take over his pizzeria. The only problem is the viage they live in is very traditional and women don't run restaurants. They stay at home and cook for their families while the men run and cook in the restaurants.
Unfortunately Lucia’s grandfather has decided to hand over the pizzeria to Lucia’s almost ex-husband Giacomo. Can Lucia change his mind and convince him she has what it takes to be successful in what is considered to be a man's world.
I loved this, you could almost feel the warmth of the sun. The relationship between Lucia & Giacomo was really well written and her relationship with her Grandparents was so lovely.

I love Jo Thomas and her ability to transport you to another country in her books. Her descriptions of the settings are always accurate and well researched and the food references have definitely impacted on my dinner choices over the years. Wherever the book is set - I know at some point during the book I’ll be eating that cuisine. However this is definitely not my favourite of her books. For me it was a little predictable & repetitive. I feel it maybe could have been a novella. The setting & characters are likeable, but I didn’t feel it had the spark of ‘honey farm’ or ‘lemon grove’. Also at one point I tried to count the amount of times the word peppery popped up - but I lost count. If you want a lighthearted escape then this book is perfect - it’s a great beach read (in case we are ever allowed to read a book on a beach in warmer climes) and a nice story.

Delicious, delightful and completely delectable, Jo Thomas’ latest novel Chasing the Italian Dream is romantic escapism at its finest!

Hard work is its own reward – that mantra is what Lucia has always believed which is why she is working as hard as she possibly can in order to get the big promotion which she has wanted for so long. Lawyer Lucia has sacrificed far too much and put in far too many hours in order not to get this promotion, so when she finds herself in desperate need of a break, she decides to go to her grandparents’ house in Southern Italy. Surrounded by fragrant lemon trees and mouth-watering food, Lucia instantly feels at home, but little does she realise that in Italy she might just end up finding the fulfilment and happiness which she has never managed to attain in a stuffy office.

However, Lucia is broken-hearted when her beloved nonno announces that he is selling the family pizzeria. Lucia has such fond memories of the eatery and it is devastating to think that the pizzeria will no longer be in the family. Lucia has barely recovered from this shock when another curveball is thrown her way: the person who is going to take over the running of the restaurant is none other than her ex-husband and she isn’t exactly overjoyed at the prospect. Giacomo is not her favourite person in the world and Lucia cannot believe that he will be running the business that has been at the heart of her family for generations.

However, as Lucia finds herself spending more and more time in Italy – and with her ex husband – she finds herself falling in love not just with her surroundings, but maybe also with the one man she had hoped never to see ever again: Giacomo. Lucia has always believed that her future was in Wales and that she would practice law until her retirement, but maybe under the blazing Mediterranean sky, she can carve out a new life for herself – but only if she has the courage to fight for what she truly wants.

Jo Thomas strikes gold once again with her latest captivating and evocative novel, Chasing the Italian Dream. Beautifully lyrical and so richly descriptive readers will feel as if they are on holiday in Southern Italy themselves, Chasing the Italian Dream is an addictive and atmospheric tale about second chances, life’s many surprises and new beginnings that sparkles with joy, humour and warmth.

I fell in love with the novel’s cast of wonderfully drawn characters and found myself completely enchanted by their eccentricities, larger than life personalities and love of Italian food (which I am sure we can all relate to!)

A first class novel that will sweep readers away, pour a glass of Limoncello and let Jo Thomas take you to Italy with Chasing the Italian Dream.

A lovely light easy romantic read. Set in Italy where Lucia was chasing her Italian heritage and trying to immerse herself back into the Italian life having spent many years as a lawyer in Wales. On her return to Italy for her annual summer holiday with her grandparents her grandfather Nonno delivers some unwelcome news which causes Lucia to rethink her future.

Beautiful story. The perfect read to escape from the monotony of semi-lockdown UK.

Lucia is lawyer in the UK, up for a promotion that she has long worked hard for. Taking a well deserved holiday, she visits her grandparents in Italy, who run a pizzeria. She discovers that her Nonno wants to retire and is looking at handing over the business to Giacomo - her estranged husband....

This is so beautifully written. I really want to go to Italy, eat delicious wood-stove cooked pizza, drink wine and take in the scents and sounds of the country.

Thank you Jo for writing one of my favourite books of the year so far.

The publisher and Netgalley have very kindly given me an ARC of this story in exchange for my review.

Lovely book for a bit of romantic and light reading. It was a bit predicable as to how the book would end and seemed a rushed but still an enjoyable read.

I really enjoy a Jo Thomas book, she transports you to the heart of the novel, bringing the setting and the characters to life. she also provides a HEA which is important for a satisfying beach read.
Lucia had Italian parents but spent he life growing up in Wales and her summers in Italy with her grandparents. Whilst on her summer holiday her dreams are shattered and although she needs a life change, she prefers to stick to tradition and normality.
meeting her estranged husband may be the catalyst required for her to make some life changing decisions.
wonderful characters and superb setting make this a must read book for the summer.. I loved it and would have read it in one sitting if real life had not intruded!
read and enjoy

A really well-written book with great characters. The descriptions of southern Italy were beautiful. A lovely read which would have been perfect for a beach holiday. I highly recommend this book.

