Meet Me in Italy

by Brenda Novak

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.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Womens Fiction, Adult

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 7, 2026

About the author

It 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-...

Reviews

[Sondra Arthur Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Karen Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Keri Swatuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advanced readers copy of Meet Me in Italy in exchange for an honest review.

Meet Me in Italy by Brenda Novak is a beautifully written story about 4 different people's perspective who are all dealing with uncertainty in their lives, and yet still being there for each other. It's a story about friendship, love, forgiveness and second chances. Even when everything seems to be falling apart, taking a step away may be just the thing you need to live the life you were meant to. A truly heartwarming story.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciate the ability to read an advance copy of any novel, with the caveat that my review is honest and real. In this case, I am extremely pleased to have been able to read Brenda Novak’s newest book, Meet Me in Italy. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Ms Novak worked with her characters, developing their personalities and letting us get to know them and watch them change as the story progressed.

It is indeed a pleasure to read her books and I think this has become one of my favorite books that she has written. Thank you!

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a lot going on, but somehow everything flows together flawlessly.  Charlotte is having trouble trying to write another book after her first novel was a huge success and thinks her success  directly correlates with her NBA husband. Her husband comes home one day and announces he wants a divorce and kicks her out of their house, but that's just the beginning. She finds out she has a half-sister, Lilly, in Italy. She decides to go there for a month, along with her best friend, Sloane, and BFFs brother, Julian. 

Lilly has had a rough childhood, but is instantly likeable. I'm so glad the author portrayed her this way. Sloane and her brother Jules each have their own issues to address and that makes the friendship bond between them and Charlotte that much stronger. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and didn't want to put it down. This book manages to feel like a comforting hug after a long day despite all the drama and Charlotte's life being a hot mess. The descriptions of the scenery and food will make you want to book your next vacation in Italy.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

[Lori Sang · Rating 5 out of 5]

The setting was wonderful! And author Brenda Novak sure knows how to write a story that grabs your attention from the first page and doesn’t let go til the last…and still you want more.

Charlotte’s marriage was imploding then she finds out she’s adopted and there’s a half sister who needs her help. There are definitely big changes happening in Charlotte’s life and the way she tackles each was so relatable. Along for the adventure and running from their own problems, are her best friend Sloane and her twin brother Julian. They meet Lily in Italy and whether they know it or not, it’s the beginning of an adventure that will change all of them. They each have big decisions to make and whatever paths they choose, their futures will surely be different than what they envision for themselves.

This title is scheduled for release on April 7, 2026.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA via NetGalley for this ARC.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved Meet Me in Italy by Brenda Novak. It’s the story of found family and just multiple relationships in general. Charlotte Williams-Jackson has just been dropped by her NBA player husband, so she moves back in with her parents in Orange County. She gets a letter which drops quite a bombshell into her life and causes her to have to spend the month in Italy on the Amalfi coast. She reconnects with some old friends, twins Julian & Sloane, who are both also facing challenges in their lives and offer to go to Italy with Charlotte to support her, and maybe get some clarity about their own struggles. Brenda’s writing is really great, as usual, and she is really good at 1. coming up with characters and situations that I want to see the outcome for/of and 2. making me want to go to Italy for all the lemon flavored croissants, gelato & drinks. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins/Harlequin for an eproof to review.

[Alyssa Knappenberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful book! I read The Summer That Changed Everything by Brenda Novak and loved it, so I knew I needed to give this book a chance.

Charlotte's husband, a famous NBA player, asks her for a divorce and requests that she move out of the house. When she finds out she has a half sister that lives in Italy that was recently orphaned after her mother's death, Charlotte decides to travel to Italy to meet her sister, Lilly. Charlotte's friends Sloane and Julian come to Italy with her.

I love how the book wasn't just told from Charlotte's POV. We also got to see sections of the book in the POV of Julian, Sloane, Ben (Sloane's husband), and Lilly. Because of this, we get to see the emotional and internal conflicts and battles occurring within these characters, which made this book so much better.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

[Diane Rey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for free from HarperCollins for an honest review.

Meet Me in Italy is about Charlotte, a new Romance writer, who is dealing with an unexpected divorce and finding out that she has a younger sister. She was never told that she is adopted.

Charlotte’s story is enhanced by a few other storylines, those of her half sister, her best friend and her friend’s twin brother. These are cleverly and seamlessly woven together to create a story that flows. The beauty of Italy and the Amalfi Coast are the backdrop to this story. It makes you wish you were there while you are routing for the characters to find their HEA.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brenda Novak’s Meet Me in Italy is the kind of book that shows up when your life is a mess, pours you a glass of wine you didn’t ask for, and gently but firmly suggests that maybe everything falling apart isn’t the worst thing that could happen.
Published by Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA, with a huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

Let’s be honest: this book had me at “emotionally wrecked writer escapes to Italy,” and then it just kept piling on the reasons I couldn’t put it down. Charlotte’s life is publicly unraveling in spectacular fashion. Her marriage implodes. Her second book deadline looms like a personal vendetta. Then she discovers her entire origin story isn’t what she thought it was, including a half-sister she never knew existed. At that point, Italy doesn’t feel like a vacation. It feels medically necessary.

What really works here is how grounded everything feels, even when the plot throws a lot at you. Yes, the setting is dreamy. Yes, the food descriptions made me hungry at inappropriate times. But this isn’t just a travel fantasy with trauma sprinkled on top. This is a story about identity, responsibility, grief, and the quiet terror of realizing you might have been living the wrong version of your own life. Charlotte isn’t magically fixed by ocean views and fresh bread. She’s still anxious, still overwhelmed, still figuring it out. That honesty made her journey feel real.

The friendships in this book deserve their own round of applause. They’re imperfect, occasionally frustrating, deeply loyal, and wonderfully human. These are the kinds of relationships that survive distance, bad decisions, and long silences. The dialogue feels natural and often sharp in a way that made me laugh out loud. There’s sarcasm, affection, and that unspoken understanding that only comes from knowing someone for most of your life. I loved how the story allowed friendships to be just as important as romance, without diminishing either.

And the romance? Subtle. Earned. Grown. It simmers instead of demanding center stage, which made it all the more satisfying. There’s no rush, no grand gestures that magically solve everything. Just two people circling honesty, timing, and vulnerability in a way that felt refreshingly adult. It added warmth without overpowering the heart of the story.

Italy itself feels like a character, not a postcard. It’s not there to distract from the emotional weight but to amplify it. The slower pace, the shared meals, the forced proximity to beauty all push these characters to confront things they’ve been avoiding. There’s something about being far from home that makes denial harder to maintain, and this book captures that perfectly.

What surprised me most was how comforting this story felt, even when dealing with grief and upheaval. There’s a steady undercurrent of hope running through every chapter. Not the shiny, everything-works-out-perfectly kind, but the quieter belief that people can survive change and still build something meaningful on the other side. I finished this book feeling lighter than when I started, which honestly feels like a small miracle.

“Sometimes the truth doesn’t destroy you. Sometimes it gives you permission to finally become yourself.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Meet Me in Italy is cozy, witty, emotionally layered, and deeply satisfying. It’s about starting over without pretending it’s easy, about choosing connection even when it’s complicated, and about learning that family doesn’t always arrive the way you expect. This is a five-star read for me, and one I’ll absolutely be recommending to anyone who loves women’s fiction with heart, humor, and a strong sense of place.

#MeetMeInItaly #BrendaNovak #BookReview #FiveStarRead #WomensFiction #RomanceReads #ItalySetBooks #AmalfiCoastVibes #FoundFamily #EmotionalReads #NetGalleyARC #MIRABooks #Bookstagram #SEOBookReview

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brenda Novak Meet Me in Italy is the kind of book that shows up when your life is a mess, pours you a glass of wine you didn’t ask for, and gently but firmly suggests that maybe everything falling apart isn’t the worst thing that could happen.
Published by Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA, with a huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

Let’s be honest: this book had me at “emotionally wrecked writer escapes to Italy,” and then it just kept piling on the reasons I couldn’t put it down. Charlotte’s life is publicly unraveling in spectacular fashion. Her marriage implodes. Her second book deadline looms like a personal vendetta. Then she discovers her entire origin story isn’t what she thought it was, including a half-sister she never knew existed. At that point, Italy doesn’t feel like a vacation. It feels medically necessary.

