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Love & Gelato Paperback – May 2, 2017

by Jenna Evans Welch (Author)

6,687 ratings

Book 1 of 3: The Love & Gelato

Goodreads Choice Award nominee

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Now a movie streaming on Netflix!

A summer in Italy turns into a road trip across Tuscany in this sweeping New York Times bestseller 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.

From the Publisher

Love & Gelato; Love & Olives; Love & Luck; Spells for Lost Things; Jenna Evans Welch

WARNING: California’s Proposition 65

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jenna 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.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Love & Gelato

Chapter 1

THE HOUSE LOOMED BRIGHTLY IN the distance, like a lighthouse in a sea of headstones. But it couldn’t be his house, right? We were probably just following some kind of Italian custom. Always drive newcomers through a cemetery. That way they get a feel for the local culture. Yeah, that must be it.

I knit my fingers in my lap, my stomach dropping as the house got closer and closer. It was like watching Jaws emerge from the depths of the ocean. Duuun dun. Only it wasn’t a movie. It was real. And there was only one turn left. Don’t panic. This can’t be it. Mom wouldn’t have sent you to live in a cemetery. She would have warned you. She would have—

He flipped on the turn signal, and all the air came rushing out of my lungs. She just didn’t tell me.

“Are you okay?”

Howard—my dad, I guess I should call him—was looking at me with a concerned expression. Probably because I’d just made a wheezing noise.

“Is that your . . . ?” Words failed me, so I had to point.

“Well, yes.” He hesitated for a moment and then gestured out the window. “Lina, didn’t you know? About all this?”

“All this” didn’t even come close to describing the massive moonlit cemetery. “My grandma told me I’d be staying on American-owned land. She said you’re the caretaker of a World War II memorial. I didn’t think . . .” Panic was pouring over me like hot syrup. Also, I couldn’t seem to finish a single sentence. Breathe, Lina. You’ve already survived the worst. You can survive this, too.

He pointed to the far end of the property. “The memorial is that building right up there. But the rest of the grounds are for the graves of American soldiers who were killed in Italy during the war.”

“But this isn’t your house house, right? It’s just where you work?”

He didn’t answer. Instead we pulled into the driveway, and I felt the last of my hope fade along with the car’s headlights. This wasn’t just a house. It was a home. Red geraniums lined the walkway, and there was a porch swing creaking back and forth, like someone had just gotten up. Subtract the crosses lining the surrounding lawns and it was any normal house in any normal neighborhood. But it wasn’t a normal neighborhood. And those crosses didn’t look like they were going anywhere. Ever.

“They like to have a caretaker on-site at all times, so they built this house back in the sixties.” Howard took the keys out of the ignition, then drummed his fingers nervously on the steering wheel. “I’m really sorry, Lina. I thought you knew. I can’t imagine what you’re thinking right now.”

“It’s a cemetery.” My voice was like weak tea.

He turned and looked at me, not quite making eye contact. “I know. And the last thing you need is a reminder of everything you’ve been through this year. But I think you’ll find that this place grows on you. It’s really peaceful and it has a lot of interesting history. Your mother loved it. And after being here almost seventeen years, I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”

His voice was hopeful, but I slumped back in my seat, a swarm of questions taking flight in my mind. If she loved it so much, then why didn’t she ever tell me about it? Why didn’t she ever talk about you until she got sick? And for the love of all that’s holy, what made her leave out the teeny-tiny detail that you’re my father?

Howard absorbed my silence for a moment, then opened his car door. “Let’s head inside. I’ll get your suitcase.”

All six foot five of him walked around to the back of the car, and I leaned over to watch him in the side mirror. My grandma had been the one to fill in the blanks. He’s your father; that’s why she wanted you to live with him. I probably should have seen it coming. It’s just that good old buddy Howard’s true identity seemed like the sort of thing my mother would have at least mentioned.

