Three Months in Florence

by Mary Carter

Lena Wallace was supposed to go to Italy on her honeymoon. That was sixteen years ago. Instead, she settles for cooking Spaghetti Bolognese for her two children while her husband, Alex, is on yet another business trip to Florence without her. Lena deals with his absences in the same stoic way she deals with all her responsibilities. And then comes the call that changes everything--the one from Alex's Italian mistress.Stunned and heartsick, Lena flies to Florence to confront Alex. The city is every bit as beautiful as she imagined, from its glittering fountains and cafés to the golden sunsets over rolling hills. But the further she goes to salvage her marriage, the less Lena recognizes herself--or the husband she's trying to win back. Instead, she's catching glimpses of the person she once hoped to be and the life and family she truly wants. Most of all, she's wondering if the real journey is only just beginning. . .In a novel as warm and vibrant as its rich Italian setting, author Mary Carter explores the intricacies of marriage, the ways love can both liberate and confine, and the journey to happiness that begins with one surprising step. . .Praise for Mary Carter's My Sister's Voice"At once a story about love and loss, family and friends, the world of the hearing and that of the deaf, My Sister's Voice satisfies on many levels." --Holly Chamberlin, author of Last Summer"Gripping, entertaining and honest. This is a unique, sincere story about the invisible, unbreakable bonds of sisterhood that sustain us no matter how far they're buried." --Cathy Lamb, author of A Different Kind of Normal

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Italy, Romance

353 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Tmstprc · Rating 1 out of 5]

So, at the end of this book... question 17... what do you think the future holds in store for Lena? For Alex? Honestly, I’m not sure anyone really cares.

For Lena? I can’t say I care enough to find out. Maybe more OTT drama, just with a different man—maybe Marco, maybe not. Maybe she takes her kids and dog and settles in Italy and lives a long messy, drama filled life.

For Alex? Rarely do I want someone to suffer as much as I’d like to see this character suffer. Before he was a cheater, he was a liar... and he just kept at it until it sucked everyone into his lying, cheating mess. There’s no redemption, there’s no grovel. There’s just him in love with the OW, who is a bigger liar and manipulator than he is. I’d like to say they deserve each other. But, no, they may actually be happy together and I wouldn’t want either of them happy. They both need to live long, miserable, lying lives.

I did like how she handled kicking them out of their little love nest. Changing the locks and moving in was a nice touch.

1.5 ⭐️ but I’m rounding down because I’m still really annoyed!!😑😑😑

[Sometime · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just an OK book.

Some spoilers

I just thought that there were too many things that didn't get addressed. Like why did Alex go lie about his job in the first place? He could have taken his wife and family but he lied and made it sound like the university wouldn't let him have a house. It's like he was already leaving before he was gone. And that was never addressed. Ugh. I hate books about cheaters and this one just annoyed me. All these selfish people who "fall in love" in a matter of months. Where are they going to be when reality hits? And their poor kids. I know this is all make believe but I just felt angry at these people.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second that Lena laid eyes on Alex, she knew that he was the man she was going to marry. She envisioned what their children would look like and how their life would be. They spoke about honeymooning in Italy and visiting the Cinque Terre, but that was 16 years ago. Now married with two children, and still awaiting that trip to Italy, Lena has spent the last six months caring for her kids on her own while her husband is in Florence on a business trip. But is Lena bitter that her husband is frolicking through the Mediterranean without her? You best believe she is! She always thought that they would go to Italy together. Instead, Alex is there without her and Lena is less than pleased about this.

