What do you think?
Rate this book
Daughters of Naples
Diana Giovinazzo returns to the historical genre in a lush and thrilling novel, perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah and Elena Ferrante.
Set in Naples, Italy during World War II, three sisters must survive in the face of danger.
Naples, 1940. The three Cozzolino sisters, Leta, Marcella, and Bianca live together in their small home during Mussolini’s domination. Leta runs the De Rosa dress shop where she takes care of her mother-in-law while her husband is at war. Marcella is an apprentice to a midwife, bringing up the next generation of Italian soldiers, much to the pride of her boyfriend who is inspired by Mussolini’s rule. But when their youngest sister, Bianca, decides to join the partigiani—the Italian resistance—after her childhood sweetheart is sent to war, familial tensions are brought to light.
The sisters are soon at odds, questioning where they stand in the war effort. When Leta’s old flame, Pasquale, asks if he can use the dress shop to send messages for the partigiani, she refuses. But when Naples is bombed, the sisters are forced to reevaluate their stances and how far they are willing to go for each other and their country. With the threat of Nazism looming over the city after Mussolini is ousted, the Cozzolino sisters will have to confront what they are willing to sacrifice, and their loyalties to each other and to their country.
This inspiring novel examines the true nature of sisterly bonds and what one will do to survive.
Set in Naples, Italy during World War II, three sisters must survive in the face of danger.
Naples, 1940. The three Cozzolino sisters, Leta, Marcella, and Bianca live together in their small home during Mussolini’s domination. Leta runs the De Rosa dress shop where she takes care of her mother-in-law while her husband is at war. Marcella is an apprentice to a midwife, bringing up the next generation of Italian soldiers, much to the pride of her boyfriend who is inspired by Mussolini’s rule. But when their youngest sister, Bianca, decides to join the partigiani—the Italian resistance—after her childhood sweetheart is sent to war, familial tensions are brought to light.
The sisters are soon at odds, questioning where they stand in the war effort. When Leta’s old flame, Pasquale, asks if he can use the dress shop to send messages for the partigiani, she refuses. But when Naples is bombed, the sisters are forced to reevaluate their stances and how far they are willing to go for each other and their country. With the threat of Nazism looming over the city after Mussolini is ousted, the Cozzolino sisters will have to confront what they are willing to sacrifice, and their loyalties to each other and to their country.
This inspiring novel examines the true nature of sisterly bonds and what one will do to survive.
336 pages, Paperback
Published July 21, 2026
About the author
Diana Giovinazzo
5 books284 followersDiana Giovinazzo is the co-creator of Wine, Women and Words, a weekly literary podcast featuring interviews with authors over a glass of wine. Diana lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband and menagerie.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 12, 2026
A coming of age tale of sisterhood, sacrifice, and love. Set in Naples during WW2, it’s a refreshing take on a familiar time period. Definitely worth a read! Thank you to the author for this advance copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Beautiful tale of three sisters.
Read it!
4.5 stars ⭐
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
tags: historical fiction, family, women, WWII
Set in WWII Italy, Daughters of Naples follows the path of Leta, Marcella, and Bianca as they navigate ties to love, to the past, and to each other. I loved the three women, and wouldn't be able to choose a favorite. I loved the high eaves of the church, the stormy beach, and the locket in the rubble. I loved the book, even if it didn't change my life.
"What are you doing here?" Marcella asked, unsure if she wanted to hug them or hit them.
"They wouldn't let us inside unless we were hurt," Leta said, making room for her sister on the bench.
"I offered to wound her," Bianca said, handing some crackers to Marcella. "But Leta didn't like that idea."
But most of all — having four siblings myself— I enjoyed the dynamic of their small family, even as the war tested it to the breaking point.
Read it!
4.5 stars ⭐
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
tags: historical fiction, family, women, WWII
May 18, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for my honest review:
I read this as an ARC, and while it wasn’t one of my favorite WWII historical fiction novel, I still found it to be an enjoyable read. The story follows three sisters navigating life in war-torn Naples, and I thought their relationship with each other felt very authentic and relatable. I enjoyed following their journeys and seeing how the war shaped their lives in different ways. The setting was interesting to me, especially since Naples isn’t a location I see explored as often in WWII fiction. Overall, this was a solid read.
