The breakout Australian bestseller that was shortlisted for the ABIA General Fiction Book of the Year

When the lives of four very different women become entangled in a boutique Venice hotel, dark secrets unravel and not everyone who checked into the hotel will check out again.

Signora Loretta Bianchi, the world famous cook at Venice's Hotel Il Cuore, is forced to choose between once-in-a-lifetime passion and her devoted husband.

Sophie, on assignment in Venice as a food writer, finds a lot more than Signora Bianchi's secret recipes to love, but what is the charming Rocco hiding?

Law graduate Elena is sinking just like the endangered city she's returned home to, and she'll stop at nothing to be free from her marriage.

Grandmother Gayle's dream Venetian holiday turns sinister as she finds herself embroiled in a life or death escape.

Set against a backdrop of the romance and tragedy of magical Venice, The Venice Hotel explores the powerful bonds that develop between women in times of crisis, and the healing power of female connection.

'I completely fell in love with the women of the Venice Hotel' - Nicola Moriarty

'A love letter to a gorgeous city, crafted with such rich detail, I felt I knew every character to the core.' - Melina Marchetta

'The perfect combination of juicy drama and heartrending emotion' - Rachael Johns

'The words of this book don't just dance on the page, they jump off it and come to life in dramatic fashion. Vivid scenes play out before the reader's eyes like a blockbuster movie...The Venice Hotel is one of those easy-to-read, hard-to-put-down novels with charming characters, a fast-paced plot and a deeper meaning. ' Australian Women's Weekly

'With its atmospheric setting, The Venice Hotel is a journey of intrigue, romance and, ultimately, hope. Woods delivers a compelling narrative that highlights the strength found in the connections forged between women in times of adversity-for fans of Liane Moriarty and Celeste Ng.' Bookseller+Publisher