My mother-in-law recommended this book to me. I can only assume it's because my husband is Irish and I'm an Italian from NJ. I found the book annoying. The characters were stereotypical, yet unbelievable. The story was extremely predictable. I had many issues with this story. First of all, in the 21st century, an Italian American family wouldn't exclude their daughter's boyfriend from a family dinner because he was Irish American and worked in stem cell research. And then after they find out he has brain cancer they still don't invite him to dinner. Absurd. I really started getting aggravated with the book when Big Al and Connie show up at the funeral. The guy isn't invited for Thanksgiving dinner but all of a sudden they're at the grave site unannounced to show "support"? Ridiculous. A real Italian family wouldn't do something like that. I also doubted the fact that this so called "Uber Italian" family would re-locate to Hilton Head in the first place. Anyone with a fat Italian grandmother knows that the last place she wants to live is in the South. Second of all, the grappling with the Catholic church's beliefs was a real snore fest. I have 50 pages left to read, from reading these reviews I know to expect a "miracle". I knew that would be the ending w/out even reading it. Why? Because this book is so predictable.

Disappointed in this latest story by a superb storyteller. The characters were unsympathetic and lacked substance. The overly dramatic Catholic guilt/miracle was boring. Hopefully in the future Ms. Frank will stick to characters and stories of the low country which she has an affinity for.

Full of Grace was a (just)little slow in the beginning for my taste, but I read on and I'm so glad I did!! This book made me laugh, it made me cry, it was great!!! Highly recommended.

No matter where we go we take our beloved culture with us - in this case, Italian. The Russo clan in South Carolina was the same as they were in New Jersey. I so related to this novel with the attitudes, practices, beliefs and FOOD - lots of food. Of all the characters I think Big Al, Grace's father, was the most "interesting". He was somewhat of a blowhard but he was a generous, bighearted blowhard. Nonna was the typical old Italian grandmother who essentially ruled the clan - even Big Al.
Grace's mother was a lukewarm lady without a cellphone - horrors.


As for Dr. Michael, he had it made in the shade cohabitating with Grace, a devoted, loving, true blue, sacrificing, nurturing, PATIENT girl. I found nothing especially appealing about Michael but then, that's what makes the world go round. Michael's miraculous cure from his brain cancer was an interesting concept to include in her story and even for those who are non-believers, Ms. Frank presented it from all sides.
Grace's continual putdown of Marianne, her brother's intended got to be rather boring. Marianne was a ditz but well suited to Nicky and Grace needed to not like but accept this fact. Frank, brother number one and his wife Regina were a nice balance to the rest of the family. Their kids were another story. This is the first book by Ms. Frank I've read and I've since bought two more.