What really works here is how grounded everything feels, even when the plot throws a lot at you. Yes, the setting is dreamy. Yes, the food descriptions made me hungry at inappropriate times. But this isn’t just a travel fantasy with trauma sprinkled on top. This is a story about identity, responsibility, grief, and the quiet terror of realizing you might have been living the wrong version of your own life. Charlotte isn’t magically fixed by ocean views and fresh bread. She’s still anxious, still overwhelmed, still figuring it out. That honesty made her journey feel real.

The friendships in this book deserve their own round of applause. They’re imperfect, occasionally frustrating, deeply loyal, and wonderfully human. These are the kinds of relationships that survive distance, bad decisions, and long silences. The dialogue feels natural and often sharp in a way that made me laugh out loud. There’s sarcasm, affection, and that unspoken understanding that only comes from knowing someone for most of your life. I loved how the story allowed friendships to be just as important as romance, without diminishing either.

And the romance? Subtle. Earned. Grown. It simmers instead of demanding center stage, which made it all the more satisfying. There’s no rush, no grand gestures that magically solve everything. Just two people circling honesty, timing, and vulnerability in a way that felt refreshingly adult. It added warmth without overpowering the heart of the story.

Italy itself feels like a character, not a postcard. It’s not there to distract from the emotional weight but to amplify it. The slower pace, the shared meals, the forced proximity to beauty all push these characters to confront things they’ve been avoiding. There’s something about being far from home that makes denial harder to maintain, and this book captures that perfectly.

What surprised me most was how comforting this story felt, even when dealing with grief and upheaval. There’s a steady undercurrent of hope running through every chapter. Not the shiny, everything-works-out-perfectly kind, but the quieter belief that people can survive change and still build something meaningful on the other side. I finished this book feeling lighter than when I started, which honestly feels like a small miracle.

“Sometimes the truth doesn’t destroy you. Sometimes it gives you permission to finally become yourself.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Meet Me in Italy is cozy, witty, emotionally layered, and deeply satisfying. It’s about starting over without pretending it’s easy, about choosing connection even when it’s complicated, and about learning that family doesn’t always arrive the way you expect. This is a five-star read for me, and one I’ll absolutely be recommending to anyone who loves women’s fiction with heart, humor, and a strong sense of place.

#MeetMeInItaly #BrendaNovak #BookReview #FiveStarRead #WomensFiction #RomanceReads #ItalySetBooks #AmalfiCoastVibes #FoundFamily #EmotionalReads #NetGalleyARC #MIRABooks #Bookstagram

[Brieanna Bare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte Williams-Jackson is a successful author whose life suddenly unravels when her controlling husband throws her out and demands a divorce. As painful as it is, that moment becomes the wake-up call she needs to start reclaiming her life and rediscover who she really is outside of the marriage.

Just as she’s trying to pick up the pieces—and struggling with the pressure of writing her second novel—Charlotte learns something that completely changes her identity: she was adopted. Even more shocking, she has a 12-year-old half-sister named Lily living in Italy whose mother has just passed away.

Determined not to abandon family, Charlotte travels to the Amalfi Coast with her best friend Sloane and Sloane’s brother, Julian. Each of them arrives in Italy carrying their own emotional baggage and complicated lives, but Lily quickly becomes the heart of the story. Everyone falls in love with this bright, resilient young girl, and Charlotte is faced with difficult decisions about Lily’s future and what family truly means.

Along the way, Charlotte and Julian—longtime friends—begin to develop deeper feelings for each other. Their chemistry is undeniable, but Julian struggles with the idea of pulling Charlotte into the difficult challenges he’s facing in his own life. Their emotional push and pull makes the romance feel genuine and heartfelt.

Sloane’s storyline adds another powerful layer. She’s dealing with serious marital problems because her husband wants children while she’s unsure if motherhood is the path she wants. Watching her bond with Lily through cooking, reading, and spending time together brings warmth and reflection to her journey as she wrestles with balancing her career, independence, and marriage.

