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Escape to Tuscany
'A rich and engaging vision of life gone by and a lust for one woman's future, rolled into one. And now I want to move to Italy!' Mandy Robotham
Romituzzo, 1944
Just fourteen, Stella Infuriati is the youngest member of her town's resistance network – a secret she keeps even from her parents. She works alongside her brother Achille to relay messages, supplies and weapons to partisan groups in the Tuscan hills. Fuelled by courage and a fierce sense of purpose, Stella braves incredible danger and survives... but when peace comes in 1945, she vanishes.
Florence, 2019
Writer Tori MacNair arrives in Florence. Fleeing an emotionally abusive marriage, she's come to build a new life in the city her grandmother taught her to love. As she digs into her family history, Tori uncovers decades-old secrets about a brave young woman who risked everything to save her world. As Tori and Stella's stories intertwine, they reveal the power of love, community, and sacrifice across the generations.
Romituzzo, 1944
Just fourteen, Stella Infuriati is the youngest member of her town's resistance network – a secret she keeps even from her parents. She works alongside her brother Achille to relay messages, supplies and weapons to partisan groups in the Tuscan hills. Fuelled by courage and a fierce sense of purpose, Stella braves incredible danger and survives... but when peace comes in 1945, she vanishes.
Florence, 2019
Writer Tori MacNair arrives in Florence. Fleeing an emotionally abusive marriage, she's come to build a new life in the city her grandmother taught her to love. As she digs into her family history, Tori uncovers decades-old secrets about a brave young woman who risked everything to save her world. As Tori and Stella's stories intertwine, they reveal the power of love, community, and sacrifice across the generations.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 11, 2023
84 people are currently reading
6278 people want to read
About the author
Kat Devereaux
2 books72 followersKat Devereaux was born near Edinburgh, and has lived in the United States, Russia, France, Chile, Germany, and Italy. She now lives in the beautiful Czech city of Prague. She is a historian by training and an enthusiast by nature.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
July 24, 2023
Escape to Tuscany was a well written debut novel by Kat Devereaux. It was written in a dual timeline. The setting for this novel took place in and around the cities of Florence and Romituzzo in both 2019 and in 1944. Both female protagonists, although separated by decades, were strong, determined, committed and courageous women. Both women experienced a less than ideal relationship with their mothers. Each woman suffered from verbal and emotional abuse. One from her mother and the other from her husband. Both of these women chose to leave the abuse behind. They each left their old lives behind. All the people that knew these women expected them to stay no matter how they felt or how much they were made to suffer. After committing to leaving, both of these women found themselves in the midst of a newfound freedom. They both discovered the kind of love that some search their whole lives for. All that transpired in this book was told from the POVs of these two very different yet similar women.
Stella Infuriari grew up in a small town called Romituzzo. Since she had been able to remember details of her childhood, Stella knew beyond all doubt that her parents favored her older brother, Achille, over her in every way. Achille could do nothing wrong in her parent’s eyes. Whereas, Stella’s mother was constantly belittling her, finding faults with her and ridiculing her for not doing things right. Stella’s mother straddled Stella with more chores than necessary. The worst part was that her mother was never satisfied with the way Stella accomplished them and often made her do them over and over again. Stella was convinced that her mother, in particular, did not love her. Her mother only had love for her brother. Fortunately for Stella, Achille loved her very much. The two siblings were extremely close. It was no wonder that Stella became the youngest resistance member at fourteen years old in 1944. She never revealed her work to her parents because she knew they would have prevented her from doing it. Stella worked with her brother. She was asked to deliver messages, weapons and even medicine to various Partisan groups. When Father Anselmo, the priest from the church she attended with her mother, rescued her one day at a Nazi checkpoint, Stella and Father Anselmo forged the beginnings of long and devoted friendship and a agreement to help each other in their work for the resistance. Since her brother, Achille, often disappeared for days at a time when he drove his motorbike up into the remote hills surrounding Romituzzo as he and his Communist friends fought off the Nazis and the members of the Fascist Party, Stella began to work even more closely with Father Anselmo. Then just as the war finally ended, Stella disappeared and no one ever knew what happened to her.
Tori McNair had an extremely close relationship with her maternal grandmother, Margaret, so when she passed away she was devastated. She had lost the one person who had always been on her side, the one person who Tori confided in and knew that she would not be judged for what she had done, achieved or had not achieved and the person who had shared her love for Florence with her. Tori attended her grandmother’s funeral without her husband, Duncan. He and her grandmother had never been on good terms. Tori’s marriage to Duncan started out happy but very quickly became very difficult. Duncan demanded more and more from Tori. They lived on a big farm in the Scottish Highlands. Whatever Tori did or didn’t do, Duncan found fault with and started to abuse her emotionally. He made Tori feel bad about herself. Duncan prevented Tori from keeping up with her friends and family. He squandered money she earned and never discussed with her what he had done with it. His treatment of her was making Tori second guess herself and feel less adequate than she really was. When Tori discovered that Duncan had prevented her from attending a gathering honoring her grandmother the night before her grandmother’s funeral, that was the final straw. Tori was furious! She went to their farm, packed her bags and told Duncan that she was leaving. His reaction was a nonchalant response that indicated that he didn’t care what Tori did. Her grandmother had left her a generous amount of money in her will. Tori knew immediately that she was going to Florence to live.
When Tori arrived in Florence, she felt a new calm. She knew she had done the right thing by leaving Duncan. To her, their marriage was over. Florence was the best place to start over again. Her grandmother and her had shared so many happy memories here over their many visits. The first order of business was finding a place to live. Then Tori remained optimistic that everything else would fall in place. Her real estate agent, Chiara, reminded Tori of all the things she had to do to get citizenship in Italy. It was all very overwhelming for Tori so a very qualified lawyer was recommended. As soon as Tori met Marco, the lawyer her real estate agent and new friend, Chiara, recommended, there was an instant connection and attraction. Tori also had to deal with her publisher. She was a freelance writer. Before her sudden departure, Tori had been writing a book about life in the Scottish Highlands. Since that was no longer relevant or an option, Tori decided to write about Italy and her grandmother. One thing led to another. After Tori’s mother had cleaned out her grandmother’s house, boxes of her grandmother’s personal letters, keepsakes and diaries were shipped to Tori. Hidden in those boxes, was a whole other side of her grandmother’s life that her grandmother had managed to keep secret from her and her family. A lot of the letters and other documents Tori found were written in Italian. She sought out help from both Marco and Chiara. Tori was amazed when she came across a picture and article about an Italian race car hero. What was her grandmother’s connection to the famous Achille Infuriati? If Tori could piece together the puzzle of her grandmother’s earlier life, with assistance from Marco and Chiara, she might just have the makings for a great book. As Tori started her research, she discovered that Achille had a sister named Stella. In her attempts to learn about Stella, Tori was met with major roadblocks. There was no documentation of Stella’s existence after the war ended. Tori became even more intrigued with Stella’s fate. She was determined to uncover Stella’s and Achille’s story. How had her grandmother known them? What was the connection between them? Tori was intent to find out.
