Villa Coco is exactly what Andrew Sean Greer set out to write according to his author’s note: a charming novel. And honestly, I think he succeeds.
Set in Italy sometime after World War II, the story follows a young queer man fresh out of college with a background in archives and preservation. He arrives at Villa Coco believing he’s been hired to organize and archive the estate of a 92-year-old baroness, but quickly discovers that his role is much less academic and much more “girl Friday.” Soon he’s managing household chaos, tending to the eccentricities of the villa, and slowly figuring himself out along the way.
The strongest part of this novel is absolutely the setting. If you love books that completely immerse you in Italy—the countryside, the food, the language, the atmosphere, the old villas, the glamorous decay—you will probably have a wonderful time here. Greer writes Italy so vividly that the location becomes the real main character. The cover is gorgeous, and somehow the book itself matches that exact vibe.
This is definitely more of a quiet character study than a plot-heavy novel. There are emotional arcs and moments of growth, but the story is more interested in mood, identity, loneliness, and that drifting “what am I doing with my life?” feeling that comes with your twenties. It’s very much a coming-of-age/quarter-life-crisis novel wrapped in Italian sunlight.
Will this become an all-time favorite for me? Probably not. I don’t necessarily see myself rereading it, and I’m not sure how much of the plot will stick with me long term. But I do think I’ll remember it as a sweet, easy-to-read, emotionally gentle novel that transported me somewhere beautiful for a few hours.
And did I mention Italy? Because really, that’s the selling point here.
I’d recommend it, especially for readers who enjoy atmospheric literary fiction and travel vibes more than fast-moving plots. Personally, though, this feels more like a “borrow from the library” book than a “must own” book for me. It’s charming, pleasant, and immersive—but it’s not trying to devastate you or completely rearrange your worldview.
Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for the ARC. Book to be published June 8, 2026
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