What I loved most about this book is how real the characters feel. Each of them has their own inner struggles, and watching them support each other while trying to move forward in their lives was incredibly moving. Lily brings them all together in the most unexpected way, reminding them what love, family, and connection really look like.

Overall, this was an emotional, heartfelt story about second chances, friendship, love, and redefining family. I truly couldn’t stop reading because I needed to know if everyone would find their happily ever after.

[Gwen Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Healing Hurts in a Beautiful Setting
Author Brenda Novak had a very specific reason for setting her newest novel on the Amalfi Coast of Italy (more on that later), but, in some ways, “Meet Me in Italy” would have engaged me just as much in any setting. The beauty of taking four people from the United States and placing them in a foreign country is that it forces are characters to focus on their issues.
Our main character, Charlotte, is facing the reality that her life has imploded in three distinct ways, through no fault of her own. With help from her childhood friends, Sloane and Julian, she travels to Italy to meet her young half-sister.
Although Charlotte’s journey brings everyone together, Sloane, Julian and Lilly also have their own issues to wrestle with. For some authors, four storylines create a disjointed tale. In Novak’s talented hands, however, all four threads are woven together beautifully.
I enjoyed meeting Charlotte, Sloane and Julian, even if I didn’t always agree with their choices. Their respective parents, although minor characters, added their own spice to the story.
The expected HEA was deeply satisfying to me, even having to suffer through one character’s jerk moves toward the end!
Now — as to why Novak set this title in Italy. She spent time in Italy, particularly the Amalfi Coast, for her daughter’s wedding and decided to set a book in that area. I do wonder how that internal conversation would go. “Let’s take a young woman with what looks like a charmed life from the outside, rip the rug out from under then send her to Italy to carve a new path for herself.”
However it happened, I found Novak’s new title, “Meet Me in Italy” an engrossing read that kept me entertained to the end. And now I, too, want to visit the Amalfi Coast one day!

[Tanisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a longtime romance lover, and I always get excited when a book brings something a little different to the table. The moment I saw that this story was set in Italy, I knew I wanted to read it. Italy has been on my dream-travel list for years, so any book that lets me “visit” through the pages is an easy yes for me. That alone made me eager to dive in.

This book pulled me in from the very beginning, and I enjoyed following the characters as they explored both Italy and themselves. One thing I will say, though, is that I personally prefer stories with more detailed character descriptions. I am the type of reader who loves to picture characters clearly in my mind, and the vagueness here made that a little harder for me. Even so, it did not take away from my enjoyment of the story, especially because the emotional journeys were so front and center.

One of the things I appreciated most is that the book is told from four different points of view. Since each character is on their own path of growth and discovery, getting a glimpse into all of their thoughts really added depth to the story. I felt like I understood their motivations so much better because of it.

All in all, I really did enjoy this book. It had heart, beautiful scenery, and characters who were each learning something important about themselves. My only wish is that the epilogue had taken us a little further into the future, because I was not quite ready to say goodbye.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

[Read Rest Recharge · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author, and I was drawn to three things about it:
1. The book’s setting is in Italy, one of my favorite places in the world.
2. It was recommended to fans of Rebecca Serle’s One Italian Summer, which I absolutely loved!
3. It was listed as a contemporary romance, which is one of my favorite genres.

The story is about a young woman, going through a divorce from a professional athlete, who travels to the Amalfi Coast to meet the sister she never knew she had. She brings along two of her closest friends, and they are planning to stay in an AirBnB for a month. Unfortunately, I felt like the book fell short and didn’t live up to my expectations.

Each of the characters had their own issues, and I feel like their stories were not developed enough. I would have preferred to have fewer characters with more in-depth information about them. What are their histories? How did their issues and problems develop? But I feel like the surface was barely scratched, and the end came quickly, all wrapped up. It was almost like two different stories could have been written, one about the two sisters and another pure romance.

I may be in the minority with my opinions, but I take full responsibility for them. As I previously mentioned, this is the first book I have read by this author, so I am not familiar with her style.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Harlequin for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Abigayle Shuey]

⭐️: 4
🎤 Highlight Worthy Quotes:
“Having no choice is different from having no opinion.”
“Just because something’s broken doesn’t make it worthless,”
Sometimes you have to cut your losses no matter how much you’ve invested.”
“Something can be hard and still be worth it.”

