Brilliant story, fabulous characters. Love reading this authors books.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

Although the outcome was predictable, it was the journey that was the story:
the prejudices of a small Italian community,
Pizza making
Bocca playing
Most importantly the nonna community

This was a one-sitting read for me. A book about a second-chance romance with family thrown in, and a dash of women empowerment as an added bonus.
I started it thinking I would pause at some point, but apart from one meal, I kept reading till I (virtually) turned the last page. Our leading lady is our standard harried, overworked lawyer Lucia. The difference here is that she is to set out on her annual family vacation when our story begins. This lets us take a step back and wallow in the descriptions of Lucia's small home town, her grandfathers Pizzeria and her Grandmothers overflowing kitchen. The physical and mental unwinding for Lucia is almost immediate. You can see it happen, but that peace is not set to last. There are many hurdles to cross before the happily ever after shows any signs of appearing.
The Pizzeria is up for sale, and Lucia does not like where the suggestions are going. She has grown in the last few years as she worked, but she might be looking at her past with coloured glasses. There is more room for her to grow and learn, something we get to watch.
The book is filled with strong women, some fun scenes and some emotional ones. They are all tethered together with some evocative writing that was deep enough to make the reading experience that much better.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Beautifully set in Italy and the writing makes one feel the sun and smell the cooking so eloquently described. Lucia, a half Welsh half Italian solicitor heads off to Italy when she is passed over for promotion in her firm. She is staying with her grandparents who run a pizzeria in the town and she is enjoying the cooking of her Nonna. but she is shocked when her grandfather announces he is retiring and wants to hand it over to Giacomo who runs a pizzeria in the next town with his father and brother. Lucia is shocked as one only learns then that Giacomo is her not quite ex-husband who she left years ago to pursue her law career rather than be a wife cooking and cleaning for a husband. An intriguing competition is suggested by the Grandfather to resolve who takes on the pizzeria. But in the way there is meddling and subtrifuse as well as romance and comedy. a great read.

This would be a book you could read on holiday very easy reading.

Lucia is half Italian and Welsh she has previously lived in Italy but unfortunately things didn’t work out for her. She trained to be a solicitor but she truly loved cooking but has never been able to do this due to her work. Giacomo has always been in his family pizzeria but finds it too constrained and it is decided he will run the pizzeria that Lucia’s Grandfather has and is looking to retire.

Lucia decides she wants to run it and between her and Giacomo she gets her Grandfather let them run a competition to see who will be the winner. Lucia & Giacomo have previous history will they ever be able to be together again.

I really thought the book was very good and enjoyed all that happened in it.

This was a cutesy little romance that I think any hopeless romantic would really enjoy. The descriptive writing was incredibly well done and the scenery was beautiful. 4/5!

Lovely story, well described. Fabulous characters too. Felt I was in the moment as I was reading. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion

Lovely. A beautiful escape to Italy with sun, love and pizza. A wonderful feel good book for those with romance it their hearts.

Whatever county or food type Jo has obviously done extensive research and love and romance seem to play a secondary part although a very important part. Pizza will never taste the same again

I have read a couple of books by this author now and really like her style. Her writing flows effortlessly.
I loves the setting in Italy, the nonna network, the bocce games. It was a beautiful story.
Do not read it on an empty stomach though I must say. The rich, descriptive essence of the pizzas and antipasti will get your mouth watering. I could practically smell the food. There is a real love if Italian heritage and cuisine throughout which was lovely to read.
Great characters, great story, lovely happy ending. Just what I like!

This was a gorgeous and light-hearted Italian romance, filled with stunning scenery, delicious foods and a wonderful set of characters. The perfect escape from the dreary days we have brewing up.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

The plot doesn't have any surprises, but it was well-written and transports you to Italy. It will make you want pizza though!

What more could you want? A delightful breezy read set in southern Italy, loads of tempting and tantalising food, and some very slight feminist undertones. Yes, a great read. Very enjoyable, and quick to get through. I would recommend for a trip or short getaway as it's so escapist. Thanks so much.

You cannot go wrong with Jo Thomas. She’s one of those writers who just doesn’t know how to compose a bad book.

This book is full of families, romance and correcting past mistakes. From the first page I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down at all. The characters were so well-rounded, likeable and relatable. The plot was brilliant; and set at just the right pace. The fact that it takes place in Italy and involves lots of pizza doesn’t hurt either!

“It was one of those rare opportunities that comes your way once in a lifetime.”

It is truly a warm and comforting story. I liked getting to know the community of characters. Nonna and her network are especially adorable. Thomas manages to conjure up images of them all with that little sparkle in their eyes. All I want to do now is eat pasta and drink wine round the family dining table.

Ultimately, it is a story of tradition, honour, family and love. I can promise you whole-heartedly that it will make you melt inside. It really is pure joy.

Great plot loved characters and their lives I what to keep reading to see what was happing your just pulled into the plot a great book I read in a day easy to read

I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely novel set in southern Italy. Beautiful descriptions of all the food and fabulous characters. A perfect summer read.
With grateful thanks to Netgalley, Random House UK and Transworld Publishing.

A brilliant read with good developed characters and I especially appreciated the depictions of italian food.

I was sent this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A great book with an undercurrent of feminism in it when Lucia goes to Italy and has to fight traditional expectations of males and females in order to achieve her dream.

I really enjoyed this story and the complicated relationship between Gia and Lucia as well as the storyline of the network of female help given to Lucia by her Nonna.

The competition between Gia and Lucia was fierce and pride played a big part too in the overall result. I'll look forward to reading more by Jo Thomas and I hope that there are more to follow this book in a series as there are plenty of characters whose lives could be followed further. Overall a great read!

I loved this - a really easy read that felt like an escape to Italy and foodie heaven. Jo’s writing is richly descriptive and I’m not sure if I want to book a holiday to Italy first or drown in tomato sauce at an Italian restaurant. Downside…this book made me seriously hungry!