The Recommended Reading Order for the Valentine Trilogy
If you're ready to dive into the warm, sensory-rich world of Valentine Roncalli, you're in luck! The Valentine Trilogy is a beautifully self-contained story that follows a straightforward chronological path. There are no confusing prequels, hidden short stories, or branching spin-offs to worry about. To get the full experience of Valentine’s journey from a determined 33-year-old apprentice to a mature business owner and wife, you should read the books in their exact order of publication.
- Very Valentine (2009)
- Brava, Valentine (also published as Encore Valentine) (2010)
- The Supreme Macaroni Company (2013)
Understanding the Book 2 Title Swap: Brava, Valentine vs. Encore Valentine
As you build your reading list or search for copies at your local bookstore or library, you might run into some naming confusion with the second book. Depending on the country you live in or the edition you pick up, the book may be titled either Brava, Valentine or Encore Valentine.
Don't worry—these are not two different books, and there is no difference in the text or storyline between them. Adriana Trigiani's publishers simply opted for different titles in different markets (with "Encore Valentine" being common in several international editions). Rest assured, whichever version you find, it is the true second installment of the trilogy and should be read immediately after Very Valentine.
Chronological Breakdown of the Books
1. Very Valentine (2009)
Our journey begins in Greenwich Village, New York, where we meet Valentine Roncalli. Valentine is a talented 33-year-old shoemaker working as an apprentice alongside her grandmother, Teodora Angelini. The family business, the Angelini Shoe Company, has been handcrafting exquisite custom shoes since 1903, but it is now on the brink of financial ruin. To save the company, Valentine must balance a high-stakes design challenge, a blossoming but complicated romance with chef Roman Falconi, and a family legacy that feels both like a blessing and a burden. The quest for inspiration eventually takes Valentine to the sun-drenched hills of Italy, where she uncovers long-kept family secrets and begins to find her own creative voice.
2. Brava, Valentine / Encore Valentine (2010)
Picking up where the debut novel left off, the second book raises the stakes for Valentine both in business and in her personal life. The Angelini Shoe Company is beginning to find its footing again, but new challenges arise. Valentine's brother, Alfred, wants to take the business in a commercialized direction that threatens to strip away its artisan soul. Meanwhile, Valentine is navigating the emotional fallout of her past choices while working in Tuscany. It's a story deeply focused on the tension between artistic integrity and commercial survival, set against the backdrop of romantic and family drama.
3. The Supreme Macaroni Company (2013)
The final installment brings Valentine's story to a poignant, emotional conclusion. Now a mature artisan and business owner, Valentine is preparing to marry her true love, the handsome Italian tanner Gianluca Vechiarelli. However, blending their lives is far from simple. As they navigate the complexities of marriage, career ambitions, and family expectations across two continents, Valentine faces unexpected trials that will test her resilience. This book moves beyond the initial romance of the first two entries to examine what it truly means to build a life, a partnership, and a legacy together.
What to Know Before You Start Reading
Before you crack open the first page of Very Valentine, here are a few practical tips to help you get the most out of the trilogy:
- It's a complete character arc: While some romance series feature standalone books focusing on different couples, the Valentine Trilogy is a continuous story centered entirely on Valentine Roncalli. Reading them out of order will spoil major plot points, particularly the romance arcs and the ultimate fate of the Angelini Shoe Company.
- Prepare for sensory details: Adriana Trigiani is famous for her descriptive writing. You will find yourself smelling the rich leather of the artisan workshop, tasting the homemade pasta in Italy, and feeling the energy of New York's historic neighborhoods. Make sure you don't read these books on an empty stomach!
- Family is just as important as romance: While Valentine's love life is a key focus, her relationship with her grandmother Teodora and the wider Roncalli/Angelini family is the true emotional anchor of the series.
The 2019 Lifetime Movie Adaptation
If you love seeing your favorite books brought to life on screen, you'll want to check out the adaptation of Very Valentine, which premiered on Lifetime in 2019. The movie stars Kelen Coleman as Valentine Roncalli and the legendary Jacqueline Bisset as her grandmother Teodora. Filmed partly on location in Bulgaria and Italy, it captures the warm, visual essence of the novel and serves as a delightful companion piece once you have finished reading the first book.
Note: Make sure not to confuse it with the 2018 Hallmark movie "Very, Very, Valentine," which is a completely unrelated romantic comedy about a florist!
Where to Go Next: Standalones and Companion Reads
Since the Valentine Trilogy is a self-contained story, there are no spin-off books featuring the side characters. However, if you fall in love with Adriana Trigiani's writing style, she has a rich catalog of books that offer a very similar feel:
- The Shoemaker's Wife: If you loved the historical details of shoemaking and the sweeping Italian-American family dynamics, this standalone epic is widely considered Trigiani's masterpiece and is highly recommended for Valentine fans.
- Lucia, Lucia: Set in 1950s New York, this standalone novel follows a fashionable young woman working in a custom department store, exploring similar themes of career ambition, family duty, and romance.
- The Big Stone Gap Series: Beginning with Big Stone Gap (2000), this multi-book series features Trigiani's signature humor, warmth, and small-town community dynamics, set in the coal-mining town of Big Stone Gap, Virginia.