While this story gave details of Verona and the Italian vineyard that make me want to hop on a plane, this dual perspective story did not feel as vibrant. I really do enjoy dual perspectives but the story itself just felt flat to me and the conflicts resolved quickly and easily without much depth. I would have loved to have seen more come from Charlotte’s outburst near the end, but it was not to be. Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in return for my honest review.

Set in two timelines of 1939 and present times, a family saga set in the English countryside and the vineyards of Verona and the stories of two women and the love they had for each other.

Lady Charlotte lost her husband due to an accident very soon after marriage. It was no great loss to her as he was indifferent, an alcoholic and only married her for her money. Going to Verona with an idea of reviving one of the few vineyards in England was her temporary escape. Falling in love with her head gardener was not on the cards but it happened. Heartache followed with Bertie being killed in the war, and Charlotte pregnant with a baby that she passed off as being that of her husband.

Fast forward to present times and Kate, after a short disastrous marriage returns to Verona to uncover what exactly happened years before. She discovers enough letters and photographs to follow the trail and returns to Copeland Park, determined to prevent its sale, turn the vineyard around and make it a profitable concern. Kate has also in a similar manner like her grandmother, fallen in love with the head gardener and is not giving him up.

The love stories and the family saga spread over two countries was emotional but very good reading. It was descriptive and brought to life the beauty and history of Verona in particular.

There’s something about italian vineyards, buried letters, and long-lost family secrets that make your heart ache in the most beautiful way 💌🍷
The italian vineyard is one of those stories that gently wraps around your soul....warm, slow, and deeply emotional.
I loved how kate’s present-day journey mirrored her great-grandmother charlotte’s past in the 1930s, both bound by heartbreak, resilience, and the love of a vineyard that’s seen generations bloom and wither.

From the rich countryside of copeley park to the dreamy light of verona, the settings were vivid and lush. ben and kate’s chemistry was subtle but sweet, and the slow unraveling of the mystery behind the bottle of wine had me flipping pages with quiet excitement.

This book reminded me that sometimes, the past whispers exactly what the present needs to hear...and that love, once planted, never really fades.

Just two years ago Anita Chapman published her first novel. In this short period of time she has established herself as an author that writes captivating stories in Italian settings and 'The Italian Vineyard' is her fourth published novel.

This latest story is a dual timeline one set in the 1930 's and the present day. The main protagonists are Kate, in the 21st century and her great grandmother Lady Charlotte in the 1930's. In 1939 Charlotte was presented with a very special gift of fine wine and it is this vintage bottle that links these two women and their personal love stories together. The backdrop for this emotional yet uplifting novel are the wonderful settings of Italy and the Surrey Hills.

Once again Anita Chapman has transported me to places I am familiar with. She successfully shares her own love of Italy by writing stories that feel realistic. Perfect escapism for Italophiles and those readers that enjoy a satisfying story with an element of mystery.

It is with thanks to Bookouture, NetGalley and Anita Chapman that this title was made available for me to read and review.

Chapman weaves two parallel love stories that explore the challenges of defying class boundaries and the power of a woman choosing her own path. In a romantically sweeping narrative, Charlotte and Kate reflect one another within a timeless, male-dominated hierarchy—particularly in England, though the theme resonates more broadly. While the story is pleasant and heartwarming, the parallels between the two narratives were so strong that the plot became predictable. I wouldn’t call it boring, but ultimately, it felt a bit too light to be truly fulfilling.

A nice novel with a dual timeline, following a great-grandmother, Charlotte and her great-granddaughter Kate. The latter has just split with her husband, has to move from her flat and is not fully happy with her work. Maybe the 1936 bottle of Amarone wine could be the beginning of a new chapter of her life?
The book switches between both characters almost at each chapter which gives a good rhythm. The chapters related to Charlotte date back to the months before the second world war and her unhappy marriage to a duke.
With both women we go to an Italian vineyard close to Verona - the book includes several references to Romeo and Juliet. The descriptions are good so we feel like being there as well as enjoying the cosyness of Rosemary's cottage.
However I have not been fully enthusiastic about my reading. I believe one reason might be that many topics are tackled (antisemitism, problems related to getting pregnant, losing a dear one, war, the place of women in society, etc) and in my opinion it would have been better to tackle less topics, less superficially. I have not been deeply moved whereas I should have been with such plot.