I read this as an ARC, and while it wasn’t one of my favorite WWII historical fiction novel, I still found it to be an enjoyable read. The story follows three sisters navigating life in war-torn Naples, and I thought their relationship with each other felt very authentic and relatable. I enjoyed following their journeys and seeing how the war shaped their lives in different ways. The setting was interesting to me, especially since Naples isn’t a location I see explored as often in WWII fiction. Overall, this was a solid read.
July 3, 2026
3.5 stars 🌟
Overall I really enjoyed this historical fiction book.
I really liked the relationship between the sisters and the part they played within their family and the wider community.
The only think I will say is that some of written Italian in the book isn’t always accurate, spelling and grammatical errors (I’m hoping that in the finished copy this is checked) it’s a minor details.
Overall if you are in the mood for a historical fiction book I’d definitely recommend this!
Overall I really enjoyed this historical fiction book.
I really liked the relationship between the sisters and the part they played within their family and the wider community.
The only think I will say is that some of written Italian in the book isn’t always accurate, spelling and grammatical errors (I’m hoping that in the finished copy this is checked) it’s a minor details.
Overall if you are in the mood for a historical fiction book I’d definitely recommend this!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I’m always drawn to historical novels set in WW2 for the range of perspectives they provide on people’s experiences of the war and its aftermath. Daughters of Naples transports the reader to Naples at the beginning of the war when the most obvious influence on the daily lives of its residents is the conflict between opponents and supporters of Mussolini’s fascist regime.
For the three Cozzolino sisters the war further complicates their relationships with the men in their lives. Leta married Anto more out of a desire to provide stability for her and her sisters than out of passion. Now he’s away serving in the Italian army with no news of his whereabouts, or even whether he’s still alive. It’s no surprise that Leta feels conflicted when the man she rejected, Pasquale, returns on the scene, especially since he’s a member of the outlawed partigiani – the Italian resistance. Bianca’s childhood sweetheart Luca is also on active service in the Italian navy. She finds it impossible to simply wait out the war, instead she is fuelled by a desire to become involved in the resistance movement, regardless of the risk. Meanwhile Marcella’s relationship with Giovanni, a member of the squadristi, the fascist militia supportive of Mussolini who are on a relentless quest to hunt down and destroy the partigiani, reflects the fissures in Naples society.
I have visited Naples and can identify with the description of it as having a ‘gritty charm’. I enjoyed experiencing the city through the eyes of the sisters.
I suppose I should have known about the heavy bombardment of Naples by Allied forces later on in the war but I didn’t, nor how extensively damaged the city was, both its infastructure and its architectural gems. And, as the book reveals, the German occupation of Naples was brutal.
It’s not difficult to be captivated by the vicissitudes of the sisters’ emotional journeys, encompassing as they do loss and betrayal. What also fascinated me was the insights into social attitudes, particularly in Marcella’s storyline. I hadn’t appreciated the stigma associated with midwifery at this time, with midwives given the perjorative term ‘angel-makers’ because it was believed they helped women end unwanted pregnancies rather than enabling the large families the nation needed. (Mussolini regarded twelve children as the ideal number).
Daughters of Naples is the absorbing story of how war can test even the strongest bonds of sisterhood. (3.5 rounded up to 4.)
For the three Cozzolino sisters the war further complicates their relationships with the men in their lives. Leta married Anto more out of a desire to provide stability for her and her sisters than out of passion. Now he’s away serving in the Italian army with no news of his whereabouts, or even whether he’s still alive. It’s no surprise that Leta feels conflicted when the man she rejected, Pasquale, returns on the scene, especially since he’s a member of the outlawed partigiani – the Italian resistance. Bianca’s childhood sweetheart Luca is also on active service in the Italian navy. She finds it impossible to simply wait out the war, instead she is fuelled by a desire to become involved in the resistance movement, regardless of the risk. Meanwhile Marcella’s relationship with Giovanni, a member of the squadristi, the fascist militia supportive of Mussolini who are on a relentless quest to hunt down and destroy the partigiani, reflects the fissures in Naples society.
