Villa Coco

by Andrew Sean Greer

⭐ The new novel by the author of the international bestseller Less, winner of the Pulitzer Prize 2018 ⭐
'What, at first, appears to be a gloriously bonkers escapade amidst the Tuscan landscape gradually transforms into the most beautiful paean to youth, to age and to the fulfilment of love. Absolute joy'
Sarah Winman, author of Still Life

'A tale of a young American man who spends a season in Tuscany working as an archivist for a very charismatic Baronessa. It's a lyrical and witty reminder that the most meaningful life - and certainly the one with the best stories - can emerge from the deepest chaos... A great treasure'
Katherine Heiny, author of Standard Deviation

'Eccentric, funny, I adored it'
Nina Stibbe, author of Man at the Helm


A coming-of-age novel, a love story and a tale of life-enhancing Pulitzer Prize winner Andrew Sean Greer showcases his wit, sophistication and deep knowledge of focaccia in this magical tale set amidst the Tuscan hills.

Broke and directionless, our young man takes a job in the Italian countryside as the all-purpose assistant to Lisabetta, known to her friends as Coco - a strong-willed, wealthy widow of great local renown.

Trained as an archivist, he thinks he's been hired to catalogue the contents of the beautiful, crumbling mansion nestled in the green Tuscan hills... but what are his actual duties? Days are spent ridding the house of a marten - whatever that is - locating the antediluvian septic system, entertaining an endless carousel of guests (from bohemian painters to elderly princesses to unnervingly handsome nephews), attending a funeral in order to make off with the urn, and not inadvertently sabotaging Coco's great and final plan-to locate the lost love of her life and be reunited before it's too late.

As summer turns into autumn and the Italian countryside begins to work its magic on our protagonist, the secrets of Villa Coco and its inhabitants are slowly brought to light - and with them, an unforgettable story of the enduring power of friendship.

Praise for Andrew Sean Greer
'Bedazzling, bewitching and be-wonderful' New York Times
'I recommend it with my whole heart' Ann Patchett
'Brilliant' Guardian
'Basically perfect' Dolly Alderton
'Unforgettable' Independent

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Italy, Contemporary, Summer, Adult

288 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication June 9, 2026

About the author

Andrew Sean Greer (born 1970) is an American novelist and short story writer.

He is the bestselling author of The Story of a Marriage, which The New York Times has called an “inspired, lyrical novel,” and The Confessions of Max Tivoli, which was named one of the best books of 2004 by the San Francisco Chronicle and received a California Book Award.

The child of two scientists, Greer studied writing with Robert Coover and Edmund White at Brown University, where he was the commencement speaker at his own graduation, where his unrehearsed remarks, critiquing Brown's admissions policies, caused a semi-riot. After years in New York working as a chauffeur, theater tech, television extra and unsuccessful writer, he moved to Missoula, Montana, where he received his Master of Fine Arts from The University of Montana, from where he soon moved to Seattle and two years later to San Francisco where he now lives. He is currently a fellow at the New York Public Library Cullman Center. He is an identical twin.

While in San Francisco, he began to publish in magazines before releasing a collection of his stories, How It Was for Me. His stories have appeared in Esquire, The Paris Review, The New Yorker and other national publications, and have been anthologized most recently in The Book of Other People, and The PEN/ O. Henry Prize Stories 2009. His first novel, The Path of Minor Planets, was published in 2001.

Reviews

[Angela M · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author in a letter to his readers wonders “ whatever happened to the “charm novel” ….a world in which even the worst of circumstances could provide a funny story and a sense of hope.” So he decided to write one and he has indeed written a story with charm. A young American man is hired by a ninety two year old Italian Barroness to catalog her art and artifacts at her villa. “Our young man” as he is referred to doesn’t find the luxurious villa he imagined , nor the structured job he expected . Instead he becomes her assistant, finds a villa in need of repair, and a parade of eccentric characters . In addition to the Barronessa, there’s an aging principessa, a quirky artist, and more . An escapade to say the least, picking olives and grapes, helping with repairs, listening to the Baronessa’s stories before he can get down to the work he was hired to do. Some hilarious moments, some tender moments, some moments of awakening in this gentle, funny and entertaining novel with endearing characters . It’s full of life and love and is reflective on doing what you’re meant to do and meant to be.

I received a copy of this book from Doubleday through NetGalley.

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some books feel like an escape. Villa Coco feels like being gently carried away on warm Tuscan air, dropped into a place where time bends, rules blur, and every strange little moment somehow adds up to something quietly profound.
Andrew Sean Greer doesn't rush to impress you. He wins you over slowly. At the center of this story is a young man without a clear direction who takes a job in Italy expecting something respectable and orderly—and gets anything but. Instead of neatly cataloging art, he finds himself pulled into the orbit of Lisabetta "Coco," a force of nature dressed in widow's black, whose villa feels less like a workplace and more like a living, breathing thing filled with secrets, memories, chaos, and longing.

What follows is part comedy, part emotional unraveling, part surreal adventure. Each day brings a new task that sounds slightly absurd but somehow matters: navigating eccentric visitors, running strange errands, becoming the accidental guardian of Coco's unfinished love story. What starts as a paycheck quietly becomes something far more intimate—a crash course in devotion, vulnerability, and what it means to let other people's lives change your own.

Greer's writing glides between playful and deeply sincere. The humor is warm rather than showy, and the emotional moments sneak up on you when you're not bracing for them. Beneath the antics and lively personalities is a tender meditation on youth brushing against mortality, on love that lingers long after time should have erased it, and on how even the most aimless seasons of life can quietly reshape who we become.

