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The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman
Genre: Women’s Fiction | Pub: 11.17.20 by Berkley
Book Jacket Synopsis:
A trio of second-born daughters sets out on a whirlwind journey through the lush Italian countryside to break the family curse that says they’ll never find love, by New York Times bestseller Lori Nelson Spielman, author of The Life List.
Since the day Filomena Fontana cast a curse upon her sister more than two hundred years ago, not one second-born Fontana daughter has found lasting love. Some, like second-born Emilia, the happily-single baker at her grandfather’s Brooklyn deli, claim it’s an odd coincidence. Others, like her sexy, desperate-for-love cousin Lucy, insist it’s a true hex. But both are bewildered when their great-aunt calls with an astounding proposition: If they accompany her to her homeland of Italy, Aunt Poppy vows she’ll meet the love of her life on the steps of the Ravello Cathedral on her eightieth birthday, and break the Fontana Second-Daughter Curse once and for all.
Against the backdrop of wandering Venetian canals, rolling Tuscan fields, and enchanting Amalfi Coast villages, romance blooms, destinies are found, and family secrets are unearthed—secrets that could threaten the family far more than a centuries-old curse.
Purchase link: Amazon
Arielle’s Notes
Book Format & Source: Hardcover purchased via BOTM
Review & Thoughts:
- I read this as a book club selection with a few friends at work. We all absolutely loved it and one of my other colleagues read and enjoyed by our recommendation.
- I enjoyed everything about this book; the writing style (descriptive but not overly so), the storyline, the characters. So many lovely quotes.
- I absolutely loved Poppy’s character. Love an older lady that’s a firecracker that marches to her own beat and is always ready for adventure. <3
- One of the most important themes of the novel is the message that anything is possible. Deeply touches on the importance of love and trusting yourself.
- After reading the authors notes I loved learning that it had a smattering of inspiration from a true story! Essentially it was inspired a historical life event that was woven into a beautiful piece of fiction.
- This was one of the best works of fiction I’ve read in a while. I will definitely need to check out what other books this author has written!
- I particularly loved a quote about being planted in the wrong place. This spoke to me on a personal level and inspired a separate blog post that will be coming soon.
Favorite Quotes:
- You’ll find life is much more interesting when you learn to say ‘It’s possible.” p 41
- To me, love is more like a lending library. To keep it, we must continually renew it. Otherwise we pay a hefty fine. p 55
- Planted in the right spot, we blossom. You’ll find it happens to you, too, once you find your home. p 79
- That which brings us joy should never be besmirched. p 82
- All this time you’ve been told what to believe. Imagine the power in deciding what it is you hold to be true… When someone tells us something about ourselves – good or bad – we try so desperately to prove them right. p 108
- We ignore what our heart tells us when we think it could make someone love us. p 118
- I’ve found life much sweeter when I choose to believe the best of others, rather than the worst. p 152
- True intimacy is a connection of the mind as well as the body. p 170
- Life is not always a circle. More often, it’s a tangled knot of detours and dead ends, false starts and broken hearts. An exasperating, dizzying maze, impossible to navigate and useless to map. But not a single corner nor curve should ever, ever be missed. p 220
Recommend for: This is an absolute must-read for anyone that enjoys women’s fiction.
My Review Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
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