The Summer Villa: A Novel by Melissa Hill

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

When a little white lie becomes the story of your life, what if the truth comes out?

For three woman, it's a life-changing trip: one finds the man of her dreams, another discovers
inspiration amidst Italian food and culture, while a chance encounter with a handsome local ushers in
the ultimate life change for the third. But most importantly, it's the beginning of a deep and lasting friendship between all three.

Now years later, Kim Weston - entrepreneur and owner of internationally successful Italian food and
lifestyle business, The Sweet Life - has bought and restored the tumble-down villa to its former glory -- and plans to reopen Villa Dolce Vita as a wellness/cultural retreat - a fitting honor to the root of her
business inspiration.

To celebrate the villa's grand opening, she and her Italian business partners are throwing a huge three-
day party; flying a group of family, business and media contacts to the Amalfi Coast to join in the
celebrations. And most importantly, the (still) close friends who started the journey with her: Annie and husband Nate, whose love story began at the villa, and single mum Eva, whose son was the result of an ill-advised Italian fling.

But in the run up to the planned weekend in Italy, it becomes clear that not everyone is happy about the party, nor are they on board with such ambitious plans for the location. And, as Villa Dolce Vita's grand relaunch draws closer, old memories and past secrets come to light, and the three old friends are forced to question if anything that happened on that first fateful trip to the villa is at all what it seemed.

my thoughts:

A sweet summer escape, this book had me wandering around a villa in Italy - talk about an exciting armchair read! I just LOVED getting lost in Melissa Hill's novel, The Summer Villa. It was fun, engaging, entertaining, and unputdownable! The characters were relatable, flawed, and a treat to get to know. This was just such a great book to read.

Three women find themselves at a crumbling villa in Italy. They are escaping their problems back at home.  Friendship ensues and lives are changed.  Flash forward five years and one of them has bought the villa. She's restored it and is planning a huge grand opening. Its a chance for the three friend to reunite and enjoy some time in Italy.  Of course, not everything goes as planned. Secrets are revealed and old memories crop up - all of which lead to drama, drama, drama. 

Hill has written a terrific story that you will enjoy cozying up with on a rainy day. It is chock full of beautiful and vivid descriptions of Italy and Villa Dolce Vita, and characters that you can't help but befriend. This is one story you won't want to miss! I would happily recommend The Summer Villa to fans of Melissa Hill and anyone looking for their next great read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!