Today I am reviewing Gelato at the Villa by Robin Jones Gunn
Book Description:
Chi trova un amico trova un tesoro.
“Whoever finds a friend finds a treasure .”
Italian saying
Grace and Claire have formed a close friendship over their love of reading. After many years and many books that provided armchair adventures, the time has come for them to go somewhere instead of only dreaming of someday.
Traveling to Venice, Florence, and Bellagio, the Suitcase Sisters find themselves immersed in the magnificent works of art, scrumptious gelato flavors, and endless pasta variations of Italy. And they discover a vulnerability to disclose their struggles in ways they never did at home. As Grace experiences a newfound freedom and confidence in who she is, Claire wrestles with painful memories of her teen years.
A special dinner party brings unexpected revelations about faith and God’s nearness. Then a life-changing moment on the shores of Lake Lugano causes Grace and Claire to discover they are not just tourists but pilgrims on a path to becoming all God created them to be.
Robin Jones Gunn whisks you away to experience the incredible culture of Northern Italy in this inspiring, faith-based contemporary fiction with themes of European travel, midlife adventures, and lifelong friendships, making this a perfect book club selection.
My Review:
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.
I have loved Robin Jones Gunn’s books from the first Sisterchick book. The new series Suitcase Sisters takes me back to those books. Infact this book gives a small nod to a character from Sisterchicks in Gondolas. Robin has a way of weaving a story that covers most emotions. I am always left wanting to have my own adventure with a friend that is like a sister.
This book we have Grace and Claire who both share a passion for reading. When the chance for a trip to Italy comes up they take it. While both are close friends they are both on their own paths in many ways. Both are looking for something they just don’t realise what till this trip.
They are planning to stay in three areas of Italy. Venice, Florence and Bellagio. In these places they do quite a bit of sightseeing. Venice, they visit some of the famous places and see the sites but it is some of the characters that are most memorable. In Florence they stay at a Villa where they are taking cooking classes. Claire has a passion for cooking, Claire not so much. But they both love the charm and how they feel at home there. Again the people make the stay.
We can see that Claire has a passion for cooking and also is interested in art. While Grace finds peace and feels at home in the garden. I know some reviews are talking about all the food but I think myself I am more a Grace person. While seeing how some of the food is made especially the cookies/biscuits I would rather enjoy the gardens and outdoors.
The faith element is real in this book. Right from the start we can see Claire is struggling with faith issues. The locals they interact with all play their part in this story. I can’t say how or why but they are a huge part of this book. There are scenes that I couldn’t help but cry from the emotions of what was happening. It felt so real and I felt like I was witnessing what they were. While I don’t cry a lot in books but this book evoked these emotions. I would love to say more but you need to read it and let me know if you have the same reactions.
I agree with some others that this book is totally different from Tea with Elephants but its a different location with two leading ladies in different situations. Very much like the Sisterchick books were all so different. In saying this it still has the same feel of two friends having a once in a lifetime experience that changes them forever. Myself personally I like the differences while I don’t have the desire to visit Italy it did make me wish I could experience what Claire and Grace did.
Oh and how can I forget Gelato, they made it a mission to try to have as much gelato as possible trying different flavours. It brings me back to a bus tour I was on when one night I went to a small Gelato Cafe and had it for the first time. This is where I had pineapple gelato and while it may not be the same as in Italy I have never forgotten the taste. I would have loved to join them tasting so many different gelatos.
Great read, if you enjoy Robin Jones Gunn this book won’t disappoint. Also these books are stand alone reads and can be read in any order. Do I have to wait 12 months for the next book?