This is a heartwarming and evocative story set on the picturesque island of Ischia. The novel delves into themes of family loyalty, hidden truths, and personal sacrifices, presenting a deeply emotional and authentic narrative.

Through vivid and enchanting descriptions, the island setting comes alive, showcasing the author’s intimate knowledge and affection for Ischia. The characters, particularly Ornella and Alessia, embark on heartfelt journeys—one to confront a complicated past, the other to uncover a family history filled with secrets.

The romance in the story is tender and understated, allowing relationships to develop naturally, while the narrative’s depth and emotional resonance make it a timeless and memorable read. Perfect for fans of immersive storytelling with a strong sense of place, this novel is a celebration of connection, self-discovery, and enduring bonds.

I enjoyed this book set in the present day on the Italian Island of Ischia.
Alessia and her grandmother, Ornella are making a summer trip to the island and end up staying longer than planned. The trip rakes up plenty of memories, good and bad, for Ornella, with the recollections being set in a 1950's timeline.
I enjoyed the tales from the movie set and the multi-timeline descriptions of the island and its inhabitants.
There are plenty of twists along the way resulting in a captivating, emotional read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

This story takes place on the Italian island of Ischia near Naples and has a confusing amount of characters which I won't all name.

Ornella, 83, left Ischia with husband Gennaro and daughter Silvana for England when she was in her twenties. She has never talked about her time there with granddaughter Alessia, 34, but suddenly she is keen to return for a month long holiday. The "everything was better then and people dressed properly" nostalgia was a bit much at first especially because it isn't true, but thankfully that died down a bit the more we delved into that era and its sexism.

What follows is a reunion with old friends and the

3.75 stars.

What a charming story! Alessia and her 83-year-old Nonna, Ornella, have come to the beautiful Italian island where Ornella grew up. The author set a really lovely scene on Ischia, between the visual descriptions and all the little sightsee locations given throughout, I really got a feel for this place I've never been.

At first, I found Ornella to be quite a dislikable character and really wasn't sure if I would vibe with her at all. But over the course of the book, you get to know her complexities and her life story, her reasons for leaving Italy when she was young. The book includes several chapters from the 1950s perspective of Ornella, and the author has weaved those into the story in the right moments without it being confusing or aggressively time-jumpy.

Between that and Alessia's own journey of falling in love with the island, you really get pulled into the story. Beyond these two MCs, the other characters are very engaging and add much to the plot and to their individual and combined stories. I particularly enjoyed Anna's role in the story.

If you're looking for a nice escape to a whimsical island, some investigating of family secrets, and a dash of romance, I'd encourage you to read this when it comes out.

What an enjoyable read. The beautiful Italian setting on the isle of Ischia was just so magical. Springfield did a wonder job describing the island. I could see the plump tomatoes and feel the wind from the ferry ride from Naples. I loved the progression and resolution of the plot, especially for brutally burned and disfigured Anna. What a well written emotional story. Also, Springfield did a good job of developing a community of characters, from movie stars and journalist to farmers, hairdressers and seamstresses, all interconnected in the unfolding drama. I felt like I knew and liked each of the characters.
I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a good read that will pull on the heart strings!

A slow start but overall a good dual timeline. With secrets and twists and turns. Lovely scene setting of Ischia and a good mix of characters.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

I enjoyed An Italian Island Secret, a dual timeline story set on a beautiful island near Italy. A grandmother and her granddaughter return to her hometown and secrets are uncovered.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I loved this book by Victoria Springfield which is set on a gorgeous isle of Ischia, it’s a dual timeline story.

We follow Alessia, along with her grandmother, Ornella, when they leave London and go back Ischia, the place Ornella hasn’t been back to for decades.

I loved the descriptions of the island, the places and the characters.

It was interesting to read about the relationship both characters shared and how the past impacted their lives. How this mystery was untold, kept me turning the pages.

I highly recommend this book.

An Italian Island Secret by Victoria Springfield is a captivating read that transports you straight to the enchanting island of Ischia. The story is rich with substance and emotion, weaving together themes of family loyalty, hidden pasts, and personal sacrifices in a way that feels deeply authentic and moving.

The vivid descriptions of Ischia are breathtaking; I could almost feel the warmth of the sun and see the beauty of the landmarks as I read. The author’s intimate knowledge and love for the island shine through, and I found myself frequently Googling the places mentioned to immerse myself even further—each time, they were exactly as described. Reading about this idyllic setting while snow fell outside my window made it all the more magical.

What stood out most was how naturally the threads of the story came together. The narrative felt like life itself—unfolding in a way that was both simple and profound. The romance was understated and genuine, allowing the relationships to develop at a realistic and heartfelt pace, rather than overwhelming the story.

The characters were wonderfully crafted—each one memorable and endearing, except for a single exception, but they don’t deserve any more of my attention! Ornella’s journey to confront her past and Alessia’s discovery of her family’s history were both poignant and inspiring.