Kat Devereaux described the colors, food, quaint surroundings, shops, museums and smells of Florence so flawlessly in Escape to Tuscany. I was in Florence many years ago and this book made me wish I could travel there again. Giving voice to such strong and capable female characters always makes historical fiction novels even more compelling for me. Both Stella and Tori faced their own challenges and unique situations but they each became stronger, more confident and more determined to succeed. Both past and present came together in a way that made sense, brought closure and helped to bring about a sense of peace and acceptance by all involved. I enjoyed witnessing the transformation and growth that both Stella and Tori went through. This is a book that will spark your motivation towards a trip to Tuscany. I highly recommend Escape to Tuscany by Kat Devereaux if you enjoy historical fiction mixed with a touch of romance.
Thank you to Aria & Aries for allowing me to read Escape to Tuscany by Kat Devereaux through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Stella Infuriari grew up in a small town called Romituzzo. Since she had been able to remember details of her childhood, Stella knew beyond all doubt that her parents favored her older brother, Achille, over her in every way. Achille could do nothing wrong in her parent’s eyes. Whereas, Stella’s mother was constantly belittling her, finding faults with her and ridiculing her for not doing things right. Stella’s mother straddled Stella with more chores than necessary. The worst part was that her mother was never satisfied with the way Stella accomplished them and often made her do them over and over again. Stella was convinced that her mother, in particular, did not love her. Her mother only had love for her brother. Fortunately for Stella, Achille loved her very much. The two siblings were extremely close. It was no wonder that Stella became the youngest resistance member at fourteen years old in 1944. She never revealed her work to her parents because she knew they would have prevented her from doing it. Stella worked with her brother. She was asked to deliver messages, weapons and even medicine to various Partisan groups. When Father Anselmo, the priest from the church she attended with her mother, rescued her one day at a Nazi checkpoint, Stella and Father Anselmo forged the beginnings of long and devoted friendship and a agreement to help each other in their work for the resistance. Since her brother, Achille, often disappeared for days at a time when he drove his motorbike up into the remote hills surrounding Romituzzo as he and his Communist friends fought off the Nazis and the members of the Fascist Party, Stella began to work even more closely with Father Anselmo. Then just as the war finally ended, Stella disappeared and no one ever knew what happened to her.
Tori McNair had an extremely close relationship with her maternal grandmother, Margaret, so when she passed away she was devastated. She had lost the one person who had always been on her side, the one person who Tori confided in and knew that she would not be judged for what she had done, achieved or had not achieved and the person who had shared her love for Florence with her. Tori attended her grandmother’s funeral without her husband, Duncan. He and her grandmother had never been on good terms. Tori’s marriage to Duncan started out happy but very quickly became very difficult. Duncan demanded more and more from Tori. They lived on a big farm in the Scottish Highlands. Whatever Tori did or didn’t do, Duncan found fault with and started to abuse her emotionally. He made Tori feel bad about herself. Duncan prevented Tori from keeping up with her friends and family. He squandered money she earned and never discussed with her what he had done with it. His treatment of her was making Tori second guess herself and feel less adequate than she really was. When Tori discovered that Duncan had prevented her from attending a gathering honoring her grandmother the night before her grandmother’s funeral, that was the final straw. Tori was furious! She went to their farm, packed her bags and told Duncan that she was leaving. His reaction was a nonchalant response that indicated that he didn’t care what Tori did. Her grandmother had left her a generous amount of money in her will. Tori knew immediately that she was going to Florence to live.
When Tori arrived in Florence, she felt a new calm. She knew she had done the right thing by leaving Duncan. To her, their marriage was over. Florence was the best place to start over again. Her grandmother and her had shared so many happy memories here over their many visits. The first order of business was finding a place to live. Then Tori remained optimistic that everything else would fall in place. Her real estate agent, Chiara, reminded Tori of all the things she had to do to get citizenship in Italy. It was all very overwhelming for Tori so a very qualified lawyer was recommended. As soon as Tori met Marco, the lawyer her real estate agent and new friend, Chiara, recommended, there was an instant connection and attraction. Tori also had to deal with her publisher. She was a freelance writer. Before her sudden departure, Tori had been writing a book about life in the Scottish Highlands. Since that was no longer relevant or an option, Tori decided to write about Italy and her grandmother. One thing led to another. After Tori’s mother had cleaned out her grandmother’s house, boxes of her grandmother’s personal letters, keepsakes and diaries were shipped to Tori. Hidden in those boxes, was a whole other side of her grandmother’s life that her grandmother had managed to keep secret from her and her family. A lot of the letters and other documents Tori found were written in Italian. She sought out help from both Marco and Chiara. Tori was amazed when she came across a picture and article about an Italian race car hero. What was her grandmother’s connection to the famous Achille Infuriati? If Tori could piece together the puzzle of her grandmother’s earlier life, with assistance from Marco and Chiara, she might just have the makings for a great book. As Tori started her research, she discovered that Achille had a sister named Stella. In her attempts to learn about Stella, Tori was met with major roadblocks. There was no documentation of Stella’s existence after the war ended. Tori became even more intrigued with Stella’s fate. She was determined to uncover Stella’s and Achille’s story. How had her grandmother known them? What was the connection between them? Tori was intent to find out.
Kat Devereaux described the colors, food, quaint surroundings, shops, museums and smells of Florence so flawlessly in Escape to Tuscany. I was in Florence many years ago and this book made me wish I could travel there again. Giving voice to such strong and capable female characters always makes historical fiction novels even more compelling for me. Both Stella and Tori faced their own challenges and unique situations but they each became stronger, more confident and more determined to succeed. Both past and present came together in a way that made sense, brought closure and helped to bring about a sense of peace and acceptance by all involved. I enjoyed witnessing the transformation and growth that both Stella and Tori went through. This is a book that will spark your motivation towards a trip to Tuscany. I highly recommend Escape to Tuscany by Kat Devereaux if you enjoy historical fiction mixed with a touch of romance.
