INVITATION- PB

A story masterfully woven about love and its many forms against backdrop of the Italian coast. Intriguing and beguiling, A remarkable cast of characters.

I loved her mysteries, both The Guest List and The Hunting Party. I couldn't wait to get back to them, but this novel, while worth reading, simply didn't excite. Very slow to develop. Reinforced my desire to visit to Ligurian Coast in Italy, however, where much of the novel takes place. A nice read, but not a page turner like Ms Foley's above-mentioned mysteries.

Well written

Good book !

Read other Lucy Foley books and loved them. This is one is a disappointment. 100 pages in and still waiting for something to happen. Hate to stop reading in case something WILL happen soon. A flat read, no excitement generated. Will stick with it, though.

Terriblr

The Invitation was a beautiful love story, absolutely loved it.

Loved it - and I’m a bloke!! Engaging and superbly skilled writing that developed the plot, premise and characters in ways you could buy into and just about believe. Aww, c’mon - it’s a book and therefore a work of fiction and a writer’s delicious imagination! I just loved the canvas and the colours she used. I really bought into the Contessa’s “ship of lost souls” and you start rooting for the players - even the ones you don’t really warm to, or even like. If the book has a message it is simply this - everybody has a story to tell and most of us have soul-stirring regrets and something to hide - something that profoundly shaped who and what we are and that has determined and perhaps defined all we can become. It isn’t a profound work of fiction though - just a thoroughly engaging read that grips you from the start and leaves you hungering for the end ... you just have to know what happens. And it doesn’t disappoint. Big, big up for Lucy Foley. If this is just the start of her writing career, I can’t wait for more. Give it a go - it really is lovely and heart warming read.

I enjoyed the book very much. Well-written. Didn't understand the ending - a bit disappointing.

I was really excited to read this after devouring Lucy's debut novel 'The Book of Lost and Found.'The book is exquisitely written. Lucy is so talented at writing deep, believable characters whose story will suck you in. The descriptions of the Italian coast were perfect and the cast of characters were very entertaining. I really enjoyed the story and was genuinely guessing right up until the end how it would work out. I didn't enjoy it as much as her first novel but that is just personal taste. It is a fantastic read.

I have not read anything by this author before and I'm not sure I will read anything else. I found it to be rather mixed up as in difficult to follow and found myself skipping sections particularly the diary story. I just wanted to get to the end as quickly as possible. The end however was more interesting and revealing - some sadness of characters. I was more engrossed with Stella's story than Hals' and that's what kept me reading. I don't think it's a book I'd recommend.