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Girls from the Italian Resistance #2
The Girl from Portofino
From award-winning author Siobhan Daiko, comes a hauntingly epic read that will sweep you away to the beauty of the Italian Riviera. A story of heart-wrenching loss, uplifting courage, and secrets untold.
When Gina Bianchi returns to the beautiful Italian resort of Portofino to attend her father’s funeral, she is beset by vivid memories of World War 2, when she joined the Resistance, alongside her identical twin sister, Adele.
In her childhood bedroom, Gina reads Adele’s diary, left behind during the war. As Gina learns the shocking truth about her sister, she’s compelled to face the harsh realities of her own past.
For readers of Rhys Bowen, Fiona Valpy, and Victoria Hislop.
When Gina Bianchi returns to the beautiful Italian resort of Portofino to attend her father’s funeral, she is beset by vivid memories of World War 2, when she joined the Resistance, alongside her identical twin sister, Adele.
In her childhood bedroom, Gina reads Adele’s diary, left behind during the war. As Gina learns the shocking truth about her sister, she’s compelled to face the harsh realities of her own past.
For readers of Rhys Bowen, Fiona Valpy, and Victoria Hislop.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 7, 2023
1389 people are currently reading
988 people want to read
About the author
Siobhan Daiko
26 books319 followersSiobhan Daiko is a British historical fiction author. A lover of all things Italian, she lives in the Veneto region of northern Italy with her husband, a Havanese dog and a Siberian cat. Siobhan was born of English parents in Hong Kong, attended boarding school in Australia, and then moved to the UK — where she taught modern foreign languages in a Welsh high school. She now spends her time writing page-turners and living the dolce vita sweet life near Venice. Her novels are compelling, poignant, and deeply moving, with strong female characters and evocative settings, but always with romance at their heart. You can find more about her books on her website www.siobhandaiko.org
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
July 11, 2023
It was 1970 when Gina received the phone call from her brother to say their father had died, she was shattered. Gina and her daughter Hope, travelled to Portofino from London, with Gina's husband, Vinnie, to follow once he had business caretakers organised. When Gina arrived at her Mamma's home, her memories from WWII returned in a rush. Gina hadn't been back to her home town for twenty five years, but now, with Mamma having found Adele's diary from those unforgettable days, and wanting Gina to read her sister's story, she would find out the truth.
Adele and Gina were identical twins and as different as chalk and cheese. But they adored one another just the same. When Gina and Stefano joined the partisans in the mountains in 1944, Adele was working for a German Baroness who'd lived in Portofino, and once her husband had died, she'd stayed on. Now Adele, first a maid, now a confidant and friend, worked beside the Baroness as she passed messages to the partisans. But Adele wanted to do more for her country...
The Girl from Portofino is the 2nd in the Girls from the Italian Resistance series by Siobhan Daiko and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Fast paced and heartbreaking, the descriptions of the mesmerising country in and around Portofino, the mountains where the partisans were based, the brutality of the Germans, the poignancy in parts - I'd love to visit Italy! Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Adele and Gina were identical twins and as different as chalk and cheese. But they adored one another just the same. When Gina and Stefano joined the partisans in the mountains in 1944, Adele was working for a German Baroness who'd lived in Portofino, and once her husband had died, she'd stayed on. Now Adele, first a maid, now a confidant and friend, worked beside the Baroness as she passed messages to the partisans. But Adele wanted to do more for her country...
The Girl from Portofino is the 2nd in the Girls from the Italian Resistance series by Siobhan Daiko and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Fast paced and heartbreaking, the descriptions of the mesmerising country in and around Portofino, the mountains where the partisans were based, the brutality of the Germans, the poignancy in parts - I'd love to visit Italy! Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
June 21, 2022
“No one knows what the future will bring. We should make hay now while the sun is shining, or else we might regret it.”
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
Second book in the Italian resistance girls series, but works amazingly as a stand-alone too! I really loved this book, it’s always a great reminder of what some people in the war went through, and how incredibly lucky we are now. The book flits between the present (1970) and the past (1940s), and uses Adele’s diary to trigger flashbacks. It was really well written!
The characters were incredible, and I found myself rooting for Adele and Gina, in the past, the whole way through. But this really is a story that has been buried for 25 years, that should have been shared sooner with Hope. The journey taken through Adele’s journal was extreme lay moving and I found myself breaking down in tears often throughout this book!
This a series that will stay with me for a long time, and I recommend for anyone who likes a good piece of historical fiction.
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
Second book in the Italian resistance girls series, but works amazingly as a stand-alone too! I really loved this book, it’s always a great reminder of what some people in the war went through, and how incredibly lucky we are now. The book flits between the present (1970) and the past (1940s), and uses Adele’s diary to trigger flashbacks. It was really well written!
The characters were incredible, and I found myself rooting for Adele and Gina, in the past, the whole way through. But this really is a story that has been buried for 25 years, that should have been shared sooner with Hope. The journey taken through Adele’s journal was extreme lay moving and I found myself breaking down in tears often throughout this book!
This a series that will stay with me for a long time, and I recommend for anyone who likes a good piece of historical fiction.
December 20, 2021
Turn up the volume on Burt Bacharach’s ‘What The World Needs Now’, pour yourself a prosecco and be swept away to the Italian Riviera in an epic read about the heart-wrenching loss, uplifting courage and untold secrets of Gina, The Girl From Portofino.
Told in dual timeline, mainly 1970 and through a WW2 diary, this book features the adventures of two identical twin sisters; one who fought with the partisans and one who worked for the Germans.
Gina has come home to the resort of Portofino with her 24-year-old daughter, Hope, to attend her father’s funeral. While in her old bedroom, she discovers and reads her twin sister’s diary and is forced to confront her past.
Daiko writes to bring attention to what can happen if we don’t lay our demons to rest. Her inspiration for this book is James Frederick Wilde an escaped British POW who fought with the Italian Resistance. As is always the case with Daiko’s writing, she is able to place readers in the action and with the people of the time. I felt like I was one of the Portofinesi and felt their pain as well as their pride. This is the first book I’ve read that I felt really describes the life of a resistance fighter. Daiko’s research is meticulous.
I am eagerly awaiting book 3 in the Girls From The Italian Resistance series, The Girl From Bologna, which publishes July 1, 2022. If you haven’t read book 1, The Girl From Venice, add it to your TBR list! Daiko is an author you'll want to add to your historical fiction favourites!
I was gifted this advance copy by Siobhan Daiko, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Told in dual timeline, mainly 1970 and through a WW2 diary, this book features the adventures of two identical twin sisters; one who fought with the partisans and one who worked for the Germans.
Gina has come home to the resort of Portofino with her 24-year-old daughter, Hope, to attend her father’s funeral. While in her old bedroom, she discovers and reads her twin sister’s diary and is forced to confront her past.
Daiko writes to bring attention to what can happen if we don’t lay our demons to rest. Her inspiration for this book is James Frederick Wilde an escaped British POW who fought with the Italian Resistance. As is always the case with Daiko’s writing, she is able to place readers in the action and with the people of the time. I felt like I was one of the Portofinesi and felt their pain as well as their pride. This is the first book I’ve read that I felt really describes the life of a resistance fighter. Daiko’s research is meticulous.
I am eagerly awaiting book 3 in the Girls From The Italian Resistance series, The Girl From Bologna, which publishes July 1, 2022. If you haven’t read book 1, The Girl From Venice, add it to your TBR list! Daiko is an author you'll want to add to your historical fiction favourites!
