Love & Gelato

Pretty good book. Ultimately, a little short. If you buy this because you already have an affinity for food & Europe, you'll be frustrated with the protagonist for just being so dull to these wonderful things. You've never had gelato? So, you just don't walk down the ice cream isle at Cub?

"Love and Gelato" (LG). First things first - the very best ice cream/gelato/frozen dessert is Haagen Dazs Vanilla. Second place is Haagen Dazs Con De Leche, and third place is Haagen Dazs Rum Raisin. Now before all you gelato lovers get your panties in a twist let me say that I like most gelato. I have had gelato in Italy and in the US. A lot of gelato. Some of it is better than some ice creams, and vice versa. I will also add that I have seen lots of Italy and like most tourists I fell in love with Italy and with most things Italian, including Limoncello, Pisa, Florence, the Uffizi, and David. But let's not get all crazy about an over-priced dessert just because it's Italian and because it's the fad of the moment. So chill, everyone.

Unfortunately, I'm not as enthusiastic about LG. It's ok as a YA novel goes but it's really just another dessert - light, tasty, refreshing for a few moments, forgettable. High schooler Lina loses her Mom to cancer and following one of Mom's last wishes flies off to Tuscany to spend time with the mysterious Howard. But what was Mom's relationship to hunky Howard? Friend? Lover? Father of her only child? It seems the answer might be found in a journal that Mom sent to Howard sometime back. Lina pours through it seemingly a few pages at a time, sharing her findings with the reader (one of her friends goes through it in two hours!) And so the story slowwwlllyyyy enfolds. Anyway, Lina quickly encounters the Love of her life - that would be Lorenzo, or is it Thomas? They have the usual teen-age spats, and say really stupid things to each other.

I note that some of these YA things label their work "For ages 12 and up" I would like to suggest a new approach - how about "For ages 14 and down"

I was disappointed in the book. I am tired of promoting having children outside of marriage. The story was good and I think the book was written to a teen but the message was not a positive message. I believe Jenna is a promising writer but would like to see books about in tack families, solid values and not sleeping around with your professor at school. Italy is a beautiful place and a great love story could have been written, I can see most people enjoyed the book

Carolina (Lina) Emerson ends up relocating from Seattle to Italy to live with her father, Howard Mercer, about six months after Lina's mother passes. Lina moves to a house located in the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial. Despite Lina not wanting to move to Florence, she meets an array of people such as Lorenzo (Ren) and Thomas. Will Lina stay in Florence just for the summer or will she permanently settle in the birthplace of the Renaissance? Will she fall in love in Ren or Thomas?

Jenna Evans Welch has captured my heart with the love of Florence. When I was reading Love & Gelato, it reminded me when I visited Florence, Italy back in 2009. The way Welch describes certain parts of Florence is perfect. I can vividly picture everything she describes from the Boboli Gardens to Ponte Vecchio. It brings back so many memories of all the things I saw and did in Firenze. Oh, how I miss it!

Welch includes journal entries within Love & Gelato which adds something extra to the book. Even though Lina's mother passed, Lina can experience Florence through her mother's eyes with the journal; It's like her personal guide to Florence. However, Lina discovers that the journal holds many secrets. And of course, Lina wants to figure out the mystery of why her mother wanted to her move to Florence. With the help of Ren, Lina unearths more than she bargained for.

Love & Gelato is the perfect heartfelt and romantic novel for those who enjoyed reading Anna and the French Kiss. Looking for the perfect book about self-discovery and love in a foreign country? Then Love & Gelato is the book to pick up for your spring or summer read.

I bought the book Love and Gelato for my two daughters to share after they had seen it in our local Religious Bookstore. I wrongly assumed anything sold there would be appropriate for them to read, especially since it's recommended for 12 and up. I was wrong! My older daughter brought it to me and said she didn't want to finish it. I asked why and discovered not only was the language crude but the book is mainly focused on physical attraction which apparently got confused for "romance." And, there was even a scene where the main character is being inappropriately touched by a stranger. Granted, compared to what's out there for 12 year olds this isn't the worst. However, I personally wouldn't recommend it to anyone and at the very least I think the recommended age should be higher than 12.

Teenager Lina’s mother had been informed that she was dying from cancer. After bringing Lina up as a single parent, her dying wish was for her daughter to move to Tuscany, Italy, to live with her father Howard, a man Lina had never heard of, nor knew anything about.

Shortly after her mum’s death, Lina apprehensively travelled to Italy, leaving behind her grandmother, and best friend (whom she had been living with). Things didn’t exactly start off well with her father though, after it turned out that he was the caretaker of a World War cemetery, and that the house she would be living in overlooked the headstones.

But then she met sexy neighbour Ren who was half Italian, half American. The two struck up a friendship that ran deep. When Lina was presented with her mother’s old journal, the two of them settled down to read about her mum’s life in Italy, which included plenty of surprises and shocking moments.

Love and Gelato, is a YA book that is filled to the bring with emotion. Lina is a beautifully-rounded character. She is exceptionally likeable, and tries to carry on with her life as normal as she possibly can after her mum’s premature death.

At the start, Lina didn’t take to Italy. Yes the country was beautiful, but she didn’t want to move to a different place, halfway around the world, to live with a father she had never heard of, leaving her life and friends back in the States. Then there is the fact of having to see the headstone everyday, as if she needed a constant reminder of her mother’s death.

Ren is a lovely, well-mannered, rather good-looking, young man. The two take to one another and their relationship develops well as Lina isn’t afraid to say exactly what she thinks, and Ren doesn’t pussyfoot around her, treating her like a fragile doll.

You get to read all about Lina’s mum’s time when she too lived in Italy. It is written in diary form throughout the book, and you get to discover what she got up to, at the same time as Lina and Ren do, though I had already worked out from the off about the mysterious X.

The book is fantastic. I was as engrossed and eager as Lina was, to finish the journal. But it is more than just about Lina discovering about her mother’s past. It is about Lina learning to discover herself too, and to learn to move on as best she could after her mother’s death.

The story is filled with surprises, twist, turns, and poignant moments. Yes there are plenty of emotional scenes, but there are also just as many funny moments too. I’ll admit that the book might not be aimed at my age, but I held off reading the last chapter for a couple of days when I’d reached it, as I just didn’t want the book to end.

The writing is incredibly authentic, and the plot totally unique. A completely amazing book, from a superbly-talented debut author. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Jenna Evans Welch.

Reviewed on Whispering Stories Book Blog
*I received a free copy of this book, which I voluntarily reviewed

ACTUAL RATING: 3.5/5

As you may or may not know, in February I will be studying abroad in Austria for my final semester of college. So when I saw that this takes place in Europe, I knew I needed to read it. While this novel had its problems, it was a light, interesting read, and it definitely made my wanderlust flare.

So, Lina's mother just died. On her way out, she started telling Lina these stories of her time studying abroad in Italy, and her friend Howard, who she met there. Then she breaks the news that this Howard character is Lina's father and begs Lina to go live with him in Italy and get to know him IN ITALY after she dies (not in Italy). Obviously, I enjoyed the setting of this novel, but it was moreso than the fact that it takes place IN ITALY. Howard lives in a cemetery, basically, and all the friends Lina makes IN ITALY have really interesting houses. I was really charmed by that aspect because I am obsessed with cool houses.

Something else I really loved while I was reading is that when Lina arrives at Howard's she discovers a journal that her mother sent to the house for her from her time in Italy. It catalogs a scandalous romance, some poor decisions, and a harsh truth for Lina. The journal is a story inside of a story, which I always love, and it presents an almost-mystery--and I needed to figure out how things played out. Plus, we get to follow Lina as she checks out some of the places her mother mentions going to IN ITALY so it was like a lil tour and that was a lot of fun.

The romance between Lina and Ren is cute and sweet, but nothing particularly special. It seemed to move a bit fast. Not insta-love fast, but fast nonetheless. Ren was immediately taken by Lina, and part of it just seemed to be because she was new. But don't get me wrong: Ren was cute! I loved that he was willing to be there for Lina for anything, and he always seemed to be down for an adventure. I was rooting for their romance, definitely, but it was no Epic Love, ya know? What I thought was cuter than the romance was the relationship Lina and Howard develop. It's a strange father-daughter dynamic, considering the two of them have only known about each other for a short time, but the way their relationship changes and grows is heckin adorable. As a bonafide daddy's girl, I'm a sucker for a lovely father-daughter storyline.

Now for the thing that bothered me most about this book: THE END. Yes, it was a bit predictable. But that's to be expected. It was really just one event that genuinely angered me and spoiled the entire ending for me. You see, Lina goes out with a guy she'd been flirting with throughout the whole book, except she's only using him to see Ren, and that just bothered me so much. It made some of their sweet moments taste a little bitter as I was reading.

This book was charming and sweet and a really quick read. It is a really nice summer read, and it will absolutely sate any desire for a light, fun contemporary book.

I've thought a lot about dying wishes lately (I heard something on the radio where people could text in wishes they've experienced) and in a way, it makes sense that Lina's mom wished for her to go and live with her dad in Italy. But...Lina's never met him, never even knew who he was, and isn't sure she wants to go. But she does.

I loved experiencing Italy through Lina's eyes and through her mom's eyes. While there, she's given a journal that her mom kept when she lived there and by reading it, Lina is able to experience things as her mother did and is given clues to figure out a little mystery surrounding her mother's past. I love a little secret and I seriously felt like I was along for the ride in discovering this beautiful country on an intimate level.

Lina is charming and strong, but her heart is no match for two potential love interests. I love how that angle worked out and I especially loved how Lina came to terms with everything. I thought her relationships were very realistic and full of many different emotions, which connected me to the story and characters. I love how the journal played such an important role in her development and bonds with others.

