A good mother is irreplaceable.

— Adriana Trigiani

A handwritten letter carries a lot of risk. It's a one-sided conversation that reveals the truth of the writer. Furthermore, the writer is not there to see the reaction of the person he writes to, so there's a great unknown to the process that requires a leap of faith. The writer has to choose the right words to express his sentences, and then, once he has sealed the envelope, he has to place those thoughts in the hands of someone else, trusting that the feelings will be delivered, and that the recipient will understand the writer's intent. How childish to think that could be easy.

— Adriana Trigiani

Art makes the spirit soar. And when the spirit is lifted, life follows.

— Adriana Trigiani

As a matter of habit, I stop and pick up seashells that interest me, and I always put the ones I really like in a lovely Baccarat bowl in my living room. It's my way of remembering that I once was young and carefree.

— Adriana Trigiani

As we gather around the rough-hewn farm table made by my grandfather, I am reminded that my family has come together for generations in this same way. Summers were always our favorite times; we would eat outdoors under the shade of a tree - hand-rolled pasta with a sauce of fresh tomatoes and basil from the garden, cheese from my Aunt Carmella, olive oil sent by our cousin in Santa Margherita, and wine from our own jugs. After having our fill of food and laughter, we'd pluck ripe figs right off the trees, peel and eat them until the sun disappeared into the blue. I can still taste those summer days, and will always do everything in my power to re-create them.

— Adriana Trigiani

... but that's the beauty of boarding school. I make all my own decisions, small and medium, while the big ones are left up to the Prefect Academy - and as far as boys go, to the only expert I know - Suzanne Sentry

— Adriana Trigiani

But what Mom never told me is that along the way, you find sisters, and they find you. Girls are cool that way.

— Adriana Trigiani

Cairo carried himself like a general in full regalia, when in fact he wore secondhand clothes from the donation bin.

— Adriana Trigiani

Energy has to be fed from a source. If you don't feed the source, it dissipates entirely.The same is true of liking a boy. If you cut off the thoughts, if you stop pinning, you're free to find a boy who is attainable.

— Adriana Trigiani

Having a purpose is the little secret of the nonpretties. Something to do always beats something to look at.

— Adriana Trigiani