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The Patron Saint of Second Chances - by Christine Simon (Paperback)

The Patron Saint of Second Chances - by  Christine Simon (Paperback) - 1 of 1
$13.40 sale price when purchased online
$17.00 list price
Target Online store #3991

About this item

Highlights

  • The self-appointed mayor of a tiny Italian village is determined to save his hometown no matter the cost in this "charming farce that highlights the triumph of hope and community" (People).
  • About the Author: Christine Simon grew up in a very large and very loud Italian family and now lives with her husband and four children.
  • 304 Pages
  • Fiction + Literature Genres, Humorous

Description



About the Book



"In a tiny village in Italy, the self-appointed mayor (and vacuum cleaner repairman) Signor Speranza will do anything he can to save his beloved town. When he learns that the water is going to be cut off in sixty days unless he can come up with some quick cash, he tries to boost tourism by spreading a harmless rumor that major movie star Dante Rinaldi is planning to film a movie in the village. The plan works a little too well, and soon everyone wants to be a part of the fictional movie. Village butcher Signor Maestro will even invest in the film - if Signor Speranza can find roles for each of his fifteen enormous sons. Speranza soon realizes that the only way to keep the momentum going is to actually make the movie, assuring the villagers that Dante is on his way. Luckily, his hapless assistant Smilzo happens to have written a screenplay - not so secretly based on his undying love for the film's leading lady. As the entire town becomes involved in the movie - even the village priest invests! - Signor Speranza starts to think he might be able to pull this off...until word reaches Dante Rinaldi's ears"--



Book Synopsis



The self-appointed mayor of a tiny Italian village is determined to save his hometown no matter the cost in this "charming farce that highlights the triumph of hope and community" (People).

Vacuum repairman and self-appointed mayor of Prometto, Italy (population 212) Signor Speranza has a problem: unless he can come up with 70,000 euros to fix the town's pipes, the water commission will shut off the water to the village and all the residents will be forced to disperse. In a desperate bid to boost tourism--and revenue--he spreads a harmless rumor that movie star Dante Rinaldi will be filming his next project nearby.

Unfortunately, the plan works a little too well, and soon everyone wants to be a part of the fictional film--the village butcher will throw in some money if Speranza can find roles for his fifteen enormous sons, Speranza's wistfully adrift daughter reveals an unexpected interest in stage makeup, and his hapless assistant Smilzo volunteers a screenplay that's not so secretly based on his undying love for the film's leading lady. To his surprise--and considerable consternation, Speranza realizes that the only way to keep up the ruse is to make the movie for real.

As the entire town becomes involved (even the village priest invests!), Signor Speranza starts to think he might be able to pull this off. But what happens when Dante Rinaldi doesn't show up? Or worse, what if he does?

A "warmhearted, original gem of a novel" (Amy Poeppel, author of Musical Chairs), The Patron Saint of Second Chances is perfect for fans of Fredrik Backman and Maria Semple.



Review Quotes




"[A] sparkling, hilarious debut... Simon's wit pervades every pages, with colorful portrayals of Speranza and the town's quirky inhabitants. This triumphant farce is a gem." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"The Patron Saint of Second Chances is a rare treasure: both hilariously funny and beautifully written. I was sad to say goodbye to these delightful, large-hearted characters when I turned the final page. Sequel, please." --Julia Claiborne Johnson, author of Better Luck Next Time and Be Frank With Me

"The Patron Saint of Second Chances is the most charming, original and hilarious novel I have read in ages. I laughed out loud on almost every page. Simon is the master of creating lovable, quirky and relatable characters that feel like your best friends. All I want for Christmas is to meet Signor Speranza and have my vacuum cleaner repaired at his shop. And I'm desperate to be in the movie, with or without Dante Rinaldi. This novel is something special. Everyone with a sense of humor must pick this up immediately." --Elyssa Friedland, author of Last Summer at The Golden Hotel

"[A] tale that will keep you entertained from first page to last. It's one of the most amusing novels I've read in years, which is just what we need in these dark times." --BookReporter

"A charming farce that highlights the triumph of hope and community in an often unforgiving world." --PEOPLE

"A charming, fast-paced and warm-hearted farce. Upbeat, escapist and a lot of fun."--Caroline Hulse, author of The Adults

"A glorious romp of a book with a cast of characters to fall in love with. Gorgeous, hilarious and brimming with joy. Christine Simon's writing is just a delight."--Helen Paris, author of Lost Property

"A joyful, charming, and delightfully funny story! Take a trip to Italy and meet a gaggle of villagers whose well-intentioned mayor will stop at nothing to save his town from financial ruin. Simon's warm-hearted, original gem of a novel is the feel-good read we all need."
--Amy Poeppel, author of Musical Chairs

"A tiny Italian village becomes the center of a media storm in this humorous novel by Christine Simon." --LifeSavvy

"Full of slapstick humor (including a rescue from a wild goat) and a large cast of quirky characters, Simon's debut is brimming with heart... Fans of Fredrik Backman, Phaedra Patrick, and other chroniclers of small-town humor will savor this." --Booklist (starred review)

"This charming comedy, filled with devoted and lovable characters, is a breath of fresh air." --Christian Science Monitor

"Whimsical, quirky, and heartfelt."--Buzzfeed



About the Author



Christine Simon grew up in a very large and very loud Italian family and now lives with her husband and four children. The Patron Saint of Second Chances is her first novel.
Dimensions (Overall): 7.9 Inches (H) x 5.5 Inches (W) x 1.2 Inches (D)
Weight: .55 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 304
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Sub-Genre: Humorous
Publisher: Atria Books
Theme: General
Format: Paperback
Author: Christine Simon
Language: English
Street Date: April 11, 2023
TCIN: 87345777
UPC: 9781982188788
Item Number (DPCI): 247-17-0656
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
If the item details above aren’t accurate or complete, we want to know about it.

Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 1.2 inches length x 5.5 inches width x 7.9 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.55 pounds
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5.0 out of 5 stars with 2 reviews
100% would recommend
2 recommendations

An endearing, lighthearted, and entertaining read

5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
PhyllisE - 3 years ago
Thanks to Atria Books & NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own. This was a sweet, charming, feel-good comedy that takes place during present day in a small Italian village. The colorful bookcover hints at the entertaining story promised inside. If you like Alexander McCall Smith’s novels, you’ll enjoy this laugh-out-loud small town tale with quirky characters and themes of honesty, faith, and hope. The publisher’s summary: “Vacuum repairman and self-appointed mayor of Prometto, Italy (population 212) Signor Speranza has a problem: unless he can come up with 70,000 euros to fix the town’s pipes, the water commission will shut off the water to the village and all its residents will be forced to disperse. So in a bid to boost tourism — and revenue — he spreads a harmless rumor that movie star Dante Rinaldi will be filming his next project nearby.” That “harmless rumor” is just the first of many that Speranza finds himself telling, all because he cares about his village and its future. One thing leads to another as the town believes Dante is coming to make a movie with the villagers included in the cast. Speranza finds himself twisting the truth little by little, not unlike the convoluted plots of Larry David’s sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm. This humorous novel is told from Speranza’s point of view, and I found myself chuckling, laughing, and reading parts of this to my husband because it just had to be shared. But in addition to being amusing, author Christine Simon skillfully expresses Speranza’s thoughts in a way that gives depth to this heartwarming story. “Signor Speranza was clearly in a tricky situation. On one side, there was truth. There was truth, and there was also devastation. There was losing the village. There was losing Gemma and Carlotta. There was losing his father’s shop. There was everyone he knew being chased out of their houses. On the other side? Yes, there was a lie, but there was also hope. Was hope not as important as truth?” Despite his twisting of the truth, Speranza has a strong conscience, especially prompted by the town’s priest. Throughout the novel Speranza consults "The Compendium," a booklet listing the saints and what they specialize in, so he can petition them for a distinctive need. Who knew there was a saint just for plumbing problems? I loved this endearing debut, and recommend this if you’re looking for a lighthearted and entertaining read.
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Beyond words!

5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Emily - 3 years ago
I loved this book so much! It had so much charm, loves me characters, and amazing plot, and moments that had me laughing out loud! Great book for a fun, uplifting summer read!
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