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Lost in Lombardy
Jayne Boland's life is a mess. A GRANDE mess. With a leap of faith, the twenty-four-year-old moves to Milan for love and fashion, but all she gets is heartbreak and an empty wallet. Just as Jayne is ready to call it quits, a lifeline appears - Countess Electra di Caneva, a glamorous but flaw-filled aristocrat, hires her as a summer chauffeur and nanny for her adorable son. The job? LOL chaos. The pay? Never enough. The upside? A shot at her dream career in the sizzling fashion capital - IF her keen eye for style can create a perfectly inspired mood board to prove her worth in Italy's cutthroat mecca of design.
Venice is the first stop and life with the countess is no dolce vita. As they road-trip through Northern Italy, Jayne pieces together inspiration from nature, flea markets, and hidden gems while navigating her bosses snarky moods and missteps that border on the absurd. Police run-ins, a new romance, and windswept castles swirl like gelato flavors as Jayne clings to her opportunity to succeed and prove her doubting sister wrong. Plus, repair her broken heart.
But handling new duties, a mood board in progress, and a countess in need of a reality check, Jayne's difficult Italian summer might just become a beautiful mess worth sticking around for - and a chance to rewrite her and Electra's story, one mile at a time.
Venice is the first stop and life with the countess is no dolce vita. As they road-trip through Northern Italy, Jayne pieces together inspiration from nature, flea markets, and hidden gems while navigating her bosses snarky moods and missteps that border on the absurd. Police run-ins, a new romance, and windswept castles swirl like gelato flavors as Jayne clings to her opportunity to succeed and prove her doubting sister wrong. Plus, repair her broken heart.
But handling new duties, a mood board in progress, and a countess in need of a reality check, Jayne's difficult Italian summer might just become a beautiful mess worth sticking around for - and a chance to rewrite her and Electra's story, one mile at a time.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2024
64 people are currently reading
1592 people want to read
About the author
Lorna Neligan
2 books28 followersIn today's content creating world, rules are meant to be broken. To me, writing books in different genres is like exploring a new city every time I sit down at my keyboard - thrilling, unpredictable, and endlessly creative. One day, I am crafting a heart-pounding thriller; the next, I'm spinning a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy or diving into the depths of historical intrigue.
After Colby College, my career swirled around my East Asian Studies background - ending in the fashion offices of Ralph Lauren in Paris. Being Irish as well as first-generation American, I've traveled a lot and the whispers of secrets and untold stories became a backdrop for my imagination. My writing delve into the darker edges of human ambition, as well as its unfairness, and my pages transport readers into a world where the past collides with the present - and no one is truly safe.
When I am not plotting my next twist or daydreaming of what-if's, you'll find me losing myself in data, research and chasing inspiration. Let's unravel a mystery or laugh at life's unexplained chaos together - follow me on instagram @lornaneligan or join my mailing list for new book updates and more!
Thanks for reading and please leave a review/rating as each one is invaluable for my future writing. xx
After Colby College, my career swirled around my East Asian Studies background - ending in the fashion offices of Ralph Lauren in Paris. Being Irish as well as first-generation American, I've traveled a lot and the whispers of secrets and untold stories became a backdrop for my imagination. My writing delve into the darker edges of human ambition, as well as its unfairness, and my pages transport readers into a world where the past collides with the present - and no one is truly safe.
When I am not plotting my next twist or daydreaming of what-if's, you'll find me losing myself in data, research and chasing inspiration. Let's unravel a mystery or laugh at life's unexplained chaos together - follow me on instagram @lornaneligan or join my mailing list for new book updates and more!
Thanks for reading and please leave a review/rating as each one is invaluable for my future writing. xx
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 28, 2025
A lovely, descriptive trip through Northern Italy through the eyes of Jayne, a young New York woman who uproots to Italy to be with her boyfriend only to have said boyfriend unceremoniously dump her upon her arrival. Stranded with no money or prospects but not wanting to return home a failure, Jayne ends up working as a chauffeur/nanny for a difficult, hard-nosed Venetian countess, Electra, while she tries to figure out her next steps. The three of them go on a trip through Italy and Yugoslavia, driven by the whims of Electra.
Full of beautiful descriptions of nature and the history of less-known Italian villages, Jayne has a number of madcap misadventures all while learning about herself and rediscovering the bonds with her family. Jayne is very relatable!
This is a lovely engaging novel of self-discovery and learning to appreciate the simple things in life that simultaneously transported me to beautiful Italy. Highly recommend!
