Thank you netgalley and publishers for allowing me to read a copy of this book for my review. Having never visited Venice, this book has definitely got me adding it to my list of must visits. The blurb on the book sums up the story perfectly,but there is also mystery,intrigue,a couple of unusual twists & turns,romantic sparks and interwoven secrets. A thoroughly intriguing and enjoyable read.

Enchanting modern tale and virtual trip away to beautiful Venice in Italy. Well written, great characters, brilliant story, now enchanted by Victoria Springfield and will be looking out for her next books!
Natalie is in television production in London when an opportunity comes up to present a luxury style show but it’s set in Venice, where she once visited on a school trip which changed her trust and friendships. Can she face Venice in all its beauty and get past the time that has haunted her?
Cate is looking forward to some special time in Venice staring in a tv show with her husband but has other thoughts of what she needs to find in the islands from her past.
Loved all the story lines that wove beautifully together, fabulous characters, magical Venice, this is a glorious read!! Creativity, art, friendships and family it’s all here!! Gorgeous escapism and a complete joy to read!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the early read!

This is a fantastic holiday read, and if you’re going to Venice it will also make a brilliant guide book! Reading descriptions of wealthy, luxurious lifestyles is the literary equivalent of watching reality TV holiday/ home swap programmes, it’s so entertaining. I definitely recommend this book.

A Moving, Magical Escape to Venice

A beautifully layered escape to Venice – emotional, atmospheric, and utterly absorbing.

Having adored An Italian Island Secret (one of my #BestReads2025!), I couldn’t wait to dive into Victoria Springfield’s latest novel—and One Summer in Italy absolutely lived up to every expectation.

Springfield’s writing is elegant and evocative, with scene setting so rich it feels touched by magic. Her Venice isn’t just a backdrop - it’s a character in its own right: full of quiet canals, hidden courtyards, old-world charm, and stories lingering in every shadow. She captures both the romantic beauty and the deeper, more personal emotions the city can stir.

Reading this made me long to visit Venice with a passion I can’t quite put into words—even though I know, realistically, it’s not a trip I’ll be making. But for now, this book gave me the gift of being there in spirit, and I’ll treasure that.

While there’s always an emotional thread in Springfield’s novels, this story explores a more painful past—one that surfaces unexpectedly and adds a darker, more poignant layer to the present-day drama. It’s not the focus of the book, and it’s never graphic, but the way it’s handled—through memory, misunderstanding, and the gradual reveal of the truth—is both sensitive and compelling. It adds quiet depth without losing the warmth and hope that define her storytelling.

The narrative weaves through past and present, with moments of misdirection that kept me hooked right through to the final chapters. I stayed up far too late just to find out who—if anyone—would get their happy ending.

Once again, Victoria Springfield delivers a thoughtful, heartfelt, and gorgeously written story that lingers long after the last page. Highly recommended.

One Summer in Italy was set in a beautiful location. It was a bit far fetched for me to believe that Natalie was asked to host “Luxe Life Swap” TV show.
I could not get connected with the plot line nor characters. I did not care much about any of it. I would have preferred the story to have something in it that I could not predict was going to happen. As I read, I wanted a huge twist that would give me more. Reading the book did make me want to hop on a flight to Italy.
Thank you NetGalley, Victoria Springfield and Boldwood Books for the ARC of One Summer in Italy. This is my personal review.

Goodness me, this was such a good book. Highly entertaining. Would definitely recommend to others, that's for sure!

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

We travel to Venice, where Natalie is covering for another colleague. She’s to be the presenter of a programme.

But, something happened years ago in Venice and it wasn’t good, the memories are still with her. But, Natalie knows she has to fulfill her role in order to advance her career.

The programme is where two couples swap homes and the couple coming here is also someone from her past.

Will facing that person help Natalie come to terms with her past?

I loved the setting. The story is about healing from what’s happened and moving on.

I highly recommend this book.

A twist of fate brings old school friends Natalie and husband wife Cate and Phil to Venice to film Luxe Life Swap. The Venetian backdrop was vividly brought to life, it was almost a character of its own. It was fun to see the behinds the scenes of a TV show and get a glimpse into the life of wealthy people. However, bean wary all the glitz and glamour are a lot of secrets. I loved the way Victoria kept dropping crumbs along the way. I was trying to work out what the connections could be and what secrets were about to unfold. Some I guessed, others took me by surprise. A sumptuous and engaging story.