Then the day comes that changed everything. Lena receives a package and inside are a dozen long stem roses. Lena’s mother has always said that men only give flowers for two reasons: it’s your birthday or they’re feeling guilty. The card attached simply read: I’M SORRY. Today was the day that Alex was to be coming home. He should be on the airplane right now. Lena tried calling Alex but got his voicemail. That’s when she decided to try Skyping him. Instead of Alex answering the video call, a young, gorgeous Italian woman does. Her name is Alexandria and, to Lena’s surprise, is Alex’s Italian mistress!
Lena refuses to let her marriage go without a fight. She packs up her two kids (and even the dog) and heads to Italy. This is not how her first trip to Italy was supposed to be. She was supposed to be walking hand in hand with Alex, taking in the sights and enjoying the culture. Instead, she’s with her kids, dragging around her dog and sweating profusely all while trying to hide her swollen, red eyes behind sunglasses. How will Alex react when he finds out they are in Italy? Will Lena be able to save her marriage? Or has Alex decided to throw away 16 years of marriage for a woman he barely knows? Come spend Three Months In Florence and find out!

I really enjoyed this book. Mary Carter did a great job grabbing my attention from the beginning. With every page, I became more and more engrossed in the story. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next and felt like I was right there with them in Italy. The characters were so well written. I found myself rooting for Lena and wanting to strangle Alex! The author did a great job captivating my attention, yet swirling in subtle humor. I thought her writing was brilliant. I truly loved this book and would absolutely recommend it to others. I give this book cinque stelle (five stars)!

[wrkatreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

review may be spoilerish.

This was not a romance or maybe it was. It was a different troubled end of marriage book. With a twist. I did enjoy it. I was confused. Was OW pregnant or not.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read! This book makes you feel as if you are in Florence. This book sends you through so many emotions with the main character. The end is something I was hoping would happen but really did not expect it. I recommend this book to all. Thank you Mary Carter for such a wonderfully written book I truly enjoyed this read!!!!

[Amy Wadsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 Months....

The Positives: I really enjoyed the storyline of this book. It was an exciting page turner that kept me engrossed and reading into the wee hours of the night. The author was very descriptive regarding the sights in Italy. Her terminology of the landscape was satisfying and provided a good escape for me. I found myself laughing at some parts of the book and crying at others. It's great when an author can provoke emotion in the reader. This does not happen often and is the hallmark of an insightful writer.

The Negatives: For me personally, the ending of the book was rather abrupt and anticlimactic! The author didn't go very in depth with letting you know what the future holds for the characters. For some books, sometimes the ending is better left to the imagination. This book was not one of them. It was a bit of a let down and I was actually flipping through the pages on my kindle, thinking I must have missed a page, but I didn't! It would have been more satisfying if there was a more distinct conclusion or even an epilogue. Also, there were parts of the book that I found a little unnecessary, such as the history lessons associated with some of the landmarks in Italy. It really didn't add to the storyline and I, more or less, skimmed those parts. In addition, the main character, Lena, was a little on the bipolar side, to the point of being somewhat annoying. Yes, she was going through a trauma, but the angry outbursts got slightly old. Lena was dying to go to Italy all her life. When she finally got there, she was degrading to the people and the country, then suddenly she changed her outlook again. The mood swings were hard to follow at times. I would have liked to see more of a description of the characters, too; something beyond hair color, skin tone, and eye color.

All in all, it was a great read and I definitely recommend it. However, the abrupt ending prevented me from giving it 5 stars.

[Linda Bridges · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would you do if you and your husband planned a wonderful honeymoon in Florence only to have it postponed for sixteen years by a mortgage, children, and work? Then what if the chance to spend time in Florence came up again, but only for your husband, with a promise that the family could join him in six months time? Then what if you found out that your husband had taken a mistress while he was away in Florence and you were home with the kids and the dog? This is the premise as Lena packs up the kids and the dog and flies off to Florence to confront Alex, her philandering husband.
I love a book that has me laughing by page 2! And the laughs never stopped. Although Lena made some questionable choices about her situation, I couldn't help but empathize and found myself thinking that I would have done things in much the same way. This is a very entertaining book with a great plot, wonderful descriptions of Florence, and hilarious situations.