This is a fun story that now has me dying to go to Italy and to taste that scrumptious gelato firsthand.

Content: some underage (in the US) drinking/partying; mild romance; very mild language.

“Turns out there's a reason they call it falling in love, because when it happens - really happens - that's exactly how it feels. There's no doing or trying, you just let go and hope that someone's going to be there to catch you.”

This was the perfect summer read! Lina's story really resonated with me, and I could definitely see myself doing the things that she did. I wanted to both speed through this one and savor the experience, so it's a good thing I listened to the audiobook with a set pace. I think I might have devoured it too quickly on my own and it would have been over too soon. (Also, the narrator was phenomenal!)

Lina lost her mother and was tossed into an unfamiliar world with a father she didn't know, a country she had never been to, and a culture she was unprepared for. I enjoyed watching Lina navigate her new life, and the journal she inherited from her mother was just icing on the cake. Lina's mother was a prominent character, and we mostly only see her through journal entries. Despite that, the author makes Hadley (her mother) stand out and claim part of this story as her own. I loved listening to those entries and trying to solve the mystery along with Lina and Ren.

Ren was the sweetest guy and was eager to help Lina find her footing in Italy. They ran into each other on accident, but their relationship made me believe in fate. They were meant for each other, and I liked watching their relationship grow despite some obvious problems. I'm happy Lina decided to share her mother's journal with him, because adventures with Ren were infinitely better than sulking solo.

I also adored Howard (her father). He didn't know Lina existed until shortly before she came to live with him. He did everything he possibly could to make sure she felt welcome and was comfortable. He didn't try to force her into conversations she wasn't ready for, or try to be an overbearing parent, but simply let her live and gave her room to breathe. Howard knew she was hurting and needed time to adjust before they tried to move forward.

Lina keeps in touch with her best friend by making random phone calls and video chatting. Again, the author brilliantly portrays a secondary character with very little information. It was like we'd all been friends forever.

It was such a wonderful reading experience on so many levels. I've never had a strong desire to visit Italy, but now I have an itch. Jenna Evans Welch has successfully made me want to traverse Italy and see every site mentioned in this book. Love & Gelato is my own version of Lina's mom's journal. It will be my map to secret bakeries, interesting sculptures, and the best gelato in the world. I cannot recommend this one enough!

“So... Italian gelato. Take the deliciousness of a regular ice-cream cone, times it by a million, then sprinkle it with crushed-up unicorn horns.”

“A life without love is like a year without summer.”

Originally posted at Do You Dog-ear? on August 5, 2018.

The only reason why I'm taking off 1 star is because I didn't agree with some stuff. Like there were just some cringey moments that I didn't like. Also, the weird love triangle or square romance thing just didn't feel right to me. I know that love can be messy but this one was just 'fake messy'? (was that even the right word? My vocabulary is limited so that will do for now.) Not that because it was bad, it was mostly because it was pretty weird and it didn't seem genuine.

This whole love triangle or square felt forced when we all know who the love interest was going to be. It was predictable since the beginning of the novel. I also thought it had been dragged out and in the end, it had been too quick? While the story as a whole was cute, this novel felt short.

Additionally, I wanted that one guy from the car who was speaking to the protagonist in Italian (while she was running) to have some sort of significance. For instance, maybe they could have coincidentally met sometime in the novel. Such coincidence could add some light humor in the novel. Because even though this one's considered to be a light hearted contemporary novel, there had been pretty serious topics.

Anyway, I loved the author's writing because it felt like I was transported to Italy. I love everything about Italy so I may be biased when reading this novel. And when I take the romance aspect into account, I thought everything about this novel was beautiful. Such great atmosphere and I adore almost everything in this novel?

Love and Gelato was not just about honoring the mother's protagonist dying wish, it was also about Lina learning about herself. In a way, this is another great coming-of-age story.

Romance, gelato, and exploring Italy on the back of a scooter while trying to discover her mother's past. Love and Gelato is part travel show, part romance and part crazy family drama.

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this book. It's not so much love/hate as a there-were-a-few-things-that-annoyed-me-but-overall-I-kind-of-liked-most-of-it-and-really-liked-some-aspects feeling. It's confusing.

Lina's mother has just died. In order to fulfil her mother's last wish, Lina is off to Italy to meet the father she never knew. But things aren't as simple as they first seem and when Lina is given her mother's old journal she sets out to discover what really happen in Italy seventeen years ago.

Okay. Here's what I liked.

- It's set in Italy. Feel like visiting Italy this summer? Well read this book and save yourself a trip. The sights, the sounds, the tastes, slipping between the pages was like strolling down a little Italian street.

- The glorious descriptions of Italian food. Pizza. Pasta. Chocolate. Gelato. Little pastries with chocolate. I was dying of hunger most of the time while reading.

- Lina. She's funny, loves to run and describes her relationship with food as 'more-than-a-friend love'. Can we be friends? She has some fantastic lines. Lina is the heart of this book and it wouldn't work without someone like Lina who is just weird enough to pull it off.

Here are the things I kind of liked/annoyed me.

- The writing. While at times this book was amusing, mainly because of Lina, at others it was just plain weird or otherwise boring as dry toast. I didn't invest in the story, wasn't really all that heartbroken over Lina's loss and wasn't sure what the main point of the story was. And all this because of the writing style. It's odd, because there are some great lines and it wasn't at all hard to imagine being in Italy right along with the characters, but at times it all felt so juvenile. Little ridiculous things like Lina describing her grief as missing her mom so much her fingernails hurt, or then Ren would say something like "I would destroy him" which seemed so out of character. They sounded liked little kids, little kids pretending to be teenagers. The inconsistency of their coolness flipping to unbelievable didn't work for me. The last quarter of the book really picked up the pace and the interest, but prior to that I felt like there wasn't a whole lot happening.

- Two stories in one. The main point of this book is Lina discovering why her mother asked for her to go to Italy and what happened when her mother lived there seventeen years ago. A large portion of the book includes sections from Lina's mother's journal. We read along with Lina as her mother first arrives in and explores Italy and then as she falls in love with the mysterious X. A lot of this is pretty serious stuff, heavy topics that contrast with the light-heartedness and youthful feeling of the rest of the book.

And here's what really annoyed me.

- Lack of respect. The general disrespect shown to the soldiers who had given their lives in service to their country drove me nuts. When Lina first moves into the cemetery where her father lives she continually complains about how creepy it it. As the story progresses she makes other little comments about how lame people are to even care and really how much could there be to learn about the people who GAVE THEIR LIVES!!! The disrespect is never blatant, it's more lack of respect, but I felt it was so inconsiderate, so lacking. And besides all this, she just lost her mom to cancer and out of everything dead people are creepy?!?

- And that brings me back to the writing, because while I enjoyed the lighthearted nature of the writing it didn't suit the deeper issues that were being covered, like grief and reasons for Lina's very existence. As a result I felt it was a little melodramatic and fell flat where it could have really dug deep and given readers both an enjoyable book that is heartfelt and moving, as well as lighthearted.

- And then there were little things like the whole Thomas thing. Not a huge deal and I won't explain more in case of spoilers but I didn't like the way it was handled or how he was represented or how he kind of switched character to suit the story's needs.

Okay, rant over now. Final summary: it's a fun book. While I thought there were a few issues they don't detract from this book if you're looking for a light read about young love, impulsive decisions and Italian ice-cream.

The publishers provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I know contemporary romance isn't really my thing, but I have fond memories of my various stays in Italy and I really felt like travelling back there again through this story. I mean, who can resist that setting and the possible talk about a lot of delicious Italian ice cream? Because there is one thing true: Love & Gelato makes you crave all kinds of Italian food. And the author did an excellent job at describing the city of Florence and the setting in general. It almost felt I was there along with the main characters! The setting was probably my favorite part of this story, and I liked the idea of the journal and Lina learning more about her mom that way. The writing makes it easy to fly through this story as well... But there were also a few things that really bothered me as well. The first elephant in the room is of course the dreaded love triangle. Why o why do most YA books have to be ruined by this trope? I would have loved this story so much better without it... Because the love triangle (or in fact multiple ones) also ment the introduction of a whole lot of cliches. And cringeworthy moments. And more cliches. It ended up being just too much for me, although I have the suspicion fans of contemporary romance stories will enjoy Love & Gelato a lot better than I did. It's also the perfect summer/beach read despite some sad and deeper moments.

Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 13-18 year old girls, 7th grade and up
Clean Read: Yes, a little language.
Worth a Check Out: Yes, when you are looking for a fun light read.
Buy It or Not: Yes if you like chick-lit, Meg Cabot, or Ally Carter type of books.
Book Club Discussion: Did Lina feel obligated to go to Tuscany b/c it was her mother's wish, or her mother's death-bed wish? Why do you think Lina felt like it was difficult to be social after her mother's death? Cancer is always tough, but do you think it was tougher on Lina b/c she was a teenager? Would you consider this story a "coming of age" story, if so why?

Love & Gelator is a quick read, and even though the story line was almost completely predictable, I'm pretty sure only adults reading this ya book would care about that. I did feel the growth Lina experienced in the story was great. I loved seeing, in a glossed over way I believe, how Lina dealt with her mother's death from cancer. I loved seeing Lina find a father-like figure. I believe there's a good chance this book could benefit others who have to deal and work through a death in the family especially a parent.

Overall, this book was the light fun read I was looking for after a heavy book.