Oh my. I started this and thought no . Then I picked it up again. Wow wow wow. I absolutely loved it. Some shocking twists and turns but all made sense and a perfect ending. You had parents lying to protect their child, you had horrid men, lost and found friendship . All set in beautiful Venice. You have very yummy food descriptions . One of my books of 2025.

Victoria Springfield's new release, "One Summer in Italy," delivers and fulfills a gorgeous, romantic escape read that is completely engrossing. From the beginning, the combination of breathtaking Venetian landscapes, rekindled friendships, and the seductive possibility of second chances is an irresistible draw. This is more than a light, fluffy escape; the author skillfully weaves in secrets and accusations so you'll be reading late into the night.

Our heroine, Natalie, is brought back to the romantic city of Venice against her will as host of the TV program "Luxe Life Swap." Although it's a career highlight, Venice also brings with it bittersweet memories of a school excursion that changed her life forever. The author vividly captures Natalie's internal struggle, the ethereal beauty of the floating city gradually eroding her fear, particularly with the advent of the dashing and suave watch restorer, Eraldo. Their budding relationship infuses a lovely sense of romance into the story, depicting Venice as a setting for both old wounds and new beginnings.

But the arrival of sultry contestant Cate puts a tantalizing kink in Natalie's nascent joy. Cate, formerly the "plain" Cathy, is the very ex-best friend Natalie blames for the life-changing things that went down on that ill-fated school field trip. This creates an intriguing dynamic, filled with unspoken grudges and the emotional baggage of shared history. The author masterfully unravels the knots of broken friendships, delving into blame, forgiveness, and the lasting influence of the past.

Cate's motives for going on "Luxe Life Swap" are just as compelling. Exchanging her Old Vicarage for a Venetian palazzo, she wants the change of surroundings to finally enable her to have the confidence to start a personal journey she has been putting off for more than twenty years. Natalie and Cate's enforced closeness brings an engrossing tension, as Cate struggles to mend their damaged connection. Just when reconciliation could be a possibility, Natalie makes the horrific accusation that Cate's husband, Phil, is responsible for John's death, sending everything into chaos.

The author expertly toggles between Natalie's point of view, coming to terms with her past and the development of feelings for Eraldo, and Cate's urgent search to get at the truth in Natalie's charge while protecting secrets of her own. This interweaving viewpoint keeps the reader fully invested, stitching together shards of their past together and of the present emerging drama. The author skillfully tangles up the threads, and you find yourself second-guessing everyone's agendas and itching to learn the long-hidden realities.

"One Summer in Italy" is a lovely tale, quite skillfully weaving together romance and intrigue. The gorgeous Venetian backdrop comes alive through rich description, existing not merely as setting but as a part of the emotional terrain. The author's characters are nuanced and credible, their weaknesses and wants pulling you into their interwoven lives. It is a thought-provoking story of second chances, the intricacy of women's friendships, and the strength it demands to face the secrets that define us. If what you seek is a romantic holiday read with an engaging undercurrent of intrigue and emotional resonance, "One Summer in Italy" is an ideal pick that you'll really have difficulty putting down.

This is a fairytale of reclaiming one's past, lost friendships, and getting another chance at love and an enjoyable life. And if you take it as a fairytale, look at it this way, and ignore the fact that a lot of events in the plot and many a resolution of characters' problems happen kind of serendipitously and all too easily, then you'll be able to simply submerse yourself in the atmosphere of the lovely Venice and enjoy the story that happens there. As a modern fairytale based in Venetia, I really enjoyed it.

I think anyone who has ever been charmed by Italy's beauty will be able to find it here, in this book. At least this is why I sought this book out. Victoria Springfield is very good at setting a scene and writing the beauty of places without overcomplicating it with detailed descriptions. She invites you to enjoy a gorgeous sunny Venetian day, a cup of strong <i>caffè</i> in hand, and allows you to lose yourself momentarily in the simplicity of romance and friendship. To me, this type of book works better than travel books as it lets you feel the magic of places through the stories of other (if fictional) people.

Thank you to the author, publishers, and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. My review is based solely on my honest opinion.

One Summer in Italy
by Victoria Springfield

The story's pace felt slow to me, but the vivid portrayal of Italy truly brought the setting to life. Unfortunately, I found the plot to be predictable and too similar to a dramatic reality TV show that I dislike, which left me feeling somewhat disappointed. Overall, this book simply wasn’t my cup of tea.