I have visited Naples and can identify with the description of it as having a ‘gritty charm’. I enjoyed experiencing the city through the eyes of the sisters.
I suppose I should have known about the heavy bombardment of Naples by Allied forces later on in the war but I didn’t, nor how extensively damaged the city was, both its infastructure and its architectural gems. And, as the book reveals, the German occupation of Naples was brutal.
It’s not difficult to be captivated by the vicissitudes of the sisters’ emotional journeys, encompassing as they do loss and betrayal. What also fascinated me was the insights into social attitudes, particularly in Marcella’s storyline. I hadn’t appreciated the stigma associated with midwifery at this time, with midwives given the perjorative term ‘angel-makers’ because it was believed they helped women end unwanted pregnancies rather than enabling the large families the nation needed. (Mussolini regarded twelve children as the ideal number).
Daughters of Naples is the absorbing story of how war can test even the strongest bonds of sisterhood. (3.5 rounded up to 4.)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Cozzolino sisters, Leta, Marcella, and Bianca, of Naples, Italy are having difficulty surviving on their own. Their mother has died and their uninterested and irresponsible father seldom offers any assistance, or even shows up. When the Fascists take control of the country and war breaks out, their lives become even more difficult. Leta, the oldest, has a job in a dressmaking establishment and marries the owner's son, even though her heart belongs to another. Marcella works with a veteran midwife, even though the Fascist viewpoint considers midwives to be dangerous and prefers women to give birth in hospitals. Even though Marcella knows that, she can't resist her boyfriend Giovani, in his smart black Fascist uniform. Sixteen-year old Bianca helps out at a library, trying to keep some of the banned books out of reach of the Nazis and Italian authorities. The sisters squabble about the males around them and the danger they may bring.
All of the men in their lives offer complicated entanglements in one way or another and the women eventually choose to join the resistance. After their home is bombed, they live in the underground tunnels with many others in the same position. Suffering through the Allied bombings and the Facist and then Nazi ideaologies that punished the citizens of Naples, Leta helped passing messages, Marcella nursed the sick, and Bianca passed out pamphlets and did whatever she could to forward the partisans. The three of them overcame their own disagreements and united to help one another and support their city.
The book offers a realistic look at how much of the civilian population coped with and fared under totalitarian rule and war during the Second World War.
Recommended for those who like the books of Kristin Hannah, Ruta Sepetys or any good historical fiction author.
All of the men in their lives offer complicated entanglements in one way or another and the women eventually choose to join the resistance. After their home is bombed, they live in the underground tunnels with many others in the same position. Suffering through the Allied bombings and the Facist and then Nazi ideaologies that punished the citizens of Naples, Leta helped passing messages, Marcella nursed the sick, and Bianca passed out pamphlets and did whatever she could to forward the partisans. The three of them overcame their own disagreements and united to help one another and support their city.
The book offers a realistic look at how much of the civilian population coped with and fared under totalitarian rule and war during the Second World War.
Recommended for those who like the books of Kristin Hannah, Ruta Sepetys or any good historical fiction author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Thank you to Alcove Press for a complimentary arc of Daughters of Naples. All opinions expressed are my own.*
I expected this to be a rich and emotional story given the synopsis and the WWII setting, but I wasn’t quite prepared for all the layers I got - in the best way. The author has crafted a compelling and immersive novel filled with authentic female characters whose struggles, resilience, and relationships feel incredibly real.
The prose beautifully captures the fear, oppression and uncertainty of life during the war, making it impossible not to feel alongside the characters as their stories unfold. While it took me a little while to fully settle into the plot, I suspect that’s more a reflection of my having stepped away from this type of historical fiction for some time rather than any fault of the book itself. Once I was invested, I found myself completely absorbed.
The historical detail is richly woven throughout without ever becoming overwhelming, and the sisterly love and the intrigue provides the perfect balance to the emotionally heavier themes. The result is a story that is both heartbreaking and captivating, immersing readers while never losing sight of the human experiences at its core.
