This review was commissioned by Harper Collins.

I am a sucker for scenery and stories about rock solid friendships among grown women, I always have been; there are enough stories about devotion and friendship regarding teenage girls but stories about adult women tend to put the focus on romance, family building, and what we should do after it all falls apart.

There is some of that in The Summer Villa, no doubt about it, but there is more strength in the friendships of the three women who are the focus than envy or bad feelings or competition which is wonderful. Having an author skillfully tip a nod to things without them becoming the focus like Hill does is a refreshing change of pace.

That being said, The Summer Villa is a slow-building marathon, not a sprint, and you have to be patient while the story unfolds, but luckily it does so against the backdrop of the Amalfi coast in a gorgeous villa that anybody would want to vacation in.

‘The Summer Villa’ drops April 28th, anywhere books are sold.