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Meet Me in Italy: A Novel
A sun-soaked trip to the Amalfi Coast promises a fresh start—and reveals secrets never imagined in New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak’s tender new novel.
In the wake of her debut novel’s breakout success—and a very painful public divorce—Charlotte Williams-Jackson has something to prove. With her second novel overdue, she’s scrambling to hold it together. But her focus is rocked when she discovers that her childhood wasn't as it seemed—and she has a tween half-sister who's been orphaned in Italy.
Alongside her best friend, Sloane, and Sloane’s charming brother, Julian, Charlotte ventures to the Amalfi Coast to meet her sister. She would never turn her back on family, especially since this girl doesn’t have anyone else, but between her looming deadline and her entire identity being flipped upside down, it’s a lot. Determined to rebuild her life, Charlotte must confront the relationships she’s held dear—and the loss of those she thought she had but didn't—forcing her to question everything she understood about herself and the bonds that shape a family.
In the wake of her debut novel’s breakout success—and a very painful public divorce—Charlotte Williams-Jackson has something to prove. With her second novel overdue, she’s scrambling to hold it together. But her focus is rocked when she discovers that her childhood wasn't as it seemed—and she has a tween half-sister who's been orphaned in Italy.
Alongside her best friend, Sloane, and Sloane’s charming brother, Julian, Charlotte ventures to the Amalfi Coast to meet her sister. She would never turn her back on family, especially since this girl doesn’t have anyone else, but between her looming deadline and her entire identity being flipped upside down, it’s a lot. Determined to rebuild her life, Charlotte must confront the relationships she’s held dear—and the loss of those she thought she had but didn't—forcing her to question everything she understood about herself and the bonds that shape a family.
400 pages, Hardcover
Published April 7, 2026
About the author
Brenda Novak
241 books7,234 followersIt was a shocking experience that jump-started Brenda Novak’s bestselling author career.
“I caught my day-care provider drugging my children with cough syrup and Tylenol to get them to sleep while I was away,” Brenda says. “It was then that I decided that I needed to do something from home.”
However, writing was the last profession she expected to undertake. In fact, Brenda swears she didn’t have a creative bone in her body. In school, math and science were her best subjects, and when it came time to pick a major in college, she chose business.
Abandoning her academic scholarship to Brigham Young University at the age of 20 in order to get married and start a family, Brenda dabbled in commercial real estate, then became a loan officer.
“When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book,” Brenda admits. “I learned how to write by reading what others have written. The best advice for any would-be author: read, read, read….”
Brenda sold her first book, and the rest is history. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she continues to publish two or three novels a year, in a variety of genres.
Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are the proud parents of five children—three girls and two boys. Now that they are empty-nesters, she spends her free time babysitting her two grandchildren.
When she’s not with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising money for diabetes research. To date, she's raised almost $2.6 million. Her youngest son, Thad, has diabetes, and Brenda is determined to help him and others like him. She also enjoys traveling, watching sporting events and biking--she rides an amazing 20 miles every day!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-...
“I caught my day-care provider drugging my children with cough syrup and Tylenol to get them to sleep while I was away,” Brenda says. “It was then that I decided that I needed to do something from home.”
However, writing was the last profession she expected to undertake. In fact, Brenda swears she didn’t have a creative bone in her body. In school, math and science were her best subjects, and when it came time to pick a major in college, she chose business.
Abandoning her academic scholarship to Brigham Young University at the age of 20 in order to get married and start a family, Brenda dabbled in commercial real estate, then became a loan officer.
“When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book,” Brenda admits. “I learned how to write by reading what others have written. The best advice for any would-be author: read, read, read….”
Brenda sold her first book, and the rest is history. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she continues to publish two or three novels a year, in a variety of genres.
Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are the proud parents of five children—three girls and two boys. Now that they are empty-nesters, she spends her free time babysitting her two grandchildren.
