One Italian Summer - Rebecca Serle

★★★★★

“There is more to life than just continuing to do what we know.”

“What got you here won’t get you there.”

I am a strong believer that things happen for a reason and they happen at a specific time in our lives for a reason.

Personally, I believe I was meant to read this book during these past few days in which my life has become quite a hectic ride for me in so many ways. There is something beautiful about books that allow the reader to slow down, BE in the present moment, reflect and (at the end of the day) accept those things that have formed us into the beings we are now, and, ultimately, find closure.

One Italian Summer did just that for me. I didn’t expect to cry at the end of the book, but when adding all the struggles and insecurities I have faced these past months regarding my future, making my own choices, craving more autonomy and independence, and feeling like a failure for lacking my own ‘purpose’ - this book made me see that I do need closure and that I must accept the things I have been put through in order to move on and grow.

( Side note: I am no longer one who believes in coincidences - which I used to believe heavily. In October of 2021, I was going through a very heavy overwhelming time in my life (hence the uncertainty of my future) during my last semester in college when I attended mass with my mother. I remember this day so vividly, because the pastor shared a story to us that I now know is God and the man on the roof. A flood comes and this said man goes up to his roof, but while on the roof he calls God for help. A man on a raft shows up and asks him to join him to safety and the man on the roof denies - God is coming to save him. A woman comes on a boat and asks him to get on and the man denies again - God is coming to save him. Finally, a helicopter flies above him and asks him to climb the rope up to safety, and once again, the man denies - claiming God will save him. Eventually, the water rises and the man drowns. He meets God and when speaking to him, he asks God why he didn't save him, why he betrayed him. God then tells him that he did try to save him...3 times. One with the raft, two with the boat, and three with the helicopter. I tell this story because I haven't forgotten that memory or that story ever since October and I find it SO peculiar how that story was mentioned in this book that I appreciate. Going back to things happen at a certain time and place in our lives - asking spirit guides, angels, the universe, God, or whatever one believes in for signs and receiving those said signs (not in ways we might think because as beings we must decipher them a little deeply) we must be AWARE of those signs and take those opportunities. In reflection, I have asked the universe to send me a sign that good opportunities are coming to me and to send me guidance and protection and support for my future endeavors and this story was a literal: HERE! THIS IS YOUR SIGN! for me. )

I read In Five Years back in December 2021 and sobbed. It was also the first book I read by Rebecca Serle. Seeing One Italian Summer on BookTok and finding it at my local library (EXCITING) caused me to immediately check it out because 1. Rebecca Serle and 2. ITALY.

One Italian Summer takes place in Positano, Italy. The story follows the main character, Katy Silver, as she navigates life without her late mother. Katy’s mother passed away due to an illness and that same summer, they had booked a trip to Italy only and just for them. Eventually, Katy goes on this trip without her mother. One day, as she begins to explore areas within Positano, Italy, Katy stumbles into her mother - only her mother is 30 years younger. This catapults Katy into a different reality she doesn’t know is a figment of her imagination or honest to goodness REAL. As the story moves along, many important topics/themes take place: Love, heartbreak, grief, friendship, romance, acceptance, closure, and overall, learning to gain closure in whatever form that may be and moving into the next chapter in one's life.

I loved the detailed descriptions of Italy so much. Personally, I felt like this book hit a very specific spot in my heart as I have longed to go to Italy since I was in middle school. There is a sort of longing I felt while reading this book. A longing for me to be able to travel to Italy, to see all of Italy's beauty, to dive into the aromatic and beautiful food and culture, and to simply BE somewhere new and different and become a new version of what I imagine to be.

Although I am in my early twenties, I connected to Katy in more ways than I initially thought. I see parts of her in me. How she always followed the rules, listened to what others told her, lived a very normal life, didn’t ask questions, kept to her daily routines and didn’t change anything, and overall staying in her comfort zone because that’s all she’s ever known. I am currently experiencing all of those dilemmas tenfold. As aforementioned, I crave to be more independent, make my own decisions without having to ask for accountability or acceptance from others, taking the risks without overanalyzing it and fearing it so much, and learning who I am becoming as I grow and finding my own individual purpose.

This book is definitely going to be a reread soon. I can’t wait to annotate it and cry all over again. Now I leave you with this beautiful quote from Carol Silver:

“I hope you find the peace and confidence it takes to trust where your path leads. Remember it is only yours.”