[Pam Herald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally loved this book! From the laugh out loud humor (seriously, I LOL'd a lot!) to the gut wrenching pain of betrayal it was unputdownable! Lena and Alex have been married for 16 years when he is offered a teaching position in Florence, Italy. Unfortunately, Lena and the kids can't go with him. Alex is gone for six months, and on the night he is to return home Lena gets a video call she (and the kids!) won't ever forget. Soon Lena, Rachel, Josh and Stella the dog are high tailing it to Florence with a vengeance. What happens when they get there is a roller coaster of emotions and events, and I was cheering her on every step of the way! I really want to go to Italy now!

[Mina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I won this book last year from the Goodreads giveaway and I finally got around to reading it. Little did I know what a fantastic read this would be....I was enthralled and captivated from the start...I loved the main character Lena....I laughed and cried with her...the setting of Florence was depicted so vividly by Mary Carter that I felt I was there along with Lena...I was so hoping for the ending that when it came about I was jumping for joy...a gem of a book...can't wait to read more from this author....

[Amrutha Prasad · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book took me over seven years to finish. Are we supposed to be like “yeah! Forgive your lying cheater husband and get back together with him!” is that the vibe in the 2010’s and on? Also wtf sort of ending was that? I swear to god I don’t want to hear the words “16 years of marriage” ever again. And what? The cheaters just end up together just like the two who got cheated on? Do they go on double dates? Meanwhile Florence, one of the most beautiful and timeless cities in Europe, is given cursory attention at best—despite which it’s the best character. What a ludicrous nonsense book.

[Layla]

What a dumb book with a dumb message. You don't FALL in love. You become in love, through a series of deliberate choices. And love is not the same as having your face or body immortalized with artwork. It's communication, caring, and, to some extent, CONSTANCY! No rating bc I just skimmed. I couldn't bring myself to go any further with this one.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved this book! Funny, interesting and a delight to read! The characters were so real and crazy! I was laughing all through it! I gave the book to a friend and she loved it too! She said she was hooked within 10 pages!!

[C.J. Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, easy read with the usual suspects in a romantic comedy/drama. A nice taste of Florence anyway.

[Julie Busa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Florence was the best character in the book!

[Jane Fanelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable story of romance and betrayal.

[Chelsea B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 because it takes place in Florence, otherwise, the story made me angry hah

[Marion Marchetto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lena and Alex are one of the most compatible couples in the world – at least in Lena’s mind. We follow their whirlwind courtship and marriage in a great two-chapter synopsis that sets the stage for the remainder of the book. After sixteen years of marriage, two children, and a missed honeymoon in Florence, Italy that Lena hopes will one day still happen our couple has settled into the routine of married life. Lena gave up her artistic career when she married Alex who is an art professor. Not too oddly they have grown apart over the years of their marriage. But when Alex comes home one day with news that he’s been asked to teach at an American university in Florence, Lena’s dreams of them having that missed honeymoon take center stage. When Alex tells his wife that the appointment is only for him, that he can’t take his family, Lena despairs of ever getting to Florence even though Alex assures her that after the semester (three months) he’ll be home once again. That one semester stretches to two and after six months of dealing solo with dance practice, soccer games, and a dog who pees in the house, Lena has had enough. She gives her husband an ultimatum – come home now! On the day that Alex is due to arrive home, Lena goes through quite a bit of trouble. She hangs a huge Welcome Home banner that she painted, she’s cleaned the house, and is preparing Spaghetti Bolognese for Alex. She is interrupted by a delivery of red roses with a note that says simply, “I’m sorry”. As the evening progresses and she doesn’t hear from Alex she makes excuses to herself – he can’t call from the plane, maybe the flight was delayed, etc. With a cold supper sitting on the stove, she checks her computer only to learn that Alex’s flight has safely landed hours earlier. She starts to panic since she hasn’t had a call or a text message from him. She calls his computer via Skype and it is answered not by Alex but by a stunning young Italian woman who tells Lena that she and Alex have been together for months, that she is his mistress. To prove her claim, she turns the computer towards the door where Alex is just entering and Lena watches while her husband kisses his mistress passionately. What happens next is the remainder of the story. We follow Lena who has arrived in Florence with her children and their dog. Lena is determined to fight for her husband and her marriage.