The main character, Natalie, is unexpectedly called in at the last minute to host "Luxe Life Swap," a lavish reality series where two affluent couples exchange their luxurious homes and lifestyles for two weeks. Natalie finds herself dreading the location—Venice—a city that holds painful memories for her due to a childhood school trip that went awry. This trip has haunted her for years, making her experience in Venice all the more daunting.

Upon arriving, Natalie is shocked to discover that the wife of the wealthy couple they are swapping with is Cate, her former best friend from childhood. Their friendship was shattered during that same school trip, which adds layers of tension and unresolved feelings to their reunion. This unexpected twist is just the first of many implausible events that unfold throughout the narrative, propelling Natalie on a journey of emotional confrontation and self-discovery.

First offthank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review. I’m very appreciative of the opportunity.

I read this book as if I was a viewer watching Luxe Life Swap. So, I knew the implying conflict couldn’t be true…or could it? Nah I’m messing but this was a fun read about friendship and the true purpose for our lives. Connecting and experiencing life with people. I enjoyed this book but I found it slow at times making hard to get into the book.

Thanks again for an e-arc copy from Boldwood Books.

I’ve never been to Venice but I wanna go now! I can’t wait to read more of hers, this was my first. Read it in 3 days! Very quick read

It took me a while to get into this but when i did i was hooked. It was written well, the scenery descriptions were amazing. Venice sounded amazing as did the food and all the attractions too. Cate had a real charmed life with phil but both had demons and were both not really living there lives to the fullest as they had managed to keep essential facts back from each other.. When Cate reconnects with natalie lots of history is dug up and she needs to make amends to let them both move on. Great book. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This story holds self discovery, forgiveness, rekindling and igniting of old and new relationships. + As always with this author, the settings and attention to detail are phenomenal in this book, I really can imagine how wonderful it must to be in these beautiful Italian towns!
The secrets sprinkled throughout this book were so addicting, I read this in one day! I just had to know the answers
If you love
• Venice
• Surprise reunions unraveling secrets
• romance
Good food & wine
Please read this! Only thing that would have made it better is being on a beach in Italy !!

Natalie returns to Venice to host a tv show. a school trip there has left her with unpleasant memories but she cannot turn down this chance of a tv career .An old school friend from that trip is involved in the show, can they work together? this visit turns out to be much more pleasant perhaps bringing romance to Natalie's life. An enthralling read taking the reader to the beauty of Venice.

I was really excited about this from the synopsis but I couldn’t feel for any of the characters. I did like the mention of Flo’s purple lipstick and leopard print bag, as that’s my taste, but I couldn’t connect with any of the characters.

I felt the pace was slow, but Italy was vivid,

I did feel the nostalgia of a school trip abroad, but felt this feeling could have been made more prominent as it was glossed over.

This book wasn’t for me.

2 stars

Thanks to Victoria Springfield and Boldwood Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. I was hopefully as the description sounded like it would be a fantastic story right up my alley. But I couldn't connect to the chapters and was bored. I had to DNF after chapter 10. I don't know if it would end up get better if I kept going but I couldn't push through anymore than that.

I appreciate the opportunity given to by Boldwood Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book and given my honest opinion.

I like Venice and am always happy to revisit in a romantic novel. One Summer in Italy was an easy read. There was friendship and romance and how seeking happiness can help cope with the events of the past. Victoria Springfield has created a story about friendship and the painful results of a friendship lost. A sexual assault when she is 14 years old, impacts Natalie's life decades later. She has not been able to move beyond her terrible memories of a n earlier visit to Venice or the Venetian plague mask that her assailant wore. Being sent to Venice on a job actually forces Natalie to find a way to deal with a childhood lost because of her memories of the earlier visit.

There is a not-too-believable coincidence when three friends from their teenage school trip meet again in Venice as adults. Natalie and Cate work to re-establish their friendship, but Cate's husband must also deal with his memories from that time. The discussion of a teenage sexual assault is handled well, as is the damage done by poor parroting. How the past impact future choices is a good theme to explore. Springfield makes it clear in One Summer in Italy that it is important to be courageous enough to confront the past.

Although a bit too heavy on coincidences, One Summer in Italy did work well. Since this novel is classified as a romance, readers will find the ending predictable, but that is okay. In a romance it is the journey not the ending that matters most.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley fr providing me with this ARC, in exchange for my honest review. The comments above reflect my thoughts about One Summer in Italy.