What do you think?
Rate this book
The Three Graces of Pearl Street: A Novel
“A stunning debut. An intergenerational story full of the complexities of family life that will surprise and inspire you at every turn.” —Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author
In this wise and warm debut novel, an Italian American grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter all named after the Roman myth of the Three Graces find their lives—and their secrets—colliding when, after years apart, they come to live under the same roof.
Graziella, a ninety-six-year-old former nun, spends her days running the parish’s food kitchen, convinced it is her responsibility to keep everyone fed in their working-class New York neighborhood. Her daughter, Grace, a respected psychology professor, appears accomplished and composed, yet finds herself unmoored as her personal life falters. Ella—Graziella’s granddaughter and Grace’s daughter—is weary of defending her vegan diet and anti-capitalistic lifestyle; blind to her own brilliance, she longs, above all, for a place to belong. Living together again, the three Graces reckon with the distances that have shaped them, and with what it means, at last, to be fully known.
“Truly captivating” (Annabel Monaghan, New York Times bestselling author) and populated by unforgettable characters, The Three Graces of Pearl Street explores the delicate balance between tradition and modernity, and the quiet courage it takes to move through the world with true grace.
In this wise and warm debut novel, an Italian American grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter all named after the Roman myth of the Three Graces find their lives—and their secrets—colliding when, after years apart, they come to live under the same roof.
Graziella, a ninety-six-year-old former nun, spends her days running the parish’s food kitchen, convinced it is her responsibility to keep everyone fed in their working-class New York neighborhood. Her daughter, Grace, a respected psychology professor, appears accomplished and composed, yet finds herself unmoored as her personal life falters. Ella—Graziella’s granddaughter and Grace’s daughter—is weary of defending her vegan diet and anti-capitalistic lifestyle; blind to her own brilliance, she longs, above all, for a place to belong. Living together again, the three Graces reckon with the distances that have shaped them, and with what it means, at last, to be fully known.
“Truly captivating” (Annabel Monaghan, New York Times bestselling author) and populated by unforgettable characters, The Three Graces of Pearl Street explores the delicate balance between tradition and modernity, and the quiet courage it takes to move through the world with true grace.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published September 1, 2026
About the author
Elizabeth Wellington Rollins
3 books166 followersElizabeth Wellington Rollins is a writer and award-winning copywriter. She grew up outside New York City and graduated from Davidson College. She has written for Condé Nast Traveler, The Week, Travel + Leisure, and Vogue. She lives in Vermont with her family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 660 reviews
September 8, 2026
Happy Publication Day: September 1, 2026
This is the author’s debut novel about three generations of Italian American women – named after the Roman myth of the Graces – living together – though not always, easily. There is the 96-year-old Graziella, Grace, her daughter and Ella, the granddaughter.
From the beginning, it is clear that generational divides challenge these women. Graziella holds tightly to old-world traditions and her role as matriarch, while the younger generations are more comfortable with the expectations and freedoms of modern life.
Each woman is also navigating her own changes: Graziella is unwilling to let go of her matriarchy role, Grace is dealing with divorce and mid-life, and Ella is searching for her purpose.
Told from each woman’s perspective, the story invites readers into their lives – the friction, quick repartee, expectations and, even the delicious smells of meals that practically come to life on the page.
This is a slow-paced, character-centered, heartwarming story about three women trying to find their way through celebrations, conflicts and changing expectations. Ultimately, it is about confidence, hope and finding the courage to become the person each woman chooses to be.
Will they succeed? I’ll leave that for readers to discover.
🌟🌟🌟.5 Stars
This is the author’s debut novel about three generations of Italian American women – named after the Roman myth of the Graces – living together – though not always, easily. There is the 96-year-old Graziella, Grace, her daughter and Ella, the granddaughter.
From the beginning, it is clear that generational divides challenge these women. Graziella holds tightly to old-world traditions and her role as matriarch, while the younger generations are more comfortable with the expectations and freedoms of modern life.
