25 Amazing Books Set in Italy to Love
If you are looking for books set in Italy, you’ve come to the right place.
I’ve been obsessed with books set in Italy since I visited over 10 years ago when I visited Rome, Florence, Pisa, and the Italian Riviera with my family – while pregnant with my firstborn!
Like stories set in France, a book based in Italy has the ability to immediately take me back to my time in the country. The descriptions in the books below transport me with vivid depictions of Italian places, foods, and people. I can practically taste the homemade pasta while pouring over the pages of these books.
Whether you like thrillers, historical fiction, or romances, you will be sure to be swept away by one of the books set in Italy we mention below.
*The Books set in Italy post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you.
Books Set in Italy
New Releases Set in Italy
Problematic Summer Romance
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Year: 2025
Genre: Romance
Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Maya is trying to figure out what to do with her life. She is 23, brilliant, and torn between doing what she loves and what she thinks is expected of her as a grad student. Conor is 38 and her brother’s best friend.
Over the past three years, Maya and Conor have developed a close friendship that feels like more, but they have not spoken in 10 months.
When the two of them wind up in Italy together for Maya’s brother’s wedding, they will have to work things out and see if there is any hope for a relationship between them.
Trigger Warnings
Parental Loss
Why Jackie loves it
I loved that, even though this is an age-gap romance, there was no power dynamic at play either. The characters complemented each other so that they were each supporting the other in the way they needed it most. It was refreshing to see a healthy relationship despite both characters having flaws
Find this book in: Ali Hazelwood Books Ranked / Books Set in Italy / Books With Summer in the Title / Best Beach Reads 2025
The Love We Found
Author: Jill Santapolo
Year: 2025
Genre: Romance
More info: The Light We Lost #2
Watch the Beyond the Bookends Discussion with Jill Santopolo by joining the Book Club
Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This is the long-awaited sequel to the Reese Witherspoon book Club pick and Bestselling book, The Light We Lost. It’s been ten years since Gabe has been gone when his best friend contacts Lucy about an art exhibit they are putting on with his works as a commemoration. While looking for photographs, Lucy finds a piece of paper in a box of photos. It is an address in Rome and she cannot resist buying a plane ticket for one last connection to Gabe.
She is led to Dr. Dax Armstrong, a New Yorker living in Italy. Her connection with him is immediate and she begins to feel things she has not felt since she met Gabe.
Why Kirsten loves it
I love that we get to check in on Darren, Lucy, and the kids and find out how their story concludes. The book wraps the story up nicely, particularly when it comes to the story of Gabe’s child. I had bittersweet tears streaming down my face at the conclusion.
Why Jackie loves it
Call me crazy, but I have been waiting for this book for years. I have my thoughts on both Darren and Gabe, but Dax was the one I have been waiting for all this time! If you loved The Light We Lost, this is a must-read. And if you have not read it, what are you waiting for?
Find this book in: Books Set in Italy / New Release Books You Must Read
Mysteries Set in Italy
Plot
Jo Piazza has written the PERFECT summer novel, striking a delicious balance between being relaxing enough to enjoy on the beach but thought-provoking enough to discuss with your book club.
I was swept into the story of Sara and her quest to learn about her unexpected inheritance and the possible murder of her great-grandmother, Serafina. To solve the mystery and claim her inheritance, she must travel to the Italian countryside – giving her a break from her recently closed restaurant and her failed marriage.
The dual-timeline narrative focuses on Sara’s quest and Serafina’s life as a woman coming into her own in the 1900s. The stakes are high for both women as they balance staying true to their dreams in the face of society’s oppression of women, especially when it turns dangerous.
Why Kirsten loves it
I could go on and on about this one. The vivid imagery that Jo paints with her writing had me picturing the town, tasting the food, and smelling the Sicilian soil. I SWEAR, at one point I touched my chin to see if the oil from the meal she was writing about was dripping down my face.
It’s a multi-genre, multigenerational masterpiece of a beach read. #gifted by Dutton Books
Why Jackie loves it
I could not put this book down. The characters and the plot compelled me to keep reading, the descriptions of the people and the places made me feel like I was actually there. The fact that some of this is based in a true story is just a cherry on top of this sundae!