Thanks to the author (@lornaneligan) for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Full of beautiful descriptions of nature and the history of less-known Italian villages, Jayne has a number of madcap misadventures all while learning about herself and rediscovering the bonds with her family. Jayne is very relatable!
This is a lovely engaging novel of self-discovery and learning to appreciate the simple things in life that simultaneously transported me to beautiful Italy. Highly recommend!
Thanks to the author (@lornaneligan) for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
June 9, 2024
I really enjoyed this book and at the same time, while it wasn't my story, it made me nostalgic but also a bit stressed as I relived some of my own past experiences.
While I can't speak for the accuracy of the portrayal of northern Italy and a bit of Yugoslavia in the early '90's, it certainly felt realistic and transported me along for the journey.
And one thing I can speak for in terms of accuracy in Lost in Lombardy is how well it captures what it's like to be young with lots of choices in your life, and maybe making choices that can get you to stay in Europe. I have been there and this felt very real to me.
Incidentally, like our protagonist Jayne, my first, promising time in Europe was also tied to a complicated, difficult woman - although mine was, thankfully, far less powerful and mean than Electra, the countess for whom Jayne becomes a nanny. But so much of it - the mood swings, the emotions, the meanness followed by kindness, with that foundation of knowing that this is a good but damaged person - was captured so well for me here.
I will say that I wish this book had just stayed a memoir instead of a story based on one. I'm not sure if the choice was made because someone thought it would be easier to bill this book as a fictional romantic comedy, rather than a real-life memoir, but it's a shame, because there are so many memoir qualities to the book that sort of read like glitches in fiction. For instance, Jayne's voice often veers into expressions that weren't used in the early '90's, or on the other hand, a voice that sounds like a much older, more experienced woman.
And as in many memoirs, certain aspects of an experience are, with time, less important in telling the story. For instance, while Alessandro, the baby Jayne is charged with watching, is so important to her, I often felt like I had no idea what he was doing in some scenes. He's often barely mentioned, or at times it seems like he can walk yet we're not told he can yet.... Just things like that. Not to mention how someone who apparently had never traveled abroad, and certainly not to Italy, and who was dealing with a major language barrier, was able to relatively effortlessly do things like navigate taking a train on one of her first days in the country. This isn't a totally unbelievable scenario but how Jayne figured it out seemed worth mentioning.
All that to say, I read this book not so much as a romcom but rather as a fascinating, breezy memoir of travel in Europe in a relatively recent yet bygone time (no cell phones, so much less globalization, no euros - all things I also experienced on my first European trips), focused on lesser known parts of Italy and Yugoslavia, with a bit of a "'Devil Wears Prada' " vibe (difficult but not fully evil boss, fashion industry) mixed in.
While I can't speak for the accuracy of the portrayal of northern Italy and a bit of Yugoslavia in the early '90's, it certainly felt realistic and transported me along for the journey.
And one thing I can speak for in terms of accuracy in Lost in Lombardy is how well it captures what it's like to be young with lots of choices in your life, and maybe making choices that can get you to stay in Europe. I have been there and this felt very real to me.
Incidentally, like our protagonist Jayne, my first, promising time in Europe was also tied to a complicated, difficult woman - although mine was, thankfully, far less powerful and mean than Electra, the countess for whom Jayne becomes a nanny. But so much of it - the mood swings, the emotions, the meanness followed by kindness, with that foundation of knowing that this is a good but damaged person - was captured so well for me here.
I will say that I wish this book had just stayed a memoir instead of a story based on one. I'm not sure if the choice was made because someone thought it would be easier to bill this book as a fictional romantic comedy, rather than a real-life memoir, but it's a shame, because there are so many memoir qualities to the book that sort of read like glitches in fiction. For instance, Jayne's voice often veers into expressions that weren't used in the early '90's, or on the other hand, a voice that sounds like a much older, more experienced woman.
And as in many memoirs, certain aspects of an experience are, with time, less important in telling the story. For instance, while Alessandro, the baby Jayne is charged with watching, is so important to her, I often felt like I had no idea what he was doing in some scenes. He's often barely mentioned, or at times it seems like he can walk yet we're not told he can yet.... Just things like that. Not to mention how someone who apparently had never traveled abroad, and certainly not to Italy, and who was dealing with a major language barrier, was able to relatively effortlessly do things like navigate taking a train on one of her first days in the country. This isn't a totally unbelievable scenario but how Jayne figured it out seemed worth mentioning.