Since a story is a strictly subjective good, here's some backstory on the type of person I am:

I'm pretty young and have not experienced many of the "deeper" elements of life such as break ups or lost family members. I've always been on the lookout for a novel that has a character that's average and a relationship that doesn't begin with instant attraction, but I'm not against a fairytale ending. TL;DR: I'm a teen who isn't extremely critical of literature and is just looking to experience something.

My review:

The book has an extremely simple, white-sounding language. White as in a Caucasian in America. It's sometimes overzealous to me, but the simplicity of the wording and descriptions of emotions makes it incredibly easy to inject your own emotions into words.

There is an excellent development of plot, but not so much of characters. Not something particularly deep, but so well-planned and rich with things happening that you're rarely bored and constantly absorbing love, wonderment, discovery, joy, and some struggle. It's a romance interlaced with various other dimensional characters.

This is a book to get lost in. It's practically a fairytale, and one that's really worth reading if you'll let yourself get lost (rather than criticize some of the stereotypical or overly perfect elements of the book). Overall an amazing, worthwhile experience.

When Lina's mother died, she went to Italy to live with her father that she never knew about. With her mother's journal and a cute American-Italian boy, they explore the life of Lina's mother when she stayed in Florence, Italy.

This book is so underrated. Let me start with that. I thought that this book was brilliant. It was as if I was reading two stories in one. And the flow of the story seems different but intertwines together. I know that this book was released last year, this book might be one of the best books I read this year.

I want to express so much but it kind of left me speechless. Though sinking into the book deep made the story quite predictable, the feeling it wants to convey was so refreshing. I have no idea if that made sense but i hope it did.

Trust me on this, if you want to travel, read this book to go to Florence, Italy.

Also, I read this as an audiobook, and I just have to read the narrator. The accents, the perfect pronunciations of the Italian words, the different voices for each character were very well done. Made me realize that if I want to read a book with a different language, listening to an audio book is a good way to go.

Love & Gelato is the perfect read for a lazy, summery day. The writing is very easy to get lost in, the plot is wonderful, and the book is set in Italy. And who doesn’t want to be fictionally transported to Italy?

I honestly didn’t really care for the romance, which was definitely a shame because that was one of the main reasons why I picked this book up. I just didn’t find myself swooning over these characters, and I honestly didn’t feel any interest in their relationship. Don’t get me wrong, I did like the characters themselves, but whenever the book started focusing on them I kind of wanted to skip ahead and read the stuff I actually cared about instead.

Maybe that says something about how good the other aspects of the book are though, because there were a lot of things to like about the book. My favorite part was definitely the family-relationships, and the kind of ‘what-happened-to-my-mom-while-she-was-in-Italy’ – mystery, which we got to find out more about through her mom’s journal entries. This aspect of the book was what kept me hooked and made me unable to put the book down, which is why I ended up finishing it in one day. I do have to say that I saw the ‘mystery reveal’ coming from miles away, but for me, it didn’t make it less fun to read.

The ending of this book was so, so wonderful. It was bitter-sweet yet heart-warming, and it left me in tears. It was definitely the perfect ending, in my opinion.

Sadly, the book definitely wasn’t unique, and therefore a bit forgettable. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, I think. Not every book has to completely wow me and change my life for me to enjoy it, and sometimes very forgettable books are the perfect summer read for me, but still. Also, the book does have a few ableist comments, so please be careful with that.

All in all, I really liked Love & Gelato. If you’re looking for a fun contemporary with an amazing plot and dream-like setting, look no further. I did wish that I liked the romance a bit more, though, and I could definitely do without the ableist comments.

Jenna Evans Welch’s Love & Gelato is a super-cute love story set in the stunning city of Florence, Italy. I think fans of Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Stephanie Perkins’ Anna and the French Kiss will fall head over heels in love with Lina, her friends, and beautiful, historic Florence.

This book made me want to travel to Italy immediately. From the gorgeous scenery to the incredible food (I lost count of how many times I felt hungry while reading this book), I could absolutely imagine being there. I love that this isn’t just a love story, but also a mystery. Having been given one of her mother’s old journals, Lina is trying to follow in her footsteps and unravel the secrets Hadley was never able to share. I’ll try not to spoil the big reveal, but I think the ending resolves things pretty well, and Lina seems to get some of the closure she’s been searching for.

This book was compulsively readable, at least for me. Like gelato, it was hard to put down, and I think readers who enjoy YA contemporaries and adorable romances will feel similarly. It can feel predictable at times, but it’s a familiar sort of predictable that carries you through the story. Even though you can probably guess how it will end, the journey is still worthwhile. I think Welch handled Lina’s grief very deftly. It never seemed over-the-top or unrealistic. It’s hard to imagine how she felt, losing her only parent and feeling adrift in a world that suddenly seems darker. But I like that we were given glimpses of the pain she carries with her, and how it can feel dull one minute and sharp and lingering the next.

If you’re not a fan of “insta-love” stories, you maaaay feel a little frustrated while reading this book. While I don’t want to be the person that yells from the rooftops, “LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT IS A LIE!” I do think that everything moved too quickly to be entirely realistic. Also, I was getting some clichéd Cinderella vibes near the end, and while it was still cute, it was almost too cute. And some of the timelines were hard to keep track of, at least for me. While Hadley’s journal entries were dated, I struggled to keep up with how much time was passing in the present day. As it turns out, not much. This is a story that seems like it should have played out over a longer span of time, not just a few days.

Overall, I think this YA romance is definitely worth checking out, especially if you’re a sucker for love stories so sweet, they feel like cotton candy melting in your mouth. And now is a great time to read Love & Gelato since its companion novel, Love & Luck, comes out in May!

Love & Gelato is a coming of age story that follows Lina, a teenage girl from Seattle. It all begins when her mother tells she has cancer. It doesn't sound like an uplifting read, I know, but believe me, it is all about how things are approached and this book is all about a journey of discovering her mother's secrets, exploring Italy and falling in love.

Lina made a promise to her mom: go to Italy and meet your father for the first time. She is quite reluctant but after her mom passes away, she travels to Tuscany and so our story begins. She stays with Howard but still finds the whole idea of being in a foreign place with a father she just met, extremely uncomfortable. Soon afterwards, she receives an old journal that belonged to her mother from the time when she lived in Italy, and first thing it reads is: "I made the wrong choice". From there on, you will be hooked discovering what happened to her mom as Lina tries to put the pieces back together. Aided by her new friend Ren, she visits all those spots in Tuscany that are mentioned in the journal. Before long, she will discover her mother's secrets, the beauty of Italy, the bonds of family and real love.

I think in general all the interactions between the characters were positive, but my favorite was the relationship between Howard and Lina. He is the most caring fatherly character I have ever met. He is not your typical adult that can't interact nor sympathize with a teenager without putting up a front and exerting power. Howard is a sensible, funny adult that is able to understand the struggles of a teenager who just lost her mother and is trying to put her life back together. He is there for her, ready to offer support but also give her space. This character healed my heart.

Even though it contains many themes that could easily turn it into a heavy or dramatic story (coping with death, paternity issues, biracial characters), it is written in a very positive and healthy perspective. Not sugar-coated, it just gives more emphasis to the positive outcome and growth of the characters rather than dwelling on pain and victimizing the characters.

The romantic part of the story was cute and fluffy, predictable, but enjoyable. But, my real crush, was the food descriptions throughout the story. I'm sorry, blame my belly. The book is called Love & Gelato and there are mouth watering descriptions of gelato and other delicious things.

If you rather have more dark drama, a complex plot, mind blowing moments and burning romance, you might want to leave this one for later.

I swear, I am always late the the party! I would probably still be missing it when it comes to Love & Gelato if it wasn’t for my booksta-buddies in Buxom Book Beauties, an online book club. As part of the group, I decided to participate in a June buddy read of Love & Gelato, and boy, am I glad I did. I really do owe them thanks because I truly enjoyed this book, and it was nowhere near my radar prior to this month!

Love & Gelato is a quick, easy read that is perfect for summertime, especially because the story is primarily set in the summer in ITALY. I keep leaning towards feeling like it was too quick, though, which is its only major downfall, in my opinion. There are two storylines: Lina’s and her mother, Hadley’s. Lina’s story parallels that of her mother’s with the help of Hadley’s journal. With the exception of the part of Hadley’s story contained within the journal, and therefore of the past, I felt like a lot took place in a very short amount of time. Lina is only sixteen years old, so she is obviously very young, and I found it a bit unrealistic for a sixteen year old to be pummeled with the situation(s) that Lina was only for her to handle it with a fair amount of grace. Although she had her moments, she held herself together remarkably well given her unique circumstance(s). The plot plowed on at times, and I suppose I may have wanted it to stretch/fill out a little more or perhaps just so I could savor the moments and the book a little while longer.

I need to take a minute to do a little happy dance in honor of Jenna Evans Welch’s writing. *does jolly little jig* I adored her style! Jenna wrote in a very conversational manner, and it made Lina appear more down-to-earth (despite my qualms with the chronology). I kept thinking to myself: “Man, I love Lina! Sixteen-year old Kelly would totally be friends with her!” thanks to how she was presented through the voice. Jenna’s writing style in Love & Gelato also helped tug on all of my heartstrings. Trust me, I understand that what she was writing was the main reason I was feeling sorrow, then joy, then anger, then heartache, then frustration, then happiness, then pure giddiness, but how she wrote it amplified the emotions that were being evoked. I loved it! But, that brings me back to that feeling that the timeline seemed a little rushed.