I was gifted this advance copy by Siobhan Daiko, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
January 13, 2022
Gina Bianchi may come from Italy, but she has been living in England with her husband, Vinnie, and her 24-year-old daughter Hope. Hope is a matter of great concern for Gina, for she fell in with the wrong crowd, and her use of drugs is something Gina cannot control or seem to do anything about. When Gina learns of her father’s passing, her brother asks her to return to Portofino to attend the funeral, but Portofino holds memories that Gina does not particularly want to face, and besides, she cannot leave Hope without supervision.
Taking Hope along with her, Gina finds herself travelling the roads she knew so well and arriving in her childhood hometown. There is something she has kept hidden from Hope, something that seems inevitable to resurface, and that is the existence of her twin sister, who went to work for the Germans as Gina joined the Resistance. But, in the form of a diary her sister kept, Gina delves into the truth of her sister’s life, her sister’s words taking her back to her own life during the war.
This novel is told from two perspectives, in two times. We mainly follow Gina in 1970, as she learns about her sister’s life, and gets to know Portofino again. We also get Gina’s perspective during the war, as she joins the Resistance with her best friend, and fights, not only for her life, but for her country. Another perspective is that of Adele, Gina’s sister. There is never a chapter from Adele’s point of view, but we get her thoughts and feelings through her diary entries, where she bares her soul and hides away her worries.
As Gina slowly learns that not everything she thought she knew about her sister is true, she finds herself remembering her time as part of the Italian Resistance. Gina was an incredibly strong young woman. She grew up a tomboy, so she had no trouble living rough, exerting herself, or putting in her due work. As with all the Resistance, she changes her name, becomes Elsa, and fights to save her country. On the other hand, Adele was never a tomboy like Gina. As twins, they may look the same, but their personalities could not be more different. All Gina knows, is that while she was fighting, Adele was working for the Germans, working against Italy. But, the truth has a way of coming out, and through reading her diary, Gina slowly pieces together the truth.
I loved both Gina and Adele. They are both brave in their own way, and they were both a joy to read about. They are both the kind of characters you cannot help but root for, hoping that everything will turn out alright for them. I must say, I wasn’t entirely sure about how I felt about Hope throughout the entirety of this novel. She is 24, and everyone tells Gina to let her make her own choices, that she is old enough to figure things out for herself, but the way Hope acts suggests she needs Gina to look after her, as she doesn’t seem to be able to do so herself.
This book is full of history, both in good ways and bad. You can practically see Portofino, feel the sun on your back, but you can also hear the sounds of gunfire. The Resistance didn’t have it easy, but rather, their entire existence was a struggle, whether finding places safe to sleep, or food to stay alive. And the Germans were less than sympathetic for their cause. They burned, destroyed and killed. Even innocents, people who had simply allowed the Resistance to stay within their village, and offered them something to eat, were not safe. The destruction depicted within these pages is enough to make you shed a tear for those who lost their lives, and if not that, everything else.
A character I particularly liked was Enzo, an English soldier who escaped capture and joined the Resistance. He is lovely to Gina, and as they grow closer, a romance blossoms. In such a place as the Italian Resistance, romance seems almost impossible, but when love strikes, it seems it is impossible to ignore it. Enzo and Gina reminded me a lot of Lidia and David from The Girl from Venice, another book in this series of stand-alone novels. Their circumstances of meeting are alike, and both romances were wonderful to read about.
If you have read The Girl From Venice, this is a must-read. If you have not, but you are a fan of World War Two history, or anything with an Italian background, you should absolutely grab a copy of this book and get to reading.
*I received a copy of this book from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
Taking Hope along with her, Gina finds herself travelling the roads she knew so well and arriving in her childhood hometown. There is something she has kept hidden from Hope, something that seems inevitable to resurface, and that is the existence of her twin sister, who went to work for the Germans as Gina joined the Resistance. But, in the form of a diary her sister kept, Gina delves into the truth of her sister’s life, her sister’s words taking her back to her own life during the war.
This novel is told from two perspectives, in two times. We mainly follow Gina in 1970, as she learns about her sister’s life, and gets to know Portofino again. We also get Gina’s perspective during the war, as she joins the Resistance with her best friend, and fights, not only for her life, but for her country. Another perspective is that of Adele, Gina’s sister. There is never a chapter from Adele’s point of view, but we get her thoughts and feelings through her diary entries, where she bares her soul and hides away her worries.
As Gina slowly learns that not everything she thought she knew about her sister is true, she finds herself remembering her time as part of the Italian Resistance. Gina was an incredibly strong young woman. She grew up a tomboy, so she had no trouble living rough, exerting herself, or putting in her due work. As with all the Resistance, she changes her name, becomes Elsa, and fights to save her country. On the other hand, Adele was never a tomboy like Gina. As twins, they may look the same, but their personalities could not be more different. All Gina knows, is that while she was fighting, Adele was working for the Germans, working against Italy. But, the truth has a way of coming out, and through reading her diary, Gina slowly pieces together the truth.
I loved both Gina and Adele. They are both brave in their own way, and they were both a joy to read about. They are both the kind of characters you cannot help but root for, hoping that everything will turn out alright for them. I must say, I wasn’t entirely sure about how I felt about Hope throughout the entirety of this novel. She is 24, and everyone tells Gina to let her make her own choices, that she is old enough to figure things out for herself, but the way Hope acts suggests she needs Gina to look after her, as she doesn’t seem to be able to do so herself.
This book is full of history, both in good ways and bad. You can practically see Portofino, feel the sun on your back, but you can also hear the sounds of gunfire. The Resistance didn’t have it easy, but rather, their entire existence was a struggle, whether finding places safe to sleep, or food to stay alive. And the Germans were less than sympathetic for their cause. They burned, destroyed and killed. Even innocents, people who had simply allowed the Resistance to stay within their village, and offered them something to eat, were not safe. The destruction depicted within these pages is enough to make you shed a tear for those who lost their lives, and if not that, everything else.
A character I particularly liked was Enzo, an English soldier who escaped capture and joined the Resistance. He is lovely to Gina, and as they grow closer, a romance blossoms. In such a place as the Italian Resistance, romance seems almost impossible, but when love strikes, it seems it is impossible to ignore it. Enzo and Gina reminded me a lot of Lidia and David from The Girl from Venice, another book in this series of stand-alone novels. Their circumstances of meeting are alike, and both romances were wonderful to read about.
If you have read The Girl From Venice, this is a must-read. If you have not, but you are a fan of World War Two history, or anything with an Italian background, you should absolutely grab a copy of this book and get to reading.
*I received a copy of this book from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
September 29, 2023
The story is about twin sisters from Portofino during the time when Italy became disenchanted with Hitler. Now Italy is occupied with the Germans and the off shoot government who is still working with the Germans.
When the one sister returns to Portofino years later for her father's funeral, her mother gives her her sister's journal she found under a floorboard. Through the journal and her own reliving of that time we get to know the sisters and their war.
I hope to read more of Daiko's books. She really brings to life the times and the locations. Her descriptions are enticing without being overly repetative or draging on.
When the one sister returns to Portofino years later for her father's funeral, her mother gives her her sister's journal she found under a floorboard. Through the journal and her own reliving of that time we get to know the sisters and their war.
I hope to read more of Daiko's books. She really brings to life the times and the locations. Her descriptions are enticing without being overly repetative or draging on.