Thank you to Aria & Aries for allowing me to read Escape to Tuscany by Kat Devereaux through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 5, 2023
Tori McNair had just lost her beloved grandmother, Margaret, and once again her husband Duncan neglected to tell her important information regarding the funeral. It was one thing too many, and Tori had had enough. She fled her husband and his abuse, as well as the mother she didn't get along with, and the sister who sided with her husband. Tori's arrival in Florence, the city her grandmother used to bring her when Tori was a child, soothed her, and as she found an apartment, and a lawyer, contacted her agent about the book she was writing, and set to finding out about divorcing Duncan, she gradually found some peace.
Researching her grandmother's life took her back to a young man named Achille, and his younger sister Stella. Both were active in the resistance during the war, and both survived. But when Achille was tragically killed, and Stella vanished, Tori wondered if she'd hit a wall. Could she discover more about her grandmother, and about the secrets long hidden?
I was initially drawn to Escape to Tuscany by the beautiful cover, and the historical aspect cemented the need for me to read it. Escape to Tuscany is Kat Devereaux's debut novel and is set in Italy among ancient old buildings, restaurants, museums and art galleries - a divine place to find yourself, as Tori needed to. I enjoyed the historical side of the story the best, with Stella, Achille, their parents, the old priest, and many partisan friends - Tori was harder to like. But I definitely enjoyed it, and also recommend it :)
With thanks to NetGalley and Amy of Head of Zeus, for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Researching her grandmother's life took her back to a young man named Achille, and his younger sister Stella. Both were active in the resistance during the war, and both survived. But when Achille was tragically killed, and Stella vanished, Tori wondered if she'd hit a wall. Could she discover more about her grandmother, and about the secrets long hidden?
I was initially drawn to Escape to Tuscany by the beautiful cover, and the historical aspect cemented the need for me to read it. Escape to Tuscany is Kat Devereaux's debut novel and is set in Italy among ancient old buildings, restaurants, museums and art galleries - a divine place to find yourself, as Tori needed to. I enjoyed the historical side of the story the best, with Stella, Achille, their parents, the old priest, and many partisan friends - Tori was harder to like. But I definitely enjoyed it, and also recommend it :)
With thanks to NetGalley and Amy of Head of Zeus, for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2023
Stella Infuriati is a teenage school girl when she joins the resistance in the village of Romituzzo, she attends high school in Castelmedici and it’s the perfect cover. The Germans have made it very clear, anyone caught helping the resistance hiding in the hills of Tuscany will be jailed or killed and including women.
Her parents have no idea what Stella is doing, they adore her brother Achille and he’s their favorite child. Stella’s father is a mechanic, Achille and his friends are communists, he disappears on his motorbike and is most likely off in the hills fighting the fascists and Germans. Despite the danger, Stella continues transporting notes, weapons, medicine and with help from father Anselmo. As the war gets closer to Romituzzo and men have to hide because the Germans are sending them off to work in Germany or hunting down any they assume are involved in the resistance.
The dual timeline debut historical fiction novel is set in central Italy between 1944 and 2019 and told from alternating points of view of the two main characters Stella and Tori.
Victoria McNair lives in Scotland and is devastated when her beloved grandmother Margaret passes away. Her husband Duncan was fine when they first got married, but slowly over time he’s became controlling, and he dishes out hurtful verbal abuse. After her grandmother’s funeral, Tori decides her marriage is over and she travels to Florence. Tori and her Grandmother used to visit the city together when she was a child, her Italian is a little rusty and she wants to find two of her grandmother’s friends.
Tori needs to hire a lawyer to sort out her tenancy agreement, work permit and to put in her application for permanent residency. Marco is really helpful and handsome, he discusses Tori’s situation, and he will help her with the mountains of paperwork that needs to be filled out and submitted over the next couple of weeks. Tori is a freelance writer, after speaking with her agent, and they come up with an idea about her writing a novel set in Italy? In her search for information about her grandmothers past and idea's for her book, Tori uncovers hidden secrets, about what happened to Achilles and why his sister Stella disappeared at the end of the war and the connection they both had to her grandmother!
I received a copy of Escape to Tuscany by Kat Devereaux from Aria & Aries and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It was interesting reading about the war in Tuscany and it's provinces, the different sides, and how women made perfect carriers for the resistance, they hid items in bags, prams and even in their hair. The narrative focuses on relationships, both of the main characters didn't get along with their mothers, were subjected to verbal abuse and Tori's growing attraction to Marco. My favorite characters were Stella, Tori, Marco and father Anselmo. A great way to start of her writing career by Ms. Devereaux, I love stories set in Italy and about women overcoming difficult situations life throws at them and five stars from me.
Her parents have no idea what Stella is doing, they adore her brother Achille and he’s their favorite child. Stella’s father is a mechanic, Achille and his friends are communists, he disappears on his motorbike and is most likely off in the hills fighting the fascists and Germans. Despite the danger, Stella continues transporting notes, weapons, medicine and with help from father Anselmo. As the war gets closer to Romituzzo and men have to hide because the Germans are sending them off to work in Germany or hunting down any they assume are involved in the resistance.
The dual timeline debut historical fiction novel is set in central Italy between 1944 and 2019 and told from alternating points of view of the two main characters Stella and Tori.
Victoria McNair lives in Scotland and is devastated when her beloved grandmother Margaret passes away. Her husband Duncan was fine when they first got married, but slowly over time he’s became controlling, and he dishes out hurtful verbal abuse. After her grandmother’s funeral, Tori decides her marriage is over and she travels to Florence. Tori and her Grandmother used to visit the city together when she was a child, her Italian is a little rusty and she wants to find two of her grandmother’s friends.
Tori needs to hire a lawyer to sort out her tenancy agreement, work permit and to put in her application for permanent residency. Marco is really helpful and handsome, he discusses Tori’s situation, and he will help her with the mountains of paperwork that needs to be filled out and submitted over the next couple of weeks. Tori is a freelance writer, after speaking with her agent, and they come up with an idea about her writing a novel set in Italy? In her search for information about her grandmothers past and idea's for her book, Tori uncovers hidden secrets, about what happened to Achilles and why his sister Stella disappeared at the end of the war and the connection they both had to her grandmother!
I received a copy of Escape to Tuscany by Kat Devereaux from Aria & Aries and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It was interesting reading about the war in Tuscany and it's provinces, the different sides, and how women made perfect carriers for the resistance, they hid items in bags, prams and even in their hair. The narrative focuses on relationships, both of the main characters didn't get along with their mothers, were subjected to verbal abuse and Tori's growing attraction to Marco. My favorite characters were Stella, Tori, Marco and father Anselmo. A great way to start of her writing career by Ms. Devereaux, I love stories set in Italy and about women overcoming difficult situations life throws at them and five stars from me.