Okay, so I am going to go off on a tangent briefly before wrapping things up. I had a few random thoughts while reading, and if I don’t get them out…well…I’m sure I will be perfectly fine, but since I am talking (typing) about the book, I might as well add them:
-I got this weird similarity vibe between Lina/her mother and Starlord (Guardians of the Galaxy)/his mother! I mean, there is even how Lina got the journal and Starlord got the mix tapes…and how both of their dads were M.I.A. and were giant knuckleheads once found. Anyone else see this comparison? Anyone? No; just me? Okay.
-I loved getting to brush up on my Italian (the random few words and phrases intermittently mixed in).
-I forgot how much I thoroughly enjoy art history.
-Rounding these random thoughts out with a possibly practical point…I found young Howard and Ren to be quite similar, and that, to me, was sweet. It made me feel like there was an extra connection between Lina and Hadley (similar taste in men). I thought Howard and Ren’s characters were amazing, and they were probably my favorites.

Overall, I liked Love & Gelato a lot, and I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys some young love, stories of love and loss, or anyone who might want a refreshing read. Although it is classified as a romance, I can vouch that you’re not getting an overly mushy read, but this was just enough to make me put it down in the end with a little happy sigh and a big grin on my face. I also liked it enough to immediately look up Jenna’s next book, Love & Luck! So, until next May when we will take an adventure in Ireland with Lina’s BFF, Addie (I love that there is a connection between this book and the next), I hope you enjoy a little love and a lot of gelato ❤

I felt like it was this depth that really made this book.

Fans of Stephanie Perkins, Jenny Han and Sarah Ockler have a reason to rejoice. LOVE AND GELATO is a sweet, emotional read that is sure to warm your hearts. This is the first time in a long time that I’ve read a book like this. Although it is your typical sweet YA Contemporary, the author does a great job of injecting the book with some emotional elements as well.

After losing her mother to cancer, Lina moves to Tuscany where she is supposed to live with her father that she never knew. It’s obviously a new experience for her and obstacles are around every corner as she tries to get reacquainted with everything. The beginning happens very fast, which I like and dislike because while I can appreciate the faster pace, I think it would’ve been nice to see Lina in her own environment a little bit more first before she had to move. I think it would allow readers to really sympathize with her a lot more.

Still, I do think Jenna Evans Welch writes well. It’s simple and eloquent and since I listened to this one in audiobook, I would also suggest trying it out in audio format. The narrator does a great job of capturing Lina’s emotions well. I felt like it was this depth that really made this book. So while the unique setting and love story is wonderful, it really came down to the emotions explored in this book. I will definitely be reading more of Welch’s books in the future.

This book was so stinkin' cute! I admit for the longest time, I put off getting it because I really thought it would be terrible (because I really don't like contemporary mainly and it just didn't sound that interesting to me.)

*waits for the angry crowd to quiet down*

Horrible of me, I know. Happy to let y'all know, I was totally wrong about that. Lol. Everyone I know whether they were on goodreads, Instagram, Facebook, pretty much everyone who had the book long before me, absolutely loved this book. So I broke down and bought it. So. Freaking. Glad. I Did.

Love & Gelato was beautiful. It's this magical thing (for lack of a better word) that makes you feel like you are really there. You are Lina. Every up and down she goes through just rips at your heart and doesn't let go. There is no possible way you can actually put the book down because .. well... there is just no way. Lol You want to know what happens. You NEED to know.

Every character is unforgettable. I have never read a book before where I can remember every character big OR little because they made such a impact.

I only had one single issue with this book and that was the whole Ren and Lina bit at the end. I hated that people all knew he had a girlfriend and they still told Lina to "go for it!" to try to win him. Like he is a prize or something. That just bugs me. The whole "go for it" bit was almost enough to ruin this book for me because you are legit telling her it is okay to flirt/hit-on someone who is already in a relationship. Which made me see Lina as a homewreaker. It turned my stomach. I wanted to stop reading but I am glad it all worked out in the end. But it still doesn't change the fact that these grown-ups were telling her that it was totally okay to pursue him. I can see WHY they did but that still doesn't make it right.

That was literally the only problem I had with this book. Besides that, it was a gripping, heart tugging, unforgettable ride. I wish I could put my feelings into words about how the ending felt. It was bittersweet. Like seeing a friend off, who is about to start this amazing life. It gives you warm fuzzy feelings but is also kinda sad.

I loved this book. I would recommend it.

―Reviews of a fearstreetzombie

I love books set in Europe, and I knew this would be a book perfect for my tastes at the moment. I’m so thankful for books being able to transport us to faraway locations when we have to stay with our feet firmly planted in a particular place.

Lina’s life is turned completely upside down when her mother unexpectedly passes away. Her mother’s dying wish was for Lina to experience Italy and get to know her father, a man she hasn’t met in her sixteen years on Earth. Upset to have her life set on a completely different course, Lina is reluctant to find the joy her mother experienced in Italy almost twenty years before. However, when her mother’s journal shows up in Tuscany, she can’t help but be captivated by what Italy has to offer when she is allowed to see the landscape through her mother’s eyes.

Love & Gelato is full of mystery, adventure, and beauty. One of the coolest aspects of this story was being able to Google the locations and sights described in the story and experience it simultaneously with Lina. It was the next best thing to being in Italy myself.

At times, it can be difficult to find YA novels to relate to as a 27-year-old mother. I’m about a decade past the YA age now (gasp!), which makes the character’s problems seemingly juvenile. Luckily, that was not even remotely the case with this novel. I found the characters to be interesting and was impressed with the growth they showed. I enjoyed reading something without trashy scenes and lots of drama. This would be a book I would gladly hand to my daughter when she reaches the age of being interested in this genre. It was not full of “cheese” so to speak, but actually had plenty of depth and kept from my interest from the very first page to the end.

Another great thing about Love & Gelato was the journal! Lina reads her mother’s mysterious journal about her time in Italy as a young college student. Facing many of the same moments in her own life, Lina is able to relate to her mother in a new way and feel connected to her despite her mother’s absence, all while uncovering the mystery about her parent’s relationship.

This story received an easy 5 stars from me, and I’m so anxious to read Love & Luck by Jenna Evans Welch next year. Her writing, pacing, and character development bred a sweet and fast-paced read that made 400 pages fly by. I highly recommend this book!

Love & Gelato certainly delivers what it promises: lots of love and delicious Italian Gelato. The story starts in Seattle where Lina lives with her dying mother. Her last wish is for Lina to go live in Italy with Howard, an old friend. After her death though, Lina discovers that Howard is actually her father and she is moving in with him in an isolated house in the Tuscany.

I can't even imagine what a confusing and saddening situation Lina finds herself into. She has lost the most important person of her life and now she needs to leave everything and everyone she knows behind to go live with a stranger. But we soon discover Lina is a very strong and lively girl, who is not afraid of change. I think the author made a really good job of balancing the sadness and the happiness in this story, and it's obvious that adding a little bit of sunshine and laughs into Lina's life is exactly what she needed.

The two main characters that Lina meets in Italy are Howard, her father, and Ren, who lives in a neighbouring field. They are both really great characters with a huge heart and they both help Lina in their own ways. Thanks to them too, Lina (and us) get to discover the beautiful Tuscany and the stunning Florence. Reading about their adventures in the north of Italy is a real treat and you really feel like you are there with them.

There's also mystery in the story. Lina gets a diary that belonged to her mother when she arrives in Italy and little by little we get to know her and what she was up to when she lived in Italy herself as a young woman. I found these passages really moving and I loved how Lina tried to recreate her steps. I was also really curious to know about these event and how they related to the present. I was quite surprised to see how everything intertwined.

All in all, this is a very heart-warming and fun story that will make you want to take the first plane to Florence. The characters are very well developed and interesting and I think they act their age, they can be a bit silly but they have no malice. I definitely ended up caring a lot Lina and Howard and Lina's friends were such a fun bunch! A highly recommend summer read for YA readers.

This is a YA book; well written with good dialogue and well developed characters. I enjoyed taking this "trip" with Carolina (Lina) to Italy.

Lina is in Italy because she promised her dying mother that she would go. Lina never knew her father and her mother never talked about him. So, Lina figures this is going to be s summer in Italy and a summer of discovery. Lina arrives at the American Cemetery of WWI and WWII; where her mother's friend Howard is caretaker/historian. Lina believes Howard is her father; so let's just say AWKWARD.... Lina also meets Sonia; who also works at the Cemetery's visitor center. Sonia received a package from Lina's mom, Hadley, before she passed. When she opened the package, she saw that it was Hadley's journal from the year she was in Italy. Sonia assumed it was for Lina. Lina is still very raw and emotional from her mother's death. She's not sure she really wants to read the journal. When she opens the cover and sees what was recently written there, she decides to read it and try to go to the places her mother went.

Along the way, Lina meets a few kids that are her own age. Some of them would be in her classes in the next semester, should she decide to stay past the summer. There are some possible “love interests” and some that could become good friends. She embarks on a world of discovery of mind, body and spirit.

It is a remarkably well done story that takes the sadness and aching of losing a loved one (and an only family member; other than her grandmother) and blends it with seeing a world through the eyes of that lost soul; bringing some peace and understanding along the way.

I understand the appeal of this book. I also understand why it's average rating is 4 stars. It's light and cute in an amazing setting with a charming protaganist. I even reccomended it to some of the teens in my youth group because it is clean and I think they will enjoy it.

However, there were just too many problems for me to fall for it. The first problem is the book is 384 pages and it felt like 200. The story was long, but SO much was missing. The character relationships fell so short. The whole book takes place in a week and she went from friends to in "love" with a boy and completely changed her mind toward the Father figure who she was so against. I'm sorry, but a week is not enough time for the progression, also there weren't enough authentic interactions. She had some cute bantering with Ren and even some deep conversations, but it fell so flat.

Her mother's story was interesting and fun, but predictable (in my opinion) and disappointing.

I think I had high expecations for this book because one of my favorite YA Chick Lit is "Anna and the French Kiss." I wanted to be transported and swept off my feet the way I was with that book, but I definitely wasn't.

How can you not want to read this book after looking at the cover and the title?! Both of those really drew me into this one and I loved that the story inside matched the cover perfectly.

I really enjoyed reading being in Lina's head in this one. I can't even imagine watching your mother die from cancer at such a young and tender time of life, but I thought that Lina handled it as well as she could have. And then to be shipped off to Italy to live with a man you've never known who you've been told is your father. Crazy!

I really liked the whole feel of Italy in this book. I liked the way that Lina lives with Howard in a house in a cemetery in Italy. So unique. I loved the way I was able to picture the sights and sounds of Italy in this one. It made me want to eat gelato!

But probably my favorite thing about this one was Lina's mom's backstory. Her mom shipped her journal from when she was going to college in Italy to Sonia, Howard's co-worker at the cemetery. Sonia is certain that she intended for Lina to have it, so Lina spends a good chunk of the book learning more about her mom and also Howard through her mom's words in this journal. I really loved the parts where Lina read her mom's journal and I looked forward to each and every one of those parts.

I loved the whole plot of this one. I loved the way Lina's story paralleled her mom's just a little bit and I really enjoyed the ending. I'm hoping that this author has more books in the works, this one was great!

Title: Love and Gelato
Author: Jenna Evans Welch
Age Group: Teen/Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Romance
Series: Standalone
Star Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

I borrowed this book through my local library and reviewed it.

Love and Gelato was the February pick for one of my library book clubs. And really, why not? What better kind of novel to read, in honor of Valentine's Day? (And plus, we actually get to eat gelato at book club next week; I'm so excited, I've never had it before!) When I finished Small Big Things, I was looking forward to this book, as it was kind of a romantic palate cleanser. I just hoped it wouldn't be as heavy. I loved this book, wholly and completely, but I was a little bothered by the fact that there was a lot of Italian dialogue, and there wasn't a glossary. Nonetheless, this book is perfect for readers looking for love!

Carolina, who goes by Lina, has had her whole world upturned by her mother's painful, tragic death from severe cancer. Still reeling from grief and forced to move all the way to Italy, she makes new friends and falls in love with the country, just as her mother did before her. When she receives her mother's journal, she discovers that there is a huge secret about her life, one so big that it may rock her entire foundation. Navigating clumsily through her new surroundings, first love, and the meaning of family, this novel was a one-two punch of a coming of age story, with a bittersweet, slightly angsty love center at its core. I really enjoyed it.

First of all: The setting. God, when can I book my vacation to Italy? I was dying reading the sumptuous prose, and I could almost imagine a rich, buttery cornetta melting on my tongue. I also loved the characters and their development, especially Lina, Ren, and Howard. I liked the way that love was really shown in lots of different forms: romantic love, family love, platonic, friendly love. The ending was to die for. There were quite a few times as the book went on that I got more than a bit angry, and if you read it, you'll see why. (I don't want to spoil it!) This book, overall, was just lovely. I wanted a glossary at the end, so I didn't have to pull out my phone to translate the dialogue, but it was such a good book regardless! So happy! The bottom line: A fantastic coming of age story with a romance tucked in its heart, I loved Love and Gelato! Jenna Evans Welch has won me over! Next on deck: The Fireman by Joe Hill!

Since Italy is one of my favorite places I knew I would enjoy Love & Gelato. It was such a good young adult read. Most of it takes place in the Tuscan region and Florence! Almost 400 pages but a fast read and Welch is a great writer that keeps you engaged. If you are looking for a light summer read, I highly recommend this. I'm looking forward to her new book- Love & Luck!

Synopsis- Lina is spending the summer in Italy because it was her mother's dying wish she meet her father and get to know him. When she arrives she receives a journal that her mother kept when she studied in Florence. This story is filled with romance, adventure and mystery! Lina has to find out why her father was never around for 16 years and learn secrets about her mother's past. She also meets new people, has some crushes and gets to try so much gelato!

Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch is the book that allowed me to finally, after 21 years of hearing the phrase, understand what a 'quick summer read' is. I could never get the concept of a 'quick' read, because everybody reads at different speeds and in their own way; so how can a novel be by consensus considered quick, as this one was - which you will, have you not already, see in almost every review here. But you know what? It is a quick read! At over 300 pages, I was quite skeptical that any sort of speed higher than 'moderate' was impossible, but the writing is fun, light, and not ridiculously easy but not Shakespearian either. With that combination of traits, I was able to finish the novel in a few days of picking it up here and there - though there were certainly moments I couldn't put it down!

Now, while the writing did indeed create a nice read (and I'll go into the praises later), it did certainly have it's fall backs. To start, the amount of similes used in this novel is like how many stars there are in the sky - an abundance that will have you giving up on counting them eventually. The same unnecessary abundance can be found in certain descriptions Welch writes. And her descriptions are going to be a whole other paragraph, because these on their own have plenty of ups and downs! Welch also introduces a respectable amount of characters, but very unfortunately does not dwell or develop into them despite how interesting of prospects almost all of them are! This misused ambition follows through with the humor in the novel too - where it does have successful landings and will actually get a laugh out of you, the humor can seem haphazardly thrown in and/or forced the same amount. Welch's writing makes it clear that she was excited about writing her novel (and who wouldn't be with their first one) but it unfortunately makes portions of the novel seem like a draft that the reader is being presented to edit and finds themselves putting sticky notes all over saying 'More of this!' or 'Less of that!'.

Now, the characters. A majority of the characters are quite likable despite their vast underdevelopment. The main character, Lina, is thankfully one that does not fit any of the unlikable popular/brooding/Mary Sue/clearly not written by a woman and/or person of that age for most of the novel and you can find yourself sympathizing and rooting for her throughout the novel. However, the key phrase there was 'most of the time'. There certainly are moments where it's clear a person who isn't a teenager is trying to write one - specifically the messing up of the most common Italian phrases that literally no one could not possibly have not heard in their life, such as this little tidbit from the novel: 'Choo? Chow?' 'Ciao.' And Lina can be unnecessarily harsh sometimes, but I guess you can chalk that up to teenage girl angst. But as I said earlier, most of the time this isn't a problem. And most of the other characters are refreshingly realistic and original (to the extent they can be in a summer YA romance novel). I only disliked 3 characters, and 2 of them you weren't supposed to like anyway, so the job was done with them. But one character I didn't like where that wasn't necessarily the goal was because he clearly was just a (very poorly done) love-triangle plot device. He, and a female character of the exact same design and of the two 'you're supposed to hate them's, are really the only two characters where originality and creativity are clearly and severely lacking. Thankfully though, as I wrote earlier, the rest of the cast makes up for that - especially Lina's best friend, Addie. I won't give spoilers, but Addie's introduction is the best of the novel and up there in general. She also addresses Lina's unnecessary harshness, which really adds to the believability of the characters - because what real best friend doesn't call you out when you need to be. Yes, you'll more than likely find yourself falling in love with more than one character. And speaking of love!

Romance is what I came into this book for and romance is what I got, though not how I had expected it. The romance between Lina and Ren - the arguable 'main' romance of the story - was quite cute if not quick and a little forced; but then again, what young adult romance novel doesn't follow this pattern? What I really fell in love with were the descriptions of Italy (though I did already have a little crush on the country already) and the real main character of the story - Lina's mother's journal. I want you to experience it for yourself, but trust me when I say that the journal and its contents are definitely the best part of this novel and show the true talent and potential Welch has. Honestly, every romance in this novel (and there are a lot of them) will have you hooked and "aw'ing" in some way - and that's a great quality to for a romance novel to have!

Last but not least, we return to the details detailed in the novel. The details are really hit or miss for me, and I think which category they fall under for you quite possibly will differ from mine. For one thing, when Welch isn't dwelling on the details, she just quickly throws them out - but I think she does so successfully and at the right times. I think it was the right way to go to not focus on Lina's mother's death, because the novel is not about how it happened nor how depressing such an event really is, or even the death itself - it's about how positives can come from negatives; after all, this is a 'light summer read'. The descriptions of all the characters are entirely quick throwaways, but I like that - you get enough of a description to just picture them and then you move on; you're not weighted down by what color their shirt is or how 'their eyes sparkle like diamonds' or any silly thing like that. Most of the time, the skimping of details and events works very well for me, but there was one time where it did not. Copying Welch by not going into details, I will just say that there is a harassment scene towards the end of the novel that happened and and then it was over and that was that - this is unacceptable because harassment is harassment and cannot just be used as a way to quickly aadd some chaos/angst/whatever it was the author was trying to go for and doing so is the absolute wrong way. Other than that, the only other problem I had with details of the text was at one point the author just got them wrong . For a person who writes a character as a Beatlemaniac, it's unacceptable to do so and then get the names of the songs wrong multiple times. And she even writes at one point the lyrics to the supposed song that is playing even though not only is it not the lyrics to the song she wrote was playing, but they were lyrics to a song she had previously wrote had already been played . As a Beatlemaniac, this just irked me to no end.

Overall, I did like the novel! It was cute and a nice little escape from the day - definitely made me me feel like it was summer even though I read this through bitter winter days! The story and characters were cute and fun, but that was essentially it for them - lots of potential, not so much follow through with it. The way I described it to my friend that went with me on the B&N trip that got me this novel was that it was a good book and I liked it, but I wouldn't find myself rushing off and shoving the book in people's faces to read it. But I find myself desperately searching for another novel like it, and I quite look forward to Welch's next novel. I think she's definitely an author to keep an eye on, and I'm excited to see how she improves and hones her skills through the years to come.

