BLURB:

The #1 bestseller is back with an uplifting, escapist read that will brighten the gloomiest day!

A warm, sun-baked terrace.

The rustle of verdant green vines.

The sun slowly dipping behind the Umbrian mountains.

And the chink of wine glasses as the first cork of the evening is popped…

Welcome to Italy. A place that holds the answer to Zia-Lucia Costa Chalmers’ many questions. Not least, how she ended up with such a mouthful of a name.

When Zia discovers that her mother wasn’t who she thought she was, she realises the time has come to search out the Italian family she’s never known.

However, as she delves into the secrets of her past, she doesn’t bargain on having to think about her future too. But with local vineyard owner, Piero, living next door, Zia knows she has a serious distraction who may prove difficult to ignore…

This summer, join Zia as she sets out to uncover her past. But can she find the future she’s always dreamed of along the way?

MY THOUGHTS:

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for letting me read this book prior to its publication. My opinion is 100% honest, unbiased, and my own.

Everybody who know me know that I mainly read thrillers, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t like to read something lighter from time to time. And this book just caught my eye with its colorful cover and because the blurb also added a bit of mystery. Only that the mystery wasn’t that mysterious and it became more family drama than anything else. But it was still an interesting book to read that kept me turning the pages and reading until way past my sleeping time.

What would happen if you discover one day that your life has been just a lie? What if your family wasn’t exactly what you thought they were? What happens if you discover you may have a completely new family in Italy? Well, the protagonist of this book, Zia-Lucia has to face all these questions and more. Is it better to just stick to what you know and let the past stay in the past? That’s what her meddling ex boyfriend would like Zia to do. However, spending a summer in Italy can complicate matters and make her rethink her whole life.

The story had a good pace and it was well structured. The protagonist surrounds herself with a whole cast of secondary characters that made me feel all kinds of emotions while reading this book. We have here all kinds of characters: insecure, jealous, greedy, abusive, manipulative, deceiving… but also loyal and friendly people. However, the ratio of bad characters versus good ones was a bit unbalanced.

It was a light story overall, with moments of intense drama, but also with eye-rolling moments. I won’t give up spoilers, so you will just have to read it yourself or take my word for it 😉

Cute story to read at the beach with a glass of wine. Recommended for lovers of escapism and people who dream with spending a summer under the Italian sun.

So, for all of that, I give this book… 4 TEA CUPS!