Sunshine, warmth, the scent of lemons . . .

Springtime in glorious Southern Italy can go to your head. Especially if you're escaping not just miserable weather but an overbearing husband, the embarrassingly public loss of your company, an interfering mother who still tries to run your life or the pain of a husband's affair with a girl young enough to be his daughter.

As the sun ripens the lemons in the groves that tumble down the hillsides and the Mediterranean dazzles beneath them, bossy Angela, extrovert Sylvie, unconfident Claire and mousy Monica leave their trapped lives behind, and begin to blossom in quite unexpected ways.

Packed with memorable characters, An Italian Holiday is a witty and entertaining reminder of why going a little mad in the sunshine can sometimes be exactly what you need.

Praise for Maeve Haran

'Comic, poignant and thought-provoking' Marian Keyes

'Warm, clever and extremely funny. Among its many virtues are lovable characters' Daily Mail

'A funny, feisty read' Good Housekeeping