Howard closed the trunk, and I straightened up and started rifling through my backpack, buying myself another few seconds. Lina, think. You’re alone in a foreign country, a certifiable giant has just stepped forward as your father, and your new home could be the setting for a zombie apocalypse movie. Do something.

But what? Short of wrestling the car keys from Howard, I couldn’t think of a single way to get out of going into that house. Finally I unbuckled my seat belt and followed him to the front door.

Inside, the house was aggressively normal—like maybe it thought it could make up for its location if it just tried hard enough. Howard set my suitcase down in the front entryway, and then we walked into a living room with two overstuffed chairs and a leather sofa. There were a bunch of vintage travel posters on the walls, and the whole place smelled like it had been soaking in garlic and onions. But in a good way. Obviously.

“Welcome home,” Howard said, switching on the main light. Fresh panic smacked me in the face, and he winced when he saw my expression. “I mean, welcome to Italy. I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Howard?”

“Hi, Sonia.”

A tall, gazelle-like woman stepped into the room. She was maybe a few years older than Howard, with coffee-colored skin and rows of gold bracelets on each arm. Gorgeous. And also a surprise.

“Lina,” she said, enunciating my name carefully. “You made it. How were your flights?”

I shifted from one foot to the other. Was someone going to introduce us? “They were okay. The last one was really long.”

“We’re so glad you’re here.” She beamed at me, and there was a thick moment of silence.

Finally I stepped forward. “So . . . you’re Howard’s wife?”

Howard and Sonia looked at each other and then practically started howling with laughter.

Lina Emerson. Comic genius.

Finally Howard got himself under control. “Lina, this is Sonia. She’s the assistant superintendent of the cemetery. She’s been working here even longer than I have.”

“Just by a few months,” Sonia said, wiping her eyes. “Howard always makes me sound like a dinosaur. My house is on the property too, a little closer to the memorial.”

“How many people live here?”

“Just us two. Now three,” Howard said.

“And about four thousand soldiers,” Sonia added, grinning. She squinted at Howard, and I glanced back just in time to see him frantically running one finger across his throat. Nonverbal communication. Great.

Sonia’s smile vanished. “Lina, are you hungry? I made a lasagna.”

That’s what that smell was. “I’m pretty hungry,” I admitted. Understatement.

“Good. I made my specialty. Lasagna with extra-garlicky garlic bread.”

“Yes!” Howard said, pumping his arm like a housewife on The Price Is Right. “You decided to spoil us.”

“It’s a special night, so I thought I’d go all out. Lina, you probably want to wash your hands. I’ll dish up and you can meet us in the dining room.”

Howard pointed across the living room. “Bathroom’s over there.”

I nodded, then set my backpack on the nearest chair before practically fleeing the room. The bathroom was miniature, barely big enough for a toilet and a sink, and I ran the water as hot as I could stand it, scrubbing the airport off my hands with a chip of soap from the edge of the sink.

While I scrubbed, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and groaned. I looked like I’d been dragged through three different time zones. Which, to be fair, I had. My normally tan skin was pale and yellowish-looking, and I had dark circles under my eyes. And my hair. It had finally figured out a way to defy the laws of physics. I wet both my hands and tried to smash down my curls, but it seemed to only encourage them. Finally I gave up. So what if I looked like a hedgehog who’d discovered Red Bull? Fathers are supposed to accept you as you are, right?

Music started up outside the bathroom and my nervousness kindled from a flame to a bonfire. Did I really need to eat dinner? Maybe I could go hide out in a room somewhere while I processed this whole cemetery thing. Or didn’t process it. But then my stomach roared in protest and ugh. I did have to eat.

“There she is,” Howard said, getting to his feet as I walked into the dining room. The table was set with a red-checkered cloth, and an old rock song I sort of recognized was playing from an iPod next to the entryway. I slid into the chair opposite them, and Howard sat down too.

“I hope you’re hungry. Sonia’s such a great cook, I think she missed her calling in life.” Now that it wasn’t just the two of us, he sounded way more relaxed.