January 6, 2022
Historical fiction, set in Italy, during World War 2? My immediate response has quickly become ‘give me, give me, give me!’ And, as if that wasn’t already enough to convince, me, I had read another book by this author before, and that one was simply amazing. Thus, I had absolutely no trepidations, only pure excitement, as I picked up this book and began to read.
Like the last book I read by this author, this book is a dual-timeline, and I absolutely loved this. The same character, Gina, is depicted as a mother in 1970, thinking back to the war when she returns to Italy after a long period away, and as a young woman, joining the Resistance and fighting the Germans. By giving the same character’s perspective from both these times, we see Gina’s immediate thoughts, as she is fighting, and what she thinks as she looks back on it.
There is one more perspective given in this book, although it is a bit of an unconventional view. Gina has a twin sister, Adele, who was shunned by their family for working with the Germans during the war. Adele’s view is given through entries in a diary, left behind and hidden throughout the war, uncovered by Gina’s mother and passed to her to read. Through these entries, we also get to follow Adele’s actions, to know her thoughts and feelings, and, alongside Gina, learn what led to Adele working for the enemy.
There is, also, Gina’s daughter, Hope. Hope does not have her own perspective, but she is a prevalent character in this novel. Hope has caused worry after worry for Gina, with drug use and becoming friends with the wrong sort of people. Taking her away to Portofino, even for a short period of time, happens in the hope that Hope will learn something about herself, maybe realise something that could help her find the right way in life. And, I know for certain, that if I was whisked away to Italy, there would be a big change in my life. Not that I do anything like Hope, but I do the sacrilegious thing of calling cheesy pasta ‘Italian food’, and if I had the opportunity to eat proper Italian food every day, I would certainly not be wasting my time with cheesy pasta anymore.
I could not help but draw some similarities between Gina’s love life in this book, and Lidia’s love life in The Girl From Venice. They both meet an English soldier while fighting for their country as part of the Resistance, and both fall in love with said English soldier (perhaps it is the accent!) Still, I think Enzo, Gina’s English soldier, was one of my favourite characters in this book. He is brave, ready for anything, and yet, he is also kind and gentle. Together, he and Gina make a wonderful couple, especially since they are both part of the Resistance – while they both fear for the other’s safety, neither hold the other back. Gina being a woman, is regarded highly by the Resistance, and she is respected among the other members. I loved that Enzo encourages the role she plays and that they fight together, rather than Gina being told that she should stay behind because it might be dangerous.
While my dream to visit Italy has still not happened, and probably will not for a very long time, at least until my children are older and perhaps when I am old and my husband retired, I have continuously lived out my dream through fiction. The image this novel paints in your head of Italy, and the beauty it holds, even after German attacks and occupation, makes me feel as though I have already been there, that I have seen the sights.
This book was absolutely amazing, and I loved reading it! There was a bit of a plot twist, which is hinted at throughout the novel, and only revealed at the end. I was delighted to figure it out about halfway through the book, (as it made me feel incredibly smart). If you, like me, love Italian WW2 fiction, this book is one you have to read!
*I received a copy of this book from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
Like the last book I read by this author, this book is a dual-timeline, and I absolutely loved this. The same character, Gina, is depicted as a mother in 1970, thinking back to the war when she returns to Italy after a long period away, and as a young woman, joining the Resistance and fighting the Germans. By giving the same character’s perspective from both these times, we see Gina’s immediate thoughts, as she is fighting, and what she thinks as she looks back on it.
There is one more perspective given in this book, although it is a bit of an unconventional view. Gina has a twin sister, Adele, who was shunned by their family for working with the Germans during the war. Adele’s view is given through entries in a diary, left behind and hidden throughout the war, uncovered by Gina’s mother and passed to her to read. Through these entries, we also get to follow Adele’s actions, to know her thoughts and feelings, and, alongside Gina, learn what led to Adele working for the enemy.
There is, also, Gina’s daughter, Hope. Hope does not have her own perspective, but she is a prevalent character in this novel. Hope has caused worry after worry for Gina, with drug use and becoming friends with the wrong sort of people. Taking her away to Portofino, even for a short period of time, happens in the hope that Hope will learn something about herself, maybe realise something that could help her find the right way in life. And, I know for certain, that if I was whisked away to Italy, there would be a big change in my life. Not that I do anything like Hope, but I do the sacrilegious thing of calling cheesy pasta ‘Italian food’, and if I had the opportunity to eat proper Italian food every day, I would certainly not be wasting my time with cheesy pasta anymore.
I could not help but draw some similarities between Gina’s love life in this book, and Lidia’s love life in The Girl From Venice. They both meet an English soldier while fighting for their country as part of the Resistance, and both fall in love with said English soldier (perhaps it is the accent!) Still, I think Enzo, Gina’s English soldier, was one of my favourite characters in this book. He is brave, ready for anything, and yet, he is also kind and gentle. Together, he and Gina make a wonderful couple, especially since they are both part of the Resistance – while they both fear for the other’s safety, neither hold the other back. Gina being a woman, is regarded highly by the Resistance, and she is respected among the other members. I loved that Enzo encourages the role she plays and that they fight together, rather than Gina being told that she should stay behind because it might be dangerous.
While my dream to visit Italy has still not happened, and probably will not for a very long time, at least until my children are older and perhaps when I am old and my husband retired, I have continuously lived out my dream through fiction. The image this novel paints in your head of Italy, and the beauty it holds, even after German attacks and occupation, makes me feel as though I have already been there, that I have seen the sights.
This book was absolutely amazing, and I loved reading it! There was a bit of a plot twist, which is hinted at throughout the novel, and only revealed at the end. I was delighted to figure it out about halfway through the book, (as it made me feel incredibly smart). If you, like me, love Italian WW2 fiction, this book is one you have to read!
*I received a copy of this book from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
January 12, 2022
Gina grew up in Portofino but moved to England after the war to raise her daughter, Hope. When she learns of her father’s death, Gina and Hope travel to Portofino for the funeral.
Hope has her future ahead of her, but Gina finds herself journeying back to the past when she is presented with a journal written by her twin sister Adele, during the war. Everyone believes that Adele betrayed her country to work with the Germans, but it turns out it was a little more complicated than that.
I think Adele was one of my favourite characters, although we only briefly meet her in Gina’s memories, the rest of the time only getting to know her through her diary. Gina was always the brave sister, putting herself out there, so when Gina left to join the Resistance, Adele wanted to do her part as well. The only issue was finding something she could do, for she wasn’t like her sister, and couldn’t pick up a gun against the Germans. This novel depicts strong women who find themselves living during an extraordinarily frightening time, and how these young women reacted to these events made this story come across as very real in the telling.
This novel does have its fair share of romance, for both sisters find themselves slowly falling in love, but it is based during a war, and both sisters find themselves fighting it, one way or another. There is violence, from both sides, and both Gina and Adele see things they would rather forget. This is not a book that romanticises war, but one that tells the truth and this, while distressing at times, has been done with great skill.
This book was completely captivating, and I found it incredibly difficult to put it down.
*I received a copy of this book from The Coffee Pot Book Club. I was under no obligation to leave a review.
Hope has her future ahead of her, but Gina finds herself journeying back to the past when she is presented with a journal written by her twin sister Adele, during the war. Everyone believes that Adele betrayed her country to work with the Germans, but it turns out it was a little more complicated than that.
