Светецът покровител на втория шанс

by Christine Simon, Кристин Саймън, Таня Минчева (Cover)

Синьор Сперанца, потомствен управител на сервиз за прахосмукачки и самоназначил се кмет на Промето (население 212 души), има проблем. Aко общината не намери 70 000 евро, Комисията по водите ще спре водоснабдяването на селцето и ще разсели жителите му. Домът… не, светът, който синьор Сперанца познава, ще бъде унищожен.

В отчаян опит да лансира Промето като топ туристическа дестинация и да попълни фонда за ремонти, синьор Сперанца пуска невинния слух, че филмовата звезда-бунтар-секссимвол-сензация-в-социалните-мрежи Данте Риналди ще снима следващия си филм именно там.

За лош късмет, измамата сработва дори прекалено добре и увлича не само почитателите на звездата със съмнителна слава и още по-съмнителен характер, но и местните жители – всички искат да участват в измисления филм. Синьор Маестро, местен богаташ и месар, дори е готов да спонсорира продукцията (и съответно – подмяната на тръбите), ако Сперанца намери роли за петнадесетимата му синове. Отчуждената и намусена дъщеря на самия синьор Сперанца предлага да поеме грима на актьорите, а верният му помощник Смилцо създава сценарий, вдъхновен от неугасващата му страст по Антонела – най-голямата почитателка на Данте Риналди и сигурна изпълнителка на главната роля в (бутафорната) продукция.

За негова изненада – и огромен ужас, синьор Сперанца осъзнава, че единственият начин да се измъкне от тази каша, е наистина да направи филма. Но как да стане това, ако звездата Данте Риналди, корифей на актьорското майсторство и повелител на тениските без ръкави, така и не се появи? Или пък още по-лошо… ако той пристигне в Промето с целия си антураж?

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Italy, Contemporary, Audiobook, Book Club, Adult

280 pages, Paperback

First published April 12, 2022

Reviews

[MarilynW · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Patron Saint of Second Chances by Christine Simon

This is a sweet little story of a beleaguered mayor and his tiny Italian village (population 212). Not having what it has taken to get the residence to pay their village fees over time, now the water commission needs 70,000 euros to fix the village pipes. Without that amount the town will be shut down and everyone will be forced to find another place to live. Signor Speranza doesn't have the heart to tell the people so he makes up a story or two or fifty and digs himself a deeper hole by the hour.

A tolerance for whoopee cushion jokes is needed to make your way through the story. Speranza concocts a tangled web of lies that build into something almost the truth as the village members get behind his story of a movie being made in the village. But that requires money and a backer and then a script and the entire shaky and not real way to rescue the village becomes so big that there is no going back. Speranza has built his lie on a famous actor coming to the village to make the movie. The story is one misstep and gaffe after another, with the village people getting more excited and involved along the way. If you like silly humor for a dilemma presented in a not too serious manner, this is the story for you.

Publication: April 12th 2022

Thank you to Atria Books, Edelweiss, and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Angela M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not usually drawn to funny books, but with so much happening around us, I was eager for something to make me laugh .

Prometto, based on a real Italian village where the author’s grandparents were born is a village of 212 residents. It has a problem with its water pipes , and if they are not fixed the people of the village will have to leave . The problem is they don’t have the 70,000 euros needed to fix the pipes.

The story is about how one lie, meant to raise the money needed to fix the pipes, spirals into more well meaning lies and all hell breaks loose. It’s not about the lies, though , but about hope in the face of adversity.

I was delighted and uplifted. I have to make it 4 stars because this was the most entertaining book I’ve read this year. At times the story felt over the top, but instead of rolling my eyes, I laughed out loud. These quirky characters found their way into my heart . A light read and a good one to end the year with.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Atria Books through Edelweiss.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the tiny village of Promette, with a population of 212, this story begins as the ‘self-appointed’ mayor / vacuum-cleaner-maintenance and repair business owner Giovannino Speranza realizes that there is a reckoning on the horizon. He’d been postponing repairs on the pipes for the water system, and bubble gum just isn’t doing the job, but the inspector is due to arrive any day, and he knows he will need to raise money to pay for the repairs before they shut off water to the village. A lot of money. €70,000 or $79,432.00 and change.

