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adrianao_reads's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5/5: Un libro ambientado en Italia = Love
readingjohanna's review
Den var bra, men inte lika bra som jag hade förväntat mig.
juhina's review
4.0
3.5/5 stars
I adore the cover for Flirting In Italian. The pink, blue, and purple make it look FUN and such a summary read! and if that didn't grab you, maybe the title would? flirting in ITALIAN? I started reading this book hoping to get to experience a summer in italy! full of fun, hot boys, and an unforgettable summer. However, the book isn't that, there is a mystery and an ending that leaves you with your mouth wide open and thoughts of "WHAT the hell did I just read?" going in your mind. But have no fear, since this is the first book in a series! So while this book did not answer the big question, let's hope the second book does!
In all honesty, the synopses was very misleading. I thought the book would be told from four POVs (4 girls), and while having a bit of mystery, it wouldn't really center around it. However the whole reason the protagonist went to Italy is because she saw herself (or a doppelgänger) in a painting by an Italian artist at a museum. Hence the flight to Italy. I just want to point out that Violet did not have any family issues; she wasn't a neglected child, or a troublemaker. She was a normal teenager that actually felt guilty for her mother for pursuing this and thinking she isn't her real mother.
However the book does give you the hot italian boys, along with snarky, condescending italian girls. The romance in the book, while it did not dominate, was cute. However the ending just made me rethink the WHOLE romance and thank god I am not in their situation! All in all, Flirting in Italian, was a fun and cute contemporary, and fits to be a great summer read!
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I adore the cover for Flirting In Italian. The pink, blue, and purple make it look FUN and such a summary read! and if that didn't grab you, maybe the title would? flirting in ITALIAN? I started reading this book hoping to get to experience a summer in italy! full of fun, hot boys, and an unforgettable summer. However, the book isn't that, there is a mystery and an ending that leaves you with your mouth wide open and thoughts of "WHAT the hell did I just read?" going in your mind. But have no fear, since this is the first book in a series! So while this book did not answer the big question, let's hope the second book does!
In all honesty, the synopses was very misleading. I thought the book would be told from four POVs (4 girls), and while having a bit of mystery, it wouldn't really center around it. However the whole reason the protagonist went to Italy is because she saw herself (or a doppelgänger) in a painting by an Italian artist at a museum. Hence the flight to Italy. I just want to point out that Violet did not have any family issues; she wasn't a neglected child, or a troublemaker. She was a normal teenager that actually felt guilty for her mother for pursuing this and thinking she isn't her real mother.
However the book does give you the hot italian boys, along with snarky, condescending italian girls. The romance in the book, while it did not dominate, was cute. However the ending just made me rethink the WHOLE romance and thank god I am not in their situation! All in all, Flirting in Italian, was a fun and cute contemporary, and fits to be a great summer read!
more reviews on
anjanavasan's review
3.0
When I started reading Flirting in Italian I was pretty much expecting a story about a summer of travel, boys and fun, which it was but I had no idea that this was a story Henderson planned to continue into another book.
The story begins with Violet in a museum, trying to figure out why the woman in a painting that was drawn years ago looked exactly like her. Mostly, the book is about Violet trying to find out more about her family heritage and where she comes from.
Of course, there're some cute boys, and as the title suggests, some flirting involved with those cute boys. Over all, I got what I wanted out of this book - a quick, fun and happy young adult read, although I'm not a fan of the ending. It was kind of a 'wait, WHY are you doing this?' moment for me. I mean, it's been done way too many times before and I can think of only one book that pulled it off..and even that was in a strangely disturbing and captivating way. I'm not sure if I'll read the sequel, maybe if I find it in the library or something, I might.
For the most part, Flirting in Italian is the perfect summer read for a lazy day. But as for the ending.. I'm not so sure but hopefully, you may like it.
The story begins with Violet in a museum, trying to figure out why the woman in a painting that was drawn years ago looked exactly like her. Mostly, the book is about Violet trying to find out more about her family heritage and where she comes from.
