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    Very Valentine
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    Very Valentine
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    Very Valentine
    Ebook450 pages7 hours

    Very Valentine

    By Adriana Trigiani

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    From the bestselling author of The Shoemaker's Wife, a Richard and Judy Book Club pick

    One unforgettable woman. One heart and dream as big as New York City.

    Makers of custom wedding shoes since 1903, the Angelini Shoe Company is one of the last family businesses in Greenwich Village. Now on the brink of financial ruin, thirty-three year old Valentine Roncalli, the talented apprentice, and her grandmother Teodora, the master artisan, are trying to bring the family’s old-world craftsmanship into the twenty-first century.

    Juggling a romantic relationship with dashing chef Roman Falconi, her duty to her family and a design competition for a prestigious department store, Valentine accompanies her grandmother to Italy in the hope of finding inspiration. Sweeping from the streets of Manhattan to picturesque Tuscany and the Isle of Capri, she discovers her artistic voice and so much more, turning her life around in ways she never expected.

    ‘Charming, charismatic and addictive… an absolute treat’ Company

    ‘A funny, heart-warming tale of a woman looking for love, family harmony and the perfect shoe’ Heat

    ‘Load up on cappuccino and biscotti before getting lost in the super froth of Adriana Trigiani's romance-soaked novel, Very Valentine’ Marie Claire

    ‘This hymn to Italian New York is a treat’ Elle

    ‘Sex and the City meets Moonstruck... sly, sensual and dripping in style’ People

    ‘Like tucking into a plate of homemade manicotti: irresistible and delicious’ BookPage
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster UK
    Release dateMay 5, 2009
    ISBN9781847377357
    Unavailable
    Very Valentine
    Author

    Adriana Trigiani

    Beloved by millions of readers around the world for her ""dazzling"" novels (USA Today), Adriana Trigiani is “a master of palpable and visual detail” (Washington Post) and “a comedy writer with a heart of gold” (New York Times). She is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty books of fiction and nonfiction, including her latest, The Good Left Undone- an instant New York Times best seller, Book of the Month pick and People’s Book of the Week. Her work is published in 38 languages around the world. An award-winning playwright, television writer/producer and filmmaker, Adriana’s screen credits include writer/director of the major motion picture of her debut novel, Big Stone Gap, the adaptation of her novel Very Valentine and director of Then Came You. Adriana grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia where she co-founded The Origin Project, an in-school writing program serving over 1,700 students in Appalachia. She is at work on her next novel for Dutton at Penguin Random House.  Follow Adriana on Facebook and Instagram @AdrianaTrigiani and on TikTok @AdrianaTrigianiAuthor or visit her website: AdrianaTrigiani.com.  Join Adriana’s Facebook LIVE show, Adriana Ink, in conversation with the world’s greatest authors- Tuesdays at 3 PM EST! For more from Adriana’s interviews, you can subscribe to her Meta “Bulletin” column, Adriana Spills the Ink: adrianatrigiani.bulletin.com/subscribe.

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    Reviews for Very Valentine

    4/5

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    • 2/5
      This first in a trilogy introduces Valentine and her Italian family. Valentine works and lives with her grandmother who owns an Italian shoe shop in New York named Angelini Shoe Company. Financial burdens plague the shop and Valentine strives to save her legacy.Oh my. This was a huge disappointment for me. I have thoroughly loved Adriana Trigiani's work in the past and was so looking forward to this trilogy. Unfortunately, my lack of enthusiasm for the book started from the beginning. For me, it was bland, dull and lifeless. Either there wasn't enough conflict or the characters were just boring or maybe even this reader just wasn't in the right mood for it - I don't know, but I highly doubt I'll venture into the doldrums of the second. (2.25/5)Originally posted on: "Thoughts of Joy..."
    • 4/5
      Although I might have put this in the “chick lit” category, I was pleasantly surprised that it became a good book for book club discussion.
      Multi-generational women and how they dealt with life, work and family made for great topics because our group could relate to these issues.
      Valentine’s dilemma is how to continue tradition while trying to thrive in the contemporary business world, while trying to have a personal life.
      This was a perfect fit in terms of the stress-free reading.
    • 4/5
      This is a good book to listen to because you get the New York-Italian-American accent, as well as Italian-Italian. I noticed that some reviewers said the book had too much detail, but hearing those details read made the descriptions vivid.

