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The Summer Villa
The Summer Villa by Melissa Hill will be available Apr 28, 2020. Preorder your copy today!
Three women. One summer reunion. Secrets will be revealed…
Villa Dolce Vita, a rambling stone house on the Amalfi Coast, sits high above the Gulf of Naples amid dappled lemon groves and fragrant, tumbling bougainvillea. Kim, Colette and Annie all came to the villa in need of escape and in the process forged an unlikely friendship.
Now, years later, Kim has transformed the crumbling house into a luxury retreat and has invited her friends back for the summer to celebrate.
But as friendships are rekindled under the Italian sun, secrets buried in the past will come to light, and not everyone is happy that the three friends are reuniting… Each woman will have things to face up to if they are all to find true happiness and fully embrace the sweet life.
An epic summer read about food, friendship and the magic of Italy, perfect for fans of Mary Kay Andrews and Susan Mallery.
Three women. One summer reunion. Secrets will be revealed…
Villa Dolce Vita, a rambling stone house on the Amalfi Coast, sits high above the Gulf of Naples amid dappled lemon groves and fragrant, tumbling bougainvillea. Kim, Colette and Annie all came to the villa in need of escape and in the process forged an unlikely friendship.
Now, years later, Kim has transformed the crumbling house into a luxury retreat and has invited her friends back for the summer to celebrate.
But as friendships are rekindled under the Italian sun, secrets buried in the past will come to light, and not everyone is happy that the three friends are reuniting… Each woman will have things to face up to if they are all to find true happiness and fully embrace the sweet life.
An epic summer read about food, friendship and the magic of Italy, perfect for fans of Mary Kay Andrews and Susan Mallery.
384 pages, Paperback
First published August 8, 2019
248 people are currently reading
2926 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Hill
129 books1,274 followersMelissa Hill is a USA Today bestselling author living in Ireland’s beautiful County Wicklow. Her page-turning contemporary novels of family, friendship and romance are published worldwide and have been translated into twenty-six languages.
A Hollywood adaptation of her international bestseller Something from Tiffany's, by Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine and Amazon Studios, was released worldwide in Dec 2022.
Other novels including A Gift to Remember and The Charm Bracelet have been adapted for screen by Hallmark Channel USA, with multiple other titles currently also in development for film and TV.
For more info, visit her website at www.melissahill.info
Facebook: facebook.com/melissahillbooks
Instagram: @melissahillbooks
Melissa also co-writes forensic thrillers with her husband under the pseudonym Casey Hill. http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
A Hollywood adaptation of her international bestseller Something from Tiffany's, by Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine and Amazon Studios, was released worldwide in Dec 2022.
Other novels including A Gift to Remember and The Charm Bracelet have been adapted for screen by Hallmark Channel USA, with multiple other titles currently also in development for film and TV.
For more info, visit her website at www.melissahill.info
Facebook: facebook.com/melissahillbooks
Instagram: @melissahillbooks
Melissa also co-writes forensic thrillers with her husband under the pseudonym Casey Hill. http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
October 12, 2022
This book made me want to fly ✈️to 🇮🇹 this was an atmospheric contemporary novel that swept me away to the Amalfi coast of Positano, again I googled pictures of Naples & Italy to set the scene, I enjoyed every minute.
The characters were likeable but flawed I could not put this down as the setting was breathtaking.
Kim Weston was 30 years old when she left home… I know right she just could not live up to her parents standards & was told who she should marry this was enough for her to pack her bags so she got a flight to Naples Italy, she was used to wearing designer clothes had credit cards galore & used Amex for everything now she has to get used to surving on her own.
Kim goes into business with Antonio who she has known for years his wife has dementia which for Antonio is hard they have renovated a villa which was run down & needed updating, now Kim has invited her friends Collette & Annie to visit & catch up each has their own reasons for leaving their own life behind.
When the opening of the villa not far off someone is trying to sabotage the opening by putting on social media THATS A JOKE CONSIDERING DONT YOU MEAN THE FAKE LIFE!!!
Kim is unsettled by the comment & wonders why someone would destroy something she & Antonio worked so hard for, there also is romance between characters Collette & Annie & partners , lies deceit infidelity .
This was an uplifting read & the first time read by Melissa Hill I loved the setting & the bougainvillea draping over the villa loved this one. & will read more by this author.
The characters were likeable but flawed I could not put this down as the setting was breathtaking.
Kim Weston was 30 years old when she left home… I know right she just could not live up to her parents standards & was told who she should marry this was enough for her to pack her bags so she got a flight to Naples Italy, she was used to wearing designer clothes had credit cards galore & used Amex for everything now she has to get used to surving on her own.
Kim goes into business with Antonio who she has known for years his wife has dementia which for Antonio is hard they have renovated a villa which was run down & needed updating, now Kim has invited her friends Collette & Annie to visit & catch up each has their own reasons for leaving their own life behind.
When the opening of the villa not far off someone is trying to sabotage the opening by putting on social media THATS A JOKE CONSIDERING DONT YOU MEAN THE FAKE LIFE!!!
Kim is unsettled by the comment & wonders why someone would destroy something she & Antonio worked so hard for, there also is romance between characters Collette & Annie & partners , lies deceit infidelity .
This was an uplifting read & the first time read by Melissa Hill I loved the setting & the bougainvillea draping over the villa loved this one. & will read more by this author.
May 6, 2020
Favorite Quotes:
Abandoned in the toilets at Connolly train station in the center of Dublin almost thirty years ago, she’d barely been breathing when she was found by a curious Irish Rail cleaner, who heard a noise from inside the ladies. There he found an infant, scarcely a few hours old, and had called for an ambulance. Even before she had a name, Annie was making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
She sighed inwardly. You could get lost in the guy’s accent, never mind his arms. It was like condensed milk— thick and sweet.
