Scan barcode
nerdyforbooks_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
It’s… fine. If you’re looking for a light holiday read - this isn’t it IMO. Yes, there’s a romance in this story, but it doesn’t feel like a romance novel. It should be classified just as a contemporary fiction with some lovers trope.
I loved they were older MCs. I did not love that a 34yo woman couldn’t figure out how to tell the truth. She had multiple chances or ways to spin it without getting anyone hurt. Does she? Nope. I also didn’t feel the heat with their romance. It just like happened… and didn’t make any sense. I guessed they bonded over gelato? IDK, I wouldn’t know if they remotely had anything in common to even explain this romance. There’s also the fact that Iris’s past with her ex is never really explained. You get multiple breadcrumbs here & there where it’s like ok and ???
And that ending 🙄 OY! I know it sounds like I just hated this book, I didn’t really. It’s not poorly written, it doesn’t have a crap concept. It really could have likely been something GOOD. It’s just so surface level on many aspects that it was hard to feel any connection with anyone.
I loved they were older MCs. I did not love that a 34yo woman couldn’t figure out how to tell the truth. She had multiple chances or ways to spin it without getting anyone hurt. Does she? Nope. I also didn’t feel the heat with their romance. It just like happened… and didn’t make any sense. I guessed they bonded over gelato? IDK, I wouldn’t know if they remotely had anything in common to even explain this romance. There’s also the fact that Iris’s past with her ex is never really explained. You get multiple breadcrumbs here & there where it’s like ok and ???
And that ending 🙄 OY! I know it sounds like I just hated this book, I didn’t really. It’s not poorly written, it doesn’t have a crap concept. It really could have likely been something GOOD. It’s just so surface level on many aspects that it was hard to feel any connection with anyone.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
milesofkiles's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Pregnancy
kitwhelan's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Oooohhh boy a very emotional read with a lot of trauma processing (major trigger warnings for dealing with the death of a parent and an abusive ex) but it was oh so good. Iris’ lies were a lot, but by the end I was totally with her. I just want to live in the gelateria for a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
annica_fourie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I did not expect to love this as much as I did, since I usually don't gravitate towards Christmas-y romances.
The story was intriguing and fun, and I loved the characters.
The story was intriguing and fun, and I loved the characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
gemin1reader's review against another edition
emotional
2.75
I enjoyed the final third of this book much more than the first two, because I spent most of that just wanting to shout at the main character to give the poor man his bloody ice cream recipe back.
Didn’t love the lies that formed the heart of the plot but without them wouldn’t have been much of a book. Some of the dialogue was a bit cheesy too. But on a positive note there were some very moving moments.
Didn’t love the lies that formed the heart of the plot but without them wouldn’t have been much of a book. Some of the dialogue was a bit cheesy too. But on a positive note there were some very moving moments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Violence
guardianofthebookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Stalking, and Death of parent
Moderate: Death
hheartbooks's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
effevve's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I really liked the setting of the book, the atmosphere it's true to its title.
I guess i went in thinking it was a holiday christmasy book and it's definitly not.
Also if your main conflict can be solved by a simple conversation, it's not enough of a plot point for me.
I guess i went in thinking it was a holiday christmasy book and it's definitly not.
Also if your main conflict can be solved by a simple conversation, it's not enough of a plot point for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
meredith_williams_'s review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Main character, Iris, moves to New York after her mother’s death and after leaving an emotionally abusive relationship. She has a job as a chef and stumbles across a gelato shop in the city that she recognizes from her mother’s photographs. She meets the owner, Gio, who discloses that the secret family gelato recipe has been lost. Iris happens to have the exact recipe among her mother’s photographs, but can’t tell anyone because…she promised her mom not to?? So instead she offers to help Gio recreate the recipe under the guise of being a professional chef.
The winter city setting and family dynamics in this book were enjoyable. I also liked Gio as a love interest and thought the dual timeline between Iris’s present and her mothers past were interesting. However, the secret that serves as the main conflict in the book was simply not that serious. It caused a lot of unnecessary miscommunication between the love interests and it made Iris’s character hard to root for at times.
Ultimately, this book was as vanilla as the gelato that Gio’s family is known for. It’s good if you want a little something sweet, but you’ll be wishing it had more flavor by the time you’re done.
The winter city setting and family dynamics in this book were enjoyable. I also liked Gio as a love interest and thought the dual timeline between Iris’s present and her mothers past were interesting. However, the secret that serves as the main conflict in the book was simply not that serious. It caused a lot of unnecessary miscommunication between the love interests and it made Iris’s character hard to root for at times.
Ultimately, this book was as vanilla as the gelato that Gio’s family is known for. It’s good if you want a little something sweet, but you’ll be wishing it had more flavor by the time you’re done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Death of parent
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit and Alcohol
piratenami's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Alcohol