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The View From Lake Como
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER
Selected for CBS News New York's Book Club with Mary Calvi
As seen on Good Morning America, The View, Good Day New York and featured on Katie Couric Media and Read with Jenna Open Book podcast
PEOPLE: BEST NEW BOOKS
An Elle Best Book of Summer 2025
USA Today Most Anticipated Read of Summer 2025
Publishers Weekly Most Anticipated Book of Summer 2025
From the beloved New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani, a “dazzling” storyteller (Washington Post), and a “comedy writer with a heart of gold” (NYT), comes a novel about one woman’s quest to build her own life before it’s too late.
Jess Capodimonte Baratta is not living the life of her dreams. Not even close.
In blue-collar Lake Como, New Jersey, family comes first. Recently divorced from Bobby Bilancia, “the perfect husband," Jess moves into her parents’ basement to hide and heal. Jess is the overlooked daughter, who dutifully takes care of her parents, cooks Sunday dinner, and puts herself last. Despite her role as the family handmaiden, Jess is also a talented draftswoman in the marble business run by her dapper uncle Louie, who believes she can do anything (once she invests in a better wardrobe).
When the Capodimonte and Baratta families endure an unexpected loss, the shock unearths long-buried secrets that will force Jess to question her loyalty to those she trusted. Fueled by her lost dreams, Jess takes fate into her own hands and escapes to her ancestral home, Carrara, Italy.
From the shadows of the majestic marble-capped mountains of Tuscany, to the glittering streets of Milan, and on the shores of enchanting Lake Como (the other one), Jess begins to carve a place in this new/old world. When she meets Angelo Strazza, a passionate artist who works in gold, she discovers her own skills are priceless. But as Jess uncovers the truth about her family history, it will change the course of her life and those she loves the most forever. In love and work, in art and soul, Jess will need every tool she has mastered to reinvent her life.
Fed by the author’s cherished Italian roots comes a bighearted, hilarious novel of the the story of one woman’s determination to live a creative life that matters, with enough room left over for love. With a one-way ticket to Italy, Jess is determined to write a new story on her own terms--this time, in stone.
INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER
Selected for CBS News New York's Book Club with Mary Calvi
As seen on Good Morning America, The View, Good Day New York and featured on Katie Couric Media and Read with Jenna Open Book podcast
PEOPLE: BEST NEW BOOKS
An Elle Best Book of Summer 2025
USA Today Most Anticipated Read of Summer 2025
Publishers Weekly Most Anticipated Book of Summer 2025
From the beloved New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani, a “dazzling” storyteller (Washington Post), and a “comedy writer with a heart of gold” (NYT), comes a novel about one woman’s quest to build her own life before it’s too late.
Jess Capodimonte Baratta is not living the life of her dreams. Not even close.
In blue-collar Lake Como, New Jersey, family comes first. Recently divorced from Bobby Bilancia, “the perfect husband," Jess moves into her parents’ basement to hide and heal. Jess is the overlooked daughter, who dutifully takes care of her parents, cooks Sunday dinner, and puts herself last. Despite her role as the family handmaiden, Jess is also a talented draftswoman in the marble business run by her dapper uncle Louie, who believes she can do anything (once she invests in a better wardrobe).
When the Capodimonte and Baratta families endure an unexpected loss, the shock unearths long-buried secrets that will force Jess to question her loyalty to those she trusted. Fueled by her lost dreams, Jess takes fate into her own hands and escapes to her ancestral home, Carrara, Italy.
From the shadows of the majestic marble-capped mountains of Tuscany, to the glittering streets of Milan, and on the shores of enchanting Lake Como (the other one), Jess begins to carve a place in this new/old world. When she meets Angelo Strazza, a passionate artist who works in gold, she discovers her own skills are priceless. But as Jess uncovers the truth about her family history, it will change the course of her life and those she loves the most forever. In love and work, in art and soul, Jess will need every tool she has mastered to reinvent her life.
Fed by the author’s cherished Italian roots comes a bighearted, hilarious novel of the the story of one woman’s determination to live a creative life that matters, with enough room left over for love. With a one-way ticket to Italy, Jess is determined to write a new story on her own terms--this time, in stone.
415 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 8, 2025
5314 people are currently reading
40375 people want to read
About the author
Adriana Trigiani
67 books6,893 followersJoin Adriana Trigiani and the great authors and luminaries of our time on the YOU ARE WHAT YOU READ PODCAST! Available wherever you listen to podcasts: https://linktr.ee/adrianatrigiani
Beloved by millions of readers around the world for her "dazzling" novels (USA Today), Adriana Trigiani is "a master of palpable and visual detail" (Washington Post) and "a comedy writer with a heart of gold" (New York Times). She is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty books of fiction and nonfiction, including her latest, The Good Left Undone- an instant New York Times best seller, Book of the Month pick and People's Book of the Week. Her work is published in 38 languages around the world. An award-winning playwright, television writer/producer and filmmaker, Adriana's screen credits include writer/director of the major motion picture of her debut novel, Big Stone Gap, the adaptation of her novel Very Valentine and director of Then Came You. Adriana grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia where she co-founded The Origin Project, an in-school writing program serving over 2,700 students in Appalachia. She is at work on her next novel for Dutton at Penguin Random House.
Follow Adriana on Facebook and Instagram @AdrianaTrigiani and on TikTok @AdrianaTrigianiAuthor or visit her website: AdrianaTrigiani.com.
Beloved by millions of readers around the world for her "dazzling" novels (USA Today), Adriana Trigiani is "a master of palpable and visual detail" (Washington Post) and "a comedy writer with a heart of gold" (New York Times). She is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty books of fiction and nonfiction, including her latest, The Good Left Undone- an instant New York Times best seller, Book of the Month pick and People's Book of the Week. Her work is published in 38 languages around the world. An award-winning playwright, television writer/producer and filmmaker, Adriana's screen credits include writer/director of the major motion picture of her debut novel, Big Stone Gap, the adaptation of her novel Very Valentine and director of Then Came You. Adriana grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia where she co-founded The Origin Project, an in-school writing program serving over 2,700 students in Appalachia. She is at work on her next novel for Dutton at Penguin Random House.
Follow Adriana on Facebook and Instagram @AdrianaTrigiani and on TikTok @AdrianaTrigianiAuthor or visit her website: AdrianaTrigiani.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,450 reviews
July 4, 2025
Overall, the story wasn’t compelling and the plotting felt clunky with all the before storyline moments. I wanted so much more in the present timeline because I was rooting for Jess! The romance did not feel believable at all. It’s a slow story that had that missing element that makes a story engaging and unputdownable.
