The Accidental Italian

by Michael Hartwig

The Accidental Italian is about vacations, the ones that surprise us with adventures we hadn't planned, discoveries that have more to do with an interior terrain to explore, not the itineraries we had mapped out in advance. Theo had hoped for a quiet retreat on the Amalfi Coast, but the sounds, tastes, and visuals of the sun-drenched village sweep him off his feet, most notably the strikingly handsome man, Raffaello, lounging on the sunbed next to him. Raffaello and Theo's lives become entangled when Theo overhears criminals plotting a terrible crime, and Raffaello, an undercover detective, enlists Theo to help him catch the men. Both try to resist the allure of the other, but as they spend more time together, destiny has other things in mind. Theo stirs up desires Raffaello thought he had buried ages ago when he married his wife, and Raffaello reminds Theo of his first male crush, one that has haunted him since adolescence. Their deepening and steamy relationship faces headwinds in Rome, when Raffaello's prominent family and homophobic colleagues cause him to lose nerve and pull back from Theo. But the story doesn't end there. Through a strange twist of fate, another man enters both of their lives. The plot thickens as criminal corruption is finally exposed, Raffaello realizes he can no longer flee his sexual inclinations, and Theo's discovery of family secrets inspires him to open his heart again. From Positano to Capri, and Rome to New York, this tender, sensual coming-of-age romance includes lots of eye candy, suspense, and evocative settings. The Accidental Italian celebrates the crosscurrents of life, the way fate forces a reckoning, and how eros draws us to people we need at crucial moments in our lives.

Genres: Queer

262 pages, Paperback

Published October 7, 2025

About the author

Michael Hartwig is a Boston and Provincetown-based author of LGBTQ fiction. Hartwig is an accomplished professor of religion and ethics as well as an established artist.

Hartwig grew up in Dallas but spread his wings early on – living in Rome for five years, moving to New England on his return, and then working in the area of educational travel to the Middle East and Europe.

His fiction weaves together his interest in LGBTQ+ studies, ethics, religion, art, languages, and travel. The books are set in international settings. They include rich local descriptions and are peppered with the local language. Characters grapple not only with their own gender and sexuality but with prevailing paradigms of sexuality and family in the world around them. Hartwig has a facility for fast-paced plots that transport readers to other worlds. They are romantic and steamy as well as thoughtful and engaging. Hartwig imagines rich characters who are at crossroads in their lives. In many instances, these crossroads mirror cultural ones. There’s plenty of sexual tension to keep readers on the edge of their seats, but the stories are enriched by broader considerations – historical, cultural, and philosophical.

Reviews

[Mark Kwesi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet novel in a mesmerising Mediterranean setting, but sometimes it doesn't seem to know what it wants to be: a steamy romance, a travel guide, a crime story? It mixes all of them together, and some storylines disappear and reappear quite randomly. The prose is often on-the-nose, repetitive, clunky and full of clichés, especially in the fantasy and sex scenes, which often read like instructions for soft p*rn (including logistics I couldn't care less about) – and of course, all men in the novel are hot, white, muscular, and well-endowed. The narrative perspective also shifts between characters without much logic. Despite its flaws, Michael Hartwig's The Accidental Italian is still a sexy little novel; a competent gay romance novel, no more and no less.

[Antony Wairiuko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steamy and Suspenseful

The Accidental Italian is a 244-page book by Michael Hartwig. The October 2025 book has 24 subtitled chapters. 

Earlier on, protagonist Theo Costa navigates his way through an Italian cliffside village that “would be his home for the next two weeks” in the wake of leaving New York “to heal his scars” after breaking up with his spouse who “wanted to open our relationship…things had gone stale.”

However, his me time takes a new twist when, on the beach, he stumbles on, and starts fantasizing about, a hairy, muscular stranger called Raffaello Russo whom he gets acquainted with when Theo unexpectedly finds him behind the desk in a small police bureau while reporting two men, French and Italian, he overheard discussing an organized crime’s “exchange, the disguise, the documents, and the payment.”

