The Recommended Reading Path for the Tuscany Series
Angela Petch’s acclaimed Tuscany series transports readers to the sun-drenched, olive-grove-speckled hills of Italy. Set against the backdrop of World War II and the decades that followed, these emotional historical fiction novels are beloved for their dual-timeline mysteries, rich atmosphere, and focus on ordinary people showing extraordinary courage. While each book in the series is written to be enjoyed as a complete standalone story, there is a recommended reading order that allows you to experience the progression of the author's writing and the thematic evolution of the setting.
For the best experience, we suggest reading the books in the order they were published under their Bookouture editions. This path starts with the foundational novel that established Petch's signature blend of Italian history and family mystery, leading you chronologically through her subsequent works. Reading in this order helps you appreciate the recurring elements of the Tuscan landscape and the thematic threads of survival, healing, and legacy that tie the books together.
Tuscany Series in Publication Order
If you want to read the series as it was released to the wider public, follow the publication order of the revised Bookouture editions. Note that two of these novels were originally self-published under different titles before being acquired, revised, and re-released by Bookouture. Below is the chronological publication list:
- The Tuscan Secret (Originally published as Tuscan Roots in 2016; revised and published by Bookouture in 2019)
- The Tuscan Girl (Published by Bookouture in 2020)
- A Tuscan Memory (Originally published as Now and Then in Tuscany in 2017; revised and published by Bookouture in 2020)
- The Tuscan House (Published by Bookouture in 2021)
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into these novels, it is helpful to understand the unique structure and background that makes the Tuscany series so captivating. Each book features a dual-timeline narrative, shifting between the dark days of World War II (and its immediate aftermath) and a modern or later era where characters attempt to reconstruct the past.
Angela Petch’s stories are deeply grounded in real history. The author’s connection to Italy began at age seven when her family moved to Rome. Later in life, she married an Italian and purchased a ruined watermill in the Tuscan Apennines, which she and her husband spent years restoring. This real-life mill and the stories of her mother-in-law’s wartime romance served as the direct inspiration for her writing. Petch conducted meticulous research, including interviews with elderly Italian locals who lived through the occupation, ensuring that the partisan resistance and the daily struggles of Tuscan villagers are depicted with authentic emotional weight.
Because the novels feature entirely different sets of characters and distinct plots, you do not need to worry about major spoilers if you read them out of order. However, starting with The Tuscan Secret is highly recommended as it sets the tone for Petch’s evocative portrayal of the region.
Detailed Book Breakdown
1. The Tuscan Secret
This is the novel that began Petch's success. The story follows Anna, a modern-day woman grieving the death of her mother, Ines. When Anna inherits a cache of diaries written in Italian, she travels to the remote village of Rofelle in Tuscany to translate them. Through the diaries, the narrative shifts to the 1940s, revealing Ines's experiences as a young girl caught in the horrors of World War II. Ines's story is one of immense danger, involvement with local partisan fighters, a passionate romance with a British soldier, and a devastating betrayal that echoes into Anna's present day. It is an ideal starting point that establishes the series' signature dual-timeline emotional depth.
2. The Tuscan Girl
Commissioned by Bookouture following the success of the first book, The Tuscan Girl centers on Alba, a woman struggling with profound grief in the modern era. Seeking a fresh start, she moves to the Tuscan coast. There, she uncovers the story of Lucia, a brave young Italian partisan during the war who made the dangerous decision to love a German soldier. As Alba pieces together Lucia’s life, she discovers secrets of survival, forbidden love, and sacrifice that help her find a path toward her own healing. The novel highlights the complex moral choices faced by individuals during the war.
3. A Tuscan Memory
Originally released as Now and Then in Tuscany, this novel showcases a different side of Italian history. The historical timeline follows Giuseppe, a young man engaged in the ancient tradition of transhumance—the seasonal moving of livestock along mountain paths. The narrative contrasts his early 20th-century journeys and wartime trials with his descendants' modern-day efforts to save their ancestral home and olive groves. It is a poignant exploration of family legacy, heritage, and the enduring connection between the Tuscan people and their land.
4. The Tuscan House
Set in 1947 and shifting back to the war years, The Tuscan House focus on Fosca, a former resistance spy trying to rebuild her life in the ruins of post-war Italy. She finds employment and sanctuary at a beautiful villa owned by a British war hero, but her primary goal is to discover what happened to her missing friend. This novel highlights the immediate post-war era, showing the lingering scars of conflict, the difficulty of transition, and the ultimate triumph of hope and reconstruction.