Rebecca Serle has the perfect knack for writing slightly fantastical novels that pull at your heart strings. In this book, Katy's mother has just passed away and Katy goes on a holiday that they had planned to go on together - in Positano, Italy. This book made me want to travel to Positano ASAP, and it was a lovely setting for the book. Katy meets a few people on her holiday - including a 30 year old version of her mother! This unravels a few family secrets, and gives Katy the chance to know a younger version of her mother. This was very emotional, as I am sure we would all love to meet younger versions of our family members, especially after they have passed away. It was a very fast paced read, and the ending was perfect. At the start I thought it would be too depressing to read, but it was well written and bittersweet in a good way,

Not long ago, I finished In Five Years by Rebecca Serle, and I really, really enjoyed it! So, when I saw Rebecca Serle’s upcoming novel available on NetGalley, I simply had to have it.

Like In Five Years, One Italian Summer was a quick read, a somehow light and yet heartbreaking novel about grief. How Rebecca Serle makes me enjoy reading about characters experiencing such devastating loss, I will never know. I definitely recommend One Italian Summer to anyone looking for a quick, but deep and moving read.

Perfect for you if you love:
→ Heartbreaking, and yet easy reading novels
→ Mother-daughter stories
→ Books that aren’t quite what they seem

This is a great summer read – the charm and delight of Positano practically sizzles off the page – but there's plenty of emotional heft to the story to elevate it from easy beach read into something special. Thoughtful, moving and delightful.

What an absolutely beautiful, poignant book. Not only does it showcase the very best of Positano — the loveliest place in the world — it's an exploration of how our choices shape our identities. It made me look at my mother in a whole new light and have so many conversations about her past that we've never had before. And today, thanks to this book, it has brought me much closer to her. It has also made me more conscious of my own life and its choices... because living it with mindfulness is the best form of self care. It's a book that will touch your heart and soul.

This was a beautiful book about life and loss set in the stunning location of Positano on the Amalfi coast. Katy is reeling from the very recent loss of her mother Carol and in her confusion of how to move forward she decides to go on the holiday to Italy she had planned to take with her mother. Somehow time slips and Katy finds herself meeting the version of Carol that went to Italy thirty years ago and Katy longs to spend time with her both to ease the ache and to learn about the woman Carol was before Katy. Katy was a simple yet equally complex character who was still finding her own way in life and uncertain of her own ability to function without her mums guidance. The warmth of Positano shone through and made for a very uplifting and heartfelt read.

I absolutely adored this book, so much so that I read it in one day! It’s such a beautiful story about the love between a mother and daughter (Carol and Katy), which is a relationship like no other, how that relationship can impact on other relationships and the pain of the grief felt by a.daughter when her mother dies.
Set mostly in Italy, where Katy flees to following the death of her mother, the story tells of a magical summer where Katy learns about herself, her mother and the importance of always living life for yourself. I don’t want to spoil the story by giving anything further away, but I’m sure you will be swept away by this heartwarming and life affirming book. It’s like nothing I’ve ever read before. Highly recommended.

. One Italian Summer, Rebecca Serle 4/5

After her mother dies, Katy is left empty, struggling to move on she decides to take a summer trip they had planned to take together.
When she arrives she immediately feels her mothers spirit and within days Katy finds herself face to face with her Mother once again. Younger, much before she had Katy but very much alive. Confused but overwhelmed with happiness, this blissful summer sees Katy finding herself adapting to a new relationship with her Mother and discovering who was before Katy was born.

Rebecca Serles previous novel In Five Years was a beautiful, bittersweet love story between two best friends and this, One Italian Summer is a love story between Mother and Daughter. Delicately written, Serle wanders through the desolate ocean of grief and takes Katy on a journey of complete self discovery.
This novel is also a beautiful love letter to Italy. Serle writes with clear admiration and longing for the country and as a reader you can easily throw yourself into this warm, inviting setting.

I loved this, another gorgeous read from Serle. One for your suitcase Summer 2022.

