The Best Book of 2018

I spend most of my days reading and researching self-help books and non-fiction, but every now and then I need a piece of juicy fiction to take me away on an armchair vacation.

I was gifted a copy of THE ITALIAN PARTY by Christina Lynch (St. Martin’s Press; on-sale March 20), and it sounded intriguing.

Set in the 1950’s it follows the story of Michael and Scottie Messina, a newlywed couple relocated to Siena, Italy for Michael’s work. On the outside, all is well. A beautiful couple, happily married and starting a new adventure in life. Underneath, the secrets reveal a complexity of not only their relationship, but also the relationship of America to the rest of the world.

When Scottie’s young Italian teacher, a teen with secrets of his own, goes missing, her search for him leads her to discover other, darker truths about herself, her husband, and her country. Michael’s dedication to saving the world from communism crumbles as he begins to see that he is a pawn in a much different game. Driven apart by lies, Michael and Scottie must find their way through a maze of history, memory, hate, and love to a new kind of complicated truth.

Filled with sun-dappled pasta lunches, Prosecco, handsome locals, and horse racing, The Italian Party is a smart pleasure reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley. Complete with romance, history, espionage, and intrigue, there’s something for all readers to love in this book.

Although not a history buff, I was captivated by this story and couldn’t put it down. To see for yourself: click here!