I think Adele was one of my favourite characters, although we only briefly meet her in Gina’s memories, the rest of the time only getting to know her through her diary. Gina was always the brave sister, putting herself out there, so when Gina left to join the Resistance, Adele wanted to do her part as well. The only issue was finding something she could do, for she wasn’t like her sister, and couldn’t pick up a gun against the Germans. This novel depicts strong women who find themselves living during an extraordinarily frightening time, and how these young women reacted to these events made this story come across as very real in the telling.
This novel does have its fair share of romance, for both sisters find themselves slowly falling in love, but it is based during a war, and both sisters find themselves fighting it, one way or another. There is violence, from both sides, and both Gina and Adele see things they would rather forget. This is not a book that romanticises war, but one that tells the truth and this, while distressing at times, has been done with great skill.
This book was completely captivating, and I found it incredibly difficult to put it down.
*I received a copy of this book from The Coffee Pot Book Club. I was under no obligation to leave a review.
January 14, 2022
Don’t you just love it when you open a book, knowing before you have even read a word that you are going to love it? In this case, it was because I had already read a book by this author that I loved, the cover is amazing, the blurb is enticing… it all adds up, and made me all the more excited.
Gina travels to Portofino with her daughter, Hope, when her father dies, to attend his funeral. While there, Gina’s mother presents her with a diary, written by Adele, Gina’s twin sister. At first, Gina doesn’t want to read it, for Adele worked with the Germans during the war, while Gina fought with the Resistance, but curiosity wins, and she begins to read the diary.
As Gina reads Adele’s diary, she finds herself remembering the war, and her time, fighting. This book is a dual timeline novel, following Gina in both 1970, as she reads Adele’s diary, and 1944, where she is fighting. As part of the Resistance, Gina lives rough, and carries around a gun, but with the arrival of Enzo, an English soldier joining their ranks, Gina starts to feel things other than the need to protect her country. It seems strange for love to appear during a war, and yet, love is just the thing needed.
Both the historical aspects, such as the war, and the battles fought, and the romantic aspects of this novel are written wonderfully, and I loved every moment of this book. Gina was a wonderful character, although I couldn’t help wishing for Adele to have her own chapters, rather than just learning about her through diary entries. I would love to read a book from Adele’s perspective, as her journey was just as intriguing as Gina’s.
This book is absolutely brilliant. World War 2 fiction is incredibly popular at the moment, and I can see why, for it is utterly enthralling, especially when done right, as this book is. I cannot wait to read more by this author.
I received a free copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
Gina travels to Portofino with her daughter, Hope, when her father dies, to attend his funeral. While there, Gina’s mother presents her with a diary, written by Adele, Gina’s twin sister. At first, Gina doesn’t want to read it, for Adele worked with the Germans during the war, while Gina fought with the Resistance, but curiosity wins, and she begins to read the diary.
As Gina reads Adele’s diary, she finds herself remembering the war, and her time, fighting. This book is a dual timeline novel, following Gina in both 1970, as she reads Adele’s diary, and 1944, where she is fighting. As part of the Resistance, Gina lives rough, and carries around a gun, but with the arrival of Enzo, an English soldier joining their ranks, Gina starts to feel things other than the need to protect her country. It seems strange for love to appear during a war, and yet, love is just the thing needed.
Both the historical aspects, such as the war, and the battles fought, and the romantic aspects of this novel are written wonderfully, and I loved every moment of this book. Gina was a wonderful character, although I couldn’t help wishing for Adele to have her own chapters, rather than just learning about her through diary entries. I would love to read a book from Adele’s perspective, as her journey was just as intriguing as Gina’s.
This book is absolutely brilliant. World War 2 fiction is incredibly popular at the moment, and I can see why, for it is utterly enthralling, especially when done right, as this book is. I cannot wait to read more by this author.
I received a free copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
December 30, 2021
The Girl from Portofino is a gripping story that was thought-provoking and pulled at my heart-strings. So all-consuming was the storytelling, I had a hard job putting my kindle down. The natural flow between past and present was superbly executed, the horrific situations that war produces tore apart my heart, and the awe-inspiring actions of strong female characters had me full of admiration. 5 well deserved stars.
January 14, 2022
After reading The Girl From Venice, I knew I just had to read this book. I did not need the cover or the blurb to convince, me, I simply said that I would read it, and impatiently awaited the arrival of my copy.
Gina finds herself travelling back to Portofino, her childhood home, at the news of her father’s death. While she is there, she finds herself remembering the war and her involvement in the Resistance. Her life has clearly changed a lot in the years since she fought, trying to save her country. The war is over, but it still has a grip on her, and secrets from the past seem to be uprooting themselves and making their truths known.
Gina’s twin sister, Adele, is someone whose existence Gina has kept from her daughter, Hope. While Gina went to fight for her country, Adele ended up working for the Germans, for the enemy. And yet, as Gina reads through a diary Adele left hidden in their childhood home, depicting Adele’s view of life during the war, and what she found herself doing after Gina left to join the Resistance, Gina quickly learns that not everything about Adele’s life was as it seemed. Both Gina and Adele were characters I found myself incredibly interested in learning about. Their lives were so different, and yet, in a way, they found themselves living the same sort of experiences.
This book is the kind that sucks you into the pages and allows you to live alongside the characters. You will find yourself reading late into the night, for putting the book down is simply not an option.
If you are after quality historical fiction, this author is someone whose books you should be reading.
*I received a copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
Gina finds herself travelling back to Portofino, her childhood home, at the news of her father’s death. While she is there, she finds herself remembering the war and her involvement in the Resistance. Her life has clearly changed a lot in the years since she fought, trying to save her country. The war is over, but it still has a grip on her, and secrets from the past seem to be uprooting themselves and making their truths known.
Gina’s twin sister, Adele, is someone whose existence Gina has kept from her daughter, Hope. While Gina went to fight for her country, Adele ended up working for the Germans, for the enemy. And yet, as Gina reads through a diary Adele left hidden in their childhood home, depicting Adele’s view of life during the war, and what she found herself doing after Gina left to join the Resistance, Gina quickly learns that not everything about Adele’s life was as it seemed. Both Gina and Adele were characters I found myself incredibly interested in learning about. Their lives were so different, and yet, in a way, they found themselves living the same sort of experiences.
This book is the kind that sucks you into the pages and allows you to live alongside the characters. You will find yourself reading late into the night, for putting the book down is simply not an option.
If you are after quality historical fiction, this author is someone whose books you should be reading.
*I received a copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
November 18, 2021
Beautifully written creating atmospheric visuals of Italy that transports the reader to Portofino and its surrounds. This enchanting story is cleverly set in two time zones, 1970 & 1940s using a diary as the conduit. Once again the author merges fact with fiction creating a love story whilst also highlighting the tragedy and cruelty of war on all sides. The characters are rounded and interesting and kept my interest from first page to the last. If you are looking for fact based historical plus romance in a stunning setting, then this could be just the book for you.