July 21, 2025
Oh man, the most boring book with an Italian setting I could imagine. I see what she was trying to do here; family secrets (but they weren’t intriguing enough for me to care), a woman finding herself in her thirties (but I was so aggravated that she didn’t do anything to fulfill her wants sooner), flashbacks in journal form through therapy prompting (but every time she wrote she literally said “this reminds me of a time…so I pulled out my notes app”). I hung in there because I’m going to Italy but it was 99% about the wet blanket drama of an Italian American family. I hated her husband and how he was full named every time. Her parents were pathetic. The writing was so much more telling than showing, even conversations between her and the people in Italy were so overwrought and obvious to move the nonexistent plot along. I hope the author doesn’t read this, I just needed to vent 🤣
February 20, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the parts of this book that were set in Italy, as the protagonist, Jess, is at her best there. But, when she is in New Jersey and interacting with her family there are so many unbelievable scenes, especially involving her parents. Her journal entries provide a window into past events and highlight how she is exploring her life through therapy. I just didn’t quite get Jess and her actions. The reader is left in the dark about the reasons for the breakup of her marriage for too long, in my opinion. While I understand how this adds suspense, it mostly left me confused. I’ve read and loved all of Adriana Trigiani’s books, and while this was an interesting story, it didn’t engage me quite as much as others have. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review.
August 2, 2025
This review is going to pick this book apart. Maybe someone else enjoyed this book without reading it with a critical eye. But once my brain noted these issues, I couldn’t stop seeing issues all around.
About 15% into the book I started making a note on my phone about things that were bugging me. That should’ve been the first clue.
And now, dear reader, I shall share them with you.
Firstly, the name. The character is Giuseppina, the Italian version of Josephine, but is she called Jo? No, that would make too much sense. She’s called Jess.
Secondly, instead of a normal person and separating sections within a chapter with a double space and justified first paragraph, or at least having some consistency, she alternates between using small double lines OR an all caps mini-title. It bothered me to no end — just be consistent!
Where is the editor???
Thirdly, related to the above, I don’t like the way she does flashbacks. Instead of Jess reflecting on her past when something reminds her, and therefore reading her mental reflection, she journals them. She’s in therapy, through an online faux BetterHelp called Thera-Me, and instead of her working through her issues in heart-wrenching discussions with her therapists (instead she yaps on about how they’re not Italian so they don’t get her), she journals her memories. Which, fair, very real thing people do, except she does it in her notes app of her phone, which is not very Victorian of her, and the memory we read is what we’re supposed to believe she’s writing down. It’s SEVERAL PAGES worth of memories. Furthermore, she receives this therapy online even while in Italy. Big issue, as she’s seeing American therapists and their clients must be in the country and state they are licensed in to receive therapy. C’mon editor!!
And one of the instances she journals these essays is when she’s at the bedside of her dying uncle. You’re telling me she’s sitting next to her uncle whom she loves more than her parents and is twittering away one her phone to the point that she doesn’t even notice him wake up and his first comment is her being on her phone? Like she’s either super tone deaf or really emotionally immature. It’s just such an odd plot device when she could just be reflecting in her mind.
Speaking of, she leaves her husband for the very big reason of *checks notes* she’s bored and wants more out of life? The boy she was obsessed about for her whole life she divorces because she’s not even trying to ask him if he’ll do things with her to help with her boredom? Even though literally he’s done nothing wrong? Another tick in emotional immaturity.
Jess also suffers from panic attacks, and as someone who also suffers from panic attacks, I feel as if the author has never had one by the way she writes it. It feels like she took all her experience of panic attacks from childhood cartoons, because Jess feels better by breathing into a paper bag. Yes. You read that right. And even though we’re in Jess’ perspective, there’s very little physiological description of how she feels during a panic attack, which makes the reader feel separated from the incident.
Related to her panic attacks, she suffers from anxiety. The author also wrote in a way that felt like she didn’t research medical conditions. Apparently in this world, Jess’ pediatrician told her parents not to tell her that she was a premature baby, and she’s in her mid-thirties. Why not? Because they thought her time in an incubator led to her anxiety and that the knowledge of that would perpetuate her anxiety. While it’s not uncommon for individuals who were premature to have anxiety, the idea that it was being in the incubator alone that did it undermines the issue, and keeping a piece of Jess’ medical history from her feels simultaneously irresponsible and improbable.
Medical accuracies is not this author’s strong suit. Jess’ Uncle Louie has a heart attack, and while he’s in the hospital with Jess journaling away, he ends up dying after having a code blue. But his cause of death makes no sense to me as a nurse. He had a heart attack, which is related to a blockage in the vessels and leads to a lack of oxygen in the heart. But when Louie ultimately collapses and dies after initially recovering from the heart attack, some staff run in, one nurse with defibrillation paddles (which are not commonly used any more). Then she STRADDLES Uncle Louie to shock him, which would mean she’s touching him and would shock herself too. All that is done is one shock of Uncle Louie, which fails. The nurse gets off the bed, literally says, “We tried” and leaves. No medication, no intubation, no compressions, just a single shock from old paddles. That’s just not how it goes. The scene is like two paragraphs on one page long. If you blinked you’d miss it. Further, Jess later says his cause of death was heart failure, but if they had to shock him, that would be due to an improper heart rhythm or cardiac arrest, which is related to the electrical activity of the heart, not the vessels which is more heart attack/failure.
I ask again, where is the editor???
Not only did Uncle Louie die in front of Jess, so does one of her grandmas AND she finds her other grandma dead. Why is she there when so many people die?? It’s incredibly repetitive and lacks creativity. There’s even a sentence after her Aunt Lil dies when Jess mentions that she wasn’t there when she died. Just…why is this in the plot?
And on Aunt Lil dying, my last grievance that really bugged me was the eulogy. Jess doesn’t give one for Uncle Louie but as part of her ~growing~ she decides to give one for Aunt Lil. The eulogy is like five pages long, and instead of being written as dialogue, it’s placed in a little box, but still written as if Jess is talking. It’s just a weird structure and way too long. And midway through, it pauses to let Jess take a breath and it’s written in third-person, instead of first like rest of the book — hello, editor?!?
And I know these are small issues, but it genuinely felt like the author was like “screw realism, I’m gonna write this how I want.”
Stop! I almost forgot the best example of this. Here’s a direct quote.
“Uncle Louie used to say a relationship is like a crab on the beach; it will either go forward or backward but never sideways.”
!!!!Crabs EXCLUSIVELY walk sideways!!!!
I nearly DNF’d it, but mostly skimmed the last 25%. I felt as if I deserved something for reading it. And adding it to my challenge was it.
About 15% into the book I started making a note on my phone about things that were bugging me. That should’ve been the first clue.
And now, dear reader, I shall share them with you.
Firstly, the name. The character is Giuseppina, the Italian version of Josephine, but is she called Jo? No, that would make too much sense. She’s called Jess.
Secondly, instead of a normal person and separating sections within a chapter with a double space and justified first paragraph, or at least having some consistency, she alternates between using small double lines OR an all caps mini-title. It bothered me to no end — just be consistent!
Where is the editor???