      I'm looking forward to the second book in the series, Brava, Valentine. I hope to get that as an audio book, too.
    • 4/5
      The Angelini Shoe Company, one of the last family-owned businesses in Greenwich Village, has been making exquiisite wedding shoes since 1903 but now teeters on the brink of financial collapse. To save their business from ruin, thirty-three year old Valentine Roncalli-apprentice to and grandaughter of master artisan Teodora Angelini-must bring her family's old world craftsmanship into the twenty-first century.
    • 4/5
      Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani weaves together themes of family, romance, food, and shoes. Valentine Roncalli is in her mid-30s, lives with her Grandmother, and makes shoes for a living. Within her family, she has the identity of being the funny one who uses humor to deal with the myriad of things life throws at her. Although Valentine has the role as the family comedian, don't go into this book expecting a hilarious romp. Rather, expect to see plenty of family interactions as well as a dash of romance.The premise of the novel is that the family shoe company is failing. People no longer care to spend extra money on custom-made shoes. Valentine, company apprentice/partner, must find a way to turn the company around before her lame-o brother can sell off the property which is worth some big money. Along the way, Valentine eats great food, experiences love, heart ache, and must make some excruciating choices with her priorities.I actually really enjoyed Trigiani's writing style. I think she does interactions with family members well. I will admit to seeing reviews on goodreads complain about the amount of detail she uses, but to me, I found that enhanced the story. For example, she would describe what this character, Roman -- a chef who is Valentine's love interest-- has cooked and I would feel myself salivate. I also feel that I learned a bit about shoe-making, without those details, I would have been in the dark as to how much work really does go into a custom shoe.As for Valentine's family, they are stereotypical Italians. They are loud, dramatic, and eat excellent food. They also tend to be fiercely loyal and quite close to each other. It was awesome getting a glimpse of them at events like weddings, and family dinners. To me, it was easy to picture how much they loved each other. It's nice seeing a supportive family in fiction - instead of one rife with problems.The romance added a nice dimension, but I felt it to be a bit disappointing. I did really like Roman at first, but then some of his actions led me to wonder what exactly Valentine was thinking by dating him. I mean, she could do better. I guess with Roman, I didn't feel that second-hand sizzle. No worries though, because Trigiani did wrap it up very nicely.
    • 5/5
      This was the first book by Adriana Trigiani I've read, and will definitely not be the last! What a delightful, character-driven, fun book! The Angelini family, who for many years have created unique, one of a kind wedding shoes since 1903, are on the brink of financial ruin. Valentine, 33 year-old daughter and single woman, is determined that the business will succeed. Her Grandmother Teodora who has been the backbone of the business for years, is ready to turn the reins over to Valentine. The story of the Angelini family, Valentine's romance with the handsome restaurant owner, Roman Falconi, and all the idiosyncrasies of this quirky family, intrigued me from the beginning. I loved the mother, "Mike", obsessed with staying young-looking at age 61. The author brilliantly portrays each character in a way that kept me turning pages quickly. A trip to Italy so that Valentine can learn new techniques and buy one-of-a-kind materials is a pivotal point in the story, revealing a family secret and where Valentine learns much about herself, her grandmother, and a turn of events which she least expected! I can't wait for the next installment in this series. HIghly recommended.
    • 2/5
      After splitting with her boyfriend, Valentine Roncalli leaves her teaching job and goes to work for her Gram at the Angelini Shoe Company, makers of custom made wedding shoes, opened in the 1950′s by her grandfather. Valentine meets and falls in love with italian chef Roman Falconi but the relationship doesn’t run smoothly.The shoe shop is near financial ruin, which Gram is in denial about but can Valentine save the business or will brother Alfred have his way and sell the place. At eighty years old will Gram ever retire?The plot in this book was very weak, while the art of shoemaking is close to the author’s heart, I don’t think it was enough to make a story from. The characters were bland, Valentine being a typical 30 something looking for love. I didn’t warm to her at all.The book is described as hilarious and romantic but it didn’t make me smile although the romance was there. The descriptive passages were far too long, if you took half of them away the book would have been so much better, included in the passages were three quarters of a page devoted to tomatoes growing from seed to fruit, too much describing for me.On the plus side, as the book was italian/american, plenty of italian food was mentioned and the recipes to the food mentioned were included at the back of the book which I thought was a nice touch.There’s a sequel to this book called Encore Valentine, it’s not one I’ll be reading I’m afraid.