She smiled to herself in the darkness. This was obviously what people were talking about when they joked about Italian men… She’d had no idea what she’d been missing.
My Review:
This book had a bit of everything - women’s fiction, romance, family drama, and several mysteries. The premise and storylines were interesting and well nuanced with plenty of red herrings and misdirections to keep me guessing.
The characters were international and an odd lot of personalities, rich and poor, all attempting to run away from or avoid what their lives had become. And while a few of them were too good to be true, most were guilty of being selfish, less than honorable, hiding several uncomfortable or juicy secrets, and being more than a bit annoying and unlikable – in other words – like most people I know. Except for Colette who was a sweetie pie, her only flaw was being overly gullible, a problem I was once plagued with before I knew better and blossomed into the lovely shade of jaded cynic.
The featured locale was one of the most lovely places on earth, the Amalfi coast of Italy, and as the only safe and screaming baby-free mode of travel currently seems to be digitally provided or on the pages of a book, I was eager to utilize my Kindle as my passport.
Abandoned in the toilets at Connolly train station in the center of Dublin almost thirty years ago, she’d barely been breathing when she was found by a curious Irish Rail cleaner, who heard a noise from inside the ladies. There he found an infant, scarcely a few hours old, and had called for an ambulance. Even before she had a name, Annie was making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
She sighed inwardly. You could get lost in the guy’s accent, never mind his arms. It was like condensed milk— thick and sweet.
She smiled to herself in the darkness. This was obviously what people were talking about when they joked about Italian men… She’d had no idea what she’d been missing.
My Review:
This book had a bit of everything - women’s fiction, romance, family drama, and several mysteries. The premise and storylines were interesting and well nuanced with plenty of red herrings and misdirections to keep me guessing.
The characters were international and an odd lot of personalities, rich and poor, all attempting to run away from or avoid what their lives had become. And while a few of them were too good to be true, most were guilty of being selfish, less than honorable, hiding several uncomfortable or juicy secrets, and being more than a bit annoying and unlikable – in other words – like most people I know. Except for Colette who was a sweetie pie, her only flaw was being overly gullible, a problem I was once plagued with before I knew better and blossomed into the lovely shade of jaded cynic.
The featured locale was one of the most lovely places on earth, the Amalfi coast of Italy, and as the only safe and screaming baby-free mode of travel currently seems to be digitally provided or on the pages of a book, I was eager to utilize my Kindle as my passport.
March 11, 2020
‘With piercing green eyes the colour of the ocean. His cheeky smile was like sunshine the moment their eyes met’ Really? ‘His eyes were like deep pools that she wanted to dive right into’. For goodness sake how cheesy is this? I’m afraid this book just wasn’t my cup of tea as it was just far too cheesy and cringeworthy and the three girls were all so whiney in a made up world where everyone is shiny and beautiful that I couldn’t feel any emotional attachment to any one of them.
April 6, 2020
So clearly - this was not the book for me.
The Summer Villa is the story of three women - Kim, Annie and Colette. They met in share accommodation in Positano 6 years ago. Kim has since turned the place into a wellness retreat, and she's invited the others back for a reunion.
It's told in present day, as well as their initial meeting 6 years ago.
And, I'm sorry. I hate to say bad things about books because I think it's awesome someone has the skill to actually write a whole damn book. But. I cannot find a single thing to like about this book.
Kim, I guess it's primarily her story in a lot of ways, and she does not have a single redeeming feature. In the flashbacks to 6 years ago, she's a spoiled, rich, selfish socialite. At the present time? She's an "influencer" who has no time for her husband and kid. So again - selfish and spoiled. Honestly, the minute she was revealed as an influencer I should have taken the clue and put the damn book down.
Colette and Annie showed promise - their histories and experiences could have made for interesting characters - but they were just so superficially done. They never felt like real people, they really were just 'book characters'. See, I love when a character feels real, they're more than just words on a page. But these two? They weren't. They were just bland and forgettable.
Their struggles were so much more interesting that Kim's, but they were relegated down the line, their stories being rushed through and never really resolved unlike f*cking perfect Kim, who of course, had to get her 'happily ever after'.
Look, I probably should have acknowledged this wasn't the book for me and shelved it as a DNF. But, dammit, I paid good money for this book! My stubborn streak knows no bounds. This was my first book by Melissa Hill and...look, I won't be back. Sorry.
The Summer Villa is the story of three women - Kim, Annie and Colette. They met in share accommodation in Positano 6 years ago. Kim has since turned the place into a wellness retreat, and she's invited the others back for a reunion.
It's told in present day, as well as their initial meeting 6 years ago.
And, I'm sorry. I hate to say bad things about books because I think it's awesome someone has the skill to actually write a whole damn book. But. I cannot find a single thing to like about this book.
Kim, I guess it's primarily her story in a lot of ways, and she does not have a single redeeming feature. In the flashbacks to 6 years ago, she's a spoiled, rich, selfish socialite. At the present time? She's an "influencer" who has no time for her husband and kid. So again - selfish and spoiled. Honestly, the minute she was revealed as an influencer I should have taken the clue and put the damn book down.
Colette and Annie showed promise - their histories and experiences could have made for interesting characters - but they were just so superficially done. They never felt like real people, they really were just 'book characters'. See, I love when a character feels real, they're more than just words on a page. But these two? They weren't. They were just bland and forgettable.
Their struggles were so much more interesting that Kim's, but they were relegated down the line, their stories being rushed through and never really resolved unlike f*cking perfect Kim, who of course, had to get her 'happily ever after'.
Look, I probably should have acknowledged this wasn't the book for me and shelved it as a DNF. But, dammit, I paid good money for this book! My stubborn streak knows no bounds. This was my first book by Melissa Hill and...look, I won't be back. Sorry.