Sonia beamed. “No way. I was destined for life at the memorial.”

“It does look good.” And by “good,” I meant amazing. A steaming pan of lasagna sat next to a basket of thickly sliced garlic bread, and there was a salad bowl piled high with tomatoes and crisp-looking lettuce. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to dive right onto the table.

Sonia cut into the lasagna, placing a big gooey square right in the center of my plate. “Help yourself to bread and salad. Buon appetito.”

“Buon appetito,” Howard echoed.

“Buon appe . . . something,” I mumbled.

The second everyone was served, I picked up my fork and attacked my lasagna. I knew I probably looked like a wild mastodon, but after a full day of nothing but airline food, I couldn’t help myself. Those portions were miniature. When I finally came up for air, Sonia and Howard were both staring at me, Howard looking mildly horrified.

“So, Lina, what kinds of things do you like to do?” Sonia asked.

I grabbed my napkin. “Besides scare people with my table manners?”

Howard chuckled. “Your grandmother told me you love running. She said you average about forty miles a week, and you’re hoping to run in college.”

“Well, that explains the appetite.” Sonia scooped up another piece, and I gratefully held out my plate. “Do you run at school?”

“I used to. I was on the varsity cross-country team, but I forfeited my spot after we found out.”

They both just looked at me.

“. . . When we found out about the cancer? Practice took up a lot of time, and I didn’t want to leave town for all the meets and stuff.”

Howard nodded. “I think the cemetery is a great place for a runner. Lots of space, and nice smooth roads. I used to run here all the time. Before I got fat and lazy.”

Sonia rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. You couldn’t get fat if you tried.” She nudged the basket of garlic bread toward me. “Did you know that your mother and I were friends? She was lovely. So talented and lively.”

Nope, didn’t tell me that, either. Was it possible I was falling prey to some elaborate kidnapping scheme? Would kidnappers feed you two pieces of the best lasagna you’d ever had? And if pressed, would they give you the recipe?

Howard cleared his throat, snapping me back to the conversation. “Sorry. Um, no. She never mentioned you.”

Sonia nodded, her face expressionless, and Howard glanced at her, then back at me. “You’re probably feeling pretty tired. Is there anyone you want to get in touch with? I messaged your grandmother when your plane arrived, but you’re welcome to give her a call. I have an international plan on my cell phone.”

“Can I call Addie?”

“Is that the friend you were living with?”

“Yeah. But I have my laptop. I could just use FaceTime instead.”

“That might not work tonight. Italy isn’t exactly on the cutting edge of technology, and our Internet connection has been pretty slow all day. Someone’s coming by to take a look at it tomorrow, but in the meantime you can just use my phone.”

“Thanks.”

He pushed back from the table. “Would anyone like some wine?”

“Yes, please,” Sonia said.

“Lina?”

“Uh . . . I’m kind of underage.”

He smiled. “Italy doesn’t have a drinking age, so I guess it’s a little different around here. But no pressure either way.”

“I’ll pass.”

“Be right back.” He headed for the kitchen.

The room was quiet for about ten seconds, and then Sonia set her fork down. “I’m so happy you’re here, Lina. And I want you to know that if you need anything, I’m just a stone’s throw away. Literally.”

“Thanks.” I trained my eyes on a spot just over her left shoulder. Adults were always trying too hard around me. They thought that if they were nice enough they could make up for the fact that I’d lost my mom. It was kind of sweet and horrible at the same time.

Sonia glanced toward the kitchen and then lowered her voice. “I wanted to ask you, would you mind stopping by my place sometime tomorrow? I have something I want to give you.”

“What?”

“We can talk about it then. Tonight you just focus on settling in.”

I just shook my head. I was going to do as little settling in as possible. I wasn’t even going to unpack my bag.