July 3, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up.
Romituzzo, 1944. Just fourteen, Stella Infuriati is the youngest member of her town's resistance network - a secret she keeps even from her parents. She works alongside her brother Achille to relay messages, supplies and weapons to partisan groups in the Tuscan Hills. fuelled by courage and a fierce sense of purpose, Stella braves incredible danger and survives.... but when peace comes in 1945, she vanishes.
Florence, 2019. Writer Tori McNair arrives in Florence, fleeing an emotionally abusive marriage, she's come to build a new life in the city her grandmother taught her to love. As she digs into the family history, Tori uncovers decades-old secrets about a brave young woman who risked everything to save her world. As Tori and Stella's stories intertwine, they reveal the power of love, community and sacrifice across generations.
This story has a dual timeline and two strong female characters. It's also descriptively written. We learn of some of the atrocities that took place during WWII. What it was like living in fear and being part of the resistance at just fourteen. I did prefer Stella's story more. I found Tori to be immature and indecisive in some things. This story was told in alternating points of view from Stella and Tori. It also seemed to end abruptly.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AriaAries and the author #KatDevereaux for my ARC of #EscapeToTuscany in exchange for an honest review.
Romituzzo, 1944. Just fourteen, Stella Infuriati is the youngest member of her town's resistance network - a secret she keeps even from her parents. She works alongside her brother Achille to relay messages, supplies and weapons to partisan groups in the Tuscan Hills. fuelled by courage and a fierce sense of purpose, Stella braves incredible danger and survives.... but when peace comes in 1945, she vanishes.
Florence, 2019. Writer Tori McNair arrives in Florence, fleeing an emotionally abusive marriage, she's come to build a new life in the city her grandmother taught her to love. As she digs into the family history, Tori uncovers decades-old secrets about a brave young woman who risked everything to save her world. As Tori and Stella's stories intertwine, they reveal the power of love, community and sacrifice across generations.
This story has a dual timeline and two strong female characters. It's also descriptively written. We learn of some of the atrocities that took place during WWII. What it was like living in fear and being part of the resistance at just fourteen. I did prefer Stella's story more. I found Tori to be immature and indecisive in some things. This story was told in alternating points of view from Stella and Tori. It also seemed to end abruptly.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AriaAries and the author #KatDevereaux for my ARC of #EscapeToTuscany in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2023
This is a good debut novel set in Italy and encompassing two timelines. The modern story has Tori, who is in a bad marriage and it opens with her attending her beloved grandmother's funeral. She hadn't seen her for some time due to the interference of her husband. With the help of a legacy from her grandmother she escapes and goes to Florence where she had visited with her gran many times when she was young.
Stella in 1944, is a young fourteen year old living in Tuscany and doing her bit for the Resistance. She passes messages and guns for them. Her parents make no secret of the fact they love her brother Achille more than her.
The story had a lot going for it but lacked something for me. The connection between the two timelines was tenuous. We get a lot more of Tori's story and while I understood her lack of self confidence, I wanted her to be a bit more decisive. She messes people about too much.
Stella disappears completely after the war and I was expecting some massive secret but the outcome was quite low key. The story sort of fizzled out rather than ended.
The descriptions of Italy and the food were fantastic and I immediately wanted to go out to an Italian restaurant.
The book left me a little dissatisfied but I'm not sure why.
Thank you to Aria and Aries and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.
Stella in 1944, is a young fourteen year old living in Tuscany and doing her bit for the Resistance. She passes messages and guns for them. Her parents make no secret of the fact they love her brother Achille more than her.
The story had a lot going for it but lacked something for me. The connection between the two timelines was tenuous. We get a lot more of Tori's story and while I understood her lack of self confidence, I wanted her to be a bit more decisive. She messes people about too much.
Stella disappears completely after the war and I was expecting some massive secret but the outcome was quite low key. The story sort of fizzled out rather than ended.
The descriptions of Italy and the food were fantastic and I immediately wanted to go out to an Italian restaurant.
The book left me a little dissatisfied but I'm not sure why.
Thank you to Aria and Aries and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.
July 12, 2023
Told in present and past timelines. The past was a little light on the history for me, but I think this would be a good introduction to historical fiction for someone new to the genre. Present day was sweet with a romance that didn’t overshadow the main story. Overall, ok, a light and quick read
June 18, 2023
This dual time line novel is a well written story about two women in beautiful Florence who are finding their personal strength as they deal with hardships in their lives.
Even though Stella is only 14, she is the youngest member of the resistance. Because of her age, its often easier for her to perform her various jobs without detection by the Nazis. Her mother treats her like a servant and seems to only care about her brother and both parents forbid her from working with the resistance. Her brother was extremely popular and admired by everyone when he became a race car driver after the war while Stella mysteriously disappeared from life in the area after the war.
Tori is a young writer who has left her mentally abusive husband and fled to Florence. She choose Florence because she and her late grandmother traveled there often and she hopes by going back to Florence, she'll be able to learn more about her late grandmother's past. As she starts digging into her grandmother's past - with the help of Marco, a sexy young lawyer, she begins to uncover secrets that link her grandmother to Stella and her family.
I enjoyed both women's stories but it seems like there were more words spent on the current time line. My only complaint about the book is that it left a lot of questions unanswered when it ended rather quickly. Overall, I thought it was a well written and well researched novel.
Even though Stella is only 14, she is the youngest member of the resistance. Because of her age, its often easier for her to perform her various jobs without detection by the Nazis. Her mother treats her like a servant and seems to only care about her brother and both parents forbid her from working with the resistance. Her brother was extremely popular and admired by everyone when he became a race car driver after the war while Stella mysteriously disappeared from life in the area after the war.
Tori is a young writer who has left her mentally abusive husband and fled to Florence. She choose Florence because she and her late grandmother traveled there often and she hopes by going back to Florence, she'll be able to learn more about her late grandmother's past. As she starts digging into her grandmother's past - with the help of Marco, a sexy young lawyer, she begins to uncover secrets that link her grandmother to Stella and her family.
I enjoyed both women's stories but it seems like there were more words spent on the current time line. My only complaint about the book is that it left a lot of questions unanswered when it ended rather quickly. Overall, I thought it was a well written and well researched novel.
July 13, 2023
3.5 ⭐️ After her grandmother's death, Tori leaves her emotionally abusive husband and flees to Florence, Italy, to start a new life. Florence is where Tori’s grandmother felt grounded and most at home. As Tori tries to connect with her grandmother’s previous life in Florence, she uncovers truths about her grandmother that stretch back decades to a young woman who risked everything to save her world.