April 24, 2020
This book was absolutely fantastic. It had the warmth of the friendship on the surface and a pot of bubbling secrets deep underneath. I loved the way author Melissa Hill lulled me to a level of comfort before pulling the rug from under my feet when the truth started revealing itself. One by one.
Three women met at the Amalfi Coast in Italy 6 years ago. They were at the crossroads of life, friendship soon bonded them along with a few secrets which they kept hidden. They went back home, stayed in touch off and on until the grand opening of the Villa Dolce Vita brought them back. Secrets exploded. Woohoo.
My first book by this talented author, the beginning felt a little slow. The story laid the foundation of their lives in the past chapters and gave me the strives in their lives in the present ones. Both were balanced well but it was the present life which held my attention.
There was this feeling of impending doom in every chapter, like a box which was about to burst open. And I was so eager to explore the secrets. Something was hidden and it all came slithering out. I was the naughty one feeding my literary voyeuristic tendencies with this book.
The story kept me completely hooked in the second half, and I couldn't stop tapping my kindle until I reached the end. An entertaining read. I loved it.
Three women met at the Amalfi Coast in Italy 6 years ago. They were at the crossroads of life, friendship soon bonded them along with a few secrets which they kept hidden. They went back home, stayed in touch off and on until the grand opening of the Villa Dolce Vita brought them back. Secrets exploded. Woohoo.
My first book by this talented author, the beginning felt a little slow. The story laid the foundation of their lives in the past chapters and gave me the strives in their lives in the present ones. Both were balanced well but it was the present life which held my attention.
There was this feeling of impending doom in every chapter, like a box which was about to burst open. And I was so eager to explore the secrets. Something was hidden and it all came slithering out. I was the naughty one feeding my literary voyeuristic tendencies with this book.
The story kept me completely hooked in the second half, and I couldn't stop tapping my kindle until I reached the end. An entertaining read. I loved it.
April 7, 2020
It feels like it's been forever since I last read a book by Melissa Hill, so I was delighted to get the chance to read this one.
Set both 6 years ago and in the present day, we see how the lives of 3 women change, from their first summer together at the Villa Dolce Vita.
We have Kim, who is trying to escape from being a pawn in her parents empire. Annie who has had a tough time and is only in Italy thanks to an incredible gesture. And Colette who is talking a much needed holiday after helping her mum for years.
All very different but a friendship forms between them that lasts longer than the first summer.
I loved being able to sit in my garden and escape in my mind to Italy, to the Amalfi coast and had a wonderful time doing so.
This was a really enjoyable story to read, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the pages of it.
There is so much more to this book than meets the surface which builds up to an exciting climax.
Thanks to HQ and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Set both 6 years ago and in the present day, we see how the lives of 3 women change, from their first summer together at the Villa Dolce Vita.
We have Kim, who is trying to escape from being a pawn in her parents empire. Annie who has had a tough time and is only in Italy thanks to an incredible gesture. And Colette who is talking a much needed holiday after helping her mum for years.
All very different but a friendship forms between them that lasts longer than the first summer.
I loved being able to sit in my garden and escape in my mind to Italy, to the Amalfi coast and had a wonderful time doing so.
This was a really enjoyable story to read, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the pages of it.
There is so much more to this book than meets the surface which builds up to an exciting climax.
Thanks to HQ and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
April 26, 2020
Three friends, Kim, Colette and Annie head to Dolce Vita in Italy separately but end up finding friendship. Through the course of several years, their lives go in different directions. When the get together again, Colette and Annie see how Kim made what was a lost cause to what is now a gorgeous retreat.
Will the time the three women spend together be something that can be a true lifetime friendship? Or will secrets long hidden prove that this certainly wouldn't last?
Relationships and secrets just might come in the way and just might break the bond formed between the women. Each woman has a compelling story. Kim is fighting to stand on her own despite the pressure from her parents. Colette has been an exceptional daughter, but really needed a vacation and Annie who has also had her battles and this holiday is just what she needs. Each woman had secrets that could prove to be their undoing. Getting back together should have solidified the bonds already formed, but that might not happen for them.
I love how we see the women draw together, and imagine how it would feel when very relatable problems could break everything apart. I have always enjoyed books about friends and this book by Melissa Hill was just right for me.
Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Will the time the three women spend together be something that can be a true lifetime friendship? Or will secrets long hidden prove that this certainly wouldn't last?
Relationships and secrets just might come in the way and just might break the bond formed between the women. Each woman has a compelling story. Kim is fighting to stand on her own despite the pressure from her parents. Colette has been an exceptional daughter, but really needed a vacation and Annie who has also had her battles and this holiday is just what she needs. Each woman had secrets that could prove to be their undoing. Getting back together should have solidified the bonds already formed, but that might not happen for them.
I love how we see the women draw together, and imagine how it would feel when very relatable problems could break everything apart. I have always enjoyed books about friends and this book by Melissa Hill was just right for me.
Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
February 18, 2020
Three women needing to get away - American Kim, English Colette and Irish Annie.
One crumbling villa - their destination
Three friendships born.
And relationships?
Six years later, the friends, scattered across the world, meet up again for a reunion, masked as the launch of a new business venture, that ends up as explosive as the fireworks put on for the event!
This was the first Melissa Hill book for me, and I enjoyed reading it. It would make a great holiday read. I loved the descriptions of the Amalfi coast in Italy.
Set over two timelines, it gives you a dripfeed of history, tying in with the happenings of the present, creating a few 'aha!' moments along the way.
A pleasant read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
One crumbling villa - their destination
Three friendships born.
And relationships?
Six years later, the friends, scattered across the world, meet up again for a reunion, masked as the launch of a new business venture, that ends up as explosive as the fireworks put on for the event!
This was the first Melissa Hill book for me, and I enjoyed reading it. It would make a great holiday read. I loved the descriptions of the Amalfi coast in Italy.
