Set in the glittering, vibrant New York City of 1950, Lucia, Lucia is the enthralling story of a passionate, determined young woman whose decision to follow her heart changes her life forever. Lucia Sartori is the beautiful twenty-five-year-old daughter of a prosperous Italian grocer in Greenwich Village. The postwar boom is ripe with opportunities for talented girls with ambition, and Lucia becomes an apprentice to an up-and-coming designer at chic B. Altman’s department store on Fifth Avenue. Engaged to her childhood sweetheart, the steadfast Dante DeMartino, Lucia is torn when she meets a handsome stranger who promises a life of uptown luxury that career girls like her only read about in the society pages. Forced to choose between duty to her family and her own dreams, Lucia finds herself in the midst of a sizzling scandal in which secrets are revealed, her beloved career is jeopardized, and the Sartoris’ honor is tested. Lucia is surrounded by richly drawn New York characters, including her best friend, the quick-witted fashion protégé Ruth Kaspian; their boss, Delmarr, B. Altman’s head designer and glamorous man-about-town; her devoted brothers, Roberto, Orlando, Angelo, and Exodus, self-appointed protectors of the jewel of the family; and her doting father, Antonio. Filled with the warmth and humor that have earned Adriana Trigiani hundreds of thousands of devoted readers with her Big Stone Gap trilogy, Lucia, Lucia also bursts with a New York sensibility that shows the depth and range of this beloved author. As richly detailed as the couture garments Lucia sews, as emotional as the bonds in her big Italian family, it is the story of one woman who believes that in a world brimming with so much promise, she can—and should be able to—have it all.
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"I love pretty much anything Italian, so I especially loved this story about Lucia set in an ethnic neighborhood in 1950's NYC. Lucia was ahead of her time and I enjoyed reading about the inner-workings of her family and community during that period. It made me wish I could visit her NYC!"
— Amy (4 out of 5 stars)
" A lighter read. I really like the character Lucia..an Italian American girl growing up in New York. "
— Carly, 2/13/2014" Adriana Trigiani is a wonderful storyteller! I throughly enjoyed this story of a 1950's "career girl" working at B. Altman's and living with her traditional Italian family in the Village. "
— Dawn, 2/7/2014" Good, easy read - I liked it better than any of her other books. Especially fun if you read it and then check out all the places she talks about in the Village - especially the church. "
— Jillian, 2/5/2014" I really didn't expect to like this book, but I LOVED it. "
— Aimee, 1/29/2014" I read this in less than 24 hours, so I really enjoyed it. Lovely little insight into life in Greenwich Village in the 1950s. "
— Kazzles, 1/23/2014" Just finished reading this. It was good, easy to read and reminded me of being married to my first husband and his big Italian Family! LOL. "
— Karen, 1/20/2014" I thought this book started out great, slowed down in the middle, then became enjoyable again at the end. I liked "Queen of the Big Top" better, but this was a nice, feel-good read. "
— Kitty, 1/18/2014" This book read like an old 1950's movie. You could just imagine the dresses, "career girls", and the big department stores. I pictured Carrie Grant as John Talbot. It was a fun read about a beautiful Italian girl trying to find love and success. "
— Bobbi, 12/14/2013" I loved this book. It brought back so many fond childhood memories of growing up in a close-knit Italian family. "
— Sherry, 12/6/2013" This book was a comfortable, easy read. It kept me engaged and interested. Nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon. "
— Camille, 12/1/2013" I like Trigiani's writing style a lot. This one is one of my favorites so far-I seem to especially like the books that are set in New York. :) "
— Ellen, 11/28/2013" This is a great story and a quick read. "
— Charmaine, 11/24/2013" I enjoyed this book because it made me think about what life would be like in the 1950's. Women were expected to want to spend their time at home with their family rather than having a career. I liked how this book featured a character who wanted a different life than expected. "
— Debra, 11/21/2013" A great beach read! Vivid characters and very relatable for anyone who comes from an Italian family! "
— Maren, 11/20/2013" Book club needed a easy read and this fit the bill. Decent story that made me very anxious to visit NY and head straight to Greenich Village. "
— Ana, 7/3/2013" Such a great read. My first book by this author and I am so eager to read her other books. "
— Tasha, 6/2/2013" I was a huge fan of the Valentine books but I wasn't really that impressed with this story. The message this story gave me was that headstrong girls who try to break through the norm end up with broken hearts and loads of bad luck - not a very inspiring or empowering tale for a woman. "
— Shandy, 4/23/2013" Vintage woman story! At first, I thought that the novel was about romance, but it's not. It's all about a vintage woman's life struggles, trying to compete with the changes brought by modernization, showing grace and charisma through all her heartbreaks and tears. "
— Skate, 4/12/2013" Another great Trigiani book. Love the characters. An old fashion love story (with a twist)! Nice read! "
— Mary, 4/5/2013" A cute novel. Nothing more... "
— Lorraine, 2/4/2013" oh i really loved this! "
— Kelly, 12/8/2012" I enjoyed this story of an Italian family in New York in the 1950s, and the complex relationships between family members. "
— Karen, 11/11/2012" I liked this story okay, but I didn't love it. I did love the trip back in time to New York City's Little Italy and the world of women's fashions in the early 50's--just wish there was a little more to it. "
— Alice, 6/23/2012" A nostalgic trip back to the "good old days" and the ethics of the 50's. A heart-wrenching story. I've become a fan of Adriana Trigiani's books. "
— Anita, 4/6/2012" love. love. love this novel. "
— Mary, 2/16/2012" I loved this book. I loved the closeness of the family and all of the different characters. "
— Kathy, 6/23/2011" Sometimes you just need a sweet little book and this book fit the bill! I loved it! It makes me want to have a large Italian family in New York in the 1950s! "
— Katie, 6/21/2011" I enjoyed it and am loving Trigiani's books. Set in the 1950's, sure a different time. "
— Pat, 6/8/2011" I enjoyed this book. It is a fascinating and fun read. It is always interesting to see how the role of women has changed over time. I liked this character's ability to be herself and go against the grain of society. "
— Becky, 6/1/2011" A good read and with subject that would interest me. Good beach book. "
— Marilyn, 5/23/2011" Loved, loved, loved this book! I can not wait to read more by this author. A fun, quick read with a great main character and story line. "
— Lori, 5/17/2011" Such a lovely story! Probably my favorite Trigiani book....makes me wish I had a bigger family and all the surprises those relationships bring! "
— Karen, 5/11/2011" I'm a big fan of this author. Love her take on the big Italian family, life in New York and in Italy. Could escape books! "
— Michelle, 5/8/2011" I really, really liked this book. My mother in law grew up in an Italian family in St. Louis about this same time and I feel it gave me an idea of what her life was probably like. <br/> "
— Reba, 5/5/2011" I LOVED this book. I have read a couple of other books by Trigiani before, which I really enjoyed, but this was something else. I just loved the story and the writing. If you're in my book club, don't steal this because I may pick it for my next book. "
— Megan, 5/3/2011" An easy read although not very well-written. Reads more like a novel for junior high schoolers. Despite the authors juvenile writing style, I'm thoroughly enjoying the main characters uncanny similarity to my grandmother and the familiar lives of Italian Americans in New York. "
— Joanne, 5/2/2011Adriana Trigiani is an award-winning playwright, television writer, and documentary filmmaker. The author of the bestselling Big Stone Gap series, she also wrote the bestselling memoir Don’t Sing at the Table and the young-adult novels Viola in Reel Life and Viola in the Spotlight. Her books have been published in thirty-six countries around the world. She wrote and directed the film version of her novel Big Stone Gap.