Raffaello, a special police force sergeant who had hit a dead end and was looking for new leads, urges Theo to join their police surveillance unit in a music club “to confirm who we are looking for…we can pretend to be two tourists listening to music and chatting.” Thus, when he asks Theo, “you’re alone? ...married?”, prompting him to reveal he was left for someone better amid the officer’s perilous “internal battle…his heart race and his hands perspire…was wrestling with more than crime…vulnerable…let down his guard,” it ignites a romantic spark. 

Read this steamy, suspenseful book to find out how what once happened shapes what happens next…where even the call of duty acknowledges when the heart wants what it wants.

[Donna Emperador · Rating 4 out of 5]

More than just a lgbtq romance

While THE ACCIDENTAL ITALIAN is mainly a gay romance novel about a man finding love again after a break up, it is so much more.

There are elements of international intrigue when the main character overhears details of a criminal plot.

It is also about exploring identity and accepting oneself, as another character explores his homosexual feelings and has to figure out how this fits into his current life with his wife, kids, and career.

On top of that, the story takes place in Italy. The author does an amazing job of describing scenery, people, and history in such detail that the reader will definitely want to book a flight.

This is a great piece of lgbtq fiction as well as a good read for those who like traveling, as long as they are not put off by detailed sex scenes.

[Larry H · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up

Chalk this up to another book I hadn’t heard of but stumbled upon. This was just wonderful in so many ways—any book set on the Amalfi Coast already has an advantage, but what a beautiful story.

With his marriage over, Theo decides to take a vacation to Positano. He’s not really a fan of Italy, but a friend had booked a hotel room she couldn’t use, so how could he pass it up? As soon as he arrives, he blown away by the beauty of the town, the water, and the handsome Italian men.

His beach lounger is next to Raffaello and Renata, an Italian couple. Theo is immediately drawn to Raffaello, but thinking the two are married, he keeps a low profile and doesn’t acknowledge that he speaks Italian. When at a dance club one night, Theo overhears two men talking about trafficking young children. While he doesn’t want to get involved, he needs to alert the police.

Much to his surprise, the police detective he reports the conversation to is Raffaello. When he enlists Theo in a return trip to the club to see if he can identify the men he heard, the two develop a quick rapport—and there’s no doubt they’re attracted to one another.

Theo reawakens dormant feelings in Raffaello, feelings he has tried to hide for a long time. He knows he would love to be with Theo, but can he risk his life and his career for a possibility? Although the two draw ever closer, Raffaello cannot give Theo all he wants to.

This is a beautiful book, filled with longing, coming to terms with your own issues and reclaiming yourself, and some really hot steam. The story is definitely an emotional one in so many ways, and I couldn’t get enough. And I needed to go to Italy pronto.

Check out my best reads of 2025 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2025.html .

See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.

Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.

[Donna Costello · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE ACCIDENTAL ITALIAN is a charming and compelling novel which will grab the reader from the initial first pages.
The characters are rich and vivid, stepping off the page and into the reader’s living room as both Theo and Raffaello confront their own demons. The author tackles very real issues of alienation and the challenges surrounding being gay and married to a woman. Raffaello’s journey was particularly interesting because you couldn’t wait to see how it turned out, whether he finally accepted his true self or bowed the perceptions of others.
The author was excellent at taking the reader and plonking them directly into wonderful Italian landscape with his vibrant descriptions of the places, the sights, the sounds and everything else that makes up the perfect scene.
Overall this was a very enjoyable book that will capture you almost immediately.

[Constance · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Accidental Italian by Michael Hartwig is a scintillating romance that doesn’t disappoint! Set in the heart of Positano, Hartwig brings the scenery to life with vivid descriptions of the sights, sounds, and scents of Italy. Not to mention his vivid, slightly provocative descriptions of Theo’s crushes. The story had me hooked right from the start- being a gay, heartbroken man on vacation, Theo makes for a unique main character. Hartwig does an excellent job of fleshing him out and bringing life to the world that revolves around him. The romance is steamy and it’s all delivered in a fun, enjoyable read.