What I liked:
✨Dual timelines -Tori’s present story in Florence, Italy, and Stella’s past story in WWII Tuscany: Both timelines are equally interesting even though Tori’s “Eat Pray Love” journey covers more pages. The book is fairly short, 257 pages. Perhaps if the story were a bit longer, the past timeline could be explored even more, especially toward the conclusion. The book wraps up pretty quickly, leaving me to question what happens next to Tori.
✨Setting: Devereaux vividly describes Florence, Italy, with sights, sounds, food, people, and drinks. If you’ve been to Florence, you’ll feel transported back to this beautiful city.
Escape to Florence perfectly blends historical fiction, women’s fiction, and even a little romance, never leaning heavily into any of these genres. Perfect for a “one-day” beach read or raining afternoon.
What I liked:
✨Dual timelines -Tori’s present story in Florence, Italy, and Stella’s past story in WWII Tuscany: Both timelines are equally interesting even though Tori’s “Eat Pray Love” journey covers more pages. The book is fairly short, 257 pages. Perhaps if the story were a bit longer, the past timeline could be explored even more, especially toward the conclusion. The book wraps up pretty quickly, leaving me to question what happens next to Tori.
✨Setting: Devereaux vividly describes Florence, Italy, with sights, sounds, food, people, and drinks. If you’ve been to Florence, you’ll feel transported back to this beautiful city.
Escape to Florence perfectly blends historical fiction, women’s fiction, and even a little romance, never leaning heavily into any of these genres. Perfect for a “one-day” beach read or raining afternoon.
July 6, 2023
{3.5 stars}
Tori has just lost her beloved grandmother. It comes at a time when her marriage is crumbling, and she decides to make an impetuous move. She leaves her husband to go to Florence, a place her grandmother loved. There she plans to continue writing her book. A chance meeting has her suddenly invested in discovering more about her grandmother’s time in Italy, and the great love she left behind.
This was one of those rare historical fiction novels where I was invested in both timelines equally. I enjoyed the ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ vibes of Tori’s story as well as the time with Stella during the partisan fight. The Italian atmosphere soaked through the pages and made for a beautiful setting. I wish I could have rated this one higher, but we actually get very little of Tori’s grandmother’s story - the end wraps up so quickly that I feel we didn’t get a proper ending to either story. I still enjoyed the read but felt like it needed another 50 pages.
Thanks to Harper Books for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.
Tori has just lost her beloved grandmother. It comes at a time when her marriage is crumbling, and she decides to make an impetuous move. She leaves her husband to go to Florence, a place her grandmother loved. There she plans to continue writing her book. A chance meeting has her suddenly invested in discovering more about her grandmother’s time in Italy, and the great love she left behind.
This was one of those rare historical fiction novels where I was invested in both timelines equally. I enjoyed the ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ vibes of Tori’s story as well as the time with Stella during the partisan fight. The Italian atmosphere soaked through the pages and made for a beautiful setting. I wish I could have rated this one higher, but we actually get very little of Tori’s grandmother’s story - the end wraps up so quickly that I feel we didn’t get a proper ending to either story. I still enjoyed the read but felt like it needed another 50 pages.
Thanks to Harper Books for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.
July 8, 2023
Dual time lines and two strong female characters. It was a.gopd book, the.lovestory was sweet. And the atrocoties of the war was well written. But for me it gave to little details , it Just did not feel "finished". Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion
May 15, 2025
Leest lekker weg. Mooie opbouw van het verhaal. Met een versnelling aan het einde wat maakt dat het 4 sterren is ipv 5. Het einde lijkt wat afgeraffeld, de verhaal lijnen met name de historische maken een snelle sprong in de tijd waarin ook ene diepere laag verloren gaat. Dat is jammer. Mooi gebruik van historische gebeurtenissen en architectuur in non fictie.
July 5, 2023
Escape To Florence
Yesterday on July 4th I finished reading an early copy of Escape To Florence by Kat Deveraux. The book has dual timelines going from 2019 to World War II. In 2019 Tori McNair attends her grandmother’s funeral and after that flees an emotionally abusive marriage and goes to Florence where her and her grandmother took vacations during her childhood. During World War II, Stella Infuriati at fourteen is the youngest member of the resistance network risking torture and death she relay’s messages supplies and weapons to partisan groups. Of course there is a connection with Tori’s grandmother and Stella’s story.
Pros
I like the idea for the story. I also love Florence as the setting and it’s nice that the book covered World War II History in Italy. I also like Stella as a character. I loved reading Stella’s parts of the book and wished she had gotten more coverage.
Cons
Unfortunately while the idea was good, what I didn’t like was it seemed to cover Tori more than it did Stella. I like dual timelines, but when you do dual timelines both characters should have an equal amount of story time and unfortunately Stella did not. The book would have benefitted if it was longer instead of it being rushed. Unfortunately there haven’t been many books that cover World War II Italy very well and it’s a shame because Italy does have interesting history especially when it comes to World War II.
Overall
Overall the idea was great but the execution could have been better. Escape To Florence will be released on July 11th of this year, if you are interested in World War II historical fiction preorder the book, wait till its released to buy it or get it from the library. Thank you Heather Drucker for the early copy of the book.
Yesterday on July 4th I finished reading an early copy of Escape To Florence by Kat Deveraux. The book has dual timelines going from 2019 to World War II. In 2019 Tori McNair attends her grandmother’s funeral and after that flees an emotionally abusive marriage and goes to Florence where her and her grandmother took vacations during her childhood. During World War II, Stella Infuriati at fourteen is the youngest member of the resistance network risking torture and death she relay’s messages supplies and weapons to partisan groups. Of course there is a connection with Tori’s grandmother and Stella’s story.
Pros
I like the idea for the story. I also love Florence as the setting and it’s nice that the book covered World War II History in Italy. I also like Stella as a character. I loved reading Stella’s parts of the book and wished she had gotten more coverage.
Cons
Unfortunately while the idea was good, what I didn’t like was it seemed to cover Tori more than it did Stella. I like dual timelines, but when you do dual timelines both characters should have an equal amount of story time and unfortunately Stella did not. The book would have benefitted if it was longer instead of it being rushed. Unfortunately there haven’t been many books that cover World War II Italy very well and it’s a shame because Italy does have interesting history especially when it comes to World War II.
