The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick: Book Review

The Little Italian Hotel is the heartwarming story of a radio host and advice expert in a life crisis who invites four listeners on a trip with her to Italy.

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to Park Row and Edelweiss for the ARC of this ebook. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

From The Publisher:

Ginny Splinter, acclaimed radio host and advice expert, prides herself on knowing what’s best for others. So she’s sure her husband, Adrian, will love the special trip to Italy she’s planned for their thirtieth wedding anniversary. But when Ginny presents the gift to Adrian, he surprises her with his own very different plan—a divorce.

Beside herself with heartache, Ginny impulsively invites four heartbroken listeners to join her in Italy instead while live on air. From hiking the hills of Bologna to riding a gondola in Venice to sharing stories around the dining table of the little Italian hotel, Ginny and her newfound company embark on a vacation of healing.

However, when Adrian starts to rethink their relationship, Ginny must decide whether to commit to her marriage or start afresh, alone. And an unexpected stranger may hold the key to a very different future… Sunny, tender and brimming with charm, The Little Italian Hotel explores marriage, identity and reclaiming the present moment—even if it means leaving the past behind.

My Thoughts:

Ginny is about to celebrate a milestone wedding anniversary and arranges for a trip to Italy with her husband to renew their vows and celebrate the occasion. When she reveals this surprise trip to her husband, he tells her that he’s leaving her.

Needless to say, Ginny is devastated. As a radio host and advice expert, she’s used to helping her listeners with their relationship problems. It is too late to cancel her Italy plans without losing her investment. So she decides to go on the trip alone and take the money from the expensive resort she was intending to stay at and use the money to bring four of her listeners along with her. The producer of the show chooses the winners with unique backstories about their recent losses.

The hotel where the group stays is smaller and traditionally Italian. The owner and his teenage daughter have their own backstory surrounding loss. The author does a terrific job of allowing each of these characters to tell their backstories as they begin to feel comfortable with the group.

I loved the day trips that the group takes to nearby areas such as Venice. The book feels immerses the reader in the Italian culture making it a lovely escape read. The characters are well-developed and likeable. I enjoyed witnessing how these characters changed throughout the course of the book and the choices they eventually make on their futures.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy Women’s Fiction or stories set in Italy.

Another Book I’ve Reviewed Written by Phaedra Patrick:

The Secrets of Love Story Bridge