Daughters of Naples is a powerhouse of a novel, and a definite must-read for lovers of historical fiction. Its the kind of book that will stay with you for a long time after you’ve turned the final page.
I expected this to be a rich and emotional story given the synopsis and the WWII setting, but I wasn’t quite prepared for all the layers I got - in the best way. The author has crafted a compelling and immersive novel filled with authentic female characters whose struggles, resilience, and relationships feel incredibly real.
The prose beautifully captures the fear, oppression and uncertainty of life during the war, making it impossible not to feel alongside the characters as their stories unfold. While it took me a little while to fully settle into the plot, I suspect that’s more a reflection of my having stepped away from this type of historical fiction for some time rather than any fault of the book itself. Once I was invested, I found myself completely absorbed.
The historical detail is richly woven throughout without ever becoming overwhelming, and the sisterly love and the intrigue provides the perfect balance to the emotionally heavier themes. The result is a story that is both heartbreaking and captivating, immersing readers while never losing sight of the human experiences at its core.
Daughters of Naples is a powerhouse of a novel, and a definite must-read for lovers of historical fiction. Its the kind of book that will stay with you for a long time after you’ve turned the final page.
July 27, 2026
An evocative, powerful story of three very different sisters coping with the dangers of Mussolini's regime and the looming threat of Nazi invasion while navigating the challenges of family, love, and loss.
It's 1940, and the Cozzolino sisters, Leta, Marcella, and Bianca live together in a small one-bedroom apartment in Naples. Leta is a dressmaker, Marcella is a midwife-in-training, and the youngest, Bianca, is a rebellious bookworm and resistance worker whose patriotic actions create suspicion, sending Mussolini's squadristi to the sisters' door.
Tensions run high between the sisters, whose loyalty is tested when they must decide what their roles will be in service to their country. As the dangers of fascism come to a head when Mussolini is overthrown, and the sisters' way of life is once more turned upside down during the Nazi occupation, they must rely on one another and their resourcefulness to survive.
Giovinazzo excels at crafting compelling, high-stakes personal conflict amid the broader, overarching historical events underpinning the story. Her attention to detail, rich characterization, and propulsive pacing create an engrossing reading experience. The sisters' resilience and determination make for an inspiring and action-packed braided narrative that holds numerous parallels to current events.
It's 1940, and the Cozzolino sisters, Leta, Marcella, and Bianca live together in a small one-bedroom apartment in Naples. Leta is a dressmaker, Marcella is a midwife-in-training, and the youngest, Bianca, is a rebellious bookworm and resistance worker whose patriotic actions create suspicion, sending Mussolini's squadristi to the sisters' door.
Tensions run high between the sisters, whose loyalty is tested when they must decide what their roles will be in service to their country. As the dangers of fascism come to a head when Mussolini is overthrown, and the sisters' way of life is once more turned upside down during the Nazi occupation, they must rely on one another and their resourcefulness to survive.
Giovinazzo excels at crafting compelling, high-stakes personal conflict amid the broader, overarching historical events underpinning the story. Her attention to detail, rich characterization, and propulsive pacing create an engrossing reading experience. The sisters' resilience and determination make for an inspiring and action-packed braided narrative that holds numerous parallels to current events.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you, Alcove Press, for the gifted Advance Reader Edition.
Dianna Giovinazzo's third novel, Daughters of Naples, is a thrilling historical fiction novel about three sisters' survival ingenuity during Mussolini's reign and Nazi occupation in Naples, Italy, during WW II.
Twenty-seven-year-old Leta attempts to fill her late mother's shoes by supporting her siblings. She sacrifices true love by marrying another man to secure her sisters future.
Marcella is apprenticing for the local midwife. She falls in love with a young man dedicated to Mussolini's political agenda. Bianca, the youngest, participates in the Italian resistance against Mussolini and later the Nazi's after her childhood sweetheart is conscripted to fight in the war. War, secrets, and opposing political agendas threaten their safety fragile relationships.