Thirdly, related to the above, I don’t like the way she does flashbacks. Instead of Jess reflecting on her past when something reminds her, and therefore reading her mental reflection, she journals them. She’s in therapy, through an online faux BetterHelp called Thera-Me, and instead of her working through her issues in heart-wrenching discussions with her therapists (instead she yaps on about how they’re not Italian so they don’t get her), she journals her memories. Which, fair, very real thing people do, except she does it in her notes app of her phone, which is not very Victorian of her, and the memory we read is what we’re supposed to believe she’s writing down. It’s SEVERAL PAGES worth of memories. Furthermore, she receives this therapy online even while in Italy. Big issue, as she’s seeing American therapists and their clients must be in the country and state they are licensed in to receive therapy. C’mon editor!!
And one of the instances she journals these essays is when she’s at the bedside of her dying uncle. You’re telling me she’s sitting next to her uncle whom she loves more than her parents and is twittering away one her phone to the point that she doesn’t even notice him wake up and his first comment is her being on her phone? Like she’s either super tone deaf or really emotionally immature. It’s just such an odd plot device when she could just be reflecting in her mind.
Speaking of, she leaves her husband for the very big reason of *checks notes* she’s bored and wants more out of life? The boy she was obsessed about for her whole life she divorces because she’s not even trying to ask him if he’ll do things with her to help with her boredom? Even though literally he’s done nothing wrong? Another tick in emotional immaturity.
Jess also suffers from panic attacks, and as someone who also suffers from panic attacks, I feel as if the author has never had one by the way she writes it. It feels like she took all her experience of panic attacks from childhood cartoons, because Jess feels better by breathing into a paper bag. Yes. You read that right. And even though we’re in Jess’ perspective, there’s very little physiological description of how she feels during a panic attack, which makes the reader feel separated from the incident.
Related to her panic attacks, she suffers from anxiety. The author also wrote in a way that felt like she didn’t research medical conditions. Apparently in this world, Jess’ pediatrician told her parents not to tell her that she was a premature baby, and she’s in her mid-thirties. Why not? Because they thought her time in an incubator led to her anxiety and that the knowledge of that would perpetuate her anxiety. While it’s not uncommon for individuals who were premature to have anxiety, the idea that it was being in the incubator alone that did it undermines the issue, and keeping a piece of Jess’ medical history from her feels simultaneously irresponsible and improbable.
Medical accuracies is not this author’s strong suit. Jess’ Uncle Louie has a heart attack, and while he’s in the hospital with Jess journaling away, he ends up dying after having a code blue. But his cause of death makes no sense to me as a nurse. He had a heart attack, which is related to a blockage in the vessels and leads to a lack of oxygen in the heart. But when Louie ultimately collapses and dies after initially recovering from the heart attack, some staff run in, one nurse with defibrillation paddles (which are not commonly used any more). Then she STRADDLES Uncle Louie to shock him, which would mean she’s touching him and would shock herself too. All that is done is one shock of Uncle Louie, which fails. The nurse gets off the bed, literally says, “We tried” and leaves. No medication, no intubation, no compressions, just a single shock from old paddles. That’s just not how it goes. The scene is like two paragraphs on one page long. If you blinked you’d miss it. Further, Jess later says his cause of death was heart failure, but if they had to shock him, that would be due to an improper heart rhythm or cardiac arrest, which is related to the electrical activity of the heart, not the vessels which is more heart attack/failure.
I ask again, where is the editor???
Not only did Uncle Louie die in front of Jess, so does one of her grandmas AND she finds her other grandma dead. Why is she there when so many people die?? It’s incredibly repetitive and lacks creativity. There’s even a sentence after her Aunt Lil dies when Jess mentions that she wasn’t there when she died. Just…why is this in the plot?
And on Aunt Lil dying, my last grievance that really bugged me was the eulogy. Jess doesn’t give one for Uncle Louie but as part of her ~growing~ she decides to give one for Aunt Lil. The eulogy is like five pages long, and instead of being written as dialogue, it’s placed in a little box, but still written as if Jess is talking. It’s just a weird structure and way too long. And midway through, it pauses to let Jess take a breath and it’s written in third-person, instead of first like rest of the book — hello, editor?!?
And I know these are small issues, but it genuinely felt like the author was like “screw realism, I’m gonna write this how I want.”
Stop! I almost forgot the best example of this. Here’s a direct quote.
“Uncle Louie used to say a relationship is like a crab on the beach; it will either go forward or backward but never sideways.”
!!!!Crabs EXCLUSIVELY walk sideways!!!!
I nearly DNF’d it, but mostly skimmed the last 25%. I felt as if I deserved something for reading it. And adding it to my challenge was it.
August 14, 2025
One of the best books I’ve read in years. The characters and setting so real The voice so perfect. Brilliant!
August 25, 2025
This one had a pretty enticing cover and title and from reading the blurb only it sounded like it might be a little reminiscent of one of my fave chick-lit selections Under the Tuscan Sun . . .
First, I thought this was maybe a debut due to the pretty terrible writing, but after a quick Google, it appears this author has a whole bunch of previous releases. Second, am I allowed to be offended on behalf of others? Isn’t there more to being Italian American than being some sort of criminal or only worrying about the “Sunday Gravy”???? Apparently not, as far as this story goes. And let’s not even get into the mental health aspect where panic attacks and hyperventilation are interchangeable where both are curable by breathing into a paper bag. This was not for me.
First, I thought this was maybe a debut due to the pretty terrible writing, but after a quick Google, it appears this author has a whole bunch of previous releases. Second, am I allowed to be offended on behalf of others? Isn’t there more to being Italian American than being some sort of criminal or only worrying about the “Sunday Gravy”???? Apparently not, as far as this story goes. And let’s not even get into the mental health aspect where panic attacks and hyperventilation are interchangeable where both are curable by breathing into a paper bag. This was not for me.
July 6, 2025
The View From Lake Como features a boisterous, large Italian-American family who live in Lake Como, New Jersey. The main female character is Jess (Giuseppina), who we meet as a young divorcee living in her parents’ basement and trying to figure out what to do with the rest of her life. She loves the job she has with her uncle Louie, working with the family business, Capodimonte Marble. Her ex is still in her life because they both grew up in the same small town. When a tragedy happens and some secrets about the family business come to light, Jess eagerly leaves for her dream trip to Italy, specifically to the town of Carrara where the world-famous marble is quarried. Contrary to the title of the book, only a small portion of the story takes place in the “other” Lake Como, the one in Italy. Most of the action there centers around Carrara.
I really enjoyed watching Jess step into her own, doing things she wanted to do, not what her overbearing family and her ex wanted her to do. They all took her for granted, and she took on the role of “maiden aunt”, cooking and planning for the weekly Sunday family dinners and more. In Italy, she finally had the room to figure out what it was SHE wanted. We get a lot of her backstory from journal entries she writes as part of an online therapy program.
I disliked her parents and their questionable decisions (in the past) about what to do for their three children (an older brother and an older sister, along with Jess). I really felt for Jess when her dream of going to Rutgers University and living in a dorm was pulled out from under her at the last minute.