Set over two timelines, it gives you a dripfeed of history, tying in with the happenings of the present, creating a few 'aha!' moments along the way.
A pleasant read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2020
Kim Weston has lived a privileged life, but all this privilege comes at a cost. Her parents have pretty much arranged her marriage to man whom she doesn't want to marry. So, she took control of her life and left for the Amalfi Coast. While there, Kim befriends Collette and Annie and forms a lifelong friendship with them. After the girls leave and go back to their lives, she decides to stay in Italy and refurbish a villa on the coast. She has plans to turn it into a gorgeous luxury resort. Fast forward a few years later when she is done remodeling the resort, she invites Collette and Annie back to Villa Dolce Vita for its grand opening. What could be more perfect than gorgeous days spent looking at the beautiful views of the coast amidst lemon trees and intoxicating bougainvillea? Well, plans never go exactly as one hopes, right? Each woman has issues they are harboring and must face. This will be one trip that all three women will remember. The Summer Villa by Melissa Hill is a great escape to the Amalfi Coast and is a delightful tale about female friendship.
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
June 20, 2020
Thank you Melissa Hill, MIRA Books & NetGalley for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I read this as a part of the 2020 Spring Reads Blog Tour with Harlequin Books.
“An epic summer read about food, friendship and the magic of Italy, perfect for fans of Mary Kay Andrews and Susan Mallery.” This was the perfect description of this book.
This is my first Melissa Hill novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There was romance, drama, laughs, tears, everything that comes in a women’s fiction / contemporary romance novel. I will say, I thought that the romance and drama in this book was written spectacularly.
One of the things I liked the most about this book was the two separate timelines. This novel is set six years ago and in present day. I’m not usually a fan of that type of book, but Melissa Hill did a great job writing it the way she did. I was entranced by the timeline almost. I was waiting to find out what happened then and what was going to happen throughout the story.
The characters were awesome. Simply awesome. When there are too many characters in a novel, I get confused. However, I loved learning about Kim, Colette and Annie. I loved each one of their stories. I really appreciated a woman turning a crumbling house into a luxury business. This book was very big on female empowerment for me and I like that.
There were a lot of secrets revealed in this book. A lot of them. I got a little confused sometimes through the characters, which I mentioned earlier that happens sometimes when there’s too many things going on. However, it was easy to catch back up and realize who’s drama was with who.
Overall, I really enjoyed this Italian women’s fiction novel from Melissa Hill. She really captured my attention with her writing and I cannot wait to read another one by her!
“An epic summer read about food, friendship and the magic of Italy, perfect for fans of Mary Kay Andrews and Susan Mallery.” This was the perfect description of this book.
This is my first Melissa Hill novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There was romance, drama, laughs, tears, everything that comes in a women’s fiction / contemporary romance novel. I will say, I thought that the romance and drama in this book was written spectacularly.
One of the things I liked the most about this book was the two separate timelines. This novel is set six years ago and in present day. I’m not usually a fan of that type of book, but Melissa Hill did a great job writing it the way she did. I was entranced by the timeline almost. I was waiting to find out what happened then and what was going to happen throughout the story.
The characters were awesome. Simply awesome. When there are too many characters in a novel, I get confused. However, I loved learning about Kim, Colette and Annie. I loved each one of their stories. I really appreciated a woman turning a crumbling house into a luxury business. This book was very big on female empowerment for me and I like that.
There were a lot of secrets revealed in this book. A lot of them. I got a little confused sometimes through the characters, which I mentioned earlier that happens sometimes when there’s too many things going on. However, it was easy to catch back up and realize who’s drama was with who.
Overall, I really enjoyed this Italian women’s fiction novel from Melissa Hill. She really captured my attention with her writing and I cannot wait to read another one by her!
May 6, 2020
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
I really enjoyed this story as it slowly unwound to reveal the different timelines for the three women featured. There were some moments that were perhaps predictable and the beginning did take a little getting time to really get invested, but as it continues on you get sucked into the three women and their respective stories. The descriptions of the Amalfi coast are vibrant and wonderful, really painting a picture of what the setting is.
I did really enjoy as things got more and more intense, what with the teasing of secrets and the feeling that something was coming. It was that fact that kept the story going and really picked up the pace of the book.
I really enjoyed this story as it slowly unwound to reveal the different timelines for the three women featured. There were some moments that were perhaps predictable and the beginning did take a little getting time to really get invested, but as it continues on you get sucked into the three women and their respective stories. The descriptions of the Amalfi coast are vibrant and wonderful, really painting a picture of what the setting is.
I did really enjoy as things got more and more intense, what with the teasing of secrets and the feeling that something was coming. It was that fact that kept the story going and really picked up the pace of the book.
May 30, 2022
A very entertaining summer beach read book that would do well turned into a movie. (I'm thinking Mamma Mia without the soundtrack). Loved the descriptions of the gorgeous Amalfi Coast but was irritated by the detailed fashion descriptions in every scene. All the main characters had difficult childhood challenges to overcome and I wish more was spent on that rather than the type of shoes they were wearing, size of their waists and fashion accessories. Overall, I did enjoy the story and summer Italian escape.
July 25, 2020
Cute summer story
May 3, 2020
The Summer Villa, an engagingly sweet summer escape, saw me relaxing in a pretty villa in Italy - it was certainly an enchanting read! I revelled in losing myself to Melissa Hill's fabulous novel. The characters were amicable and convivial, though flawed, but still a real pleasure to get to know.
Three women, Kim, Annie and Colette, all fleeing from their problems at home, pitch up at a crumbling villa in Italy, called Dolce Vita. The women all form a close bond, and their lives are forever changed. Five years later, successful entrepreneur Kim decides to buy and restore the charming villa, and along with some business associates, is now planning a three-day grand opening. It will be a perfect opportunity for the three great friends to reunite and spend some time together enjoying themselves on the Amalfi coast. Naturally, everything does not go as planned - secrets are unearthed and old memories are dredged up, all resulting in oodles of melodrama.