I absolutely love to read books where the main character travels or moves into a new place, and then explores his or her unfamiliar surroundings. Although I love to travel, I haven't had near as many chances to do so as I would like. (Someday, I will see those places on my 'go to' list.) In the meantime, travel abroad books give me the opportunity to live vicariously through the characters!

I have to say the title and the cover for Love & Gelato caught my attention right away. It pretty much screams ITALY! After I finally got it in my hands on it, I dove right in. Although this summer has kept me really busy, I picked up this book any time I could. I enjoyed the story and the writing so much! I also loved the author's descriptions of Tuscany and of some of the art that can be found there. When the main character, Lina, would see something new, I would also look that place (or food item) up on Google Images, so that I could see it for myself.

The circumstances that brought Lina to Italy were sad and she did not want to be there. However, I really liked the people that reached out to her and how they were all so real. Some of my favorite moments were those times when Lina would read entries from her mother's journal, and through them, she and her new friend, Ren uncovered a couple of mysteries.

I don't want to give away too much more, as it would ruin the story. I do know that I will likely reread Love & Gelato at some point, and likely share it with my teenage daughter, as well (it's pretty clean ,with no sexual content or cussing). I really hope that Jenna Evans Welch writes more YA/Teen books, as I would definitely read them!

By the way, if anyone has any good travel abroad books, I would love the recommendations! :)

Yesterday was the first official day of Fall, and I'm already missing Summer. Love & Gelato was one of those books that I had to have in my beach bag, and I really did plan to read it on a beach somewhere eating preferably gelato. Instead, I found myself sipping on an iced pumpkin spice latte, reading in the pull-through lane at school (where I spend unusually long hours just waiting). Not the ideal setting for this story, but hey, it'll do.

Speaking of setting, Jenna described the historical beauty of Florence and the deliciousness of the food in a such a way that I started googling getaways. Why not? The kids will eventually finish college and move out, right? I am such a long way away from that. But back to the story, the setting is perfection as is the justification for the trip to Italy. With her mother's recent passing, one of her mom's dying wishes was for Jenna to visit Italy just as she did (except the mom was in college and Lina is still in high school).

The tension in the book is provided by her mom's journal, which sends Lina on a bit of a hunt through her mom's favorite places as well as a hunt for her true father. Following Lina through this journey is the always present and need I add, handsome, Ren. Her father figure (the friend her mom sends her to), Howard, is there, too, but he aids less in the search for the truth and provides more of a role of guardian. Is Howard her father? Was there another man? Did her mother find what she wanted to find when she lived in Italy? These are the questions that will leave you turning pages.

For me, the story was sweet and really picked up speed in the last third of the book. While I found the plot a bit predictable, Lina's friends, and their many side moments that should have distracted from the plot, instead added a fun element to read. And the story made me think of that age old question -- how will you know if this is really your true love?

If you're in the mood for a truly sweet story with a gorgeous Italian setting, pick up Love & Gelato. I think it's still warm enough for a scoop of gelato and a romantic summer read. Now, I need to decide on what flavor.

This was a super cute and fun summer read. I don’t normally read contemporaries but saw this one on sale and decided to give it a go and I am glad I did!

The thing I loved about this book the most was it’s sense of mystery. I really loved the entries from Lina’s mother’s journal and it really helped move the story along. I was super anxious to see how the story ended and I was pleasantly surprised with the ending.

It had some plot twists that were pretty predictable but still enjoyable. The plot moved much quicker than a normal contemporary.

The characters were fun. Nothing terribly remarkable about them but they were well written.

There were parts of this that was kind of cheesy (but hey, it IS a contemporary!) but we all need a little cheese every now and again.

Overall, I gave this four out of five stars and I really enjoyed it. If you are in the mood for a light hearted, fun contemporary read this summer I highly recommend this one. Also look for Jenna Evans Welch’s newest book Love & Luck which is available in stores and online now!

When I first read the plot of the book, I didn't think I'd like it: mother's death (not going to disclose my personal reason) and the fact that the father works in a cemetery. I thought it was going to be spooky (I don't like ghost stories). But surprisingly, it wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be. It was actually better.

The story is mainly a romance-mystery for young adults, one I'm really glad I picked up to read. Read it within the span of 11 days. Great book.

I fell in love with Italy through the descriptive scenery, fell in love with the story through Lina's journey to figure out if she wanted to stay in Italy (also loved exploring it through her eyes), but also loved her journey to discover about her mother's time in Italy. Loved this story and can't wait to read the sequel.

5 out of 5 stars

I have all the love in the world for well-written YA books involving an American teen travelling to a place I'd love to go.

When Lina's mom dies as a result of a quick-moving cancer, she feels obligated to fulfill one of her mom's final wishes: that Lina would go to Italy and spend some time getting to know the country and the man who Lina has been told is her father, though she's never actually met him. Obviously, because she's grieving her mom's death and in a foreign country and surrounded by people she doesn't really know, there's a huge adjustment period for Lina.

But, of course, Italy works its magic (the architecture, the pizza, and the gelato) and Lina meets a cute foreign boy, Ren, and his group of friends that she starts to explore the country with. She's also given a journal that belonged to her mom while she studied abroad in Italy, and as she gets into it she realizes it's the story of her mom and dad's romance. With the help of Ren, she tracks down and finds answers for the mysteries contained in her mom's journal, including the truth about her dad.

Lina finds love and adventure along the way, and the story is really just beautiful. It also left me really, really wanting to go to Italy... But I had to settle for making some Italian food.

In LOVE AND GELATO by Jenna Evans Welch, readers are introduced to Lina, a girl whose mother has recently passed away. As her mother’s last request, Lina is shipped off to Italy to meet the father she never knew about. In discovering her mother’s journal, Lina follows her mother’s adventures in Italy. She realizes a whole new side of her mother --- one she never saw before. Tracking down her mother’s old friends and professors, Lina uncovers a secret about her true father. Through her adventure in Italy, she begins to feel closer to her mother than ever before.
This is a summer read you won’t want to miss. The drama, the romance and the taste-testing of gelato are enough to make any romance reader jump right into this wild plot. Plus, it’s set in Italy --- the most romantic country in the world. LOVE AND GELATO will not only make you fall in love, but also make you go buy tons of gelato, hoping for a taste of Jenna Evans Welch’s perfectly-described Italy.

The drama was fantastic. It was a soap opera at its best. Who’s the father? Who is lying? Should she believe him? These questions are a few of several the reader will ask. To find the answers, readers must keep turning pages. It’s a memorable narrative and is told in a fresh light.
LOVE AND GELATO is marketed as a romance and believe me, there is romance. It’s adorable. I found the real story to be about the drama, though. In fact, the romance blossoms between Lina, the protagonist, and a boy she meets in Italy. By way of a timeline, they’ve only known each other less than a week. After noting this, I found the romance to be way too rushed and a bit unbelievable.

Readers will be able to easily predict what happens next and who gets with whom. The characters are written in two categories: characters with depth, who readers can easily tell are significant --- and flat characters. For example, Lina meets several people at a party she attends and Welch starts introducing names which I will never remember. In this way, Welch makes it a bit too easy to guess what is about to happen.

Despite these minor flaws, LOVE AND GELATO is a fun summer read. Welch gives it a fresh perspective, twisting drama into a basic summer romance plot. Despite being predictable, readers will still fall in love with the many characters --- including the relatable main character, Lina --- and her escape to Italy to find out what Lina’s mother was trying to tell her. LOVE AND GELATO is the perfect equation for your next summer romance. Readers can’t go wrong with a little bit of love and whole lot of gelato.

Reviewed by Jeanna Michel

It's been a really long time since I've been into a brick and mortar bookstore, but yesterday I wandered into a Barnes and Noble to look at the new YA releases, and this one literally jumped off the shelf at me. Who doesn't love gelato, ice cream cone cover images and a story line set in Italy? I devoured Love and Gelato in less than 24 hours, staying up late into the night to finish. It is a breath of fresh air to have a teen read free of swearing! Lina's mom has died of cancer, but that's not the focus of the mood, so the book remains light even though she hits some spots of mourning and heart ache. Set, in Tuscany with rolling green hills, stunning sunrises and beautiful sculptures, the reader will feel transported to a different time and place where lavish parties are still held in mansions the Medici's used to roam. There are interspersed journal entries from Lina's mother's own time in Italy as she unravels what she is doing in another country with a strange man she's never met.

I loved everything about this book with the exception of a few rough spots in the beginning where conversations rambled on a bit too long. I would have loved to have gotten to know Thomas a bit more--he was intriguing as a side character. Definitely a great summer pick, especially if you like contemporary YA with a dash of world travel and sweet treats.

I read this book more than a year ago and it's still one of my favorite YA contemporary. It's so swoony and adorably cute. The writing was easy to read, the pacing was great, the characters are quirky and just so darn lovable, and that ending was just perfect! It made me smile and gave me all the warm fuzzies! Lina is an awesome lead and Ren is just so charming. I loved them both and I loved all the wonderful side characters. This was really a delightful and entertaining read. Highly recommend this if you're looking for a fun/cute summer read set in Italy... and who doesn't love gelato?

Premise: Hadley Emerson, renowned photographer, passed away after her battle with cancer, leaving behind her daughter Lina (pronounced Lee-na). Next thing you know, 16-year old Lina is on a flight to Italy, heading into the arms of a father she had only heard of after her mother's death. Let's not forget, Howard the Newly-Found Father lives in a cemetery. After a night in Italy, Sonia, Lina's father's co-worker, presents her with a journal belonging to Hadley. In it, the story of how Hadley had fallen in love with Italy and in Italy. As Lina follows her mother's story, her life begins to mirror it, as she and her new best friend Lorenzo "Ren" Ferrara discover Hadley's secrets and visiting the same locations she did on the way.

Fate. This book has been on my "To Read" list since March of 2017, totally forgot about it mind you, but came across it randomly searching through the bookshelves at the library. I say "fate" because it's an important concept in one of two storylines, Hadley's. This entire novel is simply wholesome, complete. It's a cute, sweet novel to enjoy reading on a summer day, living vicariously through Lina, just as Addie does. We're told the story of a young girl mourning the loss of her mother, frightened to live without her. The journal(s) are what's left of her mother, and I thought that was a beautiful way to tie in two stories, one of the past and the other of the present.

I refuse to spoil anything, but there were definitely things I didn't expect and found myself wishing things would turn around (even with less than 30 pages left). That being said, it seemed a little unrealistic for a 16-year old foreigner to be experiencing the things Lina did while in Italy. I imagined this actually occurring to an 18-year old, and not because of maturity, but due to actual events. I couldn't see myself at 16 on the back of a scooter, racing through the streets of Florence.

Nonetheless, this novel is an easy read that I would recommend to anybody willing for a little bit of love or hope. It has inspired me (if momentarily/unrealistically) to learn Italian and maybe, just maybe, find a future husband in Italy.

If I could give this more stars I would! I absolutely loved this book! It only took me a day, even though I wanted to take my time and really absorb Italy, Lina and Ren; I just couldn't make myself stop. I'm from the US, so I really enjoyed the change in setting with Florence, Italy. A lot happens in to Lina once she arrive to Florence in such a short time but Jenna did a wonderful job writing it so that the feelings that develop didn't feel rushed, it felt genuine.

I'm definitely telling all my friends they need to read Love&Gelato this summer! Great light summer read!

What a great summertime romance! Written from her personal experience while living in Florence, the plot of this book and Welch's descriptive writing style just pulled me in.

Lina doesn't want to be in Italy. She's living in a home with a stranger and her life has already been turned upside down enough that she longs to go back home to the U.S. and live with her best friend. But one night, she goes to a party and sees a boy that reminds her of a model, God, and hottie, all rolled into one. And how about the boy that is her friend and takes her zooming all over town on his scooter. He's cute too.

When you start this one, be prepared to fall in love and not want it to end. You'll want to hop on a plane to Italy the first chance you get and order a gelato!

OMG! First, I'm 37 years old and I LOVED this book. It is teen fiction, but adults would love it, too. The characters were very believable and the situation of the main heroine is also very believable. I loved the description of Florence, but it was the journey of the adults and the teens that made the book so wonderful. I also appreciated that the author did not take forever to uncover the story. The story moves quickly, which was great. Excellent book, and I would definitely read another book by this author.

When my daughter recommended and loaned her copy of Love and Gelato to me, I had two very unworthy impressions...one was something about being the daughter of a well known author; too many disappointments in that area. The second being that I read Christmas Box long ago when I was young and idealistic and it seemed rather dark and depressing for a Christmas story. (I need to read it again now that I have seen more of the world.) So I expected dark. I was so pleasantly disappointed I can't tell you in words!!! This is so delightfully light and breezy in a warm sunny place with so much fun dialog, I was constantly laughing out loud!! My ultimate compliment to Jenna is that I just bought my own copy. Thanks for a fun read!

I'd been wanting to read this book forever after hearing so many great things about it, but it's always checked out at my library. I went to check the shelf before I left for vacation, but it wasn't there. But luckily I checked the return cart and there it was!

And it didn't disappoint, I couldn't put this book down. I lost myself in the pages of Italy - the sights, the relationships, and of course the gelato. I loved Lina trying to navigate life after her mother's death, especially in a new country. I loved reading her mother's journals and discovering the truth about the past. I love how that changed everything and yet it didn't.

Love & Gelato was the perfect summer read. If you love Italy, especially Florence, gelato, YA, with a bit of romance thrown in, this is the perfect read for you. One of the things that made me love this book so much was the references to the different places in Florence. It makes you feel like you are there with the characters living through everything with them. Be prepared to want to jump on a plane and leave for Italy the day after you finish reading this book. On top of this aspect, the characters were complex and relatable. Lina, Ren, and Howard, were absolutely fantastic. My one complaint would be that I wish we saw more of a development between Howard and Lina's relationship. We got a glimpse but I just wanted a little bit more. Other than that, Love & Gelato was an absolutely enjoyable read and I highly recommend it.

Fans of the young-adult genre will definitely enjoy Jenna Evans Welch's debut novel: Love & Gelato. It incorporates grief, family issues, age-appropriate romance, and the Italian culture. Overall, I liked it. The cultural components were my favorite parts. I also could very much appreciate the lengths the heroine went to in order to learn about her paternity – I was in the same boat at a point in my adolescence and her curious desperation felt very familiar. The only other thing I can say is it's been a few days since finishing this very easy read, and I'm still craving gelato. I liked that part too :)

My favorite quote:
“So... Italian gelato. Take the deliciousness of a regular ice-cream cone, times it by a million, then sprinkle it with crushed-up unicorn horns.”

I must say I also fell in love with the characters of this story, yet there were times when I wanted to jump into the book and just shake them, but I loved them still. I really connected with Lina and her story and it wasn't just because I love gelato and books about trips. I really wanted her to be happy in the end.

This was one of those books that by the end of the story every loose end has been tied up and I don’t know about you but that makes me, as a reader, love a book even more. Especially a standalone book. There are times when authors don’t fix everything and that frustrates me when it comes to a stand alone.

I completely lost myself in the pages of this young adult novel about 16-year-old Lina and her summer adventures in Florence, Italy. Lina is trying to comprehend her mother’s fatal pancreatic cancer diagnosis, when her mother hits her with more unsettling news. She is sending her to Italy to live with her dear friend Howard for the summer, these are her mother’s final wishes. Who wouldn’t want to spend a summer in the Renaissance capital of the world eating gelato and meeting a cute Italian boy? But a grief-stricken Lina cannot wait to go back to America, that is until she comes to possess her mother’s journal kept from her time spent as a young woman living and studying photography in Italy. And so, begins Lina’s journey of love, friendship, loss and hope. Through her mother’s journal Lina learns not only about her mother but also the truth about her father. The theme of love is present throughout the book and by using romantic and familial relationships the author guides us through Lina’s grief into her world of self-discovery. The dialogue flows easily and the descriptions of Tuscany are sure to cure anyone’s inklings of wanderlust. Love & Gelato is the perfect YA read!

This book reminded me of a mix of Mamma Mia, The Lizzie McGuire movie and a teenage love story. The Italian fairy tale, the "who's my real dad?" debate and "is he the one" encompasses all three of those movies into this book. It was beautifully written and you could see how it would appeal to the teenage love sagas. It was sweet and innocent and wholesome and that was what drew me to it. Is it realistic? Absolutely not. If your mother died would yu be able to move in with a total stranger and open up to them? if you met someone in a foreign country would it be REALISTIC that they spoke English fluently? Not sure on that one - but regardless of those few minor details - it was great. It was a great read - I read it in two days. I suggest it for the summer or the beach or even if you need a "happy feel good" pick me up novel. I will likely read another one of Ms. Welchs' novels to see how they are. Again would recommend this book as a fun read.

This was my fun read for the Memorial Day holiday weekend and it was so worth it. It is a young adult romance, but can be enjoyed by anyone. After her mother's death from cancer, she is sent to Italy to live with a father who never knew she existed. When her father's friend gives her a journal that her mother kept when she was young and in Italy, Lina discovers a boatload of her mother's secrets. She sets out on a quest to discover the truth about her own beginnings with her new friend Lorenzo helping her with her search.

"Love & Gelato" is a delightful book, perfect for light summer reading. Part romance, part mystery, it will keep you turning pages and make you want to travel to Italy.

Was able to read an advanced copy of Love & Gelato. Didn't truly appreciate how lucky I was until I started reading.
Can't say enough good things about this book. I read it in only a day (when I really didn't have time) because I simply couldn't put it down. Well-written (great character development and suspenseful storyline) and simply a pleasure to read. Quite a bit like gelato itself--rich with detail, sweet, flavorful, and so delicious--I simultaneously couldn't wait to find out the ending and yet didn't want it to be over. As a bonus, the descriptions of Italy itself are lovely--I felt like I was taking a trip there (including mentally enjoying some of the best cuisine Italy has to offer). Speaking of, I need to wrap this up so I can get my hands on some gelato . . .

I saw this book all over Instagram and fell in love with its title and cover. I didn't realize until I had it in my hands that it's a teen book, so I had to put myself back in time a few decades and remember what that's like! :-) But - it was such a charmer that people of all ages will enjoy it. Love, family, mystery, and gelato make for great stories and I look forward to reading more from this author.

(Read review in a british accent)

Let ne start this review for you by saying that I have never read a book quite like this one. (well maybe a few books over in the middle school library but thats beside the point). this book had the perfect amount of "young girl discovering her mother who recently passed away's life as a young graduate in Italy" mixed with the classic "young girl figuring out who she is and som of the who is my father? also the who do i likes, do they likes me? and such". This book was truly fantastic.

dang nabit Croatia beat England! I was looking forward to a France England game. Aw shucks!

