A tale of love, power, corruption and ultimately hope in Italy in the 1950s and 1960s. Three Summers tells the story of Rafaella Parisi, a young woman living in a seaside village in Italy. As worlds collide and tragedy happens what will happens?
As ever Karen Swann gives a wonderful sense of place - you can almost smell the dusty heat of an Italian summer afternoon. It feels at times like an Italian film set bringing to mind La Dolce Vita crossed with The Godfather! Opulent and tense at times, it keeps you reading. Wonderful.

I was really excited by the premise and setting of this book, but I didn't quite manage to get into it and found the beginning a little slow. There will be people out there who love it - it just wasn't quite right for me.

Set in beautiful Puglia and telling the story of Cosimo and Rafaella. this is a really good easy read.

The setting is wonderfully descriptive and with characters that are lovely to get to know this is a book that I adored.

An accident at the villa Franchetti causes a change in direction for Cosimo and what happens next alters lives forever.

I loved how the three timelines merged and the story itself is an evocative moving tale. I was transported through Italy and it was amazing

It is as usual for this author beautifully written and I enjoyed my reading time

While this was an ok read though the first half was very slow, it didn’t feel like a Karen Swan book and I was glad when I finished it.

Karen Swan is an author I'd always choose to pick up - loved her Wild Isles series and her other stand alone novels as well!

Three Summers is set along the romantic Italian coast in Puglia and the first summer sets into motion the beginning of the love story between Cosimo and Rafaella. The other characters in the drama - Rafaella and Cosimo's family and friends - are great characters and the vivid writing helps establish the storyline straight away.

I enjoyed the friends to almost lovers to enemies aspect of the novel and the insights into families of organised crime and the priesthood were really interesting. Karen Swan also deepens the issues of same-sex love and the pressures of marrying into an aristocratic family.
The scenery and the complications of the plot are well written and I enjoyed the book. If there was one criticism it was that the ending felt a little rushed but other than that a really good historical romance novel!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This historical fiction set in Italy was a slow burn for me. Lots of characters with family connections that I had to get my head around. I found my flow after a third of the way and thoroughly enjoyed the story. Friendships and romance features strongly along with a touch of tragedy and lawlessness.
My thanks to publishers and Net Galley for the ARC of this book.

Think of long hot summers by the beach of a small Italian port where children grow up together regardless of status. Then think of the same summer when they are teenagers almost adults. They work and play hard still but in different ways and friendships are beginning between boy and girl. Think of Romeo and Juliet, this is similar but with many twists along the way, will they make it and at what price?

Welcome to Puglia in the heady heat of summer with the sparkles of sunlight glinting off the cerulean ocean and a group of friends who’ve grown up together through summers past, come of age. This story is filled with past notions of limitations for women, for the working class, and the opposing freedoms of men and the rich. But it doesn’t stop there. We are introduced to how the rich are trapped by their own ‘rules’ and expectations too. Not solely a coming of age Italian story, this story has a surprising darkness. That said, this story is mostly about young love, its endurance and how it can shape your future. It has an unexpected depth of story, a long reach despite taking place over a handful of years, and an insight into a criminal undertow that hooked brothers into a life of jealous anger and retribution.

Rafaella Parisi is in love with Cosimo – son of the wealthy Franchetti family, out of reach and yet such a close friend to her. Their story is enchanting, transportive and evocative.

A perfect reminder of the last lazy days of summer when the sunrises are blinding and the sunsets smouldering. I highly recommend Three Summers by Karen Swan.

This isnt a book i would normally go for but everytime i came on netgallery this seemed to pop up i so i requested it and surprisingly enjoyed it though i feel the first half was slow i pushed through and glad i did.

Wow! Just wow!

This book was incredible. Way better, more detailed and captivating than I expected.

I was totally entranced and fully invested in the main characters.

It was an extraordinary tale of love and loss, of missed opportunities, insecurities and misunderstandings. But love finds a way to reveal itself, and I was delighted with how this story ended. Although there were several twists and turns which caught me by surprise.

