Its my pleasure to whisk you away to the Italian Riviera for this beautiful read.
Detangling the plot:
A heady historical drama about a British family who open an upper-class hotel on the magical Italian Riviera during the ‘Roaring 20s’.
Hotel Portofino has been open for only a few weeks, but already the problems are mounting for its owner Bella Ainsworth. Her high-class guests are demanding and hard to please. And she’s being targeted by a scheming and corrupt local politician, who threatens to drag her into the red-hot cauldron of Mussolini’s Italy.
To make matters worse, her marriage is in trouble, and her children are still struggling to recover from the repercussions of the Great War. All eyes are on the arrival of a potential love match for her son Lucian, but events don’t go to plan, which will have far reaching consequences for the whole family.
Set in the breathtakingly beautiful Italian Riviera, Hotel Portofino is a story of personal awakening at a time of global upheaval and of the liberating influence of Italy’s enchanting culture, climate and cuisine on British ‘innocents abroad’, perfect for fans of Downton Abbey and The Crown.
Bobs and Books honest review:
When it is still dark at 5pm, and chilly, this is the perfect read to warm up and escape to another country, For those of us who haven't travelled much, if at all lately, embrace entering this chaotic but amusing hotel.
I was definitely getting a slightly posher Durrells vibe here with lots of comings and goings and not knowing what to expect next, which made it all the more fun to read. Still a hint of Victorian style wedding gossip, as well as recovering from the war.
Long chapters that allow you to immerse yourself into this world. Some great twists and turns, with the characters very rich (in money and personality!)
About the author:
J.P. O’Connell is a writer and editor who lives in South London. He was previously Books Editor for Time Out magazine, and has written for a variety of newspapers including The Guardian, The Times and the Daily Telegraph.
Psssst..... This is going to be an ITV adaptation in Summer 2022 with a brilliant cast,, Make sure you read it first.