When she’s not with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising money for diabetes research. To date, she's raised almost $2.6 million. Her youngest son, Thad, has diabetes, and Brenda is determined to help him and others like him. She also enjoys traveling, watching sporting events and biking--she rides an amazing 20 miles every day!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 511 reviews
August 2, 2026
This is a really nice book cover and an emotional, entertaining read. Four people all have struggles, hurts, decisions, and/or fears going on in their live but are dealing with them in a lovely villa setting on the Almalfi Coast in Italy. I thought the narrator did a great job. I liked it more in the beginning but it drug on in the middle and ended happy. I read via Libby audio. 3.5 stars
April 9, 2026
Meet Me In Italy by Brenda Novak
Contemporary romance.
Charlotte Williams-Jackson is about to celebrate her fourth wedding anniversary when her husband tells her he wants a divorce. Shocked, she moves back to her parents’ house. Her world is upended again when she learns she’s adopted and has a recently orphaned half-sister in Italy. Charlotte needs to work on her next novel, but she can’t say no to family.
Reconnecting with best friend Sloane and her brother Julian, the three travel to the Amalfi Coast to spend a month relaxing and playing tourist while getting to know young Lilly. Charlotte hopes to get her novel at least started since her deadline is looming closer. They also all need to assess their future plans with family. All four have decisions to make.
🎧 The audiobook is narrated by Stina Nielsen who has created a marvelous performance for the various characters. There are distinct voices for the main characters and emotions are all clearly heard. The characters came alive for me while listening.
It’s an Emotional roller coaster of shock, worry, fear, hope, and love from the pages as the story progresses. My heart broke for the loss of health in two individuals but also swelled with satisfaction and adoration in the resolution.
More than one happily ever after here. It took work, self analysis and hard decisions.
And in the end, oh, so exquisite.
Contemporary romance.
Charlotte Williams-Jackson is about to celebrate her fourth wedding anniversary when her husband tells her he wants a divorce. Shocked, she moves back to her parents’ house. Her world is upended again when she learns she’s adopted and has a recently orphaned half-sister in Italy. Charlotte needs to work on her next novel, but she can’t say no to family.
Reconnecting with best friend Sloane and her brother Julian, the three travel to the Amalfi Coast to spend a month relaxing and playing tourist while getting to know young Lilly. Charlotte hopes to get her novel at least started since her deadline is looming closer. They also all need to assess their future plans with family. All four have decisions to make.
🎧 The audiobook is narrated by Stina Nielsen who has created a marvelous performance for the various characters. There are distinct voices for the main characters and emotions are all clearly heard. The characters came alive for me while listening.
It’s an Emotional roller coaster of shock, worry, fear, hope, and love from the pages as the story progresses. My heart broke for the loss of health in two individuals but also swelled with satisfaction and adoration in the resolution.
More than one happily ever after here. It took work, self analysis and hard decisions.
And in the end, oh, so exquisite.
April 10, 2026
I've read a few of Brenda Novak's Romantic-Suspense books and wasn't impressed by them. That was ten years ago. While trolling NetGalley I came across this beautiful cover and, yeah, I'm a sucker. Novak has a lot of Romance books to her credit and a Romance set on the Amalfi Coast? Should be fun. I really wanted fun and playful. Unfortunately, it wasn't, at least for me anyway. I'm just not into the "I Am Woman Hear Me Roar" meaningful Romance cadre. Female empowerment can be fun, but this just wasn't. It starts out a bummer and just got worse. But, Woman Power Prevails. The End.
At the beginning I see Charlotte as a kicked puppy wondering just what she did to deserve this treatment, I wanted to tell her: Don't get mad, get even. I also wanted to tell her: Revenge is a dish best served cold. I really wanted her to get her pound of flesh out of the douchenozzel Cliff. But Charlotte is not the vengeful type. Too bad. In the end she does absolutely triumph. But that is just the beginning to the body blows Charlotte takes.
