A beautifully complex story of mishaps and setbacks…
Adapting to the unexpected twists and turns of living as a global nomad…
And ultimately experiencing love as they improvise their way through it all
Order Improvising in Italian Now
What People Are Saying
Endorsements for Improvising in Italian
“Jennifer’s ability to vividly describe her impressions in Improvising in Italian take the reader on a fantastic trip where we, too, get to experience the food, the land, the people-and it’s all so delicious! A perfect read for the globally curious—the adventurer at heart!”
Jessica Buchanan
NYT Bestselling Author of Impossible Odds
“Blend together unstoppable love, delectable food, and a craving for adventure. Add fistfuls of mishaps, some funny and others truly scary. Mix with heaping amounts of resilience, and you have a recipe for a sumptuous—and profound–memoir. Improvising in Italian is a winning chronicle of the quest for a fully authentic life.”
Dawn Raffel
Author of Boundless as the Sky
“Part memoir, part travelogue, Jennifer Artley’s Improvising in Italian is an honest, compelling, fascinating insider’s view of a husband and wife starting a new life together as they take up residence in a small Italian city… A gem of a book that’ll have you eagerly turning pages to find out what ultimately survives a world in chaos.”
Charles Salzberg
Shamus Award nominee and author of Man on the Run.
“Artley’s breezy style of writing echoes the improvisational spirit that defines her memoir… Her conversational tone draws readers into her world, making even the most personal struggles relatable and engaging. With courage, and vulnerability she opens herself to curiosity and adventure. Perfect book for fans who’s ever dreamed of starting over in a foreign land.”
Dahlia Abraham-Klein
Author of Caravan of Hope: A Bukharan Woman’s Journey to Freedom
“Improvising in Italy is a heartfelt memoir unveiling the Italian world of food, art, vintage cars and soccer teams, as well as the country’s impenetrable bureaucracy. Throughout Jennifer Artley’s courageous adventures and revelatory experiences, we grow alongside her as she poignantly grapples with and gains insight into the meaning of ‘home.’”
Esther Amini
Author of CONCEALED
“Such a personal slice of a moment in time that left us all forever changed, through the eyes of a true nomad. A window into an incredible life of living everywhere, nowhere, and—for a moment—in Italy.
Andrew D. Welch
Author of Field Blends
In Improvising In Italian, Jennifer Artley takes a different approach from the well-trodden romantic notion of starting over in an exotic foreign country… Artley provides us with a reality check concerning foreign language barriers along with a magnitude of rules, regulations, and red tape… In this painfully honest memoir and perhaps cautionary tale, Ms. Artley doesn’t mince words about the unsavory side of doing business, the unusual mixture of friendships that develop, and the sheer terror of being in lockdown in Italy during COVID-19… Her story is philosophical and poignant and offers rare insight into the reality of leading an adventuresome lifestyle.
Donna Keel Armer
Author of Solo in Salento: A Memoir, The Red Starfish, Moringa-Tree of Life
“Having only fantasized about a life in Italy, I read this book largely to see if the reality lives up to the fantasy. It turns out that the answer is…depends on your fantasy. In this book, Artley does a masterful job of sharing an honest and humbling depiction of her move to Italy… what I loved most about this book is the author’s vulnerability in allowing us to see how far things fell from fantasy before she and her husband were able to find themselves… It’s a book about perspective as much as it is about marriage, self-awareness, and Italy, and it only made me want to go there more!
Jessica Greenwood
Author of The Joy Luck Club and The Pilgrimage of Motherhood
“Jennifer Artley’s Improvising in Italian is a wonderfully honest and detailed account of her pursuit of ‘la dolce vita,’ which, coincidentally, is often more ‘la vita dura.’ This is not the usual American expat account, and that’s what makes it special. Her writing is fresh and candid, effectively capturing the sensory experiences of things like shopping at bustling markets, savoring traditional dishes, and forging friendships that reveal layers of Italy’s past, including its complicated Jewish history. Yes, there are dreamy experiences, like dining at a renowned restaurant, but these are juxtaposed against the practical realities of settling in another country, corruption, massive financial strain, and the relationship problems that come with it. Artley paints a nuanced picture of Italy’s regional diversity and social dynamics, which include observations about feeling like an outsider, coupled with warm portrayals of local hospitality. Overall, this is a great read on making a go of life across the pond, and the tough choices required when it doesn’t go as planned. Very highly recommended.”
Readers’ Favorite
“A Delicious and Honest Look into the Joys, Tastes, Experiences -and Risks – that an American Expat Faces When Living in Another Country.”
Improvising in Italian
Order Improvising in Italian at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and Books-A-Million.
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Latest Posts
Check out the latest posts from Jennifer’s blogs
- Osteria FrancescanaOsteria Francescana is still a famous three-Michelin restaurant but it’s now possible to try the iconic dishes another way. At Casa Maria Luigia, the Bottura’s beautiful bed and breakfast in the countryside of Modena…
- Monza ParkJust outside of Milan, Monza Park is home to the 18th century Royal Palace. Closed by King Victor Emmanuel III after the death of his father, the palace and its grounds were donated to…
- The Slow Food MovementThe Slow Food Movement emphasizes food quality, and its goals are to preserve food traditions and regional cuisines and promote locally grown plants and animals.
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Reach out to Jennifer to schedule an interview and hear more about her writings