Giovinazzo has greated a rich, vivid novel that encompasses a cadre of inspiring women that showcase allegiance to their country and one another. Giovanni captures the raw fear, vulnerability, and oppression suffered by these courageous sisters through their demonstrations of love, loyalty, and sacrifice. Fans of Shelley Nobel, Kristin Hannah and Isabel Allende will enjoy Daughters of Naples.
Dianna Giovinazzo's third novel, Daughters of Naples, is a thrilling historical fiction novel about three sisters' survival ingenuity during Mussolini's reign and Nazi occupation in Naples, Italy, during WW II.
Twenty-seven-year-old Leta attempts to fill her late mother's shoes by supporting her siblings. She sacrifices true love by marrying another man to secure her sisters future.
Marcella is apprenticing for the local midwife. She falls in love with a young man dedicated to Mussolini's political agenda. Bianca, the youngest, participates in the Italian resistance against Mussolini and later the Nazi's after her childhood sweetheart is conscripted to fight in the war. War, secrets, and opposing political agendas threaten their safety fragile relationships.
Giovinazzo has greated a rich, vivid novel that encompasses a cadre of inspiring women that showcase allegiance to their country and one another. Giovanni captures the raw fear, vulnerability, and oppression suffered by these courageous sisters through their demonstrations of love, loyalty, and sacrifice. Fans of Shelley Nobel, Kristin Hannah and Isabel Allende will enjoy Daughters of Naples.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Set during the dictatorship of Benito Mussolini in Naples Italy and centers around 3 sisters at 3 different times in their lives. Leta is a married women working in her mother-in-law's shop while her husband is away fighting in Ethiopia. Marcella is training to be a mid wife a profession that is high discriminated against she starts a relationship with Giovanni a member of the Carabinieri. Bianca the youngest is horrified at the horrors around her joins the Italian Resistance to fight against everything that Mussolini stands for.
When Leta's husband is killed and her first love walks into the shop to ask for help all three sisters are thrown into a world of intrigue and fear, while fighting for what they know is right.
I like this book not much spice but honestly spice would be inappropriate in this book but it gives an insight into how women struggled to survive in a country ripped apart from the dictatorship of Mussolini and WW2. This time in Italy is not popularity explored in Historical Fiction stories.
Thank you to Diana Giovinazzo, NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC Copy in exchange for my honest review.
When Leta's husband is killed and her first love walks into the shop to ask for help all three sisters are thrown into a world of intrigue and fear, while fighting for what they know is right.
I like this book not much spice but honestly spice would be inappropriate in this book but it gives an insight into how women struggled to survive in a country ripped apart from the dictatorship of Mussolini and WW2. This time in Italy is not popularity explored in Historical Fiction stories.
Thank you to Diana Giovinazzo, NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC Copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I have to say if you are looking for a book about sisterhood then this is definitely a book you should consider checking out Daughters of Naples. I for one enjoyed this story not only because it was a family story but it also shows how sometimes shows how current events impact the environment around us. Set against the backdrop of the second world war this book will show readers how sometimes growing up in the same household doesn't mean you will always share the same views as those you grew up with.
We are intro to three sisters named Marcella, Leta, and Bianca who are all living together during Mussolini's rise to power. All of them are trying to make it in their career paths. However, it is not an easy thing with the war going on and Bianca soon becomes interested in the resistance after her beau is called to war. This action will put the sisters at odds with each other but with the intensity of the war getting worse they will need to come together in order to survive a war that could easily destroy everything around them.
We are intro to three sisters named Marcella, Leta, and Bianca who are all living together during Mussolini's rise to power. All of them are trying to make it in their career paths. However, it is not an easy thing with the war going on and Bianca soon becomes interested in the resistance after her beau is called to war. This action will put the sisters at odds with each other but with the intensity of the war getting worse they will need to come together in order to survive a war that could easily destroy everything around them.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Naples, 1940. The three Cozzolino sisters, Leta, Marcella, and Bianca, live together in their small home during Mussolini’s domination. Leta marries for security and runs her mother-in-law's dress shop and cares for the woman. As times become harder, no one has money for dresses and the business slowly dies. Marcella works with a midwife and this is frowned on by her boyfriend who supports Mussolini. Bianca, the youngest, finds refuge in a library that is being systematically gutted because the Fascists believe in banning books. She becomes an active member of a partisan resistance group after her boyfriend goes to fight. Conditions grow worse in Naples and before long, all the sisters are involved in some form of partisan groups.