My thanks to the Publisher, and Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
At the beginning I see Charlotte as a kicked puppy wondering just what she did to deserve this treatment, I wanted to tell her: Don't get mad, get even. I also wanted to tell her: Revenge is a dish best served cold. I really wanted her to get her pound of flesh out of the douchenozzel Cliff. But Charlotte is not the vengeful type. Too bad. In the end she does absolutely triumph. But that is just the beginning to the body blows Charlotte takes.
My thanks to the Publisher, and Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
April 8, 2026
5 stars. Brenda Novak returns with her best novel yet. “Meet Me in Italy” is a purely heartfelt, emotional journey of struggle, resilience, second chance, and the power of found family. This tale will literally transport you to the gorgeous atmospheric setting of the Amalfi Coast, where after experiencing heartbreak, Charlotte travels there to meet her half-sister, bringing along her two best friends.. all trying to figure out their lives.
The characters felt relatable, each having their own perspectives and challenges, and the writing superb. It literally grips you, pulls you right into the storyline - I loved this. Do recommend. ❥ Pub. 4/7/26
Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The characters felt relatable, each having their own perspectives and challenges, and the writing superb. It literally grips you, pulls you right into the storyline - I loved this. Do recommend. ❥ Pub. 4/7/26
Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 19, 2026
What an amazing trip to Italy this story took me on! I fully immersed myself in the calm, beautiful setting of the Amalfi Coast and the delicious food the characters experienced on their emotional journey of personal growth in Meet Me in Italy. Sloane, Julian, and Charlotte share a deeply loyal, imperfect, wonderfully human friendship, I enjoyed their journey as they explored Italy and themselves, learning to let go and keep going, to trust themselves and others, to confront the things they have been avoiding, and sharing secrets in order to heal. Their journey felt real. And it was amazing! The characters are so likable and relatable (except for Sabrina). There were many complex layers to this story: redefining family, a no rush romance (friends to lovers), personal and family struggles, found family, divorce, grief, career challenges, forgiveness, self identity, the possibility of living the wrong version of your life and that sometimes stepping away is needed to help uncover resolutions and find happiness. I liked the multiple POV’s, which allowed us to feel the emotional and internal conflicts within each character and to see the positive changes within each character as the story progressed. Lilly is a joy to everyone, and the heart of the plot. A very cozy, heartwarming, deeply satisfying story!
April 21, 2026
As Charlotte stares down the looming deadline for her second novel, with not a single word written when her life implodes. Her marriage to Cliff Jackson, a famous basketball star, ends abruptly when he demands she move out with no explanation. She has no idea what went wrong. Then comes another shock: Charlotte learns she has a twelve year old half sister, Lilly, stranded in Italy after their mother is killed in a tragic accident. As Lilly’s closest relative, Charlotte is suddenly the only person who can step in.
Determined to meet her sister, escape the chaos of her divorce, and hopefully find inspiration for her book, Charlotte heads to Italy. Her estranged best friend Sloane and Sloane’s brother Julian join her, offering support she didn’t realize she needed, and sparking an unexpected connection with Julian.
Charlotte is carrying so much heartbreak and uncertainty, but Sloane and Julian have their own wounds and reasons for needing a getaway, and I found myself caring deeply for all three of them.
Meet Me in Italy was an engrossing, heartwarming story, that swept me away! For Charlotte, Sloane, Julian, and young Lilly, this trip becomes a journey of healing, rediscovery, and quiet transformation with a touch of romance woven in set in against the gorgeous Italian Coast.
I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook, and Stina Nielsen’s narration was wonderful. She gave each character a distinct voice and emotional depth, bringing them vividly to life and enhancing my experience.
I voluntarily read/listened to a copy courtesy of the publishers. These are my thoughts and opinions.
Determined to meet her sister, escape the chaos of her divorce, and hopefully find inspiration for her book, Charlotte heads to Italy. Her estranged best friend Sloane and Sloane’s brother Julian join her, offering support she didn’t realize she needed, and sparking an unexpected connection with Julian.