Melissa Hill has written a divine story that is bursting at the seams with vivid and exquisite descriptions of Italy and Villa Dolce Vita. All of the characters were adeptly developed and I often found myself wishing I could be there along with my new friends, Kim, Annie and Colette. I thoroughly enjoy books with strong friendship themes so The Summer Villa was a perfect read for me. The author's writing was just as I expected it would be, first-class, and the perfect pacing and compelling plot-line all added a touch of style to the novel.
With its exciting resolution, this is one story you won't want to miss! Very highly recommended without any hesitation to anyone looking for their next great read.
Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin - MIRA and the author, Melissa Hill for the complimentary copy. This is my honest and totally voluntary review.
Three women, Kim, Annie and Colette, all fleeing from their problems at home, pitch up at a crumbling villa in Italy, called Dolce Vita. The women all form a close bond, and their lives are forever changed. Five years later, successful entrepreneur Kim decides to buy and restore the charming villa, and along with some business associates, is now planning a three-day grand opening. It will be a perfect opportunity for the three great friends to reunite and spend some time together enjoying themselves on the Amalfi coast. Naturally, everything does not go as planned - secrets are unearthed and old memories are dredged up, all resulting in oodles of melodrama.
Melissa Hill has written a divine story that is bursting at the seams with vivid and exquisite descriptions of Italy and Villa Dolce Vita. All of the characters were adeptly developed and I often found myself wishing I could be there along with my new friends, Kim, Annie and Colette. I thoroughly enjoy books with strong friendship themes so The Summer Villa was a perfect read for me. The author's writing was just as I expected it would be, first-class, and the perfect pacing and compelling plot-line all added a touch of style to the novel.
With its exciting resolution, this is one story you won't want to miss! Very highly recommended without any hesitation to anyone looking for their next great read.
Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin - MIRA and the author, Melissa Hill for the complimentary copy. This is my honest and totally voluntary review.
August 3, 2020
The Summer Villa is the ultimate summer read. Italy shines through the pages, with scintillating depictions of it’s landscape, food and people. Melissa Hill writes about smoldering romances, jealousy, greed, guilt, relationships and friendships, with the sparkling azure of the Mediterranean sea always in the background.
I thoroughly enjoyed the pure escapism of The Summer Villa. It really is a delightful read that just conjures up sun-filled days, while also reminding the reader of the importance of friendship.
The only reason I didn't give it a 5 is because I felt like I couldn't particularly warm to any of the characters, I found myself feeling a bit lost in the middle but as the plot developed and curve balls were thrown in it picked back up again.
I thoroughly enjoyed the pure escapism of The Summer Villa. It really is a delightful read that just conjures up sun-filled days, while also reminding the reader of the importance of friendship.
The only reason I didn't give it a 5 is because I felt like I couldn't particularly warm to any of the characters, I found myself feeling a bit lost in the middle but as the plot developed and curve balls were thrown in it picked back up again.
August 18, 2019
Review to follow...
July 5, 2020
Six years ago Kim, Collette, and Annie ran away from their lives and ended up in the same villa in Italy. They didn’t know each other and came from different countries: the U.S., England, and Ireland. Though they had different backgrounds and different reasons for wanting to escape their lives for a few weeks, they all connected that summer. Now it is six years later and Kim is hosting a grand reopening of the same villa, which she has transformed into a wellness retreat. It seems like the perfect time for the three women to reunite, but they each bring their own personal problems back to Italy, where it all began.
This story alternated perspectives between then, six years ago, and now in the present. It also alternated between each of the three women. Things were slowly revealed in each timeline, but some details were held until the end, which built up the tension and surprise. I was shocked at some of the twists that I didn’t see coming.
One thing that this story demonstrated is how things in life can change so quickly. The women were struggling with life before they went to Italy the first time, but they each had life changing events happen there. These events changed the course of their lives in ways that didn’t seem possible at the beginning. This shows that even if you think you’re going through a difficult time in the present, there is no way to predict how your life will change years from now.
I really loved this story!
Thank you HarperCollins for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story alternated perspectives between then, six years ago, and now in the present. It also alternated between each of the three women. Things were slowly revealed in each timeline, but some details were held until the end, which built up the tension and surprise. I was shocked at some of the twists that I didn’t see coming.
One thing that this story demonstrated is how things in life can change so quickly. The women were struggling with life before they went to Italy the first time, but they each had life changing events happen there. These events changed the course of their lives in ways that didn’t seem possible at the beginning. This shows that even if you think you’re going through a difficult time in the present, there is no way to predict how your life will change years from now.
I really loved this story!
Thank you HarperCollins for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 8, 2020
This is a dual timeline story, taking place in the present day and six years earlier. It is the story of three very different women who met when they first travelled to stay in the crumbling Villa Dolce Vita on the Amalfi coast and what happened when they returned six years later.
Kim is an American socialite whose rich parents have paid for her lifestyle providing she wines and dines the people they want schmoozing but now they want repaying by her agreeing to marry their choice of man. She’s encouraged by her best friend to escape to think out her options . . . . Collette is English and has given up her dreams to help her Mum overcome cancer and, now she’s in remission, her Mum and sister have unexpectedly gifted her this holiday . . . . Annie is from Dublin and was a foundling who was adopted and is now working as a hairdresser but has unexpectedly been helped by one of her clients and this is her holiday to think through her options for the future. Three very different backgrounds, three very different women but all there to sort out their lives – and maybe find love?
This reunion is to celebrate the opening of the Villa Dolce Vita as a luxury retreat by Kim and she’s funded the return of visit of the two women who she first met there. As they meet up again, however, there are secrets to be revealed, a mystery to be solved, a liar unmasked, mistakes to be owned and a special romance to be rekindled. It shows the changes that the six years has made in the lives of the three women after that initial six years and further in the future. There are characters to admire, others to distrust and plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing as the plot unfolds.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.