    • 4/5
      The Angelini family has been making wedding shoes since 1903 but is in financial trouble now. Valentine is the granddaughter and is in the business with her grandmother. Now her brother wants to sell the bulding and property. Valentine and her grandmother make the yearly trip to Europe to buy leather and supplies and Valentine discovers a secret about her grandmother. They have an opportunity to enter a contest to win a contract with a large store which could save their business. The info about making shoes was v ery interesting. I enjoyed this book. It was a qick read.
    • 5/5
      Adriana Trigiani latest book did not disappoint. I loved the theme throughout the story showing the power struggle of women today and through the years of trying to figure out who they should be, find balance, and how to be happy in the role of: mother, career women, and wife/girlfriend, at different stages throughout their lives. Valentine was a very likeable character who was strong but had the same doubts and weaknesses we all face at times in our lives. I loved the descriptions of the clothes and the shoes in the book (although I have a feeling that others may find this tedious) as they tell us who Valentine is as an artist: someone who notices the details of clothing, fashion, and most importantly shoes. Most of all I liked the ending, which I won’t give away here, but showed the strength of the bond of women and self above all else.
    • 3/5
      Valentine is a fourth generation cobbler. Unfortunately the specialty shoe business her great grandfather started is suffering under the weight of discount competition and product branding by the big names in the industry. But Valentine has no intention of giving up. Her personal determination, amazing grandmother, dysfunctional family and new love interest can only lead to good things happening … if only they would take her seriously. A light, amusing read and I will definitely be picking up the next in the series to find out where life takes this lovable cast of characters.
    • 5/5
      To quote one of the epithets on the back cover of the book - "heartwarming"! Very heartwarming, wonderful... I didn't want it to end.
    • 4/5
      Valentine Roncalli is one of three sisters and a brother in her large, Italian family. She works with her grandmother in the family business, the Angelini Shoe Company. Valentine's brother, Alfred, wants to sell the building and the business. He feels it is time for their grandmother to retire. Valentine wants to save the business and is intent on finding a way to do so. A romance with two different men adds to the complications, as does a trip to Italy...Valentine is a very likeable character who is struggling to find herself. This story is filled with wonderful family members, sexy men, delicious food, and lots of love. I really enjoyed reading this book and felt a lot of kinship with Valentine and her struggles. It has a lovely ending, but it also leaves a few openings for future books.
    • 4/5
      This is classic Trigiani -- light, hysterical, and a lot of Italian family dynamics.
    • 5/5
      There are so many wonderful things about VERY VALENTINE by Adriana Trigiani but the best is that it is the first book of a trilogy so there will more of these delightful characters and the wonderful story to look forward to. New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani who brought readers books like BIG STONE GAP and LUCIA, LUCIA has combined all the narrative elements so expertly once again that VERY VALENTINE results in what will surely become her fans’ newest favorite novel. Set partially in New York’s Greenwich Village, home to the Angelini Shoe Company-“Since 1903”, and across the sea to Tuscany and Capri where secrets of more than one kind are revealed, Valentine Roncalli is a thirty-three year old former teacher who has become an apprentice shoemaker. Quite a switch one might say until they realize that Valentine lives with her grandmother, Teodora Angelini, whose family has created one-of-a-kind, custom