Author: Nicky Pellegrino
Format reviewed: Ebook
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: Orion
Publication Date: 26th March 2019
Rating: 4 Stars
Live your dream of Italy...
Here is your chance to buy your own home in southern Italy for less than the price of a cup of coffee. The picturesque mountain town of Montenello is selling off some of its historic buildings for just ONE EURO each. The only conditions are that purchasers must renovate their new home within the next three years and that they plan to contribute in a meaningful way to this small community.
To be considered as a future resident of Montenello contact the town's mayor, Augusto Rossi. Live your dream of Italy for just one euro.
When the Mayor of a picturesque Italian town launches a new scheme to rejuvenate the community, his advertisement is read with interest and excitement by many. Zara is in her thirties and desperate to get on the property ladder. Tim and Lynda are retiring and need a project. Some are looking for a peaceful bolthole. Others hope to make a profit, start a business, escape a dull life or an unhappy relationship. And there is someone who just might be hiding their true motivation...
Their lives are about to change forever - but can they make their dream of Italy into a reality? A deliciously escapist summer read.
Here is your chance to buy your own home in southern Italy for less than the price of a cup of coffee. The picturesque mountain town of Montenello is selling off some of its historic buildings for just ONE EURO each. The only conditions are that purchasers must renovate their new home within the next three years and that they plan to contribute in a meaningful way to this small community.
To be considered as a future resident of Montenello contact the town's mayor, Augusto Rossi. Live your dream of Italy for just one euro.
When the Mayor of a picturesque Italian town launches a new scheme to rejuvenate the community, his advertisement is read with interest and excitement by many. Zara is in her thirties and desperate to get on the property ladder. Tim and Lynda are retiring and need a project. Some are looking for a peaceful bolthole. Others hope to make a profit, start a business, escape a dull life or an unhappy relationship. And there is someone who just might be hiding their true motivation...
Their lives are about to change forever - but can they make their dream of Italy into a reality? A deliciously escapist summer read.
Have you ever wanted to get on the property ladder? Ever wanted to buy a house in Italy? How about if it was only €1?
In theory I'd love to have seen the advert from the mayor of Montenello, in his efforts to revitalise the local community. For just one euro, you could purchase a house that needed large amounts of renovations, and need to be able to contribute to the local community.
It's a wonderful idea, and until last year I'd never seen a book featuring this sort of plot, but this is now the third I've read, so at the back of my mind were unfair comparisons, as they are all incredibly different.
I loved the location for this book, a small hill top town, near to Puglia. And applicants that were chosen to move into the town, all had completely different reasons for taking the plunge.
Each chapter is split into sections between the three hopeful new residents of the town, and also the town's mayor, all nicely labelled and allowing you to get to know all the key people really quickly and easily.
I loved all of the delicious descriptions of Italian food, there are a couple of small restaurants that made tasty sounding food that had my tummy rumbling. Added to the picturesque and vivid descriptions of the town itself, I felt as though I was there, soaking in the sun, looking at the crumbling buildings and eating the meals alongside our intrepid characters.
From the moment I started the book I was hooked, I just love Nicky Pellegrino's writing and this was no exception. It is full of love for a small town in Southern Italy and I enjoyed everything, from the initial discussions about the advert for these houses at only a Euro, to the first views of their assigned properties and then just trying to work out if this was a completely mad idea or not!
I also really enjoyed the story-lines involving the mayor's assistant, who is rather wily and clearly knows more about everything than he tries to let onto immediately, the re-discovering of Italian roots, the regeneration of this town. But most of all i adored Donna Carmela, the mayor's mother, who is a master matchmaker, wonderful cook and just all around friendly person full of great advice. Donna brought a great warmth to any scene she was in.
Another incredibly enjoyable book from an author who I always love to read. If you have ever dreamt of owning your own corner of Italy, then this is certainly the book for you too!!
Thank you to Orion and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
In theory I'd love to have seen the advert from the mayor of Montenello, in his efforts to revitalise the local community. For just one euro, you could purchase a house that needed large amounts of renovations, and need to be able to contribute to the local community.
It's a wonderful idea, and until last year I'd never seen a book featuring this sort of plot, but this is now the third I've read, so at the back of my mind were unfair comparisons, as they are all incredibly different.
I loved the location for this book, a small hill top town, near to Puglia. And applicants that were chosen to move into the town, all had completely different reasons for taking the plunge.
Each chapter is split into sections between the three hopeful new residents of the town, and also the town's mayor, all nicely labelled and allowing you to get to know all the key people really quickly and easily.
I loved all of the delicious descriptions of Italian food, there are a couple of small restaurants that made tasty sounding food that had my tummy rumbling. Added to the picturesque and vivid descriptions of the town itself, I felt as though I was there, soaking in the sun, looking at the crumbling buildings and eating the meals alongside our intrepid characters.
From the moment I started the book I was hooked, I just love Nicky Pellegrino's writing and this was no exception. It is full of love for a small town in Southern Italy and I enjoyed everything, from the initial discussions about the advert for these houses at only a Euro, to the first views of their assigned properties and then just trying to work out if this was a completely mad idea or not!
I also really enjoyed the story-lines involving the mayor's assistant, who is rather wily and clearly knows more about everything than he tries to let onto immediately, the re-discovering of Italian roots, the regeneration of this town. But most of all i adored Donna Carmela, the mayor's mother, who is a master matchmaker, wonderful cook and just all around friendly person full of great advice. Donna brought a great warmth to any scene she was in.
Another incredibly enjoyable book from an author who I always love to read. If you have ever dreamt of owning your own corner of Italy, then this is certainly the book for you too!!
Thank you to Orion and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
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