All that to say, I read this book not so much as a romcom but rather as a fascinating, breezy memoir of travel in Europe in a relatively recent yet bygone time (no cell phones, so much less globalization, no euros - all things I also experienced on my first European trips), focused on lesser known parts of Italy and Yugoslavia, with a bit of a "'Devil Wears Prada' " vibe (difficult but not fully evil boss, fashion industry) mixed in.
October 20, 2024
This is a wonderful read. It's such a charming story, with a cast of kooky characters and the most luscious writing about Italy. There's love, heartbreak, a rogue aristocrat, family tension, a gorgeous baby and one New Yorker, who faces adversity with humour and style.
If you love Italy, and a delicious romp of a tale, based on a true story, you will love this book.
If you love Italy, and a delicious romp of a tale, based on a true story, you will love this book.
October 24, 2024
Nanny for a contessa
I admire Jayne and her ability to work to get herself out of situations. Determined young lady. But I'm not quite sure I would have tolerated Electra as long as she did. Very ungrateful woman. Never happy. At least Jayne can add Italy to her memories.
I admire Jayne and her ability to work to get herself out of situations. Determined young lady. But I'm not quite sure I would have tolerated Electra as long as she did. Very ungrateful woman. Never happy. At least Jayne can add Italy to her memories.
May 11, 2024
Lost in Lombardy does not only have the backdrop of gorgeous Italy, but also elements of fashion and single motherhood that make it an interesting story. Jayne arrives in Italy with everything she owns to start a life with her boyfriend, Matteo, who begged her to come. But her dreams fall apart when he ends the relationship and she finds herself stuck with no money. But the plucky New Yorker doesn’t want to go home looking like a loser, so she goes to Milan and tries to find work. One thing leads to another and she becomes the chauffeur for a single mother countess who hates Americans and everyone else in the world. Satire abounds as the miles increase and Janey tries to stay sane at their various destinations. And her not-so-subtle obsession with Luca Rosso, her fashion icon, adds to the drama. A fun story to read. Look forward to Lorna Neligan’s next book.
June 29, 2024
I won this in a goodreads giveaway and it was a nice surprise as I was actually travelling in the same areas as Elektra and Jayne. I would recommend this book for anybody travelling the northern region of Italy as it does include a lot of history but not out of a fussy old textbook ,but in the view of Elektra an aristocrat who runs by the beat of her own drum ,loves her son and will take down an Airbnb if there is a problem such as pincones. Jayne her nanny, is still figuring out her new existence in Italy,and the situations her and Elektra get into add a nice sense of humor to the book.
April 26, 2025
This was a delightful book—a fun, adventurous romp through Italy.
New Yorker Jayne Boland quits her job in the fashion industry and travels to Italy, believing she is about to start her life with her almost-fiancé, Matteo. But Matteo has different plans, and they don’t include her.
Jayne decides that, since she is already in Italy, she will move to Milan and attempt to reconnect with an old friend in the fashion world, hoping to secure a job. But instead, Jayne, needing money now, lands a job as a nanny for Electra, a demanding and self-centered Countess, adorable son.
Jayne was a lovable and endearing character. She was a ray of sunshine even when things kept going wrong! Her predicaments, though challenging, were often laced with humor, and I found myself laughing several times at her witty comments about them.
Full of the sights of Italy, this is a story of how a loss at love, an unlikely adventure, and a trying friendship became the catalyst for one woman's self-discovery. Highly recommend this one for its inspiring journey of finding what truly matters in life!
“𝐼 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑓𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓. 𝐼 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓.”
Thank you @lornaneligan for this gifted book.
New Yorker Jayne Boland quits her job in the fashion industry and travels to Italy, believing she is about to start her life with her almost-fiancé, Matteo. But Matteo has different plans, and they don’t include her.
Jayne decides that, since she is already in Italy, she will move to Milan and attempt to reconnect with an old friend in the fashion world, hoping to secure a job. But instead, Jayne, needing money now, lands a job as a nanny for Electra, a demanding and self-centered Countess, adorable son.
Jayne was a lovable and endearing character. She was a ray of sunshine even when things kept going wrong! Her predicaments, though challenging, were often laced with humor, and I found myself laughing several times at her witty comments about them.
Full of the sights of Italy, this is a story of how a loss at love, an unlikely adventure, and a trying friendship became the catalyst for one woman's self-discovery. Highly recommend this one for its inspiring journey of finding what truly matters in life!
