The Invitation

Lucy Foley studied English literature at Durham University and University College London. She then worked for several years as a fiction editor, during which time she wrote her first novel,The Book of Lost and Found. Lucy now writes full-time and is busy traveling (for research, naturally!), painting, and working on her next novel.

"Can I find words eloquent enough to describe this novel? Lucy Foley's THE INVITATION is so exquisite in its writing that it may take a place among the classics -- but it was the combination of the glittering, glamorous setting and the magnetic characters that mesmerized me. This book is luminous.--Elin Hilderbrand, bestselling author ofHere's To Us

"Pop this tale of love, secrets and obsession right into your beach bag."--People

"Certain that they'll never meet again, journalist Hal and socialite Stella indulge in an illicit rendezvous. But when they're reunited on a yacht in Cannes a year later, temptation is everywhere."--Cosmopolitan

"Lucy Foley crafts a subtle, dramatic story of guilt, desire and long-held secrets.... Lushly described settings and Foley's keen but compassionate eye for her characters combines to makeThe Invitationa beautiful, bittersweet journey of loss and redemption."--Shelf Awareness
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"THE INVITATION is a riveting, dazzling romance, set in the most beautiful places on earth. I wanted to go wherever Lucy Foley took me."—Anton DiSclafani,New York Timesbestselling author ofThe Yonahlossee Riding Camp for GirlsandThe After Party
"Richly atmospheric and emotionally resonant,The Invitationis a compelling love story that takes us far beyond the alluring Italian coast and the film festival at Cannes to a darker place, where the wounds of war are still fresh, and secrets hide just below the water's surface. Lucy Foley's lavish depictions both immerse and transport, inviting us to cruise along with this glamorous and enigmatic cast of unforgettable characters. A great read."—Brunonia Barry,New York Times bestselling author ofThe Lace Reader
"IlovedTHE INVITATION. Foley has such a visceral writing style, and her rich descriptions made me feel as if I could dive into this book and be amongst the glittering characters in the Italian sun. A beautifully complex and vivid story, full of repressed longing and secrets. An absolutely enchanting tale."—Lucinda Riley,New York Timesbestselling author ofThe Orchid House
"Glamorous and romantic and bittersweet all at once, this is a fabulous story with such wonderful, intelligent prose."—Beatriz Williams,New York Timesbestselling author ofA Hundred Summers
"I loveThe Invitation. The setting is so powerfully evoked that I found myself browsing holidays on the Italian Riviera for days. But while it definitely ticks all the boxes for those after a glamorous, mid-century romance, it's actually much more than that, with dark, sensuous undercurrents that lingered on in my mind, long after I'd reluctantly left Stella and Hal behind."
—Kate Riordan, author of The Shadow Hour

"A seductive love tale set on the Italian Riviera in the 1950s"—Sunday Times Style (UK)
"The perfect summer read... Gorgeously compelling"—Good Housekeeping (UK)
"Oozes glamour... Lush, romantic and cleverly crafted - a brainy beach read to relish"—Sunday Mirror (UK)
"In her second novel, Foley weaves a very satisfying love story, and readers will be especially taken by the luxurious Mediterranean setting."
—Publishers Weekly