Love in Idleness

“A genuinely clever writer. . . . Craig’s secret weapon is charm. . . . A summery divertissement.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Beguiling, very funny. . . . Craig writes with charm and wit.” —The New Yorker

“Amanda Craig is a marvelous writer—both playful and graceful, she gives darting sidelong glances into the human heart. Love in Idleness is the perfect summer read. Escapist in the best sense, it suggests that we may need to get lost in order to find ourselves.” —Allison Pearson, author of I Don’t Know How She Does It

“Lush and light … loving and witty…. A brainy beach book.” —Newsday

“With slapstick confusion, magic potions, and Shakespearean references galore…. [It] manages to surprise in a way old Will never dreamed of.” —Entertainment Weekly

“A leaf-light summer frolic of a novel. . . . Craig’s bardlike command of the story doesn’t waver, and she masterfully conjures the poetic beauty of the Tuscan countryside, making Love in Idleness a perfect read for a summer vacation–or for those in need of one.” –Salon

“Sharp dialogue, smart lines, well-timed revelations–all in all, a pleasing, evocative, weightless performance.” –The Washington Post

“The magical descriptions of Italy and hilarious observations about love, travel, natives and foreigners in Love in Idleness are but a few of its many pleasures. Amanda Craig has created a hot shimmery climate in which a cast of old friends, quirky family members and naughty children who make love potions come to know themselves and their hearts. A delightful brew.” –Jane Hamilton

“A social comedy with a hint of magic. . . . An entertaining and good-hearted summer read by someone who knows, and loves, her Shakespeare.” –Seattle Times

“Sprawling and sweet, Craig traces how romantic, platonic, and familial relationships change over time.” –Elle

“As the magic kicks in and the misbehavior begins, it is as if Craig applies a potion to her readers’ own eyelids, drawing them into an enchanted dream where her hold over them is complete.” –The Observer (London)

“Literate, surprising, and funny, Amanda Craig’s haphazard houseparty in the Tuscan hills kept me in a midsummer night’s dream from the moment the shutters were flung open until all ended well.” –Frances Mayes 

“Carefully plotted, its prose sharp, its characters nicely, sometimes mischievously, observed. . . . Enjoyable and clever.” –The Independent (London)

“Craig’s creative enough to stray from Shakespeare when the need arises, and her lyrical prose suits the Italian landscapes.” –Orlando Sentinel

“An absorbing, playful summer read. . . . Craig has a wry affection for her characters, and the novel leaves one feeling Puckish: Lord, what fools these mortals be!” –The Telegraph (UK)

“Amusing and intelligent. . . There are layers of meaning that will repay careful reading. . . . A delightful summer read.”–Library Journal (starred)

“Charming. . . . Craig, a compassionate and good-tempered fairy godmother waving her wand, presides wisely and kindly over the comedy of errors.” –The New Statesman