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Love & Gelato #1
Love & Gelato
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fiction (2016)“I made the wrong choice.”
Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is go back home.
But then she is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires her, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything she knew about her mother, her father—and even herself.
People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.
Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is go back home.
But then she is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires her, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything she knew about her mother, her father—and even herself.
People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.
386 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2016
5,356 people are currently reading
199k people want to read
About the author
Jenna Evans Welch
6 books5,841 followersJenna Evans Welch was the kind of insatiable child reader who had no choice but to grow up to become a writer. She is the New York Times Bestselling author of LOVE & GELATO and the upcoming LOVE & LUCK. When she isn’t writing girl abroad stories, Jenna can be found chasing her children or making elaborate messes in the kitchen. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband and two young children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 22,620 reviews
September 2, 2019
‘people come to italy for all sorts of reasons, but when they stay, its for the same two things - love and getalo.’
some personal news: im moving to italy at the end of the week and i would be lying if i said this book didnt influence that decision.
im off to find my own ren to love, eat my entire body weight in gelato, and live my best dolce vita. <3
________________________________________
sugar and spice and everything nice - that is what this book is made of. and now i have a toothache from the sticky sweetness of this story, which is exactly what you would expect from a title like ‘love and gelato.’
this book checks so many boxes for me, i dont even know where to begin. so let me share my list:
- coming of age story (love the connection between lina and her mothers journal). check.
- set abroad (ughh. how romantic is italy!? sigh). check.
- swoon-worthy crush (pls marry me, ren, i luv u). check.
- fun adventures, amazing characters, and heartfelt message. check, check, check!
im in awe at how something so light and fluffy can deliver such a deep and meaningful story. everything about this is positively wonderful and absolutely lovely. this gave me heart flutters and butterflies and all the warm fuzzy feels imaginable. its definitely going to the top of my favourite contemporaries of all time - its the ultimate feel book book!
↠ 5 stars
some personal news: im moving to italy at the end of the week and i would be lying if i said this book didnt influence that decision.
im off to find my own ren to love, eat my entire body weight in gelato, and live my best dolce vita. <3
________________________________________
sugar and spice and everything nice - that is what this book is made of. and now i have a toothache from the sticky sweetness of this story, which is exactly what you would expect from a title like ‘love and gelato.’
this book checks so many boxes for me, i dont even know where to begin. so let me share my list:
- coming of age story (love the connection between lina and her mothers journal). check.
- set abroad (ughh. how romantic is italy!? sigh). check.
- swoon-worthy crush (pls marry me, ren, i luv u). check.
- fun adventures, amazing characters, and heartfelt message. check, check, check!
im in awe at how something so light and fluffy can deliver such a deep and meaningful story. everything about this is positively wonderful and absolutely lovely. this gave me heart flutters and butterflies and all the warm fuzzy feels imaginable. its definitely going to the top of my favourite contemporaries of all time - its the ultimate feel book book!
↠ 5 stars
August 22, 2024
RIP Me. I have officially drowned in sugar.
This super cute YA Contemporary was everything I was looking for.
Funny, witty, romantic and delicious, I loved every moment of experiencing Italy with adorable protagonist, Lena.
The found family elements were extremely well done. I appreciated the love and friendships so, so much.
My only disappointment is that I waited so long to read it.
September 5, 2017
This was super cute and really interesting!
More thoughts and possibly a BiblioBabble to come!
More thoughts and possibly a BiblioBabble to come!
September 3, 2016
Super cute. I loved it.
May 6, 2021
“You know, people come to Italy for all sorts of reasons, but when they stay, it’s for the same two things.”
“What?”
“Love and gelato.”
The story narrated in this book is one of friendship, family, and first love. The characters enhanced the concept at the core of this book and the dynamic between each of them was written very well.
Lina, after facing the trauma of losing her mother, flies to Italy for the summer in order to fulfill her mother’s last wish. Her mother also seemed to arrange for her to live with Howard, her mother’s friend from her days in college. After her mother passes, her grandmother informs her that her mother left out the minute detail that Howard also happens to be her father.
Now in Italy, she finds out that Howard, who refuses to refer to as her dad, lives in a graveyard. Not the ideal place for a girl who just lost her mother. Struggling with her mother’s death and trying to accept that Howard is her father, she tries to cope with her situation for the summer.
As the story progresses, the author takes us through Italy in the protagonist’s attempt to understand her mother’s year in college. After Lina’s arrival in Florence, she is handed her mother’s old journal, one she has never seen before, which she has never seen before, which is weird because her mother is extremely open about her journals and is well known for her entertaining writing. In an attempt to see Florence through her mother’s eyes, she makes her way through the town with the guidance of the journal. And she has come to realise that her mother’s college years were unlike anything she imagined.
A romance the seemed to have ended badly, a proclamation that could change everything, and the story of a vibrant woman making her way through life, her mother may have secrets of her own. The journal allows her to finally understand the piece of her mother’s life she has never known about, and maybe even why she never knew her father.
Maybe that was just part of the Italian experience. Come to Italy. Fall in love. Watch everything blow up in your face.
Since her mother’s journal is inserted into the book, we follow not one but to women making their way through Florence and finding love. Watching her cope with her mother’s death and come to peace with her life as it is now is amazing. We watch her open herself to the possibility of a life in Florence and makes a friend through a very unusual set of circumstances.
Now that I have finished reading this book, the title seems to the most endearing thing about it because a story with such depth can only be described by Love and Gelato, and anything else wouldn’t seem right. The characters were amazing, the description of the city was perfect, the relationship between the characters and the city was written lovingly and overall there is nothing I would change about this book.
I’m undeniably, inexplicably, explicitly in love with this book and I wish everyone who likes contemporary books would read this precious gem of a story because reading this book is, right now, one of the best experiences of my life.
“What?”
“Love and gelato.”
The story narrated in this book is one of friendship, family, and first love. The characters enhanced the concept at the core of this book and the dynamic between each of them was written very well.
Lina, after facing the trauma of losing her mother, flies to Italy for the summer in order to fulfill her mother’s last wish. Her mother also seemed to arrange for her to live with Howard, her mother’s friend from her days in college. After her mother passes, her grandmother informs her that her mother left out the minute detail that Howard also happens to be her father.
Now in Italy, she finds out that Howard, who refuses to refer to as her dad, lives in a graveyard. Not the ideal place for a girl who just lost her mother. Struggling with her mother’s death and trying to accept that Howard is her father, she tries to cope with her situation for the summer.
As the story progresses, the author takes us through Italy in the protagonist’s attempt to understand her mother’s year in college. After Lina’s arrival in Florence, she is handed her mother’s old journal, one she has never seen before, which she has never seen before, which is weird because her mother is extremely open about her journals and is well known for her entertaining writing. In an attempt to see Florence through her mother’s eyes, she makes her way through the town with the guidance of the journal. And she has come to realise that her mother’s college years were unlike anything she imagined.
A romance the seemed to have ended badly, a proclamation that could change everything, and the story of a vibrant woman making her way through life, her mother may have secrets of her own. The journal allows her to finally understand the piece of her mother’s life she has never known about, and maybe even why she never knew her father.
Maybe that was just part of the Italian experience. Come to Italy. Fall in love. Watch everything blow up in your face.
Since her mother’s journal is inserted into the book, we follow not one but to women making their way through Florence and finding love. Watching her cope with her mother’s death and come to peace with her life as it is now is amazing. We watch her open herself to the possibility of a life in Florence and makes a friend through a very unusual set of circumstances.
Now that I have finished reading this book, the title seems to the most endearing thing about it because a story with such depth can only be described by Love and Gelato, and anything else wouldn’t seem right. The characters were amazing, the description of the city was perfect, the relationship between the characters and the city was written lovingly and overall there is nothing I would change about this book.
I’m undeniably, inexplicably, explicitly in love with this book and I wish everyone who likes contemporary books would read this precious gem of a story because reading this book is, right now, one of the best experiences of my life.
December 10, 2021
FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT'S HOLY!!
I'm usually not this hysterical but my heart has been shattered, my eyes are warm with tears and I don't even have half the idea of what I'm typing because I can't see properly (I even shelved it as "Indian mythology" so you probably get the idea) but this is totally me trying to weave words into a coherent sentence. I don't think I will be able to do justice to this book but I have to let out everything before my nerves get the better of me. So here goes nothing.
Seventeen y/o Lina loses her mom to pancreatic cancer. But she has to fulfill her mom's dying wish that she spend a summer(and maybe longer) in Tuscany. Lina travels halfway around the world to stay with her father Howard, who is the caretaker of a cemetery just outside Florence. But as she is given an old journal of her mother's, she gets to know things about her mother she had no clue about before and must deal with the grief and heartbreak threatening to consume her. As Lina has her own romantic life to endure, with her mother's journal as a cautionary tale, she is faced with a decision to make, and it could very well be a life-changing one.