There are many themes thrown up in this book which is a perfect escapist read, particularly if you enjoy a dual timeslip novel.

Lady Charlotte becomes widowed early in the book to her much older husband. Her father had arranged her marriage and it isn't a happy one. In fact it turns out that he isn't faithful to his wife. Will there be an heir? This is thrown up as Winston dies tragically. Lady Charlotte gets great joy from gardening and so a liaison forms between her and the head gardener.

In the current day her great grand-daughter Kate is separated from her husband after their marriage dies following failed attempts at IVF.

Therefore family ties are a big theme in this novel.

I am familiar with Verona so the Italian aspect was rather enjoyable to read. I could imagine both settings in Surrey and Italy easily.

📆 Dual timeline
👀 dual POV
🐢 -🐇 medium-paced

I'm not stranger to Chapman's work, so I already knew to expect a beautiful story, and The Italian Vineyard did not disappoint. I mean, how could I not love a story that's narrated by a character called Lady Charlotte! But all frivolity aside, it was also a beautiful, dual timeline book full of the family secrets I am so fond of in fiction. Of course, I'd struggle with such secrets were they to surface in real life, but they do make for good fiction.

Chapman's writing is so beautifully descriptive, and it flows wonderfully. Her books are just so easy to read, and they make me really want to visit Italy!

I loved the dual timeline aspect of this book. From the upper classes of 1939 to the late 2010s, where some of the snobbery still exists. I'll admit that I didn't particularly like Hugo, he came across as a stereotypical upper class Englishman. ButI always say that the ability to make the reader actually feel something about a character is a skill.

As I've already said, this isn't my first book by Anita Chapman, and it certainly won't be my last.

Oh wow... what a book... I'm still thinking about this one now.

The story follows two characters, Charlotte (Grandma) and Kate (Great-Grandaughter) along two timelines in 1939 and present day.

In the present day, Kate is the daughter of the Earl who resides at Copeley Park and after finding a hidden letter... she becomes determined to find out who the mystery sender 'B' is... this of course, sets of a course of events and several secrets are finally revealed.

I absolutely adore the dual timelines and I also find it beautifully poetic that at times, both Charlotte and Kate walk the same path - especially in love.

I loved reading Charlotte's POV in 1939s as it really helped to reveal her story through her eyes that I think made the story, plus the addition of the letters and some diary extracts... really adds to the emotion.

I adore Kate. She's had a bit of a rough time in her love life, and it was so lovely to see this smart lady slowly coming into her own when she realised her potential.

The main story with the two timelines are beautifully woven together throughout the story!

If you love historical fiction then this is one for you!

I am delighted to be on the Blog tour today for The Italian Vineyard, by Anita Chapman.
The story is as beautiful as the cover! This is the second book I have read by Anita Chapman and once again her passion for Italy shines through her prose evoking the beauty of Verona and the surrounding countryside.
The Italian Vineyard is a dual timeline narrative which alternates between Kate in present day and Charlotte in 1939. When Kate receives a gift from her grandmother, a box containing an old bottle of wine with a mysterious note, the adventure begins. Both the main characters start their journeys on an estate in the surrey hills before fate leads them to a vineyard outside Verona. Charlotte is locked into a loveless marriage imposed on her by her father, while Kate is recovering from the break up of hers.
I love the way the two narratives mirror each other as both woman fall in love enduring both joy and pain. I particularly enjoyed the connection to the play Romeo and Juliette set in Verona, and the tradition of sending letters to Juliette on matters of the heart. It was also interesting to learn about wine and the different bottling techniques. Anita clearly did her research!
There are twists and surprises along the way and Anita cleverly ties everything together to make a realistic and satisfying ending. If you enjoy romances set in beautiful locations, characters you are invested in, stories of love, sadness and joy, then this book is for you. I highly recommend – 5 stars. Thank you to Bookouture for an advanced copy for my honest opinion.

