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the_autlaw's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe not as much fun or as richly textured as Very Valentine, the first book in this proposed trilogy, but still fun in its own right. This time around Valentine gets a lot of help from her friend Gabriel, explores possibilities of love with a man she has previously been involved with, and she travels to Buenos Aires to meet a branch of her family she didn't know existed. I feel like the Bueons Aires section was disappointing and simply did not touch on the culture of the place enough. But I don't feel like Trigiani operates that way about foreign soil. She is at her best when she is describing New York in these novels. Unfortunately, that is also lacking a bit in this second novel. It is a nice second act, and despite some letdown I can't wait for the third to find out what happens next.
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Audio book performed by Cassandra Campbell
Trigiani returns to tell the continuing story of Valentine Roncalli and Angelini Shoes. Her beloved grandmother has married and moved to Italy, and has left the business – jointly – to Valentine and her brother, Alfred, with whom she has never gotten along. But he does have a background in finance, and she does want to expand the business with her Angel Shoe line. A stray piece of paper gives her a clue to another branch of the family and the possibility of joining forces propels Valentine and Angel Shoes forward.
I like Trigiani’s chick-lit books. They’re fast reads, full of the every-day drama of life. The Roncalli family members are loud, boisterous, cantankerous, gossipy, emotional and frequently in each other’s business. Relationships are forged and broken. Valentine struggles with her own fears – of being alone, of trusting too much, of not measuring up, of failing, of succeeding. But the more of her works I read, the more I notice how enamored Trigiani is with description. Every dress, shoe, handbag, lamp, sofa, etc is described is exquisite and excruciating detail. It was lovely to read the first time, but after a while I just wanted to skip over all that and get to the plot.
Cassandra Campbell does a wonderful job on the audio. She’s expressive and really handles the family scenes (with all those different characters yelling at and over one another) marvelously well.
Trigiani returns to tell the continuing story of Valentine Roncalli and Angelini Shoes. Her beloved grandmother has married and moved to Italy, and has left the business – jointly – to Valentine and her brother, Alfred, with whom she has never gotten along. But he does have a background in finance, and she does want to expand the business with her Angel Shoe line. A stray piece of paper gives her a clue to another branch of the family and the possibility of joining forces propels Valentine and Angel Shoes forward.
I like Trigiani’s chick-lit books. They’re fast reads, full of the every-day drama of life. The Roncalli family members are loud, boisterous, cantankerous, gossipy, emotional and frequently in each other’s business. Relationships are forged and broken. Valentine struggles with her own fears – of being alone, of trusting too much, of not measuring up, of failing, of succeeding. But the more of her works I read, the more I notice how enamored Trigiani is with description. Every dress, shoe, handbag, lamp, sofa, etc is described is exquisite and excruciating detail. It was lovely to read the first time, but after a while I just wanted to skip over all that and get to the plot.
Cassandra Campbell does a wonderful job on the audio. She’s expressive and really handles the family scenes (with all those different characters yelling at and over one another) marvelously well.
mschrock8's review
4.0
I have read many books by this author, and this was my first audio listen. I think I "heard" Valentine much whinier than I would have "read" Valentine. Good thing I own the print version of the next book in the series. Perhaps I will come back around to her.
First audio book borrow from JCPL after COVID-19 closures. Curbside pick-up.
Listening length 10 hr, 40 min
First audio book borrow from JCPL after COVID-19 closures. Curbside pick-up.
Listening length 10 hr, 40 min
rebamaepie's review against another edition
4.0
OMG!!! I just learned that Adri is going to be at a local bookstore, I'm hoping to go see her!
krystalfleur22's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kdurham2's review against another edition
5.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
The second book with the Angelini family that is still centered around Valentine, but with her family taking a close second. Valentine must decide in this book how to take the family shoe making business to the next level, but also how to work in the shop without her grandmother and with her brother. Fantastic family drama ensued!
I raved yesterday about the characters and the setting that Adriana Trigiani has in her books and with this review trying to keep it mostly spoiler free - I have to say that I love how Trigiani balances the story and the way she moves it forward effortlessly. With the second book in the series, I was concerned that it may falter and stall out, but instead, I was just even more invested in how these characters were going to interact. I didn't wait one minute when I finished this one to start the third!
The second book with the Angelini family that is still centered around Valentine, but with her family taking a close second. Valentine must decide in this book how to take the family shoe making business to the next level, but also how to work in the shop without her grandmother and with her brother. Fantastic family drama ensued!
I raved yesterday about the characters and the setting that Adriana Trigiani has in her books and with this review trying to keep it mostly spoiler free - I have to say that I love how Trigiani balances the story and the way she moves it forward effortlessly. With the second book in the series, I was concerned that it may falter and stall out, but instead, I was just even more invested in how these characters were going to interact. I didn't wait one minute when I finished this one to start the third!
caraheard's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVED this book. So so good. I devoured it in 2 days and I am sad it is done. I could have finished it in one day but I had to savor it a little longer. So good and genuine. There must be a third. And hopefully a fourth.
I just love how her stories aren't about some sort of fluffy book with unicorn and end of the rainbow love. It is about real families, real relationships, real love. And shoes. And Italy.
I just love how her stories aren't about some sort of fluffy book with unicorn and end of the rainbow love. It is about real families, real relationships, real love. And shoes. And Italy.
kamckim's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book as part of B&N's Nook Serial read-outs. They publish a half-chapter each day, so I thought it was do-able, light and fun. I didn't realize I had read this author before. She's fun for modern romance without any smut. Both books I've read have been about Italian-American protagonists, and the cast of characters is quirky, funny and very much alive. Solid, fun books for when you want to take a break from some heavy stuff. I might add that the nook interface for this book on my iPad was really easy on my eyes.
shannon_reads_books's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
A mix of not being the right book for me and also a romance that was hard to buy into.
k_cavacini's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this follow-up to Very Valentine. The characters are just as entertaining and this book felt particularly timely as the Angelini Shoe Company struggles to compete in the difficult economic times. This was a fun read; I hope there are more Valentine books on the way!