When a customer comes to his shop sharing photos on her phone of Dante Rinaldi, a famous actor, Speranza comes up with a plan which he hopes will at least give the villagers hope. Nothing spreads faster than rumours, so when he shares that Rinaldi will be filming his latest movie in town, soon everyone in the village wants to be involved.

While Speranza is wringing his hands, trying to juggle the villagers’ questions and desires to be in the film, his employee Smilzo begins writing up a script and it doesn’t take long before everything seems to be out of his control. Everyone wants a part in the movie. And all the while, Speranza seems to be losing his grip on the situation every day as the villagers’ enthusiasm adds to the chaos. And then Dante’s agent begins calling once they hear the rumours of Rinaldi’s supposed involvement with the movie, leaving messages, and demanding a response.

A fun read that left me smiling.


Published: 12 Apr 2022

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Simon & Schuster / Atria Books

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Patron Saint of Second Chances is a sweet story about the lengths one man will go to to save his small town. Signor Spirenza is the self appointed mayor of Prometto, a town of 212. When he needs to come up with 70,000 euros to fix the town’s water pipes, he decides a small lie won’t be a problem. Of course, things quickly spiral out of control.
The book is cute, not overly funny. It’s somewhat uneven. The ending is fairly predictable and unbelievable. That said, it’s a nice way to spend a few hours with some lovely characters, many of whom are based on the author’s family.
My thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this book.

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous cover, right? The Patron Saint of Second Chances is a delightful and charming story.

About the book: “The self-appointed mayor of a tiny Italian village is determined to save his hometown no matter the cost in this charming, hilarious, and heartwarming debut novel.”

Prometto has just over 200 residents. There’s a problem with the water pipes, and it could be a fortune to fix. They have to be fixed but where is the money going to come from? Senor Speranza, the self-appointed mayor of town, tells a little lie that snowballs.

I never knew a story centered around a vacuum repair business in tiny Prometto, Italy would be so entertaining, but it absolutely was. This story never takes itself too seriously. It’s fun and engaging and sweet. I’ve not read anything like it. You should check this out if you are looking to feel uplifted. The charm of Prometto gave way to the charm of this story and its characters. It made me smile and remember my short time in Italy with fondness.


I received a gifted copy.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This debut novel is a whimsical little story about a significant predicament facing a village of 212 in southern Italy and the elephantine lengths the self-appointed mayor engages in to save his town from extinction. The characters are charming; especially Signor Speranza, his assistant Smilzo, and Signor’s wife Betta. There are numerous amusing moments along the way. There is even a bit of suspense thrown in.

The book is a quick read and a nice way to take a break from the state of the world these days. For my tastes though I would have liked it better if the story hadn’t been quite as light. In other words, I wish there had been more character development. That’s OK though. it’s pulling in excellent ratings, and I’m sure many readers will continue to rate it higher than I did. Recommended for a quick, easy, and entertaining read.

I would like to thank Atria Books, Net Galley, and Ms. Christine Simon for an advanced copy. Opinions are mine alone and not biased in any way.

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting read, this book provided a good small town feel. The church, vacuum repair business and a butcher’s shop were all across the street from one another. It’s hard to avoid each other but that didn’t stop Signor Speranza from trying. The population count has its own cute story. Signor Speranza was definitely old school. He didn’t care for cell phones and had no patience to young people who were constantly on it. I enjoyed the humor between Signor Speranza and his assistant Smilzo. The old lady at the audition was funny as well as the dentist. I laughed hard at Signor Speranza’s attempt at the fart machine on Ernesto but got backfired. There were a lot of Italian expressions and endearments directed at the granddaughter, Carlotta. I would love to know the English definitions for those words but I don’t notice there’s any. I just loved the cover of this book! I also loved the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter.


