5 Fiction Books Set In Italy That Will Whisk You Away On A Mediterranean Journey

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Not only can a great book help you accomplish your reading goals, but it can also be the perfect escape. For both writers and readers alike, books have the power to transport us into unfamiliar worlds and make us feel as if we've been there forever. Books are the perfect opportunity to escape your everyday routine and become someone else in a different world. That's why the setting of a book is so impactful. So much so, that fans of the Harry Potter series and the Lord of the Rings series continue to visit the real-life locations that inspired them.

One of the most magical settings for a story to unfold is Italy. A country so rich in history, where people today continue to live among the ruins of ancient civilizations and have the luxury of enjoying espresso overlooking a historic piazza, Italy is the perfect place for a magical story. It doesn't matter if it takes place in the secret alleys of Florence or the sun-kissed shores of the Amalfi Coast; each brings its own captivating charm and unforgettable atmosphere.

So, whether you're getting ready for your next trip to Florence or just want to experience all of the Amalfi Coast's breathtaking views from the comfort of your bed, there are so many novels that have the power to whisk you away on a Mediterranean journey.

Rebecca Serle's "One Italian Summer" is a love letter to the Amalfi Coast. It's our writer's favorite for its setting alone, as one of her most memorable summers was spent in Positano, and it's clear the author felt the same. In an interview with Smartflyer, Serle said, "I always tell people that the book is a great itinerary! I wrote about the places I love there. I find that my best writing comes when I'm talking about places and meals and geography that I feel a deep connection to and love for."

Katy's mother, Carol, has always been the guiding light in her life. When Carol dies just before their getaway to Positano, which had been a lifelong dream for the two, Katy gains the courage to make the journey alone. Surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Amalfi Coast, she feels at peace for the first time since her loss until she comes face-to-face with her mother, only she's alive and thirty years younger. The more Katy spends time with Carol from the past, she sees the side of her who wasn't just her mother, but also a woman with her own dreams and untold stories. 

"The Sicilian Inheritance" is the perfect blend of historical fiction and mystery thriller. The book sits at the number one spot for best historical Italian fiction on Amazon, and what makes it more compelling is that the story is inspired by Jo Piazza's very own family lore. In a Goodreads Ask the Author session, Piazza said the book "is loosely based on the unsolved murder of my great-great grandmother Lorenza in Sicily more than a century ago." She also shared that her favorite part of being a writer is "getting to take a deep dive into a completely different world from the one that I live in." And, she's right because how else would we get the chance to travel back in time and solve a murder mystery in Sicily?

Sara Marsala's marriage and business came crashing down all at once, and to add to the weight of it all, her great-aunt Rosie passes away. But Rosie leaves Sara much more than grief, and it's a ticket to Sicily along with some land and a secret hinting that something about Sara's great-grandmother's death was far from natural. That alone is enough for Sara to embark on a journey across Italy, solving family mysteries, and uncovering secrets that could change everything she knew about her family.

If you're in the mood for a dark read set in northern Italy, this is the book for you. "Their Monstrous Hearts" was one of our picks for the best April 2025 releases to pick for your book club. It's a horror story that takes place in a villa in Milan, where nothing is as it seems. Dua Lipa described the book as "a gothic, darkly alluring tale that will leave readers spellbound." Spellbound is correct, as this book will have you questioning everything until the very last page and will surely leave you unsettled in the most chilling way.

A strange man appears at Riccardo's apartment, only to deliver news of his grandmother, Perihan's passing, and that she has left her villa in Milan and her sacred butterfly collection to him. Struggling as a writer, Riccardo believes a change of scenery will be inspiring and ease his financial situation. But will it? The current state of the villa shocks him, as it's nothing like the luxurious place he remembers, and the butterfly collection is seriously eerie. Everything about the villa is unsettling, and the people who linger around are even more so. One day, he stumbles upon his late grandmother's diary, which may have the answers to her mysterious death. And if not, maybe it'll inspire his next book, but will he even survive to write it?

While there are many beloved book-to-movie adaptations that blew up in everyone's faces, André Aciman's "Call Me By Your Name" is the complete opposite. Timothée Chalamet's heartfelt performance as Elio perfectly captured the tender coming-of-age love story. Set in the summer of the beautifully sun-drenched Italian town of Crema, Aciman tells the story of two young men, Elio and Oliver, and their unforgettable summer together.

At a Talk with GS (Goldman Sachs) session, Aciman explained that after he decided on the Italian setting, he initially imagined a romance between a boy and a girl. On the whim, he decided to change it to a love story between two men, a shift that left him "totally mesmerized by the possibilities, by the newness of the whole thing," while also admitting that it was a challenge for him as he had "no idea how to develop a character who was going to clearly desire another man." Despite his uncertainties, what emerged is perhaps one of the most beloved modern love stories of our time.

During a summer spent in Italy, Elio and Oliver are drawn to each other from the moment they meet. What starts as hesitation and curiosity of one another slowly turns into an intense and all-consuming romance that will stay with them for many summers to come. "Call Me By Your Name" captures the beauty and heartbreak of a once-in-a-lifetime connection so deep and profound it stays with you long after the story ends.

Author of "All the Light We Cannot See," which was one of our suggestions for modern classics for your next book club read, Anthony Doerr writes of his personal experience of living through four seasons in one of the oldest and most enchanting cities of the world in "Four Seasons in Rome." Doerr blends memoir, travel writing, and lyrical prose to reflect on his daily life in the eternal city, his journey of fatherhood, and the absolute beauty and history of Rome.

Mostly a fiction writer, Doerr explained to Book TV that after winning the Rome Prize fellowship after the birth of his twin sons, he was inspired to capture the experience in a memoir. In the short ten months he was there, he navigated parenthood, immersed himself in ancient history, and witnessed Pope John Paul II's funeral — all of which would become the foundation for "Four Seasons in Rome."

Reviewers raved about how well Doerr described pieces and parts of the city, with one reviewer saying, "The descriptions of the city are timeless and I felt like you could get a glimpse inside of how he sees the world because as I was reading the book, it seemed like it was a bunch of observations and journal entries that gripped my attention and kept me wanting to read it more and never put it down!" Another reviewer wrote, "Doerr's writing is poetry. I visited Rome once and now want to visit it again to see it in a new light, inspired by this wonderful book.

With Italy being one of our writer's top vacation destinations, she set the highest standards when putting this list together. She wanted the readers to be able to feel as if they were walking on cobblestone streets, enjoying the most delicious cacio e pepe in a tucked-away trattoria, and taking in the rarest views the Amalfi Coast has to offer. So, we took a different approach and decided not to focus so heavily on the ratings of the books for this list. Instead, we based our choices on how vividly the authors brought their Italian settings to life. 

If we hadn't read the book already, we went searching for excerpts to get a good idea of how well the unique atmosphere of the various Italian locations came off in writing. We wanted richly detailed prose that made the reader feel as if they were there with the characters. From Milan's bustling streets to the most tranquil coastal towns, whether you've been or have yet to visit, the stories we've chosen will surely take you on a journey through the beautifully vibrant country. 

P.S. If you do decide to read "Call Me By Your Name," our writer has one request: Read it with the movie soundtrack on repeat.