January 16, 2022
great historical book. These people were strong to keep on going in spite of the many obstacles. A very happy ending for most
April 19, 2023
La Daiko riprende a farci viaggiare tra Passato e Presente, tra l’Italia - Portofino, perla del Mediterraneo, borgo di mare, incastonato nel verde promontorio, con le alte case color pastello a dirupo disposte a semicerchio sulle acque cristalline - e l’Inghilterra degli anni ‘70, rabbiosa e coraggiosa, tra libertà espressiva e anticonformismo. Sa portarci tuttavia ancor più indietro, tra le montagne delle Alpi Liguri, nelle piazze sconvolte del Borgo, nelle acque intorno al Promontorio di Portofino, oltre gli sbarramenti minati e oltre questa méta del jet set, della vita elegante e glamour, dove le donne coraggiose possono fare la differenza. Siano madri, partigiane, staffette o baronesse…sotto il Castello Brown e poi al Faro, lì dove il rumore del mare che si infrange sugli scogli accompagnato dai garriti dei gabbiani, racconta tante storie. (Se avete tempo recuperate anche la storia della Baronessa citata sui monumenti di Portofino “Alla baronessa Von Mumm, pervasa dal profumo del mare e dalle carezze del vento che fermò la barbarie con gesto coraggioso. I cittadini di Portofino posero a memoria”. Baronessa Jeannie Watt, vedova del Barone Mumm, chiamata ancora oggi da molti, la Signora del Castello di San Giorgio)
Chi è però La Ragazza di Portofino?
Una ragazza, giovane. Testarda.
Un maschiaccio, forse. Volitiva.
Fiera e intelligente.
Coraggiosa e generosa.
È la storia di Gina Bianchi, ormai ritiratasi in Inghilterra, dove vive con l’amato marito, Vinnie, e l’irrequieta figlia Hope, vittima dei burrascosi tempi londinesi, tra dipendenze e fragilità. La notizia della morte di suo padre sconvolge l’esistenza della protagonista perché suo fratello le chiede di tornare a Portofino, per partecipare al funerale e sostenere l’anziana madre nel momento del lutto.
Portofino è ormai una cartolina sbiadita. Consunta e ingiallita da lacrime per ricordi troppo dolorosi.
Gina parte, portando Hope con sé, con tutte le sue incertezze e vulnerabilità, ritrovando la sua terra, la sua famiglia. Le strade in cui è cresciuta, i paesaggi che ha accarezzato con lo sguardo, i luoghi della memoria
«Quella è la tua casa.» Hope indica la casa della famiglia Bianchi, una delle poche che appartiene ancora ai portofinesi. Il canto degli uccelli riecheggia nelle orecchie di Gina; è arrivata la primavera e i volatili esprimono la loro gioia. E poi c’è il glicine che drappeggia i pergolati e si arrampica sui lati degli edifici, aggrappandosi agli alberi. Il suo profumo è inebriante ... Scorci di Portofino e poi del Golfo del Tigullio fanno capolino tra le azalee con i loro sprazzi di un rosso feroce, quasi accecanti nella loro bellezza.”
“Non tutto era come sembrava.”
Quei luoghi che conservano tanti segreti, troppi. Alcuni talmente dolorosi da essere inconfessabili. Molti legati a sua sorella Adele.
Adele così vicina ai tedeschi…proprio mentre Gina aveva scelto di unirsi alla Resistenza per combattere in prima linea
Tua sorella non era quella che tutti pensavano che fosse.» La madre le tocca il braccio. «Adele era brava e coraggiosa oltre che ingenua. Penso che tu debba conoscere la verità; devi farlo per la sua memoria.”
Ci sono bugie e silenzi così pesanti che non reggono le parole. A volte solo la carta è in grado di sostenerle. Soprattutto se sotto forma di un diario, quello che Adele scriveva e custodiva gelosamente proprio negli anni tumultuosi della Seconda Guerra Mondiale
La Verità rende sempre liberi, chiedendo tuttavia un prezzo altissimo: la sincerità. Ma questa è una storia di donne forti, coraggiose, pronte a sacrificare tutto per la famiglia e per la propria terra. L’importante e non perdere mai il coraggio di sperare…
«Sarebbe come gettarti nella fossa dei leoni.»
«I leoni hanno già fatto la loro fossa a Portofino,» le ho risposto. «Solo che i leoni sono animali nobili.”
Gina scoprirà Adele, ritroverà sua figlia Hope, se stessa.
Anche in questo caso abbiamo due prospettive, due voci e due livelli temporali. Meravigliosamente intrecciati e sovrapposti con naturalezza, grazie a espedienti narrativi riusciti e resi impeccabilmente nella traduzione. Ci parla Gina, negli anni Settanta, alle prese con la vita della Nuova Portofino, ritrovo di celebrità e personaggi importanti, costretta a ricordare inevitabilmente gli anni della guerra in cui si è trovata fianco a fianco dei partigiani e delle partigiane come la sua amica Carmen, l’indomabile Rosso e l’affascinante Enzo, compagno di armi che fa tremare - inevitabilmente - anche un cuore saldo come il suo.
Giunge anche la voce di Adele, è un’eco, diretta dalle pagine del suo diario, che custodiscono paure e segreti, emozioni e progetti. Una voce delicata, quasi impercettibile, che si è persa nel corso dei decenni tra i pregiudizi e gli orrori della violenza.
Gina imparerà lentamente, con sofferenza, a conoscere davvero l’amata sorella. E forse a capire così sua figlia, davvero.
L’Amore è la speranza che prende vita, in ogni forma. Anche tra le macerie, come quello tra un soldato sgangherato e una giovane ragazza della Resistenza; come quello, eterno, tra sorelle.
Continua a respirare e a sperare
Una nuova storia nella Storia, in cui cambiano gli scenari ma l’autrice ha sempre pennellate decise nelle descrizioni, per restituire le ambientazioni nel modo più fedele, anche quelle più buie e drammatiche, quando restano le cicatrici della violenza e le ferite dell’odio e della sopraffazione. Ogni capitolo di questa serie riesce a rinnovarsi, perché nel presente troviamo sviluppi incredibili di quel Passato, che conserva tracce appena intuibili nel presente. Ogni esistenza si rivela quindi una avventura, ogni regione d’Italia, dilaniata da fazioni (nella parte finale c’è una scena davvero toccante che riguarda un repubblichino, bellissima nella cruda realtà senza retorica) è come una famiglia che soffre, così si racconta ogni montagna, ogni borgo, ogni comunità. Ogni giovane ragazza italiana. Ho amato particolarmente La Ragazza di Venezia e ho ritrovato con piacere la stessa intensità in questo capitolo della Girls from Italian Resistence. Questa storia ha la forza del sacrificio e della resilienza, sa di illusioni e di sogni infranti, parla del legame più forte di ogni brutalità, di ogni sospetto o rimpianto. Più forte della morte. Non a caso tra le immagini che ricorrono frequenti nella storia de La Ragazza di Portofino abbiamo il glicine, pianta meravigliosa, che ha la capacità di stringersi intorno a quello su cui vuole crescere, senza opprimere e senza inaridire. Tantissimi piccoli vortici racchiusi nello stesso unico fiore. D' inverno sembra seccare e inaridire. E poi esplode nella profusione di colore e profumo.
Grande fortuna, in un panorama Romance spesso piatto e povero, che la Dream Translations abbia creduto in un testo così originale e complesso nella resa stilistica (basti pensare ai due piani narrativi, al doppio poi, ai riferimenti linguistici regionali e internazionali, al ritmo della narrazione continuamente variabile).
Una serie assolutamente unica, in cui ogni capitolo è una cartolina emozionante, una foto di un album della memoria, un fiore di una ghirlanda preziosa
Saffron
Chi è però La Ragazza di Portofino?
Una ragazza, giovane. Testarda.
Un maschiaccio, forse. Volitiva.
Fiera e intelligente.
Coraggiosa e generosa.