🗣️ My review:
I first learned about Brenda Novak through another author that I follow on Instagram and she mentioned Brenda Novak’s book club! I looked into and realized all the books for 2026 seemed to be something I’d be interested in reading! I had yet to read one of Brenda Novak’s books but being part of her monthly book subscription- I was given access to read her upcoming release early!

Meet Me in Italy is such a great book! It covers several difficult topics but does them in such a way that makes them relatable yet not so hard to read! Following Charlotte’s journey from beginning to end was so fun to see her growth and strength! She’s so many women in today’s world and I was rooting for her the whole way! Then Lilly- oh my goodness! The child has been through more in her life than most adults every experience yet she has a heart of gold! For Charlotte to have friends and family like she does- it just makes you feel like you’re immersed in their lives and cheering for them all to have their happy ending even if that happy ending will come with some burdens and difficulties! If you’re looking for a good book that has all the makings of a love story (and not just romantically) - this is it!

[Jodi]

The novel focuses around Charlotte who is married to a NBA star, Cliff, who dropped the bomb of wanting a divorce because she is too accommodating and he wants to enjoy his stardom. Charlotte, debut novel success and having trouble writing the second book experiencing. stress for being in public divorce. She went back home to her parents and her best friend Jules came to encourage her and keep her from going down a rabbit hole of depression. Jules has a plan to make Cliff jealous. In the meantime she receives a letter in the mail from an attorney and thinking it was about the divorce discovers she has a half sister as well as Charlotte being adopted. Their mother died in a car accident, in Italy where her sister is currently resideing So she, Julian, his sister Sloane who is Charlotte's best friend rent a place there to get away and try to determine the best course for Charlotte's half sister Lilly. The book dives into the decisions, family and how to determine what is best in their individual lives. They all have important life saving decisions to make. Follow them on their journey and see if their decisions get made. The characters are relatable except Sabrina, and the writing flows well. There is introspection as well as dicsussions that will soothe the soul. Thank you to NetGalley, Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What’s better in the middle of winter than to escape to Italy and the Amalfi Coast with Brenda Novak’s Meet Me in Italy?

While most of the story follows Charlotte, a new author living in Southern California and going through a very public divorce from her NBA player husband, there is so much more going on with other characters. Amid dealing with her soon-to-be ex-husband, Charlotte is contacted by an attorney and discovers she has a 12-year-old half-sister named Lilly, and her own world, as she knew it, is upended. The girl has no other immediate family. This provides the perfect opportunity for her and her two best friends, sister and brother Sloane and Julian, to fly to Italy to meet the girl. Ms. Novak weaves the multiple POVs beautifully, and we get to know so much more about Sloane, Julian, and Lilly. The story, realistic scenarios, and dialogue flow perfectly. The setting on the Italian coast provides a stunning and occasionally much-needed respite from Charlotte’s and the other characters’ often intense and messy personal situations as they deal with heartbreak, grief, friendship, marriage, family, and re-examining their own lives. Nothing comes easy, including romance, and I liked how honestly that and other issues were addressed. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Sharyn Stieglitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte is on the brink of divorce from her NBA player husband when she receives the shock of a lifetime about her past, and finds out she has a half sister, living in Italy. Lilly, her twelve year old half sister has just lost her mother, and Charlotte is her only living blood relative to care for her. Charlotte flies to Italy with her best friend Sloane, and her twin brother Julian, to meet Lilly and decide what's best for her. As Charlotte and Lilly get to know each other, they start to form a bond that only sisters can share. Sloane and Julian are also going through life changing matters in their personal lives, and the month in Italy is a time for them to escape, and for everyone to figure out what truly matters in life.

As someone who loves the Amalfi Coast, this book was fantastic. I especially loved the representation of chronic illness, found family, and strong women. Charlotte had been through a lot in her marriage, and it took being away from her soon to be ex husband to figure out how manipulative he was, and I loved that she was able to find herself, and stand up for herself. While this book deals with heavy topics, it's done so in a respectful way. This book pulled on my heartstrings and had me rooting for all four characters the whole time, and I enjoyed seeing the relationships develop, and the love grow.

