Publication Date: April 7, 2026
A sun-soaked trip to the Amalfi Coast promises a fresh start—and reveals secrets never imagined in New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak’s tender new novel.
In the wake of her debut novel’s breakout success—and a very painful public divorce—Charlotte Williams-Jackson has something to prove. With her second novel overdue, she’s scrambling to hold it together. But her focus is rocked when she discovers that her childhood wasn’t as it seemed—and she has a tween half-sister who’s been orphaned in Italy.
Alongside her best friend, Sloane, and Sloane’s charming brother, Julian, Charlotte ventures to the Amalfi Coast to meet her sister. She would never turn her back on family, especially since this girl doesn’t have anyone else, but between her looming deadline and her entire identity being flipped upside down, it’s a lot. Determined to rebuild her life, Charlotte must confront the relationships she’s held dear—and the loss of those she thought she had but didn’t—forcing her to question everything she understood about herself and the bonds that shape a family.
More from Brenda Novak:
- The Summer that Changed Everything
- The Banned Books Club
- Tourist Season
- The Bookstore on the Beach
- The Messy Life of Jane Tanner
Charlotte Williams-Jackson never planned for her marriage to an NBA star to end abruptly in less than four years.
She also didn’t plan for a massive writer’s block, putting her second romance novel in jeopardy. Author Brenda Novak delivers another twist that sends Charlotte toward the Amalfi Coast to meet an unexpected relative.
Meet Me in Italy combines humor and romance in a touching story of new beginnings. With two friends in tow, Charlotte pushes outside of her comfort zone to meet her tween half-sister.
While the trip offers a fresh start, siblings Sloane and Julian are both dealing with their own personal struggles. It’s an emotion-packed adventure when love pops up unexpectedly.
Meet Me in Italy provides a picturesque setting for the main characters to work through their challenges.
New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak has written over 80 novels. An eight-time Rita nominee, she’s won The National Reader’s Choice, The Bookseller’s Best and other awards. She runs Brenda Novak for the Cure, a charity that has raised more than $2.5 million for diabetes research (her youngest son has this disease). She considers herself lucky to be a mother of five and married to the love of her life. www.brendanovak.com