Of course, there're some cute boys, and as the title suggests, some flirting involved with those cute boys. Over all, I got what I wanted out of this book - a quick, fun and happy young adult read, although I'm not a fan of the ending. It was kind of a 'wait, WHY are you doing this?' moment for me. I mean, it's been done way too many times before and I can think of only one book that pulled it off..and even that was in a strangely disturbing and captivating way. I'm not sure if I'll read the sequel, maybe if I find it in the library or something, I might.
For the most part, Flirting in Italian is the perfect summer read for a lazy day. But as for the ending.. I'm not so sure but hopefully, you may like it.
mrdillon94's review
4.0
HMMMMMMMMM its a little difficult to review this one. I was defiantly entertained by this, at first i was a little put off by the title which I really believe A does nothing for the story at all and B well frankly I just don't like it. But title aside Henderson did an amazing job with the setting. You really felt you were there with the girls experiencing the Italian ocean side; the villas; even the food. I also thought that the characters were very well described even the more minor ones I didn't feel that if they left for chapters and then reappeared that i would have a seemingly hard time remembering who they were and what their purpose in the story was. Back to the problem with the title though, this could be said for the summery of the novel as well. While both make you think that this is a light hearted book about a girl who spends her summer in italy interacting with many attractive men (although that is pretty much true) it has a more in depth plot going on. One that kind of through me for a loop. I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Although by no means is it the best literary thing to fly into my hands, I will for sure be picking up the next novels in the series and I can't wait to see where she takes us next with our Italian clan of mystery.
loveleareads's review
3.0
Flirting in Italian is a real cute and fun read. It wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but I did and enjoy it and it was a quick read.
Despite the fun and chick-lit looking cover, this book is about a mystery. For the most part. I knew it was a mystery from the beginning, it took a while to actually start. Besides a short intro in the beginning, we weren't really introduced to the mystery until over a hundred pages through. And, even though it's a mystery, it is very chick-lit-y.
Violet. She could be very melodramatic at times. And naive. But, overall, I liked her. She seemed to have been sheltered her whole life and is now thrown into a foreign country by herself. She really has to grow up.
The setting. THE top place that I want to visit in the world. Unfortunately, I didn't fall in love with it in this book. While I should feel like I was there, I did not. This part really disappointed me because this is what I was most looking forward to when wanting to read this book.
As the cover suggests, this book does contain some romance. I was not a huge fan of Luca. He could be kind of a jerk sometimes. For the most part, he was okay. I just didn't fall in love with him like I should have.
Despite everything, I did enjoy this book. I just had higher expectations. Had I taken it at face value, I would have enjoyed it more.
Despite the fun and chick-lit looking cover, this book is about a mystery. For the most part. I knew it was a mystery from the beginning, it took a while to actually start. Besides a short intro in the beginning, we weren't really introduced to the mystery until over a hundred pages through. And, even though it's a mystery, it is very chick-lit-y.
Violet. She could be very melodramatic at times. And naive. But, overall, I liked her. She seemed to have been sheltered her whole life and is now thrown into a foreign country by herself. She really has to grow up.
The setting. THE top place that I want to visit in the world. Unfortunately, I didn't fall in love with it in this book. While I should feel like I was there, I did not. This part really disappointed me because this is what I was most looking forward to when wanting to read this book.
As the cover suggests, this book does contain some romance. I was not a huge fan of Luca. He could be kind of a jerk sometimes. For the most part, he was okay. I just didn't fall in love with him like I should have.
Despite everything, I did enjoy this book. I just had higher expectations. Had I taken it at face value, I would have enjoyed it more.
lisamquinn's review
1.0
Oh hell no. I read this book because I heard it was a light, fun summer read...as I was going along I thought, "Man this story is slow moving..." That's because it's barely the first part of the arc. I new it was a #1..but this is just ridiculous.
amdame1's review
3.0
Violet is struck by the remarkable resemblance between herself and an 18th century painting in a museum. She is determined to find out more information and persuades her mom to let her attend a summer class in Italy that is near the castle where the painting was created.
