My huge thanks to Kelly Pike for inviting me to be part of the blog tour for We Will Be Forest by Ilaria Bernadini, translated by Livia Franchini and for sending me a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Published by Whitefox on 13th June 2024, We Will Be Forest is available for purchase here.

We Will Be Forest

A universal recipe for when life feels barren. A botanical tale of closeness and caring.

Anna is mourning the end of her marriage when she runs into Maria by chance at her mother’s gallery in Milan. When Maria suddenly collapses and is taken to hospital, the pair’s lives are irrevocably changed.

Over the course of the long, dry summer that follows, the pair come together to convalesce. Maria, an avid gardener, observes half-dead plants on Anna’s terrace, and finds solace in teaching Anna how to care for them. In doing so, the pair also begin to care for each other’s loneliness, and find in the natural world a deeply restorative power – one that will open them up to new love and life.

In We Will Be Forest, Ilaria Bernardini draws on a private affair – illness, the end of a marriage, a child to protect – to bring to life a powerful poetic universe in which words sprout like branches and leaves.

My Review of We Will Be Forest

Anna’s life is changing.

We Will Be Forest is an intense, beautiful book that is so steeped in meaning that I’m sure my reading has only scratched the surface. I found it simultaneously prosaic, yet magical, deeply sad and wonderfully uplifting. Equally dichotomous, the prose is both sparse and intricate in a blend that has been wonderfully translated by Livia Franchini. 

The iterative metaphor of nature as life works to perfection. As Anna learns about the plants on her balcony, as she comes to understand their most basic needs, so she begins to understand herself and to come to terms with the events that have led to this point in her life. As a result Anna is able to move on. Ilaria Bernadini has such a sensitive touch that she illustrates how sheer happiness can be just a touch away from deep despair and vice versa. As a result, We Will Be Forest is a mesmerising tale of pain and hope. I loved it. 

Anna’s personality is complex, layered and thoroughly engaging. Her first person voice shines through the text as she reveals herself to be selfish, demanding, caring, nurturing and so on in a maelstrom of emotion. I’m not entirely sure I understood the psychic character in her story, but assume they are her innermost voice and personality, the very essence of who Anna truly is, her conscience and her guide. Who or whatever the psychic is, they steer Anna through her memories, her choices and her growth. I found this aspect profound and moving. 

Rich in imagery and theme, We Will Be Forest is a story that explores our complex identities, how we respond to trauma, how we are affected by our families, our relationships and the seasons. I loved the way the weather moved from extreme drought to inundating rain as Anna learnt to live again. The theme of connection is threaded through the narrative like organic mycelium, giving a sense of belonging that is both fascinating and healing. 

We Will Be Forest defies review. It’s less a narrative than an emotional experience. If you’re looking for a fast paced, heart thumping and thrilling read, We Will Be Forest is not the book for you. If you want to experience a voice that articulates your deepest, previously undefined feelings and emotions, and helps you understand your true self whilst reading an emotional and profound text, then We Will Be Forest is absolutely perfect. 

Oh, and as an aside, read the chapter headings in one go (preferably aloud) as they create a poem of life to live by! 

About Ilaria Bernardi

Ilaria Bernardini is a prolific talent. A writer and screenwriter, she is the author of nine novels, two graphic novels and two collections of short stories. Her novels Faremo Foresta (We Will Be Forest) and The Portrait were longlisted for Italy’s prestigious Strega Prize. Both are being adapted for film. Ilaria has also created TV shows for MTV, Paramount+, The Apartment and Fremantle. She has written for Rolling Stone, Vogue, Vanity Fair and GQ. Her acclaimed novel The Girls are Good has been adapted into a six-part TV series

Ilaria is writing new movies as she continues to develop Bernardo Bertolucci’s final script (which Ilaria co-wrote with him) The Echo Chamber.  She splits her time between London and Milan.

For further information, follow her on Twitter/X @faremoforesta or find Ilaria on Instagram.

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