To say that this book found its way to the very core of my heart would be a huge betrayal to Six Of Crows, Simon vs The Homosapiens agenda, Eliza and her Monsters and ACOTAR trilogy (my all-time favourites). But it definitely does make me question every other book I've rated five stars, because it's certainly not fair to this book.
This book is wonderfully enamoured with hope, love and every other cute, light-hearted feeling one can come up with. But most importantly, it is a tale about strength and healing, about enduring despite everything that life throws your way. To realise that there is dusk, but also dawn. That no matter how many heartbreaks or failures you endure, no matter how many of those moments-that-will-blow-your-composure exist or how many times you're thrown off balance, they'll soon evaporate and things will move in a better direction. All that's needed is to hold on and never let go, because enduring isn't something that's in-built, it's something you do.
"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end"
This book to me is exactly how Jenna Evans Welchdescribes Florence.
"Florence is exactly how I thought it would be and nothing like it at all. It is absolutely magical and yet it's gritty too. I've never been anyplace I want to capture so much."
I want to visit Italy more than ever with Ren and Howard as my tourist guides for the same two reasons:
Love and Gelato
I'm usually not this hysterical but my heart has been shattered, my eyes are warm with tears and I don't even have half the idea of what I'm typing because I can't see properly (I even shelved it as "Indian mythology" so you probably get the idea) but this is totally me trying to weave words into a coherent sentence. I don't think I will be able to do justice to this book but I have to let out everything before my nerves get the better of me. So here goes nothing.
Seventeen y/o Lina loses her mom to pancreatic cancer. But she has to fulfill her mom's dying wish that she spend a summer(and maybe longer) in Tuscany. Lina travels halfway around the world to stay with her father Howard, who is the caretaker of a cemetery just outside Florence. But as she is given an old journal of her mother's, she gets to know things about her mother she had no clue about before and must deal with the grief and heartbreak threatening to consume her. As Lina has her own romantic life to endure, with her mother's journal as a cautionary tale, she is faced with a decision to make, and it could very well be a life-changing one.
To say that this book found its way to the very core of my heart would be a huge betrayal to Six Of Crows, Simon vs The Homosapiens agenda, Eliza and her Monsters and ACOTAR trilogy (my all-time favourites). But it definitely does make me question every other book I've rated five stars, because it's certainly not fair to this book.
This book is wonderfully enamoured with hope, love and every other cute, light-hearted feeling one can come up with. But most importantly, it is a tale about strength and healing, about enduring despite everything that life throws your way. To realise that there is dusk, but also dawn. That no matter how many heartbreaks or failures you endure, no matter how many of those moments-that-will-blow-your-composure exist or how many times you're thrown off balance, they'll soon evaporate and things will move in a better direction. All that's needed is to hold on and never let go, because enduring isn't something that's in-built, it's something you do.
"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end"
This book to me is exactly how Jenna Evans Welchdescribes Florence.
"Florence is exactly how I thought it would be and nothing like it at all. It is absolutely magical and yet it's gritty too. I've never been anyplace I want to capture so much."
I want to visit Italy more than ever with Ren and Howard as my tourist guides for the same two reasons:
Love and Gelato
March 14, 2025
(This review will contain major spoiler)
I hate to be the outliers but I think there were just too many good reviews about this book that I can't help to be disappointed with the turn of events. Bear in mind that I do take note that this is YA, which having inchoate characters is probably expected but there will always be a silver lining.
This book starts well and it was so easy to read.
Let me just list a few things I enjoy at the beginning:
1. Lina meets her "potential classmate"
This part was so adorable because everyone was so welcoming and it was heartwarming to see. They were just so excited to have a new face joining them that their antics humour me; especially Marcus and his "Lina is my biology partner"
2. Howard and "intimidating" Ren
I just find these exchanges to be so funny due to the misunderstanding Howard first had towards Ren; resulting in Ren to be unyielding and keeps calling Howard "Sir" cause boy is trying hard not to piss in his pants. Love this dynamic between the two!
3. Italy & Gelato
I have never been to Florence but the place sounds heavenly. It makes me wants to explore all the places Lina and Ren went to. Not to say, the gelato seems so delectable. It didn't help that we're on a lockdown and I can't find myself some gelato to fulfil the craving. Although I believe it would still not be as good as the one Lina tried. Can someone just please get me a stracciatella?
But then, as the story goes, I find some things infuriating.
1. Why can't you finish the journal first, Lina?
First of all, I don't understand how she can feel "drowsy" when she's at a suspenseful part of the journal. You're pages away. But fine, I understand. Howard may take two hours to finish the journal but not all of us a Howard. Sometimes we are a Lina who may take a week to finish one journal and I am totally fine with that. What's not is:
Why would she go as far as asking Ren to bring her to FAAF just so she could find out who "X" is?
Lina, all you have to do is finish the damn journal and see where you can go from there. Go find X or talk to Howard but no! I have to make things complicated. Ren even said so! But Lina thinks:
Lina... you don't even know what happened to your mom in the past, what makes you think you know what your mom wants. You've proved to do nothing but have all these false assumptions after another.
2. I find some things half-baked (read: mainly Lina)
This part doesn't bother me but why go as far as having to buy a new phone for Lina just so she can start contacting her other friends in Italy. What she needs is i) her old phone ii) a new sim card. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Why does it the hard way? (p/s: but do tell me if there are just some things I am not aware of how the connection works in Italy).
Then, I find it absurd how she immediately assumed that "X" is Howard the first time she reads the journal. Because while Lina thinks that way, I catch that this "X" was supposed to be a different person, or you know: give him the benefit of the doubt instead of jumping to conclusions.
And later as she reads the journal (which she has not yet finished), she wholeheartedly believes her theory (which was not right) and went from "I wanna leave Italy, Howard is nice but I don't wanna talk to him" to "Pity him, was it too much to ask for my mom to love him"
Me reading this part:
I'm sorry if I was being petty over trivial things but even these parts still annoyed me to no end.
3. "I was so in love, it hurts" Are you really in love??
I am not going to start the "they're not really in love" course like this is some Romeo and Juliet crap. But I stand with what I say.
Firstly, to Ren: How do you have a crush on someone for two years and finally succeed to be their boyfriend to immediately break things off just because you met someone new? How do you love Lina so fast (someone you meet five days ago) than the girl you have a crush on for two damn years?
Cut me all the "you didn't choose who to love, your heart did" because then it will make me believe that Ren feelings for Mimi were superficial. I understand if he feels more connected towards Lina but Ren made it so easy. Attracted to a new girl, break things off with my current girlfriend. I can't even... This would probably have to do with the fact that I've been seeing people who love this book couldn't stop gushing about Ren but I'd say he is good for nothing.
And To Lina: If you're so in love with Ren, "it hurts". Tell me three things you love about him will ya? I wanted to feel connected with the romance between the two but it was hard when
i) There was no indication of what Lina feels or thinks about Ren until the very last part. She is attracted to Thomas for the first half of the book.
ii) There was no developing feelings process during their friendship either. Not until she suddenly kissed Ren and realized, "Oh damn, I love him."
I just think she's confusing her feelings with "love" because Ren was there for her from the start and she doesn't have to fake herself as she did with everyone else. She doesn't love Ren, she just loves how his presence brings comfort and was in a vulnerable moment when feeling so. Even during the time they kissed because girl was just crying and decided "I'm gonna kiss him even tho I know he has a girlfriend". So no, you can't blame me if I refused to believe they are in love. At least not at the same time they think they are in love.
4. Survival of the fittest or not, you don't take other people's partners. Not in this century, woman.
Do I blame Mimi if she dislikes Lina? No. No, I don't because I would feel the same. I am in a relationship and I get to know my boyfriend is spending his time with the new girl in town, where he even refused to pick up my call because he is with her. To add salt to wound, he even lied to me about it? How does that suppose to make me feel? Blessed?
Even when Ren has broken up with Mimi that night at the club, you don't know that do you, Lina?
So why, after things drifted apart because Linaaccidentally kissed Ren, she decided she needs to get
"The Dress"
so things will work. Oh wait, don't get it wrong. I don't want to be a snatcher though, just to make sure Ren will talk to me again.
Okay, but do you need "The Dress"?
It doesn't help when Howard said:
Sir, you don't get to say...
I don't know. I just don't like this whole ordeal with someone else's boyfriend. At least,if men ain't sh*t we women respected each other, don't we?
And trust me, I am the most absent-minded person when I read contemporary romance because I would usually just enjoy the book and be done with it. I am NEVER the critical person or nitpicking as I did with this book — which means, this book is just not that good as everyone made it to be.
If you enjoy this, I respected the community but it ain't me. I find the whole conflict of Hadley, Howard and Matteo to be heartbreaking but it can also be avoided if they do this thing called: communication .
Overall, great start, weak finish. I could handle some dreadful plot but I can't stand dreadful characters. The only likeable character in this book is Howard and maybe Sonia. The rest? Ugh, spare me.
