Carrington Curphy’s Reviews > A Winter in New York > Status Update

“”I need to be somewhere else, find myself a fresh start, somewhere without baggage."

"Baggage," she says, almost scathing. "Jesus, Iris, everyone has baggage. You do. Gio does. You guys have enough baggage between you to fill a goddamn carousel at JFK, but isn't that kind of the point of love, that you help each other carry the bags? Fresh starts are for Hallmark movies, not real life."”

How crazy that Iris and Gio met face to face as kids!!

I think the scene with Filipe and Iris looking at her mom moment is is quite touching

“I don't need to be the little kid with her face pressed against the window this time, or even the woman telling herself her lonesome Christmas is stylish and independent. I long to say yes, to experience a real family Christmas Day.”

The feeling of a bad ex reaching out. Gosh I know this too well and my heart hurts, especially with Bella being a point of contact

“The only person who can truly resolve this problem is me. My eyes linger on the closure notice, dully aware that it's putting the clock on me to call time on the recipe hunt too. I don't know what I'll do without my gelato experiment mornings, but this has gone on long enough.”

The way it hit me that she is almost wasting their time. Not like it’s been bad but at the same time… could have saved mental time

“But somewhere along the way that straight line splintered into different threads, and now they're all overlapping and messy. The Belotti family are a passionate force to be reckoned with-even being on their fringes is seductive. Sophia is my culinary kindred spirit. Bella wants me to sing at her showcase. And Gio. Goo is my lover.”

“People put more than another dime in the jukebox, they stuff money in the busker's hat until it's brimming, and it's like drinking champagne straight from the bottle. Oh Mum, was this why? Was this it? I've never been brave enough to sing in front of people, and I've somehow just brought this corner of this New York City park to a momentary standstill and it felt like pure, glittering magic.“

Little cheesy

“The Belottis have fiercely protected this recipe for more than a hundred years, so why was it revealed to my mother? I understand now why she was always so insistent that I never share it with anyone —because it was never ours to share.”