Books like The house at the edge of night by Catherine Banner

Castellamare, an island that seems forgotten yet remains intertwined with the world’s troubles, centers around a café called the House at the Edge of Night. Amedeo Esposito, a foundling from Florence, builds a life there with his intelligent wife, Pina, whose love and guidance anchor the family. Their children—three sons and a curious daughter—rise amid Georgia’s social upheavals, testing the family’s unity. Over nearly a century, the island’s narrative weaves through Italian history: two world wars, fascism, economic hardship, and personal betrayals. Other characters—a cruel count and his enigmatic wife, a scandal‑loving priest, a POW turned poet, an outcast girl who becomes a pillar of strength, and a wounded English soldier—illustrate how the people of Castellamare confront cruelty while discovering love, mercy, rivalry, and forgiveness.

First publish date: 2016