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Another Warm Family Saga From Trigiani Has Me Pining for Italy (Or, at least, for Baked Ravioli)

Torn between a centuries-old craft and modern technology; things she's always believed about her family and new revelations; a mature love and her childhood sweetheart; bucking change or embracing it; Valentine is forced to make life-changing decisions. With advice from her flamboyant best friend, her sanctamonious brother, and her feisty great aunt, as well as the rest of the loud, colorful Angelini/Roncalli clan, of course. Even for a family for whom "The wolf's been at the door so many times over the years that we invite him in for manicotti" (158), this many crises in one year threatens to unravel them completely. Can Valentine, the calm, steadfast one who's always held them together keep their madness at bay long enough to make her own decisions? Or will she go down with the crazy ship, dragging the business she loves along with her?
As I said earlier, the Valentine books aren't my favorite Trigiani sagas, but they hold all of the elements fans love about her novels, including what I like to call the Trigiani Trifecta: Italian families, Italian food, and New York fashion. Oh, and interior decorating. All the detail about the former as well as the art/business of crafting shoes made the story sag a little bit for me. However, it's buoyed by the two things I love most about Trigiani: humor and heart. Even though I still pine for the Big Stone Gap characters, the Roncalli/Angelini crowd keeps me entertained. I'm not ready to say Ciao quite yet (even though the series will end when the last book comes out in February). For keeping me immersed in yet another engrossing drama, I say, Brava, Adriana.
P.S. If you're pining for Italy, click on over here for a chance to win a Adriana Trigiani Tour to Italy for you and a friend (sponsored by Harper Collins).
(Readalikes: Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani; other novels by the same author)
Grade: B-
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for language (no F-bombs), sexual content/innuendo, and brief references to illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of Brava, Valentina from the generous folks at Harper Collins in exchange for my honest review. This review was written for Adriana Trigiani's book tour, hosted by TLC Book Tours.
6 comments:
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I have loved every Trigiani book I've ever read, except Big Stone Gap. I didn't hate it, I just didn't love it. Rococo is my all time fave, but the Valentine books are a close second. Can't wait for the last one to come out!
ReplyDeleteThat's so funny, Christy, because the Big Stone Gap books are my favorite and I actually like ROCOCO least of her books! She's a great author, one who consistently satisfies.
ReplyDeleteAfter I wrote this review, I actually discovered that Trigiani has a new book out - a collection of essays, I believe. I might just have to get myself a copy for Christmas :)
I have one Trigiani book yet to read
ReplyDeleteHmmmm...
ReplyDeleteI wonder what you could do with that ARC?
I should come get a stack of books you are done with.
Tara - If you want it, it's yours. Have you read the first book in the series? If not, I think I've got it around here somewhere ... You're welcome to come up anytime and grab books!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of the "Trigiani Trifecta" - what a great way to describe it! I haven't read any of her books yet but I'm convinced that I'll enjoy them when I do.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review and for being a part of the tour.