October book club - An Italian Summer

Thanks for my free copy of the book. I thought it was an enjoyable, light-hearted read.

I liked the fact that the main characters were older - children leaving home, spouses and parents dying, marriages ending, unconventional family groups, new relationships in later life, competing against younger blood for promotion, returning to work after raising a family and changing career are all interesting topics easy to relate to.

I felt that the author had done her research on Rome and Naples, especially the details about the food and the heat! It would have been a great holiday read, especially if you were lucky enough to be holidaying in Italy. It did make me want to go back.

Thank you Gransnet for introducing me to Fanny Blake. I found the novel 'An Italian Summer' enthralling and thoroughly enjoyable.
I will certainly be reading more of her books.
The composition of the story reminded me very much of Joanna Trollops's style of writing in dealing with relationships. Absolutely loved the story-line and the wonderful descriptions of Italy.

Thank you gransnet loved the book transported me back to Rome and the summer! It was a easy read and liked the characters felt it mixed on really well. First time with this utter but won't be my last enjoyed it. Passing it onto my sister.

Author.

An enjoyable holiday read. The characters were well drawn and the descriptions of Rome and Naples were wonderfully vivid. I thought the way everything suddenly came together and got sorted out at the end was a bit glib - did Alice really already live so close she could stay at Sandy's home while still getting to her new job? But a minor quibble! I would be interested to know if Fanny Blake plans everything before she starts to write, or whether once the characters are coming to life, she lets them take over and lead the story along?

Have just finished the book. It was such an uplifting read, at the beginning I wasn't thinking I would like Sandy but a few chapters in I was certainly hoping she was going to get her 'happy ending'. I agree with other readers that the friendship with Alice was also a lovely aspect of the book. Fanny Blake catches the essence of Italy perfectly and whilst I've never particularly felt the need to travel there from holiday programmes the words on the page and the love you can feel she has of the place has added Italy as one of the places I'd now like to visit. A very good read.

This was just the right type of book for me at the moment. Concentration and time are both limited and this was ideal as I could read a few pages and easily return a day or two later.

Trips to Italy are among my favourites, it was good to be able to see it again through the descriptive passages. The friendship between Sandy and Alice seemed both feasible and very real. I would have liked Sandy to be a little tougher earlier in the book, she irritated me in the beginning but I warmed to her later.

My ‘wonders’ for the author echo many others expressed here. Has Fanny lived in Italy, how was the research carried out? Might there be any plans for a sequel or even series? Either focused on Italy, Sandy or other characters from this book?

Thank you GN and Fanny, this book was well timed for me.

I loved this book, very easy to read with a story line I enjoyed.
Wonderful descriptions of Italy, very accurate and she even mentioned the heat which can be quite tiring. Its made me want to go there again and visit more places.
I'll certainly look out for more books by Fanny Blake.

It took me quite a while to get into this book and consequently quite a long time to read it. I couldn't really identify with any of the characters and I felt the liaison between Mark and Lia was a bit far fetched. I would have liked a twist in the tale at the end.However,I did enjoy the last 100 or so pages and agree with others that it was a light holiday read.

Is there a November book yet ?

Not seen one mentioned yet.

Just on today I think.

Actually, I've just been scrolling down "latest" and seen the November book advertised there.

Crossed posts, Greenfinch ?

Let's hope we are both lucky.

Great book and a lovely holiday read. I've never been to Italy but I'm sure I would love it after reading this book. Not only the historic sites but also the delicious food! I would also like to hear from Fanny about how she researched it and how long it took.

Just downloaded to my Kindle, on your recommendations.

Thank you for my copy of Italian Summer. I really enjoyed reading it. I visited Rome, Sorrento and Pompei about 15 years ago and Fanny Blake’s descriptions of those places took me straight back! Sandy was a lovely character and I am glad she had some answers to her questions. An easy read, perfect holiday reading especially if visiting Italy.

Oh dear. I’m in a minority - I didn’t really, really enjoy the book! I found it very ‘wordy’, as in too much unnecessary dialogue (he said, she said etc.) and detail.

Lia was a monstrosity and surely Alice would have said something /done something /killed Peter (whose characterisation I did enjoy)!

‘An Italian Summer’ did give an excellent flavour of Italy reprising memories for those who have visited and providing a tantalising glimpse of what is in store for those who have not. Fanny Blake’s food descriptions made me yearn to jump on a ‘plane back to Italy!

It was the characterisations I didn’t enjoy; I wanted to tell Sandy to get a grip, shake Alice, and kill Peter (and Lia, too - maybe at the same time)... all too pastiche, too Mills and Boon.

Thank you Fanny for ‘An Italian Summer’ for I now know that I could never ever join a group holiday!

Am just musing on the thought that perhaps Fanny has actually met a Lia/Peter or seen such a 'relationship', fleeting 'though it actually was, develop. Or, perhaps the ideas are all in the mind of an fiction-writing author.....?

Thanks for the book. I enjoyed it. I liked the characters and they seemed very credible and accurate in their presentations. I particularly liked Sandy's choice of men-both Matthew and Steven and wish that I had chosen so well in life! The book depicted the good and bad of group travel and anyone planning a group holiday would be well advised to read this..