After dinner Howard insisted on carrying my suitcase upstairs. “I hope you like your room. I repainted and redecorated it a couple of weeks ago, and I think it turned out really nice. I keep most of the windows open in summer—it’s a lot cooler that way—but feel free to close yours if you’d prefer.” He spoke quickly, like he’d spent all afternoon rehearsing his welcome speech. He set my bag down in front of the first door.

“Bathroom is right across the hall, and I put some new soap and shampoo in there. Let me know what else you need and I’ll pick it up tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay.”

“And like I said, the Internet’s been pretty spotty, but if you decide you want to try it out, our network is called ‘American Cemetery.’?”

Of course it was. “What’s the Wi-Fi password?”

“Wall of the Missing. One word.”

“?‘Wall of the Missing,’?” I repeated. “What does that mean?”

“It’s a part of the memorial. There are a bunch of stone tablets listing the names of soldiers whose bodies were never recovered. I can show you tomorrow if you’d like.”

Nooo, thank you. “Well, I’m pretty tired, so . . .” I edged toward the door.

He took the hint, handing me a cell phone along with a slip of paper. “I wrote down instructions for dialing the States. You have to put in a country code as well as an area code. Let me know if you have any trouble.”

“Thanks.” I put the paper in my pocket.

“Good night, Lina.”

“Good night.”

He turned and walked down the hall, and I opened the door and dragged my suitcase into the room, feeling my shoulders sag with the relief of finally being alone. Well, you’re really here, I thought, just you and your four thousand new friends. There was a lock on the door and I turned it with a satisfying click. Then I slowly turned around, steeling myself for whatever Howard had meant by “really nice.” But then my heart practically stopped, because wow.

The room was perfect. Soft light glowed from this adorable gold lamp on the nightstand, and the bed was antique-looking, with about a thousand decorative pillows. A painted desk and dresser sat on opposite sides of the room, and a large oval mirror hung on the wall next to the door. There were even a bunch of picture frames standing empty on the nightstand and dresser, like they were waiting for me to fill them up.

I stood there staring for a minute. It was just so me. How was it possible that someone who hadn’t even met me had managed to put together my perfect bedroom? Maybe things weren’t going to be so bad—

And then a gust of wind blew into the room, drawing my attention to the large open window. I’d ignored my own rule: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. I walked over and stuck my head out. The headstones gleamed in the moonlight like rows of teeth, and everything was dark and eerily silent. No amount of pretty could make up for a view like that.

I pulled my head back in, then took the slip of paper out of my pocket. Time to start plotting my escape.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ S&S Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (May 2, 2017)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1481432559
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1481432559
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 - 14 years, from customers
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 640L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.04 x 8.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #5,990 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2 in Teen & Young Adult Clean & Wholesome Romance
- #34 in Teen & Young Adult Family Fiction
- #89 in Teen & Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Customer Reviews:
6,687 ratings

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Jenna Evans Welch

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Jenna Evans Welch was the kind of voracious 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, LOVE & LUCK, and LOVE & OLIVES. 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.

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a great summer read with a beautiful Italian backdrop, describing it as an amazing romantic adventure with teenage love. The writing style is fun and easy to follow, while the mystery element keeps readers engaged with something revealed in each chapter. Customers appreciate the heartwarming story that takes readers through various emotions, and they particularly enjoy the descriptions of Italy, noting how it makes them want to visit the country. The book is well-suited for young adult readers.

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Readability Cuteness Writing style Romance Mystery Heartwarming Age range Sex scenes

243 customers mention "Readability"240 positive3 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a great summer read and an immensely satisfying read.

"...It's not the strongest contemporary out there, but it was so enjoyable and it was so fluffy that I have to give credit where credit is due...." Read more

"...It’s a clean/no spice young adult book. Definitely a fun summery book ✨" Read more

"...Absolutely {loved} it! It was sweet, cute, quirky, and fun. I love books that can make me cry, as well as books that can make me laugh out loud...." Read more

"Obsessed with this book, its one of my favorites. Love the story line" Read more

93 customers mention "Cuteness"93 positive0 negative

Customers find the book visually appealing, praising its beautiful Italian backdrop and nice cover design.

