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Villa Serena
A heartfelt, witty story of one woman's journey from heartbreak to adventure, full of gorgeous Italian flavour.Emily Robertson looks like the woman who has it the lovingly restored Tuscan farmhouse, the three beautiful children, the successful, attentive husband. But when her husband dumps her by text message, she has to face up to some stark home truths. How will Emily cope, stranded in the countryside with no man, no money, dodgy phrasebook Italian and a psychotic cleaner? Her eldest girl is out of her depth with the local seducer, her middle daughter is dangerously underweight, and her darling baby is fast becoming a brat. But soon Emily finds herself being drawn into the village of Monte Albano, and discovering a more genuine Italy, darker and more intriguing than she had ever imagined. She and her children are outsiders no more - and if she can get over a slightly embarrasing obsession with her youthful first love, a rogueish stranger might be about to show her the time of her life...
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
June 1, 2020
Villa Serenas hemmelighed er den perfekte sommerbog! Forestil dig den klassiske chick-lit om en kvindes rejse fra nederlag til eventyr – og tilsæt så et drys vidunderligt italiensk krydderi, lidt historie og lidt arkæologi. Bogen er nemlig langt mere en fluffy chick-lit. Det er også en fortælling om at rive sig løs fra fortiden og dermed endeligt få øjnene op for de fantastiske muligheder i nutiden.
Sproget flyder legende let fra første side, og hurtigt opsluges man af det fantastiske Toscana. Her er drama, romantik og hjertebanken under den smukke italienske sol – med godt beskrevne karakterer man med det samme kan forholde sig til.
Allerede i denne bog kan man ane forfatterens efterfølgende udvikling til succesfuld krimiforfatter. Der er visse karaktermæssige overensstemmelser mellem Emily og Ruth Galloway, og allerede på nuværende tidspunkt dukker arkæologien op. Kan du lide Ruth, vil du sikkert også kunne lide Emily.
Bogen tager læserne med gennem årets gang i og omkring Villa Serena. Der behandles temaer som venner, familie og kærlighed, men også om at åbne øjnene for de ting der er lige foran dig – og hvordan du nogle gange skal være villig til at ofre noget for at få en gevinst.
Er du elsker af romantiske mysterier der udspiller sig de smukkeste steder? Kan du lide bøger af Elly Griffiths, Maeve Binchy eller måske Victoria Hislop? Så vil denne bog helt sikker være noget for dig.
Sproget flyder legende let fra første side, og hurtigt opsluges man af det fantastiske Toscana. Her er drama, romantik og hjertebanken under den smukke italienske sol – med godt beskrevne karakterer man med det samme kan forholde sig til.
Allerede i denne bog kan man ane forfatterens efterfølgende udvikling til succesfuld krimiforfatter. Der er visse karaktermæssige overensstemmelser mellem Emily og Ruth Galloway, og allerede på nuværende tidspunkt dukker arkæologien op. Kan du lide Ruth, vil du sikkert også kunne lide Emily.
Bogen tager læserne med gennem årets gang i og omkring Villa Serena. Der behandles temaer som venner, familie og kærlighed, men også om at åbne øjnene for de ting der er lige foran dig – og hvordan du nogle gange skal være villig til at ofre noget for at få en gevinst.
Er du elsker af romantiske mysterier der udspiller sig de smukkeste steder? Kan du lide bøger af Elly Griffiths, Maeve Binchy eller måske Victoria Hislop? Så vil denne bog helt sikker være noget for dig.
June 1, 2020
Oplæser: Camilla Qvistgaard Dyssel. Dejlig oplæser - glæder mig til at lytte til flere bøger med hende.
Domenica De Rosa skriver dejligt, uanset om hun kalder sig De Rosa eller Griffiths. I denne bog føres vi til Italien. Smukke og vidunderlige Italien. Pragtfulde landskaber, flimrende dage i sommerens hede, pasta som kun italienerne kan lave det, med herlig vin direkte fra den lokale vinbonde. Jeg sættes i hvert fald tilbage til to fantastiske ferier i Abbruzzo, hvor kirkeklokker, sommervarme, lækre pizzaer og italiensk vin var en stor del af ferieoplevelserne.