Now I'm all for cutesy contemporary romances as much as the next girl and this one just easily became one of, if not my absolute favorite one. I'm a huge sucker for the Anna and the French Kiss series and the thing that stuck out most about that series for me was the location and how it contributed to the story. Love and Gelato takes place in the incredibly romantic Florence (which I've never had a burning desire to go to until right now) and I'm not sure I've ever been so entranced by a book's setting. Florence had such an impact on the story and the author made me feel like I was walking down the streets of Florence with some stracciatella gelato and an Italian boyfriend.
Love and Gelato does not solely focus on the main character Lina's romantic life, but also her family life. Her mother has recently passed and before she died, she promised her mother she would go and live in Florence with one of her mother's closest friends. Little does she know she will discover so much about her mother and her father (who's been out of the picture Lina's entire life). It was amazing to read not only Lina's story, but her mother's. This is the perfect self-discovery novel with a dash of Italian romance for anyone interested.
There's a reason this novel has a solid 5 star rating on the store!

I enjoyed this story and sighed a happy sigh at its conclusion. A half star off for the caricature of "X." When Lina finally meets him in person, his character seems a bit predictable and over-the-top. Other than that it was the perfect YA romance laced with laugh-out-loud moments and swoony romance. I'm excited to see what this debut author has for us next. When reading the acknowledgements at the end of the book, I was surprised to find out that Jenna Evans Welch is Richard Paul Evans daughter. I guess the romance writing gene has been passed on.

Not a bad book overall, but I'd figured out the big plot twist by the third chapter, which really didn't leave anything to discover other than the "why". The writing was good, the three or four main characters decently flushed out. Too many of the peripheral characters seemed like though, tropes with no real life of their own. The author's description of Florence makes me want to go there, and to eat as much gelato as I can stand. So there's that!

I loved this book!! The humor, the romance, the mystery, and the travel log through Italy, it was all just too much fun!! I went from out loud laughing, anger, and heartbreak from page to page. The author has done an outstanding job with this book. And, with this being her first, I can't wait to read more from her!!

When I saw this book at the library I checked it our immediately; I am a fan of her father's work and was interested to read Jenna's. Love and Gelato is aimed at teenagers and appropriately so. My oldest niece is 16 yr old and I could hear her attitude and personality through the protagonist's narrative. The humor throughout this novel left me desperately wanting more. I would recommend this as a book for any teenager or adult. Jenna Evans Welsh can definitely write!

What a terrific book! Loved it! The story was weaved in such a creative way and kept my attention throughout while sparking my interest in Italy. I had never had gelato before reading this book. Jenna's description of it inspired me to get some and try it. Wow! I am now a fan of both this very talented author and gelato.

Jenna Evans Welch is an experienced writer and now an author of her very own book, Love & Gelato. I couldn't put the book down! I am a working mom and made time to read this. I absolutely enjoyed the adventure, heart ache and love that this book gives. I would easily have enjoyed this as a teenager as well. Again, I couldn't put it down. A definite read!
Books I've enjoyed reading include: Hunger Games, Harry Potter, The Host, Twilight, Divergent, The Perfect Day and The Christmas Box and The Gift (by Richard Paul Evans), Lord of the Rings, Wheel of Time, The Help, Princess Academy, The Girl of the Limberlost, Ella Enchanted, Holes...

This is a sweet novel. Even though it’s about a 16 year old it brought me back to my college days living and traveling in Europe. It’s appropriate for a teen to read and a fun quick read for an adult.

When I was very little, reading was my favorite hobby. But then I became interested in watching sit-coms (Friends, How I Met Your Mother, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) and reality TV (Big Brother) and I stopped reading as much. This book is my absolute favorite book ever! Being 50% Italian, I am able to imagine myself as Lina going on this journey. The first time I read it, I finished it in two days. I fully recommend this book so I urge you to purchase it.

Jenna Evans Welch has a voice that is instantly engaging and full of heart and humor. She makes a bitter subject, the death of a parent, bittersweet by taking her character Lina not only through a journey of loss, but also on one of discovery. Welch expertly blends the morbid with the romantic (Lina literally lives next to a cemetery - but it's in Florence!) to tell a story that is heartfelt without being too heavy. The book will no doubt leave readers pining for Italy, first love, and - of course - gelato.

I spent a semester in Florence in college, so I may be biased, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought it was pretty obvious who Mr. X wasn't, but I could imagine a distraught 17 year old not putting it together right away. Gotta go find some gelato now...

I absolutely fell in love with this book - it is now one of my favorites! If you have a severe case of wanderlust this book might just be a (slightly) temporary cure. Welch takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions, adventure & tons of fun. It is the perfect read if you're looking for some travel with just a hint of romance & maybe even some mystery!

For a YA read, it was one I couldn't put down! Totally brought back memories of me as an American teenager growing up in Europe and my friends from AISL. The sights, the sounds, the taste and smells and best of all the friendships I made.

I finished it in 4 days, it could have been less but with homework and work it extended. I loved it so much that it was so hard to put it away. I was totally into Lina’s world also fell in love with Ren❤️. I think I am going to read it again. I loved the style the author used for writing. Thumbs up!!!

Quick and very easy read. It took a little time to get going but it most definitely does not disappoint! I am in my mid twenties and I was afraid it would be too young to be relatable and draw me in but I loved it.

I laughed, I got teary-eyed, I relived those giddy moments from years ago... I thought this book was perfect, and I appreciated the beautiful pictures Jenna paints with her words. It's a book that I enjoyed reading very much and will enjoy reading again and again...whenever my mind needs to take a vacation to the rolling hills of Tuscany.

I absolutely loved this book,I read it in 6 hours and wish there was more. This book will make you laugh and want to cry. Lina's adventure will have u craving your own adventure and want to find a love like hers. I would highly recommended this lovely book.

If you love Anna and the French Kiss, this is the the book you kept waiting for Stephanie Perkins to write again. Thankfully we have Love and Gelato. Now I am craving warm Italian evenings and gelato. Yum.

I loved this book! I am a fan of her father's books (Richard Paul Evans), so of course had to read Jenna's first book. I could not put it down. It's a sweet story and made me want to go to Italy! I had to look up on the Internet some of the places the main character visited in the book just to see them and they were exactly as described. Now I need to see them in person. Highly recommend.

I absolutely loved this book! I literally could not put it down as each new chapter compelled me to dive deeper into the story. Although I have never been to Italy, I felt like I was experiencing it for the first time through the beautiful pages of this book. I now know that I must plan a trip to Florence someday with my husband so that I can have my very own taste of love and gelato!!!

I fell in love with this book so much. I couldn't stopped reading it ! I had so much fun googling the places that they mentioned in the book. I felt like I was in Italy ! While I was reading it made me crave Gelato and I went to go get some. Such a great book !! I tweeted the author on how much I loved the book and she responded ?

Such a fun read! I love romance novels and this one is definitely on top of my favorites list! I would totally recommend this book to a friend because it doesn't disappoint. I really hope she has more books coming because Jenna Welch is an amazing writer!

I read a lot, and this book easily made it onto my list of top 5. I absolutely loved the adventure and the romance. Each page leaves you hungry for more. I seriously couldn't put it down. It's definitely worth it!

I laughed, I got teary-eyed, I relived those giddy moments from years ago... I thought this book was perfect, and I appreciated the beautiful pictures Jenna paints with her words. It's a book that I enjoyed reading very much and will enjoy reading again and again...whenever my mind needs to take a vacation to the rolling hills of Tuscany.

I absolutely loved this book,I read it in 6 hours and wish there was more. This book will make you laugh and want to cry. Lina's adventure will have u craving your own adventure and want to find a love like hers. I would highly recommended this lovely book.

If you love Anna and the French Kiss, this is the the book you kept waiting for Stephanie Perkins to write again. Thankfully we have Love and Gelato. Now I am craving warm Italian evenings and gelato. Yum.

I loved this book! I am a fan of her father's books (Richard Paul Evans), so of course had to read Jenna's first book. I could not put it down. It's a sweet story and made me want to go to Italy! I had to look up on the Internet some of the places the main character visited in the book just to see them and they were exactly as described. Now I need to see them in person. Highly recommend.

I absolutely loved this book! I literally could not put it down as each new chapter compelled me to dive deeper into the story. Although I have never been to Italy, I felt like I was experiencing it for the first time through the beautiful pages of this book. I now know that I must plan a trip to Florence someday with my husband so that I can have my very own taste of love and gelato!!!

I fell in love with this book so much. I couldn't stopped reading it ! I had so much fun googling the places that they mentioned in the book. I felt like I was in Italy ! While I was reading it made me crave Gelato and I went to go get some. Such a great book !! I tweeted the author on how much I loved the book and she responded ?

Such a fun read! I love romance novels and this one is definitely on top of my favorites list! I would totally recommend this book to a friend because it doesn't disappoint. I really hope she has more books coming because Jenna Welch is an amazing writer!

I read a lot, and this book easily made it onto my list of top 5. I absolutely loved the adventure and the romance. Each page leaves you hungry for more. I seriously couldn't put it down. It's definitely worth it!

Absolutely loved this book and just bought a copy for my classroom library. Well-balanced story with lots about Italy, a little mystery, and realistic characters. Welch did a great job making this story believable.

The story is cute and sweet, but the writing is mediocre. Real writers don't start sentences with "It" or "There" as often as this writer does. Don't even get me started on the lack of commas throughout the book. I don't understand how an editor let these basic writing rules slide.

Promoting unmarried sex and out-of-wedlock children without a father in their life is not an appropriate subject for teen girls. I would not want my granddaughters to read this book. It is well written though and Jenna seems to have some of her father's talent. I just hope she uses it like he does to promote more wholesome family values in the future.