Many of the books we read follow a well know archetype- boy goes on a quest/journey and becomes a man. These are often great books like William Krueger’s This Tender Land, or All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr or the Goldfinch by Donna Tart. But sometimes I wish there were more stores about girls who go on a quest or journey and become women. Many of these types of books are labeled romance because the the main goal for women is to find a husband, marry and have children. So I was impressed with this book by Trigiani, who emphasized the journey and emotional and mental process of growing into your own person. Although there is some romance, this is not the focus of the book, instead it is about a woman who realizes that she needs to grow up and choose for herself who she wants to be instead of letting her family do it for her.

Giuseppina Capodimonte Baratta, known to everyone but her mother as Jess, is stuck in a life that she no longer wants. Recently divorced from her high school sweetheart she has moved back into her parent’s basement as she tries to heal and figure out what she wants to do next. A talented draftsmen, she works with her uncle in his marble business. She takes care of her parents, and her grandmother who lives close by, and cooks dinner for the entire extended family on Sunday.

She is trying to disentangle herself from the expectations of her close Italian family, but she finds that often her own desires are at odds with her family’s expectations and finds it difficult to manage their disappointment. So in order to understand this dynamic which seems to keep her trapped, she signs up for online therapy. She also begins looking for an apartment away from her hometown of Lake Como, New Jersey.

Although she is beginning to make steps to reclaim her life, everything accelerates after an unexpected family loss which also reveals long buried family secrets. Reeling from shock and betrayal, Jess decides she must leave and gets on a plane for Carrara, Italy, her family’s ancestral home and the source of the marble that was used in her uncles’ marble business. Jess hopes that the distance and also learning more about her family’s origins will help bring perspective and healing.

In Italy she meets fellow artisans, marble cutters and visits amazing buildings with extraordinary marble interiors that stimulate her creativity. She finds work as a draftsman and begins to settle feeling for the first time a sense of joy and purpose in her life. One of the artisans she meets, Angelo Strazza, encourages her work and soon there is a spark between them that Jess never anticipated. And then just as everything seemed to be going so smoothly Jess uncovers another secret that could tear her whole family apart.

This was such an interesting story and refreshing twist on an old archetye. Trigiani used the online therapy as a way of revealing Jess’ back story and her various relationships with the members of her family. Although it sometimes felt a little intrusive to have these vignettes show up in the middle of a current plot line they were helpful in understanding Jess’ reactions and thinking. The Italian family dynamic and the drama it engendered was sometimes hilarious but also painful. Trigiani has created an amazing set of characters and some day I hope there is a sequel so we know what happens to all of them next!

Brenda’s Rating:**** (4 Out of 5 Stars)

Recommend this book to: Sharon, Marian, Lauren and Keith

Books Study Worthy? Yes

Read in ebook format.