I denne roman oplever vi en kvindes vej tilbage til livet efter en skilsmisse. Processen med at blive et individuelt menneske der følger sine egne drømme. Og så krydres fortællingen naturligvis med både kærlighed og drama.
Dejlig sommerlæsning på terrassen.
Domenica De Rosa skriver dejligt, uanset om hun kalder sig De Rosa eller Griffiths. I denne bog føres vi til Italien. Smukke og vidunderlige Italien. Pragtfulde landskaber, flimrende dage i sommerens hede, pasta som kun italienerne kan lave det, med herlig vin direkte fra den lokale vinbonde. Jeg sættes i hvert fald tilbage til to fantastiske ferier i Abbruzzo, hvor kirkeklokker, sommervarme, lækre pizzaer og italiensk vin var en stor del af ferieoplevelserne.
I denne roman oplever vi en kvindes vej tilbage til livet efter en skilsmisse. Processen med at blive et individuelt menneske der følger sine egne drømme. Og så krydres fortællingen naturligvis med både kærlighed og drama.
Dejlig sommerlæsning på terrassen.
December 16, 2021
A fun, light read
October 15, 2022
Efter “To uger i Toscana” havde jeg høje forventninger til bogen, og heldigvis levede den op til dem! 👏🏻
February 11, 2025
Easy read
October 28, 2012
Está mais para 2,5 do que para 3 estrelas, mas pronto.
Eu acho que há livros que lidos no tempo errado, não nos agradam nem um bocadinho. Este foi um deles. Não sei se foi de ir com algumas boas expectativas, visto que conheço pessoas que leram e gostaram muito, se foi mesmo porque este não é livro para mim. As primeiras 170 páginas, bem, nossa senhora, elas podiam ser facilmente resumidas em 10 e poupava-se tempo e aborrecimento (porque não foram, para mim, nada além de aborrecimento). No resto do livro, tornou-se melhor, mas sinceramente quando há alguma coisa que me desperta atenção, bem, já sabemos que não é verdade e que não vai ser assim e não. A parte melhor é definitivamente no fim (e sim, poderia ser por o livro estar a terminar) mas é porque simplesmente só é emocionante no fim e infelizmente acho que calhou ser emocionante, porque nunca me chamou a atenção para aquilo e nenhum dos supostos mistérios me fez ficar curiosa.
O assunto é normal, meio básico e sem muito que se lhe diga, se bem que é um livro que se lê mais ou menos bem (excepto aquelas paginas iniciais que falei ali, visto que eu tive para desistir do livro umas quatro vezes, até que comecei outro e como eu não sou pessoa de desistir de nada, lá voltei uma e outra vez, até que consegui passar a parte critica e ler o resto relativamente rápido, visto que demorei umas duas e tal semanas a ler as 200 primeiras paginas e 3 ou 4 dias a ler o restante).
No entanto, talvez seja um livro bom para muita gente e muito provavelmente eu é que não estava no espírito do livro e não o soube apreciar. Mas é só a minha opinião.
Boas leituras!
Eu acho que há livros que lidos no tempo errado, não nos agradam nem um bocadinho. Este foi um deles. Não sei se foi de ir com algumas boas expectativas, visto que conheço pessoas que leram e gostaram muito, se foi mesmo porque este não é livro para mim. As primeiras 170 páginas, bem, nossa senhora, elas podiam ser facilmente resumidas em 10 e poupava-se tempo e aborrecimento (porque não foram, para mim, nada além de aborrecimento). No resto do livro, tornou-se melhor, mas sinceramente quando há alguma coisa que me desperta atenção, bem, já sabemos que não é verdade e que não vai ser assim e não. A parte melhor é definitivamente no fim (e sim, poderia ser por o livro estar a terminar) mas é porque simplesmente só é emocionante no fim e infelizmente acho que calhou ser emocionante, porque nunca me chamou a atenção para aquilo e nenhum dos supostos mistérios me fez ficar curiosa.