With Lena we see how external forces can rip apart a seemingly solid marriage. THREE MONTHS IN FLORENCE is a look at the decaying effect of those external forces and how this woman chooses to confront them. Should she confront the mistress? What does she do when face-to-face with her cheating husband? A series of events – sidewalk art, the vandalism of centuries-old art, and being hit upon by a lustful taxi driver are the first thing Lena must contend with within the first couple of hours of her arrival in Florence. And what is she to do with the threat of her husband’s mistress’s artist boyfriend? A bit of laughter, a lot of tears, much confusion, and compassion from the oddest sources (Nonna and Nonno, to Angelo and ultimately to Marco the Italian boyfriend) will keep the reader riveted to this book.

The author’s descriptions of Florence and the Italian people brought many memories to my mind, especially since I personally have friends who reside in Italy. I would love to see a sequel to this book to learn more of all the characters – especially the Italian ones.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

About The Book:

Lena Wallace was supposed to go to Italy on her honeymoon. That was sixteen years ago. Instead, she settles for cooking Spaghetti Bolognese for her two children while her husband, Alex, is on yet another business trip to Florence without her. Lena deals with his absences in the same stoic way she deals with all her responsibilities. And then comes the call that changes everything—the one from Alex’s Italian mistress. Stunned and heartsick, Lena flies to Florence to confront Alex. The city is every bit as beautiful as she imagined, from its glittering fountains and cafes to the golden sunsets over rolling hills. But the further she goes to salvage her marriage, the less Lena recognizes herself—or the husband she’s trying to win back. Instead, she’s catching glimpses of the person she once hoped to be and the life and family she truly wants. Most of all, she’s wondering if the real journey is only just beginning…

My Review:

Lena met her husband Alex back in college about 16 years ago. The minute she laid eyes on him she knew he was the one, the one she was going to marry. Their relationship develops more and more, soon they are married. They were so in love, they planned to go to Italy for their honeymoon. But that was then and this is now, Lena is stuck at home once again with their two kids while her husband is in Florence. When she receives a package of a dozen roses and a note that says I'm Sorry, she gets a little upset. He was suppose to come that day, so Lena takes it upon her self to Skype him. Expecting Alex to answer, Lena was quite drawn back to see a beautiful Italian woman, named Alexandria, answer. After a few questions, Lena finds out that Alexandria is no less than Alex's mistress. So Lena packs up and heads out to Florence, to confront Alex.

About The Author:

MARY CARTER is a freelance writer and novelist. The Pub Across the Pond, is her fifth novel with Kensington. It is also available as an audiobook through Blackstone Audio. In July of 2012 it will be the pick of the month for the Barnes and Noble online book club. Her other works include: My Sister's Voice, Sunnyside Blues, She'll Take It, and Accidentally Engaged. In addition to her novels she has written two novellas: A Very Maui Christmas in the New York Times best selling anthology Holiday Magic, and The Honeymoon House in the New York Times best selling anthology Almost Home. Her novels have been translated in the UK, France, Germany, China, South Korea, Brazil, and Portugal. Although the deal didn't culminate in a sale, She'll Take It was optioned by Paramount Pictures. Her sixth novel, The Things I Do For You, will be released July 31, 2012, and her next novella will be out in the Spring of 2013. Readers are welcome to visit her at marycarterbooks.com, Mary Carter books on Facebook, or @marycarterbooks on Twitter.

Disclosure: This book was given to me for free by the Author for my honest review.

[Chelsey Wolford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lena met her husband, Professor Alex Wallace, in college and she knew immediately that he was the man she was meant to marry. They start a hot, titillating affair and are married not long after. Lena and Alex are madly in love and share many passions, including Florence, Italy. Lena was promised that Florence would be their ultimate honeymoon destination, but when Alex receives word of a new job opportunity, the honeymoon is put on hold. Lena agrees, for Alex, and chalks it up to another year. Only it never happens. Before she knows it they have been married for sixteen years and have two children, but no honeymoon to Florence. Then Alex is asked to spend a semester in Italy teaching classes, and Lena knows this is finally her chance to spend some time in Florence. She is wrong again because Alex has no intention of bringing his family along with him. After a year of his being there, Lena finds out the worst thing imaginable – Alex has been keeping an Italian mistress. She packs up her family and gets a plane to Florence. But will she be able to save her marriage?

