3.5 ⭐

First of all, I want to say that this book is a sequel to The Village Trattoria which I haven't read before but all the other readers recommend that you do before diving into this one.

With that being said, lets talk about this book:
The book take us to Italy during World War 2 where we continue with the story of Elena Capaldi and her Italian family as the fight against The Nazis during that time.

We see their involvement with the resistance and their secret life and how they are trying to help the community with their restaurant "Capaldi restaurant"

Each member of the family has the role and story and we get to see how that unravel throughout the book.

It's a story of love, devotion, resistance, and hope.

Make sure to check it out if you love historical fiction books.
Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC of #TheMoonlitPiazza in exchange for my honest review.

Xoxo😘

The Moonlit Piazza is the sequel to The Village Trattoria.

Set during the Nazi invasion of Italy, and in the little town of Amatino, Umbria, is the Casa Maria Trattoria and the Capaldi family.

A moving, emotional and confronting story of lost, love, betrayal, secrets and family.

The Moonlit Piazza by Annabelle Thorpe is a gripping and atmospheric continuation of the The Village Trattoria series. Set in the heart of Umbria during WWII, it explores the tension of living under Nazi control, where family loyalty, love, and dangerous secrets collide. Matriarch Elena Capaldi is forced to navigate the complexities of harboring a German soldier, even as suspicions and betrayals threaten the family’s safety. Meanwhile, her grandson Giorgio's undercover work adds another layer of intrigue, and his wife Sophia is left to carry a heavy secret.

Thorpe masterfully weaves together suspense, historical drama, and rich Italian culture, keeping readers hooked from start to finish. The characters are compelling, particularly Elena, whose strength and moral dilemmas resonate deeply. While the plot can sometimes feel predictable, the emotional depth and vivid setting make this a rewarding read for fans of historical fiction.

My head and heart are reeling in the best possible way after reading this phenomenal novel! The beguiling and powerful story is set during World War II in both Rome and Amatino, Umbria. This is not your average Historical Fiction. The writing is extraordinarily gorgeous and the descriptions are lush and rich, transporting me to Italy in less than a second. My reading experience was all sensory as I smelled and inhaled the delectable food, stepped on the polished cobblestones, heard the swish of fabric, felt the cold dripping in the tunnels, and envisioned the multidimensional and colourful characters. I saw the churches, trattoria, rubble and the experienced the sorrow of pervasive suffering and death Everything was so real, so intense, so immersive.

Nazis occupied many communities in Italy, including Amatino. The Capaldi family owned and operated the Trattoria Casa Maria which during the war was overrun by Nazis. But matriarch Elena was sharp and outspoken yet good natured and still had her say, earning their respect. During the war, mistrust and betrayals were common. Neighbour turned against neighbour. In Rome, the Resistance was operational and Capaldi family members were part of it. The horrors of war were etched into the fabric of every being and the descriptions so rich and vivid, not to mention impactful. Some of the characters were despicable but many were admirable and courageous. It was fascinating to learn more about the daily lives of Elena, Sophia, Giorgio, Kat and Rocco as well as Padre Massimo and the sacrifices they made. Family bonds, love, friendships and resilience were constants throughout.

If you seek an emotive and active historical fiction with depth, this is it. Though I loved everything about the novel, the atmosphere and character development captivated me most. Both good and bad characters were written with care and thought. I am in awe at how skillfully the author placed every single word to form this masterpiece!

This is a beautiful, yet heartbreaking story. I was really invited in the characters and the entire story. Captivating writing that makes you feel like you're in Italy.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

When I read the first few pages, I thought this book was going to be confusing and was a bit turned off. When I kept going, I did end up enjoying this, although not as much as I had hoped. The cover was beautiful

The Moonlit Plaza, by Annabelle Thorpe, is a sequel to The Village Trattoria, which fortunately I had read. This is not a stand alone historical novel. The Moonlit Plaza picks up where the first novel ended. The small village of Amatino is occupied by the Nazis during World War II. In charge of the Nazis is Messell, who thrives on cruelty and then rages against the villagers, who are not appreciative of his cruelty. There is an informer, who feeds Messell information about the resistance cell in Amatino.

There are multiple plot lines, secrets and mysteries, and multiple characters in this complex novel, which will be confusing to anyone who does not realize that The Moonlit Plaza is a sequel. I really am emphasizing the importance of reading the first novel. I loved the women characters--Elena, Sophia, and Katarina, all of whom work in the resistance in some manner. Padre Massimo is a wonderful character, with such complexity of personality. There are also several secondary characters, mostly the men in the resistance and several other characters, who are involved with the Nazis in some way.

I am recommending The Moonlit Plaza. I loved the story and the village and all the wonderful Italian cooking. Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for me honest review. My comments above are my honest thoughts.
5 stars

This story is a slow-burn. There are quite a few characters that were hard to keep track of. This wasn't my favorite but I enjoyed the Italian setting and the family aspect of this story.