Each woman is also navigating her own changes: Graziella is unwilling to let go of her matriarchy role, Grace is dealing with divorce and mid-life, and Ella is searching for her purpose.
Told from each woman’s perspective, the story invites readers into their lives – the friction, quick repartee, expectations and, even the delicious smells of meals that practically come to life on the page.
This is a slow-paced, character-centered, heartwarming story about three women trying to find their way through celebrations, conflicts and changing expectations. Ultimately, it is about confidence, hope and finding the courage to become the person each woman chooses to be.
Will they succeed? I’ll leave that for readers to discover.
🌟🌟🌟.5 Stars
August 1, 2026
A really lovely story of three generations of women in one family…
all named Graziella, there is Graziella the 96 yr old elder member, her daughter who goes by Grace, and her granddaughter who goes by Ella.
They are named after a statue in Italy.. The Three Graces.
Graziella was born in the house on Pearl Street, in Little Italy and lived there also throughout her marriage and now in her advanced age she and her daughter and granddaughter are brought together in that same house for various reasons… all have some secrets that come to light.
You will love them all , but mostly Graziella who is an old stern Nona, but she has always helped the entire community and you will find out the stunning reasons of how she could do that.
The daughter and granddaughter’s romantic relationships are also part of the story, as is Italian cooking, and the Catholic church.
I absolutely loved this story!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the free ebook in exchange for my honest review!
all named Graziella, there is Graziella the 96 yr old elder member, her daughter who goes by Grace, and her granddaughter who goes by Ella.
They are named after a statue in Italy.. The Three Graces.
Graziella was born in the house on Pearl Street, in Little Italy and lived there also throughout her marriage and now in her advanced age she and her daughter and granddaughter are brought together in that same house for various reasons… all have some secrets that come to light.
You will love them all , but mostly Graziella who is an old stern Nona, but she has always helped the entire community and you will find out the stunning reasons of how she could do that.
The daughter and granddaughter’s romantic relationships are also part of the story, as is Italian cooking, and the Catholic church.
I absolutely loved this story!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the free ebook in exchange for my honest review!
April 13, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this novel.
I’m not reaching for hyperbole when I confess that I was blindsided by this book. This is one of those books where you wish it wouldn’t end, but also couldn’t stop reading until the end. Beautifully written, with richly layered characters and a deeper-than-previewed storyline, and plenty of passages sparking meaningful reflections on family, purpose, and belonging. I’m grateful that I received this ARC as I doubt I would’ve chosen to read it. I’m better because I have.
I’m not reaching for hyperbole when I confess that I was blindsided by this book. This is one of those books where you wish it wouldn’t end, but also couldn’t stop reading until the end. Beautifully written, with richly layered characters and a deeper-than-previewed storyline, and plenty of passages sparking meaningful reflections on family, purpose, and belonging. I’m grateful that I received this ARC as I doubt I would’ve chosen to read it. I’m better because I have.
September 6, 2026
4.5-
I loved this beautiful story of connection, family, and the importance of giving back to your community. Spanning three generations of women—grandmother (Nonna), mother (Grace), and daughter (Ella), all named Graziella after The Three Graces statue in Rome—each character is navigating her own life-altering crossroads.
While Nonna at first appears cold, grumpy, and a bit sharp—far beyond your typical spicy Italian grandmother—I grew to absolutely love her as her story unfolded. Featuring mouthwatering descriptions of classic Italian food, a realistic clashing of generations, and three women finding their way, this was such a lovely read. Listening on audio brought the vibrant Italian accents and personality to life even more. Highly recommend!
I loved this beautiful story of connection, family, and the importance of giving back to your community. Spanning three generations of women—grandmother (Nonna), mother (Grace), and daughter (Ella), all named Graziella after The Three Graces statue in Rome—each character is navigating her own life-altering crossroads.