The Italian Vineyard by Anita Chapman is a warm and engaging story that sweeps you away to a beautiful vineyard in northern Italy. Told through two timelines, it weaves together past and present in a way that’s easy to follow and hard to put down.

Kate’s journey to uncover her family’s history feels authentic and heartfelt, while Lady Charlotte’s story adds depth and charm with its historical flavor. The vineyard setting is rich with atmosphere—sunshine, wine, secrets... you can practically smell the grapes and feel the breeze.

Chapman’s writing is smooth and inviting, with characters you grow to care about and a story that sticks with you. If you enjoy novels that offer romance, mystery, and a sense of place, this is a lovely one to dive into.

I really enjoyed reading this book and found it difficult to put down
I liked the,way Kates story seemed to mirror parts of her grandmother's story.
The twist that it was her father sabotaging his own business was a shock as was the knowledge that Ben was relayed to the family of her grandmother's husband giving the story a sinister feel.
I would thoroughly recommend reading this story

LOVED reading The Italian Vineyard by Anita Chapman---this book just made me want to jump on a plane to Italy. 5 stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟.

A dual timeline narrative, The Italian Vineyard has you alternating between Kate (present day) and Lady Charlotte (Kate's great grandmother). Both have paralleled romances on the same estate growing wine in England, and also with life-changing/inspiring trips trip to Verona, Italy to see family whom own an Italian vineyard. On their prospective trips, both write letters to Juliet for an opinion/guidance on matters of the heart, consistent with this beautiful tradition in Verona. An older time period with Lady Charlotte discusses matters of marrying for status, arranged marriages, classism, and the distinct inequities between men and women. The more current time period with Kate demonstrates similar opinions from family members, though a bit more subtle, and has you really feeling the progress in a woman being able to make her own decisions and speak her mind in certain situations.

Filled with beautiful stories of love, loss, tragedy, and hope, the book draws you into the beautiful lives of these two characters and their respective timelines. The tasting notes on the wines make you feel as if you are there----after reading this, all I want in this world now is a glass of Amarone and/or sparkling Pinot Grigio. A must-read if you want to transport to another country, and will have you falling in love with the layers of these more complex characters. Cin cin! *Look in the eyes* 🥂

A huge thank you to NetGalley for an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! Now---off to go buy the book for my own bookshelf as I MUST read this again! 🍷🍇✈️

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this eCopy to review

I’ve just finished The Italian Vineyard, and I’m genuinely moved. This novel swept me across decades and continents, from the quiet grief of wartime England to the golden vineyards of Verona. It’s a story that lingers like the taste of a rich red wine shared under a Tuscan sunset.

The plot unfolds in two timelines. In 1939, Lady Charlotte, reeling from her husband’s death, throws herself into reviving the vineyard at Copeley Park. Her journey to Verona with her gardener Albert is meant to be research, but Italy’s beauty and the looming threat of war complicate everything. Meanwhile, in the present day, Kate, Charlotte’s great-granddaughter is grieving her mother and reeling from a breakup. She finds solace in Copeley Park, but when the vineyard faces closure, a mysterious bottle of wine and a cryptic note send her and winemaker Ben to Verona to uncover long-buried family secrets.

What I loved most:

The emotional depth of both women’s stories—Charlotte’s resilience and Kate’s rediscovery of hope

The way Italy is portrayed: vibrant, healing, and full of quiet magic

The romantic tension and the sense of legacy that ties past and present together

Anita Chapman’s writing is evocative and immersive. She doesn’t just describe places, she makes you feel them. The vineyard, the mimosa flowers, the dusty bottle of wine, they all carry emotional weight. And the themes of love, loss, and the courage to start again are beautifully handled.