Overall
Overall the idea was great but the execution could have been better. Escape To Florence will be released on July 11th of this year, if you are interested in World War II historical fiction preorder the book, wait till its released to buy it or get it from the library. Thank you Heather Drucker for the early copy of the book.
June 18, 2023
1944 and young Stella should is helping the Italian resistance by working as a partisan courier. Along with her brother Achilles and his friends, she is doing vital work
2019 and author Tori is mourning the loss of her beloved Grandmother, reading the last letter she wrote her, Tori discovers she's been left some inheritance money but her Gran has one condition, she spends it on herself and visits Florence, a city they travelled to many times together.
This wonderful dual timeline novel is very evocative and descriptive, I found myself salivating over the food and imagining myself in the many beautiful settings of Florence ( definitely a trip for my ever growing bucket list) the 2 years merge seamlessly into each other as we discover what links the 2 woman.
A lovely story to match the beautiful cover
Merged review:
1944 and young Stella should is helping the Italian resistance by working as a partisan courier. Along with her brother Achilles and his friends, she is doing vital work
2019 and author Tori is mourning the loss of her beloved Grandmother, reading the last letter she wrote her, Tori discovers she's been left some inheritance money but her Gran has one condition, she spends it on herself and visits Florence, a city they travelled to many times together.
This wonderful dual timeline novel is very evocative and descriptive, I found myself salivating over the food and imagining myself in the many beautiful settings of Florence ( definitely a trip for my ever growing bucket list) the 2 years merge seamlessly into each other as we discover what links the 2 woman.
A lovely story to match the beautiful cover
2019 and author Tori is mourning the loss of her beloved Grandmother, reading the last letter she wrote her, Tori discovers she's been left some inheritance money but her Gran has one condition, she spends it on herself and visits Florence, a city they travelled to many times together.
This wonderful dual timeline novel is very evocative and descriptive, I found myself salivating over the food and imagining myself in the many beautiful settings of Florence ( definitely a trip for my ever growing bucket list) the 2 years merge seamlessly into each other as we discover what links the 2 woman.
A lovely story to match the beautiful cover
Merged review:
1944 and young Stella should is helping the Italian resistance by working as a partisan courier. Along with her brother Achilles and his friends, she is doing vital work
2019 and author Tori is mourning the loss of her beloved Grandmother, reading the last letter she wrote her, Tori discovers she's been left some inheritance money but her Gran has one condition, she spends it on herself and visits Florence, a city they travelled to many times together.
This wonderful dual timeline novel is very evocative and descriptive, I found myself salivating over the food and imagining myself in the many beautiful settings of Florence ( definitely a trip for my ever growing bucket list) the 2 years merge seamlessly into each other as we discover what links the 2 woman.
A lovely story to match the beautiful cover
July 7, 2023
When Tori MacNair's husband Duncan stands in the way of her getting to farewell her grandmother it is the last straw. She takes her inheritance and flees to the Italian city of Florence, a place that holds cherished memories of trips with her grandmother.
Tori needs to spend times healing from her emotional wounds from her marriage, and on a more practical level she needs to get back to work as a writer. She has a book contract to write about her life in the Scotland but that's going to be difficult given that she doesn't even live there anymore. She needs to find a new story to pitch to her impatient agent and publisher...and fast.
Going through her grandmother's papers she comes across some letters which lead her to the story of a famous racing car driver who died back in the 1950s. How can the tragic story of this man be connected to her family? And can Tori find the people who her grandmother always used to visit whenever they came to Florence. Maybe they will help her put all the pieces of the puzzle together.
To read more head to
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2023...
Tori needs to spend times healing from her emotional wounds from her marriage, and on a more practical level she needs to get back to work as a writer. She has a book contract to write about her life in the Scotland but that's going to be difficult given that she doesn't even live there anymore. She needs to find a new story to pitch to her impatient agent and publisher...and fast.
Going through her grandmother's papers she comes across some letters which lead her to the story of a famous racing car driver who died back in the 1950s. How can the tragic story of this man be connected to her family? And can Tori find the people who her grandmother always used to visit whenever they came to Florence. Maybe they will help her put all the pieces of the puzzle together.
To read more head to
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2023...
May 17, 2023
Quick and enjoyable cross of historical fiction and romance. In the current day, Tori is grieving the death of a beloved grandmother who took her on yearly trips to Florence from the UK. A final betrayal by her manipulative husband, combined with her inheritence, drive her to Florence as an escape. The parallel historical story of Stella, set during the German occupation of Facist controlled Italy, introduces a young resistance courier and her family. Until very late in the book, the two stories are only tangentially related, but the connections become increasingly clear. I felt the ending was a bit rushed and left many loose ends about Tori's story in particular, and her search for her grandmother's past as well.
June 13, 2023
Thank you for the opportunity to preview this book by Kat Devereaux. I immediately became engrossed in the story - partly because of a brief trip to Florence. I found the story fascinating as it covered two timelines - present day Florence and WWII Tuscany - which I also spent some time in.
I also enjoyed the section on Achille and his car enthusiasm. However the book just stopped - ended - almost as if the author ran out of time words, etc. I certainly don't expect all loose ends tied up neatly but this was uncalled for. I would not recommend this book.
I also enjoyed the section on Achille and his car enthusiasm. However the book just stopped - ended - almost as if the author ran out of time words, etc. I certainly don't expect all loose ends tied up neatly but this was uncalled for. I would not recommend this book.
July 11, 2023
Quite the engrossing read. I was more taken with the 2019 story, than I was with the WWII part, when it’s usually just the opposite.
I didn’t like how Tori kept freezing Marco out and was all over the place.
I did think a missing thread was blatant, the connection between Margaret and her daughter and why the daughter was the way she was. It wasn’t fleshed out enough.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Harper Paperbacks for the early copy.
I didn’t like how Tori kept freezing Marco out and was all over the place.
I did think a missing thread was blatant, the connection between Margaret and her daughter and why the daughter was the way she was. It wasn’t fleshed out enough.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Harper Paperbacks for the early copy.
July 19, 2023
The story of a girl who’s searching for more and ends up finding it.
What starts out as a story that is going to be heartwarming ends up taking multiple twists and turns before it reaches its end. Each twist and turn, however, brings the narrator, and in turn the reader, closer to where she’s meant to be.
The story also follows a secondary narrator whose identity is known but not fully known. Along the journey, the reader will learn that the two narrators are fairly similar and both learn a great deal about herself.
I just about loved every character in this, even the ones I hated purely because they played a role in the learning and healing of the main narrator.
This is a work that I definitely would recommend to people who want to try out historical fiction but are fearful that the typical topics or events of other novels in the genre may be too difficult for them to read.
