Printable Book Club Questions for One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

The story starts after Carol had died. Katy is a wreck without her, and at the same time, seems ambivalent to her husband, Eric. What are your thoughts about this line—if your mother is the love of your life, what does that make your husband? What do you make of her frustration with her relationship with Eric?
The author Rebecca Serle provides an introspective look into Katy’s grief about losing her mom. Let’s talk about their close relationship.
Why did Katy decide to go on the Italian vacation?
Have you ever been to Positano and the Amalfi Coast? Or would you want visit one day?
When Katy arrives to Positano, she is completely taken in with the scenery, the food, the people. How did it help start her healing journey making this big trip on her own?
What did you think when she first ran into Carol as a 30-year-old woman? How would you have reacted if you were in Katy’s position? What did you think about their dynamic in Italy?
Katy embarks on a fling with Adam who is also staying at the hotel. What did she learn from this fling with Adam?
Did you sense that, beyond Carol being alive and in her 30s, something else was off about this visit to Positano? Or were you surprised that Katy was actually in the 1990s and not present day?
We never got the actual reasoning why Kate went to 1990s Positano—what do you believe actually happened? Did she time travel, was it a dream or something else?
We learn a big secret from Carol—she left behind Katy as an infant to find herself in Italy before eventually returning home. Let’s talk about the impact this revelation had on Katy.
Katy is devastated and, in hurt and anger, she reveals who she is to a very shocked Carol. Do you think Carol deep down knew the truth about Katy?
While Katy looks back at her relationship with her mother as perfect, she starts to realize there were some cracks. For instance, she doesn’t make any decisions without her mother and she let her always take the lead. How did this realization help Katy grow and realize what changes she needs to make?
What did you think about her reconciling with Eric? Did that make sense to you after her attitude toward him and the fling with Adam? How will their relationship be different moving forward?