One Italian Summer

When Katy’s mother dies, she is left reeling. Carol wasn’t just Katy’s mom, but her best friend and first phone call. She had all the answers and now, when Katy needs her the most, she is gone. To make matters worse, their planned mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: two weeks in Positano, the magical town Carol spent the summer right before she met Katy’s father. Katy has been waiting years for Carol to take her, and now she is faced with embarking on the adventure alone.

But as soon as she steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, Katy begins to feel her mother’s spirit. Buoyed by the stunning waters, beautiful cliffsides, delightful residents, and, of course, delectable food, Katy feels herself coming back to life.

And then Carol appears—in the flesh, healthy, sun-tanned, and thirty years old. Katy doesn’t understand what is happening, or how—all she can focus on is that she has somehow, impossibly, gotten her mother back. Over the course of one Italian summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mother, but as the young woman before her. She is not exactly who Katy imagined she might be, however, and soon Katy must reconcile the mother who knew everything with the young woman who does not yet have a clue.

I went into this one with sort of low expectations, since I hadn’t totally loved the author’s previous books and I wasn’t sure based on the synopsis that I would be into this one. But the audiobook was narrated by Lauren Graham, which was enough to make me start reading.

I definitely loved the narration. I would listen to Lauren Graham narrate pretty much anything! As for the story itself, I found myself swept up in it and thought it was quite lovely and heartfelt. And the setting and mouthwatering descriptions of food were so fun.

There is definitely some suspension of disbelief that has to take place here, but I quite enjoyed whatever magic was at play.

If you’re able to read this on audio, I definitely recommend doing it! I inhaled this book. It was such a pleasant surprise!