Speaking of that, here’s one thing that made no sense to me, as a New Jerseyan. Jess wound up commuting to Montclair State University, which is way further from Lake Como than Rutgers is. Why couldn’t she get her education at Rutgers and commute there instead of schlepping all the way to Montclair? It’s not explained and if you didn’t know NJ geography, you’d never question it.
I was lucky enough to get a hardcover sent to me as well as an e-galley and I bounced between the print version and the audio from PRH Audio. Mira Sorvino did a great job with all the accents on the audio. Her New Jersey accents are perfection. (I should know, I have one myself, I’ve been told!)
Thank you to Dutton, Megan Beattie PR and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to PRH Audio for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. I buddy read this one with my husband, who grabbed the hardcover, while I read the e-galley and listened to the audio. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed watching Jess step into her own, doing things she wanted to do, not what her overbearing family and her ex wanted her to do. They all took her for granted, and she took on the role of “maiden aunt”, cooking and planning for the weekly Sunday family dinners and more. In Italy, she finally had the room to figure out what it was SHE wanted. We get a lot of her backstory from journal entries she writes as part of an online therapy program.
I disliked her parents and their questionable decisions (in the past) about what to do for their three children (an older brother and an older sister, along with Jess). I really felt for Jess when her dream of going to Rutgers University and living in a dorm was pulled out from under her at the last minute.
Speaking of that, here’s one thing that made no sense to me, as a New Jerseyan. Jess wound up commuting to Montclair State University, which is way further from Lake Como than Rutgers is. Why couldn’t she get her education at Rutgers and commute there instead of schlepping all the way to Montclair? It’s not explained and if you didn’t know NJ geography, you’d never question it.
I was lucky enough to get a hardcover sent to me as well as an e-galley and I bounced between the print version and the audio from PRH Audio. Mira Sorvino did a great job with all the accents on the audio. Her New Jersey accents are perfection. (I should know, I have one myself, I’ve been told!)
Thank you to Dutton, Megan Beattie PR and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to PRH Audio for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. I buddy read this one with my husband, who grabbed the hardcover, while I read the e-galley and listened to the audio. All opinions are my own.
July 29, 2025
3.75 stars
The ultimate in Italian family sagas. Full of drama, amore, and pasta. Adriana Trigiana is a masterful storyteller. I was rooting for Jess all the way through this novel. It has an alternating timeline so that we completely understand the family history and her choices present day. I enjoyed this story of a woman finding out who she is in the land of her ancestors. Add this to your beach bag. The narration by Mira Sorvino is perfection! She has all of the accents on point!
The ultimate in Italian family sagas. Full of drama, amore, and pasta. Adriana Trigiana is a masterful storyteller. I was rooting for Jess all the way through this novel. It has an alternating timeline so that we completely understand the family history and her choices present day. I enjoyed this story of a woman finding out who she is in the land of her ancestors. Add this to your beach bag. The narration by Mira Sorvino is perfection! She has all of the accents on point!
July 14, 2025
Jess is a recently divorced woman. She is currently
living in her parent’s basement AKA “the cellar”. She comes from a from a long lineage of Italian ancestry. This book was quite reminiscent of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, with all the loud, pasta-eating relatives. I adored them all.
After the sudden death of her beloved Uncle Louie, Jess feels the need to carve out a piece of her true identity. Off she flies to Italy to discover herself. Along the way, she makes many revelations about what she does and doesn’t want in her life. Travel can do that to a person….
This was my first AT book and had zero expectations. I did love some of her writing and other parts had me doing the eye roll. For example: under no circumstances should you give someone a brown paper bag if they are having a panic attack. 😜
It was a pleasant book. Not swoon worthy but perhaps a nice beach read if you are looking for something not so serious.
3 stars ⭐️
living in her parent’s basement AKA “the cellar”. She comes from a from a long lineage of Italian ancestry. This book was quite reminiscent of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, with all the loud, pasta-eating relatives. I adored them all.
After the sudden death of her beloved Uncle Louie, Jess feels the need to carve out a piece of her true identity. Off she flies to Italy to discover herself. Along the way, she makes many revelations about what she does and doesn’t want in her life. Travel can do that to a person….
This was my first AT book and had zero expectations. I did love some of her writing and other parts had me doing the eye roll. For example: under no circumstances should you give someone a brown paper bag if they are having a panic attack. 😜
It was a pleasant book. Not swoon worthy but perhaps a nice beach read if you are looking for something not so serious.
3 stars ⭐️
December 24, 2025
Family, loyalty, and what is important about being yourself in the midst of life's trials & turbulations.
July 23, 2025
This book was one of those that I should have stopped reading early on, but I kept hoping it would get better. It did not. The characters were mostly annoying and not really believable and the constant use of flowery similes was overdone. I enjoyed reading about Lake Como, New Jersey and Carrara, Italy but, other than that, I would not recommend this book at all!
August 28, 2025
4.5 stars
“Italians are fortunate. They can always cry it away or sing it away or love it away.”
As an Italian who grew up in a small Italian community in New Jersey, so many things in this story hit home and made me smile.
Crazy emotional Italians ✅
Traditions ✅
Delicious food ✅
Funny sayings and superstitions ✅
Family living blocks away ✅
The Island 😂✅
“The Island was an imaginary place the Caps sent you when they weren’t speaking to you. In other families, it’s called the deep freeze or the silent treatment. Sometimes you didn’t know why you had been banished to the Island. When circumstances changed and they decided to speak to you again, you had no idea how you got off the Island, and you didn’t ask because you didn’t want to go back on the Island.”
Giuseppina, Jess, Capodimonte Baratta is living in her parent’s basement after divorcing her husband, Bobby Bilancia, who she grew up with in the small town of Lake Como, New Jersey. Often felt unseen and directionless, Jess finds herself traveling to Italy after losing her Uncle Louis who she not only worked with but shared a special bond. Jess’ road to find joy was a beautiful journey. I enjoyed this book so much, and had a soft spot for her crazy mom.
“This is what Uncle Louie meant when he told me to be happy. Pay attention to the moments you live in and find your place in them. Be content with your portion. I’m a very small part of something beautiful on the Italian lake, and that’s enough.”
While you read this book, you will be able to smell and taste the food and dream of living in a small village in Italy.
“Italians are fortunate. They can always cry it away or sing it away or love it away.”
As an Italian who grew up in a small Italian community in New Jersey, so many things in this story hit home and made me smile.
Crazy emotional Italians ✅
Traditions ✅
Delicious food ✅
Funny sayings and superstitions ✅
Family living blocks away ✅
The Island 😂✅
“The Island was an imaginary place the Caps sent you when they weren’t speaking to you. In other families, it’s called the deep freeze or the silent treatment. Sometimes you didn’t know why you had been banished to the Island. When circumstances changed and they decided to speak to you again, you had no idea how you got off the Island, and you didn’t ask because you didn’t want to go back on the Island.”
Giuseppina, Jess, Capodimonte Baratta is living in her parent’s basement after divorcing her husband, Bobby Bilancia, who she grew up with in the small town of Lake Como, New Jersey. Often felt unseen and directionless, Jess finds herself traveling to Italy after losing her Uncle Louis who she not only worked with but shared a special bond. Jess’ road to find joy was a beautiful journey. I enjoyed this book so much, and had a soft spot for her crazy mom.