"When we're together, we make one whole Italian"
I hate to be the outliers but I think there were just too many good reviews about this book that I can't help to be disappointed with the turn of events. Bear in mind that I do take note that this is YA, which having inchoate characters is probably expected but there will always be a silver lining.
This book starts well and it was so easy to read.
Let me just list a few things I enjoy at the beginning:
1. Lina meets her "potential classmate"
This part was so adorable because everyone was so welcoming and it was heartwarming to see. They were just so excited to have a new face joining them that their antics humour me; especially Marcus and his "Lina is my biology partner"
2. Howard and "intimidating" Ren
I just find these exchanges to be so funny due to the misunderstanding Howard first had towards Ren; resulting in Ren to be unyielding and keeps calling Howard "Sir" cause boy is trying hard not to piss in his pants. Love this dynamic between the two!
3. Italy & Gelato
I have never been to Florence but the place sounds heavenly. It makes me wants to explore all the places Lina and Ren went to. Not to say, the gelato seems so delectable. It didn't help that we're on a lockdown and I can't find myself some gelato to fulfil the craving. Although I believe it would still not be as good as the one Lina tried. Can someone just please get me a stracciatella?
But then, as the story goes, I find some things infuriating.
1. Why can't you finish the journal first, Lina?
First of all, I don't understand how she can feel "drowsy" when she's at a suspenseful part of the journal. You're pages away. But fine, I understand. Howard may take two hours to finish the journal but not all of us a Howard. Sometimes we are a Lina who may take a week to finish one journal and I am totally fine with that. What's not is:
Why would she go as far as asking Ren to bring her to FAAF just so she could find out who "X" is?
"Because my mom had this whole life I don't know about, and I want to know what was so great about X that she couldn't get over him and had to break Howard's heart"
Lina, all you have to do is finish the damn journal and see where you can go from there. Go find X or talk to Howard but no! I have to make things complicated. Ren even said so! But Lina thinks:
"Ren, please! I think it's what my mom wanted me to do. And I can't face Howard like this. I can't.
Lina... you don't even know what happened to your mom in the past, what makes you think you know what your mom wants. You've proved to do nothing but have all these false assumptions after another.
2. I find some things half-baked (read: mainly Lina)
This part doesn't bother me but why go as far as having to buy a new phone for Lina just so she can start contacting her other friends in Italy. What she needs is i) her old phone ii) a new sim card. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Why does it the hard way? (p/s: but do tell me if there are just some things I am not aware of how the connection works in Italy).
Then, I find it absurd how she immediately assumed that "X" is Howard the first time she reads the journal. Because while Lina thinks that way, I catch that this "X" was supposed to be a different person, or you know: give him the benefit of the doubt instead of jumping to conclusions.
And later as she reads the journal (which she has not yet finished), she wholeheartedly believes her theory (which was not right) and went from "I wanna leave Italy, Howard is nice but I don't wanna talk to him" to "Pity him, was it too much to ask for my mom to love him"
Me reading this part:
I'm sorry if I was being petty over trivial things but even these parts still annoyed me to no end.
3. "I was so in love, it hurts" Are you really in love??
I am not going to start the "they're not really in love" course like this is some Romeo and Juliet crap. But I stand with what I say.
Firstly, to Ren: How do you have a crush on someone for two years and finally succeed to be their boyfriend to immediately break things off just because you met someone new? How do you love Lina so fast (someone you meet five days ago) than the girl you have a crush on for two damn years?
Cut me all the "you didn't choose who to love, your heart did" because then it will make me believe that Ren feelings for Mimi were superficial. I understand if he feels more connected towards Lina but Ren made it so easy. Attracted to a new girl, break things off with my current girlfriend. I can't even... This would probably have to do with the fact that I've been seeing people who love this book couldn't stop gushing about Ren but I'd say he is good for nothing.
And To Lina: If you're so in love with Ren, "it hurts". Tell me three things you love about him will ya? I wanted to feel connected with the romance between the two but it was hard when
i) There was no indication of what Lina feels or thinks about Ren until the very last part. She is attracted to Thomas for the first half of the book.
ii) There was no developing feelings process during their friendship either. Not until she suddenly kissed Ren and realized, "Oh damn, I love him."
I just think she's confusing her feelings with "love" because Ren was there for her from the start and she doesn't have to fake herself as she did with everyone else. She doesn't love Ren, she just loves how his presence brings comfort and was in a vulnerable moment when feeling so. Even during the time they kissed because girl was just crying and decided "I'm gonna kiss him even tho I know he has a girlfriend". So no, you can't blame me if I refused to believe they are in love. At least not at the same time they think they are in love.
4. Survival of the fittest or not, you don't take other people's partners. Not in this century, woman.
Do I blame Mimi if she dislikes Lina? No. No, I don't because I would feel the same. I am in a relationship and I get to know my boyfriend is spending his time with the new girl in town, where he even refused to pick up my call because he is with her. To add salt to wound, he even lied to me about it? How does that suppose to make me feel? Blessed?
Even when Ren has broken up with Mimi that night at the club, you don't know that do you, Lina?
So why, after things drifted apart because Lina
Okay, but do you need "The Dress"?
It doesn't help when Howard said:
"You look beautiful. I don't care what Ren's girlfriend looks like. She doesn't stand a chance"
Sir, you don't get to say...
I don't know. I just don't like this whole ordeal with someone else's boyfriend. At least,
And trust me, I am the most absent-minded person when I read contemporary romance because I would usually just enjoy the book and be done with it. I am NEVER the critical person or nitpicking as I did with this book — which means, this book is just not that good as everyone made it to be.
If you enjoy this, I respected the community but it ain't me. I find the whole conflict of Hadley, Howard and Matteo to be heartbreaking but it can also be avoided if they do this thing called: communication .
Overall, great start, weak finish. I could handle some dreadful plot but I can't stand dreadful characters. The only likeable character in this book is Howard and maybe Sonia. The rest? Ugh, spare me.
June 9, 2022
Such a cute and summary romance!! And I loveddd that it takes place in Italy. Such a fun setting!! I also loved that there is so much plot outside of the romance as well. The main character discovering more about her mom’s story and her relationship with Howard was so sweet!!
February 27, 2025
“𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀, 𝓹𝓮𝓸𝓹𝓵𝓮 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓘𝓽𝓪𝓵𝔂 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓼𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓼 𝓸𝓯 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓸𝓷𝓼, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝔂, 𝓲𝓽’𝓼 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝔀𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼.”
“𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽?”
“𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓰𝓮𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓸.”
“𝓐𝓶𝓮𝓷.” 𝓗𝓸𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓭 𝓼𝓪𝓲𝓭. 🍧🩷
3.5 Stars!
I'm not a big YA reader anymore but this was such a heartwarming and sweet story.
Summer vibes, Romance, Italy... what more could you ask for?? 🍧☀️😎
I'm reviewed out - that's all I got right now lol. 🥰
“𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽?”
“𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓰𝓮𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓸.”
“𝓐𝓶𝓮𝓷.” 𝓗𝓸𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓭 𝓼𝓪𝓲𝓭. 🍧🩷
3.5 Stars!
I'm not a big YA reader anymore but this was such a heartwarming and sweet story.
Summer vibes, Romance, Italy... what more could you ask for?? 🍧☀️😎
I'm reviewed out - that's all I got right now lol. 🥰
January 31, 2025
4.75 stars ⭐️
⤷ spoiler-free unless stated otherwise!! ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪
“You know, people come to Italy for all sorts of reasons, but when they stay, it’s for the same two things.”
“What?”
“Love and gelato.” 🍨🩷
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ my thoughts
this book was so cute and heartwarming 🥹 i had high expectations, and it did not disappoint! i loved following carolina and lorenzo as they explored italy, retracing the places from lina’s mother’s journal to learn about her past and uncover her secret. i want to pack my bags and embark on my own little adventure in italy right now 🥲🇮🇹
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ characters
♡.ᐟ carolina and lorenzo
they were absolutely adorable 🥺 the way ren did everything with lina and took her to all the places she wanted to visit melted my heart. the only thing i didn’t enjoy about this book was the mixed signals and misunderstandings between them, but aside from that, it was perfect 👌🏻
“You’re the one I like. Maybe love.”
“Maybe love, huh? Well, that’s good news. Because I maybe love you too.”
‼️ spoilers ahead ‼️
♡.ᐟ howard
it was so touching how howard wanted to raise lina after her mother passed, even though she wasn’t his biological daughter. it shows just how much he loved her mother 😭
“Do you know you’re not my father?”
“Define ‘father.’”
“…you know what I mean by ‘father.’ I mean the man who gave me half my DNA.”
“Well, in that case, no. I’m not your father. But if you go with another definition, meaning ‘a man who wants to be in your life and help raise you,’ then yes. I am.”