This book started with Signor Giovannino (Nino) Speranza, 62, self-appointed mayor and vacuum repairman in the village of Prometto, all of 212 citizens. He’s eating his breakfast while an inspector inspected the pipes at his 10-room hotel he inherited from his wife’s parents. The bathroom he chosen was in a room he hadn’t rented out in 2 years. Now he’s hesitant if he had made a mistake. He thought he recalled a leak happened once and tried to ask the inspector to move into another room but the inspector declined because he’s far into the process. After the inspector cut a portion of the pipes he saw there were bubble gum wedged in there. He gave Signor Speranza a bill of 70 thousand Euros to pay in 60 days otherwise the water will be cut off and the village will be closed out and everyone will be forced to leave their homes. Signor Speranza and his wife Betta had one daughter named Gemma, 24 who in turn had a 4 year old daughter named Carlotta. Gemma’s boyfriend left and Gemma’s broken hearted. Signor Speranza wanted to save the town and save his daughter. One event lead to another and an idea came for Signor Speranza to raise the needed money. Except as soon as he’s nearly collected enough money, something came up and he found out portion of the money was already spent. Signor Speranza often consulted with different saints at different situations.


The Patron Saint of Second Chances was well written and developed. Many well liked characters. The read was a bit slow paced in my opinion but enjoyable. I enjoyed following Signor Speranza’s story as well as the feared butcher and his sons. He sounded like a down to earth guy. I liked how he loved his family, cared for his granddaughter, and worried for his daughter’s well being. He also took care of dogs even though he didn’t want to but to make others happy, he was willing to. Troubles always found Signor Speranza but I’m glad he was able to solve it every time. I was surprised that his assistant Smilzo was a Jack of all trades. The ending was good though there were no mention of repaying the money to Signor Maestro. Their situation has changed but still, it’s a lot of money to sweep under the rug. I enjoyed the author’s note, the only note with a recipe that I can recall. It’s cool to learn the truth parts in this fiction book. I recommend everyone to read this book if you love a small town close-knit family feel.

xoxo, Jasmine at www.Howusefulitis.com for more details

Many thanks to Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.

[Donna Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Lord works in mysterious ways.”

Signor Speranza is in a jam. The entire system of pipes that the village of Palmetto depends upon for its water must be replaced, and it’s going to cost a small fortune. Speranza is the self-appointed mayor, so it’s up to him to solve this problem; but no one has any money, least of all himself, a struggling vacuum cleaner repairman. He cooks up a wild pretext to draw attention and money: a big motion picture will be filmed here, and Dante Rinaldi, the red hot movie star of young women’s dreams, will be in it.

My thanks go to Net Galley and Atria Books for the invitation to read and review, and to Seattle Bibliocommons for the audio version that I relied upon to catch me up once I fell behind. This wonderful feel-good novel is for sale now.

At the outset, there is a certain amount of cringe humor involved, and that’s never been my favorite. I wait to see which way the wind will blow, and soon I am cracking up, snickering as I transplant my tomato plants and listen to the audio. Later, when I catch up with the digital review copy, it’s obvious that cringe humor isn’t the main tool in play here.

Over and over again, Speranza and his little town face certain doom; without money for the plumbing, they must all move somewhere else. He’s caught in a lie; then, just as he escapes that trap, another presents itself. He’s not much of a problem solver, and so he turns to every obscure patron saint you can imagine to get him out of this mess. He lights a candle here or there, and before you know it, some random seeming bit of luck comes out of nowhere. But then some other misfortune occurs, and he’s forced to scramble some more. Add into this disorder a young granddaughter, a thuggish butcher with fifteen intimidating sons, and a puppy that’s not yet housebroken, and the chaos is complete.