Lena was an exquisite character and I was very pleased with how she handled the entire situation. She was a mother first and put her kids before anything else. However, she was still shaken up after finding out about the affair, so of course she did what any woman would probably do and went straight to Alex. I did not care from Alex. I didn’t care for him from the minute he refused to take Lena and the kids to Florence. I knew that he had ulterior motives. I mean who spends a year in a foreign country without their family? I know that I wouldn’t! But not liking Alex only made me like Lena more. She kept great composure and her thoughts never left me bored!

This was my first read by Mary Carter. But if this is how she always draws readers into a story, then I definitely need to read more of her books. She pulled me directly into Florence and Lena’s life. I felt like I was Lena’s best friend and we were on the journey through Florence together. I actually felt like I could feel Florence unraveling all around me. Her descriptions were beautiful and I loved seeing the city and the sites through Lena’s eyes. She was such a passionate person anyway, so it helped that she was so excited and sometimes just reveled in the beauty of it all!

***A copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Kensington in exchange for my honest review***

[Jencey/ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who would like three months in Florence Italy?
The second part of our trip to Italy takes us to Three Months in Florence by Mary Carter. Thank you to Mary Carter and Kensington Books for sending me this novel.
Synopsis:
Lena has the perfect man and the perfect family. Or does she? One night Alex her husband asks her to dinner at a local restaurant to give her some news. He tells her that he has been asked to teach in Florence Italy at the university. Lena is beside herself with excitement because she has dreamed of going to Italy for sixteen years. Could this really be happening? Then Alex tells her that he will go himself and there will not be room for the family. Lena perseveres because there is a promise of being able to visit. Then Alex tells her that he has been asked to teach another semester. Lena is livid and then tells him he is coming home. The day arrives and Alex is not there but a Skype to Italy reveals he has a mistress. The trip to Italy does happen. How will Lena respond? Will she get her husband back?
My Thoughts:
I loved the idea of a novel set in Italy. The author does a great job of setting and the scene in Italy. You will learn about the art of Florence. Conflict is strong throughout with Lena’s fight to win her husband back. I felt for the character of Lena and the pain she must be going through in these circumstances in her life. Also how Lena tried to be a good mother.
The novel asks how would you then confront your husband and heal from these wounds. What can we do for ourselves to heal? What gifts come from these circumstances?
Still a wonderful novel to read this summer!

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three Months in Florence by Mary Carter
Wanted to read this book because I will probably never get to Florence myself and wanted to learn about.
The book delivers the city to you and other places as well. There is also another story that starts out with Alex, the professor and how he meets up with Lena and after 16 years of marriage he gets the opportunity to teach in Florence, just him, not Lena and the kids.
She does meet up with him via the computer and he tells her of all he's seen and experienced and she is upset because they were to go there, had the whole trip planned out, for their honeymoon and now he's there by himself.
She has a meltdown and ends up in Florence and things take a drastic turn as she discovers his new life with out them. Things become heated even further entwined within the story of the city and it's culture. Twists and turns and you can't even see what is going to happen next.
Keeps you very interested in their story, from their past and about the travel. Really GOOD read.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads*

Lena knows she wants Alex from the moment she sees him when he is a TA in her college class. She has a nine point plan to win him over. They fall madly in love and get married.
They have plans to go to Florence, Italy on their honeymoon, but sometimes life gets in the way of the best laid plans. Sixteen years, a dog and two children later, Alex is offered a position for a semester in Florence. One semester turns into two, while Lena and the kids remain at home in the states.
Six long months later, as Lena prepares for Alex's homecoming, she gets a huge surprise - not only is he not coming home for the summer, but he has a mistress in Italy.
So Lena does what she needs to do.... she packs up the kids and the dog and flies to Florence to confront him.
She spends the next three months there, discovering Florence, sorting through her anger, and finding herself.