The author crafts an interesting story, informing the reader not only of the war going on in Italy, but how the sisters manage to survive and bring their talents to work for the end of the war.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Alcove Press, in exchange for a review.
The author crafts an interesting story, informing the reader not only of the war going on in Italy, but how the sisters manage to survive and bring their talents to work for the end of the war.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Alcove Press, in exchange for a review.
Review of advance copy received from Publishers Weekly
Author Diana Giovinazzo has hit it out of the park with her newest novel Daughters of Naples. Honestly her last two novels hold a special place in my heart and I still hope Woman in Red becomes a movie one day....it's that good. ( please cast Jason Momoa as the lead) Diana is passionate about Italian history and uses beautiful storylines and characters you fall in love with to tell her stories. I learned so much about Mussolini and a few weeks after I finished the book there was a documentary on the History channel all about Italy and I told my husband...Hey I just read about that. Reading historical fiction is a fun way to learn about real life history! Daughters of Naples went right on my bookshelf next to Diana's other two book babies.
Leta Cozzolino runs the local dress shop owned by her very difficult mother in law. She loves the store and has amazing ideas all of her own but with the threat of an impending war women aren't looking for new dresses. Lena lives and cares for her two sisters who are very different in everyway. Marcella is hoping to live out her dream and become a midwife someday while dating one of Mussolini's very proud men. As most babies of the family Bianca is full opinions and attitude. She is experiencing young love and the reality of war when her boyfriend is sent to the battlefield. Families love is forever but the women will be at odds as the stress of war and picking sides quickly approaches their doorstep. Will they choice each other in the end?
Leta Cozzolino runs the local dress shop owned by her very difficult mother in law. She loves the store and has amazing ideas all of her own but with the threat of an impending war women aren't looking for new dresses. Lena lives and cares for her two sisters who are very different in everyway. Marcella is hoping to live out her dream and become a midwife someday while dating one of Mussolini's very proud men. As most babies of the family Bianca is full opinions and attitude. She is experiencing young love and the reality of war when her boyfriend is sent to the battlefield. Families love is forever but the women will be at odds as the stress of war and picking sides quickly approaches their doorstep. Will they choice each other in the end?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Diana Giovinazzo, NetGalley, and Alcove Press for the Advance Reader Copy.
Daughters of Naples shines a light on a part of World War II history that is rarely explored. Naples endured relentless bombing, political upheaval, and severe shortages, and Giovinazzo shows how much of the city’s survival depended on the courage and labor of its women.
Through the perspectives of three sisters, the novel explores resistance work, family loyalty, and the life-changing choices women faced under occupation.
The historical detail is rich without ever feeling heavy, and each sister’s voice is distinct and compelling. I especially enjoyed the oldest sister, Leta, whose vivid perception of color adds emotional depth to her relationships and sense of self.
Readers will come away with a deeper understanding of Italian wartime history and a powerful story of resilience.
Daughters of Naples shines a light on a part of World War II history that is rarely explored. Naples endured relentless bombing, political upheaval, and severe shortages, and Giovinazzo shows how much of the city’s survival depended on the courage and labor of its women.
Through the perspectives of three sisters, the novel explores resistance work, family loyalty, and the life-changing choices women faced under occupation.
The historical detail is rich without ever feeling heavy, and each sister’s voice is distinct and compelling. I especially enjoyed the oldest sister, Leta, whose vivid perception of color adds emotional depth to her relationships and sense of self.
