Estranged by her mother who left her and her father 20 years ago, running with a younger Italian of noble origins, Olivia/Livvie has her own struggles: a love-less marriage, a rebelious teenage daughter, the secret feelings for her business partner Markus. But it seems that most of her life decisions are following her desperate need of being different than Susan, her mother, not abandoning and disappointing her family.
Despite her refusal to be in touch with Susan, her father kept talking with his ex-wife once the week and he tried - and suceed - to convince her accept two months of fully paid spa stay. Will this stay heal the old wounds and will bring answers to Livvie´s tormenting questions about her mother´s sudden disappearance? Would she reconsider her personal options after all?
Postcards from Sicily by Nancy Barone is a humorous and delicious rom-com that delicately deals with trauma´s impact on our lives. Livvie was deeply hurt and for at least 20 years she carried the weight of those events. ´An introvert at heart´ as she describes herself, she internalized the deep sadness her mother tried to escape. She is not depressed though, just over-reacting and nervous. As she is taking this 2-month break, the time is perfect for a change.
This is a romcom about second chances and the power to forgive, with a dash of hope happening in the breathtaking landscape of lake Maggiore in Italy.
I´ve read this book this weekend during my summer extended holidays and made me think a lot about the many delicate ways in which a mother-daughter relationship can consume itself, but also heal.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own