È la storia di Gina Bianchi, ormai ritiratasi in Inghilterra, dove vive con l’amato marito, Vinnie, e l’irrequieta figlia Hope, vittima dei burrascosi tempi londinesi, tra dipendenze e fragilità. La notizia della morte di suo padre sconvolge l’esistenza della protagonista perché suo fratello le chiede di tornare a Portofino, per partecipare al funerale e sostenere l’anziana madre nel momento del lutto.
Portofino è ormai una cartolina sbiadita. Consunta e ingiallita da lacrime per ricordi troppo dolorosi.
Gina parte, portando Hope con sé, con tutte le sue incertezze e vulnerabilità, ritrovando la sua terra, la sua famiglia. Le strade in cui è cresciuta, i paesaggi che ha accarezzato con lo sguardo, i luoghi della memoria
«Quella è la tua casa.» Hope indica la casa della famiglia Bianchi, una delle poche che appartiene ancora ai portofinesi. Il canto degli uccelli riecheggia nelle orecchie di Gina; è arrivata la primavera e i volatili esprimono la loro gioia. E poi c’è il glicine che drappeggia i pergolati e si arrampica sui lati degli edifici, aggrappandosi agli alberi. Il suo profumo è inebriante ... Scorci di Portofino e poi del Golfo del Tigullio fanno capolino tra le azalee con i loro sprazzi di un rosso feroce, quasi accecanti nella loro bellezza.”
“Non tutto era come sembrava.”
Quei luoghi che conservano tanti segreti, troppi. Alcuni talmente dolorosi da essere inconfessabili. Molti legati a sua sorella Adele.
Adele così vicina ai tedeschi…proprio mentre Gina aveva scelto di unirsi alla Resistenza per combattere in prima linea
Tua sorella non era quella che tutti pensavano che fosse.» La madre le tocca il braccio. «Adele era brava e coraggiosa oltre che ingenua. Penso che tu debba conoscere la verità; devi farlo per la sua memoria.”
Ci sono bugie e silenzi così pesanti che non reggono le parole. A volte solo la carta è in grado di sostenerle. Soprattutto se sotto forma di un diario, quello che Adele scriveva e custodiva gelosamente proprio negli anni tumultuosi della Seconda Guerra Mondiale
La Verità rende sempre liberi, chiedendo tuttavia un prezzo altissimo: la sincerità. Ma questa è una storia di donne forti, coraggiose, pronte a sacrificare tutto per la famiglia e per la propria terra. L’importante e non perdere mai il coraggio di sperare…
«Sarebbe come gettarti nella fossa dei leoni.»
«I leoni hanno già fatto la loro fossa a Portofino,» le ho risposto. «Solo che i leoni sono animali nobili.”
Gina scoprirà Adele, ritroverà sua figlia Hope, se stessa.
Anche in questo caso abbiamo due prospettive, due voci e due livelli temporali. Meravigliosamente intrecciati e sovrapposti con naturalezza, grazie a espedienti narrativi riusciti e resi impeccabilmente nella traduzione. Ci parla Gina, negli anni Settanta, alle prese con la vita della Nuova Portofino, ritrovo di celebrità e personaggi importanti, costretta a ricordare inevitabilmente gli anni della guerra in cui si è trovata fianco a fianco dei partigiani e delle partigiane come la sua amica Carmen, l’indomabile Rosso e l’affascinante Enzo, compagno di armi che fa tremare - inevitabilmente - anche un cuore saldo come il suo.
Giunge anche la voce di Adele, è un’eco, diretta dalle pagine del suo diario, che custodiscono paure e segreti, emozioni e progetti. Una voce delicata, quasi impercettibile, che si è persa nel corso dei decenni tra i pregiudizi e gli orrori della violenza.
Gina imparerà lentamente, con sofferenza, a conoscere davvero l’amata sorella. E forse a capire così sua figlia, davvero.
L’Amore è la speranza che prende vita, in ogni forma. Anche tra le macerie, come quello tra un soldato sgangherato e una giovane ragazza della Resistenza; come quello, eterno, tra sorelle.
Continua a respirare e a sperare
Una nuova storia nella Storia, in cui cambiano gli scenari ma l’autrice ha sempre pennellate decise nelle descrizioni, per restituire le ambientazioni nel modo più fedele, anche quelle più buie e drammatiche, quando restano le cicatrici della violenza e le ferite dell’odio e della sopraffazione. Ogni capitolo di questa serie riesce a rinnovarsi, perché nel presente troviamo sviluppi incredibili di quel Passato, che conserva tracce appena intuibili nel presente. Ogni esistenza si rivela quindi una avventura, ogni regione d’Italia, dilaniata da fazioni (nella parte finale c’è una scena davvero toccante che riguarda un repubblichino, bellissima nella cruda realtà senza retorica) è come una famiglia che soffre, così si racconta ogni montagna, ogni borgo, ogni comunità. Ogni giovane ragazza italiana. Ho amato particolarmente La Ragazza di Venezia e ho ritrovato con piacere la stessa intensità in questo capitolo della Girls from Italian Resistence. Questa storia ha la forza del sacrificio e della resilienza, sa di illusioni e di sogni infranti, parla del legame più forte di ogni brutalità, di ogni sospetto o rimpianto. Più forte della morte. Non a caso tra le immagini che ricorrono frequenti nella storia de La Ragazza di Portofino abbiamo il glicine, pianta meravigliosa, che ha la capacità di stringersi intorno a quello su cui vuole crescere, senza opprimere e senza inaridire. Tantissimi piccoli vortici racchiusi nello stesso unico fiore. D' inverno sembra seccare e inaridire. E poi esplode nella profusione di colore e profumo.
Grande fortuna, in un panorama Romance spesso piatto e povero, che la Dream Translations abbia creduto in un testo così originale e complesso nella resa stilistica (basti pensare ai due piani narrativi, al doppio poi, ai riferimenti linguistici regionali e internazionali, al ritmo della narrazione continuamente variabile).
Una serie assolutamente unica, in cui ogni capitolo è una cartolina emozionante, una foto di un album della memoria, un fiore di una ghirlanda preziosa
Saffron
December 20, 2021
As a fan of novels featuring the work of resistance fighters during WW2, this book had great appeal. The partisans in Italy was a new setting so it was interesting to learn of the warring factions in this country. Although set in two time zones, I found this a straightforward and relaxing read. The characters were endearing, as was the love that blossomed between them. Circumstances pulling together people that wouldn’t have met during peacetime there were no real surprises, or cliff-hangers, as the ending was predictable from an early stage. This is very much a story of how love plays such a big part in life .
My thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
My thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2021
This was a great book. It had tears, fears, loss and redemption
September 26, 2023
Didn’t want to put my Kindle down. A gripping WWII story taking place in small villages and the hills of Italy, in the area of Portofino.
It is the Partisans against Mussolini’s Black Shirts and the Nazis.
Patiently awaiting the Third Book in the Series, The Girl From Bologna.
It is the Partisans against Mussolini’s Black Shirts and the Nazis.
Patiently awaiting the Third Book in the Series, The Girl From Bologna.
December 17, 2021
A few years ago my husband and I took a cruise with a 12-hour stop in Italy. We booked a private tour of the Amalfi Coast and spent several hours in Portofino. I knew I had to read A Girl from Portofino as soon as I saw the title, as our time in Portofino was the highlight of our trip.