I loved the mix of Italian and English throughout the book; it was fun to try to figure things out on my own before reading the translation. Setting is gorgeous. Characters are fun but fairly predictable. First in a series (probably a trilogy). Fans of Sarah Dessen will enjoy this as well as those who liked Henderson’s “Kiss Me, Kill Me series” although there is slightly less mystery in this one.
3.5 stars
I loved the mix of Italian and English throughout the book; it was fun to try to figure things out on my own before reading the translation. Setting is gorgeous. Characters are fun but fairly predictable. First in a series (probably a trilogy). Fans of Sarah Dessen will enjoy this as well as those who liked Henderson’s “Kiss Me, Kill Me series” although there is slightly less mystery in this one.
3.5 stars
mrskatiefitz's review
4.0
Violet Routledge is shaken when she discovers that she strongly resembles the subject of a portrait hanging in Sir John Soane’s museum. When she learns that the painting was once located in the Castello di Vesperi in Tuscany, she makes the decision to study abroad for the summer, joining a small group of girls who have signed up to study art, culture, painting, dancing, and more under the tutelage of a local Italian woman. The fourteenth century villa where she will live turns out to be beautiful, and the other girls are different, but nice. There are only two things Violet isn’t really prepared for - her attraction to a gorgeous Italian boy named Luca, and the fact that her resemblance to that portrait will put her life in danger.
Flirting in Italian is the first installment in a new trilogy by Lauren Henderson. (She also wrote the Scarlett Wakefield mysteries, which ended in 2011 with Kiss of Death.) I had trouble getting into the Scarlett Wakefield books, possibly because the series begins with a death, but found no such trouble here. I knew from hearing Henderson read a few years ago, that her prose was very poetic, and her kissing scenes extremely original, with not a cliche to be found, but this book really brought those aspects of her talent to the forefront.
The story really bridges two genres. About half the time, it’s a mystery, complete with secret passages and unexpected evildoers. The other half of the time, it’s a romance novel, where Violet tries to reconcile her logical and rational side with the side that desperately wants Luca all to herself. I wouldn’t go so far as to label it romantic suspense, since the mystery and love story aren’t 100 percent intertwined, but the book has that same tone and atmosphere.
For the most part, Henderson does a great job of handling the various cultures and languages that are such a big part of her story. Violet and one her housemates are both English, as is Henderson, so I think their dialogue seemed the most natural and the least forced. The two American characters in the story did seem somewhat stereotypical at certain points, but their accents, too, seemed mostly on point, except for one moment where one of them used the word clever in a decidedly British way. The way Henderson infuses the Italian language into the story, mostly without translating, is also a really nice addition to the atmosphere of the novel. I felt completely immersed in the Tuscan way of life. I think my only issue was the way in which the characters were sometimes compartmentalized according to their country of origin. I wasn’t sure how much of the Italian culture was authentic, and how much was just a stereotype.
This book will delight Henderson’s established fans, but will also appeal to readers who have loved Maureen Johnson’s 13 Little Blue Envelopes, and Stephanie Perkins’s Anna and the French Kiss. It’s also a nice read-alike for some of Sarah Dessen’s books, but only for readers who also like a bit of mystery and suspense.
Flirting in Italian is the first installment in a new trilogy by Lauren Henderson. (She also wrote the Scarlett Wakefield mysteries, which ended in 2011 with Kiss of Death.) I had trouble getting into the Scarlett Wakefield books, possibly because the series begins with a death, but found no such trouble here. I knew from hearing Henderson read a few years ago, that her prose was very poetic, and her kissing scenes extremely original, with not a cliche to be found, but this book really brought those aspects of her talent to the forefront.
The story really bridges two genres. About half the time, it’s a mystery, complete with secret passages and unexpected evildoers. The other half of the time, it’s a romance novel, where Violet tries to reconcile her logical and rational side with the side that desperately wants Luca all to herself. I wouldn’t go so far as to label it romantic suspense, since the mystery and love story aren’t 100 percent intertwined, but the book has that same tone and atmosphere.
