The Patron Saint of Second Chances, Christine Simon
The Patron Saint of Second Chances, Christine Simon
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
Club: $9.99

The Patron Saint of Second Chances

Author: Christine Simon

Narrator: Tim Frances

Unabridged: 7 hr 55 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/12/2022


Synopsis

SELECTED FOR THE RUSA 2023 LISTEN LIST FOR OUTSTANDING AUDIOBOOK NARRATION!

The self-appointed mayor of a tiny Italian village is determined to save his hometown no matter the cost in this “charming farce that highlights the triumph of hope and community” (People).

Vacuum repairman and self-appointed mayor of Prometto, Italy (population 212) Signor Speranza has a problem: unless he can come up with 70,000 euros to fix the town’s pipes, the water commission will shut off the water to the village and all the residents will be forced to disperse. In a desperate bid to boost tourism—and revenue—he spreads a harmless rumor that movie star Dante Rinaldi will be filming his next project nearby.

Unfortunately, the plan works a little too well, and soon everyone wants to be a part of the fictional film—the village butcher will throw in some money if Speranza can find roles for his fifteen enormous sons, Speranza’s wistfully adrift daughter reveals an unexpected interest in stage makeup, and his hapless assistant Smilzo volunteers a screenplay that’s not so secretly based on his undying love for the film’s leading lady. To his surprise—and considerable consternation, Speranza realizes that the only way to keep up the ruse is to make the movie for real.

As the entire town becomes involved (even the village priest invests!), Signor Speranza starts to think he might be able to pull this off. But what happens when Dante Rinaldi doesn’t show up? Or worse, what if he does?

A “warmhearted, original gem of a novel” (Amy Poeppel, author of Musical Chairs), The Patron Saint of Second Chances is perfect for fans of Fredrik Backman and Maria Semple.

About Christine Simon

Christine Simon grew up in a very large and very loud Italian family and now lives with her husband and four children. The Patron Saint of Second Chances is her first novel.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Angela M on December 30, 2021

I’m not usually drawn to funny books, but with so much happening around us, I was eager for something to make me laugh . Prometto, based on a real Italian village where the author’s grandparents were born is a village of 212 residents. It has a problem with its water pipes , and if they are not fixe......more

Goodreads review by Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader on April 27, 2022

Gorgeous cover, right? The Patron Saint of Second Chances is a delightful and charming story. About the book: “The self-appointed mayor of a tiny Italian village is determined to save his hometown no matter the cost in this charming, hilarious, and heartwarming debut novel.” Prometto has just over 200......more

Goodreads review by Christine on March 06, 2022

This debut novel is a whimsical little story about a significant predicament facing a village of 212 in southern Italy and the elephantine lengths the self-appointed mayor engages in to save his town from extinction. The characters are charming; especially Signor Speranza, his assistant Smilzo, and......more

Goodreads review by Jasmine on April 20, 2022

An interesting read, this book provided a good small town feel. The church, vacuum repair business and a butcher’s shop were all across the street from one another. It’s hard to avoid each other but that didn’t stop Signor Speranza from trying. The population count has its own cute story. Signor Spe......more

Goodreads review by Katie on April 11, 2022

This book had a charming quality to it and the humor was the strength by far. An older man needing a large sum of money in order to save his town was a cute premise. While it could have easily veered into far out, ridiculous territory, the story and characters somehow worked without having to suspen......more


Quotes

"This hilarious romp through the small-town life of the fictional Italian village of Prometto was tailor-made to be narrated, and Tim Frances is just the man for the job. Frances’s believable Italian accents in a variety of flavors and tones roll off his tongue, and he is especially convincing when embodying Signor Speranza, the beleaguered mayor with a very big plumbing problem on his hands. Listeners will appreciate the atmospheric nuances delivered by Frances, such as well-timed exasperated sighs and munching sounds at mealtimes. A whimsical farce about a little lie becoming a very big one that will be either the ruin or the salvation of the town proves to be a delight to the ear and heart."