Charlotte is carrying so much heartbreak and uncertainty, but Sloane and Julian have their own wounds and reasons for needing a getaway, and I found myself caring deeply for all three of them.
Meet Me in Italy was an engrossing, heartwarming story, that swept me away! For Charlotte, Sloane, Julian, and young Lilly, this trip becomes a journey of healing, rediscovery, and quiet transformation with a touch of romance woven in set in against the gorgeous Italian Coast.
I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook, and Stina Nielsen’s narration was wonderful. She gave each character a distinct voice and emotional depth, bringing them vividly to life and enhancing my experience.
I voluntarily read/listened to a copy courtesy of the publishers. These are my thoughts and opinions.
April 9, 2026
I picked this up because I am heading to Italy this week and thought it would be the perfect thematic read to kick off my trip. The concept had so much potential.
Unfortunately, the execution didn't quite work for me. The writing relied heavily on telling rather than showing, which made it difficult to feel immersed in the setting or connected to the characters. While I love a good Italian backdrop, the narrative style just wasn't a fit for my personal taste.
Unfortunately, the execution didn't quite work for me. The writing relied heavily on telling rather than showing, which made it difficult to feel immersed in the setting or connected to the characters. While I love a good Italian backdrop, the narrative style just wasn't a fit for my personal taste.
July 8, 2026
There is never a dull moment in Meet Me In Italy!
A beautiful setting, interesting characters, relationship and family issues with many plot twists.
An entertaining read!
A beautiful setting, interesting characters, relationship and family issues with many plot twists.
An entertaining read!
July 2, 2026
Italy? Gorgeous. Found family? Love it. Forced proximity? Always here for it. Toxic ex? Delicious.
My only issue was how predictable it felt, and honestly, Charlotte should’ve humbled her ex way harder.
Still, I had fun with this one.
My only issue was how predictable it felt, and honestly, Charlotte should’ve humbled her ex way harder.
Still, I had fun with this one.
Did Not Finish
June 17, 2026This feels heavier than I signed up for, so I'd rather DNF it now before I waste more time or get invested.
March 2, 2026
I was able to read an arc of Brenda Novak’s new book coming out in April
What a great great story I don’t wanna give away any spoilers but grab the book. It is definitely a good read.
It’s very emotional learning things about your past that you never knew
Losing love, finding love becoming a better person because of all of it
What a great great story I don’t wanna give away any spoilers but grab the book. It is definitely a good read.
It’s very emotional learning things about your past that you never knew
Losing love, finding love becoming a better person because of all of it
March 11, 2026
Amidst a painful and public divorce, Charlotte is struggling to hold her life together as she juggles heartbreak and a quickly approaching deadline for her new book. However, things get even more complicated when she discovers she has a twelve-year-old half sister who is now orphaned in Italy. Charlotte heads to the Amalfi Coast with her two best friends to meet this sister she never knew about, and question what she’s known about herself and her family.
I really enjoyed this novel and the many layers to the story regarding relationships, family, and personal struggles. The characters are all multidimensional, well-developed, and relatable, and I liked seeing their different perspectives and the challenges they were facing. I absolutely loved the setting, and overall this was an enjoyable book I’d recommend!
Thank you to MIRA Books and NetGalley for my gifted e-ARC!
I really enjoyed this novel and the many layers to the story regarding relationships, family, and personal struggles. The characters are all multidimensional, well-developed, and relatable, and I liked seeing their different perspectives and the challenges they were facing. I absolutely loved the setting, and overall this was an enjoyable book I’d recommend!
Thank you to MIRA Books and NetGalley for my gifted e-ARC!
May 26, 2026
This book was fantastic! My favorite Brenda Novak book yet. It’s emotional, has such a beautiful found family element, and I loved the personal journeys the characters went on and grew from. I highly recommend!
