Set in England and Italy during the 30s. Bea is the 17 year old daughter of the aristocratic Langtons. The family has fallen on hard times, holding on to their grand manor house and hoping their only child, Beatrice, will make a good marriage to a wealthy aristocrat. Bea, however, has her own ideas. She wants to go to university and study science. She is passionately and (inappropriately, to her parents) interested in the natural world. When she causes a minor scandal at her parents party, meant to introduce her to an inbred neighbor, her parents pack her off to Italy to learn some manners, and let things cool down.

Exactly the opposite of their wishes happens, however. Uncle Leo, a charming but weak-willed man, is having a bohemian phase, living with a painter, Filomena, who has filled the villa with her painter friends.

Bea meets Ben, a young painter of whom her parents would definitely not approve, and sparks fly as Ben is challenged to romance the unromantic Bea.

Reality intrudes, in the form of Fascism and Mussolini, and the weak-willed uncle Leo is swayed. What will happen then? How will this summer conclude for Bea and Ben.

Except for Mussolini, this was pretty light fare, though I enjoyed it a lot. If you can get teens to read historical fiction, this one should be popular. ( )

It's no secret that I love Much Ado About Nothing, Italy, and books with artsy people. This had all three of those (plus an absolutely stunning cover) and I really enjoyed this overall.

First off: Bea and Ben is one of my OTPs and I loved this take on their relationship - any form of fake dating can get it. I also liked that this addressed some of what happened in 1933, but I think it remained too simplistic while trying to portray various points of view - same as with Bea not adhering to the traditional image of femininity.

This wasn't perfect, but it didn't need to be that for me to really dig this. ( )