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themaddiest's review
2.0
When Violet discovers an uncanny resemblance to a girl in a portrait painted in the 1700s, she’s intrigued. She’s never felt like her dark looks fit in with her Norse family’s, and she wonders if the key to her ancestry is the painting. When she disovers the painting resides in a castle in Italy, she manages to convince her mom to send her there for the summer. At a boarding school with a summer program focusing on Italian food, language, and art history, Violet makes friends, has adventures, and maybe falls in love with the charming but maddening Luca.
Lauren Henderson’s Flirting in Italian has an interesting enough premise that should have carried the novel through to is conclusion with little problem. There’s enough of a market out there for wanderlust stories like this one, and adding in the mystery of Violet’s ancestry along with a healthy dose of cute, flirtatious Italian boys should make this a frothy read perfect for summer. Unfortunately, this one falls short in almost every conceivable way.
To start with, nothing about the novel ever completely gels. It takes much too long for Violet to develop as a character (and some readers will be so over her waffling about Luca, about her possible ancestry, and about pretty much every decision she’s made they won’t even care). The rest of the girls in the summer program are virtually indistinguishable from one another despite being from different places and of different ethnicities. The boys are flirtatious, but that seems to be their only defining trait: they’re about as deep as a kiddie pool.
Adding insult to serious injury is the fact that the book starts out charming and somehow manages to lose its mojo about a third of the way through. As Violet becomes more ensconced in Italian life, the book takes on a rambling, aimless tone and doesn’t seem to ever allow a story to unfold. It ends up being quite boring, with not enough happening until the last minute (and then the events that occur stretch credulity).
Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the book is its completely unnecessary cliffhanger ending. If ever there were a case for a standalone novel, this is it. For a book that’s over 300 pages, there was no reason to continue Violet’s story. Readers who were holding out for some answers to Violet’s parentage are going to be sorely disappointed–or downright irritated, as this reader was. While it might hold some appeal for younger readers looking for a slightly silly summer romance, it’s not going to work for most savvy YA readers.
Flirting in Italian is out now, but I’d say it’s okay to skip it.
Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson. Random House Children’s Books: 2012. Electronic galley accepted for review via NetGalley.
Lauren Henderson’s Flirting in Italian has an interesting enough premise that should have carried the novel through to is conclusion with little problem. There’s enough of a market out there for wanderlust stories like this one, and adding in the mystery of Violet’s ancestry along with a healthy dose of cute, flirtatious Italian boys should make this a frothy read perfect for summer. Unfortunately, this one falls short in almost every conceivable way.
To start with, nothing about the novel ever completely gels. It takes much too long for Violet to develop as a character (and some readers will be so over her waffling about Luca, about her possible ancestry, and about pretty much every decision she’s made they won’t even care). The rest of the girls in the summer program are virtually indistinguishable from one another despite being from different places and of different ethnicities. The boys are flirtatious, but that seems to be their only defining trait: they’re about as deep as a kiddie pool.
Adding insult to serious injury is the fact that the book starts out charming and somehow manages to lose its mojo about a third of the way through. As Violet becomes more ensconced in Italian life, the book takes on a rambling, aimless tone and doesn’t seem to ever allow a story to unfold. It ends up being quite boring, with not enough happening until the last minute (and then the events that occur stretch credulity).
Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the book is its completely unnecessary cliffhanger ending. If ever there were a case for a standalone novel, this is it. For a book that’s over 300 pages, there was no reason to continue Violet’s story. Readers who were holding out for some answers to Violet’s parentage are going to be sorely disappointed–or downright irritated, as this reader was. While it might hold some appeal for younger readers looking for a slightly silly summer romance, it’s not going to work for most savvy YA readers.
Flirting in Italian is out now, but I’d say it’s okay to skip it.
Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson. Random House Children’s Books: 2012. Electronic galley accepted for review via NetGalley.
daylafm's review
3.0
Review first appeared on my blog: Bookaddict 24-7
Lauren Henderson's Flirting in Italian, the first in the Flirting in Italian series, is neither a book that promises an eye-opening storyline, nor is it a book that will leave you breathless with how philosophical the message of the story is. Henderson's novel is simply a fun romp of sexy Italian men in one of the world's most romantic cities.
I don't know what I was expecting when I jumped into this book, to be quite frank. My mind lingered on other novels that toyed with their settings by displaying different languages in the titles, but I was not expecting what Henderson offered me.
Violet, the protagonist, is an English teenager on the verge of going to university who finds a painting that portrays a girl who looks very much like herself from centuries before. She later learns that the painting was bought in Italy and, being from a wealthy family, she manages to score a spot in a summer course for young women in Italy. There, her adventures begin.
This was definitely one of those books that left me smiling at the end, simply because of how cutesy the characters are. But it also left me feeling frustrated because I feel like making this book the first in a series is unnecessary. I have a feeling that all of the answers could have been stuffed into the one book, but hey, why not?
Also, Violet is one of those naive characters that tries very hard to be strong, but fails. For me, Violet is still growing as a character--a young girl on the cusp of figuring out that life isn't simply black and white.