made wedding shoes since the early 1900’s. Valentine has inherited the talent, enthusiasm, and dedication the family business needs in order to carry on its rich tradition. Unfortunately, the tradition may be rich, but the company is struggling. Grandmother Teodora and Angelini Shoes are on the verge of bankruptcy due to improper handling of financial matters, and Valentine’s business loving, somewhat merciless brother is trying to get his grandmother to sell the property which would mean the end of Angelini Shoes. Valentine fiercely opposes selling the business and when an opportunity to enter a design challenge that could save their company comes along, she attacks it head on. Designing THE shoe for the competition becomes a priority to Valentine. Part of the trip to Italy with her grandmother is to get materials and ideas for the show to win the competition. This however is only one part of this expansive, delightful family saga and love story. The interaction and family drama within Valentine’s family range from a beloved father who is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness to the picky relationships between brothers, sisters, parents, and in-laws. But what would this story be without the love element? Yes, Valentine tries to balance a deepening relationship with an amazingly talented Italian chef, Roman Falconi, with her work and her family obligations. Theirs is a slowly developing relationship that begins in a very unusual way which seems to be a common thread in the way things go between Valentine and Roman. Just when things are going well with the two of them, one or the other allows their dedication to their work, which is probably their real passion, to take over. Roman is not the only love interest in the story for Valentine. As she travels with her grandmother to Italy, Valentine is not only thrilled by the exquisite trims and leathers they are there to purchase for the shoe company. A man also enters who could replace Roman in Valentine’s heart, or could he? And what is the secret that is uncovered while Valentine and Tiadora are on this trip? The theme of love and loss plays an important role throughout the story and effects more than just one character. Expect the unexpected and even then you will still be left wanting more and having to wait for more of it in the next book. The character driven plot is exciting, humorous, heart wrenching and all the things one has come to love in the author’s novels in the past. Although centered on Valentine, every character plays an important role as you come to care about each and every one of them. VERY VALENTINE will not disappoint Andriana Trigiani’s legions of fans. Her amazingly descriptive writing is beautifully composed and the reader feels literally IN the physical settings as they are depicted. Trigiani writes about the characteristics of Angelini Shoe company’s work by saying “our commitment to beauty and quality—every stitch, lace, and binding made by hand and perfected with the skill that can only come from practice, technique, experience, and a devotion to detail” which I found to actually be a true description of Adriana Trigiani’s skillful writing. The reader will see the shoes, the city, the people, the country throughout the story due to the exceptional quality of the author’s writing. With more to come in the next installment of the Very Valentine saga, readers will eagerly await its release. This book is en excellent book club read and one I highly recommend to everyone….a totally joyous, funny, loving, and compassionate story with a strong female lead character that the reader will admire and believe in. A story to enjoy, a book to treasure!Submitted originally to BOOKIN’ WITH BINGO by K. H. (Bingo), Feb. 2009
    • 4/5
      I'm a sucker for a Saga and I reall enjoy this author.
    • 3/5
      Trigiani's recipe for Very Valentine, mixes in a little something for the foodie, the traveler, the fashionista, and Cinderellas everywhere. Her writing paints a picture of each setting from her rooftop in New York to the Isle of Capri.A nice light read that can be read in increments as time allows.
    • 5/5
      If you liked the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding than you are going to love this book; the humor in it is hilarious. And the story is warm.
    • 4/5
      Fun author! Love the story of Italian shoe family. Author is amazing, and I have read many of her books now.
    • 4/5
