In college, Pia Santore dreamed of going to New York and taking the Big Apple by storm with her younger sister Erica. Instead, Pia has arrived in Astoria, Queens, with a prestigious journalism internship at a celebrity magazine—and no Erica. Though the neighborhood has an abundance of appeal—including the delectable confections sold at her Aunt Antoniella's bakery—the pain of losing Erica a few years ago still feels fresh.

Pia's arrival coincides with an unexpected sighting. Italian movie icon Francesca Donata is rumored to be staying nearby, still every bit as voluptuous and divaesque as in her heyday. With the help of a handsome local artist with ties to Francesca's family, Pia convinces the legend to grant her a series of interviews, even traveling to her house in Rome. In the Eternal City, Pia begins to unearth the truth behind the star's fabled romances and tangled past. And here too, where beauty and history mingle in every breathtaking view and hope shimmers in the Trevi Fountain and on the Spanish Steps, Pia gradually learns how to love and how to let go. For when in Rome, you may find your carissima—your dearest one—and you may even find yourself.