O assunto é normal, meio básico e sem muito que se lhe diga, se bem que é um livro que se lê mais ou menos bem (excepto aquelas paginas iniciais que falei ali, visto que eu tive para desistir do livro umas quatro vezes, até que comecei outro e como eu não sou pessoa de desistir de nada, lá voltei uma e outra vez, até que consegui passar a parte critica e ler o resto relativamente rápido, visto que demorei umas duas e tal semanas a ler as 200 primeiras paginas e 3 ou 4 dias a ler o restante).
No entanto, talvez seja um livro bom para muita gente e muito provavelmente eu é que não estava no espírito do livro e não o soube apreciar. Mas é só a minha opinião.
Boas leituras!
June 15, 2012
I was really liking this book. The characters were interesting without resorting to the usual clichés that seem to abound, when i read a book about Italy. Yes they do talk a lot about food, and how picturesque the villa is. But the characters have....spunk. They're sarcastic and make you want to read about them. This is a book who talks about family, friends,love, you know, the usual stuff. But then it also has a little of history, a little mistery, which resulted in a very interesting combination. Yes, Emily, the leading character is a little insane ( eye rolling) at times. She has some moments when you _ and her best friend, _ whant to shake some sense into her....but the book was going along perfectly. In a very logical, and reasonable way.
And then it just took the road to insanity....literally. I thought that was kind of far-fetched and irrelevant, and a lousy way to make Emily face the truth. After twenty years, did she really need to face a delusional,_ in order to not reveal any spoilers, i will call him _ "ghost of her past"? Because of that, i think this book is more along the lines of a 3,5 stars.
And then it just took the road to insanity....literally. I thought that was kind of far-fetched and irrelevant, and a lousy way to make Emily face the truth. After twenty years, did she really need to face a delusional,_ in order to not reveal any spoilers, i will call him _ "ghost of her past"? Because of that, i think this book is more along the lines of a 3,5 stars.
August 12, 2021
Este mês, eu, certamente estava a sonhar com umas férias em Itália, logo dois livros seguidos, sobre a vida numa qualquer pacata vila italiana, perdida algures na Toscana.
A autora faz semanalmente uma descrição idílica da sua vida na Itália, o relato parece-nos perfeito, faz-nos mesmo invejar o seu estilo de vida. Até que nos apercebemos do caos que a sua vida de facto é.
Emily vê-se de um momento para o outro com vários problemas a braços, uma filha adolescente com um namorado italiano, uma filha que não come, uma bebé mimado e exigente, um marido que a deixa depois de terem mudado para Itália, pouco dinheiro, porque o jornal decide acabar com a sua coluna e ainda com o aparecimento de um arqueólogo e um mistério de morte que parece rondar a propriedade.
No entanto após todas as peripécias, Emily consegue superar todos os obstáculos e adopta as gentes daquela terra como amigos, algo que até então não tinha acontecido. Este livro vem mostrar-nos que nem sempre algo mau traz algo pior, pelo contrário, todos os eventos serviram para nos mostrar como com força de vontade a pessoa pode sempre tirar uma lição e prosseguir. Fiquei agarrada ao livro do princípio ao fim!
A autora faz semanalmente uma descrição idílica da sua vida na Itália, o relato parece-nos perfeito, faz-nos mesmo invejar o seu estilo de vida. Até que nos apercebemos do caos que a sua vida de facto é.
Emily vê-se de um momento para o outro com vários problemas a braços, uma filha adolescente com um namorado italiano, uma filha que não come, uma bebé mimado e exigente, um marido que a deixa depois de terem mudado para Itália, pouco dinheiro, porque o jornal decide acabar com a sua coluna e ainda com o aparecimento de um arqueólogo e um mistério de morte que parece rondar a propriedade.
No entanto após todas as peripécias, Emily consegue superar todos os obstáculos e adopta as gentes daquela terra como amigos, algo que até então não tinha acontecido. Este livro vem mostrar-nos que nem sempre algo mau traz algo pior, pelo contrário, todos os eventos serviram para nos mostrar como com força de vontade a pessoa pode sempre tirar uma lição e prosseguir. Fiquei agarrada ao livro do princípio ao fim!