While Nonna at first appears cold, grumpy, and a bit sharp—far beyond your typical spicy Italian grandmother—I grew to absolutely love her as her story unfolded. Featuring mouthwatering descriptions of classic Italian food, a realistic clashing of generations, and three women finding their way, this was such a lovely read. Listening on audio brought the vibrant Italian accents and personality to life even more. Highly recommend!
July 16, 2026
This story is a character driven novel that follows three generations of Italian American women. As an Italian American woman myself, I was especially drawn to the premise.
I found this book hard to rate. I would read one chapter and get completely hooked, and then be ready to abandon the book after the next two. It was a slow character driven book that explores the relationships of 3 generations of Valentini women, all going through different struggles and life stages.
I found the story to be a weird mix of bland and slaggy for stretches while also indulgent and bold the next. The fun parts didn't evolve into anything, landing pretty pointless and unsatisfying. The characters became myopic, repetitive, and stereotypical, less developed with little depth. I didn't particularly like them or care about their woes, which probably played a major part in my experience. I mostly liked 96yo Graziella and her care for stray cats. But honestly she seemed way overpainted.
While a big part of this story centered around the Catholic religion, it was often extremely offensive to anyone with Catholic proclivities. I am not Catholic, but found the digs at the religion to be in very poor taste.
By 65% mark, I was so ready for it to be over. Ugh. Sad. Had high hopes for this one, but I can't think of one person I would recommend this book to.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
I found this book hard to rate. I would read one chapter and get completely hooked, and then be ready to abandon the book after the next two. It was a slow character driven book that explores the relationships of 3 generations of Valentini women, all going through different struggles and life stages.
I found the story to be a weird mix of bland and slaggy for stretches while also indulgent and bold the next. The fun parts didn't evolve into anything, landing pretty pointless and unsatisfying. The characters became myopic, repetitive, and stereotypical, less developed with little depth. I didn't particularly like them or care about their woes, which probably played a major part in my experience. I mostly liked 96yo Graziella and her care for stray cats. But honestly she seemed way overpainted.
While a big part of this story centered around the Catholic religion, it was often extremely offensive to anyone with Catholic proclivities. I am not Catholic, but found the digs at the religion to be in very poor taste.
By 65% mark, I was so ready for it to be over. Ugh. Sad. Had high hopes for this one, but I can't think of one person I would recommend this book to.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
July 26, 2026
Loved this book about family!
This generational story kept my interest as the author tell of a grandmother, mother and daughter all with the same name! Don’t worry! They go by nicknames so you are not totally confused! Of course- there are secrets!
Highly recommend!
This generational story kept my interest as the author tell of a grandmother, mother and daughter all with the same name! Don’t worry! They go by nicknames so you are not totally confused! Of course- there are secrets!
Highly recommend!
May 31, 2026
Bravo!! One of the most beautiful, ugly, loving, frustrating, and heartfelt books I have ever read. I laughed and cried and yelled and did them all again. This book is filled with one thing above all else, Heart. So many thoughtful ways about how we should treat each other. How we should live with each other. I loved all of the Graces and how they evolved and turned into the women they were always meant to be. I didn’t want this book to end. A huge thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
August 25, 2026
A wonderful multigenerational story of 3 women all named Grace. I thought this book had a lot of great moments and the last 30% really grabbed my attention. However, I think it was 75-100 pages too long and took a bit to get going with the plot.
Great debut! Also- audiobook had 3 separate narrators for each of the women’s POV chapters which was a great listening experience.
Great debut! Also- audiobook had 3 separate narrators for each of the women’s POV chapters which was a great listening experience.
July 30, 2026
Such a great multi generational book. The three Graces are an Italian grandmother, mom, and daughter. I loved each of their relationships and how important their Italian heritage was to them! The growth in the characters was so special. This debut novel is superb!
September 7, 2026
The Three Graces of Pearl Street is about a family of Italian women with the same name. Graziella Valentini is the eldest matriarch at 96, and her daughter, Grace, and granddaughter, Ella, are the other primary characters.