June 10, 2026
The writing is so atrocious it almost seems like it’s AI?! I’m surprised no one else is picking up on the errors 😭 When the author is talking about Sloane, she says “her best friend’s brother” HUH? Aren’t Sloane and Julian siblings? I can’t deal with all the unnecessary dialogue.
July 17, 2026
Meet Me In Italy
by Brenda Novak is a brilliant summer escape novel that pairs vivid, sun-soaked scenes of the Italian coast with mouth-watering culinary details and a profound theme of found family.
The story follows Charlotte—who, upon learning she is adopted and has an orphaned tween half-sister in Italy—embarks on a month-long rescue mission alongside her two best friends to claim guardianship.
Juggling grief, family baggage, and the struggle to reinvent themselves after trauma, these four characters are stretched to their limits. Add in troubled marriages, a looming book deadline, and secret medical diagnoses, and they are completely overwhelmed. It's a lot to work through, but they manage to pull it all together succesfully ... in time.
A brilliant read. It’s heavy, but it rings so true—because when life crises hit, they rarely come one by one!
Recommend listening to the audiobook.
The story follows Charlotte—who, upon learning she is adopted and has an orphaned tween half-sister in Italy—embarks on a month-long rescue mission alongside her two best friends to claim guardianship.
Juggling grief, family baggage, and the struggle to reinvent themselves after trauma, these four characters are stretched to their limits. Add in troubled marriages, a looming book deadline, and secret medical diagnoses, and they are completely overwhelmed. It's a lot to work through, but they manage to pull it all together succesfully ... in time.
A brilliant read. It’s heavy, but it rings so true—because when life crises hit, they rarely come one by one!
Recommend listening to the audiobook.
May 1, 2026
Sometimes you need a predictable but fun romance, and this just hit right during a stressful week. I was rooting for the MC, Charlotte, from the start of the book when her jerk of a husband asks for a divorce. The plot twist of finding that she was adopted and had a younger biological sister felt completely out of the blue and forced but I went with it. And so did Charlotte, all the way to Italy to meet pre-teen Lilly. Sloane and Sloanes brother Julian, who grew up with Charlotte, also come. The side plots of the three adults bonding with Lilly and Sloane’s marriage troubles were just as engaging as the blossoming romance with Charlotte and Julian. It’s nice when despite some characters bad decisions, the only person I wanted to punch was Charlotte’s ex-husband.
Overall, an easy and comfy read. Extra points for the setting in Italy!
Overall, an easy and comfy read. Extra points for the setting in Italy!
May 1, 2026
Mid level romance. Not bad, but predictable.
April 7, 2026
Some of the best tropes ever with forced proximity, best friends brother (twin brother!), Italian summers, unknown family, toxic ex, and so much more bundled together for your reading enjoyment.
I truly enjoyed the multiple POVs throughout the book from our FMC Charlotte, to her BFF Sloan, Sloan's twin Julian, and some additional supporting characters that also have their moments to shine.
This is a heartwarming story with devastating turns woven throughout. I cried at times and laughed out loud at others.
I truly enjoyed the multiple POVs throughout the book from our FMC Charlotte, to her BFF Sloan, Sloan's twin Julian, and some additional supporting characters that also have their moments to shine.
This is a heartwarming story with devastating turns woven throughout. I cried at times and laughed out loud at others.
June 8, 2026
This story touched on so many different themes—divorce, adoption, family relationships, and grief—yet it never felt overwhelmingly heavy. While I think it could have been a little shorter, Brenda Novak did a wonderful job developing the characters and helping readers understand the difficult situations they were facing.
One of my favorite parts was the Italian setting. The descriptions of Italy added so much charm and made me want to book a flight immediately.
Overall, this was an emotional, heartwarming read with plenty of depth, and I enjoyed the journey.
One of my favorite parts was the Italian setting. The descriptions of Italy added so much charm and made me want to book a flight immediately.
Overall, this was an emotional, heartwarming read with plenty of depth, and I enjoyed the journey.