August 10, 2018
I have loved all of Elly Griffith’s Ruth Galloway mystery books and was excited to receive this review copy of a novel which predates her mystery series and appears to be written in her own name.
The Secret Of Villa Serena is more of a romantic suspense novel but I can see aspects of the Ruth Galloway series within its pages; I even felt Emily, the main protagonist, had aspects of Ruth’s personality. It was obvious to me how the author moved onto mystery books with some romance involved following on from this novel.
Domenica De Rosa is a talented writer of both genres of book and I will be looking out for these more romantic ones as well as the Ruth mysteries.
Emily, her 2 teenage girls, Siena and Paris as well as Charlie, her 3 year old are living in Villa Serena in Tuscany. Indeed she has been living the dream for 2 years.Her husband Paul is away a lot on business so Emily keeps busy writing a Life in Tuscany column for an English newspaper and looking after the kids.
However all is not wonderful despite the cheerful articles she writes . Paris hates Italy and barely eats whereas Paul is absent so much Emily is virtually alone. Siena has an unsuitable boyfriend and Emily herself is not integrating with the local community as her Italian is so basic.
One day shockingly, Paul texts he is leaving her. Emily is upset at first but really not overly so considering the length of their marriage.
She then starts to pine over her lost university boy friend Michael who had ignited her love of Italy and subsequently dumped her after 3 years. She never got over him! Seemingly Paul was not her first choice!!
One night she meets Raffaello a dashing archeologist who is excavating for Etruscans on her land. Through Raffaello she discovers a further mystery about WW2 Italy in the Tuscan hills and suddenly she starts to feel she belongs but can she forget Michael and truly embrace her new life in more ways than one?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and reading it on holiday added to its appeal. The Tuscan landscape, sunshine and people were well described. I loved Emily as she seemed so normal, worrying about everything and yet managing to get things done despite her difficulties. Her struggle to adapt to her new life really was compelling.
This is a great Summer read and will appeal to those of you who enjoy romantic mysteries set in beautiful locations.
If you enjoy books by Maeve Binchy, Santa Montefiore or indeed Victoria Hislop this will appeal to you.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Secret Of Villa Serena is more of a romantic suspense novel but I can see aspects of the Ruth Galloway series within its pages; I even felt Emily, the main protagonist, had aspects of Ruth’s personality. It was obvious to me how the author moved onto mystery books with some romance involved following on from this novel.
Domenica De Rosa is a talented writer of both genres of book and I will be looking out for these more romantic ones as well as the Ruth mysteries.
Emily, her 2 teenage girls, Siena and Paris as well as Charlie, her 3 year old are living in Villa Serena in Tuscany. Indeed she has been living the dream for 2 years.Her husband Paul is away a lot on business so Emily keeps busy writing a Life in Tuscany column for an English newspaper and looking after the kids.
However all is not wonderful despite the cheerful articles she writes . Paris hates Italy and barely eats whereas Paul is absent so much Emily is virtually alone. Siena has an unsuitable boyfriend and Emily herself is not integrating with the local community as her Italian is so basic.
One day shockingly, Paul texts he is leaving her. Emily is upset at first but really not overly so considering the length of their marriage.
She then starts to pine over her lost university boy friend Michael who had ignited her love of Italy and subsequently dumped her after 3 years. She never got over him! Seemingly Paul was not her first choice!!
One night she meets Raffaello a dashing archeologist who is excavating for Etruscans on her land. Through Raffaello she discovers a further mystery about WW2 Italy in the Tuscan hills and suddenly she starts to feel she belongs but can she forget Michael and truly embrace her new life in more ways than one?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and reading it on holiday added to its appeal. The Tuscan landscape, sunshine and people were well described. I loved Emily as she seemed so normal, worrying about everything and yet managing to get things done despite her difficulties. Her struggle to adapt to her new life really was compelling.
This is a great Summer read and will appeal to those of you who enjoy romantic mysteries set in beautiful locations.