“…Even though our circumstances are strange, and we’re a bit of a mismatch, I really do want to be a part of your life. We may not be a regular kind of family, but if you’ll have me, I’ll be your family just the same.”
♡.ᐟ other characters
matteo is absolutely awful and repulsive, and i sincerely hope i never fall for someone like him 🤮 mimi was quite annoying too, though i can understand that she was probably upset because ren broke up with her after falling for lina…
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ overall
i had such a great time reading this book even while i was sick, and i hope the rest of the series is just as good as this one <3
“Hey, what’s the matter? Are you crying?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
But it wasn’t nothing. I didn’t want to ruin the moment by explaining it to him, but suddenly it was like I had a zoomed-out view of this moment and I never, ever (ever) wanted it to end. I had Nutella on my face and my first real love sprawled out next to me and any minute the stars were going to sink back into the sky in preparation for a new day, and for the first time in a long time, I couldn’t wait for what that day would bring. And that was something.
update
i have a copy of onyx storm rn 🤭 but i’ll still be reading this ~
pre-read
i honestly picked this up on a whim. i just need something to keep me occupied while i patiently wait for my copy of onyx storm to arrive :,)
⤷ spoiler-free unless stated otherwise!! ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪
“You know, people come to Italy for all sorts of reasons, but when they stay, it’s for the same two things.”
“What?”
“Love and gelato.” 🍨🩷
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ my thoughts
this book was so cute and heartwarming 🥹 i had high expectations, and it did not disappoint! i loved following carolina and lorenzo as they explored italy, retracing the places from lina’s mother’s journal to learn about her past and uncover her secret. i want to pack my bags and embark on my own little adventure in italy right now 🥲🇮🇹
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ characters
♡.ᐟ carolina and lorenzo
they were absolutely adorable 🥺 the way ren did everything with lina and took her to all the places she wanted to visit melted my heart. the only thing i didn’t enjoy about this book was the mixed signals and misunderstandings between them, but aside from that, it was perfect 👌🏻
“You’re the one I like. Maybe love.”
“Maybe love, huh? Well, that’s good news. Because I maybe love you too.”
‼️ spoilers ahead ‼️
♡.ᐟ howard
it was so touching how howard wanted to raise lina after her mother passed, even though she wasn’t his biological daughter. it shows just how much he loved her mother 😭
“Do you know you’re not my father?”
“Define ‘father.’”
“…you know what I mean by ‘father.’ I mean the man who gave me half my DNA.”
“Well, in that case, no. I’m not your father. But if you go with another definition, meaning ‘a man who wants to be in your life and help raise you,’ then yes. I am.”
“…Even though our circumstances are strange, and we’re a bit of a mismatch, I really do want to be a part of your life. We may not be a regular kind of family, but if you’ll have me, I’ll be your family just the same.”
♡.ᐟ other characters
matteo is absolutely awful and repulsive, and i sincerely hope i never fall for someone like him 🤮 mimi was quite annoying too, though i can understand that she was probably upset because ren broke up with her after falling for lina…
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ overall
i had such a great time reading this book even while i was sick, and i hope the rest of the series is just as good as this one <3
“Hey, what’s the matter? Are you crying?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
But it wasn’t nothing. I didn’t want to ruin the moment by explaining it to him, but suddenly it was like I had a zoomed-out view of this moment and I never, ever (ever) wanted it to end. I had Nutella on my face and my first real love sprawled out next to me and any minute the stars were going to sink back into the sky in preparation for a new day, and for the first time in a long time, I couldn’t wait for what that day would bring. And that was something.
update
i have a copy of onyx storm rn 🤭 but i’ll still be reading this ~
pre-read
i honestly picked this up on a whim. i just need something to keep me occupied while i patiently wait for my copy of onyx storm to arrive :,)
May 4, 2018
This is not something I usually do. I don't write reviews. But I really have to get something out of my chest: I am SO TIRED of American authors writing books about Italy/Italian people without even bothering to double-check what the hell they are talking about.
So the main character is Lina (really? Is it supposed to be a popular Italian name?). Her mother dies of cancer and she has to move to Italy to live with her estranged father. So she arrives to her father's house (that is in the middle of cemetery ?? okay) and that's when it starts getting reaaaally annoying.
She meets Sonia, her dad's assistant (or something like that), and OF COURSE Sonia is a "tall, gazelle-like woman with coffee-colored skin and rows of gold bracelets on each arm. Gorgeous." OF COURSE. I mean. Italians are all tall, beautiful gazelle-like people with coffee-colored skin. Even those who live in Tuscany (which is center-northern Italy, fyi). That's why I'm as pale as a ghost.
Anyway. They sit to have dinner (the table OF COURSE was “set with a red-checkered cloth”), lasagna and garlic bread (come on guys, garlic bread is so an American thing) and her father informs her that she can't FaceTime her best friend because "Italy isn’t exactly on the cutting edge of technology” (I mean REALLY? You do realize that it's 2017 in Italy as well?). And then he offers her wine because "Italy doesn’t have a drinking age" which is SO untrue I MEAN WHAT HELL? Get your facts straight.
That's when I decided to DNF the book. At, like, page 25. If I could give "Love & Gelato" 0 stars I honestly would.
So the main character is Lina (really? Is it supposed to be a popular Italian name?). Her mother dies of cancer and she has to move to Italy to live with her estranged father. So she arrives to her father's house (that is in the middle of cemetery ?? okay) and that's when it starts getting reaaaally annoying.
She meets Sonia, her dad's assistant (or something like that), and OF COURSE Sonia is a "tall, gazelle-like woman with coffee-colored skin and rows of gold bracelets on each arm. Gorgeous." OF COURSE. I mean. Italians are all tall, beautiful gazelle-like people with coffee-colored skin. Even those who live in Tuscany (which is center-northern Italy, fyi). That's why I'm as pale as a ghost.
Anyway. They sit to have dinner (the table OF COURSE was “set with a red-checkered cloth”), lasagna and garlic bread (come on guys, garlic bread is so an American thing) and her father informs her that she can't FaceTime her best friend because "Italy isn’t exactly on the cutting edge of technology” (I mean REALLY? You do realize that it's 2017 in Italy as well?). And then he offers her wine because "Italy doesn’t have a drinking age" which is SO untrue I MEAN WHAT HELL? Get your facts straight.
That's when I decided to DNF the book. At, like, page 25. If I could give "Love & Gelato" 0 stars I honestly would.
July 8, 2019
3.5 ⭐️
This was cute. It was 100% what I expected, but ever so slightly better. Carolina AKA Lina has been sent to live in Florence with her father after the death of her mother, a father she has never met or even heard of, until now. So naturally she wants to leave as soon as possible, she misses her friends, her school and everything she knows from back in the USA.
When she arrives she is given a diary that her mother kept during her time studying in Florence. Lina thinks it will help her be close to her mother and to learn more about how her relationship between Howard and her mum came about.
As Lina works through the diary she realises her mum’s love life was a lot more complicated than she first thought. What happened to cause her mum to flee Italy so suddenly while pregnant? Meanwhile Lina has romantic troubles of her own with boy-next-door Ren.
Very cheesy, the teen romance was as over the top as you’d expect, but it was cute. I needed something light and summery and this is exactly what I got.
This was cute. It was 100% what I expected, but ever so slightly better. Carolina AKA Lina has been sent to live in Florence with her father after the death of her mother, a father she has never met or even heard of, until now. So naturally she wants to leave as soon as possible, she misses her friends, her school and everything she knows from back in the USA.
When she arrives she is given a diary that her mother kept during her time studying in Florence. Lina thinks it will help her be close to her mother and to learn more about how her relationship between Howard and her mum came about.
As Lina works through the diary she realises her mum’s love life was a lot more complicated than she first thought. What happened to cause her mum to flee Italy so suddenly while pregnant? Meanwhile Lina has romantic troubles of her own with boy-next-door Ren.
Very cheesy, the teen romance was as over the top as you’d expect, but it was cute. I needed something light and summery and this is exactly what I got.
November 2, 2016
DNF @ 10%
I will be displaying my emotions through Ron Swanson gifs.
Love and Gelato was a book I desperately wanted to love. I mean, the set up was perfect. Italy, love and gelato (which I've never actually had but it sounds good). Italy is a destination I have always wanted to travel, and how could you not with all the culture present in the cities.
However, as I began to read this book I knew it wasn't going to be a finish for me. Why? Well, the writing just jumped straight into the plot without any other pretenses or introductions, straight to the fact a house was in a cemetery. Then, we have one of the protagonists, Lina, first line:
What? What in the name of all things holy and blessed does this mean? Is weak tea really the metaphor you choose to use? I knew this book, and I would have a problem here almost instantly. I can handle crazy metaphors sometimes, but this was a no and was at the very beginning of the book, so it could only go downhill. For me, it did.
