Iris & Lily: Book Two

Iris and Lily #2

by Angela Scipioni, Julie Scipioni

In Book Two, the demands of marriage come crashing down on Iris and Lily, now living thousands of miles apart, both determined to gain the love and approval of their husbands and acquired families.

The fairy-tale life Iris imagined herself living in Italy is abruptly put into focus by her over-protective husband, the respected anesthesiologist Gregorio Leale. Dottore Leale does not take kindly to alternative viewpoints or challenges to his authority, and is disturbed by displays of spontaneity and individualism, stifling Iris’s budding sensuality and dampening her innate enthusiasm.

Lily’s circumstances as Mrs. Joe Diotallevi are even more daunting, as she struggles to comprehend the peculiar dynamic of the close-knit Diotallevi tribe and its protectionist politics. Traditional values distorted by ignorance dictate the simplistic rules of existence which effectively condone Joe’s burgeoning gambling addiction and abusive behavior, leaving Lily dissatisfied as a woman, dismayed as a wife, and pinching pennies to pay the bills.

Discouraged but not thwarted in their quests for personal development, in their desire to experience motherhood, in their dream of building a life with a man who will love and respect them, Iris and Lily silently stick to their choices despite moments of despair and temptation, shamed by their Catholic upbringing, paralyzed by their fear of failure and rejection, in the hope that a kinder destiny will reveal itself.

Traveling back and forth between the Ligurian Riviera and Upstate New York accompanied by the alternating voices of Iris and Lily, chapter by chapter you become the closest confidante of both, delving into each woman’s most intimate hopes and fears, and learning more about her private predicaments than she feels comfortable revealing to her faraway sister - or admitting to herself.

All three volumes are available in one ebook under the title "Iris & Lily: The Complete Series".

Genres: Fiction

396 pages, Paperback

Published July 14, 2015

About the author

Angela Scipioni came into the world during a blizzard in the January of 1959, the seventh in a not-yet-completed lineup of snot-nosed, scraggly children. Not surprisingly, like generations of romantically inclined, novel-devouring young women before her, during a trip to Italy Angela fell in love with the country, its climate, its natural and artistic beauty, its people (yes, including its men), language, flavors and flair. Not yet 21, bewitched by fantasies of a sunny world filled with love and adventure, she moved to Italy to live out her own fairy story, and draft the first of several versions of a happy ending.
Three decades and many twists later, from her home in Liguria, she co-authored her first novel, Iris & Lily, with her sister Julie, working long-distance across the Atlantic for four full years.
A family saga covering the story of two sisters struggling to survive a chaotic childhood, a confused adolescence, and an adulthood for which they are unprepared despite being wise beyond their years, Iris & Lily follows their relationship as it evolves over the course of their very different lives.
Angela has also written Gently, Jolene, a novel set in Italy's fabled Cinque Terre.
When she is not working on her writing projects, Angela enjoys noodling on her guitar and ukulele, cooking for and with friends, and spending as much time as possible outdoors, gardening, hiking, swimming, visiting with the cats that stop by to be petted and fed, and nurturing her soul with the beauty of God's nature.

Reviews

[✯~IRENA~✯ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading this series. From book one following these sisters thru childhood and growing up and getting married. Now their married lives thru life that's never quite as perfect as we'd like. I feel like I know these ladies. I look forward to the final book. But I usually take a break in between and read something that keeps me more on the edge of my seat. But I like coming back and checking on Iris and Lily to see how they're doing. 💕

[Kathie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is NOT a 3-book stand alone series. It is one book with three parts. And so disappointing! Book one was okay told like the movie "A Christmas Story"--memories of growing up and all the references to 60-70s colors, brands, games, music etc. The reader learns why Iris and Lily are so close. However, this book is way too l-o-n-g with much too much detail. Part (book) 2 shows the reader how many stupid and poor decisions these girls made as young adults, but they are clueless. And continues with the theme that Iris is the lucky one and Lily never gets a break. Part 3 is such a let down. Just when Lily has a great job she loves and is feeling good about herself the authors get lazy and continue Iris' fabulous lucky life and dump Lily by the roadside...again. What happened to the blue suitcase? Iris couldn't have paid for Lily to come visit? Why is Lily now in a dead end job in Wisconsin? How did she get there? What happened to the nice guitar guy Lily met at the old house? And Iris happily rides into the sunset, with no baggage from that hideous Max, traveling all over Europe writing articles about amazing places to see and stay. The End.

[Gwen Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the entire triology as I downloaded it as one book. Eh, it was ok. I kept wondering where the story was going and the end was just the end. Too many areas not fleshed out (in 3 books), the mom's relationship with the kids, Lily's unhappiness with her job at the end (which in a few chapters before, she loved), etc.

Wasn't horrible, just ok

[Lori Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I fell in love with Iris and Lily in book one. I couldn’t get enough. Their childhood was my childhood. Raised Catholic in a family of ten; hand me downs, never being alone, sometimes forgotten in the hustle and bustle of large families; making decisions and being independent and responsible at a young age. I compare book two to many movie sequels. It wasn’t as good as the first book. Book two is all about Iris and Lily’s marriages. How each one is difficult in different ways. Iris is in a suffocating relationship and Lily is in a physical and emotionally abusive relationship. The sisters are more alike than they realize in how they deal with their unhappiness. The emotional strain of their decisions are different for each of them though. Iris moves on whereas Lily is filled with guilt. I believe the difference between book one and book two is that there aren’t as many laughs in book two. Perhaps because that’s what happens to all of us when we grow up.

