Apparently this is the third book in a trilogy. I read it as a stand-alone, and don't think I missed much by not reading the first two books. The Grassos are a first-generation Italian American family who own a successful restaurant. Their married daughter, Prima, has four sons and lives nearby and unmarried son, Frankie, is teaching at an academic setting. Their older son, Tony, died as a teenager.

I didn't find much to admire or like in any of these characters. There is a great deal of secrecy among the family in order to maintain the illusion of a happy Italian family, and is particularly sad given the circumstances surrounding Tony's death. The relationship between Frankie and his mother is often cloying, and Prima's actions toward her sons are odd and inappropriate. Frankie is the least likeable. His smug arrogance about an unimpressive role in academia and slavish devotion to a married woman are pathetic. The big plan posed by Prima for the entire family to return to Italy to reunite with the family there is the only plot development in an otherwise tedious read. ( )

I have not yet read this book because it was only after I received it that I learned that it was the 3rd book in a trilogy and I can't read books out of order so I'm trying to catch up. I didn't intend on adding 3 books to my ever growing TBR list. I'll get there!

seriously depressing! It would have helped to know that there were 2 books before this in the series! ( )

I was never really able to work up much interest for this book. It sounded like it was going to be a good book but it really just fell flat. I couldn't find one character in this book that I related to or felt that was likeable. Also it felt like nothing really kept the plot together. It felt like a bunch of wandering around going nowhere. Most of the time I was just wondering what the point of this was. I would not recommend this book. ( )

Very good book. My life was hectic so it was a bit getting into it, but thoroughly enjoyable.The writing was well-done, the descriptions vivid, and the plot interesting. ( )