Kim is an American socialite whose rich parents have paid for her lifestyle providing she wines and dines the people they want schmoozing but now they want repaying by her agreeing to marry their choice of man. She’s encouraged by her best friend to escape to think out her options . . . . Collette is English and has given up her dreams to help her Mum overcome cancer and, now she’s in remission, her Mum and sister have unexpectedly gifted her this holiday . . . . Annie is from Dublin and was a foundling who was adopted and is now working as a hairdresser but has unexpectedly been helped by one of her clients and this is her holiday to think through her options for the future. Three very different backgrounds, three very different women but all there to sort out their lives – and maybe find love?
This reunion is to celebrate the opening of the Villa Dolce Vita as a luxury retreat by Kim and she’s funded the return of visit of the two women who she first met there. As they meet up again, however, there are secrets to be revealed, a mystery to be solved, a liar unmasked, mistakes to be owned and a special romance to be rekindled. It shows the changes that the six years has made in the lives of the three women after that initial six years and further in the future. There are characters to admire, others to distrust and plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing as the plot unfolds.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.
May 13, 2020
The Summer Villa by Melissa Hill is a most delightful contemporary novel that will have your pulse racing as you read towards the conclusion, anticipating what is to come.
The novel has two time periods – ‘then’ (five years earlier) and ‘now.’ The action alternates between the two.
Three strangers meet at crossroads in their lives – all have needs to be met and their own destinies to fulfil. Their lives entwine down the years.
There is the theme of family. Our families are all different – some stifling, some resentful, some loving – our upbringing helps to shape the adults we become. But we are not our mothers and history does not have to repeat itself.
We all have dreams. We should pursue our dreams. Sometimes life throws us a curve ball and we need a helping hand.
The novel is set on the Amalfi coast in summer. Due to Melissa Hill’s artistry with words, the reader can picture the scenes as we journey through the sunshine and the heat, sampling the food along the way.
All the characters were well drawn. I particularly loved the three leading ladies. I did have a favourite, with whom I really connected to. See if you have one too.
Melissa Hill is a ‘new’ author to me. I absolutely loved The Summer Villa and will be hunting out much more by Melissa Hill.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
The novel has two time periods – ‘then’ (five years earlier) and ‘now.’ The action alternates between the two.
Three strangers meet at crossroads in their lives – all have needs to be met and their own destinies to fulfil. Their lives entwine down the years.
There is the theme of family. Our families are all different – some stifling, some resentful, some loving – our upbringing helps to shape the adults we become. But we are not our mothers and history does not have to repeat itself.
We all have dreams. We should pursue our dreams. Sometimes life throws us a curve ball and we need a helping hand.
The novel is set on the Amalfi coast in summer. Due to Melissa Hill’s artistry with words, the reader can picture the scenes as we journey through the sunshine and the heat, sampling the food along the way.
All the characters were well drawn. I particularly loved the three leading ladies. I did have a favourite, with whom I really connected to. See if you have one too.
Melissa Hill is a ‘new’ author to me. I absolutely loved The Summer Villa and will be hunting out much more by Melissa Hill.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
April 25, 2020
A story set in the gorgeous Italy with it's stunning views and beautiful villas. This is a story about friendship and how these lovely ladies found themselves whilst on a trip to Italy.
Told over a dual timeline 6 years apart, you get insight from all of them as to where they were in their lives when they first arrived in Italy and the point they are at when they return in present day.
I enjoyed getting to know these ladies through their highs and lows and how no-one really quite knows everything that happened during their visit where they all became friends.
Told over a dual timeline 6 years apart, you get insight from all of them as to where they were in their lives when they first arrived in Italy and the point they are at when they return in present day.
I enjoyed getting to know these ladies through their highs and lows and how no-one really quite knows everything that happened during their visit where they all became friends.
May 10, 2020
The beautiful bougainvillea cover reminds me of my summer holidays and this is a perfect poolside read.
Kim, Colette and Annie find themselves forming a unlikely friendship at the Villa Dolce Vita. 6 years later the reunite when Kim has brought the hotel and they are invited to the grand launch.
What happened on that holiday 6 years ago and what secrets are ready to burst!
I read this in 3 sunny sittings in the garden a wonderful read that had me guessing right to the end.
This had everything you want in a book love friendship and dramas. I loved it!
Kim, Colette and Annie find themselves forming a unlikely friendship at the Villa Dolce Vita. 6 years later the reunite when Kim has brought the hotel and they are invited to the grand launch.
What happened on that holiday 6 years ago and what secrets are ready to burst!
I read this in 3 sunny sittings in the garden a wonderful read that had me guessing right to the end.
This had everything you want in a book love friendship and dramas. I loved it!
October 26, 2021
Although much of this felt cliche and a bit cheesy, I have to hand it to Hill for keeping me guessing until the very end. As an avid thriller reader, there’s not much that gets past me, and somehow I was still hankering for the big reveal until seconds before it happened.
While the storytelling felt a bit plain and simple, Hill still managed to make me feel as if I were strolling beachside on the Amalfi coast. I absolutely love when a book can transport you from your couch, directly into its setting.
I wasn’t a fan of any of the main characters except for Colette (and maybe Luca), and Annie drove me absolutely nuts. But each of them maintained a complex character arc, which I appreciated.
This was a fun read that I would highly recommend for trips to the beach or any vacation!
CW: parental abandonment, embezzlement, loss of a parent
While the storytelling felt a bit plain and simple, Hill still managed to make me feel as if I were strolling beachside on the Amalfi coast. I absolutely love when a book can transport you from your couch, directly into its setting.
I wasn’t a fan of any of the main characters except for Colette (and maybe Luca), and Annie drove me absolutely nuts. But each of them maintained a complex character arc, which I appreciated.
This was a fun read that I would highly recommend for trips to the beach or any vacation!
CW: parental abandonment, embezzlement, loss of a parent
August 2, 2022
Super cute!!
April 21, 2025
It's alright, feels kind of gentle. Could use more drama.
April 24, 2020
This is about three girls who meet each other one summer in Italy. Years have passed and they meet again. I enjoyed the story and it was a quick read. Would make a perfect beach read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy
May 1, 2020
Kim has spent her life among the rich and wealthy with her parents paying for her every want and need. However, they expect her to pay her dues and when those include an arranged marriage she decides she has had enough of living under their thumb and escapes to Italy.
Colette had to put her life on hold when her mother became sick with cancer. After four years her mum is in remission and as a thank you, Colette's mum sends her on an Italian escape to reclaim her freedom.
Annie works in blue-rinse hairdressers and has filled her life with wild nights easy flings. When she wakes up in her early 30's with and has to evict another stranger from her bed she decides she needs to change. One of her regulars at the salon has been watching her and sees her potential. She leaves Annie a fortune in her will so that Annie can open her own salon and a trip to Italy before she gets started.
After the three forms a friendship with each other they go home and go their separate ways. Years later they meet again in Italy at very different stages in their life. Will secrets from their previous Italian escape stay buried or will they embrace The Sweet Life?
This book reads a bit like Mama Mia. It's not life-altering but it's not bad. I found it entirely predictable and mapped the entire plot out in my head before I was even halfway through. There were a couple of twists at the end which I spotted coming a mile away.
This book would make a nice, easy summer beach read. It's the sort of book I imagine as a battered paperback on the 'library' shelf in a hotel, where books people leave behind end up.
I got my copy of #TheSummerVilla by Melissa Hill for free from #NetGalley in exchange for a free review. Published by #HQ an imprint of #HarperCollinsUK this book is available now.
Colette had to put her life on hold when her mother became sick with cancer. After four years her mum is in remission and as a thank you, Colette's mum sends her on an Italian escape to reclaim her freedom.
Annie works in blue-rinse hairdressers and has filled her life with wild nights easy flings. When she wakes up in her early 30's with and has to evict another stranger from her bed she decides she needs to change. One of her regulars at the salon has been watching her and sees her potential. She leaves Annie a fortune in her will so that Annie can open her own salon and a trip to Italy before she gets started.
After the three forms a friendship with each other they go home and go their separate ways. Years later they meet again in Italy at very different stages in their life. Will secrets from their previous Italian escape stay buried or will they embrace The Sweet Life?
This book reads a bit like Mama Mia. It's not life-altering but it's not bad. I found it entirely predictable and mapped the entire plot out in my head before I was even halfway through. There were a couple of twists at the end which I spotted coming a mile away.
This book would make a nice, easy summer beach read. It's the sort of book I imagine as a battered paperback on the 'library' shelf in a hotel, where books people leave behind end up.
I got my copy of #TheSummerVilla by Melissa Hill for free from #NetGalley in exchange for a free review. Published by #HQ an imprint of #HarperCollinsUK this book is available now.
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May 1, 2020Categories
Family Life Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Women's Fiction
Family Life Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Women's Fiction
September 17, 2023
I have taken good literature for granted for too long. I enjoyed reading about the Italian landscape though.
April 28, 2020
We all may be stuck in our own homes, but you can visit the beautiful Amalfi Coast in Melissa Hill's latest novel, The Summer Villa. Told in two separate timelines, we meet three young women who are all running away from their homes to stay at Villa Dolce Vita, a small, rather run-down vacation rental in Positano.
Kim is a 30 year-old American woman whose wealthy parents expect her to go to London and marry herself off to a man she doesn't even know to help their business prospects. When Kim refuses, she secretly runs away and ends up at Villa Dolce Vita. There she meets two other young ladies, Colette and Annie.
Colette is taking a well-deserved vacation after running her family's bakery in England after her father deserts the family while his wife fights breast cancer. Annie is an Irish hair stylist who receives this trip from one of her customers when the woman passes away.
Annie is a party girl, and she spends her nights out at the local bars, where she meets a handsome British man and thinks he may be the one. Colette is a sweet young woman who is a little imtimidated by her gorgeous roommates, but when she meets a handsome Italian man who woos her, Annie and Colette are a little surprised and envious.
While spending her days at the pool sunning herself and trying to figure out what she will do with her life, Kim finds a journal filled with affirmations and quotes that speak to her. She begins to take stunning photos of Positano and capture them with these affirmations, and when she posts them on Instagram, they go viral.
Years later, Kim has turned her Instagram posts into a mindfullness book, and she buys Villa Dolce Vita and creates a spa and wellness retreat there. As she prepares for the grand opening, she is struggling with the feeling that she cannot bond with her young daughter, and that her husband will discover this. It also appears that someone is trying to sabotage her grand opening.
Colette is married and dealing with infertility. Her husband is consumed with work and tries to talk her out of going to Positano for Kim's grand opening. Annie is a single mom who now owns a successful hair salon, and while she is going to the grand opening, something is bothering her about seeing her old friends again.
Each woman is struggling with issues that many women can relate to in the current timeline, and it all comes to a head at the grand opening. There are secrets that come out, and I admit that I was taken by complete surprise, which I enjoyed. Hill skillfully puts all the pieces together and creates a novel that keeps the reader guessing, and as someone who has visited Positano, I was happy to revisit it in this captivating novel. If you want to escape to a beautiful place for a few hours, pick up The Summer Villa. Fans of Liane Moriarty's novels will enjoy this one.
Thanks to Harlequin for putting me on Melissa Hill's tour.
