Book Review: ‘Villa Coco,’ by Andrew Sean Greer

Article excerpt

Andrew Sean Greer's new novel "Villa Coco" follows an aimless postgraduate into a glamorous Italian villa brimming with romance and secrets. The book continues themes from Greer's earlier "Less" series, deploying his signature blend of wit and emotional depth as his protagonist navigates a world of wealthy eccentrics and hidden histories. Set against sun-drenched Mediterranean backdrops, the novel trades the globe-trotting energy of its predecessors for intimate character study within confined, tension-laden spaces. Greer crafts a story where surface sophistication masks deeper vulnerabilities, inviting readers to excavate meaning from languid days and fraught encounters among the villa's residents.