I’ve enjoyed reading it, a real page turner, and I’m sad it’s finished in a way. I was drawn into the feel and atmosphere of the town they grew up in and I couldn’t wait for the end. But now it’s finished I shall miss living in their world with them, going through the highs and lows alongside them.

Beautifully written. I would love to read more by this author.

Rafaella and Gina had grown up in Tricase Porto and every summer the Duke's family came to spend 6 weeks there. The 2 girls would spend time with the Duke's family especially Cosimo and Romola but at the end of last summer something had happened between Cosimo and Rafaella.
Rafaella is now going out with Fon Gianelli (Dante's younger brother) and Cosimo invites a young movie star to his parents annual party. Will things ever be the same again.
A rollercoaster of emotions spread over 3 summers, a gripping novel.

A good historical read. It took me a while to get into this story and wasn't sure what to expect but I'm glad I persevered and the second half of the novel was really enjoyable. . There were quite a few characters all who bought something different to the story some whom I really disliked but on the whole it turned out to be quite an interesting book

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have liked all the books this author has written and this was no exception. Great characters and a good storyline. Would recommend.

I usually love Karen Swan’s books but this one just didn’t hit the mark for me. I nearly gave up by 40% but per other reviews, I kept going. I feel like the first 50% was muddled and very long and drawn out. I realise it was building the setting but I just found it very dull and it reads more like a Dinah Jefferies book rather than a Karen Swan. There are so many characters and names to get your head around. The second half picked up and the characters started coming to life. There was a good, albeit unrealistic, twist near the end that I didn’t see coming at all. I feel this book could be half the length and it would read much better. Just because it’s got lots of words doesn’t always make for a better experience. On the whole, I just didn’t love this one and was disappointed with it.

Beautifully written tale of a group of friends over 3 summers in Italy. Highs, lows, love, loss and redemption. The description of Italy made you feel as if yo7 were almost there. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Sorry but I just couldn't get into this book and had to give up after four chapters as it wasn't holding my attention.

This book was a slow-starter but the reward for sticking with it was a totally engaging read. I have always enjoyed Swan's writing and this book was no exception

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Initially I found this book rather slow but as I persevered I was totally hooked. A wonderful story with complex, interesting characters. Well worth a read.

I really enjoy Karen Swan’s writing and have loved many of her Christmas books. I hadn’t yet read any of her historical fiction so was pleased to receive an ARC of Three Summers (thank you Net Galley). I have to say that I did really struggle with the first half of this book. I had to re-read the first few chapters a couple of times to try and make all the characters & their relationships stick in my head- there are just so many names to get your brain around. I couldn’t work out which brother belonged to which sister/girlfriend or even who was getting married and who all the older ladies were. At about 40% it did even out & I began to enjoy it. The format of spacing the story over three eventful summers really works and adds to the drama. Cosimo & Raffaella’s journey is a very romantic one, with vibes of a shakespearian romance beset by hurdles and issues. The kidnap plot line and & Dante’s darker presence from his underworld was a good contrast & it was easy to feel a lot of sympathy for Fon. The momentum built really well over the last few chapters and I loved the ending with all lose ends tied. The second half of the book definitely made up for the first ….and the setting is sublime!
3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you Net galley for the ARC

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley. #ThreeSummers #NetGalley.

The scene setting and descriptions of Italy during the late 1950s and early 1960s was beautiful. I was transported there. The descriptions of festivals and traditions were language rich and added to the depth and feel of the setting.
The characterisation developed well throughout the book and was interesting. The hint of mystery about the source of Dante’s income and how that developed was good.
I liked how it was broken into the three summers and how these families were all intertwined along with some historical events like the polio outbreak.
I didn’t give 5 stars because it felt a little slow in the third summer to begin with but by the conclusion I understood the need for that part.

I would definitely recommend this book.