An Italian Island Secret is a captivating, atmospheric read filled with family mysteries, romance, and the breathtaking beauty of Ischia.

Alessia’s journey to uncover her grandmother Ornella’s long-buried past is both emotional and intriguing. The dual timelines—mixing 1950s Hollywood glamour with present-day discoveries—create a rich, immersive story that kept me hooked. The mystery surrounding Ornella’s sister adds a compelling layer, while Alessia’s budding romance with journalist Roberto brings warmth and charm.

The descriptions of the Italian island are stunning, making this book a true escapist delight.

If you love historical secrets, multi-generational family drama, and sun-soaked romance, An Italian Island Secret is the perfect summer read! 🇮🇹☀️💛

In this fun and fascinating dual-timeline historical fiction novel, readers follow Alessia as she discovers her grandmother Ornella’s past and secrets about her life on Ischia and what happened to her sister over the course of a beautiful Italian summer. Returning to the island and discovering her family’s secrets, Alessia meets a handsome journalist named Roberto who might be able to help them discover what happened to Ornella’s sister and see if these two women can find their happy ending and put the past to bed. With a host of fantastic characters and a fun historical fiction backdrop, the emotional core of the story and the grandmother-granddaughter relationship is absolutely the star of this novel, and both Ornella and Alessia are wonderful, complex, and excellent protagonists. The historical details are unique and interesting, adding to the drama and intrigue surrounding the novel’s mystery, and readers will enjoy the depth of detail and worldbuilding present in both timelines. Deeply enjoyable and immersive with a surprisingly complex mystery at its core, this is a fantastic and exciting new historical fiction novel with two detailed timelines that readers will love. Victoria Springfield’s novel has all of the Italian summer charm and historical detail that readers of both romance and historical fiction novels will love.

When Alessia loses her job as a seamstress, she decides to travel to the Italian island of Ischia with her Nonna, Ornella, to visit the area where Ornella grew up. Alessia knows that since leaving the island, Ornella has barely spoken of her life there but doesn't know why. When a mix up with their accommodation leads to a chance encounter with an old friend and with a reporter, Alessia and Ornella become swept up in life on the island. Alessia's budding friendship with Roberto, the reporter, leads her to uncover details of movies that were filmed on the island together with Ornella's involvement with the films.

This was a delightful read, filled with great characters and beautiful scenery; it really felt like your were transported to the island. Alessia, Ornella and their friends on the island were well developed characters who you got to know throughout the book.

The story moved at a good pace. Although there were some parts that were fairly obvious, there was enough intrigue and extra elements to keep the story interesting.

This is a charming escapist novel set in beautiful Italy. I enjoyed the cast of characters and the way the story unfolded. Would recommend.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was great escapist novel!

An Italian Island Secret by Victoria Springfield

One part romance, one part mystery and one part travelogue - all ingredients that make this such a pleasurable read!

After a disappointing breakup and then job loss, Alessia and her grandmother decide to spend the summer in Ischia, Italy. It is a delight to be transported to the real-life island of Ischia, Italy where Alessia’s grandmother grew up, but never spoke of. It’s here where Alessia, with the help of an attractive journalist, discover the tragic reason why her grandmother has never spoken of her past.

The story and characters draw you in while the detailed descriptions of the local landscape and traditions leave you with a feeling like you've just been on a holiday to the island of Ischia! (Lesli Christianson-Kellow, writer)

Unfortunately I could not get into this book. It did not grab my attention and it was a bit confusing with the narration with the past, present, and movie scripts. I did not finish this book.

A little slow going at first but somewhere around the 30% mark it really picks up. The vivid imagery the author paints makes the reader feel as if they are actually there! I loved the story. It is beautifully written and the reader goes through the full range of emotions. This story left my heart feeling full and happy at everyone’s happily ever after.

Secrets, even those from long ago, can catch up with you. This book is full of old glamour and contemporary emotions, with an Italian romance woven into the mix. A real page turner with a surprising twist.

Chase the winter blues away with this dreamy and engaging new novel by Victoria Springfield, An Italian Island Secret.

Alessia knows that her grandmother grew up on the beautiful island of Ischia, but she has always been puzzled by the fact that Ornella never makes mention of her life in Italy – or why she has never returned. Ornella has always refused to speak about her past, so she stuns her granddaughter when she mentions the fact that as a young woman she had worked on a film set back in Italy. Could the reason for her reluctance to mention the past be because of a connection between the film set and the tragic death of her teenage sister?

Ornella had made a promise decades ago – a promise she has never once broken. But perhaps the time has now come to pry open the door to her past and to think again about the love she had given up and the secret she had been forced to keep. Travelling back to Ischia with her granddaughter, Ornella is determined to find out the truth about what happened to her sister and to lay old ghosts to rest.

In Italy, Alessia finds herself drawn into this mystery from decades ago. As she meets a handsome Italian journalist willing to help her find she the answers she seeks, will the happiness that Alessia has been searching for for so long be found in Ischia? And can Ornella finally find the closure she is desperate for?

Victoria Springfield’s An Italian Island Secret is a sun-drenched, escapist and moving tale full of mystery, romance and drama that sweeps readers off to Ischia and will keep them entertained and engrossed from beginning to end. Victoria Springfield is a talented writer who makes her setting and her characters come to stunning life and readers are sure to be completely enthralled by her latest novel, An Italian Island Secret.

This was a delightful read about Alessia and her grandmother Ornella as they journey to the Italian island of Ischia, where Ornella grew up. There's mystery and romance as the book moves from trying to discover the mysteries of Ornella's past and the potential romance of Alessia's present.

There's intrigue surrounding the glamour of the film industry from the 1950s, but Alessia's grandmother is extremely tightlipped about what really happened and Alessia yearns to know more about her family's past. This was an enjoyable book that's great for a bit of escapism into a delicious Italian getaway. It moved at a good pace, the characters were fun and not total caricatures, and it kept me interested the entire time.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley.

Set on a gorgeous Greek island this is a story of love, secrets, history, heart break and more. I love the relationship between Alessia and her grandmother. This book lets you escape to an Italian island, the descriptions are perfect and you can definitely imagine the Italian island of Ischia. Although I enjoyed this book I also found it a bit slow and it took time for exciting things to happen in the book. This would be a great summer read and I would recommend it.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book

Alessia's gran, Ornella, has been reluctant to share
Why she left her Italian island home, never returning there.
So when she suggests the two of them go
Alessia wonders what she'll get to know.

The start of revelations from Ornella's past
Include secrets that she's sharing at long last.
Including a movie filmed on the island before she left there
And the death of her younger sister for whom she'd care.

Travelling to the island, feels like coming home once more
And with a handsome journalist, Alessia the island explores.
He's looking into the era when her gran lived there
And searching for information about folks for whom she'd cared.

With conflicting feelings and lots to discover
Will the past secrets help bring them closer to each other?
Or will the past and what happened back then
Drive folks apart, never to meet again?

A story with #MeToo and so many revelations, too,
Along with surprises all the way through.
There's mystery, history, lasting friendships and romance,
Making this a delightful read - I hope you'll give it a chance.

For my copy of this book I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

This is the story of Alessia and her grandmother Ornella.
Alessia knows that Ornella came from the island of Ischia but she never talks about it.
Suddenly when the shop Alessia works in closes Ornella suggests they visit the island.
There are secrets there and Alessia finds out Ornella's sister died in an accident and wants to know more.
I liked the descriptions of life on the island as I read but I felt I knew what had happened quite early on.
I found the story quite slow moving and it didn't really hold me.
It is a feel good story and well written so I am sure it will be popular.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.

This was the perfect summer read offering romance, second chances, new found family and family secrets, all set along the Italian coast of Ischia, which left me feeling as if I was right there!
I loved the storyline of the book as it offered a sense of mystery and this was written so well and kept me turning the pages. The dual timeline provided background of the characters and a highlight into the secrets being withheld and I adored the old style glamour of the film sets and Italy within that time. The way in which the old and new connected worked so well and I liked the idea of the past meeting the present.
I adored the relationship between Alessia & Ornella and the love they had for one another was so heartfelt and touching. They each had their own secrets and insecurities and I liked how you could see their character development and growth as the story progressed.
The ending of the story was so perfect and everything I hoped for and I really didn't want to leave the characters behind.

Victoria Springfield's An Italian Island Secret is a beautiful mix of romance, mystery, and historical fiction set against the picturesque backdrop of Ischia, a beautiful Italian island off the coast of Naples. The story follows Alessia as she discovers her grandmother Ornella's long-held secrets, which lead her on a journey of self-discovery and love.

Alessia knows very little about her grandmother Ornella's past, except that she grew up on the enchanting island of Ischia. When Ornella reveals that she once worked on the set of a famous 1950s movie filmed on the island, Alessia is intrigued. As they travel to Ischia together, Alessia falls in love with the island and meets Roberto, a handsome journalist who helps her dig deeper into her family's history. The journey uncovers secrets about Ornella's sister's tragic death and a life-changing promise Ornella made decades ago. Alessia and Ornella must work their way through the past to find that happy ending they so desire.

The novel talks about family secrets, love, sacrifice, and new beginnings. It emphasizes the importance of unearthing the truth and reconciling with the past to move forward. Romantic elements add warmth and depth to the story, making it an interesting read.

In such a way, Springfield develops good-rounded characters for readers to be able to identify with. From curiosity to determination, Alessia's journey is compelling, as she explores her relationship with Ornella and Roberto. In particular, the character of Ornella is poignantly portrayed by the gradual unveiling of her past and the secrets that she keeps as layers to her personality.

The writing is evocative and immersive, bringing the beauty of Ischia to life. Her descriptions of the island, its culture, and its people are vivid and captivating. The pacing of the story is well-balanced, with moments of tension and romance that keep the reader engaged.

The mystery of Ornella's past and that of the secrets hidden on Ischia keeps the reader hooked from the start to the finish. Alessia and Roberto's blossoming romance gives a sweet and hopeful dimension to the story. The descriptions of Ischia are so rich and vivid that, at times, the island feels like a character itself that improves the overall reading experience. Exploring family dynamics and the impact of secrets on the heart had emotional resonance to the novel.

Some readers may find the plot twists a bit predictable, but that does not greatly detract from the overall enjoyment of the story. The pacing is generally well-balanced, but some parts of the story may feel slower than others.

An Italian Island Secret is a novel that beautifully fuses romance, mystery, and historical fiction to create an enjoyable read. Evocative writing from Victoria Springfield with well-developed characters make it a perfect read for summer. Whether one has a preference for romance or mystery, this is a perfect escapade into the beautiful island of Ischia.

I highly recommend An Italian Island Secret to anyone who's eager to read an interesting story with some romance and mystery. Well-placed, beautiful scenes, an intriguing plot, and deep emotional bases are what create such a necessity for reading this book among fans of historical fiction and contemporary romance.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, for a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This book was a delightful escape. At the beginning, I wanted to know more about the characters, and the general tone of the writing was warm and lighthearted. I appreciated the close bond between the protagonist, Alessia, and her grandmother, Ornella.

Part of the book takes place in the 1950s, and I enjoyed that element of the story. I also appreciated the film references throughout.

This book was heartwarming, nostalgic and romantic. I enjoyed following these characters, and I found this to be a heartfelt story that speaks to the importance of family, and knowing where you belong. I think this would also be a great choice as a summer read. If you're planning a trip to Italy anytime soon, you could take this book with you.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

CW: death, death of a parent, death of a child, fire, trauma, injury, car accident, implied su!cide, implied SA

Alessia's grandmother, Ornella, rarely talks about her youth, growing up on the Italian island of Ischia. In fact, she doesn't discuss many difficult topics, including the death of her own daughter - Alessia's mother. But when they hear the news of the death of a Golden Age actress with whom Ornella once worked, the pair take a trip back to the island, to mend old wounds and heal the past.

Alessia, meanwhile, is reeling from the death of her mother and a bad breakup AND the loss of her job. With nothing to tie her to England, she leaps at the chance for an island getaway. A chance meeting with an Italian journalist and some old friends of Ornella's soon prove to be balm to Alessia's aching heart.

Secrets start unravelling as Ornella confronts her past and learns to both forgive and open up about the decisions made way back when.

This was an interesting book - there were so many plotlines and characters it was challenging to keep track of them all at once point! We have the main plot of Ornella's secrets; then we have Alessia's romance with the journalist; then we have his investigations into older film starts which is tangential to Ornella's story; then we have Alesia's friend Cristina's forthcoming wedding and her turbulent relationship with her fiancé; then we have the side story of Anna, local island recluse; THEN we have the plans for the local festival. Add in some flashbacks for Ornella, and there is a LOT going on.

Despite the many plotlines, this was an entertaining and engaging story that left the reader guessing, with a good balance of heartbreaking and heartwarming moments.

A delightful summer read.

~ Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review~

Alessia knows where her grandmother comes from but has never been to the island. After finding out her grandmother worked with stars while filming on the island, she would love to know more. But her grandmother knows how to keep secrets. They finally visit the island and she learns so much more than expected. Family secrets are revealed in bits and pieces. You do not mind waiting for the secrets to be revealed because so much happens in between. This book was full of beautiful descriptions, I feel I have visited this place. The storyline is so captivating. This is a fabulous read!

A reader who craves a romantic, escapist tale with a strong focus on family secrets, historical intrigue, and the power of love and loyalty will adore this story