Invitation to Italy by Victoria Springfield

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Abi is distraught when her ex-husband Alex takes their twelve-year-old daughter, Chloe to spend the summer with his glamorous fiancée Marisa and her parents at their home on the beautiful Italian island of Procida. Persuaded by her best friend to book a holiday at the island's Hotel Paradiso, Abi finally meets the woman she's been avoiding for so long. Will the two women's strained relationship survive the summer? One-time teenage swimming sensation, Loretta, has run the Hotel Paradiso since leaving Capri broken-hearted. When childhood friend Salvo comes to stay, Loretta is forced to confront her past and the fears that have kept her away from the water for forty years. But just as she finds the courage to open her heart, she discovers all is not as it seems with Salvo... It's a summer of new beginnings for Abi and Loretta - and one they will never forget.

My Opinion

Victoria Springfield was another new author to me but I couldn't resist the cover. With some great descriptions the island of Procida really does seem like a great place to visit. A charming tale that will whisk you away - no passport needed. Abi is reluctant to let her daughter go to Italy for the summer with her father and his new family. With some great characters this book was down to earth and relatable.

Rating 4/5

I really enjoyed this story! When Abi’s ex-husband goes to Italy to visit his girlfriend’s parents with their 12-year-old daughter and girlfriend, she worries about her being so far away. With some encouragement from her friend, she decided to go to Italy. She stays at the Hotel Paradiso, run by Loretta, a former swimmer who left Capri with a broken heart. There she strikes up a friendship with a single Dad, while he tries relaxing.


I loved the characters and the descriptions of the history and the island of Procida. It’s told from two points of view, Abi and Loretta. Their stories converge at the hotel. When a mysterious guest arrives at the hotel it turns out he has a connection to Loretta’s past. Abi explored the island with Bill when she wasn’t hanging out with her daughter. This was my first book by this author and it won’t be the last.


Thanks to @orionbooks @netgalley, @rachelsrandomresources, and the author of this ARC

I love reading books set in places I've never been, because they always make me want to be there. In this case, the Island of Procida, off the coast of Naples. (My family originates from Naples, so I'm always extra-excited when stories are set in that region.) Invitation to Italy not only added a new destination to my travel bucket list, but also gave me two stories in one.

The first story is that Abi, who basically crashes her ex-husband's holiday in order (ostensibly) to keep an eye on their thirteen-year-old daughter who, like most young teens, is at that age where she believes she can do anything and get away with it.

I come from a generation where parents didn't hover like that. In fact, from the age of seven, I was shuttled off to my grandparents' house on the beach (and halfway across the country) for entire summers, and my mother was likely relieved not to be the Entertainment Committee for those months, so I didn't really relate to that plot, though I totally understood Abi's need for a vacation of her own and her curiosity about Marisa, her ex's new partner.

The second story, that of Loretta, the owner/manager of Hotel Paradiso (where the action is set) was more relatable to me, because I know what it's like to feel like a slave to a business you own and once loved, and I also related to the fearlessness she had as a younger woman and somehow lost.

Author Victoria Springfield's talent for vivid descriptions – the specific colors of nailpoliish for example, really go a long way to set the scene. I could feel the sun, smell the salt air, and taste the limoncello. Similarly, her writing style is breezy without being shallow, and I adore that about her books.

Overall, Invitation to Italy is a satisfying summer read, with great characters and a fabulous setting.

Goes well with: grilled calamari and prosecco.

Well, that’s another destination added to my bucket list – the island of Procida, off the coast of Naples, was the perfect setting for this lovely story, brought alive through all the senses by an author whose love for Italy shines throughout. But she’s also a very accomplished storyteller, and this book about fresh starts and new beginnings was an absolute delight.

It’s five years since Abi’s marriage disintegrated – husband Alex was lured away by Marisa, very elegant and six years younger than her. And to rub salt into the wounds, they now have a child together – something Abi finds particularly hurtful. Looking forward to a Dorset holiday, her plans are thwarted when her twelve year old daughter Chloe is invited to spend her summer in Italy, staying with Marisa’s family – and Abi really isn’t able to say no. But best friend Cherry comes up with the idea that Abi could travel to Procida too – she really needs a break, and can be on hand should Chloe need her. And that’s how she finds herself staying at the Hotel Parasido – making new friends, keeping an eye on how Chloe’s getting on, finally meeting the woman who destroyed her marriage.

The hotel is run by Loretta – she might be in her sixties, but my goodness she has some energy, taking great pride in her business and the flamboyant clothes that are her personal trademark. But she’s worried about what the future might bring – and also has secrets that she’d prefer remained hidden. But the arrival of Salvo, a man from her past, forces her to revisit her memories – a chance encounter, or might it be something else that makes her future even more uncertain?

The stories of Abi and Loretta unfold in parallel, both with their unexpected twists and turns, along with a few diversions into the back stories of other characters. There’s romance for them both along the way – gentle, sometimes emotional and with barriers along the way, and beautifully done. And I particularly enjoyed the family relationships, fraught and otherwise – and also the focus on the relationship between mothers and daughters, explored in differing ways. The characters, both central and peripheral, are really well developed – Loretta certainly found a place in my heart, as did Abi, but I’ll readily admit there were times when young Chloe made me rather glad not to be her mother.

