The weaver's shuttle turns at the death of Gia Falcini's mother, when Gia's estranged father in Italy sends a scarf whose unusual qualities could revive Gia's ailing fabric shop in Boston's North End. Goaded by conflicting desires, Gia journeys to her father's village and the stepfamily she has never met, a vibrant local fabric mill, and Italy's style capital. The adventure could shred Gia's ambitions or offer a legacy worth taking away.

"Ah, family-infuriating, beloved, and infinitely complex. Adele Annesi's debut novel beautifully captures the essence of a fascinating family, one that has been doubly split by divorce and geography. The story focuses on a father living in Italy and the daughter he left behind in the States. Much of the novel is set in and around the Italian town of Castel Barberini where Gia, the abandoned daughter, embarks on a quest for self-definition, professional fulfillment, and familial and romantic love."--Hollis Seamon, author of Somebody Up There Hates You

"Adele Annesi may write with supreme authority about the world of high-end garment design, but even more impressive is her ability to delicately weave the complex patterns of her characters' lives. What She Takes Away is like a dress made from the finest material, hand-sewn with love and tailored to perfection."--Chris Belden, author of Shriver

"In her much anticipated debut novel, What She Takes Away, Adele Annesi takes us to Fashion Week in Milan and deep into the thoroughly imagined interior lives of Gia Falcini and her estranged father, Giovanni. This is an outstanding piece of work and a more than promising start to what one hopes will be a long literary career."--Pete Nelson, author of I Thought You Were Dead

"The vicissitudes of family love and strife are richly explored in What She Takes Away amidst the timeless Italian countryside. Annesi's attention to detail and examination of the textile industry provide a fascinating backdrop for this universal story."--Liz Matthews, Program Director, Westport Writers' Workshop

"A cleverly written story that weaves the threads of an estranged father and daughter against a colorful Italian background. The writing is wonderful."--Blake Schnirring, Executive Director, Westport Writers' Workshop

Fiction. Italian Studies.