The Italian Island by Daniela Sacerdoti - Book Review

The Italian Island by Daniela Sacerdoti

Publication Date: 11th Jan 2022
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Paranormal 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Fast-paced and gripping. 

 *****

Annie, a twenty-year-old, reaches the Sicilian island of Galatea after the death of her beloved father. She is grieving the loss of the only loving person in her life. Annie has always been low on confidence, thanks to her mother’s standards. The trip to Galatea is a way to gain confidence, get her life back on track, and complete her father’s quest for his birth mother. 

Meeting Salvo, the local fisherman, gives Annie the support she needs to search for her grandmother’s history. The delicate bracelet on her wrist makes things easier, but only until she realizes what her grandmother had to do to save her loved ones. 

Even as Annie gets used to past unfurling in front of her eyes (literally), is she strong enough to handle the truth? Can she find peace and look forward to her life with Salvo, or will she abandon her quest and go back to the safety of her home? 

What happened on Galatea that her grandmother was last found in the WWII concentration camp?

What I Like:

• It’s a short book (240+ pages) and goes at a steady pace. The combination of show and tell works well to keep me hooked. 
• The touch of paranormal without putting too much emphasis on it makes it alluring. It suits the beauty of the setting and the ancient ties between the people, land, and sea. 
• Mira and Mimi are both strong characters. Annie is, too, without being obvious about it. 
• The shift between the past and present is seamless. The story weaves in and out without jerks. 
• WWII wasn’t the central focus of the story. After reading quite a few of those this year, I’m glad to read something a little different. 

What didn’t Work for Me: 

• The rushed ending spoiled the beauty of the story. Sure, the actual issue is solved, but we could’ve gotten a little more information about the characters. I was surprised to see the epilogue when I expected another final chapter to tie the loose ends. 
• The epilogue isn’t as effective as it should be. We get the happy ever after, but something vital felt missing from the end. Also, there is no mention of Annie’s mother or her reaction to the developments. Since Annie’s character arc depended on her mother, it was disappointing to not know. 
• Annie’s character development wasn’t steady. It went up and down to suit the flow of the story rather than being the other way round. She needed more time to establish herself. The past track stole the limelight (as it almost always happens with dual timelines).

To sum up, The Italian Island is an intriguing and fast-paced story about women connected across generations and stood up for love. It’s not a heavy read, though it does deal with some complex issues of life and relationships. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

#NetGalley #TheItalianIsland