One Italian Summer - Rebecca Serle

Book Synopsis: 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.

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I recommend this book to fans of Gilmore Girls and people wanting to travel to Italy.

While reading, I found myself relating to Katy very much because I have a close friendship with my mother too. Katy's character development in the story is not only believable, but inspiring too. She finds a lot about herself, her mom, and examines what she really wants in her future. Carol and Katy's mother-daughter relationship is so refreshing to see, not a lot of authors write about this topic and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of Rebecca Serle's back-list of books. One Italian Summer will stick to you like wet sand on the beach - you won't be forgetting the wonderful message of this novel.

I had a feeling that this book was going to be amazing, and I was right. Emotionally heart-wrenching, beautifully written, heart-warming, and will give you all the feels. Really, you're going to want to run, don't walk to pre-order it, it comes out in March 1st, 2022!

Rating: 5/5 Stars ★★★★★