If you enjoy historical fiction with heart, mystery, and a touch of romance, this book is for you. I’d recommend it to fans of Lucinda Riley and Fiona Valpy without hesitation.

This book plays in 1939 and in the mid 2010s. The “early” main characters take a trip to Italy by train, which gives the readers a feel of days long past. The setting is mainly an English estate.

The beginning gives us an insight into the life of the upper crust of British society and you find yourself rooting for Lady Charlotte right away. The idea of building the story around a vine cutting and bringing in Verona, Italy sets the stage for lots of romance.

The paths of great-grandmother and great-granddaughter have many similarities. It’s fun to discover what happened as we look over Kate’s shoulder when she starts her investigation of the mystery. In between are family and relationship troubles as well business troubles, but realistic ones that you can relate to. And wine, lots of it.

Pleasant characters, yes absolutely. Did it make a lasting impression? No. Did I learn something new? Yes. Did I enjoy myself reading this book? Yes. Is it a romance novel? 100%.

If you’re looking for a (mostly) lighthearted read, with a short trip to Italy, try this one.

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC. All opinions are my own. I was not required to leave a positive review.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Italian Vineyard' by Anita Chapman.

Where the heck have you been hiding all my life Anita!!! I absolutely Love, LOVE, LOVED this absolutely beautiful page turning escapism!! An absolute must read!!! This may be the first book I have read by this author but it most definitely won't be my last!! I am shocked I have not read any of your other books before now and am just so glad I have rectified that. I cannot wait to see what your previous and future books bring me!!

This book has absolutely stunning and evocative descriptions that set you straight in the scenes. The cover, title and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly and I am ABSOLUTELY gutted to come to the end of this book as it ends my stunning sofa holiday 😭

OMG!!! I cannot wait to get stuck in to all of Anita's previous and future books!! They are just guaranteed to be stunning even if they are only half as gorgeous as this beauty!! I absolutely adored the gorgeous heart-warming and feel good storyline.

This book is beautifully written and completely absorbs you in the stunning atmosphere of Italy completely sucking you in with the vivid descriptions leaving you feel the warmth of the the sun and smell of the wine. The synopsis and cover suits the storyline perfectly.

This beautiful storyline is authentic and realistic as well as easy to read and heart-warming. It is just one of those absolutely stunning books that promises the reader gets completely lost in the pages for hours. I am so glad that I have finally discovered this extremely talented author and really cannot wait to get stuck in to the rest of her books. If they are only half as beautiful as this one they are guaranteed to be completely compelling and addictive!! Anita does an absolutely stunning job of not only weaving the multiple protagonist perspective's of Kate and her Great Gran Lady Charlotte together beautifully but also the multiple timelines. She transports her readers from England to Verona and from the 1930's to the present day and while she is doing so she ensures her readers know exactly when they are and who with making sure there is no confusion at all. The fact that she has clearly done her research on the history of the 1930's but also into winemaking shines through the pages as does the fact that she clearly cares for her characters. Her stunning evocative and emotive writing skills will sweep you away to Surrey and Verona where you will be able to taste the wine, see the stunning surroundings and fall in love with the settings and the characters, I loved the Shakespeare references that were included throughout and I was completely invested in not only Kate and Lady Charlotte but also those who surrounded them. It is a gorgeous story ram packed with history, beautiful settings, war, mystery, realistic characters, warmth, romance, wine, heartache, beauty, romance and everything you could ask for and more. It will have you smiling, saddened, filled with joy and make you feel like you are on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Anita's fantastic immersive writing skills and gorgeous imagination will keep you sucked in from beginning to end. I completely devoured the book in one sitting of several hours while sitting in my garden with the sun on my face. It is one of those beauties where regardless if you are reading it in the sun with a cocktail or curled up next to the fire with a hot chocolate Anita will transport you to Verona and place a glass of wine in your hand. An absolutely stunning escapism!