"This was such a sweet, fun book and I could have ten books following Lina and her time in Italy and still want more!..." Read more

"...I loved this book. Absolutely {loved} it! It was sweet, cute, quirky, and fun...." Read more

"...Ren, as the love interest, is totally charming and adorable but their’s is a love story that grows through a strong friendship and of course, lots..." Read more

"The design of the book is beautiful, love the summary. I haven’t read the book yet, but I knew it’s going to be interesting based on the summary...." Read more

89 customers mention "Writing style"85 positive4 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as well-written, fun, and an easy, quick read.

"...If you're looking for something light to read, then this book is the right one for you!" Read more

"...The timing and pacing were perfect, the resolution was satisfying, the characters endearing, and the writing was beautiful...." Read more

"...Its pacing, especially at the beginning, is, I think, reflective of Lina’s shock and denial about being in such a difficult, unexpected situation...." Read more

"...It’s full of great growth/coming of age, food! I need to find gelato near me and being brave and vulnerable to opening yourself to others...." Read more

78 customers mention "Romance"65 positive13 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in the book, describing it as an amazingly romantic adventure full of teenage love, with one customer noting it's not cheesy like many other romances.

"...I really loved her romantic interest, though I did feel like the love triangle thing was a little unnecessary...." Read more

"...There is of course a sweet romance but it isn’t the cheesy romance book I expected. It’s a clean/no spice young adult book...." Read more

"...I loved this book. Absolutely {loved} it! It was sweet, cute, quirky, and fun...." Read more

"...And, of course, the romance was fun...." Read more

37 customers mention "Mystery"37 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the mystery elements of the book, finding it surprising and engaging, with one customer noting that something gets revealed in each chapter.

"...I loved the mystery of this book and how her mothers journal allowed Lena to see Italy through her mothers eyes...." Read more

"...There were some good hints along the way that got my gears turning, and by the time I figured out what was really going on, Lina had almost figured..." Read more

"...like a lighthearted Italian romance but this novel had a lot of hidden depth and emotional trauma...." Read more

"...I haven’t read the book yet, but I knew it’s going to be interesting based on the summary. Recommend if you’re a die hard rom-com fan." Read more

30 customers mention "Heartwarming"30 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming, taking readers through various emotions including sadness and grief, with one customer noting how it perfectly captures the anxiety of growing up.

"...of the surprises that are in store for her are life changing and heart warming. I love Jenna Evans Welch’s easy going style...." Read more

"...This had forbidden love, love triangle, friends to lovers, found family. Can’t wait for the movie! And to read the other books! 🍦..." Read more

"...It's a wonderful, heart-felt and charming story. The perfect book as we lead into the summer months." Read more

"...I love the imagery, and the real and honest emotions I got to feel as I read...." Read more

29 customers mention "Age range"26 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate that the book is suitable for all ages, particularly noting its appeal to young adult readers and teenagers.

"...It’s a clean/no spice young adult book. Definitely a fun summery book ✨" Read more

"...have to clarify that by saying that it is so because of its appeal to teenagers (especially girls), its pacing, and its wonderful voice...." Read more

"...I really like how age appropriate Alina and Lorenzo’s banter was and how much I could really see them as teenagers falling for each other...." Read more

"...In my opinion, the book is a clean read appropriate for older teens...." Read more

29 customers mention "Sex scenes"29 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the sex scenes in the book, particularly appreciating the Italian setting and descriptions of Italy, with one customer noting how it makes them want to visit the country.

