What Loveandpizza.it is Really About
(Day 2 of 30 – story crumbs from the world of Loveandpizza.it š)
New to the Loveandpizza.it world?Ā Start here:
https://danielapescuma.com/category/loveandpizza-it/
Rightā¦ yesterday I told you that Loveandpizza.it is coming back. Today, the obvious question: what’s it actually about?
(Without spoiling a single thing, obviously. Cross my heart, remember?)
Here’s the short version. A Brazilian woman called Carolina moves to Napoli for a job. Just for a year, she tells herself; a neat little full stop on a chapter that hasn’t gone remotely to plan. Because Carolina has recently had her heart rather thoroughly broken, and she has decided, with enormous conviction, that she is done with love. Finished. No, thank you. Pass the chocolate. (You will get to know that, for Carolina, chocolate is āunpassableā, so you can draw your own conclusions on the level of her heartbreak here)
You can probably guess how well that goes. š
Because Napoli has other ideas. So does a job that comes with far more complications than “teach English, see Italy, go home” – starting with the people it puts in her path. So do a couple of extremely inconvenient men. This is a city that refuses, point blank, to let anyone stay closed-off and sensible for long – and Carolina doesn’t stand a chance.
So yes, it’s a love story. There’s pizza (so much pizza). There’s sunshine and chaos and the kind of laughter that ambushes you mid-sentence. But underneath all of that, Loveandpizza.it is really about the bigger, quieter things: belonging somewhere new. Starting over when you hadn’t planned to. The particular terror – and the thrill – of letting yourself want something again, after you’d promised yourself you absolutely wouldn’t.
Or, as it says on the gorgeous new cover: because love, like pizza, comes with too many tempting optionsā¦
That’s the truest line of the lot, if you ask me. We like to think we’ve got our lives neatly ordered: the menu chosen, the decision made, the heart firmly closed for business. And then life slides something in front of us that we did not order, and there we are, completely undone, wondering how on earth we got here.
That’s Carolina. And, if we’re honest, that’s most of us at one time or another. (Right? š«£)
Tomorrow, Napoli gets a day all to itself, because a city this loud deserves top billing. Napoli was never just a backdrop, not in this book and not in my life. Napoli is practically a character in its own right (and a shameless stealer of hearts!) – from the first page to the last.
So tell me in the comments: have you ever gone somewhere “just for a while,” and found it changed you completely? I’d love to hear – and I read and reply to every single one. š¤
Dani. x
P.S. Loveandpizza.it is coming back in English, Italian and Portuguese. Save your slice and you’ll be first to know the moment your edition’s ready. š
My own story has parallels to Carolina’s. Only that I moved abroad in hopes to make it my new forever home.
That’s amazing, Tamara! I’ve been following your blog about Prague. Is that where you are living now? š
Daniela, no, I live in Switzerland. We just visited Prague for a few days this spring.
I have an “about me” page if you’re interested: https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.com/p/about.html
Wow! Your posts about Prague are amazing! I thought you’d lived there for a while! š
How exciting, can’t wait for the next chapter! As for moving “just for a while” that was Rich and I back in 1994 when we moved to South Carolina to help my dad care for my mom with her progressive Alzheimer’s. The plan was to be there for both of them and return home to upstate New York when we got them settled. Well fast forward over 30 years and South Carolina is still home. I’m happy we were able to be here for my parents and Rich and I had a thriving interior decorating business. It still makes me laugh when I can here Rich saying, “I’ve got my bags back to move back home”.
Oh, I’m sorry to hear about your mum, Martha. Alzheimer’s is so sad.. š Now, still being in South Carolina after 30 years, I can totally relate to that! We never know when a place will “steal our heart”, right? For whatever reason. I moved to Wales, UK, 19 years ago. Napoli was supposed to be just “one year” right after we got married. We came back to Wales after the one year, but if my husband asks me right now: “let’s go back?”, I’d have my suitcases – and my dog – by the door in 10 minutes! š
Your book sounds exciting! I moved to NYC back in 2007 for a job. The move changed me in ways I hadn’t anticipated. It helped me stop being a people-pleaser and take a stand in my marriage to my now ex-husband. A lot of other growth, opportunities, and experiences unfolded. Including getting remarried.
That’s lovely to read that, Jennifer, thank you! š¤ I think that getting out of our comfort zone in general can lead to amazing things in our life! Moving cities, countries, even a change of jobs! I love how your life has changed! Are you still living in NYC?
It sounds like Carolina and I already have one thing in common – chocolate.
I donāt think Iāve been to any place that has had that life altering effect on me, however, many places Iāve travelled have certainly left a permanent mark on my soul – one way or the other.
Haha You and Carolina are chocolate buddies! Well, if you ever visit Napoli, there this place called “Cioccolato Foresta”. It’s a Gay-Odin chocolate shop/cafĆ© in the Chiaia area. It has the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had in my life! š
Sounds like a great book! And I’m looking forward to learning about Napoli. I did have a place change my life, and it’s true that when I first moved there, I didn’t know I’d end up staying. I moved to Virginia Beach to get my master’s degree in counseling and then got a job at the same place I did my internship. Well, one job led to another and I end up living there for 16 years! Btw, I took you up on your ChatGPT character card challenge and made it my post for today, with a link to your post.
Thank you, Jeanine! I’ve just looked Virginia Beach up on Google Maps and it looks like a lush place ! (well, I’m super biased here, because anywhere near a beach for me is amazing!š ) I read your post about Rowan (and left a comment). So fun! I love my dear friend Chester.
Again, congratulations on your book. I can sense that you’re a natural storyteller, and your book will be a good read. BTW, if you need any kind of help with your book like a cover and/or a short video ad, just let me know. I maybe able to offer you my service. š
Thank you so much, Danwil! That’s lovely to hear/read. š