This book had me at Page One. It is beautifully and smoothly written. The vivid descriptions of Portofino invoked wonderful memories of having coffee in the piazza, lunch in a ristorante cut into the mountainside, of the sea, the flowers and so much more.
Siobhan Daiko has mastered transitioning from one decade to the other with ease. I know so much about the Holocaust and WWII but had little knowledge of Italy's resistance movement until I read this book. The characters of Gina, her twin sister Adele and Enzo, as well as all of the resistance fighters, are well defined. There wasn't a character I didn't like, except for the horrid Nazis. I was not surprised to read in the authors notes that the key Nazis in this story were "real" men and the atrocities they imposed were as described. The skirmishes and battles waged by the resistance fighters were realistic because they echoed true events. Enzo/Vinnie, Rosso, Don Rino were inspired by actual members of the Italian resistance movement.
Historical fiction is my favorite genre but I tend to shy away from romantic historical fiction. Although Siobhan Daiko is described as a writer of romantic historical fiction I found the romantic relationships in this book secondary to the strength, actions and resilience of the resistance movement; especially the women of the movement. The romances are tastefully woven into the story of how the partisans organized and fought for freedom for Italy. Throughout WWII women played critical roles in resistance movements all over Europe, but I had no idea they fought side-by-side with the men in Italy.
The ending was not a surprise. Rather, it was a pleasant wrap-up to a riveting story of resistance, determination and survival.
This book had me at Page One. It is beautifully and smoothly written. The vivid descriptions of Portofino invoked wonderful memories of having coffee in the piazza, lunch in a ristorante cut into the mountainside, of the sea, the flowers and so much more.
Siobhan Daiko has mastered transitioning from one decade to the other with ease. I know so much about the Holocaust and WWII but had little knowledge of Italy's resistance movement until I read this book. The characters of Gina, her twin sister Adele and Enzo, as well as all of the resistance fighters, are well defined. There wasn't a character I didn't like, except for the horrid Nazis. I was not surprised to read in the authors notes that the key Nazis in this story were "real" men and the atrocities they imposed were as described. The skirmishes and battles waged by the resistance fighters were realistic because they echoed true events. Enzo/Vinnie, Rosso, Don Rino were inspired by actual members of the Italian resistance movement.
Historical fiction is my favorite genre but I tend to shy away from romantic historical fiction. Although Siobhan Daiko is described as a writer of romantic historical fiction I found the romantic relationships in this book secondary to the strength, actions and resilience of the resistance movement; especially the women of the movement. The romances are tastefully woven into the story of how the partisans organized and fought for freedom for Italy. Throughout WWII women played critical roles in resistance movements all over Europe, but I had no idea they fought side-by-side with the men in Italy.
The ending was not a surprise. Rather, it was a pleasant wrap-up to a riveting story of resistance, determination and survival.
January 21, 2022
The Girl from Portofino is by Sioban Daiko. This book is set in Italy in 1970 and in 1944. In flashback chapters, we learn what Gina and her twin sister, Adele, did during World War II here in to coastal town of Portofino. Although twins, the girls personalities were definitely different.
In 1970, Gina and her husband, Vinnie, owned a pub in London. They had lived in London for twenty-five years and had never gone back to Italy. Their daughter, Hope had never been back either. She was now back home after having had problems with depression combined with drugs. Gina hoped they were on the downhill slope of that problem; but she wasn’t sure and wasn’t sure how to handle Hope. Were they being too lenient or too strict? At least, she had Vinnie to help her.
Then, Gina gets a telegram from her brother telling her that her father had died of a sudden heart attack. When she calls him for details, he tells her they expect her home for the funeral. Her mother needs her and Gina needs to meet her responsibilities. He hopes Vinnie can come; but insists on Hope coming at least so they can finally meet her. In spite of her excuses, she knows it is time to go home. However, she hadn’t told Hope anything about her having been in the Resistance during the war or having a twin sister, Adele, who worked for the Germans.
The first night in Italy, her mother hands her Adele’s diary and tells her to read it. It will explain many things that Gina had wondered about. Will it open doors that should remain shut or will opening those doors be refreshing instead? Will knowing exactly what Adele did help or hurt her memories of her twin?
This book is definitely a page turner. What can Gina learn about her sister that she didn’t know? Why does her mother think it is important enough to read it? The author keeps you on pins and needles as she unravels their story.
In 1970, Gina and her husband, Vinnie, owned a pub in London. They had lived in London for twenty-five years and had never gone back to Italy. Their daughter, Hope had never been back either. She was now back home after having had problems with depression combined with drugs. Gina hoped they were on the downhill slope of that problem; but she wasn’t sure and wasn’t sure how to handle Hope. Were they being too lenient or too strict? At least, she had Vinnie to help her.
Then, Gina gets a telegram from her brother telling her that her father had died of a sudden heart attack. When she calls him for details, he tells her they expect her home for the funeral. Her mother needs her and Gina needs to meet her responsibilities. He hopes Vinnie can come; but insists on Hope coming at least so they can finally meet her. In spite of her excuses, she knows it is time to go home. However, she hadn’t told Hope anything about her having been in the Resistance during the war or having a twin sister, Adele, who worked for the Germans.
The first night in Italy, her mother hands her Adele’s diary and tells her to read it. It will explain many things that Gina had wondered about. Will it open doors that should remain shut or will opening those doors be refreshing instead? Will knowing exactly what Adele did help or hurt her memories of her twin?
This book is definitely a page turner. What can Gina learn about her sister that she didn’t know? Why does her mother think it is important enough to read it? The author keeps you on pins and needles as she unravels their story.
December 8, 2021
The Girl from Portofino is mainly set in stunning Liguria in both 1940s and 1970. Gina is told of her father's unexpected death in Italy so travels with her 24-year-old daughter, Hope, to the funeral. She hasn't been home for many years but settles in quickly as in ways time has stood still. She knows she must face her past as a resistance fighter in WWII. Not only that but she discovers her identical twin sister's true story written in her very personal diary. Wayward Hope has her own feelings about family she meets for the first time. Themes are courage, choices, love, forgiveness and hope.
Portofino is a lovely backdrop and the author's vivid descriptions of the topography , culture and delectable food (and that cover!) took me there in an instant. The story is multi sensory...I could hear the dialect, taste the local dishes and feel the sea air. But the war descriptions are horrific and gut wrenching and I could envision those, too. I like that the author does not gloss over the realities of war.
Other than the descriptions of oft-visited Italy, my favourite aspects of the book are the relationships and the glue which hold people together. Very insightful and thoughtfully written.
Historical Fiction readers, do not miss this wonderful series. I eagerly await the third book which is due to come out in July!
My sincere thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this compelling book.
Portofino is a lovely backdrop and the author's vivid descriptions of the topography , culture and delectable food (and that cover!) took me there in an instant. The story is multi sensory...I could hear the dialect, taste the local dishes and feel the sea air. But the war descriptions are horrific and gut wrenching and I could envision those, too. I like that the author does not gloss over the realities of war.
Other than the descriptions of oft-visited Italy, my favourite aspects of the book are the relationships and the glue which hold people together. Very insightful and thoughtfully written.
Historical Fiction readers, do not miss this wonderful series. I eagerly await the third book which is due to come out in July!
My sincere thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this compelling book.