Not only did my hatred for Lina become cemented in the first 100 pages of the 900 page eBook but I was subjected to countless more strange and "quirky" people. However, Lina was just rude. I understand her mum had died six months previously, and it seemed like that was leading up to be an excuse featuring through the rest of the book, but she was rude. She was unwilling to give her recently discovered father a chance. I don't understand why because she isn't even sure if he knew about her existence.
Also:
Is a sentence I never want to hear again because what?
Oh, we also get to introduced to Lina's totallytacky awesome best friend, who is like so idiotic funny.
Like Ron's burger, this completely missed the mark for me.
Oh, and lets not forget that Addie and Lina are both veryjudgmental creative:
I can't even add onto that. I understand there is a "tacky tourist" look, but honestly, if I went travelling I would probably be a tacky tourist myself and guess what? That is fine.
Now, one last quote before I conclude this review. The quote that made me decide this was not for me in any way:
I understand some people may think I didn't give this book a fair go, considering I decided to DNF at 10%, but honestly, I couldn't subject myself to this. I couldn't put myself through head banging sentences and characters who are meant to be funny and different but are simply rude. It's possible this story is super cute, but I won't be sticking around to find out.
Honestly, what this book felt like was a jumble of words that shouldn't have slipped past an editor, in my opinion.
I will be displaying my emotions through Ron Swanson gifs.
Love and Gelato was a book I desperately wanted to love. I mean, the set up was perfect. Italy, love and gelato (which I've never actually had but it sounds good). Italy is a destination I have always wanted to travel, and how could you not with all the culture present in the cities.
However, as I began to read this book I knew it wasn't going to be a finish for me. Why? Well, the writing just jumped straight into the plot without any other pretenses or introductions, straight to the fact a house was in a cemetery. Then, we have one of the protagonists, Lina, first line:
"It's a cemetery." My voice was like weak tea.
What? What in the name of all things holy and blessed does this mean? Is weak tea really the metaphor you choose to use? I knew this book, and I would have a problem here almost instantly. I can handle crazy metaphors sometimes, but this was a no and was at the very beginning of the book, so it could only go downhill. For me, it did.
Not only did my hatred for Lina become cemented in the first 100 pages of the 900 page eBook but I was subjected to countless more strange and "quirky" people. However, Lina was just rude. I understand her mum had died six months previously, and it seemed like that was leading up to be an excuse featuring through the rest of the book, but she was rude. She was unwilling to give her recently discovered father a chance. I don't understand why because she isn't even sure if he knew about her existence.
Also:
"Aggressively normal."
Is a sentence I never want to hear again because what?
Oh, we also get to introduced to Lina's totally
“Why are you being so quiet? Is Gravedigger there?”
“I’m in my bedroom, but I get the feeling that sound travels in this house. I don’t know if he can hear me or not.”
“Great. So you can’t even speak freely. We’d better come up with a code word so I know if you’re okay. Say ‘bluebird’ if you’re being held hostage.”
Like Ron's burger, this completely missed the mark for me.
Oh, and lets not forget that Addie and Lina are both very
“Addie and I had once won a costume contest dressed as Tacky Tourists. These two could have been our inspiration.”
I can't even add onto that. I understand there is a "tacky tourist" look, but honestly, if I went travelling I would probably be a tacky tourist myself and guess what? That is fine.
Now, one last quote before I conclude this review. The quote that made me decide this was not for me in any way:
“Howard still had steam curling out of his nostrils.”
I understand some people may think I didn't give this book a fair go, considering I decided to DNF at 10%, but honestly, I couldn't subject myself to this. I couldn't put myself through head banging sentences and characters who are meant to be funny and different but are simply rude. It's possible this story is super cute, but I won't be sticking around to find out.
Honestly, what this book felt like was a jumble of words that shouldn't have slipped past an editor, in my opinion.
March 30, 2019
"You know, people come to Italy for all sorts of reasons, but when they stay, it's for the same two things...love and gelato."
Lina is only in Italy because of a promise she made to her mother on her deathbed.
She isn't moved by the country's beauty—she's having too difficult a time dealing with the fact that she's going to be living WITH HER FATHER (about whom she never knew anything), much less living in a house in the midst of a famous cemetery, because he is the caretaker.
Why didn't her mother ever tell her anything about her father? What could have happened 16 years ago that would have been so bad that she not only fled Italy, but she never returned, and never made contact with the man again? All Lina wants is answers, and what she knows she doesn't want is to spend time getting to know Howard, umm, her father, or settle in—she's ready to head back to the U.S. and move back in with her best friend, Addie.
But little by little, Italy's charm starts to wear her down, and so does Ren, the handsome Italian-American boy who lives not too far away. And when Lina gets her hands on her mother's journal from the time she spent in Italy, she's determined to find everything she can about why her mother kept so much a secret from her, and why she left this magical place and a man she was supposedly in love with.
"Maybe that was just part of the Italian experience. Come to Italy. Fall in love. Watch everything blow up in your face. You could probably read about it on travel websites."
The deeper she gets into her mother's journal, the more confusing things become. It looks like her mother was an expert at keeping secrets, and if they're revealed, they could be painful for some. So with Ren as her sidekick, she embarks on a journey to trace her mother's steps and figure out the path her love story took—no matter what the consequences. And along the way she understands just how her mother fell in love with such a beautiful country, and how complicated the line between love and friendship can become.
Having just read a fairly emotional book, I was looking for something lighter and fun. Love & Gelato totally hit the spot—it was sweet, well-written, and I fell totally in love with it. It was a YA novel that certainly didn't feel like one, and yet the characters spoke like teenagers, not like sarcastic comedians.
Jenna Evans Welch's prose made this novel sparkle like the Italian countryside, and her imagery was tremendously evocative. There really isn't anything surprising in this novel—not even the "surprise" that Lina discovers—but that doesn't matter. Love & Gelato has so much charm, heart, and romance at its core that I flew through the book, and now I'm sad that it's all over.
If you're feeling like you need a change of pace from brooding thrillers or family dysfunction, Love & Gelato may be just what il medico ordered! I know I'll be reading Welch's new book when it's released in May.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yrralh/.
Lina is only in Italy because of a promise she made to her mother on her deathbed.
She isn't moved by the country's beauty—she's having too difficult a time dealing with the fact that she's going to be living WITH HER FATHER (about whom she never knew anything), much less living in a house in the midst of a famous cemetery, because he is the caretaker.
Why didn't her mother ever tell her anything about her father? What could have happened 16 years ago that would have been so bad that she not only fled Italy, but she never returned, and never made contact with the man again? All Lina wants is answers, and what she knows she doesn't want is to spend time getting to know Howard, umm, her father, or settle in—she's ready to head back to the U.S. and move back in with her best friend, Addie.
But little by little, Italy's charm starts to wear her down, and so does Ren, the handsome Italian-American boy who lives not too far away. And when Lina gets her hands on her mother's journal from the time she spent in Italy, she's determined to find everything she can about why her mother kept so much a secret from her, and why she left this magical place and a man she was supposedly in love with.
"Maybe that was just part of the Italian experience. Come to Italy. Fall in love. Watch everything blow up in your face. You could probably read about it on travel websites."
The deeper she gets into her mother's journal, the more confusing things become. It looks like her mother was an expert at keeping secrets, and if they're revealed, they could be painful for some. So with Ren as her sidekick, she embarks on a journey to trace her mother's steps and figure out the path her love story took—no matter what the consequences. And along the way she understands just how her mother fell in love with such a beautiful country, and how complicated the line between love and friendship can become.
Having just read a fairly emotional book, I was looking for something lighter and fun. Love & Gelato totally hit the spot—it was sweet, well-written, and I fell totally in love with it. It was a YA novel that certainly didn't feel like one, and yet the characters spoke like teenagers, not like sarcastic comedians.
Jenna Evans Welch's prose made this novel sparkle like the Italian countryside, and her imagery was tremendously evocative. There really isn't anything surprising in this novel—not even the "surprise" that Lina discovers—but that doesn't matter. Love & Gelato has so much charm, heart, and romance at its core that I flew through the book, and now I'm sad that it's all over.
If you're feeling like you need a change of pace from brooding thrillers or family dysfunction, Love & Gelato may be just what il medico ordered! I know I'll be reading Welch's new book when it's released in May.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yrralh/.
June 9, 2022
cute!! it gave ✨mama mia✨ nothing too special & I lowkey was more interested in her mom’s story than hers, but cute. howard was the best part of this entire book.
“know people come to italy for all sorts of reasons, but when they stay its for the same two things.. love & gelato” <3
“know people come to italy for all sorts of reasons, but when they stay its for the same two things.. love & gelato” <3
March 26, 2020
3.5/5⭐️
It was so cute and funny!!
It was so cute and funny!!
October 14, 2023
"You know, people come to Italy for all sorts of reasons, but when they stay, it's for the same two things...love and gelato."
