Sponsored
@thegrguide
@dariasbookstagram
@whatkelseysreading •R E V I E W• “I’ve found life much sweeter when I choose to believe the best of others, rather than the worst.” I’m coming at you on this Monday with a very unpopular opinion 🙈 I bought this book quite a while back after seeing SO many 5 star reviews for it and I chose it as a book to read with my IRL besties sure that it would be a hit…unfortunately for me, it was a miss. The second-born daughters of the Fontana family are cursed to never find love. In The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany a trio of these second-born daughters set out to break this curse on a journey through Italy. It had promise, it really did! The idea of nice family adventure, finding love, defying the odds, traveling throughout Italy, I was here for it! Unfortunately to me it just felt very soap opera-y. I had SO many issues with most of the characters, Emilia was boring and let her mean old grandma dictate her life, her sister was rude and the explanation for it wasn’t worth it, and don’t even get me started on Rosa. But I was still hanging in there until the “twist” came. I won’t spoil it for y’all who haven’t read it yet but it was wildly unbelievable and included so much gaslighting that I was furious. AND she never even apologized OR had to own up to it because after Emilia found out she STILL kept the secret?! No, thank you!! I’ve rated it 2⭐️s - it was okay. I enjoyed Poppy and Rico’s story and the descriptions of Italy. Every other character/plot line gets no love from me. The audiobook narration was good, so I’d recommend that if you’re going to read it. Like I said, I know sooo many people who loved this book so just keep in mind if you’re going to pick it up that I’m in the minority here. 💭If you’ve read it, what were your thoughts?
@the_hargreaves_bookery The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany 3.5/5⭐️ What would you do if you were cursed because of your birth order? Would you accept it, or choose to find a way to break the curse? I really enjoy this novel by lorinelsonspielman . The plot shifts from two perspectives, and I found myself really wanting to know how the curse came to be. For me, it was a perfect escape read. Light, but with a few surprises that will keep you engaged and turning the pages. What I liked: ❤️ Family bonds and disappointments ❤️ Traveling afar ❤️ Star-crossed lovers What are your favorite escape reads? . . . . . (Image: The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany on a marble lazy Susanne with red flower petals)
The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany - by Lori Nelson Spielman (Paperback)
Sponsored
About this item
Description
About the Book
"The enduring bonds of sisterhood flourish in this heartwarming and dazzling Italian adventure, where a love that spans generations reveals the path to one woman's destiny, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Life List. When the fiercely independent and mysterious Paulina "Poppy" Fontana invites her great-nieces and fellow second-born daughters, Emilia and Lucy, to visit her birthplace of Italy, she makes a wild declaration. On her eightieth birthday, Poppy claims she'll meet the love of her life on the steps of the Ravello Cathedral and put an end to the Fontana Family Second-Daughter Curse once and for all. The Fontana Second-Daughter Curse is probably nothing but a coincidence, a self-fulfilling prophecy, an old-world myth. Even so, nobody can deny that for centuries, not a single second-born daughter in the Fontana family has married. But twenty-nine year-old Emilia actually appreciates the curse--some may even say she hides behind it. What might happen if the supposed curse is actually broken, and she's expected to find love? Reluctantly, the trio of second-born daughters embark on a journey to fulfill Poppy's last wish. Against a backdrop of lush Italian countryside and rich landmarks, Poppy shares family secrets and tales of forbidden love that threaten to upend every belief her young nieces have held to be true"--Book Synopsis
An International Bestseller! A LibraryReads and Indie Next Pick! A trio of second-born daughters sets out on a whirlwind journey through the lush Italian countryside to break the family curse that says they'll never find love, by New York Times bestseller Lori Nelson Spielman, author of The Life List.Since the day Filomena Fontana cast a curse upon her sister more than two hundred years ago, not one second-born Fontana daughter has found lasting love. Some, like second-born Emilia, the happily-single baker at her grandfather's Brooklyn deli, claim it's an odd coincidence. Others, like her sexy, desperate-for-love cousin Lucy, insist it's a true hex. But both are bewildered when their great-aunt calls with an astounding proposition: If they accompany her to her homeland of Italy, Aunt Poppy vows she'll meet the love of her life on the steps of the Ravello Cathedral on her eightieth birthday, and break the Fontana Second-Daughter Curse once and for all. Against the backdrop of wandering Venetian canals, rolling Tuscan fields, and enchanting Amalfi Coast villages, romance blooms, destinies are found, and family secrets are unearthed--secrets that could threaten the family far more than a centuries-old curse.
Review Quotes
One of... Popsugar's 21 Best Books of November 2020Frolic's 20 Best Books of Fall 2020 Praise for The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany A delicious modern fairytale...Bella!--Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of Tony's Wife "A gorgeous blend of family, friendship, and love."--Chanel Cleeton, New York Times bestselling author of When We Left Cuba "A glorious journey through Italy, and the heart...Filled with humor and wisdom, this is a celebration of life, and love."--Yangsze Choo, New York Times bestselling author of The Night Tiger, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick There's magic within the pages of Lori Nelson Spielman's charming The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany.--Popsugar Mysterious family lore, a heartrending love story, and luminous descriptions of Italy all add up to an utterly captivating read!--Meg Donohue, USA Today bestselling author of You, Me, and the Sea "Long-simmering resentments and buried secrets permeate The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany, a romantic, beautifully rendered, sweepingly complex family saga."―Shelf Awareness As effervescent as an Aperol Spritz and written in Lori Nelson Spielman's signature heartfelt style.--Meredith Jaeger, USA Today bestselling author of Boardwalk Summer "Fans of Adriana Trigiani will rejoice in this story of a stunning journey that celebrates family, life and love, in the unparalleled backdrop of Venice, Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast."--Kaira Rouda, USA Today bestselling author of The Favorite Daughter In this captivating and utterly charming tale of several generations of "cursed" women, Lori Nelson Spielman proves--yet again--that she's a masterful storyteller."--Camille Pagán, bestselling author of I'm Fine and Neither Are You Sparkling...Spielman brings Tuscany to vivid life and offers more than a few surprises along the way. Fans of An Affair to Remember, Under the Tuscan Sun, and the like will be enthralled.--Publishers Weekly Spielman twists our fairy-tale expectations about love, curses, and happy endings.A bright, funny, hopeful tale of untangling family knots.--Kirkus "A love letter to Italy and indeed, to life."--Julie Kibler, bestselling author of Calling Me Home "A poignant fairy tale rooted in reality that lifts the reader into a world with lush fields, jewel-box villages and picturesque canals.―The Augusta Chronicle
"Spielman's novel takes you on a breathtaking tour of Italy through the eyes of Emilia, the cursed second-daughter. Readers will get lost in these pages about family and cheer for our heroine as she discovers herself and the secrets of her family. This book is the perfect escape."--Roselle Lim, author of Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune
With her characteristic combination of poignancy, humor, and riveting storytelling, Spielman spins a delightful yarn about families, loneliness, and second chances.--Julie Lawson Timmer, author of Mrs. Saint and the Defectives Perfectly captures the singular magic of Italy. Every page radiates with sunshine, adventure, and a love story as timeless as the cobblestone streets of Florence.--Ruth Emmie Lang, author of Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance "A fresh and funny page-turner that weaves generations of secrets into a charming story of enpowering self-reflection and discovery. A pure joy to read, filled with heart, hope and insight."--Angela Pisel, author of With Love From the Inside You will be swept away to Italy's romantic Amalfi coast, and laugh, cry, and cheer as Emilia searches for the truth and finds her own voice at last.--Kelly O'Connor McNees, author of Undiscovered Country "Spielman turns the traditional fairy tale on its head, to satisfying and dramatic effect."--Mardi Link, author of The Drummond Girls A stunning, heartwarming, multi-generational story of family secrets and self-discovery, spanning the globe from New York to Italy.--Samantha M. Bailey, author of Woman on the Edge
About The Author
Lori Nelson Spielman is a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author whose novels have hit #1 in six different countries. Formerly a homebound teacher in an inner-city school district, she holds master's degrees in speech pathology and guidance counseling. She lives in Michigan with her husband.Additional product information and recommendations
Sponsored