Find this book in: Beach Read 2024 / Books Set in Italy / Family Drama / Best Historical Fiction of 2024 / Best Mystery Books 2024 / Best Books for Book Clubs to Read / Giftable Books / The Best Books of 2024 / Books like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies
Author: Catherine Mack
Year: 2024
Genre: Cozy Mystery
More info: USA Today Bestseller, An Indie New List Pick (May 2024)
Age Range: 15+
Plot
What a fun new mystery series! When a group of authors accompanies mystery writer, Eleanor Dash, on her book tour in Italy, people keep turning up dead around them. While she is trying to figure out a way to kill off her main character, Connor, and end her long-running series, someone is trying to kill the real-life Connor on the tour!
Now Eleanor and her writer frenemies must put their differences aside to try to solve the murders and stay alive. The hysterical scenarios they find themselves in keep the vacation murder plot delightfully lighthearted. Add in the descriptions of Italian food, gorgeous sites, and wild personal hijinks and you’ve got a lovely summer read.
Why Kirsten loves it
It’s not often a mystery series that is both mysterious and fun, but this one delivers! It’s exactly the kind of mystery book I gravitate towards in the middle of summer. I can’t wait to see this series continue! #gifted by Macmillan Audio
Find this book in: Italy Novels / Best Beach Reads / Cozy Mystery Books / Mystery and Thriller Novels About Writers
Family Dramas Set in Italy
Juliet: A Novel
Author: Anna Fortier
Year: 2010
Genre: Mystery
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 15+
Plot
What if Shakespeare’s Juliet was real and was actually a curse? Alternating between the “real” Juliet’s story and her modern-day descendant’s story, the book proves that love transcends time.
Julie receives a key to a safety deposit box in Italy after her aunt Rose dies. This journey will take her to Siena and to her ancestor, Giulietta Tolomei. The further she digs into her past, she more she learns about her family and the curse that has been following them for centuries.
It’s such a unique and amazing classic retelling and was a no-brainer pick for a list of the best romance novels of all time. The epic love story also makes it perfect for anyone who is looking for mystery, romance, and historical fiction in one book.
Why Kirsten loves it
I ADORE this book set in Italy and have read it numerous times. I can’t put my finger on why this story makes my top 10 favorite books, but it’s a comfort read that I go to whenever I need a pick-me-up. I re-read it again and again! It has a little bit of everything – romance, a mystery, a contemporary and historical element.
Why Jackie loves it
There is something so fairytale-like in this book. It is part historical fiction, part cozy mystery and 100% delight.
Find this book in: Books Set in Italy / Ultimate List of Romance Books / Books Like Outlander / Kirsten’s Favorite Books of All Time / Cozy Mystery Books
The Star-crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nielson Spielman
The Fontana family believes their second-born daughters are cursed. So when Emilia’s estranged Great-Aunt Poppy reaches out claiming she can break the curse, Emilia happily defies her family’s wishes and heads to Italy with Poppy.
As she explores the gorgeous Tuscan countryside, she learns Poppy’s history with her grandmother, more about the curse, and connects to her Italian roots. Though slow at times, I enjoyed this story about family history, sisterhood, and love. Poppy and her love story stole the show.
Contemporary Fiction Books Set in Italy
Patron Saint of Second Chances
Author: Christine Simon
Year: 2022
Genre: Fiction
More info:
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range:
Plot
The mayor of the Italian town needs money to repair the town’s pipes, so he hatches a plot to drum up business in town by saying a famous movie star is coming to make a movie.
The next thing he knows, he’s having to make an actual movie starring the locals with no experience and the craziest script while keeping up the ruse that the celebrity is coming.
Why Kirsten loves it
I laughed so hard at scenes in this comedic book that I woke up my sleeping husband. This was a charming book and the perfect vacation read. It is a five-star contemporary fiction book.
Why Jackie loves it
I had high hopes for this book and it exceeded my expectations. There were some scenes that were so funny, I still chuckle when I think of them.
Find this book in: Feel-Good Book / Book set in Italy / Best Beach Reads of All Time
Tartufo
Author: Kira Jane Buxton
Year: 2025
Genre: Literary Fiction
More info:
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range:
Plot
This book takes place in a small village in Italy where the mayor nearly lost the election to a donkey. Now, the restaurants are shuttered and the town is falling apart. When a local truffle hunter and his beloved truffle dog finds a huge truffle (Tartufo), it could be worth a fortune and repair the crumbling town. The town comes together to sell it to the highest bidder #partner
Why Jackie loves it
This book is filled with a cast of characters who are warm, caring, and funny. I feel like I know them. The descriptions of the town and the food are so vivid, I felt like I was there.
The writing is unique – Buxton narrates from the perspective of dogs and bees- without ever taking itself too seriously. This is a truly delightful read.
