I’m excited today to bring you a review of Secrets of the Italian Island by Barbara Josselsohn. An incredible true story of an island at war. Read on for my thoughts.
Book Description
Italy, 1943. A castle once full of love and laughter is left in ruins by the Nazis, as three sisters are torn apart by one terrible mistake…
New York, present day. Broken by the loss of her beloved grandmother Annalisa, who raised her all alone, Mia is shocked when she finds an old letter sent from Italy in her belongings. Annalisa never told Mia about the magnificent, vine-covered castle on Isola di Parissi where she spent one long summer under the Italian stars. Or that she was accused of something terrible in the darkest days of World War Two…
Arriving on the stunning Italian coast just a boat ride away from Parissi, Mia is devastated to find the island closed to visitors. Desperate to find out what her grandmother was hiding, she finds dark and brooding local guide Leo, who promises to help her sneak in.
As they explore the crumbling castle surrounded by lush olive groves, Mia begins to fall in love with passionate Leo and the beautiful country he calls home. And soon they find handwritten notes hidden in the walls, which confirm her grandmother’s heartbreaking story. Annalisa arrived on the island with her two sisters but was forced to abandon them when the Nazis invaded.
Mia soon realizes that the accusation against Annalisa might be true, and that Leo has his own reasons for wanting to dig up her family’s past. The terrible mistake Annalisa made tore apart the island community. Will it force Mia to leave Leo, and Italy, forever?
What I Thought
Secrets of the Italian Island by Barbara Josselsohn is an absolutely gorgeous and page-turning World War Two romance novel set in Italy in 1943 and in the present day. It truly is an enchanting, fast-paced, and captivating novel. Full of secrets and twists, I honestly couldn’t get enough!
The historical setting of the novel is meticulously rendered and you can tell the author thoroughly researched the area, and the characters are spellbinding! It’s book 1 in the Sisters of War series and I can’t wait to read the next one!
Overall, if you are a fan of historical romance novels, Secrets of the Italian Island by Barbara Josselsohn is definitely worth checking out. It’s one of my favourite reads of 2023 so far!
Where Can I Buy It?
Book Tour
Other Books You May Like
- The American Wife by Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger
- From The Dark We Rise by Marion Kummerow
- The Girl On The Platform by Ellie Midwood
- The Girl Across The Wire Fence by Imogen Matthews
- The Girl In The Striped Dress by Ellie Midwood
Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you’ve enjoyed this review. You can check out my bookcase of past reviews here.