Thanks to #NetGalley for my copy of this book.

Katy is devastated when her mum Carol dies before they can journey to Positano together. Katy decides to go on her own and then strange things seem to happen and she's transported back in time

Thank you to NetGalley and QuercusBooks for letting me read this ARC. I will most definitely be purchasing a physical copy when this one is released in March 2022.

“My mother, you see, is the great love of my life.”

Katy is grieving the loss of her mum, her best friend and the one who had all the answers. Trying to navigate her grief and figure out a way forward, she heads to Positano for a trip she had planned to take with her mum. Although the book starts off quite heavy, once Katy gets to Italy, the whole tone of the book changes into a lighter, magical one filled with good food and adventure.

This was my first Rebecca Serle book and it definitely won’t be my last, I loved her immersive yet quirky writing style. This book just spoke to my heart! I was crying within the first two chapters of this book. I loved the way Serle perfectly captured the powerful bond between mothers and daughters. This book was so special for me because it reminded me of my relationship with my own wonderful mumma and had me literally clutching at my chest because I resonated with the words SO much.

The plot took a turn I wasn’t expecting at all, and although I wasn’t initially sold on where it was going, I ended up really enjoying it and understood the exact reason it went where it did.

What a loved so much about this book was that you go in thinking it’ll be a nice romance. But it’s not your typical romance book, it’s actually more about the love between a mother and daughter. It reminded me of TJR’s books that have love woven into the story but are often more of an added benefit to the story, not the whole story.

My only reason for it not being the full five stars is just because I wasn’t ready for it to end and I really wanted a bit more from the ending!

(Rounded up to 5 stars for this but rating on my blog was 4.5⭐️)

The title itself sounded idyllic! A summer in Italy. Beautiful written about love, family and friendships. Loved every page!

I suspected I'd love this book as soon as I read the description, and I was right. It's gorgeous. Rebecca Serle writes beautifully about family and love and grief, and the first few chapters made me sob. But she also writes beautifully about Italy and food and friendship, so it's ultimately an uplifting and life-affirming read.

Read this book, tell your mum that you love her, and then make yourself a big bowl of pasta.

This was such an interesting premise for a story and as soon as I read the synopsis I knew I wanted to read it, so thank you so much for the opportunity. I really enjoyed it, it is well written, with well developed charcaters, a good storyline and a great setting.
I went through a rollercoaster of emotions, this book made me laugh and cry, it was both heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure and I could literally go from feeling so sad to being uplifted within a few pages.
I really enjoyed the twists that were in the book and the unpredictability that this brought to the book.
Through the pages I was trannscended to the Amalfi coast and with every page I could smell the sea air, the food and the other fabulous smells, see the stunning azure waters and taste the senstaional food. This book has made me want to get to the Amalfi Coast ASAP. I loved it

Having absolutely adored Five Years by Rebecca Serle, I could not contain my excitement when it came to reading her latest release.
I raced through this book, reading it within 48 hours and found it such a quick and easy read.
And after not travelling any further than my hometown for almost two years, I loved that this transported me to somewhere warm and beautiful. Positano is now well and truly at the top of my list of places to visit next.
I enjoyed the time travel aspect, or what we expect to be Katy's mother unbelievably being in the present as a 30 year old. So I did not expect the few twists towards the end. And both really did add to the story.
Whilst Katy's grief is very much understandable, it wasn't until near the end that it really impacted me.
My mother is my best friend too but the closeness between Katy and Carol is rather strange. The whole, them being each others soulmates more so than their husbands, felt forced to me.
I really enjoyed watching Katy discover and almost rediscover herself during her stay in Positano.
One Italian Summer didn't quite live up to Five Years for me in terms of the magic but I still very much enjoyed it.
It's a great beach/summer read.
I will definitely be keeping an eye out for what Rebecca Serle does next. She's easily one of those authors that I will now always pick up her books as I know I will no doubt enjoy them.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I blitzed through this book over the weekend as I just could not get enough. Light and witty yet full of twists and turns I enjoyed every second. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.