“This is what Uncle Louie meant when he told me to be happy. Pay attention to the moments you live in and find your place in them. Be content with your portion. I’m a very small part of something beautiful on the Italian lake, and that’s enough.”
While you read this book, you will be able to smell and taste the food and dream of living in a small village in Italy.
December 18, 2025
"The View From Lake Como" is a multigenerational family saga set in New Jersey and Italy. Jess was always the dutiful daughter in her large Italian-American family. She needed to live her own life without interference from her family, especially her overbearing mother. When Jess found out some hidden family secrets, she was even more determined to explore her own path in life. She had the opportunity to visit Tuscany and view the marble quarries where her Uncle Louis obtained the marble for his American business where Jess worked as his assistant. Jess was also writing a journal for an online counselor as she worked out what she needed in life.
The beginning of the book, set in New Jersey, moved very slowly. The pace picked up in the chapters in Italy which had a strong sense of place. A few of the characters were craftsmen and artisans, and their work was interesting. But overall, it seemed like the book could have been edited down a bit.
The book had some medical mistakes such as a nurse straddling a patient while giving shocks with a defibrillator. (The nurse would shock herself.) There were a few other science or medical mistakes so I think the author is more of an artsy person.
I had mixed feelings about the book, but I finished it for a book group discussion. The book did raise a number of good points about living a meaningful life so it worked fine as a discussion book.
The beginning of the book, set in New Jersey, moved very slowly. The pace picked up in the chapters in Italy which had a strong sense of place. A few of the characters were craftsmen and artisans, and their work was interesting. But overall, it seemed like the book could have been edited down a bit.
The book had some medical mistakes such as a nurse straddling a patient while giving shocks with a defibrillator. (The nurse would shock herself.) There were a few other science or medical mistakes so I think the author is more of an artsy person.
I had mixed feelings about the book, but I finished it for a book group discussion. The book did raise a number of good points about living a meaningful life so it worked fine as a discussion book.
May 14, 2025
Giuseppina (Jess) Capodimonte Baratta is a member of a close knit Italian American family in Lake Como, NJ. Yet, as a divorcee now living in her parents’ basement and seemingly “chief cook and bottle washer”for them, she is unsettled with her life and feels stifled creatively. Working with her Uncle Louie in a family marble business, his death brings some surprising and unsavory news about the business. That, along with a promised trip to Italy from him and a long held secret revealed by her parents causing a rift, provides an opportunity to reset her life. Will traveling to Italy resolve her inner conflicts and mend her and her relationships?
This is the second novel by Trigiani I have read and enjoyed. She has a great way with words, and I like her witty, sometimes biting humor in the midst of the drama of life. She has a good feel for family relationships with all the joy and angst they bring. Her vivid descriptions of Italian life (both in the US and in Italy), transport the reader to the actual locations where one can experience the tastes, smells, climate, the beauty. I liked the subplot addressing the plight of women of a certain age who were too early for the advances brought by the feminist movement. For some, there may be too much time spent on descriptions of all facets of the marble business; to others it will be instructive.
By the way, as a former Jersey resident, I can attest that there really is a Lake Como borough, albeit small, in NJ. It formerly was known as South Belmar and there really is a lake there.
Thanks to #NetGalley and @PenquinBooks @DuttonBooks for the DRC.
This is the second novel by Trigiani I have read and enjoyed. She has a great way with words, and I like her witty, sometimes biting humor in the midst of the drama of life. She has a good feel for family relationships with all the joy and angst they bring. Her vivid descriptions of Italian life (both in the US and in Italy), transport the reader to the actual locations where one can experience the tastes, smells, climate, the beauty. I liked the subplot addressing the plight of women of a certain age who were too early for the advances brought by the feminist movement. For some, there may be too much time spent on descriptions of all facets of the marble business; to others it will be instructive.
By the way, as a former Jersey resident, I can attest that there really is a Lake Como borough, albeit small, in NJ. It formerly was known as South Belmar and there really is a lake there.
Thanks to #NetGalley and @PenquinBooks @DuttonBooks for the DRC.
August 8, 2025
“I carry the name of someone I never knew into a life I don’t want to lead.”
Giuseppina ‘Jess’ Capodimonte Baratta knows that change is the key to moving forward, so she packs a case, lets go of what she’s been holding on to and all the things that once served her, and heads to the Carrara marble quarries in Italy. I love (1) Jess’s determination to craft her own life, one she feels comfortable in, and (2) that she’s launched into this change because her uncle Louis Cap believed in her.
“The worst lies are the ones we tell ourselves. Those lies keep us in jobs we hate, in marriages that suffocate us and in places we cannot thrive. It takes guts to change.”
I almost gave up on this book several times because I like a faster-moving narrative, so keep that in mind. It’s a slow burn and introspective. That being said, I liked Jess’ character and was invested enough to see if Italy was a destination or an escape for her.
Giuseppina ‘Jess’ Capodimonte Baratta knows that change is the key to moving forward, so she packs a case, lets go of what she’s been holding on to and all the things that once served her, and heads to the Carrara marble quarries in Italy. I love (1) Jess’s determination to craft her own life, one she feels comfortable in, and (2) that she’s launched into this change because her uncle Louis Cap believed in her.
“The worst lies are the ones we tell ourselves. Those lies keep us in jobs we hate, in marriages that suffocate us and in places we cannot thrive. It takes guts to change.”
I almost gave up on this book several times because I like a faster-moving narrative, so keep that in mind. It’s a slow burn and introspective. That being said, I liked Jess’ character and was invested enough to see if Italy was a destination or an escape for her.
August 3, 2025
Ugh. I was so excited when I heard this book was coming out. I was the first on the waiting list at my public library and braved the 102° heat to rush to pick it up as soon as I got the email saying it was waiting for me.
But darn… what a letdown.
I love Adriana Trigiani and was expecting better.
This book just dragged on for me.
With the word Lake Como in the title I was expecting a beautiful visit there. We got Lake Como, NJ. No offense to NJ, but not what I expected.
Jess, the subject of the book, did go to Italy and it sounded nice, but just not Lake Como nice.
As usual, the book starts with the big Italian family. Jess was going through a divorce and was living in her parent’s basement. Basically taking care of everything and everyone and working with her Uncle Louie in the family marble business. Or maybe it was granite?? I truly kept fading in and out of the book. It did not keep my attention over my Downton Abby rewatch I had going on at the same time.
But back to Jess. Due to a family crisis she ends up traveling to Italy and goes back to the beginning of where her family originated.
A secret unfolds about the family. It did not intrigue me enough to turn off Downton Abby, but still some shady dealings had been done in the past.
Much of the book was predictable and although Adriana does give delicious details to food and her surroundings, I remained bored. 🥱
There is a lovers triangle between Jess’s ex and a new man and I was just not invested because Jess was not a worked out character in my mind. I really felt like I didn’t know her or really understand her or some of her decisions. Or anyone’s decisions, even my own since I kept reading.
