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The Invitation

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The Invitation

By: Lucy Foley
Narrated by: Emma Gregory
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‘The perfect summer read… Gorgeously compelling’ Good Housekeeping

‘Film crew, Italian Riviera, 1950s. What part of that does not appeal?’ Red

Rome, 1950s. One fateful night, Hal Jacobs meets Stella, a beautiful society darling from New York. To Hal, flailing in the post-war darkness, she’s a point of light. They’re from different worlds, but both trying and failing to carve out a new life.

Stella vanishes all too quickly, until a curious invitation from an Italian Contessa reels her back into Hal’s world. They join the Contessa’s collection of luminaries on a yacht headed for Cannes film festival.

The scene on board is a fiction – scars from the war can be hidden yet not healed. Everyone is hiding a dark history, but Stella’s secrets run the deepest. Compelled by her fragile beauty, Hal is determined to bring back the girl she once was, the girl who’s been confined to history.

The Invitation is an epic love story that will transport you from the glamour of the Italian Riviera, to the darkness of war-torn Spain, and to a golden – if rather haunted – time. Perfect for fans of Kate Morton and Victoria Hislop.

 20th Century Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Holidays Literary Fiction Romance Women's Fiction Italy War Rome
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Critic reviews

‘A seductive love tale’ Sunday Times Style
‘Such a tense, intriguing, beautiful, heart-rending story . . . The characters are so real, the research flawless, the setting sublime. Read it!’ Clare Mackintosh
‘Glamour, secrets and danger makes this a gorgeous summer read’ Woman & Home
‘Sultry escapist fiction at its best – 5*’ HEAT
‘The perfect summer read… Gorgeously compelling’ Good Housekeeping
‘Oozes glamour… Lush, romantic and cleverly crafted – a brainy beach read to relish’ Sunday Mirror
‘I loved THE INVITATION . . . I could dive into this book. A beautifully complex and vivid story, full of repressed longing and secrets. An absolutely enchanting tale’ Lucinda Riley
‘A seductive love tale’ Sunday Times Style
‘So powerfully evoked . . . with dark, sensuous undercurrents that lingered on in my mind, long after I'd reluctantly left Stella and Hal behind’ Kate Riordan
‘Film crew, Italian Riviera, 1950s. What part of that does not appeal?’ Red
‘Full of mystery and long-reaching shadows of the past . . . richly drawn and compelling’ Rosanna Ley
‘This epic love story is an unputdownable summer read’ Essentials
‘If you like Victoria Hislop you’ll love the seductive and heady The Invitation’ Lovereading
‘An utterly seductive story depicting forbidden love and loss in 1950s Italy. The perfect beach read this summer' Louise O’Neill
‘I loved every page – it's vividly written and utterly absorbing’ Iona Grey
‘Foley weaves a very satisfying love story . . . readers will be taken by the luxurious Mediterranean setting’ Publishers Weekly
‘Glamorous and romantic and bittersweet all at once . . . a fabulous story’ Beatriz Williams, New York Times bestselling author of A Hundred Summers
‘It's a beautiful, compulsive and glamorous read – perfect for long summer days’ Lucy Clarke, author of the Richard & Judy bestseller, The Sea Sisters
All stars
Most relevant
Lucy Foley writes exquisitely, the narration is perfect, and the stories totally intriguing. I loved every second of The Invitation, and would rate it as my favourite book for the last couple of years.

Stunning book

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The Invitation is a captivating story, filled with many diverse and complicated characters yielding a dialogue of mystery and intrigue, playing out amongst the characters who represent people who have everything that money can buy and some who have nothing but talent and honesty. Emma Gregory’s reading with her beautiful accents also makes the story proceed like hot syrup over pancakes! You don’t want to stop reading and it’s with sadness ( and joy) when you reach the climax of this beautiful tale. Highly recommended.

Once again, Lucy Foley captivates me!

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I really enjoyed this book. Excellent historical story made even better by the amazing narrator.

One of my favourites!

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The narrator was very good. The story line was all over the place....so I found it quite difficult listening and picking up where I left off because the story line was always going back to the past with the introduction of new characters...I just found it difficult to follow. The main female was a bit too damsel in distress. I wouldn’t recommend this book but I have enjoyed some of her other books.

All over the shop

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Really enjoyed this beautiful love story with interesting characters and brought to life by the excellent narrator.

Great story

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