      Italian-American Valentine is 33-years old and lives and works with her grandmother in New York City. Gram runs a shoe making company; they hand-make wedding shoes and the company has been in business since 1903. Unfortunately, the company is in financial trouble, and Valentine is not sure what will happen if her brother gets his way and Gram decides to sell. In the meantime, Valentine has met a very busy chef and they are trying to maintain a relationship.I really liked this. This is the second book I've read by Trigiani and I really enjoy her writing. I often don't like long descriptions, but even though some of Trigiani's descriptions are long and very detailed, there is something about the way she writes that keeps me interested, and enjoying the detail as it brings whatever she is describing to life.
    • 3/5
      This was a fun read about a large Italian family in New York city. The grandmother owns the Angelini Shoe Company which has been in business since 1903 and Valentine works with her. I read more about making shoes than I really wanted to know and I found those parts of the book kind of boring. What I really enjoyed was the family - they sisters and the fun that they family all had together was hilarious. Can't wait to read book 2 in the series to see what happens next.
    • 5/5
      Delightful and enjoyable read! Family,friends and the family business and a trip to lovely Capri. Highly recommended!
    • 3/5
      Valentine is one of the more annoying characters I have ever come across in any of Adrianna Trigiani's books. This was nothing of the same caliber of the Big Stone Gap series and I was rather disappointed. Valentine, the main character has bad taste in men, is selfish and has a very loud obnoxious family - could not stand the family relationships, especially the dialog between her mother and father. Tacky, very tacky. They are just plain rude New Yorkers. The only character who has any class is the grandmother.
    • 2/5
      Valentine Roncalli is a shoemaker. She lives in Greenwich Village with her grandmother above Angelini Shoes - the store her family has operated for about 100 years, making custom wedding shoes. However, she has just found out that her grandmother borrowed against the building she owns to keep the shop in business and now the building is worth big bucks. Valentine has to come up with a plan to save her home and her career before her brother convinces her grandmother to sell and retire. Add a burgeoning romance and a complicated trip to Tuscany and it may just be too much for Valentine to handle.What a disappointment this was. Another audiobook I picked up, in the mood for something light, romantic and funny. For a book of this length (not sure how many pages but 13 hours on audio), the characters are all underdeveloped and flat. In addition, Trigiani spends far too much time relating the details of shoemaking. Yes, I understand that you need to know about a person's career, especially in a book such as this where the career is a big focus, but you need to not make it sound so dreadfully boring. In fact, I was bored the whole time I listened to this. Mainly I just wanted it to end. Another huge problem for me was that I never for a second believed in the romances that Trigiani wrote about. The circumstances of how they came to be were ridiculous and unbelievable and, frankly, they didn't even seem like romances. There was no passion (although Trigiani makes sure Valentine describes the intense passion frequently, she doesn't give us any examples of this, i.e. "we have a great passion for each other") and it never seems like a healthy relationship, yet somehow Valentine remains blissfully unaware of that fact. I had really looked forward to reading Trigiani - she seemed like an enjoyable author with fun to read books. But I don't know if I'll give her another try.
    • 3/5
      Another engaging story by Trigiani. I enjoyed reading this tome until the final chapters. It seemed that the ending of the book was a bit rushed. The author seemed to be in a hurry to finish, rather than provide the reader with the same amount of detail and description found in the rest of the book.I'd love to read more about Valentine and the rest of her family!
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed this book, and if I had never read the Big Stone Gap trilogy by Trigiani, I would think it was a totally wonderful book. The only objection I have to Very Valentine is that it might have been called Big Stone Gap Goes to New York City. There are a few too many similarities for comfort. That said, however, it's a great read, and if you want a little romance in your life, go for it. I will definitely read volume two of the series, whenever it arrives on the scene. This is another winner.
    • 4/5