"...Getting to know more about Lina's mother and her time in Italy was so great and could have easily been its own book!..." Read more

"...thought was unique about the book was that it really went into the culture and history of Italy, where Lina was following in her mother’s footsteps..." Read more

"This book was purely magical! It really pulls you into the Italian landscape with all of the landmarks being mentioned through out the book...." Read more

"...paints a stunning word-backdrop of the art, architecture, and history of Florence. &#..." Read more

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alliewithbooks
If you like Mamma Mia this book is for you!
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2018
Verified Purchase

This was such a sweet, fun book and I could have ten books following Lina and her time in Italy and still want more! I had such a good time reading this book and it got me excited about contemporaries again. It was really the best kind of contemporary to read near the end of Summer.

In Love & Gelato we follow Lina after her mother has passed away and she is sent to Italy for the Summer to live with the father she didn't know she had. While in Italy, Lina is given a journal from the year her mother got pregnant with her and begins to uncover all of the mysteries her mother left behind.

I think one of my favorite aspects of this book was how light it went on the romance. I had expected this book to be pretty romance-heavy, which is fine with these kind of books, but I was genuinely surprised to find that the romance was more of a subplot rather than a dominant narrative. It was really nice that we got to focus more on Lina learning more about her mother and forming a bond with the father she didn't know she had.

With that being said, the romance was really sweet and fluffy and didn't feel forced at all. I really loved her romantic interest, though I did feel like the love triangle thing was a little unnecessary. It didn't hinder my enjoyment, but it also could have easily been written out. However, I do see how it is supposed to mirror her mother's love triangle struggles. I feel like maybe if the love triangle had been stronger, then it might have worked better. This sort of love triangle just didn't cut it.

I also really loved how much like Mamma Mia it was. I'm not sure if that was intentional on the author's part, but I just kept being reminded of Mamma Mia. Lina's reading her mother's journal to find out things about her, she's in a foreign country, she isn't totally sure who her dad is... A lot of the same elements seem to be there which is nice for someone suffering from a Mamma Mia hangover! I've been wanting to find more books with that same feel, and I'm glad that Love & Gelato is fairly similar.

Getting to know more about Lina's mother and her time in Italy was so great and could have easily been its own book! I also really liked how we got a lot of Lina's mother's journal entries to read. It really felt like we were right there with Lina finding out more about her mother. It was also cool to get to see some of Florence's history and have a little bit of Latin thrown in there!

Overall this is just a really fun contemporary to read and I felt like I was breezing through it. I would imagine that just about anyone would enjoy this book and not find too much wrong with it. It's not the strongest contemporary out there, but it was so enjoyable and it was so fluffy that I have to give credit where credit is due. If you're looking for something light to read, then this book is the right one for you!

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Timmy
Sweet summer romance
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2024
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Lena has just lost her mom to cancer and is now spending the summer in Italy getting to know her dad. She is given her mother’s journal, the journal unlocks things about her moms past she didn’t know. Through reading the journal she ends up traveling around Italy trying to piece together parts of her mothers past.

I loved the mystery of this book and how her mothers journal allowed Lena to see Italy through her mothers eyes. There is of course a sweet romance but it isn’t the cheesy romance book I expected. It’s a clean/no spice young adult book. Definitely a fun summery book ✨

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Timmy

Sweet summer romance

Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2024
Lena has just lost her mom to cancer and is now spending the summer in Italy getting to know her dad. She is given her mother’s journal, the journal unlocks things about her moms past she didn’t know. Through reading the journal she ends up traveling around Italy trying to piece together parts of her mothers past.