“𝐼 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑓𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓. 𝐼 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓.”
Thank you @lornaneligan for this gifted book.
May 16, 2024
This book caught my eye because of the great cover and it did not disappoint. A fun, breezy read that takes you to Italy and into the mind of a 24-year old on a journey to discover herself after being dumped and abandoned by her dreamy Italian boyfriend in Como. She lands a job with a crazy Italian Countess and her baby son who both test her sanity with hilarious and trying situations. There's also an unexpected romance with a Serbian bartender which adds some spice. A great summer read! Even better knowing it was inspired by a true story. Well-written and reminds me a lot of Bridget Jones and Eat Pray Love.
June 17, 2024
I really found it hard to understand how or why Jayne put up with Countess Electra's (and I really want to be crude and leave out the "o" in Countess!) unwarranted and preposterous behavior throughout so much of this book.
I also kept Gino to drop the bomb and not want to hire her after all...I was actually kind of hoping for that to read what Jayne would do next to cope with her sorry situation--but that didn't happen.
I also kept Gino to drop the bomb and not want to hire her after all...I was actually kind of hoping for that to read what Jayne would do next to cope with her sorry situation--but that didn't happen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2024
This debut novel had me hooked from the first page and then I couldn’t put it down. The fantastically detailed writing immerses you in the story so you feel like you’re right there in Italy with the protagonist. This captivating adventure with twists and turns, amazing scenery, and great characters is a must read.
May 29, 2024
This is a cute read about a young woman from NYC who leaves her career to follow her Italian boyfriend, learns a few life lessons the hard way, and ends up the nanny of a princess. The characters develop well throughout the novel and our FMC finds her path in the end.
November 30, 2025
This book was such a lovely surprise.
I loved that it’s set in Como and Milan, two places I visited this summer and fell in love with, and the story itself just made me feel good. It’s messy, fun, and a beautiful mix of second chances and self-discovery.
I loved that it’s set in Como and Milan, two places I visited this summer and fell in love with, and the story itself just made me feel good. It’s messy, fun, and a beautiful mix of second chances and self-discovery.
June 9, 2024
fun read
I really enjoyed this one. So much was expected and yet not … great geography and historical information and a good read.
I really enjoyed this one. So much was expected and yet not … great geography and historical information and a good read.
September 4, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
**Goodreads giveaway review**
**Goodreads giveaway review**
November 8, 2024
LOVED IT
This was a very good book. I truly enjoyed her journey. I will be visiting Italy for a second time next year and am so excited.
This was a very good book. I truly enjoyed her journey. I will be visiting Italy for a second time next year and am so excited.
December 23, 2024
Interesting it took you somewhere in beautiful Italy!
So happy to have read this!
So happy to have read this!
January 3, 2025
I enjoyed this book it kept me on the edge wondering what was going to happen next. I couldn't put it down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2025
What wonderful book! Full of unexpected turns, twists and fun. Can't wait to see what Lorna writes next!
March 12, 2025
This book is truly moving! It's a fun read, and at the same time one learns about the culture and beauty of the Lombardy region. I highly recommend it, especially if you enjoy traveling.
September 20, 2024
What a fun Summer read!
Not normally my genre but a friend mentioned Lost in Lombardy after I complained about a tough time I was having completing a very serious WWII account.
This fun, breezy read kept me coming back for more. No spoilers- but as the title alludes, your trip to Italy will be one of discovery, and not just about the food, the language and the terrain (although they were most enjoyable)!
Get away from the negative news and take a well deserved trip to Italy. Such a welcome vacation the negative shyte on the “boxes” we sit in front of or carry with us!
Not normally my genre but a friend mentioned Lost in Lombardy after I complained about a tough time I was having completing a very serious WWII account.
This fun, breezy read kept me coming back for more. No spoilers- but as the title alludes, your trip to Italy will be one of discovery, and not just about the food, the language and the terrain (although they were most enjoyable)!
Get away from the negative news and take a well deserved trip to Italy. Such a welcome vacation the negative shyte on the “boxes” we sit in front of or carry with us!
October 14, 2024
I have a bittersweet taste with this book. I love the characters but the story went down the hill for me. Would love to know more about Electra, Gino and Jayne herself. I really appreciate the notes at the end of every-chapter but wheeeere's the last page?
Good, cozy, easy to read.
Good, cozy, easy to read.
June 7, 2024
Great read! A well-written story that kept my attention from beginning to end. Can’t wait for the next book from this author!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews