Three Summers by Karen Swan

When I first opened Three Summers, I needed a moment to find my footing. The story begins with a wide cast of characters and a tangle of family names and relationships that took me a while to sort out. Once I settled in though, I found myself increasingly drawn to Rafa, our central figure, and the complicated world she inhabits. The novel blends character study with drama, and there is a subtle darkness that threads through the narrative from the start.

The book unfolds across three summers, beginning in 1957 in Puglia. Swan’s descriptions of the setting are vivid and sun soaked, and I could almost feel the heat rising from the stone streets. This first section is slow paced but atmospheric, capturing the rhythms of village life and the contrast between local families and the wealthy visitors who descend each year. It all builds towards a series of events that genuinely shocked me. Even so, I often found myself flipping back to remind myself who belonged to which family, and who was romantically entangled with whom.

The second summer in 1958 is surprisingly brief, almost a breath between storms. By the time we reach 1961, the tone has shifted considerably. The story becomes darker, more oppressive, and far more focused on the harsh realities of small town life. Most of the men are difficult to warm to, and the women’s lives are marked by hard work, limited choices and very little tenderness. It may well be an accurate portrayal of the era, but it is not the escapist Italian getaway I had expected.

What kept me turning the pages was the relationship between Rafaella and Cosimo. Their love story is tender, yearning and at times deeply moving. It brings warmth to an otherwise bleak landscape, and I found myself rooting for them even when the world around them felt unforgiving. There are also twists that caught me off guard, and Swan handles the emotional complexity of family, loyalty, ambition and guilt with real skill.

Despite this, the novel did not entirely work for me. The shift from sunlit nostalgia to a darker, almost sinister atmosphere felt abrupt, and at times it seemed as though I was reading two different books. The pacing is uneven and the various dramas occasionally tipped into melodrama. Still, the prose is beautiful, and the sense of place is exceptional.

Readers who enjoy historical fiction with layered characters, moral complexity and a touch of tragedy will likely find much to appreciate here. If you are looking for a light romantic escape, this may not be the one.

In the end, I was glad I persisted. The conclusion ties everything together in a satisfying way, even if the journey was not quite what I had hoped for.

With thanks to Penguin Random House SA

About this book: Three Summers – Penguin Random House South Africa