Review of Chronicle of a Good-Looking Family

[Caroline Anne Richmond]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Chronicle of a Good-Looking Family" by Lauro Martines.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Chronicle of a Good-Looking Family by Lauro Martines is an adult fiction book spanning the decades of three generations of family. Love, loss, longing, and lies fill the pages of this story, where intriguing characters experience the ups and downs of life.

In the early 1950s, Florence was an easy place to live. Strong communities existed, and everyone knew each other. Good looks and ugliness in families were throughout the city, with a saying that if you are born beautiful, you are not born poor. Lorenzo Castellani was from a good-looking and prosperous family who owned two pastry shops. Lorenzo had no interest in the shops but was in love with books and studied Renaissance art at the University of Florence. Lorenzo was the first Florentine to inhabit the consciousness of Adam. Adam is from Chicago and is in Florence studying art. The pair become firm friends and can confide in each other. They dream of working in the art world together, but their worlds are turned upside down by the mistakes of Lorenzo that bring great shame to his family. These events change both of their lives forever.

The book spans three generations of family. I enjoyed learning about the characters. The author has captured the journey through time perfectly. I particularly liked the descriptions of Florence from the 1950s to the present day. It is fascinating learning about the Florentine culture through the decades. The author has given an insight into Catholicism and the strict rules expected of young people. Catholic guilt is prominent throughout the story, and the author invites questioning into religion.

I loved the characters in the book. Everyone had strengths and weaknesses, making them very relatable. Some characters made poor decisions that were consequential. The author has expressed emotions excellently, giving the book a sensitive edge. The characters all have different personalities and temperaments, creating a dynamic bunch. My only criticism regarding the characters is that one character, Laura, had a superficial part. As a family member, her character should have had more involvement in the story.

There are several surprising twists and turns in the story. The author has created a sensational plotline. A lot of momentum carried through the book, and I was keen to know the conclusion. The ending was disappointing as it didn’t tie up everything, and I wanted to know more about the characters’ futures. There is room for a sequel as the younger generations of the family still have much more story to tell.

The book is edited exceptionally well. I loved the story and its unexpected twists. The characters are fabulous, and I loved understanding their passions and flaws. The author described Florence beautifully and gave a taste of Italy. The ending was underwhelming, and I think Laura could have been present more. I enjoyed this book, and I would love to read a sequel. I rate the book 4 out of 5 stars.

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Chronicle of a Good-Looking Family
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[Williams Jaden]

Chronicle of a Good-Looking Family by Lauro Martines is a multi-generational tale of love, loss, and betrayal set in 1950s Florence. It follows Lorenzo Castellani, a young man from a prosperous, good-looking family, who dreams of art rather than running his family's pastry shops. His friendship with Adam, an American art student, is tested by Lorenzo's mistakes, which bring shame to his family and alter both their lives forever. A rich, character-driven story about the complexities of family and ambition.