Well, I got to 40% before I gave up, too slow and just not for me. It’s a lighthearted read, amusingly written and may well pick up now our lady has arrived in Italy however I’m finding myself actively avoiding reading it and when I do I’m very easily distracted which isn’t a good sign! Time to move on, I very rarely dnf a book so I’m sorry for the bad review.

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

Jess is in a rut. She is divorced from her husband and living in her parents' basement. She is working for her uncle as she has done for 19 years, since she was a teenager. Uncle Louis has arranged for them to visit the village in Italy, where he worked mining marble - the marble which now forms the basis of their business in the United States. After Uncle Louis' sudden death, she decides to go on her own to Italy for some space from her suffocating Italian-American family. Here, she discovers family secrets, potential love as well as who she is.

This was a very pleasant read. It had a few twists and turns in it and I enjoyed reading it, although the first part in America was a bit slow for me.

A wonderful story about life, family and second chances. The story moves between past and present, focusing on the area of Lake Como in the US and Italy. The protagonist Jess is trying to figure out what she wants from life and how to move forward after her divorce. This is made more difficult by the family revelations that are scattered throughout the book. I loved the range of characters who had a range of motivations and impacted the direction of Jess's life significantly. I especially enjoyed the time spent in Italy and some of the descriptions of Italian life and food. It did take a little while to get into the book but I was soon invested and wanted to know if Jess would figure everything out. There is a good ending with a strong resolution to the issues presented and I enjoyed exploring the self-discovery of Jess after much of her early life had been directed by the actions of those around here. It makes a great summer read.
Thank you to NetGallery, the author and publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Adriana Trigiani's The View from Lake Como offers an exploration of self-discovery, family dynamics, and the pursuit of dreams. Jess Capodimonte Baratta, stuck in the doldrums of life in blue-collar Lake Como, New Jersey, is recently divorced and retreating to her parents' basement to heal. Known for putting everyone else first, Jess is the dutiful daughter, always caring for her family while sacrificing her desires. Yet, beneath her familial obligations, Jess has a hidden talent in draftsmanship, working in her uncle Louie’s marble business. Despite her potential, she is trapped in a life that doesn’t quite fit.

When tragedy strikes the Capodimonte and Baratta families, Jess is forced to confront long-buried secrets, and the shock of this loss sends her into a journey of self-realisation. Seeking to escape her past, Jess leaves for her ancestral home in Carrara, Italy, where the stunning landscapes of Tuscany, Milan, and the idyllic shores of Lake Como become the backdrop for her reinvention. In Italy, Jess’s life takes a new turn when she meets Angelo Strazza, a passionate artist who helps her uncover her invaluable skills, both in art and in life.

While the Italian setting provides an enchanting atmosphere and the story of Jess’s reinvention is compelling, the early chapters set in New Jersey struggle with some unbelievable scenes, especially those involving Jess's family. The family dynamics, particularly with her parents, feel exaggerated, leaving readers feeling disconnected from the protagonist’s experiences. Jess’s journal entries help provide insight into her journey, but her motivations and the reasons behind her marriage breakdown are kept hidden for too long, which, while creating suspense, ultimately leaves the reader more confused than intrigued.

Trigiani’s writing shines in the Italian chapters, where Jess truly comes alive, but her journey from confusion to clarity can feel frustrating due to the drawn-out mysteries surrounding her past. For readers who enjoy stories of personal transformation set against beautiful locations, The View from Lake Como offers an uplifting, if sometimes puzzling, exploration of family, love, and artistic ambition.

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I'd not read anything written by this author before so wasn't sure what to expect. I wasn't a massive fan of the flashbacks, they took me out of the story a bit and the descriptions were a bit like a travelogue.

I would say it is a slow start but picked up a bit when the main character got to Italy. I also liked the inclusion of a recipe to bake, I'll have to try it!

A diverse cast of characters which was nice to read with how Jess learns to be herself and get over family trauma.

At times the descriptions get a lengthy and detract from the story but overall a decent and quite quick read.

A lovely story of an Italian American woman and her journey to discover herself and her independence as she travels back to her family's roots in Italy. I loved the descriptions of her family and the way I could see Italy through the characters eyes. Sad but uplifting at the same time.

Jess comes from a large family of Italian immigrants. She’s divorced, going through therapy and lives in a musty basement flat in New Jersey. She’s thrilled when her Uncle Louie invited her to go to Italy with him. Then something happens to put the trip in jeopardy and she discovers something her parents have done which has changed the course of her life. Despite this, Adriana is not going to divulge shameful family secrets, especially not to the police. She’s also still determined to get to Italy. What surprises await her and what fun she has when she gets there! A feisty woman with a great heart. I love the way the family members interact and watch each other’s backs.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book but it wasn’t for me. I tried reading it but had to give up as didn’t find it at all interesting and certainly not compelling enough to carry on and finish it.