What starts out as a story that is going to be heartwarming ends up taking multiple twists and turns before it reaches its end. Each twist and turn, however, brings the narrator, and in turn the reader, closer to where she’s meant to be.
The story also follows a secondary narrator whose identity is known but not fully known. Along the journey, the reader will learn that the two narrators are fairly similar and both learn a great deal about herself.
I just about loved every character in this, even the ones I hated purely because they played a role in the learning and healing of the main narrator.
This is a work that I definitely would recommend to people who want to try out historical fiction but are fearful that the typical topics or events of other novels in the genre may be too difficult for them to read.
Read
March 23, 2025Grabbed this from the free pile at the library. I was looking for something kind of random, something different from the books I usually like. I got through this, but did not like it, it really wasn’t written for me. From the cover I picked it up because hey, it would be cool to just live in Florence for a bit through reading a book. To that end I might have liked some thoughtful descriptions of anything that makes Florence Florence, but I’m not sure I got any of that. “The Uffizi was crowded with tourists so didn’t go”. No need to get too detailed here. I got what I wanted, a book that is different from my norm.
October 22, 2024
Tori’s story was too predictable and coincidental. Forced myself to finish reading.
June 23, 2023
I've been missing Florence since returning from a trip last month and this novel did an incredible job of taking me back. Kat Devereaux has managed to bottle up the essence of today's Florence as Tori searches for her own independence, while simultaneously captivating me with the story of the partisan resisters during World War II. Perfect for fans of Still Life by Sarah Winman.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader's copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader's copy.
September 30, 2024
3,5 csillag
A múlt, Stella élete és a 2. vh. partizánjai jobban érdekeltek, mint Tori vivódásai. Izgalmas volt, ahogy a két szál összeért, de semmi extra nem volt benne.
A múlt, Stella élete és a 2. vh. partizánjai jobban érdekeltek, mint Tori vivódásai. Izgalmas volt, ahogy a két szál összeért, de semmi extra nem volt benne.
February 1, 2024
I enjoyed this book overall, but at times found myself annoyed with Tori’s storyline and just wanting to hear more about Stella’s.
May 25, 2023
This book was an incredible journey that takes Tori McNair from Scotland to Florence after her grandmother's death and needing to leave her husband who isn't good for her. She learns about her family mainly her grandmother's life prior to getting married.
It also takes us to a young girl named Stella whose working with the resistance to fight what is happening in Italy back during WWII and in, This life for Stella was hard if not difficult at times. But definitely worth the adventure as we see how she changes through the years and what happened to her when paper trails of her evaporate. No one knows what happened to her after 1945. What became of her?
I really enjoyed the writing and story telling in this book. I had only wished that Tori's family was more understanding to her and her situation. (Don't want to give any spoilers I'm not that kind of reviewer :) ). It was great to see Tori make her own choices without other people impacting her.
I think people who love Kate Quinn and even those who like Susan Elia MacNeal. She keeps you captivated to your seat wanting to see what happens and how the story will play out and you can also feel like you are there with everyone in WWII.
It also takes us to a young girl named Stella whose working with the resistance to fight what is happening in Italy back during WWII and in, This life for Stella was hard if not difficult at times. But definitely worth the adventure as we see how she changes through the years and what happened to her when paper trails of her evaporate. No one knows what happened to her after 1945. What became of her?
I really enjoyed the writing and story telling in this book. I had only wished that Tori's family was more understanding to her and her situation. (Don't want to give any spoilers I'm not that kind of reviewer :) ). It was great to see Tori make her own choices without other people impacting her.
I think people who love Kate Quinn and even those who like Susan Elia MacNeal. She keeps you captivated to your seat wanting to see what happens and how the story will play out and you can also feel like you are there with everyone in WWII.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2023
This is a debut historical fiction novel. The cover to this book is just gorgeous. I was almost like Gollum with this book when it dropped through my letterbox!
I love historical fiction and dual timelines, so this book just had to be read. In 1944, we meet Stella, a fourteen year old girl. The youngest member of Romituzzo's Resistance network, in Italy. She does everything she can with her brother to help them. Then 1945 comes with the end of the war, and Stella isn't seen again.
Fast forward to 2019, Tori goes to Florence to escape her abusive marriage. Her grandmother's inheritance helps to get her there. She takes it upon herself to dig into her family history and, along the way, begins to unearth secrets that have been hidden for decades. As both women's stories weave together, the power of sacrifice, love, and togetherness span the years.
Historical fiction set around the Second World War always captivates and educates me too. I always soak up any facts that I don't already know. It makes a book much more than just a story to me. It brings the past alive, and I am grateful for authors like Kat Devereaux. The Second World War needs to be kept alive in the memories of all, and Escape To Tuscany is one fine example of a book that can do exactly that.
Stella was a teenager with the determination to help the Resistance no matter what. Her character was
well drawn, and I could imagine her fear as she delivered important messages for them.
Kat Devereaux's detailed settings allowed me to see Florence in my minds-eye as I followed both women's journeys through the years. As the pages flew by, so did the time, and I was loathe to put the book down. It took me all my willpower to actually stop reading until the next day. I was enjoying it that much. I hope to see more books from Kat Devereaux, I, for one, would be happy to read them.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Aria Fiction for the copy of this beautiful book so I can write my unbiased review.
I love historical fiction and dual timelines, so this book just had to be read. In 1944, we meet Stella, a fourteen year old girl. The youngest member of Romituzzo's Resistance network, in Italy. She does everything she can with her brother to help them. Then 1945 comes with the end of the war, and Stella isn't seen again.
Fast forward to 2019, Tori goes to Florence to escape her abusive marriage. Her grandmother's inheritance helps to get her there. She takes it upon herself to dig into her family history and, along the way, begins to unearth secrets that have been hidden for decades. As both women's stories weave together, the power of sacrifice, love, and togetherness span the years.
Historical fiction set around the Second World War always captivates and educates me too. I always soak up any facts that I don't already know. It makes a book much more than just a story to me. It brings the past alive, and I am grateful for authors like Kat Devereaux. The Second World War needs to be kept alive in the memories of all, and Escape To Tuscany is one fine example of a book that can do exactly that.
Stella was a teenager with the determination to help the Resistance no matter what. Her character was
well drawn, and I could imagine her fear as she delivered important messages for them.
Kat Devereaux's detailed settings allowed me to see Florence in my minds-eye as I followed both women's journeys through the years. As the pages flew by, so did the time, and I was loathe to put the book down. It took me all my willpower to actually stop reading until the next day. I was enjoying it that much. I hope to see more books from Kat Devereaux, I, for one, would be happy to read them.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Aria Fiction for the copy of this beautiful book so I can write my unbiased review.
