Helpful Score: 1
This is a charming little book. Be prepared to suspend reality as there are some silly antics, but they made me smile. Uplifting and heartwarming. A quick read.
Signor Speranza's heart is in the right place when he devises a plan to make money to pay the village's water bills and, ultimately, save the village (population 212) itself. The plan is based on a rumor, and he finds himself having to tell more and more lies to the villagers and to his loved ones until it all spirals out of control.
I loved the quirky characters and found myself rooting for Signor Speranza. This was a truly entertaining read.
Signor Speranza's heart is in the right place when he devises a plan to make money to pay the village's water bills and, ultimately, save the village (population 212) itself. The plan is based on a rumor, and he finds himself having to tell more and more lies to the villagers and to his loved ones until it all spirals out of control.
I loved the quirky characters and found myself rooting for Signor Speranza. This was a truly entertaining read.
Helpful Score: 1
The Patron Saint of Second Chances, the debut novel by Christine Simon, is completely delightful from the first page to last! I enjoyed the large cast of zany characters and looked forward to every reading session.
This is the tale of a well-intentioned vacuum cleaner repairman slash mayor who tells a little white lie to save his beloved Italian village from certain doom. Of course, more lies must be shared to cover the first, and soon circumstances spiral far beyond Signor Speranza's control. But (of course) there's a happy ending.
The story is charming, heartwarming, and better than a cozy mystery since no murders occur. Many of the antics are slapstick and must be read while suspending reality, but it was a welcome break from heavier books I've recently read.
Perfect for summer, the novel provides a sunny escape if a trip to the Italian coast isn't in your plans. Another example that a memorable story can be well told in 300 pages or less.
I'm grateful to the From the Front Porch podcast for putting this on my reading radar and to Atria and NetGalley for providing a review copy.
This is the tale of a well-intentioned vacuum cleaner repairman slash mayor who tells a little white lie to save his beloved Italian village from certain doom. Of course, more lies must be shared to cover the first, and soon circumstances spiral far beyond Signor Speranza's control. But (of course) there's a happy ending.
The story is charming, heartwarming, and better than a cozy mystery since no murders occur. Many of the antics are slapstick and must be read while suspending reality, but it was a welcome break from heavier books I've recently read.
Perfect for summer, the novel provides a sunny escape if a trip to the Italian coast isn't in your plans. Another example that a memorable story can be well told in 300 pages or less.
I'm grateful to the From the Front Porch podcast for putting this on my reading radar and to Atria and NetGalley for providing a review copy.
Helpful Score: 1
The Patron Saint of Second Chances by Christine Simon is about a small town facing destruction and a scheme to save it that starts with one little lie and then takes on a life of its own. The story is silly, funny, and sweet. Ultimately, it is about people and caring and a community coming together to save its place in the world. As this is a debut novel, I look forward to seeing what Christine Simon writes next.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2024/01/the-patron-saint-of-second-chances.html
Reviewed for NetGalley.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2024/01/the-patron-saint-of-second-chances.html
Reviewed for NetGalley.
