{"product_id":"villa-coco","title":"Villa Coco","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003e ⭐ The new novel by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of \u003ci\u003eLess\u003c\/i\u003e ⭐\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ch3\u003e ⭐ One of the most anticipated books of 2026 for \u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e, BBC Culture, \u003ci\u003ePeople, Time, Oprah Daily, Seattle Times, Bookseller, \u003c\/i\u003eWaterstones and Barnes and Noble ⭐\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''No one writing in English is funnier or more charming than Andrew Greer. Every sentence in this novel sings''\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDAVID SEDARIS\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''What, at first, appears to be a gloriously bonkers escapade amidst the Tuscan landscape gradually transforms into the most beautiful paean to youth, to age and to the fulfilment of love. Absolute joy'' \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSARAH WINMAN, AUTHOR OF \u003ci\u003eSTILL LIFE\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''A lyrical and witty reminder that the most meaningful life - and certainly the one with the best stories - can emerge from the deepest chaos... A great treasure''\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eKATHERINE HEINY, AUTHOR OF \u003ci\u003eSTANDARD DEVIATION\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''What a beautiful book: an absolutely engrossing world full of golden sunlight and little secrets and anchovies and art''\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eHOLLY GRAMAZIO, AUTHOR OF \u003ci\u003eTHE HUSBANDS\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''Eccentric, funny, touching: I adored it'' \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNINA STIBBE, AUTHOR OF \u003ci\u003eMAN AT THE HELM\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA coming-of-age novel, a love story and a tale of life-enhancing friendship: Pulitzer Prize winner Andrew Sean Greer showcases his wit and warmth in this magical tale set amidst the Tuscan hills.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eBroke and directionless, our young protagonist takes a job in the Italian countryside as the all-purpose assistant to Lisabetta, known to her friends as Coco - a strong-willed, wealthy widow of great local renown.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTrained as an archivist, he thinks he''s been hired to catalogue the contents of the beautiful, crumbling mansion nestled in the green Tuscan hills... but what \u003ci\u003eare\u003c\/i\u003e his actual duties? Days are spent ridding the house of a marten - whatever that is - locating the antediluvian septic system, entertaining an endless carousel of guests (from bohemian painters to elderly princesses to unnervingly handsome nephews), attending a funeral in order to make off with the urn, and not inadvertently sabotaging Coco''s great and final plan-to locate the lost love of her life and be reunited before it''s too late.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs summer turns into autumn and the Italian countryside begins to work its magic, the secrets of Villa Coco and its inhabitants are slowly brought to light - and with them, an unforgettable story of the enduring power of friendship.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ch3\u003ePraise for Andrew Sean Greer\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''Bedazzling, bewitching and be-wonderful'' \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''I recommend it with my whole heart'' \u003cb\u003eAnn Patchett\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''Brilliant'' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eGuardian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''Basically perfect'' \u003cb\u003eDolly Alderton\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''Unforgettable'' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eIndependent\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57483566154101,"sku":"9781399757287","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781399757287.jpg?v=1786178753","url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/products\/villa-coco","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}