April 24, 2023
Thank you HarperCollins for sending me an ARC copy of this book. All of these thoughts and comments are my own.
I haven’t read many historical fiction books but this book really grabbed my attention from the start. This book is told by two people. One from the present time (Tori) and World War II (Stella). Tori is an author and Stella is a teenage girl that works in the Resistance. Tori gets an inheritance once her grandma dies and moves to Florence, Italy to escape her verbally abusive husband, to reinvent her life, and to try to finish her book. Stella lives with her family who treated her terrible but her older brother like he walks the moon. Stella finally has enough and ends running away with a local man who works in the medical field and is never heard from again.
During this story, Tori hits a writers block on her book and tries to find a different topic to write about. Finally she decides to learn more about her grandma’s past since her grandma is the reason she chose to live in Italy. She then learns some very interesting things about her grandma and about the people her grandma knew, thanks to the help of a very handsome man named Marco.
I throughly enjoyed this book. But I didn’t appreciate how unhelpful her sister was though and how she didn’t believe her about her husband and I also didn’t like it having loose ends. Did she eventually get her divorce from Duncan? Did she publish her book? How far did her and Marco’s relationship go? What did Marie and Rita talk about?
Another than the loose ends, this book was great. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who likes historical reads.
4 stars.
I haven’t read many historical fiction books but this book really grabbed my attention from the start. This book is told by two people. One from the present time (Tori) and World War II (Stella). Tori is an author and Stella is a teenage girl that works in the Resistance. Tori gets an inheritance once her grandma dies and moves to Florence, Italy to escape her verbally abusive husband, to reinvent her life, and to try to finish her book. Stella lives with her family who treated her terrible but her older brother like he walks the moon. Stella finally has enough and ends running away with a local man who works in the medical field and is never heard from again.
During this story, Tori hits a writers block on her book and tries to find a different topic to write about. Finally she decides to learn more about her grandma’s past since her grandma is the reason she chose to live in Italy. She then learns some very interesting things about her grandma and about the people her grandma knew, thanks to the help of a very handsome man named Marco.
I throughly enjoyed this book. But I didn’t appreciate how unhelpful her sister was though and how she didn’t believe her about her husband and I also didn’t like it having loose ends. Did she eventually get her divorce from Duncan? Did she publish her book? How far did her and Marco’s relationship go? What did Marie and Rita talk about?
Another than the loose ends, this book was great. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who likes historical reads.
4 stars.
August 11, 2023
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway and overall, I really liked it. It was written well, the premise was great, and I liked how the author went back and forth from a present day character to a character in Florence during WWII. The thing that left me wildly disappointed was the build up of characters and relationships, just for them to end suddenly and the characters to be written out within a few paragraphs... if that. The relationship between Tori and Chiara seems like it would have been a lot more trustworthy or more friendly but I felt let down that Chiara would refuse to help a "friend" begging for help from a "scary" and forceful man. Their relationship seemed to be heading in a positive direction. It felt to me like there were a lot of character lines with great build up, just to be forgotten about and then quickly tied up at the end to close out the book. I'm still going to pass it on to my friend because I did like this book. It's not one that I would read again though, just for the fact that it was a lot of a build up with a lot of disappointment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2023
In 2019, Tori uses the inheritance from her grandmother to escape an emotionally abusive marriage. She decides to move to Florence, a city that she and her grandmother visited together. The dissolution of her marriage also brings an end to a writing project she was working on, but a discovery about her grandmother’s past leads her to dive into research for a new, more personal book. During WWII, in a small town near Florence, Stella Infuriati is working for the resistance at the tender age of 14. Tori’s research may bring to light Stella’s story, after years of being forgotten by history.
This book lacked cohesion. I don’t think that the thread between Stella and Tori’s story was strong enough. I was more intrigued by Stella’s story but the book spends more time with Tori who is decidedly less interesting. I enjoyed the Italian setting but neither the plot nor characters were quite fleshed out enough to make this book memorable.
This book lacked cohesion. I don’t think that the thread between Stella and Tori’s story was strong enough. I was more intrigued by Stella’s story but the book spends more time with Tori who is decidedly less interesting. I enjoyed the Italian setting but neither the plot nor characters were quite fleshed out enough to make this book memorable.
May 3, 2024
Escape to Florence was a propulsive dual timeline historical fiction novel set in Florence and Tuscany. I enjoyed both timelines and especially appreciated seeing the impact of Nazi occupation & fascism on the small Tuscan villages.
Stella is such a strong and brave young woman in Tuscany during Nazi occupation in WW II. Risking torture and death, she relays messages, supplies, and weapons to partisan groups in the Tuscan hills. Then she seems to disappear.
In present day 2019, Tori flees her abusive marriage following her her beloved grandmother’s death and heads to Florence where they had travelled together many times. Here, she uncovers a mysterious link between the two women and a race car driver named Achille. I really felt for Tori as struggles to work through a relationship with her estranged sister while learning to open her heart again.
I found both the story and the setting to be quite engaging, especially having visited the area just last year.
Stella is such a strong and brave young woman in Tuscany during Nazi occupation in WW II. Risking torture and death, she relays messages, supplies, and weapons to partisan groups in the Tuscan hills. Then she seems to disappear.
In present day 2019, Tori flees her abusive marriage following her her beloved grandmother’s death and heads to Florence where they had travelled together many times. Here, she uncovers a mysterious link between the two women and a race car driver named Achille. I really felt for Tori as struggles to work through a relationship with her estranged sister while learning to open her heart again.
I found both the story and the setting to be quite engaging, especially having visited the area just last year.
August 2, 2023
I listened to this book on Audible and thoroughly enjoyed the narrators, very well done.
The story was tightly woven and kept me engaged to the end. The only reason for just 4 stars was my annoyance with the modern day female protagonist. Her character was for the most part well done, multi-faceted, however at times her dithering and lack of self-worth due to her atrocious family and her ex began to wear on me. I like strong female characters, and this one mostly was, but too much emphasis was placed on her weaknesses rather than her strengths.
The story was tightly woven and kept me engaged to the end. The only reason for just 4 stars was my annoyance with the modern day female protagonist. Her character was for the most part well done, multi-faceted, however at times her dithering and lack of self-worth due to her atrocious family and her ex began to wear on me. I like strong female characters, and this one mostly was, but too much emphasis was placed on her weaknesses rather than her strengths.
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