This was just not a favorite for me and my heart broke a bit because I really, really wanted to love it. I wanted that feeling I usually get from her books that makes me wish I had a huge dish of some delicious Italian food. It did not give me the feels at all, except for sleepiness.
Now I guess I have to wait a few more years and hope AT will put out another book that I can get happily lost in for a day or two.
But now instead of spaghetti and wine, I’m back to Downton Abby for biscuits and tea.
I do hope others enjoy this book. I wish I did. 😢
But darn… what a letdown.
I love Adriana Trigiani and was expecting better.
This book just dragged on for me.
With the word Lake Como in the title I was expecting a beautiful visit there. We got Lake Como, NJ. No offense to NJ, but not what I expected.
Jess, the subject of the book, did go to Italy and it sounded nice, but just not Lake Como nice.
As usual, the book starts with the big Italian family. Jess was going through a divorce and was living in her parent’s basement. Basically taking care of everything and everyone and working with her Uncle Louie in the family marble business. Or maybe it was granite?? I truly kept fading in and out of the book. It did not keep my attention over my Downton Abby rewatch I had going on at the same time.
But back to Jess. Due to a family crisis she ends up traveling to Italy and goes back to the beginning of where her family originated.
A secret unfolds about the family. It did not intrigue me enough to turn off Downton Abby, but still some shady dealings had been done in the past.
Much of the book was predictable and although Adriana does give delicious details to food and her surroundings, I remained bored. 🥱
There is a lovers triangle between Jess’s ex and a new man and I was just not invested because Jess was not a worked out character in my mind. I really felt like I didn’t know her or really understand her or some of her decisions. Or anyone’s decisions, even my own since I kept reading.
This was just not a favorite for me and my heart broke a bit because I really, really wanted to love it. I wanted that feeling I usually get from her books that makes me wish I had a huge dish of some delicious Italian food. It did not give me the feels at all, except for sleepiness.
Now I guess I have to wait a few more years and hope AT will put out another book that I can get happily lost in for a day or two.
But now instead of spaghetti and wine, I’m back to Downton Abby for biscuits and tea.
I do hope others enjoy this book. I wish I did. 😢
June 30, 2025
(free review copy) Loved the descriptions of Italy and all the marble-related content and the overall story concept (big meddling Italian family + escaping to Italy) but the execution was really, really rough. I have loved much of Trigiani’s other work, and was disappointed with the clunkiness and over-reliance on flashbacks (through journal entries) in this one.
Source: digital review copy via Edelweiss
Source: digital review copy via Edelweiss
December 26, 2025
What an absolutely PHENOMENAL book!
Thank you Ellen S. for the recommendation! What a wonderful book to read at Christmastime!
Jess is an Italian-American woman in her 30’s. She’s recently divorced from the towns hottest guy, Bobby B., who she married young. She lives in Lake Como NJ. And…she’s quite happy there. She is a drafter. She works for her Uncle Louie, who is also, basically, her best friend. He went to Italy when he was young to learn all about marble. NOW, he says that if there is marble anywhere in NJ…. He brought it over, and… probably installed it! Yeah… he’s like that! 🤣. And, he’s a character! Louie is married too, but he and his wife were never able to have children.
Jess’ Mom is Louie’s sister. They’ve always been close… but a rift somewhere along the way created a wedge between them. But they’ll get over it…
Jess is always home… always helping Mom… always cooking and cleaning… and listening. She’s also a mess. She has panic attacks and needs to keep a paper bag close by…
Uncle Louie comes up with a plan that he’s going to take her home…to the motherland… and he’s going with her. Just the two of them! She. Is. ECSTATIC!!!!
But, as we all know, things don’t always go as planned…
This book brought out so many RAW EMOTIONS! It made me laugh… out loud! It made me cry…like…SOBBING…in a store while shopping…. It made me feel so much for Jess, her Mom, her Uncle, her Aunt, her brother….everyone….even the ex!
And it shows you just what can happen when you put your mind to something…. And… go all in. Don’t think too much about every little thing. Sunrises on the veranda? ✔️. Espresso every morning? ✔️. Friends that turn into family? ✔️
This was a very special book! It made me feel ALL THE FEELS! And that is just…everything in my book!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars for me!
#TheViewFromLakeComo by @AdrianaTrigiani and narrated beautifully by @MiraSorvino.
If you are Italian and you enjoy reading, pick this one up! If you like stories based in Italy, pick this one up! If you like stories about conniving Italian parents, pick this one up! Basically… just pick it up!!!
This one was released earlier this year, so look 👀 for it on shelves now!
Thanks to my library for the lend!
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
Thank you Ellen S. for the recommendation! What a wonderful book to read at Christmastime!
Jess is an Italian-American woman in her 30’s. She’s recently divorced from the towns hottest guy, Bobby B., who she married young. She lives in Lake Como NJ. And…she’s quite happy there. She is a drafter. She works for her Uncle Louie, who is also, basically, her best friend. He went to Italy when he was young to learn all about marble. NOW, he says that if there is marble anywhere in NJ…. He brought it over, and… probably installed it! Yeah… he’s like that! 🤣. And, he’s a character! Louie is married too, but he and his wife were never able to have children.
Jess’ Mom is Louie’s sister. They’ve always been close… but a rift somewhere along the way created a wedge between them. But they’ll get over it…
Jess is always home… always helping Mom… always cooking and cleaning… and listening. She’s also a mess. She has panic attacks and needs to keep a paper bag close by…
Uncle Louie comes up with a plan that he’s going to take her home…to the motherland… and he’s going with her. Just the two of them! She. Is. ECSTATIC!!!!
But, as we all know, things don’t always go as planned…
This book brought out so many RAW EMOTIONS! It made me laugh… out loud! It made me cry…like…SOBBING…in a store while shopping…. It made me feel so much for Jess, her Mom, her Uncle, her Aunt, her brother….everyone….even the ex!
And it shows you just what can happen when you put your mind to something…. And… go all in. Don’t think too much about every little thing. Sunrises on the veranda? ✔️. Espresso every morning? ✔️. Friends that turn into family? ✔️
This was a very special book! It made me feel ALL THE FEELS! And that is just…everything in my book!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars for me!
#TheViewFromLakeComo by @AdrianaTrigiani and narrated beautifully by @MiraSorvino.
If you are Italian and you enjoy reading, pick this one up! If you like stories based in Italy, pick this one up! If you like stories about conniving Italian parents, pick this one up! Basically… just pick it up!!!
This one was released earlier this year, so look 👀 for it on shelves now!
Thanks to my library for the lend!
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
August 9, 2025
I always enjoy reading Adriana Trigiani’s novels and this one is no exception! Jess Baratta is thirty four, living at home with her parents after an amicable divorce, and at a loss to find direction in her life. Her close knit Italian American family relies on her for so many reasons and Jess finds herself feeling unappreciated and suffocated.