This book had the feel of a “proper” novel, the kind with real depth and heart, reminiscent of older stories that stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.

Victoria Springfield has created a masterpiece that I will treasure and happily recommend to others.

Not really a fan of a tale that flits back and forth in time, that said I did stick this one out & did enjoy it. Lots of twists and turns to the inevitable conclusion.

I loved this. So many twists Moved back and forward in time. Worked well. Set mainly on an island off the Italian coast. You had romance, family secrets , a love between a grandmother and grand daughter. A really good read. Hard to put down. A nice neat ending.

Another charming and entertain8ng visit to Italy with a great romance to keep me happy. This author really does an excellent job of creating an evocative setting for her stories. I feel I am there in the sunshine, listening to the Italian being spoken around me and enjoying the sights, sounds and tastes of Italy. A fabulous read.

Romance & long-term family mystery on beautiful Ischia🌅

4-4.5🌟 stars
Quite a good read that I enjoyed, with a beautiful Italian setting on the isle of Ischia a ferry ride from Naples. Ornella's family secret and the tragedy of her younger sister Maria's death, dating back to the late 1950's, kept her from returning to the island, after emigrating to the UK with husband and young child, until after her daughter Silvana's death. Her return with her Silvana's daughter Alessia in tow stirs up unsettling memories and uncovers long ago tragedy, hard choices and secrets. But it also gives Alessia a new lease on romance and leads to a good deal of healing and hope. Loved the progression and resolution of the plot, especially for brutally burned and disfigured Anna.

I felt it did start slowly, with too much atmospheric scene setting description for my taste early on, but once they settle in on the island the pace picked up, hints of simmering secrets started popping and my interest was fully engaged. The author did a good job of developing a community of characters, from movie stars and journalist to farmers, hairdressers and seamstresses, all interconnected in the unfolding drama.

The action alternates between the 1950's and the present but the transitions were well identified and not confusing.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Review shared with Waterstones, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads and Bookbub on 1/9/25. To be shared with kobo and Google Play when published.

I enjoyed this one even though I guessed the outcome quite quickly in the book. This didn't spoil my enjoyment of this book. A delightful story with plenty of atmosphere and loveable characters. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Alessia's grandmother grew up on Ischia and she wants to go back after more than 60 years away. A famous film star has died and its brought back memories

Engaging book that featured both strong character and development that held my attention from beginning to end. Recommended as a beach / holiday read.development that held my attention from beginning to end. Recommended as a beach / holiday read.

This book offers the perfect blend of sun-soaked escapism, romance, and tantalizing family secrets. Set on the captivating island of Ischia, this story draws readers into a vivid, multi-layered narrative filled with emotion and intrigue.

This book is perfect for thos who love an Italian summer, a dash of romance, and a treasure trove of buried family drama. I felt like I was part of Alessia’s and Ornella’s family, as if their secrets and heartbreaks became my own. With every revelation, I found myself more invested, craving to know more about their lives and the choices that shaped them.

Springfield masterfully weaves past and present, intertwining Alessia’s growing connection to Ischia—and to a charming journalist named Roberto—with Ornella’s poignant memories of her youth. The mystery surrounding Ornella’s teenage sister and the life-changing promise she made decades ago is unraveled with a perfect balance of suspense and emotional depth.

The descriptions of Ischia are breathtaking, making the island feel like a character in its own right. The story brims with themes of love, loss, forgiveness, and healing, making it both relatable and deeply moving.

If you’re looking for a summer read that will whisk you away to the Mediterranean, stir your emotions, and keep you hooked until the last page, "An Italian Island Secret" is an absolute gem.

I loved Ornella and Alessia’s journeys.

The story is told from various perspectives but mainly follows Ornella and her granddaughter Alessia and how they journey back to Ischia, the Italian island where Ornella is from.

A story of love, hope, new beginnings and second chances. A fabulous read all round.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in change for a honest review.

What a book, filled with Italian sun, romance and some great family secrets!
Absolutely loved this book from start to finish, always kept you gripped with what secret was going to be revealed next and how the different love stories will progress.
Loved the past and present text to really add to the story!
Can’t recommend this enough!

An Italian Island Secret by Victoria Springfield is set on the sun-soaked isle of Ischia, weaving a dual narrative that spans decades. The story follows Alessia and her grandmother, Ornella, as they leave their London life to return to Ischia, a place Ornella left 60 years ago.

The vivid descriptions of the island allow readers to feel the warm sunshine and picture the beauty of the island. The characters, and the relationship between Alessia and her Nonna, are thoughtfully crafted, making their journey of healing and uncovering the past both poignant and heartwarming. The mystery of the past kept me engaged and guessing. This is a delightful read for lovers of historical fiction, multi-generational tales, or anyone looking for an escape to a picturesque Italian island.