If you enjoy books by Maeve Binchy, Santa Montefiore or indeed Victoria Hislop this will appeal to you.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2019
I had read most of Domenica De Rosa's books therefore, I had wanted to read this particular book of hers. When I first began the book, I liked the premise, which focused on a woman named Emily Robertson, who lives with her husband Paul, and their three children, Siena, Paris, and Charlie, in Italy (specifically Tuscany). Emily writes a column for her local paper in England, which focuses on her life in Italy, managed by Giles, whom Emily has a few brief encounters with via phone. However, as I began to read further into the book, I realized that it was much too confusing, as there were a multitude of storylines happening at the same time. We first learn of Paul's desire to divorce Emily, which spirals into Paul becoming an absent figure in his family's life, at which point, he meets another woman named Fiona, instantly becoming smitten with her. We then learn about Raffaelo's desire to dig at Emily's home for his 'treasure', in which another storyline appears, that of the death of Olimpia's father, which is tied to Don Angelo, who is the town's priest. We then read about Siena's relationship with Giancarlo, Paris' desire to withhold from eating, Emily's one-night stand with Chad, along with her desire to see Michael (her long-lost love), and Paris' eventual relationship with Andrea. Through it all, Emily befriends Monica and Antonella through her son's school, along with having a deeper relationship with Raffaelo. There is also talk about Raffaelo's past, with many thinking that he had murdered his wife (in reality, it was a different outcome). Then comes Emily's parents, who strike up an odd friendship with her neighbour, Romano, who is a fascist. To top it all off, the ending was just bizarre, with absolutely no lead-up to the strangeness that emerged from Michael as a result of his divorce. I was beyond confused by all of the subplots that were taking place within one book, making me question the credibility of this book. Overall, this book kept me bouncing from one subject to another, which made me shake my head, and wonder when it was going to be over!
August 31, 2019
Two years ago Paul and Emily have moved to Tuscany. Now they are getting a divorce, Paul is back in England, living with his girlfriend, Fiona.
Emily (41) is left at Villa Serena with their 3 children : Siena (16), Paris (13, anorexic ) and bratty Charlie (3 ). Emily is a columnist for an English newspaper, writing about her idealized life in Tuscany. But when she writes the truth about the problems in her family, Emily loses her job.
The story is told in present tense ,with Emily's columns and Paris's diary illustrating their life.
There are Etruscan ruins near the villa. Rafaello, a local, is an archeologist running the dig. He is a widower , blamed by his wife's family for her death. Rafaello befriends Emily and her children.He tells Emily of his wife's anorexia which caused her death.
Emily befriends Monica and Antonella.
There is antagonism between Rafaello and his cousin Renato , between him and his wife's aunt Olimpia .Olimpia holds a grudge against her one-time boyfriend, Don Angelo, the priest.Olimpia's father and his friend were partisans during WWII.Their grave is exposed by Rafaello and they are buried properly.
During the 4 seasons (Summer to spring ) we see the life in a small town- the fiestas and the funerals, betrayal, suspicion ,even a stalker. Emily's dream of meeting her first love, Michael, again, turns into a nightmare.
There is a parallel story of Emily's friend Petra, a single mother with an autistic child , and her new love interest, Darren.
Many interesting characters, like Zio Virgilio who knew Olimpia's father ; Siena's boyfriend (whom she dumps); budding friendship between Paris and Andrea. ; Emily's parents .
They seem to grow up during this year. - both Emily and her children.
Loved the dog, Totti .
Emily (41) is left at Villa Serena with their 3 children : Siena (16), Paris (13, anorexic ) and bratty Charlie (3 ). Emily is a columnist for an English newspaper, writing about her idealized life in Tuscany. But when she writes the truth about the problems in her family, Emily loses her job.
The story is told in present tense ,with Emily's columns and Paris's diary illustrating their life.
There are Etruscan ruins near the villa. Rafaello, a local, is an archeologist running the dig. He is a widower , blamed by his wife's family for her death. Rafaello befriends Emily and her children.He tells Emily of his wife's anorexia which caused her death.
Emily befriends Monica and Antonella.