[Charles Malumba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Hartwig's The Accidental Italian is one of the best romance's I've read in a while. Hartwick drew me in with the introduction of the quirky, emotionally vulnerable main character Theo. From there, he kept readers hooked with a plot that was simple yet fun. The Accidental Italian is a mix of crime mystery and romance in the best way possible, so fans of romance as well as mystery can enjoy it. As the plot develops, so too does Theo's relationship with his police partner Raphaello, and that relationship makes readers want to stay and see where it goes. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's got everything from steamy scenes to suspense.

[Phin Ejike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in sunny Italy along the Amalfi coast, Michael Hartwig brought a same-sex romance to life in a fun way. The best way to describe this book would be if buddy cop met romance.

Theo, the main character, is a typical gay man- slightly reserved (save for one or two close female friends), with wild fantasies. It’s these wild, vivid descriptions, told from Theo’s point of view, that give the story a steamy edge. However, it’s not all steamy romance. There is a fun thriller plot that runs concurrently to their romance, and it all comes to a climax when Theo and his newfound love interest embark on a mission together.

[Hannah Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Accidental Italian is a very solid read if you're looking for a pretty straightforward buddy-cop-meets-romance, featuring gayness with a bit of a thriller vibe.

Certainly not a bad read, but it felt predictable, and the closeted male cop thing is a pretty tired trope. Well written and replete with some twists and turns, folks who love gay dramas with a bit of mystery thrown in will enjoy this book.

The descriptions of Italy were beautiful and engaging, and Michael Hartwing has a knack for writing steamy tension. The main character, Theo, felt authentic and easy to relate to. I appreciate Hartwig's craft and hope he continues to write!

[John Obi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Hartwig did a good job in this LGBTQ romance novel. Theo, a man who goes on vacation in Italy despite struggling to accept his Italian heritage, met Raffaelo, a closeted cop, while investigating a kidnapping ring. What I liked most about this book was the way in which Raffaelo's character was handled. Hartwig was on to something when he created a character who is married with kids, but struggles with gay fantasies. The romance feels very intense and dramatic, yet the novel begins in a more light-hearted way.

[val! · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Theo heard the church bells ring the hour. The sound was soothing. Time had been healing. Time promised love.”


Ahh ok 🫣. This one was so tough to rate because the descriptions were stellar and it was super engaging to read, but it had some pacing issues and jumped way too quickly from idea to idea.

The fact that there was 3 meet cutes and 2 separate crimes going on in just under 300 pages was a lot to unpack, i feel like it totally could have been simplified to be more poignant. Some parts were a bit unrealistic, like it was trying a bit too hard to get things to work out and some things were way over dramatized or not enough so. Some of the writing had small issues, like repetitive phrasing, but the italian parts were incorporated pretty well and i liked that.

However, i do wanna say that it did a really great job at creating suspense and tension within the plot and even had a plot twist that i was not at all suspecting. It was a pretty fun read and i went through it really quickly.

4/5⭐️

[Scovia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theo goes to Italy alone because his friend couldn't make it. Meaning he gets a free room to himself. He needed time to heal from his breakup. The vacation turns into a mix of experiences; he gets into a situationship, and he gets stood up on a date. He experienced a guest at the hotel getting cheated on. And the worst part is he got to hear about sex trafficking of children. And he has to get involved to try to rescue them. This isn't how he planned his vacation to go.

[Doc R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything and more

Th Accidental Italian is true Hartwig- themes common to the challenges of being gay, Roman history and art, Italian culture and lovable characters. Hartwig’s stories make you think and wonder. But this story heats up more than his typical books-and it works! Intelligente, dolce e sexy-indulge!

[Sante Tesolin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s impossible not to enjoy any story whose background is Positano, Rome and Manhattan. There were more plot twists than I’d anticipated. Characters are interesting. Plot kept me wanting to finish the book. I love the multilingual aspect. There could have been more attention to greater detail in plot development given the twists and turns. But an entirely compelling romantic story.

[Matt · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

3.6? A good book in many ways and started off stronger. As it progressed, it became more flimsy and unbelievable as well as more superficial. This could have been a good “deeper” “serious” book, but didn’t pan out.

[Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several interesting themes, settings and characters but the multiple contrived, unbelievable plot points were a major distraction.

[Piscesqueen · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Under 300 pages, it’s hot and well paced but wanted more from it, something’s felt rushed but still entertaining enough to read