A Rosie Life in Italy by Rosie Meleady

When Rosie’s landlady without any warning doubles the rent on her shabby home in Ireland, Rosie without hesitation decides to up sticks and move with husband, son and daughter. Her initial choice was Spain but things changed and it was to Italy they went. Rosie has a way of turning her decisions into very reasonable explanations as to their necessity and is like a whirlwind once she decides on something.

Being a wedding planner hoping to offer sunny climes, romantic villas and backdrops Rosie is a typical digital nomad. Buying a derelict 22 roomed castle complete with eight squabbling cousins did not fall into her plans. Neither did she take into account the vagaries of Italian property laws, all of which had to be undertaken by different masters of the law. Finally no one took into account COVID, the quarantine, the long long closure of neighborhoods and countries, cutting people off completely from family and friends and economic disaster for many like Rosie.

The story goes from one incident to another (home ownership is hard and be prepared to slog it out), but Rosie and her husband soldier on. The end seems in sight despite so many hiccups on the way. Humorous but informative, descriptive and emotional, the book had it all. 

Sent by Sourcebooks (non fiction), for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.