There is antagonism between Rafaello and his cousin Renato , between him and his wife's aunt Olimpia .Olimpia holds a grudge against her one-time boyfriend, Don Angelo, the priest.Olimpia's father and his friend were partisans during WWII.Their grave is exposed by Rafaello and they are buried properly.
During the 4 seasons (Summer to spring ) we see the life in a small town- the fiestas and the funerals, betrayal, suspicion ,even a stalker. Emily's dream of meeting her first love, Michael, again, turns into a nightmare.
There is a parallel story of Emily's friend Petra, a single mother with an autistic child , and her new love interest, Darren.
Many interesting characters, like Zio Virgilio who knew Olimpia's father ; Siena's boyfriend (whom she dumps); budding friendship between Paris and Andrea. ; Emily's parents .
They seem to grow up during this year. - both Emily and her children.
Loved the dog, Totti .
May 9, 2022
Emily Robertson looks like the woman who has it all: the lovingly restored Tuscan farmhouse, the three beautiful children, the successful, attentive husband. But when her husband dumps her by text message, she has to face up to some stark home truths. How will Emily cope, stranded in the countryside with no man, no money, dodgy phrasebook Italian and a psychotic cleaner? Her eldest girl is out of her depth with the local seducer, her middle daughter is dangerously underweight, and her darling baby is fast becoming a brat. But soon Emily finds herself being drawn into the village of Monte Albano, and discovering a more genuine Italy, darker and more intriguing than she had ever imagined. She and her children are outsiders no more - and if she can get over a slightly embarrasing obsession with her youthful first love, a rogueish stranger might be about to show her the time of her life...
An OK read although not up to Elly Griffiths' usual standard. Emily is a very irritating character and there's far too much obsession with weight throughout the book. Having said that, once I'd settled into the story I enjoyed it although the ending was unnecessarily weird...
An OK read although not up to Elly Griffiths' usual standard. Emily is a very irritating character and there's far too much obsession with weight throughout the book. Having said that, once I'd settled into the story I enjoyed it although the ending was unnecessarily weird...
December 12, 2020
I loved this. The writing is stylish, the tone sometimes sad, often funny, and I enjoyed the variety of sometimes ironically contrasting viewpoints from characters of different ages and nationalities.
The gradual build up of the main character’s friendships when she finds herself alone with her three children after her husband leaves her is satisfying to read and there is a wry dissonance between her heroically optimistic version of life in Tuscany for her British editor, and the reality of her struggle to provide for herself and her children.
The climactic scene in Emily’s house is a complete surprise and perhaps a bit rushed, but then, that does add to the sense of panic she feels, and the ending is what we all hope for.
The gradual build up of the main character’s friendships when she finds herself alone with her three children after her husband leaves her is satisfying to read and there is a wry dissonance between her heroically optimistic version of life in Tuscany for her British editor, and the reality of her struggle to provide for herself and her children.
The climactic scene in Emily’s house is a complete surprise and perhaps a bit rushed, but then, that does add to the sense of panic she feels, and the ending is what we all hope for.
November 19, 2018
I've added a new shelf 'romantic' to my list because of this book. I can't bring myself to describe it as a romance, but it is a romantic thriller. I thought I wasn't going to enjoy it at first, the lives of the women were too twee, too entangled with their men and their families, just like the romantic views of Tuscany that the protagonist, Emily, wrote for her newspaper column. But gradually it took on a more mysterious tone - even sinister. Then I was completely hooked and couldn't stop reading :)
Great book from a great author.
Great book from a great author.
March 3, 2020
3.5 stars but rounded up to 4 stars because Domenica De Rosa is actually one of my favorite authors, Elly Griffiths! This book was written earlier in her career, before the days of Ruth Galloway. It took me a bit to get into this, but once I did I breezed through. The Ruth Galloway themes are all here, just handled very differently: a now-single mother, anthropology and archaeology, a seemingly emotionally unavailable man, and the like--all set in the gorgeous Tuscan countryside. If you like Elly Griffiths, I think you'll like this one, too.