The descriptions of Florence are vivid. The story is engrossing. Well-written and entertaining.

[Melissalampkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure at first if I liked it and discovered that I love it. The range of emotions that ran through me were many; anger, disbelief, humor. I didn't agree with some of the things Lena did...like taking her family to Italy to confront the cheating husband...but she took the family dog as well. Who does that? lol. Her crying for a month really got under my skin, then I had to look at it from an angle not my own. I wouldn't do that doesn't mean that someone else wouldn't cry for a month or three. I loved when she got her spunk back and went on a shopping spree. Of course her "friend" Marco. I enjoyed the descriptive passages in the story about the historical places and culture. It brought back a lot of memories for me when me and my husband was there. Like taking an armchair vacation. The ending well....I won't give it away but it was certainly a surprise and a nice one at that!

[Patti · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is not like the books I typically read. It's 300+ pages of a woman having a complete freak out, sprinkled with random facts about Florence.

It had two of my pet peeves for chick lit: 1) It was written in present tense and 2) all the characters were the MOST beautiful and beguiling creatures, flawless and breathtaking so that people lost their minds from any contact with them.

I did finish it though. There were book club questions (?) and a short interview with the author in back, where she admitted to having only spent an afternoon in Florence before writing.

I did like that the main character, even though she was gorgeous in every way, wasn't perfect in all other ways. She was well written in that she was flawed and not a victim (all the time). She still fell down a lot. Put that in the previously mentioned chick lit pet peeves.

[Barbara Hale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lena met her husband Alex when she was an art student and he was her teaching assistant. She knew the moment she saw him that she wanted to marry him and developed her nine point plan to make him hers. Marriage is followed quickly by two kids and a life in the suburbs. One day, Alex informs Lena that he has been asked to teach a semester in Florence, but she and the kids stay behind. When Lena discovers Alex is having an affair with a young Italian beauty, she packs up the kids and the dog and heads to Florence to confront her husband and his mistress. What follows is a crazy three months in Florence during which Lena discovers what she wants her future to be. A very light read, I found the novel to be a bit silly and predictable, but on the whole, enjoyable.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I breezed through this book in one day. Time flew quickly. It's very entertaining. Lena went to Florence to try to get her husband back after discovering that he was unfaithful. I loved all the antics she went through--not sure I could have done much of what she did. I really liked how she discovered more of herself and her husband and finding that change was needed. The ending was a surprise but not disappointing.

[Candess Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book was timely for me. I was really ready to take a vicarious romp through Italy. Once I started to read Three Months in Florence, I could hardly put it down! It was an easy read, especially after finishing Cracking India. Yet there was depth and interesting undercurrent connections the author made that keep popping up in my head days later. Looking to escape from your every day world? Loved the book!

[LuAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A touching story about a woman who has to come to terms with her cheating husband as well as her own feelings about her marriage and life she's living. Her actions and reactions to events feel real to me, although I think it's tough to predict how anyone would react given the situations she was in. Kind of Luke-warm on the ending. Didn't love how it ended but I'm also not disappointed. A sweet and easy read.

[Helen Macan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dissappointing

Lena is really an unenjoyable character. I understand her anger and pain, but her revenge got to be absurd and ridiculous. I have no respect for her lack of dignity. The story could have been much more developed by focusing on the disintegration of her relationship with Alex, rather than focused on her all consuming revenge. The disintegration seemed like an afterthought, oh yea, maybe the divorce should make sense.

[Pallavi Narayan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bad writing, terribly clichéd, and what's with the refrain of accident?! If I wasn't stuck on a flight with this, would have dropped it like a hot cake after the first few pages. The characters sound totally off. And it doesn't do any sort of justice to Florence. The author's interview at the end of the book shows her ineptitude with Italy in general. The fact that she stayed only eight days there completely comes through her writing. Best avoided.