I loved the mystery of this book and how her mothers journal allowed Lena to see Italy through her mothers eyes. There is of course a sweet romance but it isn’t the cheesy romance book I expected. It’s a clean/no spice young adult book. Definitely a fun summery book ✨

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Sweet, cute, quirky, and fun - and FULL of laughs!!
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2016
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This book was wonderful!! It's the story of Lina, who's sixteen-year-old life pretty much falls apart when her mother is diagnosed with cancer and she dies in a matter of weeks. As if that weren't enough emotional upheaval, she's sent off to Italy to meet - and live with - the father she has never known. Once there, she is given a journal that her mother kept when she lived in Italy all those years ago. It doesn't take long before Lina and her cute neighbor Ren are buzzing around the Tuscan countryside on his scooter, discovering the world described within its pages. But even as the Italian countryside begins to grow on her, Lina struggles to accept the woman her mother really was, and the man and life she left behind. (Ages 12+)

I loved this book. Absolutely {loved} it! It was sweet, cute, quirky, and fun. I love books that can make me cry, as well as books that can make me laugh out loud. This did both. The tears mostly just pricked my eyes and my heart, but the laughs - oh, the laughs!! We're talking side-splitting, can't-hardly-breathe, get-a-new-pair-of-underwear laughs. Multiple times. I picked it up about 11:00 in the morning and could hardly put it down. Perhaps it was funnier because I ended up staying up late to finish it, and things always seem more humorous when I'm exhausted, lol.

There was a general air of mystery surrounding everything pertaining to Italy: Lina's father, her mother's past there, and what actually happened. There were some good hints along the way that got my gears turning, and by the time I figured out what was really going on, Lina had almost figured it out as well. I really appreciated that the author didn't wait until the end to "reveal it all," since it is so incredibly annoying to me when I figure things out way ahead of the protagonist. The timing and pacing were perfect, the resolution was satisfying, the characters endearing, and the writing was beautiful. I thought it was a brilliant book by this debut author, and I'm already craving more from Ms. Welch!!

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read_with_charl
I loved this book so much, that I can't wait to read it again!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 30, 2023
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If you are looking for a book to get you out of your reading slump, then this book is it. It’s so incredibly wholesome that I devoured this book in one sitting.

As the weather is turning, I wanted nothing more than to be in Tuscany with Lina as she navigates life after her mother’s death. It is very emotive at times as Lina deals with the grief of losing her mother and moving to a foreign country.

Jenna transports you to Tuscany and the reader feels that they are with Lina every step of the way. The incorporation of Italian throughout and the famous landmarks made me feel like I was walking the streets of Italy too and I also picked up some useful phrases.

I couldn’t complete this review without incorporating Howard. If you every need an example of everlasting love, Howard is your man.

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Cathy F
Great read
Reviewed in Canada on August 6, 2024
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My 14 yr old daughter loves to read. She enjoyed it.

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Silver
Really cute book!
Reviewed in Germany on March 7, 2023
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The rating is for the product itself, not for the contents of the book. The story I would rate a 3; it was a fun, short, read. Perfect for a lazy summer afternoon. As for the cover, it's so cute, and definitely fits the story! It arrived in a pristine condition, hence the 5 star rating

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Client d'Amazon
Écrit en anglais.
Reviewed in France on December 5, 2019
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Ce livre est écrit en anglais. Je ne pense pas que c'était marqué. De plus la couverture de couleur crème est toute sale. C'était pour offrir

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JORGE SANTOS
Love, gelatto, pasta, amore
Reviewed in Mexico on November 23, 2019
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Regalo de cumpleaños de mi hija, ya lo está leyendo y ya quiere conocer Italia, donde se desarrolla la historia.

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Love & Gelato Paperback – May 2, 2017

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Sweet summer romance

Top reviews from the United States

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5.0 out of 5 stars If you like Mamma Mia this book is for you!

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet summer romance

Sweet summer romance

Images in this review

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet, cute, quirky, and fun - and FULL of laughs!!

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book so much, that I can't wait to read it again!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read

5.0 out of 5 stars Really cute book!

2.0 out of 5 stars Écrit en anglais.

5.0 out of 5 stars Love, gelatto, pasta, amore

If you like Mamma Mia this book is for you!

Sweet summer romance

Sweet, cute, quirky, and fun - and FULL of laughs!!

I loved this book so much, that I can't wait to read it again!

Great read

Really cute book!

Écrit en anglais.

Love, gelatto, pasta, amore