Villa Coco

by Andrew Sean Greer

⭐ The new novel by the author of the international bestseller Less, winner of the Pulitzer Prize 2018 ⭐
'What, at first, appears to be a gloriously bonkers escapade amidst the Tuscan landscape gradually transforms into the most beautiful paean to youth, to age and to the fulfilment of love. Absolute joy'
Sarah Winman, author of Still Life

'A tale of a young American man who spends a season in Tuscany working as an archivist for a very charismatic Baronessa. It's a lyrical and witty reminder that the most meaningful life - and certainly the one with the best stories - can emerge from the deepest chaos... A great treasure'
Katherine Heiny, author of Standard Deviation

'Eccentric, funny, I adored it'
Nina Stibbe, author of Man at the Helm


A coming-of-age novel, a love story and a tale of life-enhancing Pulitzer Prize winner Andrew Sean Greer showcases his wit, sophistication and deep knowledge of focaccia in this magical tale set amidst the Tuscan hills.

Broke and directionless, our young man takes a job in the Italian countryside as the all-purpose assistant to Lisabetta, known to her friends as Coco - a strong-willed, wealthy widow of great local renown.

Trained as an archivist, he thinks he's been hired to catalogue the contents of the beautiful, crumbling mansion nestled in the green Tuscan hills... but what are his actual duties? Days are spent ridding the house of a marten - whatever that is - locating the antediluvian septic system, entertaining an endless carousel of guests (from bohemian painters to elderly princesses to unnervingly handsome nephews), attending a funeral in order to make off with the urn, and not inadvertently sabotaging Coco's great and final plan-to locate the lost love of her life and be reunited before it's too late.

As summer turns into autumn and the Italian countryside begins to work its magic on our protagonist, the secrets of Villa Coco and its inhabitants are slowly brought to light - and with them, an unforgettable story of the enduring power of friendship.

Praise for Andrew Sean Greer
'Bedazzling, bewitching and be-wonderful' New York Times
'I recommend it with my whole heart' Ann Patchett
'Brilliant' Guardian
'Basically perfect' Dolly Alderton
'Unforgettable' Independent

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Italy, Adult, Contemporary

288 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication June 9, 2026

About the author

Andrew Sean Greer (born 1970) is an American novelist and short story writer.

He is the bestselling author of The Story of a Marriage, which The New York Times has called an “inspired, lyrical novel,” and The Confessions of Max Tivoli, which was named one of the best books of 2004 by the San Francisco Chronicle and received a California Book Award.

The child of two scientists, Greer studied writing with Robert Coover and Edmund White at Brown University, where he was the commencement speaker at his own graduation, where his unrehearsed remarks, critiquing Brown's admissions policies, caused a semi-riot. After years in New York working as a chauffeur, theater tech, television extra and unsuccessful writer, he moved to Missoula, Montana, where he received his Master of Fine Arts from The University of Montana, from where he soon moved to Seattle and two years later to San Francisco where he now lives. He is currently a fellow at the New York Public Library Cullman Center. He is an identical twin.

While in San Francisco, he began to publish in magazines before releasing a collection of his stories, How It Was for Me. His stories have appeared in Esquire, The Paris Review, The New Yorker and other national publications, and have been anthologized most recently in The Book of Other People, and The PEN/ O. Henry Prize Stories 2009. His first novel, The Path of Minor Planets, was published in 2001.

Reviews

[Angela M · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author in a letter to his readers wonders “ whatever happened to the “charm novel” ….a world in which even the worst of circumstances could provide a funny story and a sense of hope.” So he decided to write one and he has indeed written a story with charm. A young American man is hired by a ninety two year old Italian Barroness to catalog her art and artifacts at her villa. “Our young man” as he is referred to doesn’t find the luxurious villa he imagined , nor the structured job he expected . Instead he becomes her assistant, finds a villa in need of repair, and a parade of eccentric characters . In addition to the Barronessa, there’s an aging principessa, a quirky artist, and more . An escapade to say the least, picking olives and grapes, helping with repairs, listening to the Baronessa’s stories before he can get down to the work he was hired to do. Some hilarious moments, some tender moments, some moments of awakening in this gentle, funny and entertaining novel with endearing characters . It’s full of life and love and is reflective on doing what you’re meant to do and meant to be.

I received a copy of this book from Doubleday through NetGalley.

[Kim van Alkemade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful novel immersed me in the richly-drawn world of Baronessa Coco and her eclectic Italian villa stuffed with art and artifacts which a young American archivist has come to catalog. Thwarted by Coco's capricious whims and secret agendas, our archivist struggles to accomplish his task, never realizing his true vocation is less about making lists and more about embracing adventure. Mesmerizing descriptions, fully-realized characters, and hypnotically gorgeous prose drew me in and held me fast until the final lovely scene. Fabulous and affecting, I loved this novel!

[Stroop · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Villa Coco, our narrator accepts a job with vague duties. His work for an eccentric widow in Italy is full of twists and turns, and it might just turn out to be the adventure of a lifetime. Recommended for readers in the mood for a zany and zippy novel.

Thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

[Timothy Deer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A triumph, I’m sure.

[Sam (world’s gassiest) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little slow in parts but I was quite tickled.