Find this book in: Books Set in Italy
One Italian Summer
Author: Rebecca Serle
Year: 2022
Genre: Magical Realism
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Rebecca Serle has done it again with this book set in Italy. Katy’s mother, Carol, has died and left Katy to take their trip to Positano alone. When Katy leaves, she is uncertain about everything and whether she will return to her marriage.
Then, the impossible happens, and Carol appears at Katy’s hotel. She is in perfect health and thirty years old. She is not the woman Katy thought she knew. As she gets to know her mother, she realizes more about herself.
Why Jackie loves it
This is a beautiful, well-written book with a touch of magic. I loved how Katy and Carol are able to develop a relationship in Italy after Carol died. It is unique and wonderful.
Find this book in: Contemporary Fiction / Book Set in Italy / Book About Grief / Best Magical Realism Books / Books About Mothers/ Books Set on a Beach / Books with Summer in the Title
The Heirloom by Jessie Rosen
When Shea’s boyfriend proposes, she goes against her beloved Nonna’s rule to never accept a marriage proposal with an heirloom ring. She loves her fiance, John, but can’t shake her Nonna’s worries about heirlooms carrying the energy of their former owners.
Now, with the help of her big sister and a journalist, she will travel to New York, Italy, Portugal, and Boston to meet the previous owners and make sure the ring has forever marriage energy.
Why I Loved It: Between the gorgeous settings and the hunt for the ring’s origin, this story was easy to fly through while remaining utterly enchanting. I might not agree with all of Shea’s decisions but the journey to happily ever after was so enjoyable!
Find this book in Summer Reads 2024 / Books set in Italy / Jewelry Novels
A Wedding in Lake Como by Jennifer Probst
Ava, Madison, and Chelsea were inseparable in college but a mistake caused a rift that never fully healed. Ava is getting married in Lake Como and she hopes the pact they made to be there for each other’s weddings will still hold.
Ava was always rich, beautiful, and the center of attention. Chelsea was always practical, but despite having the family she always wanted, her professional life has been put on hold. Maddison has become the fashion influencer she always wanted to be but knows there is something missing.
This wedding may be their last chance to heal old wounds. Will they be able to keep their friendship and move forward? #gifted
Why I Like This Book: I love the relationships and friendships in this book. There are highs and lows that made me laugh and cry with the characters. The growth over the years as well as the descriptions of fashion throughout were wonderful.
Find This Book in Books About Friendship / Books Set in Italy /Novels About Fashion
When in Rome by Liam Callanan
I’ll be honest, I requested this book set in Italy because of the title, with no knowledge of the story within. I’m rather happy about it because I don’t think I would have gravitated to a story about a middle-aged woman, stuck in her life as a realtor, now contemplating joining the ranks of the Catholic Sisters in Rome whose convent she is trying to sell.
I’m not a deeply religious person, but I found peace in Claire’s story as she tried to find herself. Little did she know her best friend, her daughter, and the man she’s been secretly in love with since college have a plan of their own. This reminded me of Under the Tuscan Sun as they both reflect on the meaning of life and how to reinvent one’s self in the middle of your prime.
I just wish the pacing was a bit better, I found Claire’s constant contemplation and avoidance of all issues frustrating at times. Still, I’m happy I read this book based in Italy
Under a Siena Sun by T.A. Williams
Ever since I read Juliet by Anne Fortier, which appears in my favorite books post, I have been obsessed with Siena, Italy.
I knew I had to read this one as soon as I read the description. It’s a romance set in the shadows of an ancient castle ruin and it just made me smile. Doctor Lucy was such a good foil for tennis superstar, David.
It was the escape I needed at the end of a long week. Gifted by Canelo Escape.
Historical Fiction Books Based in Italy
The Marriage Portrait
Author: Maggie O’Farrell
Year: 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: December 2022 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I found the story, which also revolves around the painting of the titular marriage portrait, to be fast-moving and fascinating. It’s one of those historical fiction books that had me googling what was real and what truths were bent.
Why Kirsten loves it
I found the story, which also revolves around the painting of the titular marriage portrait, to be fast-moving and fascinating. It’s one of those historical fiction books that had me googling what was real and what truths were bent.
Find this book in: Biographical Fiction Novels / Novels About Art / Books Set in Italy / Reese Witherspoon 2022
Stars in an Italian Sky
Author: Jill Santopolo
Year: 2023
Genre: Romance
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Where do I even start with this book? I loved it so much. In Genoa Italy, in 1946 Vincenzo and Giovanna fell in love. But, they belong to two different worlds. She is the daughter of a tailor and she is almost royalty.