This was my first Jo Thomas book but it won’t be my last. This book was sheer escapism, great writing with well developed characters. The descriptions of southern Italy were beautifully written. The reader was drawn in from the start and felt you were transported to Italy . No spoilers but I loved the Nonnas secret network!
I loved this book, a really good read which kept me entertained for hours. I would recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House and Jo Thomas for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

A great summer read by Jo Thomas. Set in Italy the book follows the story of Lucia an Italian / Welsh women battling her way in life and who she thinks she is. She develops a passion for her Grandfather’s restaurant but can she compete and win against her Ex husband. Let battle commence and you’ll see who wins. Thanks Jo Thomas her publisher and NetGalley. An easy 5 stars.

What a superb book. It lifted my spirits and swept me off to sunny Italy with the smell of lemons and olive groves. Jo Thomas is excellent at getting the reader to feel that they are living the book. The characters are wonderful and believable. Lucia is a lawyer in England and is looking forward to her two-week holiday on her grandparents’ farm and helping out in their Pizzeria. in Italy. On arrival she learns that her grandfather has not been too good and has decided to retire. This causes a problem as the Pizzeria has been in the family for years and goes to the oldest son. Unfortunately, Lucia’s father has died. Her brain goes into action and starts to think, is it time to re-evaluate her life and take over? She becomes upset when she finds out that ex-husband, Giacomo,, has been asked if he is interested in taking it over. It’s not thought that women should be Pizzerias. Let the battle begin. The love between Lucia and both her grandparents flows out of the book. This is a fantastic ‘get away from it all’ book. Eloquently written with everything that makes a great book. Thank you, Jo, for a wonderful read.

Lucia returns to her grandparents home in Italy for a holiday,only to find that her grandfather is selling his beloved pizzeria, she realises it would be her dream to run the restaurant. Her competition, however, is her ex husband Giacomo. An absorbing story which i really enjoyed, with that feel good factor.

Sunshine, food, an ex (ish) husband and a restaurateur who wants to retire.
I was so caught up in the pace of this story that I read it in one day. I love the descriptions of the food, the restaurant, the place and the people.
We have often had holidays in Italy, and this took me straight back there, it was a wonderful diversion to being stuck in the UK due to the current circumstances.

What an amazing trip to Italy. Reading this book made me feel like I really there, the smells, the food, the language. Beautiful. Luce and Gia are great together. Each trying to figure out who they are now as adults, they’ve tried doing what was expected of them, and now they’re following their hearts. The supporting characters are great too, Veronica and Sofia and especially Nonna, they really highlight the real role women play in supporting men and also societies views on their accepted place. This was cleverly written with lots of thought and heart.
I was rooting for Luce and Gia but they certainly kept me waiting, the epilogue was sheer beautiful perfection.

Lucia has a high flying job and is about to get a promotion in her firm - it will give her everything she wants - a new flat, new kitchen etc. But first, a holiday to Italy to visit her Nonno and Nonna. She's been visiting them and the village in Italy her whole life and it feels like her second home. Devastatingly she discovers Nonno is retiring and may be selling on his restaurant.
Could Lucia really become the villages first Pizziaola?
Jo Thomas really bought Italy to life in the story and makes you want to hop on a plane and fly right out!

Oh I do love a good Jo Thomas book and this one certainly didn't disappoint !

This book is set in Southern Italy, a far cry from the main character Lucia's home of Wales! This book is full of sun , shock ,romance, pizza and life questions. It will have you coming back for more.

The characters that Jo Thomas has created for her grandparents are exactly what you would be expecting and when you close your eyes you can picture them with the Italian sun , the lemon trees and the wonderful pizzeria!. She has a way with writing that makes you forget that it isn't a true story, and keeps you hooked right until the last word! Another outstanding book by a brilliant author!

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review

A delightful book. I was truly transported back to ItalyI could actually smell the earth and herbs let alone the lemons. Reevaluating what she wants for her life takes Lucia’s expectations of a relaxing holiday with her grandparents to a time of self evaluation and a unexpected change in direction. Beautifully written.

This book was absolutely wonderful and exactly what was needed to be read over a grey Bank Holiday weekend.

I think Lucia is the best character and an illustration of how a great deal of us feel after lockdown. The book starts in her workplace in Wales and finishes with her fulfilling her purpose.

Jo Thomas has a great talent is making you feel you are in the story, and can taste the dishes that Nonna, Giac and Lucia make. This book shows a depth of tradition and family in Italy, .and the problems that this brings, but also the huge benefits. It is a book of new starts and shows that it is never too late to start something new.

I read this book very quickly but would recommend it to everyone.