July 22, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Meet Me in Italy by Brenda Novak completely swept me away! 🇮🇹🍋✨
This story is so much more than a romance—it’s about family, healing, friendship, second chances, and discovering who you truly are. 🥹
I loved the emotional journey, the found-family vibes, and how each character grew throughout the story. Brenda Novak perfectly balanced heartfelt moments with hope, love, and fresh beginnings.
If you love stories filled with family secrets, unforgettable friendships, gorgeous travel settings, and a slow-burn romance, this one is definitely worth adding to your TBR! 🩷📚🇮🇹
Meet Me in Italy by Brenda Novak completely swept me away! 🇮🇹🍋✨
This story is so much more than a romance—it’s about family, healing, friendship, second chances, and discovering who you truly are. 🥹
I loved the emotional journey, the found-family vibes, and how each character grew throughout the story. Brenda Novak perfectly balanced heartfelt moments with hope, love, and fresh beginnings.
If you love stories filled with family secrets, unforgettable friendships, gorgeous travel settings, and a slow-burn romance, this one is definitely worth adding to your TBR! 🩷📚🇮🇹
June 8, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pleasurable. Worth your time. Sections of the book could be better.
I loved the cover and the opportunity to escape to Italy through the pages of this book. The setting was enjoyable, though I found myself wishing for more vivid descriptions of the scenery and culture.
While the story had an excellent concept and meaningful themes of friendship, family, and personal growth, the characters never fully connected with me. Much of the plot felt predictable, and Charlotte's storyline with her husband lacked the depth and interest I was hoping for.
Overall, Meet Me in Italy was an enjoyable read. I think it could have been elevated with less focus on romance and relationship drama and more emphasis on the beautiful setting and the novel's unique premise.
I loved the cover and the opportunity to escape to Italy through the pages of this book. The setting was enjoyable, though I found myself wishing for more vivid descriptions of the scenery and culture.
While the story had an excellent concept and meaningful themes of friendship, family, and personal growth, the characters never fully connected with me. Much of the plot felt predictable, and Charlotte's storyline with her husband lacked the depth and interest I was hoping for.
Overall, Meet Me in Italy was an enjoyable read. I think it could have been elevated with less focus on romance and relationship drama and more emphasis on the beautiful setting and the novel's unique premise.
April 21, 2026
“Meet Me in Italy” Brenda Novak
Pub Date: April 7, 2026
A Contemporary Romance, set in California in Orange County where I’m actually from so that was fun! Then off to the Almalfi Coast in Italy for a month. Charlotte, who was going through a high profile divorce from her NBA star husband and also on a deadline writing her second novel, found out she was adopted and has a half sister in Italy who is now literally orphaned. Her life has been turned upside down.
I have to say Author Brenda Novak has such a talent for character development, you knew who, when and why as the story envelopes into a novel faced with shocking news, devastating truths and a friends to lovers you won’t want to put down.
The detail in the Almalfi Coast made me feel like I was there and could picture the setting perfectly. Sounds dreamy! Charlotte set off on a month long trip to Italy with her best friend, Sloane and Sloane’s good-looking brother Julian who Charlotte has been friends with since high school. Now 29 they still have each other’s backs.
It’s a novel of heart-wrenching truths that is thrusting this family together. Charlotte is longing for the pieces of her life to be put together starting with her past and desperately wondering what the future will hold for her sweet 12 year old sister.
I highly recommend this novel if you love:
Second Chance at love *Self Discovery *Slow Burn Romance *Small Town Charm *Food *Wine *Culture Immersion *Cafes & Coastlines *Rediscovery
I loved it ! My heart is full @authorbrendanovak, thank you!
I received this eARC from @harlequintradepublishing @mirabooks @netgalley @htpbooks Thank You
April 27, 2026
Andiamo in Italia 🇮🇹
Thank you, Brenda Novak, for the #gifted copy of Meet Me in Italy {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 4.7.2026
Pages: 400
Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5
I was in the mood for a little adventure so I decided a book about friends traveling to Italy would be just what I needed!
