The Patron Saint of Second Chances: A Novel
Written by Christine Simon
Narrated by Tim Frances
4/5
()
About this audiobook
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.
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.
Related to The Patron Saint of Second Chances
Related audiobooks
Good Eggs: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bear Necessity: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Musical Chairs: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Messy Lives of Book People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Tidy Ending: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Great Unexpected Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5None of This Would Have Happened if Prince Were Alive: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Florence Adler Swims Forever Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Many Daughters of Afong Moy: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ms. Demeanor: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bright Side Running Club Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Sweet Spot: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Quiet Life: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Question Mark Is Half A Heart Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Fortunes of Jaded Women: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stay Up with Hugo Best: A Novel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Three Things About Elsie: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Small Admissions: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5We Are the Light: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Fortnight in September Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fellowship Point: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mr. Flood's Last Resort: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Window Opens: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5If We're Being Honest: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Chorus Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Humor & Satire For You
Killing the Guys Who Killed the Guy Who Killed Lincoln: A Nutty Story About Edwin Booth and Boston Corbett Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Man Called Ove: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Let's Tidy Up: The Book Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Yes Please Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5ADHD is Awesome: A Guide to (Mostly) Thriving with ADHD Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Paradise Problem Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I Curse You With Joy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come: One Introvert's Year of Saying Yes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sure, I'll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Humans: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Soulmate Equation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How Y'all Doing?: Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Three Wishes: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Scrappy Little Nobody Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nothing to See Here Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tidy the F*ck Up: The American Art of Organizing Your Sh*t Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Anxious People: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Margo's Got Money Troubles: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nobody Wants Your Sh*t: The Art of Decluttering Before You Die Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Love and Other Words Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Summary: Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel by Bonnie Garmus: Key Takeaways, Summary & Analysis Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Last Black Unicorn Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Unf*ckology: A Field Guide to Living with Guts and Confidence Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5In a Holidaze Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Yours Truly Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Dirty Thirty Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Related categories
Reviews for The Patron Saint of Second Chances
77 ratings5 reviews
What our readers think
Readers find this title absolutely wonderful and clever. It is funny, heartwarming, and real. The narrator is fantastic and the Italian setting is lovely. The characters are vivid and the book is a delightful read that takes you away.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Absolutely wonderful and clever story! Funny, heartwarming, real, marvelous. Highly recommended!
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Delightful book! Loved the frequent consultation about what saint would cover whatever situation presented itself next.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Funny. Heartwarming. Excellent narrator! The characters are vivid and the setting is a character on its own. A perfect read to take you away.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is a delightful, lighthearted, uplifting novel with no political agenda, no sex or murder - just a sweet story with refreshingly quirky characters that you will fall in love with instantly!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Loved this one! Light hearted, funny, sweet ....narrator was fantastic, Italian setting was lovely. Adorable story of love of family and community!