Kathy Courage has never visited the famous Italian city of Florence before, so she's thrilled when she and her boyfriend Neil are invited there for a wedding. Unfortunately, with Neil's constant complaining and his teenage children in tow, it's not exactly the romantic break Kathy was hoping for.
But when a mix-up with her flights leaves Kathy stranded in the city, she decides to embrace the unexpected and stay on alone.
What follows is a life-changing few days in the Tuscan sun, as Kathy begins to question the choices that have led her here. With the help of the colourful Innocenti family, who offer Kathy a place to stay, she gradually begins to realise that there's a much bigger world out there, if only she can be brave enough to explore it.
Could Italy hold the answers to her future happiness? Or is Kathy destined to return to her old life?
I'd like to thank Jenny at Hodder & Stoughton for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour and for my copy of Three Days in Florence to review.
Kathy Courage has always had a life-long dream to visit Florence, a place she'd heard so much about from her parents who went there on their honeymoon and loved it so much that they decided to give her Florence as a middle name. But it looks like fate might finally have stepped in as her partner Neil's brother and his fiancee have decided that they're going to get married in Tuscany and have invited their whole families to come along and join in the celebrations, she'll just have to put up with his disapproving mother and teenage children as well.
When we first meet Kathy it's like she's a woman without her own voice, she's been on her own for so long that it's almost as if she'll do anything to keep Neil happy even putting up with his annoying nickname of 'Chicken Licken' because of her unfortunate initials KFC and the way he and his children treat her. Neil is determined to spend as little time out of the country as possible, despite knowing how much Kathy wants to explore Italy and in particular Florence, so his PA makes all their travel arrangements to arrive as late as possible before the pre-wedding dinner and to fly home the morning after the wedding but this actually turns out to be a blessing in disguise.
From the moment they arrive nothing goes quite to plan and there's always something for Neil and his daughters Sophie and Amelie to moan about, with Kathy taking the brunt of it, but least his son Oscar is happy so long as he's got his phone for company. If Kathy had hoped that Tuscany would work its magic on the family then it looks like she might be waiting a long time! Missing out on a shopping trip Kathy finally gets some time to herself and can relax and explore her surroundings before the group and the mayhem continues.
If the first two days of the trip didn't turn out as planned, then Kathy is in for an even bigger surprise when Neil steps into the spotlight at the wedding and proposes which leaves her stunned, so much so that she didn't even get a chance to give her response before the ring is placed on her finger. But it looks like there might be an angel on her side after all as a mix-up with the flights means that Kathy has been booked onto a flight 3 days later than the rest of the family. Neil orders her to stay at the airport and try and make alternative arrangements but when nothing is forthcoming she decides to make the most of her time and perhaps spend the next 3 days on her own exploring Florence.
It was at this point that I was cheering Kathy on, for getting the courage 'pun intended' to do something for herself instead of trying to please everyone else in particular Neil who she's always adapting her plans to do whatever suits him. This trip to Florence turns out to a journey of self-discovery, a chance to take some much needed time out for herself and the perfect opportunity to think about what she really wants her future to look like.
It's also when the story comes alive for me as even though Kathy experiences something that would be every tourists dread, it's also when a chance encounter introduces her to a wonderful family who welcome her with open arms. She finally has the freedom to be herself and explore the place that has always had a special place in her heart.
I've never been to Italy but yet through the vivid descriptions of the sights and sounds that Kathy encounters, and the tantalising foods that she gets to taste, Chrissie Manby really has made Florence come to life and as a reader it felt like I was experiencing everything through Kathy's eyes. It truly sounds like a magical place to visit, not just the tourist hotspots, but also the streets off the beaten track.
If you're looking for a feel-good read this Summer then make sure to add Three Days in Florence to your reading list and you won't be disappointed, with its gorgeous setting and characters that you'll fall in love with, well most of them, what more could you ask for.
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