I love when I can read books set wherever I’m visiting, and there are many awesome books about the Amalfi Coast, Naples, and Capri!
Books Set in the Amalfi Coast, Capri, and Sorrento
The Night Villa
This fascinating and suspenseful book is set both in ancient Pompeii and modern Capri. It’s the perfect read to feel deeply involved in the history of Pompeii, and to feel the romance of Capri. This is also an excellent beach or airplane book!
Stones of the Madonna
Set in Positano, this tells the story of two Americans who are – you guessed it – escaping from their past. Reasonably predictable, this book is no less wonderful to read while you’re suntanning in Positano – there’s nothing quite like looking up and feeling like you’ve landed in your book!
The House in Amalfi
Lamour, the main character, is going through an emotionally tough time, so she escapes to Amalfi. In this novel, she dives into her personal past, including two men she loved. This is yet another book that is just perfect for the beach!
The Deep Blue Sea for Beginners
This is the book of society, and what it means to take your place within that. It’s part of a series that focuses on Newport, Rhode Island – but this novel is largely set in Capri. If you love stories about families, and how they find their way – this is a great pick.
Girl At Sea
If you’re looking for a quick read that is delightfully mindless, this is it! Clio is stuck on a boat with her family, and you’ll find a different view of Italy from this one – the view from the sea. You’ll find Sorrento featured as well!
Books Set in Naples
The Talented Mr. Ripley
You might have seen the Matt Damon movie a number of years ago, but try the book! It’s set in both New York and Naples, and gives you a sense of what the “good life” looks like in Naples.
See Naples: A Memoir of Love, Peace, and War in Italy
This is an obscure pick, but it’s the memoir of an American serviceman who decided to live in Naples after the war. It’s a great choice to feel closer to Naples, especially from the American perspective.
My Brilliant Friend
This is the first in a series by Elena Ferrante, and it’s a series that has achieved great acclaim. It’s an intimate account of some of the scuzzier parts of Naples, but reveals a side of the city visitors wouldn’t necessarily seek out. Even better – if you love reading, you have a whole series to read after finishing this one!
In the Shadow of Vesuvius
This is a great nonfiction choice to introduce you to the different layers of Naples. It’s written in a way that’s easily readable and consumable, so it’s the perfect book to read while you’re getting ready for your trip!
Falling Palace: A Romance of Naples
This is a somewhat personal account of Naples, written as part travelogue and part memoir. It walks you through the wonderful parts of the city and is another option if you want a more personal touch for a book to read prior to visiting.
The Bay of Noon
The Bay of Noon is an immersive novel – and it’s a perfect beach read! It was originally published in the 1970s and has only recently come back into print. The book revolves around an Englishwoman trying to hide her past while creating a new life in Naples. If you want to imagine Naples of the 1950s, this is the perfect book to do so.
Pompeii
This incredible novel sets the stage for Pompeii at its height just perfectly. Reading this before visiting Pompeii will allow you to see the city not just as the ruins it is today, but it will help you imagine it as it was.
If these books aren’t enough for your Italian trip, you can find 15 books you should read while traveling in Italy!
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