I loved the sexual attraction in this novel. It was cliche, I won't lie, but when it comes to romance I will not say "no" to the cliche. What did bug me though is how masochistic Violet appears to be. Her love interest shows no romantic emotions, hell, he at times ignores her or tells her that he isn't interested in anything serious, and though she tells herself she won't go after him, we see her flail whenever he is around.
As for the mystery, it is a strong introduction to the story. It guides us, as the readers, into Violet's new world, but then it is nearly lost. There are moments where I even forgot that there is a mystery because Henderson focuses so much on everything else around Violet. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, I just wish that the story flowed better, rather than just have random instances of mystery here and there.
Would I recommend this to other readers? If you want a cute, light read that can make you giggle, then yes. This is one of those summer reads that can be read by the pool or when lazying around in the heat. If you're looking for something deeper, eye-opening, and without the slightly insulting comments on nationality and gender issues, then you might want to steer clear of this one.
Lauren Henderson's Flirting in Italian, the first in the Flirting in Italian series, is neither a book that promises an eye-opening storyline, nor is it a book that will leave you breathless with how philosophical the message of the story is. Henderson's novel is simply a fun romp of sexy Italian men in one of the world's most romantic cities.
I don't know what I was expecting when I jumped into this book, to be quite frank. My mind lingered on other novels that toyed with their settings by displaying different languages in the titles, but I was not expecting what Henderson offered me.
Violet, the protagonist, is an English teenager on the verge of going to university who finds a painting that portrays a girl who looks very much like herself from centuries before. She later learns that the painting was bought in Italy and, being from a wealthy family, she manages to score a spot in a summer course for young women in Italy. There, her adventures begin.
This was definitely one of those books that left me smiling at the end, simply because of how cutesy the characters are. But it also left me feeling frustrated because I feel like making this book the first in a series is unnecessary. I have a feeling that all of the answers could have been stuffed into the one book, but hey, why not?
Also, Violet is one of those naive characters that tries very hard to be strong, but fails. For me, Violet is still growing as a character--a young girl on the cusp of figuring out that life isn't simply black and white.
I loved the sexual attraction in this novel. It was cliche, I won't lie, but when it comes to romance I will not say "no" to the cliche. What did bug me though is how masochistic Violet appears to be. Her love interest shows no romantic emotions, hell, he at times ignores her or tells her that he isn't interested in anything serious, and though she tells herself she won't go after him, we see her flail whenever he is around.
As for the mystery, it is a strong introduction to the story. It guides us, as the readers, into Violet's new world, but then it is nearly lost. There are moments where I even forgot that there is a mystery because Henderson focuses so much on everything else around Violet. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, I just wish that the story flowed better, rather than just have random instances of mystery here and there.
Would I recommend this to other readers? If you want a cute, light read that can make you giggle, then yes. This is one of those summer reads that can be read by the pool or when lazying around in the heat. If you're looking for something deeper, eye-opening, and without the slightly insulting comments on nationality and gender issues, then you might want to steer clear of this one.
rakesrogues's review
2.0
After spotting a striking resemblance between herself and a girl in a centuries-old painting in a museum, Violet travels to Italy to uncover secrets about herself and her family. Violet attends summer school in the Italian countryside with three other girls to learn about the Italian culture and meet cute boys at the same time. FLIRTING IN ITALIAN by Lauren Henderson is a quick contemporary beach read, but it will have you feeling dissatisfied.
To be honest, I was tempted to quit reading FLIRTING IN ITALIAN after the first 50 pages due to character inconsistencies. Violet is not afraid to voice her opinion on shallow people who base their opinions on first impressions. The irony in this situation is that Violet does exactly what she criticizes. Violet immediately judges the daughter of the hostess at the villa, Elisa. Elisa may not be the nicest person, but there is immediate tension between the two girls.
Furthermore, there is so much emphasis on physical attributes in FLIRTING IN ITALIAN by Lauren Henderson that it drove me nuts. Violet and the other girls are always concerned about the way they look and the way that they are dressed. There were way too many descriptions of their appearances as well as how hot the Italian boys were. After the first 50 pages of FLIRTING IN ITALIAN by Lauren Henderson, I just wanted to bang my head against a wall and say, Geez, I get it already. All the characters are pretty much vain and shallow, and it’s hard to remember that these four girls are here to learn over the summer. (Yeah, right.)
What intrigued me most about FLIRTING IN ITALIAN by Lauren Henderson was the mystery behind the painting – the main reason why Violet traveled to Italy. I wanted to know why there is a striking resemblance between the main character and the girl in a painting that is centuries old. Unfortunately, this plot line was overshadowed by vapid cattiness and partying with gorgeous Italian boys. Okay, the novel is called FLIRTING IN ITALIAN, but the prologue hinted at something with a little more substance. I was so wrong.
I guess it’s safe to assume that Lauren Henderson’s books follow a specific style. FLIRTING IN ITALIAN is my second Henderson book, and like the first, I liked reading it up until I got to the end of the book. Just when I thought Henderson was finally back on track with the mystery behind the painting, the book ends. I felt such an overwhelming dissatisfaction at the end of FLIRTING IN ITALIAN, similar to the dissatisfaction that I felt after finishing Kiss Me, Kill Me. It’s as if Lauren Henderson wrote a novel and just chopped it in half.