For the most part, Henderson does a great job of handling the various cultures and languages that are such a big part of her story. Violet and one her housemates are both English, as is Henderson, so I think their dialogue seemed the most natural and the least forced. The two American characters in the story did seem somewhat stereotypical at certain points, but their accents, too, seemed mostly on point, except for one moment where one of them used the word clever in a decidedly British way. The way Henderson infuses the Italian language into the story, mostly without translating, is also a really nice addition to the atmosphere of the novel. I felt completely immersed in the Tuscan way of life. I think my only issue was the way in which the characters were sometimes compartmentalized according to their country of origin. I wasn’t sure how much of the Italian culture was authentic, and how much was just a stereotype.
This book will delight Henderson’s established fans, but will also appeal to readers who have loved Maureen Johnson’s 13 Little Blue Envelopes, and Stephanie Perkins’s Anna and the French Kiss. It’s also a nice read-alike for some of Sarah Dessen’s books, but only for readers who also like a bit of mystery and suspense.
daisy87's review
2.0
While the weather in Holland hasn't gotten the message that it's almost Summer, or even Spring, I was in the mood for some cute Summery contemporary romance. And granted, there's not much to this summary, but it sounded like it would be just the thing! Seeing Magan from Rather Be Reading go WTF??? made me a bit cautious though, cause she doesn't do this often and I trust her opinion.
But all this aside, Flirting In Italian started off ok, sure I was a bit annoyed at the description of Violet's mother, seemingly being nothing more than an overprotective, fragile woman. And only one of the four girls, Kelly, was immediately endearing to me, but I was willing to look past all that. Because it held the promise of some cute summer romance and family secrets and I'm SO into that!
And I was enjoying myself reading the first part of the book, with the girls going ga-ga over the hot Italian boys and learning more about the culture and just generally trying to form a friendship with each other. Only one of the boys, Andrea, seemed like a winner to me, though I can imagine the attraction of the others just as easily, they just didn't do it for me. But we were doing ok, I wasn't expecting this to be an amazing read for me, but enjoyable looked doable.
Right up until we got a little bit closer to the end and the 'family mystery' started getting more storytime. And it was then that I just found myself staring at the pages in disbelief and thinking 'These people are ALL CRAZY!'. Because really, they were. And Violet's right away believing someone's out to get her and suspecting everyone, even the girls she's there with and it was just weird.
Also, this whole thing started with Violet being curious about a portrait she'd seen that had a girl in it that looked exactly like she did and wanting to find out more about her. She's always questioned whether she was adopted because she looks nothing like her parents. But of course it's a more logical solution to just lie to your mother about your reason for wanting to spend the Summer in Italy than just asking her if she'd been adopted or if her father wasn't her father after all. Obviously. *rolls eyes*
The romance wasn't working for me, Luca was just a bit too messed up and I didn't know if he even really liked Violet or not and it was just confusing as hell. And while I get the attraction of just such a guy, it felt off and I didn't swoon right along with Violet, like I'd wanted to.
Now it's time for a little rant that will contain spoilers:
***SPOILER, LIGHT UP TO READ***
Seriously, if there'd been ANY chance of me being some guy's cousin, not to mention half-SISTER later on, I'd NOT be thinking of pursuing a relationship with him! Can you say incest?
Also, WTF WAS UP WITH THAT ENDING??? I mean, GAH! These people are beyond crazy and it didn't seem believable and it was just WEIRD! The family servant is trying to poison Violet... Yes, cause that's completely logical. And why the hell didn't Violet text Kelly like she'd promised to when she found out something wasn't adding up? YOU STUPID GIRL!
***END OF SPOILER***
I just had to get that out, sorry!
I did like the exploring of the Italian culture and the girls forming a grudging friendship over a mean Italian girl. I liked that Paige spoke her mind and owned up to her shortcomings, it was refreshing. I also liked that dancing was such a stress-reliever for Violet, I'm the same way. Music is the thing I turn to when I'm stressed/sad/happy, basically no matter what mood I'm in, music makes it better. I also liked that she discovered a new side of herself that wanted to be an artist.