With the encouragement of a beloved uncle, Jess travels to Italy to meet with employees of her uncle’s marble and stone business. While there, she hopes to begin a new chapter in her life.
This is an uplifting novel about love of family, finding purpose and meaning in your life, and appreciating each day as it unfolds. Ms. Trigiani transports you to northern Italy where you can almost smell the fresh air, taste the wonderful food, and befriend the many interesting people that Jess meets. The characters are endearing and relatable with the very vivid sense of place that will draw you in immediately.
A few of the quotes from the book that I enjoyed reading:
“Never look back. It only hurts your neck and breaks your heart”
“Pay attention to the moments you live in and find your place in them. Be content with your portion.”
“Sit in an empty church on any day but Sunday and let the angels guide your prayers…..Happiness is not something that you can make happen; it arrives unannounced. It is not scary to get older; it’s only scary to be unloved. To find love, to hold it and to grow it, be kind. First to yourself and then to every person you know. Life works out. Don’t fear living or fear death; it’s all part of the story.”
And one final note that I’d like to mention. I read the author’s acknowledgments at the end of the book. The two first paragraphs brought tears to my eyes. It’s worth reading.
With the encouragement of a beloved uncle, Jess travels to Italy to meet with employees of her uncle’s marble and stone business. While there, she hopes to begin a new chapter in her life.
This is an uplifting novel about love of family, finding purpose and meaning in your life, and appreciating each day as it unfolds. Ms. Trigiani transports you to northern Italy where you can almost smell the fresh air, taste the wonderful food, and befriend the many interesting people that Jess meets. The characters are endearing and relatable with the very vivid sense of place that will draw you in immediately.
A few of the quotes from the book that I enjoyed reading:
“Never look back. It only hurts your neck and breaks your heart”
“Pay attention to the moments you live in and find your place in them. Be content with your portion.”
“Sit in an empty church on any day but Sunday and let the angels guide your prayers…..Happiness is not something that you can make happen; it arrives unannounced. It is not scary to get older; it’s only scary to be unloved. To find love, to hold it and to grow it, be kind. First to yourself and then to every person you know. Life works out. Don’t fear living or fear death; it’s all part of the story.”
And one final note that I’d like to mention. I read the author’s acknowledgments at the end of the book. The two first paragraphs brought tears to my eyes. It’s worth reading.
September 23, 2025
not to be dramatic but my quality of life plummeted while listening to this. clunky plot and the narrator's vicitm mentality was insane. i'm offended for italian americans everywhere.
July 11, 2025
3.5 rounded up. 🎧
August 19, 2025
Started off cute and then it all went down hill into snooze fest 😴
July 18, 2025
Adriana Trigiani delivers the story of one of the messiest, most dysfunctional—yet completely relatable—Italian families we've seen in a novel in years. Adri is a master at capturing raw emotion, and this book is no exception.
Jess, the main character, finds herself back in her childhood home after a difficult divorce. When an unexpected tragedy arises, what begins for Jess as a return to her roots quickly evolves into a journey of self-discovery. When she travels to Italy, the stunning landscape, rich culture, and new experiences help her begin to heal and rediscover who she truly is.
Full of heartfelt revelations, gorgeous Italian scenery, delicious food, romance, a touch of mystery, and so much humor, The View from Lake Como is a quintessential Trigiani novel. Adriana never disappoints.
Jess, the main character, finds herself back in her childhood home after a difficult divorce. When an unexpected tragedy arises, what begins for Jess as a return to her roots quickly evolves into a journey of self-discovery. When she travels to Italy, the stunning landscape, rich culture, and new experiences help her begin to heal and rediscover who she truly is.
Full of heartfelt revelations, gorgeous Italian scenery, delicious food, romance, a touch of mystery, and so much humor, The View from Lake Como is a quintessential Trigiani novel. Adriana never disappoints.
August 20, 2025
This book was torture. It read like an instruction manual. “I got up. I walked to the kitchen. I turned on the light.” I didn’t like any of the characters, except for Bobby. He was the true victim (and I was a victim of the book!). In follow up news, the entire book club basically agreed and we spent almost two hours discussing every bad detail, so that was fun! Sometimes the worst books make the best discussions!
July 14, 2025
4.5 stars (rounded up)
The View From Lake Como is a compelling literary family drama that intertwines travel, romance, and midlife reinvention. The story follows Jess Baratta, a gifted marble artisan who feels stifled by the weight of tradition and family expectations in her small New Jersey town. Following her divorce, she moves back into her parents basement, and her beloved Uncle Louis suddenly dies and leaves her his family business. Seizing the opportunity to continue his legacy and make big changes in her life, she travels to Italy and is swept into a world of breathtaking beauty, artistic heritage, and quiet self-discovery.
Adriana Trigiani’s writing is contemporary and emotionally intelligent. The pacing in this story is a bit uneven but beautifully parallels Jess’s emotional arc and her decision-making throughout the story. Major themes in the story include family bonds, particularly in immigrant, working-class families, breaking cycles, and new beginnings!
Jess is a richly developed protagonist. She’s at a crossroads in her life, grappling between her former self, who always met family expectations and didn’t look outside the box, and the new version of her that is emerging. She’s ended her marriage due to irreconcilable differences and is now seeing a therapist—both unheard of in her family! She can be a frustrating character at times because of her contradictions—she’s in love with her roots and old-fashioned family traditions but longs for me.
Jess’s lifelong struggles with anxiety and panic attacks are authentically described, and the story also emphasizes how anxiety and fear-based patterns are passed down through generations. Jess’s mother, although more traditional, has a similar restless, anxious energy, and their contrasting views lead to some very heated family arguments regarding Jess’s future. The entire Baratta family is loud and lovable, and each character plays a role in Jess’s transformation—no one more so than her Uncle Louie. Their relationship and bond is the heart of the story, and his heartbreaking death and the legacy he leaves behind for her, early in the novel, is the catalyst for her transformation!
There are a couple of very minor weaknesses in the novel. Firstly, Jess’s reasons for ending her marriage are never made entirely clear, and readers only discover the issues between them late in the story. While this slow unfolding may pique curiosity, it may be frustrating to some readers. Also, Jess provides captivating memories of her growing up with her parents/siblings and ex-husband through written entries to her therapist—while these add richness and fill in gaps in the story, they often happen abruptly and sometimes disturb the flow of the present-day narrative.
The novel really shines when it dives into the world of marble. When Jess is in Italy and takes the tour of the mountain where the marble is drawn from, there’s some fascinating dialogue about extracting and crafting marble that is seamlessly woven into the story. Anyone who’s been part of a family business will especially appreciate these scenes, and the passion with which the Italian characters speak of the business is very compelling. The two “Lake Como” settings, in gritty New Jersey and in the elegant hills of Northern Italy, are a metaphor for Jess’s inner duality struggle: staying aligned with known comforts vs. taking risks with the mysterious unknown. Trigiani’s portrayal of Italy is romantic but not overly idealized—the Carrara marble quarries are authentically depicted, and Lake Como becomes a mirror for Jess, reflecting back to her the life she could choose if she dares!