The Italian setting adds its own kind of magic. The villa, the hills, the meals, the drifting conversations—all of it creates a dreamy, sunlit haze where past and present overlap, where small choices start to feel significant. This isn't a story driven by high drama or plot twists. It's driven by atmosphere, connection, and the slow realization that sometimes the most important journeys don't look heroic at all.

Villa Coco left me smiling, slightly wistful, and unexpectedly moved. It's the kind of book that reminds you how strange and beautiful people can be, how love doesn't fade on schedule, and how growth often arrives disguised as chaos.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[Kim Alkemade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful novel immersed me in the richly-drawn world of Baronessa Coco and her eclectic Italian villa stuffed with art and artifacts which a young American archivist has come to catalog. Thwarted by Coco's capricious whims and secret agendas, our archivist struggles to accomplish his task, never realizing his true vocation is less about making lists and more about embracing adventure. Mesmerizing descriptions, fully-realized characters, and hypnotically gorgeous prose drew me in and held me fast until the final lovely scene. Fabulous and affecting, I loved this novel!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A coming of age story for the ages. Our hero accepts a job as archivist and 'adjutant' to Lisabetta, or Coco, a widow living in an eccentric and art-filled villa in Tuscany. Arriving as a somewhat directionless recent graduate, the young man finds himself as he opens himself to people, tasks and experiences he certainly did not anticipate. Greer's wit and light touch, along with his big-hearted love for his characters, make this tale delightful reading.

[Karyn Silverman · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an odd little jewel box of a book, reminiscent somehow of Auntie Mame and, weirdly, A Room with a View, a love song to Italy and whimsy and the ephemeral nature of now.

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A broke and directionless young man takes a job assisting Coco, a strong-willed and wealthy widow, at her crumbling Tuscan villa. Expecting work aligned with his archivist background, he instead handles eccentric chores, colorful guests, and becomes wrapped up in Coco’s final goal to reunite with her lost love. As seasons change, the villa’s secrets come to light, transforming him and revealing a heartfelt story about friendship and connection.

The writing in this book was immersive, in that I felt I was also in this Tuscan villa among the eclectic cast of characters. In these pages is humor and genuine emotion, all intermingled together to create such a perfect balance. This will pull you in immediatly and readers will want to linger.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[jude goldstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and doubleday books for this advanced reader copy of villa coco. the title and the cover alone were charming. the setting in tuscany italy was charming too. and the characters? yup, all charming. i felt like i was in the olive groves, on the winding rutted roads, inside the rooms of the home and also inside of their hearts. i wish this book was 5 stars for me, but it wasn't. why do i always feel badly giving just 4 stars? the book rambled a bit too much for me and my addled brain couldn't keep track of the baronessa's stories and time line. of course, that's the whole point. it's almost like a mystery book in that way. it certainly took me away from my own little troubles and the troubles in my country. although the very ending was predictable, it was also delicious. read this and you will see what i mean. a good full circle story.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Andrew Sean Greer. Doubleday Books, and NetGalley for access to the Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A young American man is offered a position as an archivist in Italy to an older and eccentric woman. The details of his position are not quite clear and as he seeks to perform his duties, new and unexpected adventures arise throughout the household. As the end of his employment nears, he learns a great deal about those around him – and of himself.

This is an old school novel filled with comic situations and people you’d like to meet yourself. In addition, the story takes place in numerous small and large cities in central Italy which adds to the whole environment. Recommended.

[Ana W · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is written as the memoir of a young American man who, after graduating college travels to Italy to work as an archivist for a Baroness. I enjoyed this book for the lush details of the Italian countryside and quirky characters. Since the MC doesn't speak Italian and his employer/host and her friends have secrets, I wasn't always sure what was going. Like the MC, I kept asking, 'What's happening?' The MC was clearly in over his head, but as the novel progresses, he grows into himself and becomes an integral part of his new community. I love ASG's writing and there were moments that were really funny. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful book!
I really enjoyed this book about a young man who takes a job assessing and cataloging someone’s collection of art and miscellaneous works. He travels to Italy and takes residence at the home of his employer, the Baronessa. His job ends up involving many things, more than he ever imagined! The story is filled with many quirky characters, in fact all of them are! I heartily recommend this book! I know I will be reading this book again.

[Josh Escandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for an eARC of Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer. I loved reading this easygoing excursion to the Italian countryside. I love the narrator as he details his experiences on this journey and love his internal impressions of the eccentric baroness and her entourage. The immersive characters and the wild scenarios the narrator finds himself in made the novel compulsively readable. I definitely recommend Villa Coco to people who want a laid-back and brisk read.

[Vec62 · Rating 5 out of 5]

5* Read

I loved this book. I was a little hesitant as I was worried this would be too- “an author takes a European tour and writes a long hotel ad” for me. I could not have been more wrong. The author’s introduction talks about writing a “charm novel” and he succeeded in doing so. The book was pure escapism in the best possible way, not sacrificing its soul for entertainment. My favorite quote from the novel:
“There is a heavy price we have to pay for seeing things as they are. The price is of our youth.”

Thank you NetGalley and Doubleday for an ARC of this novel.

[Stroop · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Villa Coco, our narrator accepts a job with vague duties. His work for an eccentric widow in Italy is full of twists and turns, and it might just turn out to be the adventure of a lifetime. Recommended for readers in the mood for a zany and zippy novel.

Thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

In his author letter, Greer promises a “charm novel,” and I do think he delivers on his promise. This was a zany cast of characters and events, in a quiet way.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Timothy Deer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A triumph, I’m sure.

[Sam (world’s gassiest) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little slow in parts but I was quite tickled.

[Katie Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come