In 2017, Cassandra and Luca are in love. When Luca asks Cassandra’s grandmother to be a model for his new painting, with his grandfather, the past and its secrets are revealed.
I cannot say enough about this book that is part contemporary fiction and part historical fiction. It had me absolutely bawling by the end, ugly crying, and I LOVED it. The ending was perfect, fitting, and cathartic.
This is a perfect pick for books set in Italy and a must for our ultimate beach reads 2023 post. If you love second chance romance books, this is one of the best there is.
Why Kirsten loves it
I could not wait to read this book because I was looking for a book set in Italy. Santapolo never fails to write fantastic books with compelling characters and plotlines that will bring you to tears.
Why Jackie loves it
I adored this book and while books usually don’t make me cry, this one had me ugly crying. I adored every minute of this book- the characters, the plot, and how the story came together were just what I needed.
Find this book in: Books Set in Italy / Ultimate Beach Reads 2023/ Second Chance Romance Books /
The Italian Ballerina
Author: Kristy Cambron
Year: 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Mutiple Timeline
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This book is based on the true accounts of Syndrome K, the deadly and highly contagious disease that was fabricated by doctors in Rome to save Jewish people from Nazi extermination.
In the past, Courtney Coleman has had a troubled past and decides to enlist when Pearl Harbor is bombed. While he is there, he meets Julia Bradbury, an Italian ballerina, and together with another allied medic and the hospital staff, they work together to try and save the Jewish people from the Nazis.
In the Present day, Delaney Coleman has recently lost her grandfather, a WW11 veteran. Soon after, Delaney’s family is contacted by an Italian woman who claims they have a family heirloom. Delaney travels to Italy to discover her grandfather’s past.
Trigger Warnings
WWII
Why Jackie loves it
This amazing WW11 historical fiction novel takes place in three timelines. While I was a little bit confused initially, I could not put the book down by the end. I did not know about syndrome K before I read this book and it was absolutely fascinating.
Find this book in: Books About Ballet / Books set in Italy / Ultimate Beach Reads 2023
Sally Brady’s Italian Adventure by Christina Lynch
I haven’t read many books set in Italy during WWII – generally, those are set in England or France – so I was eager to read this story. In it, Sally Brady, who was raised by a Hollywood movie star and became a gossip columnist, finds herself stranded in wartime Italy.
I liked reading about the Italian countryside and how the war impacted the citizens of Italy under Mussolini’s control. Much like the famed French Resistance, Italians also worked against their ruler, which I loved reading about.
Sally’s character, however, never had me fully invested in the story. Sure she was a clever American who could get out of sticky situations with her charisma, but she was rather frivolous throughout most of the book. I did like the love story and how she eventually grew up, but she never captured my full attention.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet is usually covered during the high school years, but if you haven’t learned about this classic book, you need to read it!
Shakespeare’s beloved story is a tragic romance set in Verona, Italy. It’s about the children of two warring families, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet who start meeting in secret away from their parent’s machinations.
Find this book in Books Like Disney Movies / Classic Romance Novels
The Good Left Undone by Adriana Trigiani
The sweeping story of an Italian family matriarch Domenica and her love story was charming. Her coming-of-age story told the tale of her life trials and was the anchor of this novel.
While her story covered the 1920s, WWII, and beyond, this book set in Italy also switched over to her daughter Matelda and Matelda’s granddaughter. Sadly, I found that portion of the story to be lackluster.
After seeing all Domenica went through over her life, the challenges facing her great-granddaughter fell flat. I would happily have cut out all the chapters without Domenica so I could spend more time in her fascinating story.
Plot
A perfect summer read about a neurosurgeon who is transported back to Siena in the time of the plague. The narrative makes me feel like I am in Italy. After the death of her brother, Beatrice travels to Italy where she uncovers the work of Gabriele Accorsi. She is shocked when she sees a painting of herself and the next thing she knows, she has been transported back in time to 1347
Depicted as Outlander meets Girl with a Pearl Earring, at its heart, it is a love story.
Trigger Warnings
Plague
Why Jackie loves it
I could not put it down and finished it as a perfect start to the summer reading season. This is the perfect time travel romance book for fans of Outlander!
