Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer

Italy hits differently during the summer. It almost has a magical effect on people who visit. It flexes its beauty and all the gifts it has to offer. Women eat gelato when they would never dare eat ice cream at home. People gravitate to meats like Prosciutto Di Parma and Prosciutto Di Daniele, when at home they feign being pescatarian or  vegan. And when in Italy during the summer, people drink red wine like it is the juice of the gods, and indeed, cheaper than bottled water. So when Andrew Sean Greer released this delicious summer read "Villa Coco," I was transported. This is the story of 21-year-old gay, American young man fresh out of college who takes the job as an archivist in Italy, after swearing off men. He is broke and burned out, and is hired to archive and catalogue the contents of a villa owned by a 92-year-old Baronessa named Coco. Did I mention the villa has a Picasso? Of course, like any trip to the hills of Tuscany, the visit is far from ordinary. The young man gets caught up in the web of the Baronessa, which includes a colorful cast of characters who not only entertain the student, but also bring him alive, and perhaps open his heart again, too. "Villa Coco" proves that a coming of age story in Tuscany can happen to anyone. You just have to make the pilgrimage to Italy to experience the magic yourself. To buy this book on Amazon click here.