Love and Gelato

 Synopsis

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 her mother's footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It's a secret that will change everything Lina 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.

Loved

• Everything! I loved seriously everything about this book. Prepare yourself because you're about to get some goo all over you from my gushing about this story.

• The romance. Okay I think friends-to-lovers romance might be one of my new favorite tropes. Ren and Lina's relationship is so . . . comfortable. From the beginning, Ren is the only person Lina can really be herself around, and from the first conversation Ren brings about the best in her. Their friendship is adorable and so refreshing because it's not forced at all. I didn't even mind the little angst that causes some problems for them, because even that was somehow cute. The resolution for the romance was so satisfying and perfect- I listened to it while shredding my Costco rotisserie chicken and I couldn't stop grinning to myself like a fool. I even rewound it to listen to it again! I felt like a 15-year-old watching a Hilary Duff or Amanda Bynes chick flick and squealing with my friends at the ending.

• Ren. Ah, Ren. He's so refreshing! He's awkward, a little insecure, and sometimes impulsive, and he's not the super dreamy model from a lot of romances. He's the supportive best friend, who literally sprints with Lina around Florence and Rome to find out about Lina's past. He's the friend who remembers tiny details and lets Lina cry on him, and pushes her to be her best self. I think everyone needs a Ren in their life and he's just the cutest.

• The coming-of-age story. Although this is an adorable romance, it's much more than that- it's also a story of two girls discovering who they are, making mistakes, and chasing opportunities. The format is so clever that we read Lina's mother's journal as Lina's story unfolds, so we are watching both of them grow simultaneously. The journal also creates a compelling mystery throughout the story, because we know things don't work out for her, but we don't know why and what happened- and it's surprisingly really addicting to find out what happened! I couldn't put it down.

• The healing. This is also a story about grief. Not a spoiler since it's on the back cover of the book, but Lina's mom passes away at the beginning of the story, and the whole book is about Lina learning to live with her grief, finding joy in the small things, learning from her mom's mistakes, and taking opportunities given to her. This is just as much a love story between Lina and her late mother- and I would say that's the crux of the story, not the romance.

• Italy! Italy has always been at the top of my bucket list, but this book had me looking up tickets and plotting when to make it there. This is such a fun romp through Florence and we get to experience specific places there and what they meant to Lina's mother, as well as many specific pieces of art and architecture. We also get to experience Italian food through Lina- the ultimate foodie. Since I finished the book last week I literally have dreamed about Italy every night- it made such an impact on me. Maybe it's a sign to drop everything and go there. . . . :)

• Howard. Ah, he is the best. His relationship with Lina gave me major What a Girl Wants and Mamma Mia vibes, because none of those men know anything about being a dad- they just know they love their daughter and want to be the best dad possible. Howard is just good- kind, understanding, funny and laid-back. His and Lina's relationship warmed my heart just as much as her relationship with Ren and I couldn't get enough of it. There's a certain scene at the end- I don't want to spoil but you'll know it when you read it- ahhh I about died. So cute and fun and happy :)

Didn't Love

• The only thing I didn't love about this was how sad Lina's mom's story turns out to be. But it fits the story and makes it work, so I can't complain, but missed opportunities are always just so painful to read about.

Content

• Language: 
• A few uses of "damn" and "hell."

• Sexual content: 
• A few kisses, not physically described. Mostly the feeling/thoughts associated with the kisses. Clear that some of them are more passionate kisses.
• Teenagers go to a club and some of the dancing is described as "having sex on the dance floor." 
• At the club, main character's rear is grabbed and a man tries to coerce her into kissing him.

• Violence
• None.


• Other themes:
• Teens drink alcohol and get drunk multiple times throughout the story.

Overall Thoughts

Oh my this is one of those stories I didn't know I needed, but completely filled me up. I read this just as a little light pick-me-up after reading a heavy classic, and I just expected it to be a cheesy fluffy romance with no substance. No- this is definitely a cheesy romance, but it does have substance. This is about finding joy and hope through darkness and grief, it's about choosing to take what life gives you and make the most of it, it's about loving your family and being there for each other, and it's about discovering who you are, especially after being broken by grief. Also- it's the most adorable romance ever ;) This story really feels like watching the chick flicks I grew up with that I love so much- What a Girl Wants, Mamma Mia, Letters to Juliet, etc. in that the romance leaves you squealing and melting, but there are also some deeper themes of found family, taking opportunities, and finding hope. Plus add on the Italian culture, food, art, and architecture- is there a more perfect and romantic setting? This little story might just be the little boost of serotonin you need and I guarantee you will find yourself smiling after this darling romp through Italy :)