Ultimately, this is a lovely tale of loyalty and imagination prevailing against terrible odds and an uncaring bureaucracy. This is Christine Simon’s debut novel, and if this is just the beginning, I can’t wait to see what she writes next. I also want to give a special shout out to Tim Francis, who voices the narrative in the audio version. He is the first reader I’ve heard that can speak English with an Italian accent without sounding like Count Dracula. I greatly enjoyed his interpretation of this splendid little book.

Recommended to anyone that needs a wider smile and a spring in their step.

[Katie B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a charming quality to it and the humor was the strength by far. An older man needing a large sum of money in order to save his town was a cute premise. While it could have easily veered into far out, ridiculous territory, the story and characters somehow worked without having to suspend too much disbelief.

Signor Speranza has a big problem on his hands. He needs to come up with 70,000 euros to pay for the water pipes in his Italian village. If he doesn't find the money soon, the water commission will shut off the water, and all 212 residents in the village will be left with no choice but to move. Speranza starts a rumor that a movie star will be filming nearby. He hopes this white lie will boost tourism and bring in some much needed revenue. But he finds himself in a bigger pickle when he realizes he might need to actually make a movie.

So yeah, everything starts snowballing out of control and you just sit back as the main character tries to solve one problem just as another one pops up. It's a light read but at times the pacing felt off and I'd lose focus on the story. There are some good moments in the book but it didn't reach heartwarming status for me. The elements were there in terms of interesting family dynamics but I would have loved if if they were explored more in depth.

Maybe not a perfect read, but it put a smile on my face more than once and that's not the easiest feat.

Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This is a cute and funny contemporary book about the self-appointed mayor of a tiny Italian village desperately trying to save his hometown no matter the cost. Signor Speranza is told by the water commissioner's office that unless he can come up with 70,000 Euros to fix the town's pipes, the water will be shut off and all of the town's 212 inhabitants will be forced to disperse. So what's an informal Mayor to do? Why, spread a false rumor that a famous heartthrob actor is shooting his new movie in the village, of course! His hope is that tourists will flock to the town and the revenue for the pipes will be raised.

To Signor Speranza's surprise, the rumor rapidly spreads and the entire town wants in on the action, including 15 of the butcher's huge sons, his daughter, and his vacuum repair assistant. As the lie spirals out of control and Speranza is forced into making more and more decisions, he finally realizes that the only way to keep raising money is to actually make the film. But what happens if the heartthrob doesn't show up in town. Or worse, what if he does?

This was a cute and humorous book that is a quick and easy read. The main character is at times bumbling, especially when it comes to his daughter, but also cunning enough to keep the ruse alive. His lie comes from a place of love for his community, which is clear through all of his interactions with the various minor characters. The book is touching and sweet, and will give you all the feels. If you need a pick-me-up to get you out of a book slump, this is the perfect book for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Atria Books. All opinions are my own.

[Laura (thenerdygnomelife) · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the right hands, this book could make for an adorable and hilarious movie. In book form, though, I found it to drag on amidst over-the-top antics and whoopee cushion jokes. It's a story of well-intentioned lies spinning increasingly out of control, as an aging mayor tries to save his village in the Italian countryside.

The tiny town's pipes have decayed, and if he isn't able to raise the money to replace them, the water company will shut off the water and they will all have to move. But none of the residents have much money, and rather than tell them the predicament, the mayor hatches a wild plan to bring tourists to the village by spreading a rumor that a big-name actor will be filming his next project in the village. Soon, this involves getting funding for the "movie" from the town's only wealthy resident so that he can pay the water company, a move that now means the mayor must find roles in the movie for the resident's fifteen sons. And so it goes with this chain-reaction comedy of errors. Overall, the book is warm hearted and well intentioned, but overly caricatured and too much of a stretch.

This was a 2.5-star read for me, but I’m rounding this up to 3 as I recognize that I simply wasn’t the intended audience for it and that it’s been a much more delightful experience in the right hands.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Feel Good Stars

📖 The Patron Saint of Second Chances
✍️ Written by Christine Simon
🎙 Narrated by Tim Frances - Frances didn’t just narrate this fun-filled book, he performed it with gusto. I fell in love with Simon’s characters and settings that Frances brought to life with boisterous hilarity.

Simon has written a delightful romp of a feel good book. I was swept up in the slapstick shenanigans of self-appointed town mayor, Signor Speranza (along with his unwitting assistant Smilzo) who concocts a hare-brained scheme to raise money to save his beloved tiny village in Prometto, Italy (population 212). Speranza spreads a harmless rumor that movie star Dante Rinaldi is filming a movie nearby and mayhem ensues as the whole town gets caught up in the fervor of Speranza’s snowballing out of control scheme.

I LOVE THIS BOOK! If you're looking for a JOYFUL and big hearted book about family, love, community and small town quirky chaos this is the book for you! I adored the audiobook, but I will be buying the hardcopy as well. I know I’ll want to re-visit Prometto and these unforgettably lovable characters.

This book is a gem and I highly recommend it! 💎📖

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

By starting a rumor the town Mayor tries to save his little town. The population - 212 people - of Prometro Italy do not know how close they have come to being dislocated. The water in their town is just about ready to be shut off for non-payment. There is no money. However with a small fib - like a rock star is coming to film his next movie in Prometro - the uninformed town rallies.

This is the debut novel of this author. It is funny, quick witted, and moves right along. Easy to read, with charming characters. This is an author I will watch and select when looking for a cute refreshing story.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5

The best word to describe my experience with reading The Patron Saint of Second Chances by Christine Simon is delightful. This is a very funny and witty debut novel, and even though I really would have had no idea what it was about unless I read the synopsis, I completely adored it. There are just SO many moments that are truly hilarious, and I could have listened to this a million times. I actually restarted it a few times because I had missed stuff while my attention was on something else, and I could have done that the whole book. I just wanted to keep listening to it and taking in its wonderfulness. So, in other words, I will be buying a copy and I don't think it will ever get old.

The audiobook is really the best way to experience The Patron Saint of Second Chances because the narrator Tim Frances is completely amazing. This is set in a small village in Italy, and he just completely NAILED the accent and the characters. The whole book is told from the viewpoint of the self-appointed mayor himself, Signor Speranza, and I can't imagine having wanted any other viewpoints. Just like some books are filled with unlikeable characters, this one is filled with loveable ones, and I can't even think of anyone in the village that I did NOT like. Even the butcher and all his sons grew on me! There is also a pretty funny part about a Roomba that I had to make my husband listen to. I loved that while this is basically full-blown humor, there are some great emotional moments as well. It is a very different type of book that definitely won't be for everyone, but it sold me, and I think there will be another one set in the same place?! If so, I will definitely be reading it and I hope it will be narrated by Tim Frances again.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Letitia | Bookshelfbyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’ve all been warned about the consequences of telling a white lie. A lie that is not for an evil purpose but to protect someone’s feelings or avoid trouble. Even with the best of intentions, it can do more harm than good. However, I don’t think anyone could imagine a lie that would lead to your entire town involved in creating a fake movie without them realizing.

‘The Patron Saint of Second Chances’ is a charming, funny, over-the-top story about Signor Speranza and his small town of 212 people in Prometto, Italy. Signor has to come up with 70,000 euros to fix his town’s pipes or else the entire town will be forced to relocate. What starts off as a harmless idea to raise quick cash, ends up in a bigger than life rumor that the famous movie star Dante Rinalidi will be the lead in his movie.

We follow the chaotic chain of events as his lie snowballs into something bigger than Signor or his family can handle.

This was the perfect enjoyable, funny, heartwarming read. It was such a chaotic train wreck and I loved being transported to Italy. The crew of characters and disasters made everything feel like I was following an animated movie and I now need to take a trip to Italy!

This was a lot of fun and I enjoyed how everything came together at the end. Anything that makes me laugh out loud and also includes valuable life lessons sprinkled throughout is a win for me.

Thank you Atria for the gifted copy! Such a lovely debut!

[Dianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm so disappointed. I did not find this book to be “hilariously funny and beautifully written” as suggested in the synopsis. I found this to be a difficult book to get into. The usage of "Signor" became irritating, and the lies became cringeworthy.

It was a fast book to read so that's a plus. I imagine that a lot of people are going to adore this complicated novel-I'm just not one of them.

*ARC supplied by NetGalley.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet, light story with a very humorous writing style. I just wasn’t in the right mood for it; it felt too long to me. But I know it’s good.

A rumor gets out of hand, creating uncomfortable situations with funny results. The second-hand embarrassment is real at times. A lot of the plot centers around making a movie, not my favorite trope. There is a lot of humor and sweetness, and it’s very wholesome overall.



The audio is narrated in a British accent with Italian accents for the dialogue. And I couldn’t believe the book said “a pair of crochet hooks.”

Language: Mild
Sexual Content: None
Violence/Gore: A punch in the face; more slapstick than violent
Harm to Animals: None
Harm to Children: None
Other (Triggers): Financial ruin; growing web of lies

[Kremena Koleva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Схващането, че правилната книга ни намира в точното време, напълно отнасям към " Светецът покровител на втория шанс"! Ведра, пълна с позната реалност, която пречупена през въображението на Кристин Саймън се превръща в забавно преживяване. Смях се със сълзи. И едновременно осъзнавах как житието - битието на малкото италианско градче Промето е до болка познато и на болшинството малки градчета у нас. Немотията и намаляващия брой жители обезсърчават с постоянството си. На такива места сякаш нищо не се случва ден след ден. Но всъщност се случват съдбите на всеки един живеещ все още там. Случват се спомените за добрите години на мястото, когато е било пълно с млади хора, ентусиазъм и семейства. Случват се свидните домове и малките дейности, с които всеки запълва дните си и семейния бюджет. А понякога се появяват и ентусиазирани жители като нашия синьор Сперанца, които с отчаяна любов съм общността се опитват да я спасят. Дори предприемайки най - луди и обречени ходове.
" Светецът покровител на втория шанс " ми беше подарена от моята дъщеря и ме намери по време на Великденските празници. Даде ми възможност да открия забавление и щедра доза хумор на всяка страница. Невероятен дебют на Кристин Саймън, който може да накара всеки обикновен човек да се познае в опитите за оцеляване на жителите на Промето.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patron Saint of Second Chances by Christine Simon is a wonderful debut novel that made me laugh, smile, and left me with a sense of warmth and hope for humanity after completion.

I am very impressed that this is a debut novel from the author. She has a real talent. I loved reading about this adorable, picturesque, and quirky tiny Italian village. It is placed into an unfortunate financial situation, and the well-meaning self-appointed mayor, Signor Speranza, creates an off the cuff rumor that a famous celebrity will be arriving for a movie production…all in hopes of raising enough money to repair the water system and save the village from ruin. Unfortunately, the situation becomes much more complicated and blows out of proportion as more people and issues snowball the original fib. Can Speranza fix the gaffe, save the town, and live to see another day? I enjoyed reading this book to find out.

Such a wonderful and eclectic cast of characters…such humor, one-liners and dialogue that produced banter and made me chuckle. I appreciated his good intentions…and I enjoyed how it all played out.

5/5 stars

Thank you to Atria Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 4/12/22.

[Davida Chazan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept of this book was interesting, with the trope being that a con gets out of control due to the person trying to pull the con off being both an amateur, and being desperate. While the reason for the con isn't all that selfish, it did seem a bit far fetched. However, I don't know the laws in Italy so I wouldn't know if the Italian authorities really would displace all 212 of the residents of a village because they couldn't pay to get their water pipes up to code. Sounds strange to me, but who am I to say it couldn't happen.

Now, this book is advertised as being humorous, and while I did laugh at one or two things, overall it wasn't really all that funny. In fact, I thought it pretty sad. Here's this village that is losing its residents as the younger generation leaves to bigger towns and cities. I got the image of a truly idyllic spot, overlooking the sea, with a smattering of homes and small businesses, of the sort I've visited, stayed in, or just passed through many times on my own trips to Italy. The idea of them being so badly in debt that their very existence is in jeopardy, just broke my heart. I found almost nothing comical in that at all.

Still, I can see where one might be able to find the humor in any situation, but instead of going for the subtle jabs, Simon seems to have gone down the slapstick, heavy-handed, caricatures road instead. For example, the mark for the con is the crass, fat, wealthy owner of the village's butcher shop. Simon paints him as if he's a mafia mob boss, with his 15 (yes 15!) strapping sons, a gaudily decorated mansion (complete with fake torches to light the red-painted hallways), a mousy mite of a wife, and a pack of fierce dogs. A bit over the top, if you ask me.

So, although I think Simon's writing was good, I also felt like she was trying too hard, and that made it fall flat for me, I'm afraid. I was hoping for a book that would make me smile from the start, and laugh out loud along the way, but neither happened for me. Sorry, but after reading 30% of the book, I decided it wasn't for me.

[DeAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 sweet stars

I do love Italian settings, so this one fit the bill on that front. We meet sweet Signor Speranza of small town Prometto, Italy. He runs a struggling vacuum repair shop and acts as Prometto’s unofficial mayor.

One day, a huge plumbing problem comes to light, and it will take 70,000 euros to make the repairs. Of course, no one in town has that kind of money so it’s likely the water will be turned off and the villagers will have to relocate.

Stop the presses! Rumors of George Clooney in a neighboring town give Speranza an idea. Soon he’s got the town convinced that an Italian movie star is coming to Prometto to film a movie. He starts collecting money for the project and before you know it there are auditions and an actual movie being filmed!

Things get a little crazy and it looks like disaster is looming but hope springs eternal and you never know when you will get that happy ever after ending! This was an entertaining read.

My thanks to Atria Books and Edelweiss for the copy of this one to read and honestly review.

[Crystal King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to score an early reader's copy of this charming novel about a vacuum repairman trying to save the future of his little Italian village. This is such a fun--and funny--book about what happens when a little lie goes to far, even if it's a lie backed with good intent. The characters are loveable and memorable in this tall tale come to life. It's a wonderful way to inject a little happiness and humor into your reading list!

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The town bustled around him as he walked down Main Street. He smiled and waved at all of the familiar faces and called out “hello’s” to his friends. Little did they all know the dire trouble their town was in. As he observed the only town he knew and loved, he was determined to fix things before everyone suffered. Even if that meant making up the world’s greatest story.

The Patron Saint of Second Chances tells the story of a small Italian town and self-appointed mayor, Speranza. Speranza learns that the town’s pipes need replaced and it’s an exorbitant amount that they’ll never be able to pay. But if they don’t pay, the town’s water will be shut off and all his family and friends will have to disperse. So, in order to raise some money he starts a tiny little lie… no harm he thinks… just stating a famous movie star will be coming to town to shoot a movie.

This book was so heart-warming and made me laugh. What started as a tiny rumor spread like wildfire and Speranza found himself falling into a deeper hole with each page turn. Wild scenarios that had me laughing as he continuously had to step up his game.

If you’re looking for a sweet story with some laughter throughout the pages and lovable characters, then be sure to pick up this book!

TW: Bullying, Manipulation.

*I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. It does not impact my review.*

The Patron Saint of Second Chances was a fun and quirky story. There’s a lovable cast of characters that you can’t help but root for. I especially enjoyed the main character, Signor Speranza, and his assistant, Smilzo. While not every joke always landed, I did have several laugh out loud moments while reading this. Where I struggled with the book, though, was the absolutely ridiculous plot. You really have to suspend belief to be able to get through this and I don’t think all readers will have the patience for it. While I did have some frustration – and it took me a little longer than normal to read a book of this size – I was able to just go with the flow and have a fairly enjoyable time with it.

[Milena Tasheva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Години наред отбягвах книгите на Фредрик Бакман и особено „Човек на име Уве“, но преди няколко месеца най-после се предадох и ... Ами разбирам защо е целият шум. За разлика от Уве, синьор Сперанца, главният герой на „Светецът покровител на втория шанс“ ти е симпатичен от първата страница. И как няма, когато го заварваме да седи във ваната си и да закусва, докато един водопроводчик инспектира тръбите на любимото ми село Промето (на което между другото е и кмет). За съжаление новините не са добри - ако общината не намери 70 000 евро, водоснабдяването спира, а жителите ще бъдат разселени.

В опита си да спаси света, който познава, синьор Сперанца се решава на една невинна измама... Ще превърне Промето в топ туристическа дестинация като пусне безобидния слух, че Данте Риналди - модел, филмова звезда, инфлуенсър и актьор ще снима следващия си филм именно в забравеното от Бога и подминато от цивилизацията Промето...

Обаче жестоко е подценил магията на киното... Филмовата треска обхваща всички жители на малкото село - смотаният помощник на кмета става сценарист, месарят - продуцент, а местната инфлуенсърка поема главната роля...

Май синьор Сперанца ще трябва да заснеме съвсем истински филм... Какво обаче ще прави, ако Данте Риналди не се появи... Или дори по-лошо... Какво ще се случи, когато Данте все пак се появи с целия си антураж... ?

Редактирането на тази книга ми донесе много смях, пое безброй изпити чаши с капучино и плейлист с италиански поп дискохитове.
В края на ноември ще е в книжарниците ❤️

[Denver Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful journey to a small town in Italy (pop. 212) which, if 70,000 lire is not raised quickly, will lose its water. Signor Speranza takes it upon himself to find a solution, and his plan is to make of a movie featuring the incredibly famous actor, Dante Rinaldi, which will make legions of fans flock to Prometto, spend $, and save the town. Problem is, Dante knows nothing of this, and that is part of the plan - per Signor Speranza. Everyone in town gets involved, and the beautiful Antonella cannot wait to take her place opposite Dante. As the days tick closer to the water shut off, complications continue to put obstacles in front of the town - will Signor and friends succeed in saving Prometto? Every twist and turn is a delight, perfect armchair travel with a mystery at its heart.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and charming and heartwarming. After living in Italy I can tell you this absolutely COULD happen. The characters are all written so richly and perfectly. I just fell in love with Prometto and all of its inhabitants. Magic.

[Kelly (The Happiest Little Book Club) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was really cute. The narration was absolutely perfect for a story that takes place in a small town in Italy.

This "little white lie that gets out of hand" story follows a small town mayor as he fabricates a story about a famous actor coming to film a movie in his town. The mayor has good intentions but things get out of hand. The townspeople are emotionally (and some, financially) invested and want in on the action/acting.

There were some great one liners and it was a cute listen. The middle was a tad slow for my liking and at times it was too hard to keep track of everyone with their fabulous Italian names (this is where a physical book helps), but overall it was a quick and easy listen.

[Kari Ann Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isn't this a delightfully colorful cover? I love it!

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒 was a sweet, feel-good debut. I couldn't help but laugh at the shenanigans that unfolded in the small Italian village of Promette, population 212. Armchair travel at its best.

[Aura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and quaint story set in a tiny town in Italy. When the mayor realizes that 70k euros are due to keep the city going, he comes up with a scheme to make a movie. Its very cute book and funny at times. I enjoyed it.