Pack your packs, get comfortable, clear your schedules and get ready to go on a beautiful holiday to Verona in this gorgeous read!

You will also want to book the day off whatever you had planned as once you pick up this book and turn the pages I can guarantee you will not want to put it down!! I found myself picking it up every spare second I had and not wanting to put it down!! AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING MUST READ!!

The characters were all unique with their own realistic traits, strengths, flaws, quirks and weaknesses. It was intriguing to watch and I was completely invested in each and every single one of them keeping my fingers and toes crossed for a happy ever after. It was absolutely amazing to watch the personalities and relationships between all the characters grow, develop and bond. Anita ensures they come to life at every turn of the page and I was sad to leave them when I cam to the end and had to say Goodbye. All characters worked perfectly with the storyline and I would love to see this made into a series or even a movie!!!

Well done Anita on an absolutely stunning page turner, I will definitely be looking for your books any time I need to be swept off to another country!!!

A MASSIVE WELL DONE to Anita on a HUGE success!!! I loved every page of your book and I cannot wait to read more of your past and hopefully books. Congratulations you are now one of my favourite authors! Here's to your next success 🥂

Overall a true page turning, perfect and stunning romance that will sweep you off your feet and land you in Italy and in the past!!

#TheItalianVineyard #AnitaChapman #Bookouture #BookoutureAnonymous
@AnitaChapman @Bookouture @BookoutureAnonymous


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The beautiful, vibrant cover captured my attention, the story captured my heart. A dual timeline novel featuring wine and vineyards, this wonderful novel has my name all over it, two of my favourite things.
Lady Charlotte was a wonderful character, who was hindered by the time she lived in and the expectation that she would do as the men in her life dictated.
Kates character seemed very similar to her Grans, not fazed by class and what appears seemly to her immediate family.
It's a lovely read that takes you from the rolling hills in the UK to the romantic city of Verona.
I have left my review on Goodreads, Bookmory, Storygraph, Amazon and Waterstones. Also on my Facebook group and instagram page

This story was told with dual timelines. Both were good, however the present day story was more interesting.
There are some secrets that come out and a new romance blossoms. It’s an enjoyable story.

This was a endearing dual timeline story which delves into love and loss. Following Charlotte and her grand-daughter Kate as they navigate the finding of true love and the losses which go along with that. Both visit the same vineyard in Verona, city of Romeo and Juliet, at separate times however both find out that the man they have been thinking about is the ONE. I love the way the author tells a story and create characters which represent the population of the times that they are set in. Anita Chapman has become an auto-buy author for me.

The Italian Vineyard is a dual timeline novel featuring Charlotte in 1939 and her great-granddaughter Kate in 2015. I've read numerous dual timeline books in the past few years and I was surprised that despite starting the book with Charlotte in 1939 that the book really spent almost no time focusing on WWII. The novel's emphasis is on the romantic relationships that each of the two women had in their individual storylines. The author gives beautiful descriptions of the Italian vineyard where each woman spends time to learn about wine-making. And, of course, the Italian vineyard is an excellent setting for the budding romances in Charlotte's and Kate's lives. The book shares their thoughts and emotions regarding their relationships with the men they're attracted to and the possibilities for the future. They also have concerns about their family members and their family's opinion of the men in their lives. Charlotte and Kate are written in a way that makes the reader come to care for them and really hope for them to find their "happy ending". This is a well-written book and recommended for readers who enjoy romance novels that have a bit of intrigue in them. I am giving this book 4 stars instead of 5 only because I thought this would be the history of life on an Italian vineyard during WWII with some romance instead of romance being its main focus. I received an ARC from NetGalley but all the opinions shared are my own.