This book was so much more than a holiday romance or an opportunity for armchair travel – it was a delightful read with far more depth than I was expecting, with intriguing storylines that engaged me throughout, and one I thoroughly enjoyed.

Last week I was in Greece! This week I am in Italy! Not literally, but through the pages of the books I am reading.

When Abi's daughter Chloe goes to Italy for the summer with her father, his fiancee and their little girl, she feels a bit lost. What happens if her daughter needs her and she is so far away? It doesn't take a lot of convincing by her friend to convince Abi to go visit.

Abi checks into a beautiful boutique hotel which has been run by Loretta for years. She takes great pride in the little oasis that she has created on the island of Procida, which is situated in the bay of Naples, but she is beginning to wonder if maybe running after her guests, cleaning and her other duties are getting to be too much.

Among the other guests are Bill, who is trying to relax from a busy job as an importer and Salvo who turns out to be an old friend of Loretta's and who knows at least some of her secrets.

I am not sure how my son would have liked it if I had of turned up while he was staying in Adelaide with his dad, but I guess it was different because Chloe was going to be gone for an extended period. Chloe is at that tricky age where she is almost a teenager and therefore thinks she is old enough to be independent but also needs her parents. There were a couple of awkward moments for Abi when she is invited to dinner with her ex husband's new in-laws and a couple of other times, but I guess that is something that we all need to deal with as we navigate the extended relationships that come after parents re-partner.

Whilst Abi needs to be available for Chloe, she also gets to experience the island of Procida and surrounding areas. What this holiday is really good for Abi is in helping her realise that she can begin to find a new life for herself, and to accept that she doesn't love her ex anymore. This gives her the freedom to explore a fledgling friendship with Bill. He too has some growth. His marriage had fallen apart several years before and he wasn't as confident as he could have been.

As much as I enjoyed Abi and Bill's story, I also liked Loretta's story, as she began to face the demons from her youth. These days she would never swim, but back in the day her nickname had been the dolphin, and she even achieved some great feats as a swimmer. Slowly we began to see why she had so many trust issues, and why she had moved away from her home at such a young age. Despite this, she has managed to make a success her life as a hotelier, and she needs to protect the life she had built.

When we visited Italy early last year, our plan was to visit the island of Procida. Whilst it is a much lesser known island than it's neighbours Capri and Ischia, it was also named as the Italian Capital of Culture in 2022. Unfortunately, we couldn't make it work during the short time we had in Naples and now I am really disappointed that we didn't get to see the sites and sounds of the island. The author really brings the setting to life through the words on the page! I was totally intrigued by the descriptions of the island, of the ceramics and more.

I haven't read Victoria Springfield before and I was really pleased by how much I enjoyed her storytelling. From looking at the backlist titles, it is clear to me that she has a real love for Italy and it shows through her writing.

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Review

Thank you to the publisher, Rachel's Random Resources and Netgalley for the review copy. Be sure to check out other stops on the blog tour below

Rating 4/5

Abi is upset when her ex husband and his fiance take her daughter Chloe to Italy for the Summer. Loretta has run the Hotel Paradiso since leaving Capri broken hearted. This is the perfect escapism novel to take you away on a unforgettable experience. Travelling to Italy was so fulfilling I felt like I was there. The food had my mouth watering and I could feel the hot sand in my toes. This is a romance story that got my pulse racing and the other little plot dramas beautifully compliment it. The characters are charming and I really liked them all. It's definitely worth the read and now I want to travel to Italy myself and if I do I will be taking this book with me!

3.7 Stars
One Liner: Heartwarming

Abi is worried when her twelve-year-old daughter Chloe wants to go on a summer holiday to an Italian island with Abi’s ex, Alex, and his fiancée Marisa. Cherry, Abi’s friend, persuades her to go on a holiday to the same place, Procida. What does this trio have in store for Abi?
Loretta was a teenage swimming sensation until she left Capri with a broken heart and vowed never to return. Now, in her sixties, she is the proud owner of Hotel Paradiso (where Abi is a guest) but finds no peace with the nightmares from the past. Can she find a way to heal and get some peace?
The story comes in the third-person POVs of Abi and Loretta, with a couple of sections from Flavia and Chloe’s POVs.