[Laura W · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ Thank you to Brenda Novak, Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. ✨

Wow, Brenda Novak does it again! Charlotte is reeling after her famous basketball husband kicks her out, declaring he wants a divorce. With her second novel overdue, she’s determined to prove her success isn’t tied to her high-profile relationship. Taking refuge at her parents’ home, she receives a letter from a lawyer that changes everything: her birth mother has passed away, and she has a half-sister, Lily, who’s been orphaned in Italy.

Needing a break from reality, Charlotte heads to Italy with her best friend Sloane and Sloane’s brother, Julian, to meet Lily and discover this new part of her family. Along the way, Charlotte learns more about her birth mother and the challenges she faced, forcing Charlotte to dig deep and reflect on what truly matters in life.

Novak’s vivid descriptions of the Amalfi Coast make you feel like you’re right there, soaking in the sights and sounds of Italy. By the end, Charlotte faces a heartfelt choice: is she ready to take on the responsibility of another person when she returns home?

If you enjoy heartwarming romance with rich character development, healing, and discovering who your true people are, this novel is for you!

[Sue]

Brenda Novak never disappoints and I forget why I do t seek her out more . The story follows a woman who joins a group trip to Italy while navigating unexpected emotional upheaval — including the discovery of her new half sister, Lilly, which adds real depth and emotional tension to the story. Watching that relationship unfold, with all its awkwardness and vulnerability, ended up being one of the most compelling parts of the book.

The Italian setting is vivid and comforting, giving the story a true sense of escape while the characters work through very real, messy emotions. The romance stays firmly in the background. It’s soft, slow, and understated — more of a possibility than a driving force. While that fits the reflective tone, I did find myself wishing for a bit more chemistry and romantic payoff.

Overall, this reads more like women’s fiction than romance, with the focus on personal growth and complicated family connections rather than swoony moments. A solid choice if you’re craving travel vibes, emotional discovery, and a gentle, low-drama read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Brenda's next release, Meet Me In Italy releases in April 2026. I was given an advanced copy directly from the author, in exchange for an honest review.

I love that Charlotte is a newer author, she's attempting to write her second novel after a very successful start with her first book. Unfortunately, she's having a very public divorce - her husband is a popular sports star and she's immediately thrown into the headlines.

After learning of a younger sister, Lilly that she didn't even know existed, she decides to spend time in Italy getting to know her new family member, hopeful that the time away would also help with her book and what to do with her own life. Unexpectedly, her long-time friends, Julian and Sloane go along to support her, as they have their own reasons for wanting to take a break from their lives as well.

Brenda once again brings us a beautiful story. An emotional story of friendship ( Sloane and Julian are actually siblings), and family. The book explored what family means, how fragile or strong a marriage can be, that parents make mistakes too ( even while trying their best), and friends can also be our chosen family.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

There really is a lot going on in Meet Me in Italy.

Charlotte's NBA husband dumps her, so she moves back home with her parents (at nearly 30 years old) and reconnects with her best friend and her twin brother. Then when she opens the letter from a lawyer (thinking its her husband filing for divorce), she discovers that she was adopted and that she has a 12 year old sister and that her biological mother passed away. And if that's not enough a prominent character has a disease and Charlotte has been a bit estranged from her friends because her NBA husband is a bit of a jerk.

Oh ... and the 12 year old is on the Amalfi Coast so Charlotte and her friends go there to find out more about her sisters situation. The food described is mouth watering and the area is now on my bucket list.

Once I started reading, I was pretty hooked.

Many thanks to NetGalley, author Brenda Novak and Harlequin Trade Publishing for approving my request to read Meet Me in Italy in exchange for an honest review.

Approx 384 pages, estimated publication date is Apr 7, 2026.

