First published 2016
Lina stands in Tuscany against her will. She never wanted this summer in Italy with its postcard scenery and endless sunshine. Her mother's dying wish brought her here to meet the father who vanished for sixteen years. Lina counts the days until she can return home. Then someone hands her a journal her mother wrote during her own time in Italy. The pages reveal a hidden world of romance, art, and secret bakeries that her mother never mentioned. Lina begins following the clues her mother left behind, guided by Ren, a local boy who makes her see Italy differently. Each discovery brings her closer to a truth that her family buried long ago. The secret she uncovers will reshape everything she believed about her parents and herself. In Italy, people seek love and gelato, but Lina finds something deeper.
Genres: fiction, romance, contemporary-romance, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Italy, Tuscany
Period: 16 Years
386 pages · Hardcover · Simon Pulse