Kim is a 30 year-old American woman whose wealthy parents expect her to go to London and marry herself off to a man she doesn't even know to help their business prospects. When Kim refuses, she secretly runs away and ends up at Villa Dolce Vita. There she meets two other young ladies, Colette and Annie.
Colette is taking a well-deserved vacation after running her family's bakery in England after her father deserts the family while his wife fights breast cancer. Annie is an Irish hair stylist who receives this trip from one of her customers when the woman passes away.
Annie is a party girl, and she spends her nights out at the local bars, where she meets a handsome British man and thinks he may be the one. Colette is a sweet young woman who is a little imtimidated by her gorgeous roommates, but when she meets a handsome Italian man who woos her, Annie and Colette are a little surprised and envious.
While spending her days at the pool sunning herself and trying to figure out what she will do with her life, Kim finds a journal filled with affirmations and quotes that speak to her. She begins to take stunning photos of Positano and capture them with these affirmations, and when she posts them on Instagram, they go viral.
Years later, Kim has turned her Instagram posts into a mindfullness book, and she buys Villa Dolce Vita and creates a spa and wellness retreat there. As she prepares for the grand opening, she is struggling with the feeling that she cannot bond with her young daughter, and that her husband will discover this. It also appears that someone is trying to sabotage her grand opening.
Colette is married and dealing with infertility. Her husband is consumed with work and tries to talk her out of going to Positano for Kim's grand opening. Annie is a single mom who now owns a successful hair salon, and while she is going to the grand opening, something is bothering her about seeing her old friends again.
Each woman is struggling with issues that many women can relate to in the current timeline, and it all comes to a head at the grand opening. There are secrets that come out, and I admit that I was taken by complete surprise, which I enjoyed. Hill skillfully puts all the pieces together and creates a novel that keeps the reader guessing, and as someone who has visited Positano, I was happy to revisit it in this captivating novel. If you want to escape to a beautiful place for a few hours, pick up The Summer Villa. Fans of Liane Moriarty's novels will enjoy this one.
Thanks to Harlequin for putting me on Melissa Hill's tour.
May 8, 2020
High quality women’s fiction does not get any better than Melissa Hill’s latest novel of friendship, secrets and food set against the majestic backdrop of Italy: The Summer Villa. The next best thing to a luxury trip away, The Summer Villa is an addictive, indulgent and wholly captivating read.
Kim, Colette and Annie were three women who couldn’t be more different. They had come to the picturesque Villa Dolce, a beautiful stone house which sits above the Gulf of Naples, in desperate need of escape and of a place of refuge. Villa Dolce had soon cast its spell upon the three women and they each found that elusive something that had been missing from their lives in the villa. The three of them soon found themselves bonding with one another and a friendship had quickly been forged. Although they had parted at the end of their sojourn at the Villa Dolce, the three friends had stayed close and kept in touch. Having seen and experienced first hand the restorative power of the villa, Kim had transformed it into a luxury retreat and had invited Colette and Annie along to help her celebrate this important milestone.
As the three women find themselves under the same roof again, it quickly transpires that it’s not all wine, gossip and Limoncello. Long-buried secrets soon come to light and clearly somebody is not exactly thrilled that the three women have reunited at Villa Dolce. As Kim, Colette and Annie find themselves at a crossroads, they realize that they need to stop running away from the past and face the obstacles in their way if they are ever to be truly happy and fulfilled. But do they have the strength and the courage to tackle their demons head on? The life they have always wanted to live is within reach, but only if they have it within themselves to take a leap of faith and fight for the future they have always dreamed of.
Melissa Hill’s The Summer Villa is a wonderful read sprinkled with warmth, humor, drama, emotion and heart. Melissa Hill creates fantastic characters that are strong, kind-hearted, generous, frustrating, but always real and believable. Kim, Colette and Annie could well be friends or family members readers will know and they come to such vivid life that it’s a wrench to say goodbye to them at the end of the novel. These three women go through experiences we have all faced and the joys, sadness and fears they endure are explored with compassion and nuance without the need for sentimentality.
A fabulous read that is perfect for losing oneself in, The Summer Villa is a poignant, captivating and engrossing read that should not be missed.
Kim, Colette and Annie were three women who couldn’t be more different. They had come to the picturesque Villa Dolce, a beautiful stone house which sits above the Gulf of Naples, in desperate need of escape and of a place of refuge. Villa Dolce had soon cast its spell upon the three women and they each found that elusive something that had been missing from their lives in the villa. The three of them soon found themselves bonding with one another and a friendship had quickly been forged. Although they had parted at the end of their sojourn at the Villa Dolce, the three friends had stayed close and kept in touch. Having seen and experienced first hand the restorative power of the villa, Kim had transformed it into a luxury retreat and had invited Colette and Annie along to help her celebrate this important milestone.
As the three women find themselves under the same roof again, it quickly transpires that it’s not all wine, gossip and Limoncello. Long-buried secrets soon come to light and clearly somebody is not exactly thrilled that the three women have reunited at Villa Dolce. As Kim, Colette and Annie find themselves at a crossroads, they realize that they need to stop running away from the past and face the obstacles in their way if they are ever to be truly happy and fulfilled. But do they have the strength and the courage to tackle their demons head on? The life they have always wanted to live is within reach, but only if they have it within themselves to take a leap of faith and fight for the future they have always dreamed of.
Melissa Hill’s The Summer Villa is a wonderful read sprinkled with warmth, humor, drama, emotion and heart. Melissa Hill creates fantastic characters that are strong, kind-hearted, generous, frustrating, but always real and believable. Kim, Colette and Annie could well be friends or family members readers will know and they come to such vivid life that it’s a wrench to say goodbye to them at the end of the novel. These three women go through experiences we have all faced and the joys, sadness and fears they endure are explored with compassion and nuance without the need for sentimentality.
A fabulous read that is perfect for losing oneself in, The Summer Villa is a poignant, captivating and engrossing read that should not be missed.
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