Smitten Twice

What if your first love reappeared decades later, and it was the same person? Smitten Twice: The Story of an Enduring Love Affair is a heartfelt memoir by Michael Fazio, chronicling a sixty-year romance that began when he first laid eyes on Maria Laezza at age fifteen. She was thirteen, unaware of his gaze. Years later, fate brought them back together on a college campus, and the quiet affection from his youth blossomed into a lifetime of devotion. This emotional family memoir traces the arc of their love through the shifting landscapes of courtship, marriage, caregiving, and loss. From joyful newlywed moments to the hard-won battles of Maria's Parkinson's Disease journey, Fazio shares his experiences as a spousal caregiver and grieving partner with tenderness and truth. Set against the backdrop of Brooklyn neighborhoods and enriched by vivid stories of Italian American family life, Smitten Twice offers more than nostalgia. It is a moving tribute to resilience, long-term marriage, and what it truly means to show up for someone every single day. These recollections are sometimes humorous and often raw, and they are written as a legacy for his children and grandchildren, as well as for anyone who has loved deeply. For readers seeking real-life romance, multigenerational family history, and stories of love and loss, this Brooklyn memoir is a treasure. Let this powerful tribute remind you why some love stories never end.