The narrator is an American man who after graduating college takes a job as an archivist for a 92 year old baroness in Tuscany. He meets a number of interesting people during his six month stay at Villa Coco. He also learns Italian and gradually discovers much about these characters as well as about himself.

Villa Coco is a good summer read. It is sweet, charming, at times humorous and makes the reader want to visit Italy. Villa Coco is an enjoyable read but without much depth.