The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany

By: Lori Nelson Spielman

Narrated by: Carlotta Brentan, Kathleen Garrett, Lori Nelson Spielman

An International Bestseller!

A LibraryReads and Indie Next Pick!

A trio of second-born daughters sets out on a whirlwind journey through the lush Italian countryside to break the family curse that says they’ll never find love, by New York Times bestseller Lori Nelson Spielman, author of The Life List.

Since the day Filomena Fontana cast a curse upon her sister more than two hundred years ago, not one second-born Fontana daughter has found lasting love. Some, like second-born Emilia, the happily-single baker at her grandfather’s Brooklyn deli, claim it’s an odd coincidence. Others, like her sexy, desperate-for-love cousin Lucy, insist it’s a true hex. But both are bewildered when their great-aunt calls with an astounding proposition: If they accompany her to her homeland of Italy, Aunt Poppy vows she’ll meet the love of her life on the steps of the Ravello Cathedral on her eightieth birthday, and break the Fontana Second-Daughter Curse once and for all.

Against the backdrop of wandering Venetian canals, rolling Tuscan fields, and enchanting Amalfi Coast villages, romance blooms, destinies are found, and family secrets are unearthed—secrets that could threaten the family far more than a centuries-old curse.

Tough beginning, but so very worth the listen

If you're anything like me you may find the early chapters infuriating. The author laid wonderful groundwork of who each and every person was and with the exception of Emilia, they were generally a hate filled mean angry group of spineless humans who followed along whatever Nona did and used Emilia as a human dartboard. She was lovely, sweet and generally so used to the emotional abuse that she just rolled with it and accepted it as her due. It was painful to listen to and my heart went out to her. I stopped listening a few times, but kept going back. Then comes a call from Aunt Polly, the sister of Nona who was cast out of the family many years ago by the hateful Nona. She offers a trip to Italy to Emilia and Lucy. This is when the story becomes filled with so much adventure, learning, and joy. We get to watch as Emilia and her cousin Lucy discover life, love, happiness and discover who they are when not living under such repressive family obligations and "the curse". They come to learn why everyone is they way they are and now have the emotional strength to stand up for themselves. Its a wonderful story of love, understanding and redemption.

Such a lovely story

There's such a sweet story going on from so many characters. I loved this book so much!!

Wonderful Story

This is one of my favorite novels! The history is heartbreaking, Italy is romantic. Never a dull moment in the story. I found myself longing to meet these characters in real life. I will listen again soon!

an enjoyable listen

will read/listen to more books by this author. kept me entertained. enjoyed the narrator.

Sweet story

At first, I had trouble getting into the story because there were so many characters, but I’m glad I did. There were a lot of Italian customs and family dynamics that needed to be explained so you’d understand where and why the book was going the way it did. I really loved the sweet story and am glad I stuck with it.