Book Review: To Sicily with Love by Jennifer Probst

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult Fiction/Romance

Pub. Date: February 18, 2025

Publisher: Penguin

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books by Author: A Wedding in Lake Como,

and The Secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "When she learns she has a big Italian family she never knew about, a lonely woman travels to Sicily for a life-changing summer in the new romance from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst.

Aurora York had it all loving parents, a steady relationship, and a promising career. But after she loses both parents unexpectedly, she can’t seem to stay on track any longer. Lonely and lost after a public meltdown that threatens her professional credibility, she’s shocked when DNA test results show a blood relative in Sicily. When her cousin reaches out online and begs her to come to Italy to meet everyone in person, Aurora makes the leap.

Aurora arrives in Sicily for a month, and there she meets a colorful, dynamic family steeped in tradition. The younger generation is fascinated by her social media fame in America, and even though her grandparents have more traditional viewpoints, Aurora begins to heal from her grief…and enjoys the attention of a kind and handsome Italian man.

But when the summer ends, a new opportunity calls her back to the States and her old habits threaten to reemerge. Will Aurora leave everything in Sicily she loves behind, or take the chance on a whole new future?"

 

 

Aurora York is a successful life coach who is on the brink of a major breakthrough in her career. She has plans to write a book and launch a podcast, and her handsome boyfriend, a fitness guru with a strong following, adds to her excitement. Aurora’s star is on the rise, inspired by the untimely death of her father several years ago, which pushed her to figure out her life and channel her pain into something meaningful. However, living this kind of life is challenging for Aurora; she has many rules and expectations to meet. Everything changes when her mother passes away unexpectedly. This loss hits Aurora particularly hard because her mother had urged her to live joyfully and suggested that perhaps Aurora wasn't truly happy. She realized she needed to stop planning every second of her day and start doing the things she loves. To Sicily with Love by Jennifer Probst is the fourth book in the Meet Me in Italy series and offers a delightful escape.

As someone whom others count on to change their lives, Aurora finds herself unable to get out of bed after her mother's death. Her boyfriend starts to pull away, and her success begins to dwindle. Aurora takes a DNA test and discovers she has relatives in Sicily. After connecting with them, she realizes she needs a break from her hectic life and decides to spend a month in Italy. During her time in Sicily, she meets family she never knew existed and wonders why her mother kept them hidden from her. The trip is filled with romance, delicious food, fine wine, family dinners, sightseeing, and, of course, more good food.

My favorite aspect of the Meet Me in Italy series is the escapism. It's the perfect book for some armchair traveling to a sunny spot filled with warm breezes, excellent food, limoncello, and other Italian delights. I can always count on Probst's novels to provide a mental vacation for me and that was the case with To Sicily with Love.

While I did find Aurora to be annoying at times (a life coach...ugh), I did enjoy her transformation in To Sicily with Love. Sicily has always been a destination I'd love to visit and this book definitely made me want to plan a trip. So, in the comments below, let me know if you have read this series and your thoughts. Is To Sicily with Love on your TBR list?