In this "magical trip worth taking" (Associated Press), the New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years returns with a powerful novel about the transformational love between mothers and daughters set on the breathtaking Amalfi Coast.
When Katy's mother dies, she is left reeling. Carol wasn't just Katy's mom, but her best friend and first phone call. She had all the answers and now, when Katy needs her the most, she is gone. To make matters worse, their planned mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: to Positano, the magical town where Carol spent the summer right before she met Katy's father. Katy has been waiting years for Carol to take her, and now she is faced with embarking on the adventure alone.
But as soon as she steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, Katy begins to feel her mother's spirit. Buoyed by the stunning waters, beautiful cliffsides, delightful residents, and, of course, delectable food, Katy feels herself coming back to life.
And then Carol appears—in the flesh, healthy, sun-tanned, and thirty years old. Katy doesn't understand what is happening, or how—all she can focus on is that she has somehow, impossibly, gotten her mother back. Over the course of one Italian summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mother, but as the young woman before her. She is not exactly who Katy imagined she might be, however, and soon Katy must reconcile the mother who knew everything with the young woman who does not yet have a clue.
"Rebecca Serle is known for her powerful stories that tug at the heartstrings—and her latest is just as unforgettable" (Woman's World) as it effortlessly shows us how to move on after loss, and how the people we love never truly leave us.
In this "magical trip worth taking" (Associated Press), the New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years returns with a powerful novel about the transformational love between mothers and daughters set on the breathtaking Amalfi Coast.
When Katy's mother dies, she is left reeling. Carol wasn't just Katy's mom, but her best friend and first phone call. She had all the answers and now, when Katy needs her the most, she is gone. To make matters worse, their planned mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: to Positano, the magical town where Carol spent the summer right before she met Katy's father. Katy has been waiting years for Carol to take her, and now she is faced with embarking on the adventure alone.
But as soon as she steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, Katy begins to feel her mother's spirit. Buoyed by the stunning waters, beautiful cliffsides, delightful residents, and, of course, delectable food, Katy feels herself coming back to life.
And then Carol appears—in the flesh, healthy, sun-tanned, and thirty years old. Katy doesn't understand what is happening, or how—all she can focus on is that she has somehow, impossibly, gotten her mother back. Over the course of one Italian summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mother, but as the young woman before her. She is not exactly who Katy imagined she might be, however, and soon Katy must reconcile the mother who knew everything with the young woman who does not yet have a clue.
"Rebecca Serle is known for her powerful stories that tug at the heartstrings—and her latest is just as unforgettable" (Woman's World) as it effortlessly shows us how to move on after loss, and how the people we love never truly leave us.
Critiques-
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January 10, 2022
Serle (In Five Years) sets up another time-warp conceit with a touching story about a woman grieving her mother. Katy Silver, 30, was planning a trip with her mother, Carol, to Positano, Italy, before Carol died from cancer. Katy decides to go alone, and while she’s abroad she reconsiders her unsatisfying marriage. She also somehow meets her 30-year-old mother, along with the beguiling Adam Westbrooke, a single man in the hotel acquisition business, who offers a bit more adventure than her predictable husband. As Katy explores the Amalfi coast and eats fabulous local food, she comes to understand different aspects of her mother, a woman who, as an art gallery assistant, dreamed of her own design business and came to Italy to rejuvenate her sense of self. As Katy and Carol’s friendship deepens, they have a pivotal dispute that threatens their relationship. Serle’s fans may be forgiving regarding the trick she deploys to make it possible for Katy and Carol to meet across time, though for most it will strain credulity. Still, the mother-daughter bond is made palpable through Katy’s grief and desire for connection. Once again, Serle gets the job done just fine. Agent: Erin Malone, WME. -
Who were your parents before you were born? That's part of the discovery Katy makes in this audiobook. Thirty-year-old Katy's mother, Carol, has just died. Katy is lost without her; furthermore, her marriage is failing, and she's unable to cope, so she takes the trip to Italy that she and Carol were supposed to take together. Sadly, Lauren Graham's narration lacks credibility. She gives listeners an angry, self-involved Katy with an inexplicably flippant attitude. In Positano, magical realism takes over, and Katy finds a friend in a younger version of Carol, a vibrant artist who has left her baby and husband for a different life in Italy. Graham handles the time-shift, but she lacks the genuine feeling we expect between Katy and Carol in this mother-daughter love story. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
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June 1, 2022
Katy's mom, Carol, dies shortly before their dream mother-daughter trip to Italy, turning her life upside down. With her marriage in trouble, Katy decides to take the trip to trace her mother's footsteps at one of her favorite places on earth. While there, Katy ponders life and ends up meeting her 30-year-old mother in this magical realism tale. She gets the chance to get to know Carol before she was her mother as she travels around Positano. When not with her mother, Katy is swept away by a handsome American hotelier who ignites an unfamiliar passion in her. When these relationships reach a climax, what she learns about her life, mother, and marriage will alter Katy's life forever. Despite not varying her voices drastically, Gilmore Girls actress Lauren Graham does a beautiful job narrating Serle's (In Five Years) book, capturing the highs and lows of Katy's feelings. At times, listeners will need to attend carefully to know which character is speaking; this should not detract from the overall appreciation of this story. VERDICT Perfect for armchair travelers who aspire to visit Italy, along with those seeking a heartfelt look into a seemingly perfect mother-daughter relationship.--Stephanie Charlefour
Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
