The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick is a charming take on what to do when faced with sudden divorce. When Ginny Splinter’s husband tells her he wants a divorce, she impulsively invites four of her radio show listeners to join her on a trip to Italy that was originally planned as a trip for her twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Each of her fellow travelers is facing their own heartbreak, which we learn more about as the novel unfolds.
The group meets up in a quaint hotel called Splendido and gets to know the owner and his daughter while they enjoy the beautiful surroundings. They take several day trips to scenic and historical spots around Italy as well as engage in various activities suggested by each of the members. As they begin to share their stories with each other, they form friendships and offer each other support and understanding that helps them start to move forward through their grief.
I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of the Italian culture and countryside, and I appreciated how much Ginny grew in her understanding of her marriage and herself throughout the trip. The ending was especially good, in my opinion, but I won’t say more than that because of spoilers!
In So Many Words 