I started to get worried towards the end because I didn't know how everything would get wrapped up in those last 30 pages, because I was fully believing this to be a standalone. And the end made me SO angry because NOTHING is resolved and all the big plot points are still wide open! Turns out there's going to be a companion novel. I don't really mind a cliffhanger ending, but this wasn't one, it was just me being left completely unfulfilled with all my questions unanswered and let's just say that's not a good place to be after finishing a book.
I'm so mad at that ending that I don't think I'll even pick up the companion novel.
Basically, this novel had the promise of being a cute summer read with some mystery included in it, but I didn't much care for the execution. And the ending left me raging, looking for my torch and pitchfork. It wasn't for me, I don't like being left with a sense of having wasted my time because nothing got resolved AT ALL.
My rating: 1,5 stars
But all this aside, Flirting In Italian started off ok, sure I was a bit annoyed at the description of Violet's mother, seemingly being nothing more than an overprotective, fragile woman. And only one of the four girls, Kelly, was immediately endearing to me, but I was willing to look past all that. Because it held the promise of some cute summer romance and family secrets and I'm SO into that!
And I was enjoying myself reading the first part of the book, with the girls going ga-ga over the hot Italian boys and learning more about the culture and just generally trying to form a friendship with each other. Only one of the boys, Andrea, seemed like a winner to me, though I can imagine the attraction of the others just as easily, they just didn't do it for me. But we were doing ok, I wasn't expecting this to be an amazing read for me, but enjoyable looked doable.
Right up until we got a little bit closer to the end and the 'family mystery' started getting more storytime. And it was then that I just found myself staring at the pages in disbelief and thinking 'These people are ALL CRAZY!'. Because really, they were. And Violet's right away believing someone's out to get her and suspecting everyone, even the girls she's there with and it was just weird.
Also, this whole thing started with Violet being curious about a portrait she'd seen that had a girl in it that looked exactly like she did and wanting to find out more about her. She's always questioned whether she was adopted because she looks nothing like her parents. But of course it's a more logical solution to just lie to your mother about your reason for wanting to spend the Summer in Italy than just asking her if she'd been adopted or if her father wasn't her father after all. Obviously. *rolls eyes*
The romance wasn't working for me, Luca was just a bit too messed up and I didn't know if he even really liked Violet or not and it was just confusing as hell. And while I get the attraction of just such a guy, it felt off and I didn't swoon right along with Violet, like I'd wanted to.
Now it's time for a little rant that will contain spoilers:
***SPOILER, LIGHT UP TO READ***
Also, WTF WAS UP WITH THAT ENDING??? I mean, GAH! These people are beyond crazy and it didn't seem believable and it was just WEIRD! The family servant is trying to poison Violet... Yes, cause that's completely logical. And why the hell didn't Violet text Kelly like she'd promised to when she found out something wasn't adding up? YOU STUPID GIRL!
***END OF SPOILER***
I just had to get that out, sorry!
I did like the exploring of the Italian culture and the girls forming a grudging friendship over a mean Italian girl. I liked that Paige spoke her mind and owned up to her shortcomings, it was refreshing. I also liked that dancing was such a stress-reliever for Violet, I'm the same way. Music is the thing I turn to when I'm stressed/sad/happy, basically no matter what mood I'm in, music makes it better. I also liked that she discovered a new side of herself that wanted to be an artist.
I started to get worried towards the end because I didn't know how everything would get wrapped up in those last 30 pages, because I was fully believing this to be a standalone. And the end made me SO angry because NOTHING is resolved and all the big plot points are still wide open! Turns out there's going to be a companion novel. I don't really mind a cliffhanger ending, but this wasn't one, it was just me being left completely unfulfilled with all my questions unanswered and let's just say that's not a good place to be after finishing a book.
I'm so mad at that ending that I don't think I'll even pick up the companion novel.
Basically, this novel had the promise of being a cute summer read with some mystery included in it, but I didn't much care for the execution. And the ending left me raging, looking for my torch and pitchfork. It wasn't for me, I don't like being left with a sense of having wasted my time because nothing got resolved AT ALL.
My rating: 1,5 stars