Member Reviews

Another fabulous book by Jo Thomas. Jo is one of those authors which you know as soon as you pick up her book it will be like a big cosy hug and this didn't disappoint. This book is set in Tuscany, Italy and like all of Jo's books it's based around not just love but also food, and who doesnt love italian food! I have to say the Nonnas were just amazing and my favourite characters throughout, it can't be Italian without a few Nonnas and lasagne. The book is beautifully written with amazing scene and character setting, it truly makes you want to go and buy a house to do up in a little sleepy village, it also covers topics such as grief but in a really thoughtful way with how it effects not just adults but kids too. All in all another fabulous read and one you don't want to miss this summer

Was this review helpful?

This book is 100% tasty, touching, and Tuscan. Set in a beautiful Italy, this story is
a real treasure. Romantic and down to earth, I loved reading it from page one till the end.

Was this review helpful?

I am a big fan of Jo Thomas, her books are perfect for those times when all you want is to be swept away to somewhere exotic with gorgeous settings and heart-warming stories, and; A Place in the Sun is absolutely no different, it's perfect for your armchair travels are sitting in the sun all day (not that I do that, as I would turn into a shrivelled up lobster, or turn to dust) but this is pure feel-good escapism!

This time we are transported to beautiful Tuscany, my goodness the richness of her writing literally makes you think you are right there with Thea. After the death of her husband, she loses everything except an old cottage in Tuscany so along with her children she makes the trip to Tuscany, the plan is to do the cottage up and sell it so that they can all go back home to Cardiff and start their lives again. Great plan, only dreams and reality don't always go hand in hand.

What could go wrong, mostly there are hiccups and drama and lots of emotion thrown in and a hint of unexpected romance and a gorgeous community feel, this book is a winner on all fronts. It's not so much a romance, even though there is romance, this is all about finding your feet, finding yourself and discovering who you are and just how strong a person can be after the worst period of your life. It's full of hope and sunshine, with an eclectic but good-natured and lovable cast of characters, I do love the small village feel to Tuscany where everyone knows where voters are doing.

Despite the seriousness of some of the subjects, this is very feel-good, it's not too serious in itself and there are so many really lovely moment which will leave you siling, plus lots and lots of food which will always make you hungry.

A beautiful holiday escape!

Was this review helpful?

Telly enjoyed this book. Loved how the story unfolded and enjoyed the characters and getting to know them. Would recommend this book

Was this review helpful?

I received a free copy of, A Place in the Sun, by Jo Thomas, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thea is in Italy with her children, the widow is at the house her late husband owned, not realizing how much work the place actually needs. Is Thea is over her head?This was a nice read, the setting was lovely.

Was this review helpful?

This is a charming and beautiful summer read that capitulates you to a Tuscan village and offers friendship, second chances and romance.
I loved the storyline of the book and the idea of a fresh start for Thea and her children. After everything they had been through, you could see their development as the story progressed and I was so happy with their choices and how the story ended for them.
The setting of the book was so perfect, you could almost imagine sitting outside with the Tuscan sun setting and the goats cutting the grass for you! I was definitely left feeling hungry after reading this and some of the foods mentioned were gorgeous. I would have loved to take part with the community kitchen and it was such a good idea to bring everyone together.
The Nonna's really brought a comical side to the story and I liked their interactions with one another and the way in which they were brought back together was so good.
This was another brilliant read by Jo and I look forward to reading more soon.

Was this review helpful?

After Thea's husband Marco dies, she finds herself with her two children in Tuscany, Italy. He bought a property on impulse for their retirement, but he died soon after. Thea has had to sell the restaurant they ran and their house. Her only option now is to do up the property and sell it. She only has six weeks to do this or face having to pay the full amount for the house
Giovanni works at La Tavola, helping to feed the community, but it's running out of money.
Can Giovanni and Thea come up with a plan to help them both?
Another great read by Jo and a gorgeous location.
I loved the Nonna's. They were so funny with their constant arguing and meddling.
A lovely summer read by the pool or beach or in the garden. Be transported to a warm sunny Tuscany.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House uk for the invitation to read this in return for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A Place in the Sun by Jo Thomas

Loved this book , it was like receiving a hug on every page .
It's not a plain sailing for the family but mostly,everyone wants the best for them after the death of their beloved husband and father .
The village comes together to help them make the ramshackle house their home and it's everything you'd want from a village and the love of the people within it.
Loved the description of the area and the characters

Was this review helpful?

Widowed Thea and her two young children travel to Italy, to the small village where her late husband Marco bought a house which now has to be renovated and sold. Thea faces many uphill challenges, not least dealing with her grief, but with the help of chef Giovanni, three irascibles nonnas and an old goat shepherd, she begins to see a future for herself again.
This was a charming story that worked on every level. Thea and her family are very sympathetic characters, Giovanni is an extremely hunky hero, who on top of his physical charms is kind, compassionate, and can cook and also do DIY. Practically perfect in every way!
The setting is gorgeous, and as always, Jo Thomas's descriptions of food - a trademark of all her romantic novels - sets the readers' mouth watering.
Amongst the very real emotion of grief, loss and the tentative blossoming of hope, there's lots of humour to be found, too, in the interaction of the nonnas, whose historical feud keeps everyone on their toes.
There's suspense, too - will Thea fulfil her obligations on the house. Can she and Guiseppe save the village's community kitchen? Did Marco have a secret that will alter Thea's perception of him, and mabe destroy her memories of their past happiness?
Overall, a charming summer read that transports the reader to the heat of Italy and the warmth of a burgeoning love story.