I loved all the beautiful descriptions sprinkled throughout this book; you could tell that the author had really spent time in this beautiful place and had taken in every tiny detail. The food all sounded incredible, as did the drinks and all the fun outings the characters took along the way.
There is just a little bit of romance but the majority of the book is focusing on finding yourself and what truly makes you happy (no matter what everyone else thinks you should do). I really liked Charlotte’s character and thought Lily was a sweet edition as well.
Read if you enjoy:
👏🏼 Self-discovery
✈️ Travel
😍Beautiful descriptions
I recommend reading Meet Me in Italy if you’re looking for a little adventure this summer 💃🏽
______
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Thank you, Brenda Novak, for the #gifted copy of Meet Me in Italy {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 4.7.2026
Pages: 400
Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5
I was in the mood for a little adventure so I decided a book about friends traveling to Italy would be just what I needed!
I loved all the beautiful descriptions sprinkled throughout this book; you could tell that the author had really spent time in this beautiful place and had taken in every tiny detail. The food all sounded incredible, as did the drinks and all the fun outings the characters took along the way.
There is just a little bit of romance but the majority of the book is focusing on finding yourself and what truly makes you happy (no matter what everyone else thinks you should do). I really liked Charlotte’s character and thought Lily was a sweet edition as well.
Read if you enjoy:
👏🏼 Self-discovery
✈️ Travel
😍Beautiful descriptions
I recommend reading Meet Me in Italy if you’re looking for a little adventure this summer 💃🏽
______
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaptersofc...
Follow me on Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/chaptersofc...
Follow me on StoryGraph:https://www.instagram.com/chaptersofc...
May 25, 2026
And again I learned my lesson that I need to read a book’s description before starting it. I wouldn’t have picked this one up if I had done that. I didn’t like any of the storylines.
Sloane and Ben’s conflict about having children was the most interesting and complex part of the book. But it was ruined when Sloane spent several weeks with a teenager and suddenly decided that she now understood motherhood and wanted children of her own. It felt fabricated and too neat. Another case of making a woman abandon her principles so the man can be happy and not leave her.
Overall, not my favorite book.
Sloane and Ben’s conflict about having children was the most interesting and complex part of the book. But it was ruined when Sloane spent several weeks with a teenager and suddenly decided that she now understood motherhood and wanted children of her own. It felt fabricated and too neat. Another case of making a woman abandon her principles so the man can be happy and not leave her.
Overall, not my favorite book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2026
Did AI write this? It was like hallmark movie with some long paragraphs of torture
June 8, 2026
A soon-to-be-divorced romance author learns that she has a half sister who is all alone in Italy now that their mother has died tragically. Trying to piece her life back together, Charlotte travels to Italy with her childhood friends hoping to learn more about the half sister she didn't know about. This story is full of romance, second chances, found family and chronic illness (Parkinson's and Lupus). It was great on audio and highly recommended for fans of authors like Jennifer Probst or RaeAnne Thayne. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 29, 2026
This was not only a buddy read with my dear friend Sam, but it was also my first book by this author. The synopsis immediately drew me in because I LOVE Italy, and one of my favorite tropes of all time is found family, so I was eager to dive in.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. The biggest positive I can give it is that each character’s storyline intrigued me enough to keep reading. I genuinely wanted to know how everything would play out. But getting to the end felt like a long road.
For me, it felt like there were two competing stories fighting for attention. The romance between the main characters lacked the buildup needed to make me invested and felt more like an afterthought than a central part of the story. At the same time, the found family aspect never quite reached the emotional depth I was hoping for. Overall, there were quite a few cringe-worthy moments that had me rolling my eyes, and nothing ever felt like it went beyond the surface level.
