“A life without love is like a year without summer.”
― Jenna Evans Welch, Love and Olives
Title: Love & Gelato
Author: Jenna Evans Welch
Length: 389 pages
Genre: Romance, Fiction, YA
My Rating: 4/5
My Age Rating: 11+
Content Notes: Clean, just kissing and mild profanity, main character is sexually harassed in club, emotional themes, underage drinking
“Turns out there’s a reason they call it falling in love, because when it happens – really happens – that’s exactly how it feels. There’s no doing or trying, you just let go and hope that someone’s going to be there to catch you.”
― Jenna Evans Welch, Love and Olives
Book 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 get back home.
But then Lina 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 Lina, 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 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.
My Review:
This book is the perfect summer read. In a nutshell, here is what you should expect… Italy… Gelato… A big secret… A love interest with a gap between their two front teeth… and a girl with CrAZy hair. Yep, that is Love & Gelato wrapped up with a bow.
I loved this book. It was like comfort food in book form, leaving me feeling warm and happy. The writing is easy to read with the perfect amount of humor, and when she describes something you feel like you’re actually there.
The main character, Lina, is super fun and relatable, and the diary entries from her mom scattered throughout are a really cool touch. You also learn a few life lessons watching her navigate things, for example…
…If your mother has a big secret and you have access to someone she knew while having this secret, you should probably just ask that person about it instead of keeping it from them and causing yourself a world of complications…
Wow, that was a mouthful. But it’s true. Take note children.
The romance is sweet and clean, with more than one love interest, though you clearly know who The One is! The twists and turns are crazy but it all works out, I promise.
As for content there is nothing past kissing and no explicit language. There is one club scene that is the most racy part of the book, including one brief scene of sexual harassment that is handled quickly. Younger readers may just want to skim that part.
Overall, it’s a fun summer read with lots of laughs, sweet romance, and it’s great for younger or older teens.
Happy Reading,
Ava
Click this Link to read the second book in the Love and Gelato Series, Love and Luck
Click this Link to read the third book in the Love and Gelato Series, Love and Olives
Click this Link to get this sweet summer read
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