The Amalfi Curse
by Sarah Penner
When I scooped up a physical copy of The Amalfi Curse back in April, I was technically in Barnes & Noble looking for Cat’s People by Tanya Guerrero. But when in “Rome”… how do you not sample more than one flavor of gelato? I’m glad I have zero self-control because this one was a doozy.
Haven, a nautical archaeologist, arrives in Positano to investigate mysterious shipwrecks off the Amalfi Coast—but she’s secretly on a quest to recover a trove of priceless gemstones her late father spotted on his final dive.
Almost immediately, strange maelstroms and misfortunes begin to plague the town. As Haven searches for the sunken treasure, she unearths a centuries-old tale of sorcery and one woman’s desperate attempt to save her lover—and her village—by using magical powers to harness the ocean.
Set against the dazzling Amalfi Coast, this bewitching novel shimmers with mystery, romance, and the untamed pull of the sea.
Witchcraft, a sunken treasure hunt, and forbidden love on the high seas? Say no more. I loved this book. I literally could not put it down. It was everything I want in a summer read: mystery, romance, and a touch of magic.
Growing up, Holiday in the Sun (the direct-to-video Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen movie) was my Roman Empire. Honestly… it still might be. If you’ve never seen it, it’s about twin sisters who go on a surprise vacation to the Bahamas and get wrongly arrested for smuggling ancient artifacts. Megan Fox plays the villain and the fashion is just as iconic as it was in 2001.
I bring this up because The Amalfi Curse felt like the literary version of that movie: a perfect summer escape full of fun, suspense, and butterflies.
There were so many wetsuits in this book—and while I do think there are ways to make them look stylish à la MK&A, no one chooses a wetsuit unless they have to.
But one outfit stood out: Haven’s first date night look. Maybe it’s my soft spot for the romance of a long dress (as seen here, here, and here!), but the description had me swooning. an ankle-length, pale pink sundress with an open back—perfectly tasteful, perfectly flirtatious. It’s exactly what I’d want to wear out to dinner in Positano.
Naturally, she has to scrunch it up to her knees and hop on the back of her date’s Vespa. Because it wouldn’t be Italy without a Vespa moment.
Also, Vogue just declared lemon-colored nails the manicure for a dolce vita summer—so you already know what I’ll be wearing on vacation.
Staying on theme, I'm diving into Ali Hazelwood's Problematic Summer Romance—an enemies-to-lovers romance set in a Sicilian villa!
Ciao bella!