Many thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A story of mysteries and lies during Italy in WWII. It is a sequel to The Village Trattoria. A good read. I enjoyed it very much.

WHO, WHAT, WHERE: The Capaldi family led by unstoppable grandmother Elena is battling the Nazi occupation of their town of Amatino in Umbria, Italy with layers of love, betrayal, revenge, resilience and found family.

THOUGHTS: I've read a LOT of World War II historical fiction, but I think this was my first that took place in Italy! Especially Nazi-occupied Italy. In schools, I've been taught the perspective of the fascist government of Mussolini and how the Nazi's had taken over other countries (usually these books take place in France). But this really opened up the complexities of life in Italy during World War II. As it is often referred to in Amatino it was black and white, good or bad, but in Rome everything was shades of gray. This book explored a lot of those whether it is if bad guys could be good and if everything is as it seems.

The book featured some well-fleshed-out characters of the Capaldi clan. My favorite was the priest, Massimo by far, and of course the star of the house- Elena. Sophia and Katerina were great additions to the strong women who were unstoppable in this occupation with as much respect at the table as the men they worked alongside. I also really liked the addition of the side characters- even if some of these people were only in a glimpse of the story, they served a purpose of understanding Amatino at war.

It honestly took me until halfway through this book to realize that this was a sequel haha. I was getting so confused that I couldn't understand some of the character dynamics or who was who. And I debated if I should pause where I was in the book and read the first one, or just continue.... but I couldn't put this down!!! I wish I read the first novel first for a bit more of that understanding- for instance, I had no idea what was going on with Messell and Giorgio and Rocco and it took me a bit to realize who is who. I wish it was referenced a bit clearer, but that is likely my misunderstanding- and lack of reading the first novel.

This book is one I would love to read translated in Italian- I think it would be quite enjoyable especially with one thing for me is I always try to picture how the soldiers communicated with their broken languages so well. I really liked the authors use of calling them Gnocchi and some other food related phrases.

I really enjoyed this one and look forward to the third book ( I hope!) and of course going back and reading the first story. I definitely recommend to any historical fiction fans!

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions are my own. The Moonlit Piazza will be published on May 26, 2025. #TheMoonlitPiazza #NetGalley


PS: I look forward to seeing the authors recommended reading and references on the topics!

🇮🇹🪖The Moonlit Piazza by Annabelle Thorpe🪖🇮🇹
Genre: Historical Fiction / Women's Fiction
Length: 400 pages
Pub Date: May 27, 2025
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria Books for the e-ARC of this book. The opinions stated here are solely my own.

Synopsis:
1943 - village of Amatino, Italy, as Nazis occupied during WWII. The book is centered around life in Amatino, and the family of its matriarch, Elena Capaldi. Elena runs and owns a beloved trattoria called Casa Maria in the village, and her heart and loyalties are tested as a young German soldier seeks boarding there. Meanwhile, Elena's grandson has fled to Rome to hide from Nazi soldiers, leaving his new bride, Sophia, to stay in Amatino with the Capaldis. As war tensions rise, villagers are at risk, and it becomes apparent that there may be a traitor in their midst. Is it the young German soldier who is helping Elena cook in the trattoria? Or could it be someone much closer to home...?

Opinion:
This book had me captivated from start to finish. I typically love WWII Historical Fiction, and this book brought a fresh lens from the small Italian village that I loved. The author made the characters truly feel like family and their stories felt so real and powerful. It also makes the reader consider what were very blurred lines during WWII and not to always judge a book by its cover. I loved the strength of nonna Elena, the courage of the young village priest (Massimo), and the side love story of Elena's grandson and new wife. Stories that involve close-knit families always intrigue me and I shed actual tears during many parts in the story. This is a must-read for WWII Historical Fiction!!

I made it about 15% of the way through the book before giving up. I didn’t realise that it was a sequel to another book before beginning and couldn’t quite shake the feeling that I had missed a whole chunk of something really important.
The premise is a good one - resistance fighters in Italy living in Rome during WW2, and the promise of lots of descriptions of delicious Italian food as the family involved runs a trattoria.
I will hunt down the first book in the series and give it a fair go so that I can read the second one without feeling like I’m on the outside of an inside joke!

This was a hard book to get into. I wish it would have been advertised as being the second book of a series. Maybe that’s why I was confused when I was reading it. Unfortunately, I stopped about halfway through. The book seemed a bit dry and wasn’t very intriguing.

The Moonlit Piazza by Annabelle Thorpe is a poignant and evocative tale of resilience, family, and resistance set against the backdrop of WWII Italy. A sequel to The Village Trattoria, this novel reintroduces readers to the Capaldi family, whose lives are deeply intertwined with their beloved trattoria, Casa Maria, and the dangers of Nazi-occupied Amatino.

At the heart of the story is Elena Capaldi, a formidable matriarch whose strength and courage are tested as she harbors a German soldier, Schmidt, in her home—a moral dilemma that sparks questions about humanity amidst war. Meanwhile, her grandson Giorgio works covertly for the Resistance, leaving his wife, Sophia, to navigate her own challenges and protect the family's secrets.

