I found this book written by Serena Capilli to be a joyful read. It tells the story of Paul, whose passion is teaching his native language (English) and who is given a trip to Italy as a birthday gift. The unfolding of his journey tells a nice story of a dream fulfilled. Along the way the reader learns vocabulary, insights and tips on Italian usage, selected idioms, and finally, cultural insights. Ms. Capelli clearly is a gifted teacher and she has a lot to offer the reader. I highly recommend this book for the beginning intermediate level learner of this beautiful language.

This is the first Italian book that I have bought at my level that I can actually read, understand , and most importantly not feel FRUSTRATED trying to read it. Can't wait to finish it and buy another! Love the extra's included after each chapter.

Not only are the stories fun and interesting, Serena helps with grammar points as well as cultural explanations. The exercises must be done in order to imprint the vocabulary and the grammar points into your brain. The books at this level are perfect for understanding grammar lessons that you may have forgotten. With Serena's excellent teaching methods, you can now remember your Italian, even when you are stuck in an English speaking place, like California. LOL I practice Serena's book with a couple of other learners. These are great learning tools. Thank you Serena. Grazie mille!

The chapters in this book are engaging and fun to read. Not only did I enjoy learning more about Roma, I have increased my vocabulary and the ability to practice using these words and phrases in sentences. The insights and tips sections included in each chapter are extremely helpful in understanding the nuances of the language and false friends. The translation activities provide just the right amount of challenge to encourage me to stretch and grow when learning to express myself in Italian. I highly recommend this book.
It is a helpful and practical learning tool. So happy to have found Serena's books to assist me on my quest to understand and speak Italian. Great job, Serena! Grazie mille.

I follow the author on Instagram and thought I would give this book a try. It is an excellent resource for me as a strong beginner or low intermediate learner. Each chapter follows the same structure. A passage to read. ( I also purchased the audio book and I wish there was a discount on that if one bought the book but oh well!). An explanation of key points and vocab; sentence practice to use new words; comprehension exercise; translation exercise and questions to promote thought and practice. This is a great find and I highly recommend this book to supplement your Italian learning.

I really enjoyed the story and the way it incorporated interesting information about Rome into the narrative. It was a fun way to help improve my Italian!