[REVIEW] Love & Gelato

title: Love Gelato (Love & Gelato #1)
author: Jenna Evans Welch
narrator: Rebekkah Ross
genre: young adult, romance
published: August 16, 2016 by Simon & Schuster Audio
my copy: audiobook, 8 hrs 17 mins
purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Fully Booked
rating: 4 / 5 stars
goodreads

A summer in Italy turns into a road trip across Tuscany in this sweeping debut novel filled with romance, mystery, and adventure. 

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. 

Kirkus Reviews called Love & Gelato “a sure bet for fans of romance fiction,” while VOYA said readers “will find it difficult to put this book down.” Readers are about to discover a new place, a new romance, and a new talent.

fun read but not enough Gelato

I read this because Scribd Free Reads had me picking up books I'm not entirely sure I'll love. But who says no to free YA chick-lit romance? I've been eyeing this one since it came out but I've never been one to read YA contemporaries because I think I already outgrew them. But I enjoyed it this one 😊

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

Love & Gelato follows Carolina who was forced to move to Florence, Italy (or at least for the summer as she claims) at the wish of her mother prior to her death. Upon moving to Florence, she meets her father, receives her mother's journal, and meets her neighbor Lorenzo who brings her all over Florence (and maybe a part of Rome).

I really enjoyed Carolina's narration. I think she's funny and including the audiobook narration, listening to this felt like I was watching one of those teen chick flicks in a good way. The audiobook narrator, Rebekkah Ross, really did a great job in giving life to Carolina's character. I really think it added to the factor for me to really like her.  I like her witty funny but not that funny jokes and I LOVE her development throughout the novel.

“You may be slow to warm up, but once you do, you light up the whole room”

I like that we follow 2 stories: Carolina's time in France and her mother's time in France through the journal. I think that Welch did a great job in writing their stories together in a flawless, not confusing way.

What I really love in here is the relationships Carolina had throughout the novel. I feel that they were really done well and they pushed for her development as well as the interesting pace of the story development. Though not physically present, you can strongly feel the presence of Carolina's best friend, Addie. Carolina's father, Howard, was a great presence and I LOVE how he tries to play his role and make up for lost time with Carolina. Her mother, who was present through her journal, was a really great push for Carolina throughout the novel. Then there's Ren, the first person she met outside of her household, who became her best friend, the one she strongly relied on with her mother's journal/story. I LOVE their relationship and how slowly they become closer each time they go out.

“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.”

For the romance side of the novel, I can really feel it there but it isn't all over the book. And I really liked it that way. It was easy to know who she'll end up with right from the beginning and I strongly root for them. I really love the chapter where she finally talked about her feelings. I really think it was cute! One that I'll probably remember for a while 💖

OVERALL, Love & Gelato is a light and fun read. I was thoroughly invested in Carolina's adjustment to her life in Italy as well as her mother's story. I enjoyed Carolina's narration especially with how well Ross gave her more life. This is definitely a good light read.

I'm listening to the second book right now, Love & Luck.

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