On My Nightstand: One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

It's July and we're well into summer. The sun lingers out for longer and the weather is warm once again. On my nightstand, I have a copy of One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle. I picked this up at the library because I'd heard that this is basically summer in a book. To say this was the right choice for this time of the year is an understatement. This book is filled with beautiful writing describing an Italian summer and I wish I could just step into the pages of the book to experience it all. I'm not kidding when I say Serle does a great job in transporting the reader to Positano, Italy. The descriptions of the characters, the food and drinks, the setting, etc. are so vivid and immersive. I love that. I could practically feel like I was in the Amalfi Coast feeling the heat of the sun, seeing the hot pink and purple skies, tasting the fresh lemon drizzled pasta and sipping a cold glass of wine.

This book follows Katy Silver who decides to take a solo trip to Italy after her mother's passing. The trip was meant to be a mother daughter trip. Katy decides to go solo to clear her mind and find herself again after her life is turned upside down. While on the trip Katy faints and seemingly runs into her mother. However, this version of her mother is the young, carefree Carol Silvers. Katy then spends the trip with the younger version of her mother while also becoming friends with Adam Westbrook, a fellow American out on a mission to buy out the hotel Katy is staying at. Something that surprised me about this book was the emotional depth. The book describes a mother daughter relationship that tugs at your heartstrings.

If you're looking for something that feels like a vacation on the Amalfi Coast in a novel, this is the one. If you're looking for something with a strong relationship between a mother and daughter, this might tear you up a bit. It's an emotional yet beautiful, fun read. I really enjoyed this book for the Italian summer vibes. There were times where I related to the the main character personally, so it struck a chord in me. It's also a quick read that didn't take very long to finish!

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Have you read One Italian Summer? Let's discuss!

-N