Was this review helpful?

Thea and her husband run a restaurant in Cardiff that is running at a loss when he dies suddenly, he had bought a one euro house in Tuscany so Thea takes her children to Tuscany to do up the house to sell and get them a comfortable place in Wales.
But when she gets to the villa it is nearly derelict and gets help decorating the place and getting involved in the small dwindling community with help from the handsome chef Giovanni.
A good romantic holiday read loved the scenery.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review

Was this review helpful?

A fantastic read from Jo Thomas, the Italian Nonnas were spot on! This is the perfect book for a lazy sunny afternoon, when you can dream about being in the beautiful Italian countryside.

Was this review helpful?

A book that is packed full of love, hope and I was left with a real feeling of joy. There are ups and downs for widowed family, arriving in Italy 2 years after the death of their father and husband to find a ramshackle house that needs to be redone and no budget to do it. Around a love of food and notably lasagne the village comes together and finds ways to work things out in the glorious sun and with cats and chickens and goats all part of the community. This book exudes goodness and kindness and was such a pick me up to read.

Was this review helpful?

This was another great book from Jo. Really enjoyed the relationships between the characters. The fiery Nonnas were a treat! Lovely descriptions of Tuscany and the fabulous food and a very sweet romance to boot. Highly recommended.

Was this review helpful?

Another absolute belter from Jo Thomas!
I feel like I've been on a mini-vacation to Italy. The author's ability to create a scene that transports you to the place, the sights, the people, the smells and the food, is incredible.
A beautiful story that starts with tragedy but ends with plenty of inspiration.
Fantastic!

Was this review helpful?

This story is set in a beautiful village in Italy with larger than life characters (the nonna's) and amazing descriptions of food.
I have read quite a few books by this author and they are all great but, in my opinion this is the best book she has written to date and I will definitely be recommending this title to my friends and book groups. I read it on holiday in a very rainy Barcelona and the sunshine which shone through the pages was joyous.
Thea relocates with her two children for the summer break to Casa Luna - a property purchased a few years ago by her late husband in Tuscany. Not realising quite what she has got herself into (as the house needs far more work than she expected and there are a few other surprises too) she agrees to help out in the community kitchen in return for help from the locals.
As her kids find a new life without WIFI Thea starts to make friends and the summer in Italy becomes one to remember.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Fabulous summer read. Jo Thomas never disappoints.

Was this review helpful?

Fantastic read. This is my first Jo Thomas book and it certainly won't be my last. Thank you to Katie Fforde for introducing me to this fabulous author.
The whole escape to Tuscany is a perfect holiday/relaxing, chill-out read! What a community Jo built in the Tuscan hills, I was so enraptured that I wanted to visit Giovanni at La Tavola.

Was this review helpful?

A mouth-wateringly, gorgeous summer read. As always from Jo Thomas, we are whisked to a glorious location; full of sunshine, great characters and wonderfully descriptive foods and drinks. You’ll get so hungry reading this one, I warn you.

Thea gets more shocks than she thinks she can cope with when arriving at the italian holiday home her late husband purchased. She wants to get things sorted and the house sold before the end of summer. The locals are welcoming and the longer Thea is in this small Tuscan town the more she’s taken in by the community and her past hurt seems to ache a little less.

A gorgeous read of moving forward, accepting happiness again and taking chances. Another great read by Jo Thomas, highly recommended.
Edit Review

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Romance and food, what’s not to love! I really enjoyed Jo Thomas’s latest book, A Place in the Sun, which is set in Tuscany. It is written with her usual wit and warmth and it made me laugh and gasp aloud too! It is a real heartwarming story where family and community are brought together through food. I could almost feel the sunshine and taste the cacio e pepe! This book is perfect escapism!

Here’s the blurb…

‘Thea knew the holiday house her late husband Marco bought in Tuscany wasn't pristine. But when she relocates to Italy for the summer with her children, she's shocked by how much work Casa Luna needs. And she only has six weeks to fix it up ready to sell! Her only option is to ask the tight-knit Italian community for help.

In return, Thea and her children become involved in the community kitchen, working alongside handsome chef Giovanni and three very competitive nonnas. Gradually, Thea begins to open up to the people around her for the first time in a long while. But just as she's beginning to wonder whether this small Tuscan town could become a new place to call home, a surprise visitor turns everything on its head . . .’

I will add this review to Goodreads, Fable, Amazon and Waterstones.

Was this review helpful?

As always from Jo Thomas a really enjoyable read. Good story very well told, lovely characters and written so descriptively I could have been there. I could feel the sun, see the Tuscan hills in my mind’s eye. Delightful.

Was this review helpful?