Love and Gelato is an adorable young adult romance following Lina after she moves to Italy to live with her Dad for the summer, shortly after her Mother’s passing. Her Mom never told her about her Dad, so with the help of one of her Mom’s journals from her own time in Italy, she pieces together her Mom and Dad’s love story from 17 years ago.
This book was adorable! The setting of the Tuscany countryside and Florence was so nice to read about especially because I’m in Tuscany right now! I really loved Lina and Ren’s friendship and although it was technically instalove, since the book takes place over only a week or so, it didn’t feel that way. I really would have enjoyed this series at 13/14, it really reminds me of the vibes of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' series by Jenny Han. I’m excited to see where their love story goes in the next two books.
This is my book club’s September book! Join us on Instagram @ejgbookclub 🤍
Notes: I just realized books 2 and 3 follow side characters! Kind of disappointed I won't get more of Lina and Ren, but I'm really excited for Addie's book!
Sept 28th, 2023: I watched the movie a few nights ago and although it was cute I was disappointed in how much they changed! But it was fun to watch because I am currently in Rome and they changed the setting to from Florence to Rome. 🇮🇹 🥐
February 18, 2017
hi can i give this book 10/5 stars because THIS BOOK IS FANTASTIC. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. i LOVE THE CHARACTERS AND STORY AND THE COVER AND EVERYTHING. ok. also, love & gelato is an extremely easy and quick read that's addicting and amazing and i'm in love!!
November 13, 2023
LEMME JUST START BY SAYING THIS BOOK DOESNT DESERVE THAT ONE STAR. its not even like zero star worthy, its down there in the negatives. it was a total waste of time.
soooo, this book was actually crazy. i hated it... but i also liked it? look heres the thing, the book was pretty good for the first 70% maybe?? then it was just absolute hell. i was soo excited to read this. the cover and the name is so cute and the whole vibe was giving wholesome no spice high school romance that gives you like that warm fuzzy feeling. but it wasnt okay it had zero spice though. which is fine but the couple kissed TWICE the whole book but they fell in love with each other in five days...thats just sad. but i just want to get this rant review in to calm my nerves from all that bullshit.
things i hated
-cheating trying to be written off as a light good thing
-characters
-plot(it was messy)
-the romance sucked
-miscommunication
-the book not being a slow burn. after all this time wishing for romance books that didnt kill me with a slow burn, this sucked. i got to stop doing this to myself.
concept
the whole idea of this book was actually really great. lina is this seventeen year old american whos mom just died from pancreatic cancer but before she died, told lina to go stay with this random ass man named howard in italy whos her father. lina gets to his house, a world war II graveyard, which she makes a huge deal about and then is unnecessarily mean to howard and another woman who lives there named sonia. lina was out for a run and met this half italian half american dude named lorenzo who goes by ren. WTF IS HIS NAME. no hate to the name lorenzo, its an amazing name but he is NOT a lorenzo. he's like a jamie or oliver. not a lorenzo. and NOT a ren for sure. its so frustrating to read about a character whos name doesnt match their vibe. im not judgemental on names at all but when you're an author, you control his name. so dont name him ren. anyways, gonna stop hating on ren. so sonia gives lina this journal that lina's mom mailed to sonia before she died about lina's moms time in italy where she falls in love with this professor who shes labeled as X and whos lina's father. and who lina thinks is howard. the whole book is basically lina connecting with her mom by doing stuff her mom did in italy but with ren.
thats a cute idea right? so you're probably wondering what i have against this? literally everything.
lina+ren vs. lina+thomas(there are spoilers in this next section)
after lina and ren meet, ren invites her to a party that night so she goes. she meets ren's whole friend group including ren's girlfriend mimi who he's liked for two years and she finally liked him back.
thats all great. but then lina meets thomas. yes, be warned. you're meeting the guy she chose ren over. ahh our sweet gap toothed scrawny awkward (cheating piece of shit)ren over this nice funny drop dead gorgeous(could be supermodel if he wanted to because hes that hot)guy named thomas WHOS ACTUALLY INTO LINA. so yeah it cant get worse that she picked ren right? but it does.
thomas is british. he. is. british. i dont think yall understand. british. look i dont have a type. but my type is british. if your british you're automatically hot. and thomas is automatically hot plus hes actually hot. and hes the only character who actually acts like an eighteen year old.
they both flirted with each other the whole night but didnt exchange numbers. then theres some stupid inititation so thomas jumps into a pool for lina. then lina leaves with ren cause 'howard would get mad'. skip to the next day when lina goes to this romantic ass bridge where ren ignores calls from mimi and then lies to her about it when she asks at a club a couple days later. THATS RIGHT. ren told his gf he was hanging out with his sister at home when he was actually out with another girl and they'd already had their fair share of 'moments'. that was still in the first 20% of the book and should have been my first red flag. but god save me, i kept reading for some reason.
so when you think this cant get worse, it does. mimi saves lina from possibly getting raped and lina tells mimi she was with ren last night. mimi is confused bc ren told her he was with his sister. mimi is angry with lina and leaves. lina starts crying from getting groped and thomas and ren find her. they both comfort her and then thomas has to go. ren makes some stupid comment about how thomas's shirt is dumb because hes jealous of thomas and lina. thats all great. but bitch now is not the time. she was getting groped like two minutes ago...🙄🙄
fast forward to a couple days later when ren and lina take an impromptu trip to an art gallery in rome to meet lina's father who surprise, surprise, isnt howard. lina's father is a huge asshole, tries gaslighting lina into thinking shes not his father and then lina runs out.
lina sees ren and in they just start kissing. then ren shoves her off him mid makeout sesh and lina apologizes for kissing him because 'it was in the rush of the moment and she never ever ever thought of him as anything else except as a friend.' lets just keep in mind that they both knew that ren had a girlfriend back in florence.
so they get back to florence, and lina talks to howard and sonia. earlier that day, she'd got a text from thomas asking her if she wanted to go to a party with him and she...yup you guessed it, she ghosted him. wow. then lina realizes that this is her chance to tell ren shes actually in love with him.
aww how sweet. lets pretend shes not known him for only a week, the whole duration of which he had a girlfriend whom she'd actually met and hung out with.
so lina talks to sonia and howard about it and they go get her THE dress. the one thats guaranteed to make someone fall in love with you(that part was actually written in the book, its not me being cringy) lina FINALLY texts thomas back and says she will go to the party with him!! so she can fucking use him to get to ren and talk to him.
sonia and howard still know about this. they also know that lina is in love with ren. THEY ALSO KNOW THAT REN HAS A FUCKING GIRLFRIEND.
any of you catching on to why i hate this book?
lina gets to the party and thomas is really sweet and they're lying on the grass when thomas kisses her. she pushes him off her like she totally hasnt been leading him on and went to the party as his date. then she just leaves to go talk to ren. whos with mimi and tells her he is busy. she ignores him saying that and mimi and they go talk.
then the stupid idiot cant even do a love confession+apology right and ends up yelling at him and telling him she doesnt even care about him anyway. ren says he doesnt care about her either and leaves.
then in the night, ren throws pennies at her through her window and hits her with them while shes sleeping. how romantic. she climbs out and they talk. they kiss. also i didnt say this before but lina didnt want to stay in italy and wanted to leave after the summer was over. so lina decides to stay for ren.
no one cares about thomas.
my general thoughts
lina and ren were both so immature and acted like they were five the whole book. soo i hated this book in the last half because of the cheating. the characters involved in it were so shitty.
JUST ADDING- so looking back on this review i said cheating a lot and there technically wasnt cheating because ren and lina kissed the day after ren broke up with mimi. which i love ren for. but the really disgusting part is that lina didnt know that so in turn, sonia and howard didnt either. THEY FULL OUT ENCOURAGED LINA TO TELL REN HOW SHE FELT AND THEY SIDED WITH HER FOR KISSING HIM AND STUFF. WHILE BELIEVING REN HAD A GIRLFRIEND
thats why its basically cheating. if you kiss a guy while thinking he has a girlfriend, even if he actually doesnt atm its cheating. especially since ren and mimi dated for two years.
going back to the sonia and howard knowing about mimi thing.
it is soo messed up. they're both mature adults who i thought were nice considerate people. that just made me so mad. lina is basically their daughter and you want your kid to be happy but why tf are you not putting her in her place when she kissed someone who had a girlfriend????? wanting her to be happy is fine but teaching her the wrong thing so she can be happy is not. PERIOD.
and thomas was not treated right. he was the side character that was just there to add more drama to the story but lina did him so dirty. she didnt even apologize for using and just throwing him away like that. she didnt even TRY to still stay friends with him or at least justify herself. which bsfr she cant.
theres my rant review!!!! you guys can probably tell how much i hate this book even if i didnt outright say it multiple times so this is probably going to be a huge surprise but i actually do recommend this book to people who havent read it. everyone else seems to love it a lot and while i dont, i have incredibly high standards and im very judgemental so if you want to read this book after reading my review, i wont judge you for that.