Readers will come away with a deeper understanding of Italian wartime history and a powerful story of resilience.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book follows three sisters living in Naples in the early 1940’s, first through Mussolini’s regime and then through the Nazi occupation. I found this book very interesting because I have never read a historical fiction about Italy in World War II. Leta, Marcella, and Bianca were all fantastic characters as each played a different role in resistance. Reading the author’s note about the research that inspired the characters from real women was very moving. So while I loved the subject matter, I found the writing itself to be lackluster. The flow was off, the dialogue felt fake, and I struggled at times to continue even though I wanted to know where the story was going. So overall I really enjoyed the subject matter but found the writing itself dragged the book down.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you love a good historical fiction novel, Daughters of Naples is one to add to your reading list. Set in Italy during Mussolini’s rule, the story follows the three Cozzolino sisters as they struggle to survive on their own.
Leta, the 27-year-old eldest sister, works in a dress shop while doing her best to fill the role of their late mother. Marcella is training to become a midwife, and the youngest sister, Bianca, courageously joins the Resistance. Each sister faces impossible choices as war and fascism reshape their lives.
This is a moving story of family, resilience, and the strength of women in the face of adversity. Fans of historical fiction set in World War II Italy will most definitely enjoy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the advance reader copy.
Leta, the 27-year-old eldest sister, works in a dress shop while doing her best to fill the role of their late mother. Marcella is training to become a midwife, and the youngest sister, Bianca, courageously joins the Resistance. Each sister faces impossible choices as war and fascism reshape their lives.
This is a moving story of family, resilience, and the strength of women in the face of adversity. Fans of historical fiction set in World War II Italy will most definitely enjoy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the advance reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a good book. It relates the story of 3 sisters in Naples during WW2, first under the fascist government of Mussolini, then the Nazis.
While the storyline was not that suspenseful, the day-to-day history recounted was new to me and fascinating. The sisters, with different aspirations and personalities, are bound by their love, even if frustrated at times with one of the others.
I recommend this book for those who enjoy historic fiction.
Thank you to Netgalley for sharing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
While the storyline was not that suspenseful, the day-to-day history recounted was new to me and fascinating. The sisters, with different aspirations and personalities, are bound by their love, even if frustrated at times with one of the others.
I recommend this book for those who enjoy historic fiction.
Thank you to Netgalley for sharing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 of 5-star rating.
Thank you to Alcove Press, NetGalley, and Diana Giovinazzo for the eArc of Daughters of Naples for review!
As a huge historical fiction fan, I can easily say that I needed to keep reading to find out what happened to the three Cozzolino sisters living in Naples during Mussolini's rule in WW2. The girls' stories intertwined so nicely and followed different paths of people affected by the war and allowed different aspects of life in Naples to come through. As the story went on, I kept holding out hope alongside the sisters and becoming invested in their futures.
Thank you to Alcove Press, NetGalley, and Diana Giovinazzo for the eArc of Daughters of Naples for review!
As a huge historical fiction fan, I can easily say that I needed to keep reading to find out what happened to the three Cozzolino sisters living in Naples during Mussolini's rule in WW2. The girls' stories intertwined so nicely and followed different paths of people affected by the war and allowed different aspects of life in Naples to come through. As the story went on, I kept holding out hope alongside the sisters and becoming invested in their futures.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh I really loved this book. Following three sisters in Italy during World War Two, it covers the hard times and the small parts of resistance the women take during Mussolini and following his death. At times it is dark and sad and at other times hopeful and loving. Perfect for any historical fiction fan.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A powerful tribute to the unbreakable bond between sisters and a fascinating, nuanced exploration of Italy during World War II. Inspired by the real Italian women who risked everything to fight for their homeland, Diana Giovinazzo’s Daughters of Naples immerses readers in a richly detailed, propulsive story of family, romance, and resistance.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Daughter of Naples is a heartfelt story of three sisters navigating the perils of WWII-era Naples and illustrates the power of what women can accomplish together. Giovinazzo brings Italy to life in this beautiful story of sisterhood, reminding us that love offers hope, even in the darkest of times.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A story of three sisters and the lengths they will go to protecting each other during Mussolini’s reign. I enjoyed the relationships and struggles of the sisters during this devastating time. Naples as the setting gave a new perspective to a WWII novel.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews