Publishers Weekly
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Gunn follows up Tea with Elephants with a clumsy tale of travel, spiritual renewal, and new beginnings. Grace and Claire first connect at a coffee shop, bonding over their shared love of books. Years later, the two friends are struggling with their own personal crises—Grace is grappling with a stressful job as a receptionist, while Claire’s reeling from the recent deaths of her parents—and they decide to seek a fresh start in Italy, where they enjoy pasta, gelato, and sightseeing. Paulina, the enigmatic owner of the out-of-the-way villa where they’re staying, shows them the sights of Venice, including a series of awe-inspiring churches that spur Claire to rethink her abandoned faith. First, though, she’ll need to open up about a traumatic childhood trip to Rome that drove her away from God, wrecking her relationship with her parents in the process. While vivid descriptions of Italian food, art, and culture add color, the plot is hampered by clunky writing and awkward dialogue, and Claire’s spiritual reawakening feels forced. Readers in the market for a sweet, faith-filled travel adventure would be better served by Pepper Basham’s Some Like It Scot. (Aug.)

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Caught at their mid-life crossroads, best friends Grace and Claire are determined to bravely embrace every new experience on their Italian adventure, especially those that involve plenty of gelato. But what begins as a tourist getaway slowly transforms into a personal pilgrimage. Strolls through lush gardens and lingering meals shared with strangers gently unfold into quiet reflections on Grace’s struggles with her career and her boundaries, and Claire’s past wounds and broken faith. As the women immerse themselves in Italy’s slower pace of life and savor their hosts’ kindness, they discover deeper truths about generous love and simple faith. Jones Gunn (Tea with Elephants, 2024) returns with another beautifully crafted story of Christian faith and nurturing friendship. Set against the rich sights and flavors of Venice, Florence, and Bellagio, this is the second installment of the delightful Suitcase Sisters series. From Tuscan cooking classes to gondola rides on Venetian canals, readers will be swept into this tender story exploring the gift of hospitality, the truths revealed by travel, and the peace found in forgiveness.

Library Journal
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Friends for decades, Grace and Claire are almost 40 when they finally make their dream trip to Italy, leaving behind the stress of their daily lives in California. From foggy Venice canals to gold-plated churches to a private cooking class in a rustic Tuscany villa, the friends' trip does not always turn out as planned, but in every hiccup the ladies find a chance to stretch their wings and embrace new possibilities. Through Italy's many and varied art forms, the two women discover the age-old story of a God who wants pilgrims to let go of fear and find their way back home. At each stop, they also meet members of the global church and experience new levels of hospitality. VERDICT Featuring droolworthy food descriptions, the sequel to Tea with Elephants weaves small life lessons with eternal consequences. Readers will want to grab some gelato and sprawl out with Gunn's novel and books of a similar feel, including Melody Carlson's Looking for Leroy and Denise Hunter's The Bookshop by the Sea.