totally didnt spend like an hour writing all this down instead of sleeping bye :)
soooo, this book was actually crazy. i hated it... but i also liked it? look heres the thing, the book was pretty good for the first 70% maybe?? then it was just absolute hell. i was soo excited to read this. the cover and the name is so cute and the whole vibe was giving wholesome no spice high school romance that gives you like that warm fuzzy feeling. but it wasnt okay it had zero spice though. which is fine but the couple kissed TWICE the whole book but they fell in love with each other in five days...thats just sad. but i just want to get this rant review in to calm my nerves from all that bullshit.
things i hated
-cheating trying to be written off as a light good thing
-characters
-plot(it was messy)
-the romance sucked
-miscommunication
-the book not being a slow burn. after all this time wishing for romance books that didnt kill me with a slow burn, this sucked. i got to stop doing this to myself.
concept
the whole idea of this book was actually really great. lina is this seventeen year old american whos mom just died from pancreatic cancer but before she died, told lina to go stay with this random ass man named howard in italy whos her father. lina gets to his house, a world war II graveyard, which she makes a huge deal about and then is unnecessarily mean to howard and another woman who lives there named sonia. lina was out for a run and met this half italian half american dude named lorenzo who goes by ren. WTF IS HIS NAME. no hate to the name lorenzo, its an amazing name but he is NOT a lorenzo. he's like a jamie or oliver. not a lorenzo. and NOT a ren for sure. its so frustrating to read about a character whos name doesnt match their vibe. im not judgemental on names at all but when you're an author, you control his name. so dont name him ren. anyways, gonna stop hating on ren. so sonia gives lina this journal that lina's mom mailed to sonia before she died about lina's moms time in italy where she falls in love with this professor who shes labeled as X and whos lina's father. and who lina thinks is howard. the whole book is basically lina connecting with her mom by doing stuff her mom did in italy but with ren.
thats a cute idea right? so you're probably wondering what i have against this? literally everything.
lina+ren vs. lina+thomas(there are spoilers in this next section)
after lina and ren meet, ren invites her to a party that night so she goes. she meets ren's whole friend group including ren's girlfriend mimi who he's liked for two years and she finally liked him back.
thats all great. but then lina meets thomas. yes, be warned. you're meeting the guy she chose ren over. ahh our sweet gap toothed scrawny awkward (cheating piece of shit)ren over this nice funny drop dead gorgeous(could be supermodel if he wanted to because hes that hot)guy named thomas WHOS ACTUALLY INTO LINA. so yeah it cant get worse that she picked ren right? but it does.
thomas is british. he. is. british. i dont think yall understand. british. look i dont have a type. but my type is british. if your british you're automatically hot. and thomas is automatically hot plus hes actually hot. and hes the only character who actually acts like an eighteen year old.
they both flirted with each other the whole night but didnt exchange numbers. then theres some stupid inititation so thomas jumps into a pool for lina. then lina leaves with ren cause 'howard would get mad'. skip to the next day when lina goes to this romantic ass bridge where ren ignores calls from mimi and then lies to her about it when she asks at a club a couple days later. THATS RIGHT. ren told his gf he was hanging out with his sister at home when he was actually out with another girl and they'd already had their fair share of 'moments'. that was still in the first 20% of the book and should have been my first red flag. but god save me, i kept reading for some reason.
so when you think this cant get worse, it does. mimi saves lina from possibly getting raped and lina tells mimi she was with ren last night. mimi is confused bc ren told her he was with his sister. mimi is angry with lina and leaves. lina starts crying from getting groped and thomas and ren find her. they both comfort her and then thomas has to go. ren makes some stupid comment about how thomas's shirt is dumb because hes jealous of thomas and lina. thats all great. but bitch now is not the time. she was getting groped like two minutes ago...🙄🙄
fast forward to a couple days later when ren and lina take an impromptu trip to an art gallery in rome to meet lina's father who surprise, surprise, isnt howard. lina's father is a huge asshole, tries gaslighting lina into thinking shes not his father and then lina runs out.
lina sees ren and in they just start kissing. then ren shoves her off him mid makeout sesh and lina apologizes for kissing him because 'it was in the rush of the moment and she never ever ever thought of him as anything else except as a friend.' lets just keep in mind that they both knew that ren had a girlfriend back in florence.
so they get back to florence, and lina talks to howard and sonia. earlier that day, she'd got a text from thomas asking her if she wanted to go to a party with him and she...yup you guessed it, she ghosted him. wow. then lina realizes that this is her chance to tell ren shes actually in love with him.
aww how sweet. lets pretend shes not known him for only a week, the whole duration of which he had a girlfriend whom she'd actually met and hung out with.
so lina talks to sonia and howard about it and they go get her THE dress. the one thats guaranteed to make someone fall in love with you(that part was actually written in the book, its not me being cringy) lina FINALLY texts thomas back and says she will go to the party with him!! so she can fucking use him to get to ren and talk to him.
sonia and howard still know about this. they also know that lina is in love with ren. THEY ALSO KNOW THAT REN HAS A FUCKING GIRLFRIEND.
any of you catching on to why i hate this book?
lina gets to the party and thomas is really sweet and they're lying on the grass when thomas kisses her. she pushes him off her like she totally hasnt been leading him on and went to the party as his date. then she just leaves to go talk to ren. whos with mimi and tells her he is busy. she ignores him saying that and mimi and they go talk.
then the stupid idiot cant even do a love confession+apology right and ends up yelling at him and telling him she doesnt even care about him anyway. ren says he doesnt care about her either and leaves.
then in the night, ren throws pennies at her through her window and hits her with them while shes sleeping. how romantic. she climbs out and they talk. they kiss. also i didnt say this before but lina didnt want to stay in italy and wanted to leave after the summer was over. so lina decides to stay for ren.
no one cares about thomas.
my general thoughts
lina and ren were both so immature and acted like they were five the whole book. soo i hated this book in the last half because of the cheating. the characters involved in it were so shitty.
JUST ADDING- so looking back on this review i said cheating a lot and there technically wasnt cheating because ren and lina kissed the day after ren broke up with mimi. which i love ren for. but the really disgusting part is that lina didnt know that so in turn, sonia and howard didnt either. THEY FULL OUT ENCOURAGED LINA TO TELL REN HOW SHE FELT AND THEY SIDED WITH HER FOR KISSING HIM AND STUFF. WHILE BELIEVING REN HAD A GIRLFRIEND
thats why its basically cheating. if you kiss a guy while thinking he has a girlfriend, even if he actually doesnt atm its cheating. especially since ren and mimi dated for two years.
going back to the sonia and howard knowing about mimi thing.
it is soo messed up. they're both mature adults who i thought were nice considerate people. that just made me so mad. lina is basically their daughter and you want your kid to be happy but why tf are you not putting her in her place when she kissed someone who had a girlfriend????? wanting her to be happy is fine but teaching her the wrong thing so she can be happy is not. PERIOD.
and thomas was not treated right. he was the side character that was just there to add more drama to the story but lina did him so dirty. she didnt even apologize for using and just throwing him away like that. she didnt even TRY to still stay friends with him or at least justify herself. which bsfr she cant.
theres my rant review!!!! you guys can probably tell how much i hate this book even if i didnt outright say it multiple times so this is probably going to be a huge surprise but i actually do recommend this book to people who havent read it. everyone else seems to love it a lot and while i dont, i have incredibly high standards and im very judgemental so if you want to read this book after reading my review, i wont judge you for that.
July 25, 2017
BTAT 2017 book #2
Possibly even a 4.5/5 stars
THIS. WAS. SO. CUTE.
The plot? Adorable and intriguing. The characters? Pretty great. The setting? INCREDIBLE. So much good stuff in this BOOK!
I loved the twists and the turns of the plot as well as the added element of Lina's mom's journal. And a book set in Italy just.....so good. So so good.
If you enjoy contemporary romances you'll for sure enjoy this book.
Possibly even a 4.5/5 stars
THIS. WAS. SO. CUTE.
The plot? Adorable and intriguing. The characters? Pretty great. The setting? INCREDIBLE. So much good stuff in this BOOK!
I loved the twists and the turns of the plot as well as the added element of Lina's mom's journal. And a book set in Italy just.....so good. So so good.
If you enjoy contemporary romances you'll for sure enjoy this book.
September 17, 2018
Super Sweet 💕🦄
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐺🐾
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐺🐾
September 2, 2016
Awww! This was a really cute summer read.
I loved the whole Italian experience accompanied with lots of Italian history, gelato, and young love. Perfect!
This story had it's ups and downs, I enjoyed the mystery part and I loved the character growth, I still feel giddy.
4 stars!
I loved the whole Italian experience accompanied with lots of Italian history, gelato, and young love. Perfect!
This story had it's ups and downs, I enjoyed the mystery part and I loved the character growth, I still feel giddy.
4 stars!
