Fictional Wyldale, New Jersey reminds me of the Ducktown neighborhood of Atlantic City, not far from where I grew up. With aging Italian families, young people moving out to suburban neighborhoods, and homes gradually getting renovated with new businesses moving in, this is the setting of a novel about a multi-generational Italian family going through big changes. Varina Palladino was widowed in her fifties, continued to run the Italian grocery she and her husband successfully ran together. She is watched closely by her ninety-two year old mother, Sylvia, two of her three children, Dante and Donatella, and her “adopted” son Paulie. Now at seventy, but not slowing down a bit, everyone wants what is best for Varina, which they believe is a new man in her life. Varina just wants a vacation away from everything and everyone. Tired of rescuing, feeding, and worrying about family, Varina needs a break.

Many familial twists and turns, everyone in everyone else’s business, everyone keeping secrets from all the others, this is the reason for stereotypes of big Italian families— because it is all too true. This book is a perfect summer read— filled with love, laughter, and alot of Italian food, you should enjoy this crazy novel. It brought back many memories of a certain dear old friend and his big Italian family. Throw this is the beach bag before summer is over!