Ischia

Ischia is an island where the neighborhood residents go for a vacation during the summer. In the first novel, it is where Elena spent so much time with the Saratorres, which ended in Nino's kiss and Donato's sexual assault. In this novel, Elena goes with Lila, Pinuccia, and Nunzia to the island for a long break. The husbands come over for the weekend; Lila is supposed to be swimming. However, Ishcia is where Nino and Lila fall in love and begin their affair. In many ways, it is a place where innocence is lost for both girls. Elena loses her virginity there to Donato Saratorre, and when they leave Ischia the girls cease communicating for months on end.

The new Carracci grocery store.

The 'new' Carracci store is important because it's an upgrade from the one in the neighborhood. It's implied that the money to open it was...