I wanted more rawness, more emotional depth, and a deeper exploration of the characters to make them feel real and relatable. As it stands, I never truly connected with any of them. I also think the book would have been stronger if it had committed more fully to either being a love story or a found family story rather than trying to split its focus between both.
The funny part? When I finished the book, I sent all of these thoughts to my buddy reader Sam in a voice memo, and her response was, “Oh, I’m sorry. I ended up DNF-ing that bad boy.” The irony was not lost on me.
I’m not convinced this author is for me, but maybe someday—just not in the near future—I’ll give another one of her books a try.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. The biggest positive I can give it is that each character’s storyline intrigued me enough to keep reading. I genuinely wanted to know how everything would play out. But getting to the end felt like a long road.
For me, it felt like there were two competing stories fighting for attention. The romance between the main characters lacked the buildup needed to make me invested and felt more like an afterthought than a central part of the story. At the same time, the found family aspect never quite reached the emotional depth I was hoping for. Overall, there were quite a few cringe-worthy moments that had me rolling my eyes, and nothing ever felt like it went beyond the surface level.
I wanted more rawness, more emotional depth, and a deeper exploration of the characters to make them feel real and relatable. As it stands, I never truly connected with any of them. I also think the book would have been stronger if it had committed more fully to either being a love story or a found family story rather than trying to split its focus between both.
The funny part? When I finished the book, I sent all of these thoughts to my buddy reader Sam in a voice memo, and her response was, “Oh, I’m sorry. I ended up DNF-ing that bad boy.” The irony was not lost on me.
I’m not convinced this author is for me, but maybe someday—just not in the near future—I’ll give another one of her books a try.
August 3, 2026
3.5 stars. Loved the moments captured in Italy. Several side stories went on at the same time as the main one and one could have ended sooner than it did.
This book left me longing to venture to the Amalfi Coast and eat all things lemon 🍋
This book left me longing to venture to the Amalfi Coast and eat all things lemon 🍋
July 14, 2026
I’ve never been happier to be writing a review because that means I’m finally done reading this awful book. I was expecting to be done in less than a week, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. I usually don’t give less than three stars to a book. Until now.
I’m certainly no expert when it comes to writing. I can be somewhat critical when analyzing books. But this book is just poorly written. My biggest issue is the unrealistic dialogue between the characters. It gets worse as Novak’s sentence structure is terrible. (I’d like to be her editor getting paid for not doing my job.)
In one paragraph she would be talking about her mother and then would refer to her by her first name. This happened a lot. The characters were so concerned about each other, which doesn’t seem that terrible, but it’s overkill here.
The twelve year old seems to know a lot more than a child her age. One of the male characters struggles with telling his friends and family about a medical diagnosis. Just do it already!
Events in this book occur and change quickly. The main female character suddenly learns she is adopted. Not a lot of time is spent on the aftermath of this revelation, which is one of many examples.
I’m still trying to figure out how Novak has successfully written more than 60 books in her career. There are too many outstanding books to be read to waste time on another one. Therefore, this is another one and done for me. Michaelis….out.
I’m certainly no expert when it comes to writing. I can be somewhat critical when analyzing books. But this book is just poorly written. My biggest issue is the unrealistic dialogue between the characters. It gets worse as Novak’s sentence structure is terrible. (I’d like to be her editor getting paid for not doing my job.)
In one paragraph she would be talking about her mother and then would refer to her by her first name. This happened a lot. The characters were so concerned about each other, which doesn’t seem that terrible, but it’s overkill here.
The twelve year old seems to know a lot more than a child her age. One of the male characters struggles with telling his friends and family about a medical diagnosis. Just do it already!
Events in this book occur and change quickly. The main female character suddenly learns she is adopted. Not a lot of time is spent on the aftermath of this revelation, which is one of many examples.
I’m still trying to figure out how Novak has successfully written more than 60 books in her career. There are too many outstanding books to be read to waste time on another one. Therefore, this is another one and done for me. Michaelis….out.
April 16, 2026
This was such a great book! I loved it from start to finish!
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