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Book Review of The Patron Saint of Second Chances

The Patron Saint of Second Chances
VolunteerVal avatar reviewed on + 706 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


The Patron Saint of Second Chances, the debut novel by Christine Simon, is completely delightful from the first page to last! I enjoyed the large cast of zany characters and looked forward to every reading session.

This is the tale of a well-intentioned vacuum cleaner repairman slash mayor who tells a little white lie to save his beloved Italian village from certain doom. Of course, more lies must be shared to cover the first, and soon circumstances spiral far beyond Signor Speranza's control. But (of course) there's a happy ending.

The story is charming, heartwarming, and better than a cozy mystery since no murders occur. Many of the antics are slapstick and must be read while suspending reality, but it was a welcome break from heavier books I've recently read.

Perfect for summer, the novel provides a sunny escape if a trip to the Italian coast isn't in your plans. Another example that a memorable story can be well told in 300 pages or less.

I'm grateful to the From the Front Porch podcast for putting this on my reading radar and to Atria and NetGalley for providing a review copy.