This book has a wonderful second-chance romance—but it may not please all readers, as it’s a bit lacking in heat and resolution. Jess was attached to her ex-husband since childhood, and taking a chance on a new romance seems daunting for her. Her romance in Italy with Angelo develops organically, mostly through flirtatious dialogue. Angelo’s bold moves and outspoken affection towards her are definitely swoon-worthy later on—even if he’s still involved with a girlfriend he’s not happy with. As over-the-top as his behavior comes across, it’s a pretty accurate representation of how men court women in Italy—and a vast difference from what happens in North America!
Overall, The View from Lake Como is a beautifully crafted story with richly drawn characters and beautiful contrasting settings that are a metaphor for the protagonist’s struggles. Readers who enjoy multi-generational women’s fiction, hopeful stories of midlife reinvention, second-chance romances, and family dramas will really enjoy this book!
The View From Lake Como is a compelling literary family drama that intertwines travel, romance, and midlife reinvention. The story follows Jess Baratta, a gifted marble artisan who feels stifled by the weight of tradition and family expectations in her small New Jersey town. Following her divorce, she moves back into her parents basement, and her beloved Uncle Louis suddenly dies and leaves her his family business. Seizing the opportunity to continue his legacy and make big changes in her life, she travels to Italy and is swept into a world of breathtaking beauty, artistic heritage, and quiet self-discovery.
Adriana Trigiani’s writing is contemporary and emotionally intelligent. The pacing in this story is a bit uneven but beautifully parallels Jess’s emotional arc and her decision-making throughout the story. Major themes in the story include family bonds, particularly in immigrant, working-class families, breaking cycles, and new beginnings!
Jess is a richly developed protagonist. She’s at a crossroads in her life, grappling between her former self, who always met family expectations and didn’t look outside the box, and the new version of her that is emerging. She’s ended her marriage due to irreconcilable differences and is now seeing a therapist—both unheard of in her family! She can be a frustrating character at times because of her contradictions—she’s in love with her roots and old-fashioned family traditions but longs for me.
Jess’s lifelong struggles with anxiety and panic attacks are authentically described, and the story also emphasizes how anxiety and fear-based patterns are passed down through generations. Jess’s mother, although more traditional, has a similar restless, anxious energy, and their contrasting views lead to some very heated family arguments regarding Jess’s future. The entire Baratta family is loud and lovable, and each character plays a role in Jess’s transformation—no one more so than her Uncle Louie. Their relationship and bond is the heart of the story, and his heartbreaking death and the legacy he leaves behind for her, early in the novel, is the catalyst for her transformation!
There are a couple of very minor weaknesses in the novel. Firstly, Jess’s reasons for ending her marriage are never made entirely clear, and readers only discover the issues between them late in the story. While this slow unfolding may pique curiosity, it may be frustrating to some readers. Also, Jess provides captivating memories of her growing up with her parents/siblings and ex-husband through written entries to her therapist—while these add richness and fill in gaps in the story, they often happen abruptly and sometimes disturb the flow of the present-day narrative.
The novel really shines when it dives into the world of marble. When Jess is in Italy and takes the tour of the mountain where the marble is drawn from, there’s some fascinating dialogue about extracting and crafting marble that is seamlessly woven into the story. Anyone who’s been part of a family business will especially appreciate these scenes, and the passion with which the Italian characters speak of the business is very compelling. The two “Lake Como” settings, in gritty New Jersey and in the elegant hills of Northern Italy, are a metaphor for Jess’s inner duality struggle: staying aligned with known comforts vs. taking risks with the mysterious unknown. Trigiani’s portrayal of Italy is romantic but not overly idealized—the Carrara marble quarries are authentically depicted, and Lake Como becomes a mirror for Jess, reflecting back to her the life she could choose if she dares!
This book has a wonderful second-chance romance—but it may not please all readers, as it’s a bit lacking in heat and resolution. Jess was attached to her ex-husband since childhood, and taking a chance on a new romance seems daunting for her. Her romance in Italy with Angelo develops organically, mostly through flirtatious dialogue. Angelo’s bold moves and outspoken affection towards her are definitely swoon-worthy later on—even if he’s still involved with a girlfriend he’s not happy with. As over-the-top as his behavior comes across, it’s a pretty accurate representation of how men court women in Italy—and a vast difference from what happens in North America!
Overall, The View from Lake Como is a beautifully crafted story with richly drawn characters and beautiful contrasting settings that are a metaphor for the protagonist’s struggles. Readers who enjoy multi-generational women’s fiction, hopeful stories of midlife reinvention, second-chance romances, and family dramas will really enjoy this book!
Read
July 5, 2025DNF at 30%. I felt like the first portion got a bit labored and too long, so I was holding out to start the second section. Unfortunately, the beginning of that section felt almost nonsensical. I also don’t think the FBI is just like, sure, we believe you didn’t know about any of this, you can definitely get a two year work visa overseas even though the company with your name on it is under active investigation for fraud.
March 16, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this book but it wasn’t for me. I tried reading it but had to give up as didn’t find it at all interesting and certainly not compelling enough to carry on and finish it.
September 3, 2025
The View From Lake Como was a heartfelt and beautifully layered story about second chances, family loyalty, and rediscovering one’s worth. Jess was a character I rooted for from the beginning, and Adriana Trigiani brought her journey to life with warmth, humor, and vivid detail. The blend of New Jersey grit and Italian elegance made for a rich backdrop, and the marble trade and artistry added a fascinating layer to Jess’s personal growth. The family drama kept the story engaging, and her connection with Angelo added just the right touch of romance. It was a warm, uplifting read that celebrated reinvention, creativity, and the courage to finally put yourself first.
March 26, 2025
A wonderful story about life, family and second chances. The story moves between past and present, focusing on the area of Lake Como in the US and Italy. The protagonist Jess is trying to figure out what she wants from life and how to move forward after her divorce. This is made more difficult by the family revelations that are scattered throughout the book. I loved the range of characters who had a range of motivations and impacted the direction of Jess's life significantly. I especially enjoyed the time spent in Italy and some of the descriptions of Italian life and food. It did take a little while to get into the book but I was soon invested and wanted to know if Jess would figure everything out. There is a good ending with a strong resolution to the issues presented and I enjoyed exploring the self-discovery of Jess after much of her early life had been directed by the actions of those around here. It makes a great summer read.
Thank you to NetGallery, the author and publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review.
Thank you to NetGallery, the author and publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review.
August 4, 2025
One of the most extraordinary books I’ve encountered this year is The View From Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani; it swept me off my feet just like "Eat, Pray, Love" did. Her prose dances off the page, inviting you to immerse yourself in the lush beauty of Italy, making you feel as if you’re living the adventure alongside the characters. As the protagonist embarks on her journey of self-discovery, you find yourself evolving right along with her. This book brims with profound insights that stir your soul, prompting you to reflect deeply on your own choices and the paths you’ve taken. It’s an absolute must-read!!!
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