Two women find solace and hope in the garden of an Italian villa. In 1943 Tuscany, war is raging and Beatrice has taken shelter in the Villa del Combe, where she soothes her soul in its walled garden and cypress maze. Francesca, owner of the villa has taken in many refugees and orphans from the storm, and they are in constant peril of exposure, which will surely mean death. In 2015, Beatrice is now the caretaker of the gardens, and she welcomes Tess, who’s reeling from the unexpected death of her husband. But Tess’s fragile peace and Beatrice’s beloved villa and gardens are threatened when the owner want to sell the land to a developer. The only way to save her home is for Beatrice to tell the terrible truth about what happened during the darkest days of her life. I loved this book, two women getting strength and resolve from nature and from each other and willing to put everything on the line for what they believe

3.75 stars

E-ARC courtesy of NetGalley!

"A riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma."

What an enigma this was! This story is really a story wrapped in another story. We follow Tess, still reeling from the loss of her beloved husband as she arrives in Tuscany to find solace in the gorgeous grounds of Villa delle Colombe. There she meets Beatrice, the custodian of the property and an old friend of her grandmother's.

Thus begins the story inside the story: in 1940, Beatrice is flourishing in her stay abroad, delightedly consuming the culture, beauty, and food that Italy has to offer. But darkness is looming in the form of WWII and Italy's alliance with Germany, and Beatrice finds herself abandoned in a country that sees her as an enemy. She finds safety at the Villa delle Colombe with Francesca and Edoardo, seemingly distant from the strife and tension of the war. But as the years pass, it becomes clear that they cannot remain hidden for long and soon the consequences and effects of the war will come right to their door...

It is not often that I say that a dual timeline offers a layer of extra depth to the story – or should I say, stories – but that is most certainly the case for this novel. Accompanying Tess on her journey of discovering the history of the Villa and fighting to ensure that it will not be lost to the plans and visions of the property's inheritor, Marco Vittorio, provided a perfect foundation for which the true story can emerge in the past. And as tends to happen, present mixes with past as Tess learns how to cope with her grief as Beatrice faces her own grief and sorrows more than seventy years prior.

As the Beatrice's story and the story of the Cypress Maze begin to unravel over the course of the book, I could not help but grow more and more attached to Beatrice, Francesca, and the wonderful cast of lovely children taking refuge at the Villa during the war. I was thoroughly invested as the truth behind the Villa and Alfredo's – Marco's father – time there was revealed, and the wonderful imagery of the lands and Tuscany's beauty kept me deeply immersed in the setting and its secrets. The descriptions of the gardens and the delicious food made by Silvana in particular evoked a visceral feeling in me.

Valpy is most definitely a talented writer, mastering the art of storytelling with her direct language and descriptive prose. The research that so obviously went into building the setting of wartime Tuscany was evident and served to make the story and what the characters were experiencing feel even more tangible. I already wanted to visit Italy before reading this novel, but now if I get the chance to go, I think I will have a deeper appreciation for the land and its history. That's one of the best parts of historical fiction: as the story is told, it is also taught.

My only real complaint was that I wish the dynamic between the characters in the present timeline was further developed and provided the same care as the relationships depicted in the past. Obviously, the past timeline is the main focus of the story, but I wish in particular that we saw more of Marco and that the plotline between him and the house was explored further, especially as certain romantic themes became clear. I wanted to hear more about his side of the story and how his differing knowledge of his father's time at the Villa had impacted him so deeply rather than it just quickly being addressed and explained at the conclusion of the novel like it ended up.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this reading experience – a solid first ARC for sure! I am eager to read more of Valpy in the future as well. She is definitely an author I'll be looking out for now.

As for anyone reading this review: definitely look out for this novel in July 2023!

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Pub for an ARC copy of this novel!
In this book, we see a dual timeline, both taking place at the Villa delle Colombo in Tuscany. The story follows Tess (2015) and her deep pain and grief from the loss of her husband. She arrives at the villa, hoping to find consolation and peace. There she finds Beatrice, the old guardian of the villa and friend of Tess’s grandmother. Tess and Beatrice become close friends and Tess begins to write down the story of Beatrice and her time at the villa during WW2 (1940-1944).
In 1940, Beatrice has come to Italy to work. She enjoys all Italy has to offer, but dangers arise as WW2 begins. She finds herself stuck and unable to go back home to Scotland. She is arrested as an enemy of the state, but soon let go. She eventually finds the villa, where a safe haven is provided for her and numerous others, including many children. The villa owners, Edoardo and Francesca, along with the other workers and Tess, work together to maintain the villa and harvest food and provisions. They try to remain hidden, but things become difficult and upsetting.
Presently in 2015, Beatrice had tried to find the person set to inherit the villa. A message arrives stating that Marco, the son of the inheritor, would be arriving. But he has plans to tear down the structures and build a golf course.
I really enjoyed the dual timelines of this novel and how they both tied together. I especially enjoyed the depth of the descriptions in the story throughout. Fiona Valpy’s style of writing is so beautiful!!! She pulls you into the story and makes you feel as if you are there and in person! This author is definitely on my radar and look forward to reading more of her work!
The Cypress Maze comes out July 18, 2023!

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
This book is set in two timelines: 2015 and WWII. Bess (2015) who's reeling from the death of her husband, goes to Tuscany to stay with Beatrice, her elderly grandmother's good friend. The villa and it's grounds are slated to be turned into a golf club, to the horror of both women, by the man who inherited it, Marco. Beatrice tells the story of the history of the villa to Bess, who hopes to influence Marco with the details of this rich and heartbreaking history.
It was a sweet story, but I did get tired of Bess' talks to her late husband. The villa's history was much more interesting and the gardens' descriptions were luscious.