Thorpe masterfully immerses readers in the richly atmospheric setting of Amatino. The vivid descriptions of Casa Maria’s bustling kitchen, the tension-filled piazza, and the Italian countryside create a cinematic experience. The narrative captures the essence of wartime Italy, blending moments of warmth and camaraderie with the ever-present shadow of betrayal and danger.

The characters are beautifully complex, each grappling with their own struggles and secrets. Elena’s unwavering determination and Sophia’s quiet bravery stand out, showcasing the strength of the women in the story. The addition of new characters, such as the enigmatic Kat and the conflicted Schmidt, adds depth and intrigue, keeping readers guessing about their true intentions.

While the first half of the novel excels in building tension and atmosphere, the latter half picks up pace, delivering unexpected twists and an emotional resolution. Themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the enduring power of love and family are woven seamlessly into the plot, leaving a lasting impression.

For fans of historical fiction, The Moonlit Piazza is a compelling and heartfelt read that captures the spirit of resistance and the resilience of the human spirit. Annabelle Thorpe’s lyrical prose and nuanced storytelling make this a standout novel, and readers will be eagerly awaiting what comes next for the Capaldi family.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. The Moonlit Piazza is set to be published on May 26, 2025.

War torn, Nazi occupied Italy is the scene for this book. Family, love, revenge, and horror lead a story of a small town tormented by a moral less Nazi leader who ushers in evil and murder. The Capladi family stands at the core of resistance, forging on despite fear of retribution. A moving story of resilience.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

The book was really, really good. I recommend it to all readers.

The setting, characters and story all came together to make it a great read.

"The Moonlit Piazza" by Annabelle Thorpe immerses readers in the heart of Italy during World War II, where themes of war, family, and love intertwine.

The story focuses on the Capaldi family, who run Casa Maria, a trattoria that symbolizes resistance and resilience in the face of Nazi occupation. The family matriarch, Elena Capaldi, epitomizes strength as she faces a moral dilemma: harboring a young German soldier who shares her love of cooking. This unlikely friendship prompts questions about trust and humanity amidst conflict.

The plot takes place in picturesque Amatino, where secrets lurk beneath the surface. Elena's grandson, Giorgio, is undercover at another family trattoria, leaving his wife Sophia to protect his whereabouts. Suspense builds as conspiracies brew among townspeople, some willing to betray the Capaldis for personal gain. Thorpe weaves an intricate web of intrigue that keeps readers hooked.

The atmosphere is evocative—you can almost taste the aromas from Casa Maria's kitchen, hear the laughter and whispers at family gatherings, and feel the omnipresent fear. Thorpe's writing is lyrical yet accessible, painting vivid images while maintaining a brisk pace. Emotions run deep as we experience Elena's fierce love for her family and her inner turmoil.

Characters are portrayed with nuance—neither purely good nor evil—which adds depth to their interactions and decisions. This complexity prompts readers to examine their beliefs about loyalty and betrayal. Certain plot points could have been further developed for greater emotional impact.

Ultimately, the novel is a heartfelt tribute to Italian heritage and familial bonds that will resonate with anyone inspired by stories of resilience.

It’s the sequel I predicted a couple years ago and have eagerly been anticipating, so I was thrilled when Aria & Aries sent it my way. The Moonlit Piazza by Annabelle Thorpe takes us back to Italy during WWII where we rejoin Sophia, Elena, Massimo, and the rest of the family as the war continues to ravage Europe. Added to the mix is the mysterious Kat, who townspeople are trying to figure out if she’s working for the Nazis and Schmidt, a German soldier who is residing in Elena’s home. Giorgio has been forced from Amatino under the guise that he is dead, but in reality, he goes to stay with his uncle for his safety. Whether in Rome or Amatino, family members work for the Resistance to bring an end to Nazi control of Italy.

Should you read The Village Trattoria before The Moonlit Piazza? I would recommend it highly. It is a great read and will help establish the background of the characters in atheism Moonlit Piazza. Thorpe puts you in the village and you’ll find yourself wanting to step into the restaurant for some of Elena’s homemade pasta dishes and desserts. There’s love and loss, revenge and redemption. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on May 26, 2025.

#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #TheMoonlitPiazza #AnnabelleThorpe #ariaandaries

I like story set in Italy but I usually don't read those set in WWII as my father was a member of the Resistance so it's always complicated define if I liked or not.
This is a good one, a historical fiction with a touch of fantasy about cooking as a way of joining people (in some part of Italy it wasn't that easy and I'm also wondering about Rome after the Ardeatine)
I enjoyed it, recommended
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Moonlit Piazza takes us back to the small Italian village during WWII, and the Capaldi family.
(Although it follows Enemy of Love, you can enjoy The Moonlit Piazza as a standalone read).
This book is great for fans of historical fiction, especially those interested in WWII and the Italian resistance. This is a moving that will keep you hooked until the end.