Find this book in: Time Travel Books / Books Set in Italy
Books set in Italy During the Renaissance
The Botticelli Secret by Marina Fiorato
This gritty story is about a prostitute during the Italian Renaissance who needs to flee for her life after learning a secret while sitting for famed artist Botticelli. She turns to a novice, Brother Guido, for help after her friends start dying.
It’s sort of like a Da Vinci code set in the 15th century and it all revolves around Botticelli’s Primavera painting. It’s a fun, quick read and one of the first books set in Italy that I ever read. It was a must for novels about art.
The Second Duchess by Elizabeth Loupas
The Duke of Ferrara has taken a second wife after possibility having killed his first duchess. While first ignoring the rumors, soon Barbara decides she needs to investigate what happened to Lucrezia de Medici.
I liked the mystery aspects of this biographical fiction story. I was certainly living in fear that something would befall Barbara as her pool of suspects grew larger.
The Daughter of Siena by Marina Fiorato
I first read about the horse race, known as The Palio, set in Siena when I was reading Juliet by Anne Fortier. I knew I wanted to read more about this amazing city, so I immediately picked up this book.
The deadly rivalry of those participating in the Palio makes for an interesting backdrop as Pia Tolomei falls for a rival from another area of town. Much like Juliet, I was enraptured by this story.
The Confessions of Catherine De Medici by C.W. Gortner
Catherine De Medici came from one of the greatest dynasties of the Renaissance era. Originally from Italy, she became the Queen of France around the same time that Henry VIII was in power.
She was also rumored to be a master at the art of poison. This historical fiction biography explores her life and her influence over France and Europe.
The Scarlet Contessa by Jeanne Kalogridis
After finishing my binge-watching of Netflix’s The Medici: Masters of Florence, I was on the hunt to read a good historical fiction set in Renaissance Italy. I can not believe how few books were written about this time period. How is that possible? Luckily, I did stumble upon this tale of badass warrior duchess Caterina Sforza.
The Medici family makes an appearance in the book which was a pleasant surprise, but really Caterina’s life story is compelling on its own. She was a fierce woman who skillfully navigated the tumultuous political climate of the time. She went up against Pope Borgia and other leaders and defied them all.
Her story is told through the eyes of her lady’s maid, and half-sister, who made an interesting storyteller. I wish that it had been told from Caterina’s point of view though. It is one of my favorite books set in Italy.
Historical Fiction Books Set on the Italian Riviera
Beautiful Ruins
Author: Jess Walter
Year: 2012
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I adored this second-chance love story that wasn’t too girly. There was intrigue and insight into Hollywood today versus 60 years ago. It’s about a secret love affair revolving around the movie Cleopatra and the small, seaside hotel at the center of the story.
It features family secrets, Richard Burton, modern and old Hollywood, and so many other plot lines in a novel that isn’t very long for all it contains within it’s pages.
Why Kirsten loves it
I guessed the big reveal pretty early on, but it was still a wonderful book set in Italy about how love found, lost, and then found again can impact our lives.
Find this book in: Books Set in Italy / Seaside Books / Hotel Novels / Old Hollywood Books / Books Set in the 1960s
Hotel Portofino
Author: J.P. O’Connell
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Hotel Portofino #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
I was thrilled to have read this charming story of a Hotel in Portofino, Italy, during the years just after WW1.
In it, the new British owners of the Hotel Portofino settle into running a hotel with their adult children. The guests are eccentric, there is a mystery around a piece of stolen art, and some romantic relationships come together and fall apart.
Trigger Warnings
Rape
Why Kirsten loves it
It reminded me of the second Downton Abbey movie in which the Crawleys headed to the south of France for a vacation! It’s got all the family drama I look for in books like these.
Find this book in: Books set in Italy / Hotel Novels / Seaside Books / Books Like Downton Abbey
My Brilliant Friend
Author: Elena Ferrante
Year: 2012
Genre: Fiction
More info: Book 1 of 4: Neapolitan Novels
Named #1 Best Book of the Century
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This is the first book in the Neapolitan series that was a must for books about friendship. The book is set in Italy after WWII and follows the lives of two young girls.
This is a character-driven novel that explores the friendship between Elena and Raffaella throughout their lives. It looks at their rivalry and personal identities while trying to find themselves. The book begins in the 1950s and spans nearly 60 years.
Why Jackie loves it
There is no denying that this book is beautifully written and descriptive. As the lives of these women unfold, the country changes around them. You need to give yourself the time and space required for this book to have its full impact.
