Book Review - A Place in the Sun by Jo Thomas

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Title: A Place in the Sun

Author: Jo Thomas

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Transworld Digital

Publication Date: 19th June 2025

Rating: 5 Stars

It's never too late to find where you belong...

Thea knew the holiday house her late husband Marco bought in Tuscany wasn't pristine. But when she relocates to Italy for the summer with her children, she's shocked by how much work Casa Luna needs. And she only has six weeks to fix it up ready to sell! Her only option is to ask the tight-knit Italian community for help.

In return, Thea and her children become involved in the community kitchen, working alongside handsome chef Giovanni and three very competitive nonnas. Gradually, Thea begins to open up to the people around her for the first time in a long while. But just as she's beginning to wonder whether this small Tuscan town could become a new place to call home, a surprise visitor turns everything on its head . . .

If you are a cat named Garfield, then you will be salivating at this novel, and in fact pawing your way through the pages, hoping the descriptions will be coming to life and giving you your favourite food! 

For at the heart of this book is Lasagne, proper Tuscan lasagne, with three nonnas all thinking their recipe is the best and all determined to welcome Thea to Tuscany and to Casa Luna with Lasagnes.

In fact there are a few scenes in this clearly written with the humour of the The Vicar of Dibley's 3 Christmases episode in mind.  At least that's what I was reminded of, while Thea knows she needs to be polite, while really not being able to eat any more! 

It's not just lasagne though, there is a whole of of Italian food in this that will have your mouth watering, and leave you feeling very hungry the entire time you are reading. 

This is Jo Thomas at her destination and foodie romance best. This book is filled with humour, evocative descriptions of food and also the small village that Thea has a house to do up in, and their community.  

The three Nonnas are a comedy triple act that had me laughing the entire time. Starting the book as rivals, it's interesting to see the effect Thea (and her kids) have on them. 

Thea is a widow, and this house in Italy as her husband Marco's purchase, and they were going to restore it together. But life changes and now she is trying to do her best by him, while keeping her children happy and wondering whether it may be time to move on too. 

This is a delicious book to devour, its easy to read and made my train journey melt into oblivion of background movement, while I was totally between the pages and living life alongside Thea. 

I absolutely loved every second of this book, it's another winner for me from Jo Thomas, an author that never lets me down.  Just exquisite. 

Thank you to Transworld Digital and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.