If you are looking for cute romance reads with excellent summer vibes and exotic adventures, this series could be for you. Not to mention they are all Spice Free!
There are 3 books in the Love and Gelato series. I have read them all and love them all. Today I will share a small review for each book along with which one is the best in the series. So hold on, it’s going to be an exciting ride!
Love & Gelato
Title: Love & Gelato
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
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.
Review:
Let’s start with Love & Gelato, the first book in the series.
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 laughs, sweet romance, and great for younger or older teens. It also introduces the main character of the second book, so one that note let’s move on!
Love & Luck
Book Title: Love & Luck
Length: 336 pages
Genre: YA, Fiction, Romance
My Rating: 4/5
My Age Rating: 12+
Content Notes: Clean, no spice or strong language, emotional themes, fighting, lying, incident talked about lots where a photo of her topless was shared without consent.
Synopsis:
Addie is visiting Ireland for her aunt’s over-the-top destination wedding and hoping she can stop thinking about the one thing she did that left her miserable and heartbroken—and threatens her future. But her brother, Ian, isn’t about to let her forget, and his constant needling leads to arguments and even a fistfight between the two once inseparable siblings. Miserable, Addie can’t wait to visit her friend in Italy and leave her brother—and her problems—behind.
So when Addie discovers an unusual guidebook, Ireland for the Heartbroken, hidden in the dusty shelves of the hotel library, she’s able to finally escape her anxious mind and Ian’s criticism.
And then their travel plans change. Suddenly Addie finds herself on a whirlwind tour of the Emerald Isle, trapped in the world’s smallest vehicle with Ian and his admittedly cute, Irish-accented friend Rowan. As the trio journeys over breathtaking green hills, past countless castles, and through a number of fairy-tale forests, Addie hopes her guidebook will heal not only her broken heart, but also her shattered relationship with her brother.
Review:
The second book follows Lina’s best friend Addie and takes place in Ireland. This one is less of a romance and more of a getting over heartbreak story, but the rest of the book more than makes up for it.
The writing is easy and full of humor. The travel guide entries scattered throughout are REALLY funny and I looked forward to every one. The sister and brother dynamic adds tons of witty banter and laughs, and Rowan is a fantastic addition. I love Rowan and I wish there had been more romance, but I guess I’m going to have to survive with what I got.
This book is clean with no swearing or sexual content, with one exception. A major part of the plot involves the main character having a topless photo shared without her consent. But it is handled in a mature and appropriate way, focusing more on the shame and weight of carrying that secret. I didn’t feel uncomfortable reading it and still consider this a clean read.
Overall this book was just as good as the first and is a great pick for anyone looking for a humor filled story with heart.
Love & Olives
Title: Love & Olives
Length: 528 pages
Genre: Romance, Fiction, YA
My Rating: 5/5
My Age Rating: 11+
Content Notes: Clean, just kissing and no strong language, emotional themes, mental health
Synopsis:
Liv Varanakis doesn’t have a lot of fond memories of her father, which makes sense—he fled to Greece when she was only eight. What Liv does remember, though, is their shared love for Greek myths and the lost city of Atlantis. So when Liv suddenly receives a postcard from her father explaining that National Geographic is funding a documentary about his theories on Atlantis—and will she fly out to Greece and help?—Liv jumps at the opportunity.
But when she arrives to gorgeous Santorini, things are a little…awkward. There are so many questions, so many emotions that flood to the surface after seeing her father for the first time in years. And yet Liv doesn’t want their past to get in the way of a possible reconciliation. She also definitely doesn’t want Theo—her father’s charismatic so-called “protégé”—to witness her struggle.
And that means diving into all that Santorini has to offer—the beautiful sunsets, the turquoise water, the hidden caves, and the delicious cuisine. But not everything on the Greek island is as perfect as it seems. Because as Liv slowly begins to discover, her father may not have invited her to Greece for Atlantis, but for something much more important.
Review
Okay, let’s talk about Love & Olives, the 3rd book and in my opinion the best in the series. It is technically a standalone, so if you only read one, make it this one.
This book surpasses the others in every way. The writing, the romance, the characters, and especially the love interest. He literally stole my heart. And yes, I know he’s fictional. I’m dealing with it.
Set in Greece, this book is perfectly planned from the cover to the chapter names to the summer vibes it gives off. The ending left me speechless, probably one of the best romance endings I have ever read. Also, the main character lives in a little bedroom inside a bookshop, which is basically my dream come true. (Also, a little spoiler… she shares it with Theo… hehehe… I’m just going to leave you with that tidbit of information!)
Content wise this book is the cleanest of the three. With no bad language and the romance never goes past kissing. There is one mention of birth control but nothing crude. My picky little sister read it and loved it, that says it all.
So get to work, you have some new books to read and I would suggest getting to it!
P.S. If you plan to read the whole series, save this one for last. The others don’t stand a chance in comparison and they don’t deserve that.
End Thoughts
I hope you now have some new amazing books to read, whether you’re waiting for the warmer months or you need some summer right now, these are great books. So grab some ice cream (or gelato if you have it!) and get ready for lots of laughs, some moments that will have you on the edge of your seat, and lots of smiles. These books will hold a special place in your heart, and they will be a friend you constantly turn back to.
Happy Reading,
Ava
Click the links below to get these AMAZING books!
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