Originally published in 1922, The Enchanted April is a novel by Elizabeth von Arnim that follows four women as they go on holiday in Italy. It all begins with an advertisement in The Times: “To Those Who Appreciate Wisteria and Sunshine. Small medieval Italian castle on the shores of the Mediterranean to be let furnished for the month of April. Necessary servants remain.” Lottie Wilkins and Rose Arbuthnot, two women disheartened by the constant London rain and their respective marriages, chance upon the advertisement and decide to inquire. Once they hear back that the castle is available (and after much hemming and hawing), Lottie and Rose find two other renters to share the cost—mysterious Lady Caroline and elderly Mrs. Fisher—and pack their bags for the first adventure either have had in years. In Italy, sunshine, nature, and solitude abound, and gradually, the ladies’ London identities melt away to reveal brighter, freer selves. During their stay, all four women undergo a transformative journey—one finds love, one finds youth, one finds clarity, and one finds joy—and discover unexpected companionship in one another against the Italian backdrop.

The Enchanted April is a novel that I’ve often seen paired with the works of some of my favorite authors like E.M. Forster, Jane Austen, and Barbara Pym, but for one reason or another it has always eluded me. Then, this past winter, I picked it up during a hunt for some Austen-like books, and after waiting until spring (which seemed only fitting for a book entitled The Enchanted April), I finally had the pleasure of reading it. Sensory, evocative, and surprisingly funny, von Arnim’s classic does not disappoint. The book is filled with gorgeous descriptions of nature, from the blooming camellia to the sun-drenched cliffs, that made me want to leave for the Italian Riviera immediately; it seemed utterly believable that San Salvatore would have such power over the four women. I loved the subtle humor and incisive social commentary woven throughout the novel, and though some ideas are outdated (there’s talk of “obeying one’s husband,” etc.), it was a joy to parse through the ladies’ dining room discussions. Even though it was written almost a century ago, The Enchanted April feels breezy and light—the perfect springtime read.

I’d recommend this book to…

• Anyone looking for a book about the transformative magic of travel… it’s similar in theme to Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
• Anyone who loves subtle humor and commentary on the female experience… it’s similar in style to Excellent Women by Barbara Pym
• Anyone craving something light-hearted, uplifting, and nostalgic… it’s similar in tone to The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde