There was a lot to like about this book. I enjoyed my immersion in 1955 Italy, where the scars of the war were still deep. The historical background about the movie industry, the role of the church and the flashbacks to 1943 were great to read about. Vivien,s story both past and as it evolved was poignant. However, I found there were too many subplots running off on tangents, then the author had to tell us what the moral was, rather than showing us. This would have had more emotional impact had she stuck to a main plot and explored it fully. I also hadn’t read the earlier books, however, it did all make sense, as this can be read as a standalone.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC to read and give an honest review of.