Each woman is facing her own challenges and their relationships with one another have been up and down recently. This is a story about family, identity, care, and legacy. Italian heritage and Catholicism are also present throughout the story.
I enjoyed The Three Graces of Pearl Street, though I have to admit, it took a little while for Graziella to grow on me. I grew to like her more as we learned more about her life and her story. This is not a short book, and generally slower paced. It began to feel a little repetitive at times, but I read through it quickly, staying curious to see how things would turn out for Graziella, Grace, and Ella.
Each woman is facing her own challenges and their relationships with one another have been up and down recently. This is a story about family, identity, care, and legacy. Italian heritage and Catholicism are also present throughout the story.
I enjoyed The Three Graces of Pearl Street, though I have to admit, it took a little while for Graziella to grow on me. I grew to like her more as we learned more about her life and her story. This is not a short book, and generally slower paced. It began to feel a little repetitive at times, but I read through it quickly, staying curious to see how things would turn out for Graziella, Grace, and Ella.
September 7, 2026
I will need some grace from all of my lovely GR friends after this review.
Three generations of Italian women. Graziella, Grace and Ella. A fiesty grandmother, a lost mother and a spoiled granddaughter connecting together through life. Sadly, I never connected with any of them. I really tried, in fact I would say 25% in I thought about the dreaded DNF. I persevered.
The pacing was slow and sometimes that works if there is a life lesson or strong characters,, but it never quite got there for me. There were a couple of lovely quotes that saved the book. Bravo for that. The plot was predictable and a serious edit was needed.
I think all cat lovers may enjoy this book, but if you are Catholic, I think you will find this book heavily offensive.
I am more of a dog person and am not Catholic. So there is that…. I just have to keep it 💯
I listened to this book and that may play some part in the rating. Perhaps the written book would have worked more to my advantage. Please look at others reviews that are more favourable.
Three generations of Italian women. Graziella, Grace and Ella. A fiesty grandmother, a lost mother and a spoiled granddaughter connecting together through life. Sadly, I never connected with any of them. I really tried, in fact I would say 25% in I thought about the dreaded DNF. I persevered.
The pacing was slow and sometimes that works if there is a life lesson or strong characters,, but it never quite got there for me. There were a couple of lovely quotes that saved the book. Bravo for that. The plot was predictable and a serious edit was needed.
I think all cat lovers may enjoy this book, but if you are Catholic, I think you will find this book heavily offensive.
I am more of a dog person and am not Catholic. So there is that…. I just have to keep it 💯
I listened to this book and that may play some part in the rating. Perhaps the written book would have worked more to my advantage. Please look at others reviews that are more favourable.
August 21, 2026
10 stars if I could 👏👏👏🥹… this is my book of the year!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Three Graces of Pearl Street is a beautifully written story about family, connections, love, forgiveness, and the bonds that hold us together. Told through the perspectives of three generations—Graziella, Grace, and Ella—the story gives each woman a unique voice while showing how their lives and experiences are deeply connected.
My favorite character by far was Nonna Graziella. What a strong, unforgettable woman! She is the heart of both her family and her community, and I loved watching her hold everyone together while carrying so much of her own history.
There is also a wonderful amount of Italian woven throughout the story, which made it feel especially personal to me. As an Italian-Canadian, I connected so deeply with the characters, their relationships, and the family dynamics. I laughed, felt all the emotions, and completely ugly cried at the end. 🥹❤️
A beautiful story that will stay with me for a long time. Absolutely deserving of 5 stars!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Three Graces of Pearl Street is a beautifully written story about family, connections, love, forgiveness, and the bonds that hold us together. Told through the perspectives of three generations—Graziella, Grace, and Ella—the story gives each woman a unique voice while showing how their lives and experiences are deeply connected.
My favorite character by far was Nonna Graziella. What a strong, unforgettable woman! She is the heart of both her family and her community, and I loved watching her hold everyone together while carrying so much of her own history.
There is also a wonderful amount of Italian woven throughout the story, which made it feel especially personal to me. As an Italian-Canadian, I connected so deeply with the characters, their relationships, and the family dynamics. I laughed, felt all the emotions, and completely ugly cried at the end. 🥹❤️
A beautiful story that will stay with me for a long time. Absolutely deserving of 5 stars!
September 13, 2026
This is the story of three Graziellas (Graces in English). Matriach Maria came to the U.S. as a young girl from Italy with little but a kitten in her arms. The Graziellas are her descendants, each belonging to a different generation. The first Graziella was named after a statue of women in Maria's home town, called "The Three Graziellas."
*Graziella - is the 96 year old Nonna. A petite woman (her granddaughter describes her as 4 foot 2 inches tall), Graziella bustles with energy and determination. A former nun, her family, church and community are important to her. She is generous, but is blunt and suffers no fools. (I thought that Graziella's character was written in an exaggerated way.)
*Grace - is Graziella's daughter. Softer than her mother, Grace in a Psychology professor at Columbia. She is married to a man who lives out of the country. She rarely sees him. Grace is concerned about her daughter, Ella.
*Ella - is floundering, when the book begins. She dropped out of college right before graduation and is working at a thrift store. Her boyfriend treats her badly. Ella has stopped seeing her family.
This is the set-up and the story flows from there. All three women were interesting to me. I enjoyed getting to know them and watching them grow and change.
Personal Note: Nonna spearheads a hunger center in the book and is most charitable. In this, she reminded me of my own 4 foot 11 inch grandmother (Ida), who presided over two charity groups and was full of energy.
Here are photos and information about the Italian sculpture - the three Graziellas.
https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/the-th...
*Graziella - is the 96 year old Nonna. A petite woman (her granddaughter describes her as 4 foot 2 inches tall), Graziella bustles with energy and determination. A former nun, her family, church and community are important to her. She is generous, but is blunt and suffers no fools. (I thought that Graziella's character was written in an exaggerated way.)
*Grace - is Graziella's daughter. Softer than her mother, Grace in a Psychology professor at Columbia. She is married to a man who lives out of the country. She rarely sees him. Grace is concerned about her daughter, Ella.
*Ella - is floundering, when the book begins. She dropped out of college right before graduation and is working at a thrift store. Her boyfriend treats her badly. Ella has stopped seeing her family.
This is the set-up and the story flows from there. All three women were interesting to me. I enjoyed getting to know them and watching them grow and change.
Personal Note: Nonna spearheads a hunger center in the book and is most charitable. In this, she reminded me of my own 4 foot 11 inch grandmother (Ida), who presided over two charity groups and was full of energy.
Here are photos and information about the Italian sculpture - the three Graziellas.
https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/the-th...
August 2, 2026
I don’t think I’ve loved a book like this in a long time. It was a beautiful portrait of a family of strong women, all with different personalities but the same driver to do good in the world.
I loved all three women for different reasons. But the most being their bonds with one another. It made me feel so much and it’s definitely a contender for my best book of the year.
Thank you to the author for the advanced reader copy!! It’s out now through book of the month and hitting a shelf near you in early September 2026 ❤️🍝
I loved all three women for different reasons. But the most being their bonds with one another. It made me feel so much and it’s definitely a contender for my best book of the year.
Thank you to the author for the advanced reader copy!! It’s out now through book of the month and hitting a shelf near you in early September 2026 ❤️🍝
August 11, 2026
See my full review at http://michelleardillo.com/2026/07/08...
August 30, 2026
A treasury of words. Wise, humorous with family heritage.
I loved the family dynamic of the three Graziellas: Grandmother- Graziella, Daughter/mother - Grace, and Granddaughter/daughter- Ella.
Steeped in Italian heritage combined with Italian-American culture, this novel resonated with me particularly, having grown up surrounded by my paternal Italian relatives. Fond memories.
Graziella grew up poor but not wanting. Her family behind her to shore her up. She grew up smart, sassy and determined. She helped everyone in her community, small and large benevolences. At 96, she was a savvy day trader amassing a small fortune to support her community.