[Doris]

I enjoyed this book more than the first one, although I enjoyed it, too! This was a realistic account of the disappointments in marriage that may happen to individuals who do not set boundaries. What young people do? Added to that, the upbringing of these two girls motivates them to do what's right in spite of the sacrifices they make. I could totally related to that. Can't wait to get my hands on Book 3.

[Nancyliz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poor Iris. Poor Lily.
Iris has cool jobs, wears great clothes and jewelry, but her husband is a bore and her mother in law is annoying. Other than that, so sad.
Lily married an asshole, and every reader knew it, but lily did not. So what does she do? Bury herself in despair. And then she finally has kids, but guess what every reader knows? Kids are not a cure for a horrid marriage.
I will read the third one because I borrowed them from a friend. Curious to know if they figure things out.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book two follows Iris and Lily through their weddings and the first 10 years of their marriages. Iris marries an Italian doctor, Gregorio, and lives in Italy, Lily marries Joe, a salesman and lives in upstate NY near their childhood home. Neither sister is happy or fulfilled in their marriage, both have trouble getting pregnant, and both turn to others for love. Gregorio, while generous, is controlling, Joe is a gambler and abusive.
Book 2 in the series. Not great.

[ReeKee · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading book 1 I wanted to see how they grew into adulthood and what would happen next. I found this book depressing. Iris and Lily seemed to be happy only when they were were having extramarital affairs. If I wanted this for entertainment I would watch soap operas. Not my cup of tea. I am may read book three at some point but not sure I really want to.

[Krisi Kranz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love these books. The situations are not the same but all the emotions these two women have, each of us have had at sometime in our lives. Like it because it is written about the same time line as my life, a little older me but a lot of the same memories of things like records & Sweet Honesty perfume! Looking forward to Book Three!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't love the characters or hate the characters, yet I can't stop reading. At least this was shorter than the first one that had WAY too much detail. However, I still doing understand the point...like what are we moving toward? What is the climax? The lesson? So now I have to read the third one...

[Karen Cino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoying the story of Iris and Lily, however, I felt book 2 was two drawn out. Throughout most of the book, both Iris and Lily were miserable in their lives except for when they had an extramarital affair. I will read book 3 hoping that the sisters lives vastly improve.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 2nd book in this series was good, but seemed to go slower for me. The family's lives were in upheaval, and it was almost too much misery and sorrow to easily read. I'm sure book 3 will explain a little more, and perhaps make sense of all this family's unhappiness.

[Sue Iorio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 is my least favorite of the three. But all three books are excellent reading, giving us a view into the lives of two sisters in a family of 14 who mostly got lost in the shuffle of a big family and how their adult lives unfolded.

[Jody · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
The continuing story of sisters, Iris and Lily, through their first decades of marriage. Although, I found this book a compelling read, it was somewhat lacking compared to the first book. I felt that more of the present day emails would have improved it.

[Jean St.Amand · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book angered and depressed me. In book 1 I identified a lot with Lily but in book 2 she just annoyed me...so passive, such self pity, putting up with her lunatic husband's behaviour...I can only hope that book 3 is better but I'm keeping my expectations very low.

[Natalie548 · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this second book, we read about the married lives of the 2 characters, it's ups and mostly downs. I liked this book more than the first. I do wish the author's would have told more about their siblings lives, perhaps in book 3.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The saga of sisters Iris & Lily continue seamlessly after Book One. The sisters are grown up and face all the joys and problems of married life, one in Italy, one in upstate NY. A satisfying read....and now I'm starting Volume 3.

[Claudette Guay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed book number two but not as much as the first one. Yet looking forward to last book in trilogy. Two sisters looking so far apart from each other yet having at least one similar affair in their lives.

[Heidi Ciravola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Two definitely picked up the pace from book one. It is sometimes painful to see how these two sisters misperceptions of each other get in the way of the love and bond they share. Add in the troubled marriages and you have a story that keeps you moving forward and wondering what comes next.

[Beverly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This volume picked up the pace and was more interesting than Book 1. The girls move into adulthood and their lives become more relatable, after this one I probably will read Book 3 just to see where they end up.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book.deals with the girls leaving the family and their marriages

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a omg book.. I can't wait to get the next

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like reading a good soap opera...

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed Book two of Iris and Lily's story. Reading about their lives kept me very interested. Can't wait to go on to book three!

[Mary Yerrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great read. Growing up in a large, Catholic lower middle-class Family, I couldn’t help but personally relate to this book. It brought back many good and quite a few not so good memories.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing story about the sisters living married lives in two countries. They both have affairs.
Iris has a career in hotel management in Italy.
Lily wants to sing but has a rather abusive husband.

[Linda Freels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Book Two as much as Book One. Will start Book Three right away. These characters are great.

[K Bena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the second book more than the first!

[Joanne Cerutti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved reading this second book about the two sisters. The writing is wonderful. Can't wait to read the third one to find out what paths these women will take.

[Geri Heppe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book one was so fun and easy to read. Book 2 was disappointing, but I never quit so I will read Book 3, but not expectantly. Humor was such an element of Book 1 and that is non existent in Book 2