Find this book in: Best Books in Translation / Friendship Books / Books Set in Italy
Thriller Books Set in Italy
Plot
Taking place in the Italian countryside, in both 1943 and 1955, this mystery covers the Nazi/Italy Axis Alliance. A murderer from the war is coming back to kill the remaining members of an Italian family one by one. The wartorn setting and the post-war era made for a fantastic backdrop to a mystery book like no other.
Trigger Warnings
War
Why Kirsten loves it
My heart was racing as I read this story. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I had trouble sleeping out of nerves when I was in the middle of this one.
Find this book in: Books Set in Italy / Best Historical Mystery Books
The Villa
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Year: 2023
Genre: Mystery Thriller
More info: NY Times Bestselling Author
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Emily’s husband filed for divorce and she cannot seem to get her life and career back on track so when her childhood best friend and hugely successful writer, Chess, suggests they spend a summer together in an Italian villa where they can write and reconnect what could go wrong?
Trigger Warnings
Child death
Why Jackie loves it
I always love a great gothic suspense novel and what could be better than one set in an Italian villa? Oh, did I mention the mansion has a history that includes murder?
Find this book in: Historical Thrillers / Beach Reads 2023 / Books Set in Italy / Historical Thrillers
Angels & Demons (Robert Langdon Series #1) by Dan Brown
Dan Brown found a way to incorporate symbolism and brilliant riddles into this modern-day mystery. The plot does not slow for a minute from the first page to the last. This is one of our favorite mystery books.
It is the first of the Robert Langdon books and my favorite as well. This story revolves around an Illuminati plot against the Catholic Church. The Tom Hanks-led Netflix book adaptation is worth a watch!
YA Books Set in Italy
Love and Gelato
Author: Jenna Evans Welch
Year: 2016
Genre: YA Romance
More info: Love and Gelato #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 12+
Plot
Lina is enjoying a summer in Tuscany because she’s fulfilling her mother’s dying wish – to get to know her father. As Lina begins to read her mother’s journal of her time abroad, she uncovers the magic and wonder of Italy.
Why Jackie loves it
When it comes to escapist reads, this one is tops! In addition to offering a perfect description of all things food-related (yum), there was a sweet romance. It was like a double scoop of happiness. There are two more ya romance books in the series and I think I would like to indulge in both! The Netflix adaption is charming too.
Find this book in: Netflix Adaptations / Fun Books for Teens / Books Set in Italy / Best YA Romance Books
Non-Fiction Books Set in Italy
From Scratch
Author: Tembi Locke
Year: 2019
Genre: Nonfiction
More info: May 2019 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I knew what this book was about before reading it and I was still not prepared for the heartbreak and beauty within the pages. This memoir is truly a love letter to Tembi’s husband who died from cancer. This is an incredibly sad book that had me in tears.
The descriptions of the food, the people, and the love she had for her husband are unlike anything that I have read before. This is a five-star book about grief if you can read through heartache. It’s one of the Netflix book adaptations I’m planning on watching.
Trigger Warnings
Death of a Spouse, Grief
Why Jackie loves it
This is a five-star book about grief if you can read through heartache. This is beautifully written and although it is sad, the authors journey to finding herself again is inspirational.
Find this book in: Books Set in Italy / Books About Grief / Best Netflix Book Adaptations / Best Reese Witherspoon Books / Books About Food / Reese Witherspoon 2019
Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
The memoir that inspired the movie starring Diane Lane, was as captivating in print as it was on screen. I loved reading about Frances Mayes’s gutsy decision to pick up her life and start all over in a new country.
I enjoyed hearing about her discovery of her new surrounding and finding love again in the Italian countryside.
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
By now, we’ve all probably heard about Elizabeth Gilbert’s story. It was turning into a movie starring Julia Roberts after all. But have you read the original memoir?
If not, then this should be one of the must-read books set in Italy! It talks about her time Italy, India, and Bali where she learned about herself and her passions.
More Books Based in Italy
There are so many other incredible books set in Italy including, Call Me by Your Name, House of Gucci, and more. You’ll find those books and more below!
FYI: you left out two absolutely amazing books that take place in italy: tim parks’ “The Hero’s Way” 9780393866841 – and – dominic smith’s “Return to Valetto” 9780374607685. if you haven’t read them, I can’t say enough to encourage you to run to your bookstore right now to buy them! I am a sideline buyer and bookseller at literati bookstore in ann arbor MI.
ooh!!! Adding both to my bookshop.org cart now!
Nicky Pellegrino and Rosanna Chiofalo are also two authors who write WONDERFUL books set in Italy.