      Valentine Roncalli’s little sister just got married. This has the Queens-born 33-year old single woman reflecting on her life; her only major romance in ended several years ago and she unexpectedly switched careers to be an unofficial apprentice to her shoemaking grandmother not long after. With the threat of her family’s custom wedding shoe business going under, it’s time for Valentine to step up. And step up she does. Valentine decides to take the Angelini Shoe Company into the 21st Century, both by designing a brand new shoe that can be mass marketed to a larger consumer base and by competing for a coveted window display in Bergdorf’s for the upcoming Christmas season. While she attempts to step up her game professionally, she also has to deal with several dramatic changes to her personal life. A man, Roman Falconi, a chef in one of Little Italy’s hottest new restaurants, takes an interest in her and they start dating. Not too long after, Valentine’s father is tragically diagnosed with prostate cancer. As the expectations in her life continue to build and build, she takes a business break and jets off to Italy with her grandmother for shoemaking supplies. She’s disarmed by how much the trip relaxes her; her grandmother opens up to her like never before and she meets Gianluca, a man who makes her question her new relationship back home. Will her shoes win the window? Which man will she end up with?Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani is a light and quick read. This book is full of fashion, romance, and class. You’ll be disarmed by just how much you’ll enjoy this title. Trigiani accurately captures the craziness of a close-knit Italian family, the whirlwind and confusion of a brand new love, and the professional frustrations of a working artist. She is strongest when she delves into the intricacies of the shoemaking profession, highlighting little known facts about what goes in to making the perfect pair of pumps. If you’re looking for a great inside scoop into the Greenwich Village and Little Italy area of New York City, the book also mentions and features many real-life locations. The descriptions of the food are mouth-watering, and the recent paperback release features many new recipes you can try making at home. I recommend Very Valentine; In fact, I think you’ll fall in love with it.
    • 4/5
      I absolutely love this author. Her characters are relatable and I always find myself routing for someone in the first few chapters.She takes a detour from the Big Stone Gap series with this one, but it still has all the charm. Valentine is a normal woman dealing with issues of family, work and relationships. Ms. Trigiani is a very detailed writer so you don't need a background in shoe making to understand what a wonderful art it is and why the main characters are fighting to save the legacy. The romance of the book gets such a funny start! And the plot twists and turns and keeps you entertained. It makes you wish you could actually visit the Angelini Shoe Company and meet Valentine, Teodora, and especially June! The family dynamics are easily identifiable. The over-bearing brother, the perfect sister, the quiet father, the strong mother...every character is unique. You will love them or love to hate them, but they will take up residence in the back of your mind. I can't wait to read the sequel!
    • 4/5
      Once again Adriana Trigiani has produced a sparkling, entertaining piece of chic-lit. Very Valentine is the story of Valentine Roncalli, an Italian shoe designer learning the old craft of making wedding shoes from her grandmother. She is (gasp!) the only single girl in a big italian family and everyone is conspiring to marry her off. In the meantime her grandmother's store is in trouble and she will have to fight her hot-shot older brother if she hopes to hang onto it. Enter Roman, a fiery Italian chef, trying to hang onto his own dreams of owning a restaurant. As we have come to expect Adriana dishes up entertainment, great Italian food, loud family disputes, and plenty of Italian passion!
    • 3/5
      This is the first Adriani Trigani I have read and it left me sort of puzzled. It's not really a romance, and besides I felt she never really established the connection between Roman and Valentine enough for it to be believable. It's not funny enough to be chick-lit, and the other family members (except for Gram) aren't developed enough for it to be a family saga. It sort of felt unfinished to me, but now that I understand it's first in a series, I guess I can see why. I also thought her descriptive passages got a little tedious.
    • 3/5
      Valentine is a great heroine. She fights for what makes her happy, and that's the family custom shoe business and not a man. I was disappointed with the end that she couldn't have it all. But it's the first of a trilogy, so hopefully she'll end up with love and the business. Trigiani writes great sections about Italy. I'm glad her characters can afford to go to Italy so that we can go along.