[Traci Hoffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic story about friendships and family!
Meet Me In Italy is the story of Charlotte- an author trying to write her second novel, whose life is upended by a shocking and very public divorce. While still reeling from that change, Charlotte receives another shock when she finds out that she was adopted and has a 12 year old half sister in need of a guardian.
With her two best friends, twins Sloane and Julian, Charlotte travels to Italy to meet her sister and try to determine what to do next. Sloane has her own big life decisions to make, and Julian is secretly dealing with a devastating diagnosis.
I loved the story of the friendships between Charlotte, Sloane and Julian, along with the relationship between the sisters, and the romance that also develops for Charlotte. The beautiful scenery of the Amalfi Coast and the food descriptions become an amazing character of their own. Highly recommend!
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[LibraryNinja_Beritk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Give me Brenda Novak and an exotic location like the Amalfi Coast and I'll follow her anywhere. Adopted under a closed case, Charlotte Williams-Jackson, a debut novelist and married to an NBA superstar, has been tossed like yesterday's garbage from her famous husband. She receives a letter explaining that she has a preteen half-sister living in Italy who needs a guardian. With her life in shambles, she heads to Italy to meet her half-sister, taking her best friend Sloane and her brother, Jules with them. What happens next provides substantive issues that must abound in adopted families' lives- who was my former family? Who is this new family? Also, what happens when you get away from a one-sided relationship and are given the respect you desire. Found family has been written brilliantly.

I can't thank Harlequin enough for giving me the chance to read this ARC on NetGalley and provide an honest review.
#NetGalley #MeetMeInItaly #Brendanovak #Goodreads #libraryninja📚

[DeeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

MEET ME IN ITALY by Brenda Novak
Release Date April 7, 2026

I have had the pleasure of seeing the Amalfi Coast. Brenda portrayed it perfectly. If I hadn’t already been there I’d be packing my bags today to go see it in person.
Charlotte has been blessed with some amazing friends. She’s going through a traumatic divorce and her friend stepped in to help her through it. She’s supposed to be writing her second novel but she’s terrified that the first novel was a hit because of her famous hockey player husband. Her friends are trying to convince her that it was her talent that made that book a hit.
On top of a divorce that she’s going through she finds out that she was adopted and she has a sister that needs her to step in and take guardianship.

I was fortunate to get an early copy of this book and read it on my way home from vacation. I could not put it down.

It is definitely a five star read and one you do not want to pass up

[Beth Hunsberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book.


This story has a lot going on in the initial pages - Charlotte is an author working on her second novel after a very successful debut, her NBA-star husband tells her that he wants a divorce, and she finds out a half-sister of hers that she never knew about has been orphaned in Italy, setting off conversations with her parents about her adoption that she never knew about.

Charlotte's best friends, siblings Sloane and Julian, are eager to join Charlotte as she plans a trip to Italy to meet her half-sister, Lilly. The spirit of family leads Charlotte during those weeks as she wants to be present for Lilly, learn more about her own birth mother and make important decisions about her own future. The variety of story lines settle in together nicely after several chapters.

[Janene Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly? I knew nothing about this book, but the title made it a must read for me! This spring I am heading to Italy for the first time so the title caught my attention! I am so glad it did, because I really enjoyed the storyline! The setting was enthralling, the characters relateable, and the plot points drove the story. I read this in a couple of sittings. I was invested in Charlotte, Lilly, Sloane, and Julian's relationships and how their storylines intersected to create a complex story that I wanted to see how it ended! Novak's writing is descriptive and this was the kind of read that made me feel like I went away for awhile, lost in the characters and their swoon worthy villa. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advanced readers copy of Meet Me in Italy in exchange for an honest review.

[Bev Stegmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brenda Novak never lets me down with her heartwarming reads. Fantastic storyline and characters in this well written book. Charlotte is devastated that her pro-basketball husband has decided to end their marriage for no reason other than he wanted to be a free man. Reeling from the fallout she sustains another blow to find out she is adopted, her biological mother has died and she has a 12 year old half sister that is all alone in the world with know one but Charlotte to care for her. Add in two wonderful childhood friends, a book she is authoring that is on a 3 month deadline and throw in a healing trip to the Amalfi coast and you have a heartbreaking, heartwarming read. Recommend this book highly. I was given an advanced reader copy of this book by the author and I am freely sharing my review. #brendanovak @authorbrendanovak #harpercollinspublisher @harpercollinspublisher