My Thoughts:
I grabbed this book mainly for the setting and am happy with the results. The Italian island, Procida, comes alive on the pages; be it the alleys, the artwork, the summer sun (eek!), the food, or the sparkling waters surrounding it. With the characters exploring the place, it is easy to join them on a virtual tour and visualize the elements while reading about the local history.
The characters are decently done. Chloe is pretty much a tween; a kid but not a kid. Kind of mercurial like most kids of that age. Abi’s growth is well done, though I wouldn’t have minded a little more. Loretta shines throughout! I really enjoyed the scenes with her and how she manages the hotel.
Bill and Alex are a bit 2D. What you see is what you get. That’s okay since they do their job to keep the story going. Bill has a better arc and more space, which is a good thing. And oh, I have to mention Cherry. Everyone needs a friend like her!
The stories run in parallel, and a couple of minor threads open midway. One of those could have been handled better. It was summed up in a line later.
The main tracks give us both stories. We see how Abi and Loretta have to do something different than what they are used to and heal from the past to move on and find happiness. There are quite a few secrets, too.
The book has (squeaky) clean romance, which is more of a natural progression of the plot rather than the primary focus. The priorities continue to be clear from start to finish, making it easy to enjoy the story.
Things do get worse before they get better, so in a way, we have the third-act breakup and disturbance on multiple levels. They get resolved one by one and it comes together in the final chapter.
There’s a short epilogue to tie up everything into a neat bow. I like epilogues and wouldn’t mind if it was longer and a bit more detailed.

To summarize, Invitation to Italy is a heartwarming and steady-paced read with a wonderful setting. It’ll make a good beach read you can finish in a couple of sittings.
Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources, NetGalley, and Orion Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
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The links will be updated after the tour on 21st April.

This is a captivating tale that takes readers on a journey to the picturesque island of Procida, off the coast of Italy. Abi, a single mother still reeling from her past marriage, finds herself unexpectedly traveling to Procida to check on her daughter, Chloe, who is visiting her ex-husband's new family for the summer. What unfolds is a multi-layered story filled with parallel narratives, including the perspectives of characters like Loretta, the owner of Hotel Paradiso, and Flavia, Marina's mother. The vivid descriptions of Procida and its surroundings immerse readers in the beauty of the setting. As relationships develop and secrets are revealed, the novel explores themes of heartache, motherhood, and the healing power of love. With subtle romance and heartfelt moments, it is a delightful read that will leave readers yearning to explore Italy's hidden treasures.

Italian born and bread, I like to read rom-com and fiction set in Italy as it's always fascinating see your country through different eyes.
Well plotted, poignant and life affirming, good description of the places.
I enjoyed it and it's recommended
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Having really enjoyed the authentic Italian feel in Victoria's writing in The Italian Holiday, I was really looking forward to reading Invitation to Italy. Well, I wasn't disappointed. She has a way of bringing Italy to life that makes your mouth water when you think of the food, your body ache for some sunshine as she describes the setting, and has you searching for your credit card to book a plane ticket to the destination! I had never even heard of Procida, but honestly, it is now on my bucket list. It sounds absolutely amazing. The descriptions were so vivid and the family and friendship dynamics were both tantalising and dramatic. I love reading books set in Italy, having spent a lot of time there, and speaking the language fluently, and Victoria has become my go-to author for my Italian fix. I really hope she's already working on another.

I do love to travel. But life means I don't get the chance to go to all the places I'd love to visit. Thank goodness for books, eh? Stories set in other far-flung places and ones closer to home but still unvisited mean I get to expand my travel horizons a bit further, and to find another author with the ability to transport me is always a blessing.
This was my first Victoria Springfield book; I can safely say it will not be the last.
Abi is a single mum, aching from the break-up of her marriage, even though it was five years ago. Her ex, Alex, is firmly ensconced in a relationship with Marina, the woman he left her for, and they have what Abi considers to be their longed-for second child, Elsa, without her as the mother. She finds herself distraught at the thought of her daughter, Chloe, going on holiday for the whole summer to visit Marina's family on Procida, a small island off the coast of Italy.
A bit of lateral thinking from Abi's best friend, Cherry, and soon Abi finds herself on a flight to Procida to see how her daughter is. She stays at the stunning Hotel Paradiso, ably run by sixty-something Loretta.
What I loved about this book was that several stories ran parallel. We have the POVs of characters other than Abi, including Loretta, who has secrets and barriers to overcome, and Flavia, Marina's mother, who provides the backstory for another tale of heartache.
The descriptions of the different parts of Procida and the surrounding areas were worded in a way I could just see myself standing there, viewing the pastel-coloured buildings and the dark volcanic sand.
There is subtle romance that kicks in, as the story flows, for more than one person, as well as seeing the development of relationships between mothers and their children. A delightful read that has made me want to visit Italy and its hidden delights even more!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for an ARC.

Another fabulous visit to Italy from this brilliant author. Great premise, beautifully executed and a fabulous collection of characters who engaged my interest from the beginning. I thoroughly recommend this. VS creates a story which is escapist and yet throughly grounded in reality. I love her depictions of Italy - one of my favourite places.

Such a well written book and perfect for this time of year when a sunny island is where we all want to be! the story was well paced and the characters surprisingly pleasant despite having new partners/stepchildren etc. I would thoroughly recommend this book x thank you Netgalley x

A charming story that is set on what appears to be a fabulous place and one I wouldn’t mind visiting.

Abi goes to Procida as her ex husband takes their daughter there with his new fiancée for the summer to stay with her parents. She loves the |Hotel Paradiso which is run by Loretta. Lovely descriptions of the island