Grace is a psychology professor at Columbia in NYC; and Ella an MIT graduate in nuclear physics. Grace has a lousy husband and Ella a lousy father. They surpass those issues with their fortitude.
True beauty and wisdom in the prose. I highlighted at least a quarter of the book!
Thanks Edelweiss and Atria Books.
Pub date: 9/1/26.
I loved the family dynamic of the three Graziellas: Grandmother- Graziella, Daughter/mother - Grace, and Granddaughter/daughter- Ella.
Steeped in Italian heritage combined with Italian-American culture, this novel resonated with me particularly, having grown up surrounded by my paternal Italian relatives. Fond memories.
Graziella grew up poor but not wanting. Her family behind her to shore her up. She grew up smart, sassy and determined. She helped everyone in her community, small and large benevolences. At 96, she was a savvy day trader amassing a small fortune to support her community.
Grace is a psychology professor at Columbia in NYC; and Ella an MIT graduate in nuclear physics. Grace has a lousy husband and Ella a lousy father. They surpass those issues with their fortitude.
True beauty and wisdom in the prose. I highlighted at least a quarter of the book!
Thanks Edelweiss and Atria Books.
Pub date: 9/1/26.
September 8, 2026
Loved this intergenerational drama. It needs a movie adaptation!
All three main characters really stood out to me. Graziella is the Italian American grandmother. The powerful matriarch of the family and leader in the community.
Grace is her overachieving daughter going through a midlife divorce and identity crisis.
Ella is Grace’s daughter in her young twenties still trying to find herself.
The revolving POV and realistically complicated interactions between the characters really helped me connect to each of them.
A lovely story and me I highly recommend!
All three main characters really stood out to me. Graziella is the Italian American grandmother. The powerful matriarch of the family and leader in the community.
Grace is her overachieving daughter going through a midlife divorce and identity crisis.
Ella is Grace’s daughter in her young twenties still trying to find herself.
The revolving POV and realistically complicated interactions between the characters really helped me connect to each of them.
A lovely story and me I highly recommend!
September 2, 2026
I hate to say this about a debut author's book, but this was a mess full of Italian stereotypes and melodrama.
This book follows three generations of Italian women all named Graziella. The first Graziella is the head strong grandmother, who is written in a way that is offensive and cliched to nonnas. She is out spoken, crass, and also apparently a savant at day trading. (Truly an odd storyline, as well as her former nun past.) The next Graziella goes by Grace, and she is the opposite of her mother--she is an often timid pushover, and definitely the most underdeveloped of the characters. The author also chose to describe Grace's Pucci outfits in exhausting detail. The last Graziella is Grace's daughter, Ella. Ella is a bad caricature of Gen Z. She is directionless (yet also a super genius), entitled, and her storylines are by far the most bizarre, involving a lead pig and a big cat during a driving exam.
For a book spanning 400 pages, not much happened, and what did happen was either predictable (such as the romances) or laughably unrealistic. This was a struggle to get through.
This book follows three generations of Italian women all named Graziella. The first Graziella is the head strong grandmother, who is written in a way that is offensive and cliched to nonnas. She is out spoken, crass, and also apparently a savant at day trading. (Truly an odd storyline, as well as her former nun past.) The next Graziella goes by Grace, and she is the opposite of her mother--she is an often timid pushover, and definitely the most underdeveloped of the characters. The author also chose to describe Grace's Pucci outfits in exhausting detail. The last Graziella is Grace's daughter, Ella. Ella is a bad caricature of Gen Z. She is directionless (yet also a super genius), entitled, and her storylines are by far the most bizarre, involving a lead pig and a big cat during a driving exam.
For a book spanning 400 pages, not much happened, and what did happen was either predictable (such as the romances) or laughably unrealistic. This was a struggle to get through.