January 19, 2018
5-I-NEED-AN-ITALIAN-DUDE-RIGHT-NOW-STARS!!!
This book was successful in getting rid of my sucky reading slump. After a month of force reading various books, this book performed its magic and voila! Reading slump gone. I never thought that a super cute young-adult contemporary romance is what I really need. This was the first contemporary book I've read this year and I absolutely adored it. The plot, characters, and setting were captivating.
The setting of the story is in Italy. Oh gosh, Italy... I really really want to go to Italy. I loved that the author wrote a vivid description about Italy. I learned a lot of Italian things thanks to this book. The food, the culture, the history, the people, and the places. I love it all.
The plot was simple yet gripping. It wasn't super complicated, which I figured was the best one for a person who's slumping. The pace of the story was set in a normal pace. It tackled about the importance of love, family, regrets, and hope.
I also loved the characters. I had some issues with Lina on the first part of the book, she was a little bit bratty and selfish but that was understandable because her whole life was turned upside down because of the big reveal from her mother and grandmother. I actually liked how persevering, brave and adventurous she is. Ren is so charming. He is an Italian-American boy who lives nearby. He helped Lina with revealing the truth about her mother's past life in Italy. I really loved the personality of Ren, he's just the chill, cheerful, and adorable guy who decided to show Lina how beautiful Italy is.
I really enjoyed this book. The writing style was very catchy and uncomplicated.
This book was successful in getting rid of my sucky reading slump. After a month of force reading various books, this book performed its magic and voila! Reading slump gone. I never thought that a super cute young-adult contemporary romance is what I really need. This was the first contemporary book I've read this year and I absolutely adored it. The plot, characters, and setting were captivating.
The setting of the story is in Italy. Oh gosh, Italy... I really really want to go to Italy. I loved that the author wrote a vivid description about Italy. I learned a lot of Italian things thanks to this book. The food, the culture, the history, the people, and the places. I love it all.
The plot was simple yet gripping. It wasn't super complicated, which I figured was the best one for a person who's slumping. The pace of the story was set in a normal pace. It tackled about the importance of love, family, regrets, and hope.
I also loved the characters. I had some issues with Lina on the first part of the book, she was a little bit bratty and selfish but that was understandable because her whole life was turned upside down because of the big reveal from her mother and grandmother. I actually liked how persevering, brave and adventurous she is. Ren is so charming. He is an Italian-American boy who lives nearby. He helped Lina with revealing the truth about her mother's past life in Italy. I really loved the personality of Ren, he's just the chill, cheerful, and adorable guy who decided to show Lina how beautiful Italy is.
I really enjoyed this book. The writing style was very catchy and uncomplicated.
February 18, 2025
BUYING THIS USED WAS THE BEST DECISION IVE EVER MADE!!!!!! rtc 🤭
ೃ⁀➷ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: WHAT BETTER DAY TO START THIS THAN VALENTINES DAY? (it came in the mail today and i almost cried i was so happy)
ೃ⁀➷ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: WHAT BETTER DAY TO START THIS THAN VALENTINES DAY? (it came in the mail today and i almost cried i was so happy)
April 13, 2021
2nd read:
Italy is such a beautiful country! this book became another reason why I really wanted to go there.
i liked the little mystery here and i can't believe Lina's mom created journals and diaries to let other people read it, i could never.
and the characters. Lina was an interesting character. Ren was a cutie bean who lived in a gingerbread house. I stan Lina's best friend, Addie whom we get to know a lot in the second book. Howard would be a great father figure, who also lived in a strange place (memorial cemetery lol) and the mysterious X can rot in hell.
_
LOVE AND GELATOOOO
a proper review to come,maybe?
__
buddy read with my romcom buddies! hopefully i'll still love it :))
__
1st read:
I LUVVV ITTT 🥺🥺🥺
__
Love and Luck
Love and Olives
Italy is such a beautiful country! this book became another reason why I really wanted to go there.
i liked the little mystery here and i can't believe Lina's mom created journals and diaries to let other people read it, i could never.
and the characters. Lina was an interesting character. Ren was a cutie bean who lived in a gingerbread house. I stan Lina's best friend, Addie whom we get to know a lot in the second book. Howard would be a great father figure, who also lived in a strange place (memorial cemetery lol) and the mysterious X can rot in hell.
_
LOVE AND GELATOOOO
a proper review to come,
__
buddy read with my romcom buddies! hopefully i'll still love it :))
__
1st read:
I LUVVV ITTT 🥺🥺🥺
__
Love and Luck
Love and Olives
June 3, 2016
To be honest, I was more interested in the gelato part than the love part, but it was still pretty cute.
November 15, 2016
This was pretty damn cute, you guys. All I want to do now is go to Italy and fall in love with some Nutella pastries. Insert gif of Emma Stone saying YUM here.
March 29, 2017
a little too short and quick, but cute and well written and i reallyreallyreally like travel books.
June 25, 2022
I just realized that this is now a movie! That's so cool, I'd never thought this day would come.
__________________________________________
2020
Review
According to the dictionary the following are the definitions of love and gelato
Love:- A feeling of intense affection
Gelato:- Italian or Italian style ice cream
While those definitions are true, the way each person experiences and perceives them differs. In the same way, while this book might hold true to a summary or plot, I believe the experience is different for each person, while remaining to be a beautiful journey for all.
My decision to read this book was quite sudden. I had no plans whatsoever of reading this book. It was there on my 'to read', but it was one of those books that I thought I won't ever really get around to reading. But I did end up reading it, and I'm glad I did because reading this, experiencing Italy through Lina's eyes was a wonderful experience. It was so mesmerizing that at times I would believe myself to be in Italy, visiting the beautiful places and meeting wonderful people. I got a taste of first love and gelato through this book, and damn, if it isn't the best thing I ever tasted.
Though love and gelato are a major part of this book it's also about finding yourself, your true family and friends and your mother's mysterious romances before you came into existence, while at the same time realizing that it's not necessary to always go by the book. There are times when you need to take the road not taken.
Now, if you'd please excuse me while I go pack my bags.
PS: Can someone please try to convince my parents to let me go to Italy and find my calling.
the sources of the images can be found by following the image addresses
__________________________________________
2020
Review
"You know, people come to Italy for all sorts of reasons, but when they stay, it's for the same two things."
"What?"
"Love and gelato."
According to the dictionary the following are the definitions of love and gelato
Love:- A feeling of intense affection
Gelato:- Italian or Italian style ice cream
While those definitions are true, the way each person experiences and perceives them differs. In the same way, while this book might hold true to a summary or plot, I believe the experience is different for each person, while remaining to be a beautiful journey for all.
My decision to read this book was quite sudden. I had no plans whatsoever of reading this book. It was there on my 'to read', but it was one of those books that I thought I won't ever really get around to reading. But I did end up reading it, and I'm glad I did because reading this, experiencing Italy through Lina's eyes was a wonderful experience. It was so mesmerizing that at times I would believe myself to be in Italy, visiting the beautiful places and meeting wonderful people. I got a taste of first love and gelato through this book, and damn, if it isn't the best thing I ever tasted.
Though love and gelato are a major part of this book it's also about finding yourself, your true family and friends and your mother's mysterious romances before you came into existence, while at the same time realizing that it's not necessary to always go by the book. There are times when you need to take the road not taken.
Now, if you'd please excuse me while I go pack my bags.
PS: Can someone please try to convince my parents to let me go to Italy and find my calling.
the sources of the images can be found by following the image addresses
September 6, 2018
This is another one of those ‘cutie-sweetie’ type books with a memorable book cover....
one I’ve seen mentioned for years with warm-hearted reviews.
So....
I grabbed a freebie library - overdrive ebook copy.
Quick enjoyable read.
Young Adult Coming-of-Age....
A taste of Italy ... Florence Rome...Tuscany...pizza ... gelato...
...a little historical mystery
...family feelings of displacement and confusion...to one of understanding...
military cemetery twist plot
...Readers immediately feel connection to the characters
...love is in the air..
...flirty & fluffy...
...will definitely ‘require’ a yummy gelato treat for readers!!!
Italy 🇮🇹....
Pizza 🍕....
Gelato 🍧....
Romance ❤️...
3.5 enjoyable - again - not earth shaking!
one I’ve seen mentioned for years with warm-hearted reviews.
So....
I grabbed a freebie library - overdrive ebook copy.
Quick enjoyable read.
Young Adult Coming-of-Age....
A taste of Italy ... Florence Rome...Tuscany...pizza ... gelato...
...a little historical mystery
...family feelings of displacement and confusion...to one of understanding...
military cemetery twist plot
...Readers immediately feel connection to the characters
...love is in the air..
...flirty & fluffy...
...will definitely ‘require’ a yummy gelato treat for readers!!!
Italy 🇮🇹....
Pizza 🍕....
Gelato 🍧....
Romance ❤️...
3.5 enjoyable - again - not earth shaking!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 22,620 reviews