Jess has apprenticed as a stonecutter under her uncle Louie for years, and now he’s talking about turning the business over to her. She’s divorced from her high school sweetheart, living in her parents’ basement, and is very dissatisfied with her life. But when she has an opportunity to visit Carrera, Italy, where the marble that she works with is mined, she jumps at the chance. Once there, she is in heaven, the contrast from her basement apartment to the Italian scenery couldn’t be greater. She is thrilled to visit the house where her maternal grandmother grew up. Trigiana paints an enthralling picture of life in Italy, with the backdrop of growing up in a big and closely knit Italian family. The title is a bit of a tease; it primarily refers to the town Lake Como in New Jersey. Originally known as South Belmar, it was renamed Lake Como on January 4, 2005. But not to disappoint, the Italian Lake Como does eventually become a New Year’s destination for Jess in the novel. If you are of Italian American heritage, this will strike a chord with you.