Every summer Maria and her husband, Bob, went to their little house in the Italian village of Supino, and every year it was a new adventure. Only in Supino would you find a pizzeria in a sheep pasture, a seafood restaurant hidden in the woods, or an electrical cord draped from one balcony to the next so neighbours could share power. In Supino, they celebrate the first figs of the season; host watermelon, azalea, and artichoke festivals; and take pleasure in the magical view of the stars in the summer sky.

Written with humour and heart, Summers in Supino is Maria Coletta McLean’s memoir of these summers with Bob, as she becomes accustomed to the town her father grew up in and the peculiarities of the people who live there. Cousin Guido argues with their neighbour over who can plant a grapevine and therefore reap the harvest. Villagers debate whether one neighbour can trade the installation of some terra cotta tiles and the use of a pizza oven (he has yet to build) for the land beneath Bob and Maria’s patio. And as Maria comes to understand her connection to this wonderful place, Bob proposes they open a coffee bar on the piazza.

Full of wonderfully vivid stories of Italy, Summers in Supino also explores loss, grief, and the restorative power of community.

Maria McLean's profile page

Maria Coletta McLean is the author of the bestselling memoir My Father Came From Italy and the editor of Mamma Mia! Good Italian Girls Talk Back. In 2002, she was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for her contribution to the Canadian literary landscape. Maria is also a member of the Toronto Supino Social Club and maintains a home in Supino, where the patio is still under construction. Otherwise, she lives in Toronto, Ontario, and can be found online at MariaColetta.com.

“Summers in Supino is a memoir filled with humor, love, and recovery…If you want an emotional, descriptive read, Summers in Supino is an excellent choice.” — Roundtable Reviews

“A warm, loving, bittersweet story of a Canadian couple returning to an Italian home they’ve had for years, and the growing affection they felt for the village and its people: an affection that was obviously reciprocated.” — Tutu’s Two Cents

“The kind of narrative that you can’t help but love. When you relax into the first chapter of this book you automatically know that you don’t want to do anything else for the duration. A warm cup of tea, a spot near the fireplace and this book made for a perfect evening of reading enjoyment.” — Readful Things