The View From Lake Como

The novel has two main settings: Lake Como, New Jersey, and Carrara, Italy; these settings represent distinct experiences and possibilities for the novel’s protagonist, and they both exist in the real world, sharing significant similarities with their fictional counterparts.

Lake Como, NJ, is home to a vibrant Italian American community. According to Jess, “When it comes to Lake Como, New Jersey, the Capodimonte and Baratta families own North Boulevard” (7). Their broods are so large that they populate the road that, in reality, runs the entire length of the lake’s northern border. Further, Jess says, “Around the loop of the lake, the rest of the houses are filled with relatives” (7). In a place that feels so close-knit, Jess feels she can’t escape nosy neighbors who wonder why she left Bobby Bilancia, and interfering family members who keep secrets that affect her daily life.

Familial and cultural traditions are important to the Italian American families in Lake Como. Jess explains that, in 2004, “The local Italians ran a campaign to change the name from South Belmar to Lake Como” (10), and while people with different backgrounds objected, they eventually reached a consensus—something that also happened in the naming of the real Lake Como. Lake Como is just over one-quarter square mile in size, including both land and water area. The population is small and has steadily declined over the past few decades, so Jess’s sense that all the families know each other seems entirely possible.

Lake Como tourism sites tout the authenticity of the Italian cuisine there, indicating the prevalence of Italian American families. One site explains that a major benefit of visiting the state “is finding amazing, authentic Italian food, as there are several long-standing Italian families in the area. There’s a rich Italian culture in this region of the country, and […] New Jersey has more Italian restaurants than any other type of cuisine” (Boutros, Peter. “Where Are New Jersey’s Best Italian Restaurants?” Stunning NJ Homes, 2025). The significance of food in the text reflects this culinary heritage.

Carrara, Italy is associated with Jess’s newfound independence and courage. She’s always longed to go but was never brave or determined enough to do so. One Carrara tourism site says, “the town is famous for three things: marble, anarchism, and pig fat. This unlikely trio is intertwined as deeply as the mineral veins striating the mountains” (Gattuso, Reina. “The Tuscan Town Famous for Anarchists, Marble, and Lard.” Atlas Obscura, 2019). There’s a clear connection between Carrara’s marble quarries and the Capodimonte family business, and Carrara’s marble is used by famous sculptors, including Michaelangelo. Claudia LaFortezza, the mother of Louie Capodimonte’s son, serves the region’s famous dish, made of spiced and seasoned pig lard. Due to the harsh conditions in the area’s marble quarries, it has witnessed radical worker movements and class struggle, presenting a site of transformation and perseverance that inspires Jess to make changes in her life.