September 9, 2026
Graziella Valentini, a woman in her nineties, lives in New York's Little Italy. She helps out her community, works at the parish's food pantry, and is a well-known and generous person who is always willing to lend a hand. After all, she was a former nun! Her daughter, Grace, is a psychologist in the city and is going through a divorce. She is at a major fork in the road of her life. Meanwhile, her daughter, Ella, is also going through some difficulties. She dropped out of MIT, is working at a thrift store in the city, and has lost her way. Things aren't great between the two women until a freak accident involving Ella brings them together under the same roof. Elizabeth Wellington Rollins’s debut novel, The Three Graces of Pearl Street, draws on the Roman myth of the three Graces. It’s charming and heartfelt, and it’s perfect for readers who enjoy generational sagas.
Read the rest of my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
September 8, 2026
Ok I am just going to say it. I really didn’t like this book. I wanted to! The premise was so ideal. I think it was the writing. I am sorry to say. I felt like I was being talked at rather than reading the story. I also didn’t like the grandma. Sacrilege, I know. Maybe she had good works, but she was grouchy and controlling to her family. The mother was spineless. I only liked Ella who had both the right amount of sass and compassion. It was so slow! 400 pages, really? The outcome of this story was plain from the beginning. I’m sorry!
August 28, 2026
This is my favorite read of 2026. What a beautiful story with vivid characters - I loved each of the “Graces”. The story is so lovingly crafted that I felt like each character was a real person who I knew and cared about. I absolutely loved this book and it moved me deeply.
August 17, 2026
August BOTM and I absolutely LOVED. The fact that this is a debut novels blows my mind. It took me 40 pages or so to really get invested in the book, but then I got to a point where I didn’t want to put it down (and didn’t want it to end). I loved the multigenerational story of the three Graces. Each has a unique story, but they couldn’t tell that story without the others. I fell in love with the characters and need to know so much more than what we get.
August 14, 2026
this was just not what i wanted it to be i think. it really rode a fine line from deep to preachy and i think the scales got tipped somewhere along the way for me.
September 12, 2026
Three generations of Italian New Yorkers, all named Graziella. The elder goes by her full name, the middle is Grace, the youngest is Ella. In this character-driven debut, their lives are deeply intertwined and they basically grate on each other the whole time while wholly loving and respecting each other. This is very much centered on Graziella, the matriarch, as her daughter and granddaughter learn things about herself that she has kept from them for a long time. The story is told from all three of their perspectives and they all three have robust and interesting lives in their own ways.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Boy did I love this.
I started describing this book to my husband by saying “it’s about three generations of women who fight constantly but it’s obvious they deeply love each other” and he says “oh so they’re Italian.” And yes. That’s basically the summary.
I loved all three of these women and their arcs. They were each so interesting independently and together. I loved how Graziella was just a powerhouse. I loved how Grace was her opposite in every way, and how - in her middle years - was finding herself again. I loved Ella’s storyline the most probably. Her backstory was so interesting and cool as fuck, and I loooovvveeddd Mike.
This whole thing was beautiful. I laughed. I cried. I swooned. I was impressed. What a joy.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Boy did I love this.
I started describing this book to my husband by saying “it’s about three generations of women who fight constantly but it’s obvious they deeply love each other” and he says “oh so they’re Italian.” And yes. That’s basically the summary.
I loved all three of these women and their arcs. They were each so interesting independently and together. I loved how Graziella was just a powerhouse. I loved how Grace was her opposite in every way, and how - in her middle years - was finding herself again. I loved Ella’s storyline the most probably. Her backstory was so interesting and cool as fuck, and I loooovvveeddd Mike.
This whole thing was beautiful. I laughed. I cried. I swooned. I was impressed. What a joy.
September 11, 2026
I had pretty high expectations for this book. It has great reviews and a pretty good premise.
There were parts I really liked, and parts that didn’t click for me.
To be honest, I was anticipating more of a Cher/Olympia Dukakis relationship from the movie Moonstruck vibe. I felt at times the grandmother was a little mean spirited and it really bothered me. It made it hard to reconcile the way she was so blunt with being a beloved member of the community.
It was also a little difficult for me to buy that she made all her money the way she did. I’m not sure why.
But the ending was quite beautiful. And I loved that she created the soup kitchen to feed so many people. Oh to have millions of dollars to give in service to others. Donating coats, paying off mortgages, providing meals for others, Graziella did a lot of good in her lifetime.
Can I just say though, the author seems obsessed with the brand Pucci. It was mentioned quite a bit 😂
There were parts I really liked, and parts that didn’t click for me.
To be honest, I was anticipating more of a Cher/Olympia Dukakis relationship from the movie Moonstruck vibe. I felt at times the grandmother was a little mean spirited and it really bothered me. It made it hard to reconcile the way she was so blunt with being a beloved member of the community.
It was also a little difficult for me to buy that she made all her money the way she did. I’m not sure why.
But the ending was quite beautiful. And I loved that she created the soup kitchen to feed so many people. Oh to have millions of dollars to give in service to others. Donating coats, paying off mortgages, providing meals for others, Graziella did a lot of good in her lifetime.
Can I just say though, the author seems obsessed with the brand Pucci. It was mentioned quite a bit 😂
August 28, 2026
I generally enjoyed this book and especially Graciella’s character; however, the pacing was very slow and the character development not really believable. The characters became more like caricatures as the book went on instead of fully developed people. Besides being slow, I also found it almost repetitive in points and there was a lot more telling than showing. It was almost as if the author didn’t really trust the reader to pick up on nuance and had to beat you with the point. I thought this could be a really good book if it was edited a bit better.
August 19, 2026
4 stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This intergenerational novel is told from three perspectives: Graziella (the feisty Italian Catholic grandmother), Grace (the mother going through a divorce), and Ella (the daughter who discovers a lead pig). I really enjoyed these characters, the connections to the Catholic Church, and how this novel explored topics of loss (especially death and a bit of infertility).
Though there were parts of the novel that were slower (I found myself skimming a few parts, and it took me longer to finish this book than it typically does), there were also several sections that were heavy with plot and action. There were a few aspects of this novel that were unfortunate to me personally (they would be spoilers), but it’s fairly easy to look past those. I really enjoyed the focus on the relationship of the three women and their growth.
This book made me chuckle, and it made me cry— so I think that’s a win. It was a beautiful debut.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! I am grateful.💛
This intergenerational novel is told from three perspectives: Graziella (the feisty Italian Catholic grandmother), Grace (the mother going through a divorce), and Ella (the daughter who discovers a lead pig). I really enjoyed these characters, the connections to the Catholic Church, and how this novel explored topics of loss (especially death and a bit of infertility).
Though there were parts of the novel that were slower (I found myself skimming a few parts, and it took me longer to finish this book than it typically does), there were also several sections that were heavy with plot and action. There were a few aspects of this novel that were unfortunate to me personally (they would be spoilers), but it’s fairly easy to look past those. I really enjoyed the focus on the relationship of the three women and their growth.
This book made me chuckle, and it made me cry— so I think that’s a win. It was a beautiful debut.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! I am grateful.💛
September 4, 2026
3.5 Very readable book about 3 Graces….grandmother, mother, and daughter. Somehow I couldn’t get into the characters as much as i would have expected. Some parts of the plot were a bit too zany for me and the last third went on way too long….i felt like ya ok I get it I get it enough.
August 26, 2026
I absolutely loved this book. The relationship between the three women was so honest.
August 27, 2026
This book made me miss my grandmother. Words can’t express the nostalgia and connection I feel to old Italian Americans living in New York. Though this book was a little dry and slow it made me giggle at all the things that felt so close to home. My favorite part was when Graziella, Grace and Ella; three generations of Italian American women, smash Grace’s good china set. It felt too relatable. And thank god Mike Graziano wore a gold chain. 🍝🇮🇹
Displaying 1 - 30 of 660 reviews