December 12, 2021
Oh my goodness! How great was this book?!?!?!??? When Siobhan writes, we read! She has such a way with her words that she draws us into the story and then we are transported to the place or time of her choosing. I literally felt I was back in the 1970s and 1940s. Being a teen/adult into the 70s, I felt like I was there and in reading Adele's diary, I felt taken us back to the 40s as well. She is so intricate with her story telling, but even more so with the history blending into all of it, so accurate that you believe these people really did fight. My heart went out to Gina, not only in her travel back to Italy with Hope, but traveling back in time with her as her story melded with Adele's. When finally everything was told, the past met up with the then present and everything made sense. In not wanting to give any real spoilers, I just want to say, there were some instincts that I felt and was so happy that I was right. Siobhan has taken the war and the consequences of it and just made it more real to me than any history class that I have taken... and then just adding her spin on the stories she integrated into it made it so relatable. Thank you Siobhan for another great book!
December 28, 2021
This may be the very best of the 270 books I've read this year. The story is told from Gina's point of view as she is called from her home of the last 25 years in London to her father's funeral in her hometown of Portofino on the Amalfi Coast in Italy. She takes her 24-year-old daughter with her. What a story unfolds as Gina is told her mother found her twin sister's diary in the floorboards as she was preparing their room. Gina relives her time as a young resistance fighter in WWII as she reads of her sister's contribution to the resistance that her family never knew about. The stories are gut-wrenching, the love stories are true commitment, and for Gina's family a real turning point! How different identical twins were, yet each strong and brave in their own ways! This book brought lots of tears but ended very happily! Highly recomended.
December 30, 2021
As is becoming custom with Siobhan’s books, this book was absolutely amazing. It’s well thought out, very well researched and keeps you reading no matter what. I absolutely adored the descriptions of the food, culture and Portofino, it truly made me feel I was there myself.
This story mixes fact with fiction. Showing the tragedies and difficulties of WWII as well as family secrets. We get 2 stories in this book, one set in the 1970’s as Gina and her adult daughter Hope travel to Italy after the unexpected death of her father. Where she finds the diary of her twin sister Adele. And the 1940’s, in the middle of WWII and the Italian resistance fighters.
When you pick up this book, pick a nice evening in the weekend with a snack and some tea and enjoy it for all it is.
This story mixes fact with fiction. Showing the tragedies and difficulties of WWII as well as family secrets. We get 2 stories in this book, one set in the 1970’s as Gina and her adult daughter Hope travel to Italy after the unexpected death of her father. Where she finds the diary of her twin sister Adele. And the 1940’s, in the middle of WWII and the Italian resistance fighters.
When you pick up this book, pick a nice evening in the weekend with a snack and some tea and enjoy it for all it is.
January 8, 2022
Good weaving of two eras together with a strong woman at the center🌅
For me, this was a good, sometimes moving, story that largely focuses on twin Italian sisters who end up making huge sacrifices in the latter years of WWII. Author Siobhan Daiko uses a diary recently discovered to link the two eras (1940's and 1970's) together. The technique worked, but the fact that Gina, the lead character, is present in both time periods and central to the action past and present added a lot to the historical story.
A good part of the action moves around the Ligurian countryside with the Italian partisan fighters. There's violence, some pretty graphic, but both sisters also find purpose and love in the midst of their resistance against the Nazis and the Italian Fascisti while awaiting the Allied victory and the end of hostilities.
I enjoyed the novel. This was the first time I've read any of Daiko's work. Although I've read better set in this era, I will be looking for more historical fiction by this author.
Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
For me, this was a good, sometimes moving, story that largely focuses on twin Italian sisters who end up making huge sacrifices in the latter years of WWII. Author Siobhan Daiko uses a diary recently discovered to link the two eras (1940's and 1970's) together. The technique worked, but the fact that Gina, the lead character, is present in both time periods and central to the action past and present added a lot to the historical story.
A good part of the action moves around the Ligurian countryside with the Italian partisan fighters. There's violence, some pretty graphic, but both sisters also find purpose and love in the midst of their resistance against the Nazis and the Italian Fascisti while awaiting the Allied victory and the end of hostilities.
I enjoyed the novel. This was the first time I've read any of Daiko's work. Although I've read better set in this era, I will be looking for more historical fiction by this author.
Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
June 26, 2022
I picked up this book mainly because we had planned to spend some time in Portofino, a place that I always wanted to see.
This story is about 2 identical twin sisters from Portofino. During WWII, one leaves home to defend her country by fighting with the partisans, the other works for the Germans.
The story flips back and fort between current day (1970) and 1944-1945. In the current day, one twin returns home to Portofino for her father's funeral and her mother shares the other's diary written during the war. The relationship between the sisters is revealed, along with buried family secrets.
I loved reading this book while in Portofino, and experiencing so much about it as described by the author - the beautiful flowers everywhere, the aromas, the sea, the views, Castello Brown (which we visited), and much more.
Gut wrenchingly beautiful story about love, war, and family. I loved this story and found it hard to put down.
This story is about 2 identical twin sisters from Portofino. During WWII, one leaves home to defend her country by fighting with the partisans, the other works for the Germans.
The story flips back and fort between current day (1970) and 1944-1945. In the current day, one twin returns home to Portofino for her father's funeral and her mother shares the other's diary written during the war. The relationship between the sisters is revealed, along with buried family secrets.
I loved reading this book while in Portofino, and experiencing so much about it as described by the author - the beautiful flowers everywhere, the aromas, the sea, the views, Castello Brown (which we visited), and much more.
Gut wrenchingly beautiful story about love, war, and family. I loved this story and found it hard to put down.
January 1, 2022
The Girl from Portofino is set in the 1970's and follows a woman named Grace Bianchi, who returns with her twenty-four year old daughter Hope, to Portofino to attend her father's funeral. Once there she discover's her mother has found her twin sister Adele's diary hidden under the floorboards, and reading the pages sends her glimpses into a past they never knew existed. As Gina relives Adele's life, and adventures, through the pages she reads we are swept back in time to Italy in the 1940's, and the secret life Adele lived as a young resistance fighter in WWII as she reads of her sister's contribution to the resistance.
January 26, 2024
Good book
I enjoyed this book. I have read many novels about the French resistance but hadn’t really considered what was going on in Italy. Although it’s a fictional account it was a good read. I read for escapism and relaxation, so don’t expect much factual content. Escapism and relaxation was what I got from this novel. A good story.
I enjoyed this book. I have read many novels about the French resistance but hadn’t really considered what was going on in Italy. Although it’s a fictional account it was a good read. I read for escapism and relaxation, so don’t expect much factual content. Escapism and relaxation was what I got from this novel. A good story.
December 30, 2021
The is a story that goes back and forth with Gina between 1970 and the early 1940’s . What a well rounded story . This author has me like the historical writing of the past .to see what Gina went thru and where she is now with her own daughter Hope .
January 27, 2022
Loved the book and love Italy
Can't wait to go back to Italy and visit all the places mentioned in the book. A real history lesson. Loved the persistence and loyalty of the Italian people. It makes me so said of how they suffered during WWII.
Can't wait to go back to Italy and visit all the places mentioned in the book. A real history lesson. Loved the persistence and loyalty of the Italian people. It makes me so said of how they suffered during WWII.
December 12, 2021
What an amazing book you are hooked from the beginning of this WW2 and Italian resistance story. The main characters are great strong characters and it works well in the two timelines, I always love books set in Italy and this period of history and the different choices of the twins definitely adds an extra dimension to the book. Definitely recommended for fans this historical era
January 2, 2022
This is a very warming heart felt story. Everything about this book will draw you in especially the storyline. This is defiantly a must read and will be one of your top reads.
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