November 13, 2023
Domenica de Rosa seems to have come into her own with this novel. Plot is intriguing and characters are deftly drawn, and the author describes events from different character's points of view. Story: 41 yo wife and mother of three moves from Britain to Tuscany with everyone looking forward to warmth and sun, but it turns out that everyone hates Tuscany. Husband leaves for young, wealthy personal trainer. Life disintegrates, and then reintegrates itself in a new form. Better form! Quite an enjoyable read!
March 5, 2024
Lovely book - slow start but grew on me. Italy (and Tuscany and Siena in particular) is my favourite place in the world so this was an easy pick for me. Loved the perspective of all the different characters, including the children. Loved that it was a romance novel but with that little hint of crime/mystery/thriller that the author was previously known for.
October 9, 2024
Ik had deze graag gelezen als een makkelijk/chill boek tussendoor, maar ik kom er niet doorheen. Er wordt voortdurend gewisseld van perspectief, waardoor ik de personages allemaal te oppervlakkig vind. Verder geeft het boek me een negatief gevoel, ik heb het gevoel dat de hoofdpersoon in de slachtofferrol zit en daar kan ik niet goed tegen. Helaas ga ik hem dus niet meer uit lezen.
January 13, 2018
It starts of quite slow and jumps around from character to character, but a 3rd in it starts to shape nicely, and there is a secret twist that keeps you interested until the end. A lovely depiction of Italy, that whisked me away during the cold winter.
August 17, 2020
Jeg er begejstret. Dejlig bog med herlig beskrivelse af Toscana, historiske udgravninger, og dramatik. Dog kunne jeg godt undvære den for mig at se meget søgte passage ved slutningen af bogen. Men når enden er god osv...
January 12, 2023
A wonderful tale of reality versus dreams. Italy is a country of mystery, tradition & misconceptions. I loved following Emily’s journey from outsider to acceptance. Life is never as it seems and this book goes into one family’s world. Highly recommended.
March 11, 2023
Read about 70 pages but didn't like any of the characters and was bored...read a review that said the ending was stupid so I skimmed the last 50 pages...yes, dumb. Also got the feeling that the whole thing would have been very predictable. Ugh.
November 7, 2023
Boek leest lekker weg, maar is soms wat langdradig. Het is leuk dat er vanuit verschrikkelijk perspectieven wordt geschreven zoals het dagboek. Het einde was verrassend en niet het einde wat ik had verwacht bij het boek. Ik weet niet of ik zo tevreden ben met de laatste ontdekkingen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2024
Being a devoted Elly Griffiths fan, of course I had to read her earlier books too. I quite liked One Summer in Tuscany, and Villa Serena was an enjoyable read most of the way. One particular thing about Emily annoyed me quite a bit, and I find that the changing of perspectives was not so well done, but I enjoyed being back in beautiful Tuscany, and I liked the archeology parts, so I was all for a 4 star rating. I appreciate it being one of the author's first works, but unfortunately the ending completely destroyed it for me, hence the 3 star rating.
June 6, 2024
I really enjoyed this book, even the predictable bits.
What irritated me were the mistakes in Italian. For example: it’s ‘la donna è mobile’ not ‘la donne é mobile’. There were one or two more mistakes (typos?) of that kind in the book.
I’ll be reading the next one too, though!
What irritated me were the mistakes in Italian. For example: it’s ‘la donna è mobile’ not ‘la donne é mobile’. There were one or two more mistakes (typos?) of that kind in the book.
I’ll be reading the next one too, though!
May 19, 2017
Really enjoyed this, good characters and lots of fabulous Italian-ness.
October 2, 2017
I found this dragged rather a bit - certainly not as compelling as the books this author writes under her pseudonym (although I note she sneaked an archaeologist into the story hehe)
May 27, 2018
I was disappointed with this book and gave up on it as I had other books that I was enjoying . I just didn't feel that the story was going anywhere.
August 14, 2019
A slow burner. More engaging as it develops, but the ending seems rather far fetched considering the starting point. Worth a read, though.
August 17, 2019
Was really bored with this. Didn’t really get going to nearly the end of the book!!!
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