Scarred by the past, ready for starting over?

Synopsis

A cosy story about mother-daughter relationships and starting over in life, set in a luxurious Italian spa resort

Olivia swore she would never grow up to be like her mother, who fled to Sicily to be with her lover when Olivia was a teenager. But now in her thirties, the spark in Olivia’s marriage has been extinguished for years, she’s hopelessly pining over her attractive business partner, Markus, and her own teenage daughter barely speaks to her.  

So when her estranged mother offers to pay for an eight-week trip to a luxurious wellness centre in Italy, Olivia reluctantly accepts. A break will be good for her. For everyone. There’s just one catch… Susan is staying in the adjoining room.  

Fuelled by gorgeous weather, good food and even better wine, can the two women overcome their history and form the mother-daughter bond that Olivia always dreamed of? Or is it too late for second chances?

My review

Olivia never got over her mother abandoning her and her father when she was just a child. And even if her mother has tried to make amends over the years, and Olivia’s own father has forgiven Susan, Olivia just cannot. Her mother hurt her too much and Olivia does not want to just forgive her and pretend all is fine. However, the relationship with her mother isn’t the only stained one. Her own marriage is seemingly falling apart, she feels attracted to her business partner Marcus and her teenage daughter prefers to give Olivia the silent treatment. As Olivia feels more and more at her end, when Susan offers to treat Olivia an eight – week trip to a wellness centre in Italy, at Lake Maggiore. What Olivia thinks will be a relaxing holiday, turns out to be one sharing with the person she doesn’t want to spend any time with, her own mother. So could this holiday be one where broken relationships will be mended? Or is it too late for that?

I was very curious at the start of this book. Because of course even before reading one word, it was a given fact that Olivia would not be on her own at the centre in Italy. So how would Olivia react? And how would Susan turn out to be?

It cannot be denied that right from the start of the book, Olivia isn’t in a happy place. And there are several reasons for that, each one more saddening than the previous one. Obviously there is the sense of betrayal Olivia feels since her mother Susan left her and her father. As a child it is a difficult fact to grasp, why your own mother would leave you without apparently looking back. Even if there are signs that Susan hasn’t been well… But I could comprehend why Olivia, despite all the years that have passed and Susan’s attempt to make things right again, is not all that forgiving.

In a way, Olivia has come to terms that her marriage isn’t working anymore. But just like in real life, it’s hard to make that final decision, isn’t it? Even if we aren’t happy in our current situation, there is always a reason or another to just tick to it. Even if Olivia in her situation is just not having a real marriage for ages, and yes, there is the fact of her infatuation with Marcus…

I have to admit, in a way I was proud of Olivia. Because yes, she feelings for a man that isn’t her husband, and she is jealous whenever Marcus has a date or two. But she never acts upon those feelings. She knows that acting upon it, would be wrong on several levels. Not a decision everyone would make!

The situation with Olivia’s daughter, Cassie, was heartbreaking for Olivia, but in a way also so very recognizable for all parents with teenage children, I think. Of course Cassie knows and senses how things are at home, but also her own doubts and fears make her more closed off, instead of finding a confidante in her mother. And as a mother it breaks Olivia’s heart seeing her beloved daughter shutting her out from everything…

So of course Olivia needs a time – out! She definitely needs some time away to think about how her life should be. Perhaps it was a little gullible of her, believing that Susan would treat her her stay at the resort, and not make an appearance. Yet in Olivia’s state of mind, I could understand the shock.

But I also hoped that somehow, spending these eight weeks together, no matter how frustrating, unnerving, over the top Susan could be, that mother and daughter would find their ways back to each other. Even if it were just baby step by baby step…

Susan, I have to be honest, she does her best to make amends with Olivia even Olivia wants anything but that, Susan is at moments also just *too* present. At least that is how I saw it 😊. I could understand Susan, as this is a perfect opportunity to make some amends. But I also felt that Susan could give Olivia some more space.

At the same time, I also wanted Olivia to speak up, instead of being so utterly British, and just say that things are not okay for her.

This is truly something Olivia needs to learn, and is learning in this book. She has a lot of pent – up frustration and at the centre, she is able to talk about it, even if it is to a complete stranger. And slowly, very slowly, there is also a progress to see between Olivia and Susan. As music is a passion they both share, that is an aid to bring them together.

Talking about music, I need to say that I was over the moon reading how Olivia discovers one of the most famous Italian singers, and as I knew the songs she is talking about, I felt a deeper connection with Olivia. 😊

While perhaps in this book things took a dramatic turn, as there was too much happening all at the same time, it shows us the reality of life. Yes, in Olivia’s life there are things going wrong. And we see how Olivia is not taking matter in own hands in certain situations. That is something very recognizable I think, because change is scary and it can be easier to let things just be as they are. But that always comes at a cost doesn’t it?

A cost that Olivia cannot pay anymore, and throughout her story, we see how her eyes are being opened, how she understands that change is needed, that decisions need to be made, how she needs to be brave, for her stake and her family’s.

This for sure is a great story about family and the dynamics between each member of that family. It is a story about being haunted by the past, but also a chance about letting go of that past. It is a story about letting go, forgiving and about making changes. Changes that may be scary but can and perhaps will provide a happy future…