"a comical, often downright hilarious account" Reader's Favorite Review ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
"Smulders' storytelling artistry is wildly entertaining" Blogcritics/Reader Views ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
"There is more of the flavor of Italy in this book than in ... Frances Mayes’ ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’" Amazon review by Grady Harp HALL OF FAME TOP 100 REVIEWER
"now I can add Stef Smulders to the list of my favorite ex-pat authors" N.N. Light
In 2008 Stef Smulders, his partner Nico and their dog Saar emigrated to Italy to start a new life and set up their B&B Villa I Due Padroni. They sold their home, left their friends and family behind and took a leap into the unknown. Now Stef shares his experiences in a collection of witty short stories. The book treats the trials and tribulations of an emigration: what it was like to buy and renovate a house, to import a car, to gain residency, and much more.
The reader is introduced to a full range of Italian characters, from the trustworthy to the rogue, from the gentle to the shameless, flesh and blood Italians. Some are stereotype, others unexpectedly original. Yet they never fail to amuse and entertain.
Goodreads 4.43 rating (21 ratings)
Readers’ reviews:
“I was hooked after the first couple of lines and couldn’t put the book down until the end.”
“What a fantastic read!” “Hilarious!" "Addicting!" "Recommended!"
