Looking for the best novels set in Tuscany that are not ‘Under the Tuscan Sun,’ ‘A Room with a View,’ or ‘The Enchantress of Florence’? I hear you and I’m here for you.
It’s been a while since my Italian road trip to Tuscany, but it is still one of my most memorable adventures.
There are so many amazing things to do and see in Tuscany, and every corner is extremely beautiful, from the historical cities and villages to the winding roads passing alongside vineyards, olive groves, and green hills – what more do you need in life?
It’s also the location of some of the best movies set in Italy, but if you want to be transported to this beautiful region just by using your imagination, here are 15 must-read fiction books.
*I try to keep the information on this blog as updated as possible, but I still recommend consulting the latest prices, opening hours, and other details on the official website of each site, hotel, and tour, as well as checking the updated public transport routes and timetables. I share my personal experience and cannot guarantee yours.
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Historical Fiction Books Set in Tuscany
The Tuscan Secret
When Anna’s Italian-born mother passes away, she leaves her £50,000 and a bunch of old letters written in Italian.
Intrigued by these letters, she sets off to Tuscany to discover her roots, even though she wasn’t very close to her mom.
Little does she know how much she’s going to learn about her mother’s past, her part in the Italian Resistance during WWII, and Tuscany in wartime. Read reviews and get ‘The Tuscan Secret’ on Amazon.
An Italian Affair
In the late 1930s, while Alessandra is mourning the loss of her husband, she inherits an ancestral home in Tuscany. She moves there with her daughter Diana, while her son Robert stays in school in England.
As WWII starts, Alessandra’s villa becomes a refuge for the persecuted, and Robert joins the Royal Air Force. In this novel, we follow Alessandra’s family through this challenging time in history as it fights to survive the war.
Read reviews and get ‘An Italian Affair’ on Amazon.
The Tuscan Child
In 1944, pilot Hugo Langley was forced to parachute from his burning plane over Tuscany and was helped by a local young woman.
Fast forward to 1973, Hugo passes away in England, and when his estranged daughter Joanna sorts through his items, she comes across a letter addressed to a woman named Sofia from San Salvatore, Tuscany.
Intrigued, she travels to Italy to try and piece together her father’s past. Read reviews and get ‘The Tuscan Child’ on Amazon.
The Tuscan Girl
After losing her boyfriend in an accident, heartbroken Alba returns to her parents’ home in Tuscany, where she forms a lovely friendship with a 90-year-old man named Massimo.
As he tells her about the love of his life Lucia and their experiences during WWII, they help each other heal. Read reviews and get ‘The Tuscan Girl’ on Amazon.
Chick Lits and Romantic Novels Set in Tuscany
LOVE & GELATO
Mostly set in Florence, this novel follows teenager Lina, who after losing her mother, moves to Tuscany to fulfill her dying wish – meeting her father for the first time.
When she receives her mother’s old journal from when she was studying in Florence, Lina gets to experience the city through her mom’s eyes, learn about her past, and understand why she never knew her father.
Read reviews and get ‘Love & Gelato’ on Amazon.
You, Me, and Italy
After leaving her cheating husband, Maisie wins a trip to Tuscany.
Taking her two best friends with her to the charming Villa Marisa, this could be the perfect place to mend her broken heart and rediscover herself (and, of course, indulge in delicious food and meet a gorgeous Italian man).
Read reviews and get ‘You, Me, and Italy’ on Amazon.
All the Way to Heaven
After finding out her boyfriend is married with kids, the heartbroken Ani decides to go on an early graduation trip to Italy.
A few mishaps lead her to meet not one but two men, spend some time at a stunning Tuscan villa, learn about herself, and grow. Read reviews and get ‘All the Way to Heaven’ on Amazon.
Wedding Bells at Villa Limoncello
After having to deal with a personal tragedy and losing her job, interior designer Izzie can’t refuse to plan a wedding in a Tuscan villa.
While visiting this region forces her to face her demons and rediscover herself, you also get to enjoy the descriptions of the beautiful Italian countryside, mouthwatering food, and a gorgeous local chef named Luca.
Read reviews and get ‘Wedding Bells at Villa Limoncello’ on Amazon (or get the entire series about Villa Limoncello).
The Temptation of Gracie
Gracie is a woman in her sixties living an ordinary life in Devon. When she decides to go on a week-long cookery course in a Tuscan castle, her worried estranged daughter and granddaughter tag along.
In Tuscany, Gracie starts revealing secrets she has been keeping for years, and the magic of Tuscany seems to bring the three women closer. Read reviews and get ‘The Temptation of Gracie’ on Amazon.
Last of the Summer Vines
Sarah is a workaholic, but when her estranged father passes away in Tuscany, she has to travel to Italy to inherit his wine farm.
But then she realizes she hasn’t inherited the entire place, and the vineyard now belongs to her gorgeous childhood friend Tomasso, who doesn’t want to sell it.
As her time in Tuscany starts to work its magic on her, will she go back to her life in London, or will she re-fall in love and move her life to Italy? Read reviews and get ‘Last of the Summer Vines’ on Amazon.
Dreaming of Tuscany
When Bee, a historical consultant, and Mimi, a famous movie star, are injured in an accident on a film set, they are offered to recover in a remote Tuscan villa.
As Bee falls in love with the place, we follow her as she also learns to cope with her injuries, forms a friendship with Mimi, and, of course, meets a handsome local man.
Read reviews and get ‘Dreaming of Tuscany’ on Amazon.
Under a Siena Sun
After being involved in a dangerous incident in a war-torn country as a doctor in Doctors Without Borders, Lucy decides to take a break and visit Siena to attend a friend’s wedding.
When she gets a new job at a local private clinic, she feels a bit uncomfortable treating her wealthy patients, until she meets tennis player David.
Should she go back to her meaningful job at Doctors Without Borders, or should she stay in Tuscany?
Read reviews and get ‘Under a Siena Sun’ on Amazon (or get the entire series called ‘Escape to Tuscany’).
Dreaming of Florence
English teacher Debbie has always dreamed of visiting Florence. When her job in Cambridge is at risk, and after literally bumping into a handsome doctor who happens to be from Florence, she decides to follow her heart and move to Italy.
As she finds a job and meets a lot of new people, we follow her new adventure in the city of Florence. Read reviews and get ‘Dreaming of Florence’ on Amazon.
Thrillers and Mystery Books About Tuscany
Murder in Chianti
After his wife passes away, Detective Nico Doyle moves from New York to Gravigna, her childhood village in Tuscany.
When a dead body is found near his house, he is drawn into the investigation of local detective Salvatore Perillo, and thus he begins to unravel the secrets of the village.
Read reviews and get ‘Murder in Chianti’ on Amazon (or get the entire series called ‘The Tuscan Mysteries’).
Death at the Duomo
When a fatal explosion outside the Duomo of Florence kills and injures both locals and tourists during a festival, investigator Caterina Falcone is paired with American agent Max Turner to find out what happened and arrest the killer.
This is the first book in the Caterina Falcone series which also includes ‘Secret of La Specola‘ and ‘Revenge by the Arno.’ Read reviews and get ‘Death at the Duomo’ on Amazon.
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Can’t travel and want to transport yourself to beautiful places in Europe? Check out more romantic books set in Italy or read these novels set in Spain, Greece, or France!
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