Three girls from three different countries and three different backgrounds meet in an escapist setting and become friends for life. What more do you need for a light, easy read? The storyline wizzes back and forth from ‘then’ and ‘now’ a bit too speedily for me to really settle into the plot but altogether it serves the purpose. Melissa Hill is accomplished at what she does, producing stories that lightly engage you, entertainment for a sunny holiday or a rainy day when you don’t want to have to work too hard for an easy read.
Thank you Netgalley for ARC.

This is my 1st Melissa hill book. I enjoyed the book once I got used to moving between years.
I enjoyed reading about the friendship and how they meet up years later

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

Really enjoyed this, a fantastic, leisurely read
really cheered me up on some very dark, wintry days

‘With piercing green eyes the colour of the ocean. His cheeky smile was like sunshine the moment their eyes met’ Really? ‘His eyes were like deep pools that she wanted to dive right into’. For goodness sake how cheesy is this? I’m afraid this book just wasn’t my cup of tea as it was just far too cheesy and cringeworthy and the three girls were all so whiney in a made up world where everyone is shiny and beautiful that I couldn’t feel any emotional attachment to any one of them.

I have previously enjoyed Melissa Hill books but this one felt lacking. There were lots of characters and they lacked depth. The story felt drab until the final chapter with, what I thought was a very clever twist, but which turned into a farcical storyline.

Three friends, past and present scenarios, truths, lies and big revelations with twists and turns you know are going to be there. All in all a fab story of friendships, heartbreak and secrets. Throw in a fabulous villa on the Almafi coast and food! You’re in for a treat, grab a glass of wine a comfy seat and be prepared for a story you won’t be able to put down.

An enjoyable story that will keep your interest from start to finish. Definitely recommended to those readers who enjoy reading this genre.

I struggled to get through this book which is a shame as I have read a few of Melissa Hills’s books and enjoyed them. This one was so disappointing, the characters were very spoiled and shallow and the story was not at all how life really is. The ordinary person cannot just take off and live in another country at the drop of a hat. The characters annoyed me as they seemed to have no ties and could do exactly what they wanted when they wanted.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I went into this book not expecting too much. I expected a fairly light, fluffy, easy read. It was so much more than that and I was so pleasantly surprised. The three women are believable, and made me want to keep following their stories.
One thing in particular that I liked was that Annie wasn't a caricature of an Irish woman, nor was she excessively Americanised. As an actual Irish woman, it drives me nuts when Irish people in fiction are either full on fiddle dee dee leprechaun or going around saying things they'd never say like "Hot damn y'all". Ms. Hill did a really good job with this character!

I also did not see the twist coming, and it kept me guessing right up til the end.

My one and only criticism is that the epilogue and ending in general felt a little bit too rushed. I think this could be adapted to fully round off and finish up the character's stories - it's a slow burn throughout the book so I think it deserves a bit more than a couple of pages.

Overall though, this was a really well written book with a lot of heart in it, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it.

3 girls meet in Italy, all from different backgrounds but they strike up a friendship. Years later they return to the villa in Italy for a grand re opening, all of them have problems connected to their original meeting- will their friendship survive? Well written, a good book to curl up with on a wet and windy day.

This is a story about 3 women and their lives over 2 timelines. It is a good easy read and a lovely way to spend a few hours.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I have read other books by this author and the book description sounded like it would transport me away from a wet British February but I am afraid all the jumping about from past to present meant that I didn’t engage with the characters like I wanted to. I enjoyed Collette’s storyline the most but felt my attention wandering throughout the book I am afraid.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the preview copy.

Three women meet on the Amalfi Coast in Italy and become unlikely friends. Six years later they're all together again, back at the Villa Dolce Vita and we start to understand just how their lives are tangled and intertwined.

An emotive, captivating read that had me gripped towards the end to see if my suspicions were correct as unlikely as it seemed!! Likeable characters all with their own issues and battles to face.

I enjoyed this book and had to finish it as soon as I could although then I was left wanting more. A lovely Summer read about a beautiful place.

3 people holiday at a villa in Italy and become close friends. 6 years later, of of them, Kim, has bought the villa and is turning it into a retreat. She invites her friends to the launch.
The story alternates between the run up to the launch and the original holiday and as it unfolds it becomes clear that each person has secrets which could threaten the friendship.
A good escape. Would recommend.
Thanks fo #Netgalley for Arc for an honest review

An enjoyable book of a friendship and holiday saga. When Collette and Annie fly out to Italy to the launch of Kim’s hotel, the idea is for the friends to be reunited after many years. However, no one’s life is quite as happy as they make out.
I found the book to be slow for the first 20% or so, and would have given up had it not been for loving so many of Melissa Hill’s previous books. However, I then couldn’t put it down.
A good read, which I would recommend.

A really beautiful story, with some nice twists in it where you think you know what is going on but you just can't be quite sure...

Characters are really likable and a great read!

Kim, Colette and Annie, three friends meeting after six years. They all began their friendship in the delightful Villa Dolce Vita on the Amalfi coast. All arrived there for differing reasons. the villa, rough and ready but holding that wonderful Italian ambience serving as a background to their stories.
Six years later, one of them has bought and renovated the Villa, and asked her two friends to meet her there.
It is sometimes confusing to move backwards and forwards in the timeline, one needs to concentrate.
Altogether it was a most enjoyable book, with the flavour of Italy warming the story.
Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy.

Quite a complicated plot with a number of misunderstandings which provide red herrings. This is a story of 3 women who meet by chance in Italy, their lives and loves from that point on. Fairly enjoyable.

A good read about three friends and past meeting with present. Absolutely loved the delightful descriptions of the Amalfi Coast, makes me want to add a visit to this place to my bucket list.
However, the constant moving between Past and Present felt jarring - just as I was getting the hang of the 'now' part, it would move. Plus it also felt like 2 different stories, the characters not the same (as Kim has changed so much between then and now) that it made it hard for me to follow. Could be easier to get through if you binge-read the book in 1-2 days with no interruption in there, but if you'll leave and then come back, it might be hard to get back in

Unfortunately not my favourite Melissa Hill book. I do love this author and have enjoyed many of her past novels, I like the way she puts twists and turns in to keep the reader guessing. This book followed a similar formula, but was less effective in my opinion. I enjoyed the setting descriptions and am keen to visit this beautiful sounding part of Italy. However, I found it hard to warm to any of the main female characters throughout. The plot switching between past and present became a little frustrating. The twist at the end was all a little too far fetched and everything was tied up too quickly and neatly. Despite this I look forward to reading her next.
Thank you to netgalley, the author and publishers for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.