FLIRTING IN ITALIAN by Lauren Henderson had the potential to be a cute contemporary novel with a bit of substance. Unfortunately, the novel was underdeveloped and lacked an ending. While I’m still curious to know the mystery behind the painting, I am too frustrated at this point to even contemplate reading the rest of the series.
Originally posted at: http://muggle-born.net/flirting-in-italian-by-lauren-henderson-book-review/
To be honest, I was tempted to quit reading FLIRTING IN ITALIAN after the first 50 pages due to character inconsistencies. Violet is not afraid to voice her opinion on shallow people who base their opinions on first impressions. The irony in this situation is that Violet does exactly what she criticizes. Violet immediately judges the daughter of the hostess at the villa, Elisa. Elisa may not be the nicest person, but there is immediate tension between the two girls.
Furthermore, there is so much emphasis on physical attributes in FLIRTING IN ITALIAN by Lauren Henderson that it drove me nuts. Violet and the other girls are always concerned about the way they look and the way that they are dressed. There were way too many descriptions of their appearances as well as how hot the Italian boys were. After the first 50 pages of FLIRTING IN ITALIAN by Lauren Henderson, I just wanted to bang my head against a wall and say, Geez, I get it already. All the characters are pretty much vain and shallow, and it’s hard to remember that these four girls are here to learn over the summer. (Yeah, right.)
What intrigued me most about FLIRTING IN ITALIAN by Lauren Henderson was the mystery behind the painting – the main reason why Violet traveled to Italy. I wanted to know why there is a striking resemblance between the main character and the girl in a painting that is centuries old. Unfortunately, this plot line was overshadowed by vapid cattiness and partying with gorgeous Italian boys. Okay, the novel is called FLIRTING IN ITALIAN, but the prologue hinted at something with a little more substance. I was so wrong.
I guess it’s safe to assume that Lauren Henderson’s books follow a specific style. FLIRTING IN ITALIAN is my second Henderson book, and like the first, I liked reading it up until I got to the end of the book. Just when I thought Henderson was finally back on track with the mystery behind the painting, the book ends. I felt such an overwhelming dissatisfaction at the end of FLIRTING IN ITALIAN, similar to the dissatisfaction that I felt after finishing Kiss Me, Kill Me. It’s as if Lauren Henderson wrote a novel and just chopped it in half.
FLIRTING IN ITALIAN by Lauren Henderson had the potential to be a cute contemporary novel with a bit of substance. Unfortunately, the novel was underdeveloped and lacked an ending. While I’m still curious to know the mystery behind the painting, I am too frustrated at this point to even contemplate reading the rest of the series.
Originally posted at: http://muggle-born.net/flirting-in-italian-by-lauren-henderson-book-review/
dailyjulianne's review
This was cute and I really liked it. But it wasn't what I thought it would be.
You look at a title like Flirting in Italian and expect a crap load of romance and fun, right? Wrong, all wrong. There were family mysteries and a lot more serious things going on. Some strong rivalries, some very well done self esteem issues, lots of danger and mystery. It kinda threw me off, but I was still interested.
On the other hand, I didn't know this was the first book in the series. I thought it was a stand-a-lone until I got to the last page and...it was the last page. So the loose ends and the semi-cliffhanger ending bothered me. I wasn't looking for a series, I was looking for a book I could read and be done with. In that aspect, it was a disappointment.
The characters themselves weren't really memorable to me. I know one of them had a lot of self esteem issues and I liked how that was handled. It wasn't always glaringly obvious, but she had her moments. And the book wasn't from her perspective, so you saw it from a different angle. The main character then had her own insecurities when comparing herself to other girls and that was kind of a different type. I liked the comparison of the two and appreciated that Lauren doesn't try to make it all the same. The other two girls seemed confident and perfect, but we learn that they're not what they seem and I think that was another awesome touch. This was one of those rare cases where I liked the book not so much because I liked the characters, but because they were done well.
The story was still interesting, even if it wasn't the fluffy romance I was hoping for. It wasn't super hard to figure out most of the little mysteries, but it was still a fun ride. And as I said, it was well written. It was the little things that kept me engaged and intrigued. Lauren knows how to tell a story pretty well.
Overall, this isn't what it appears to be, but it's definitely one to pick up if you want a quick read with adventure and foreign countries and realistic characters.
You look at a title like Flirting in Italian and expect a crap load of romance and fun, right? Wrong, all wrong. There were family mysteries and a lot more serious things going on. Some strong rivalries, some very well done self esteem issues, lots of danger and mystery. It kinda threw me off, but I was still interested.
On the other hand, I didn't know this was the first book in the series. I thought it was a stand-a-lone until I got to the last page and...it was the last page. So the loose ends and the semi-cliffhanger ending bothered me. I wasn't looking for a series, I was looking for a book I could read and be done with. In that aspect, it was a disappointment.
The characters themselves weren't really memorable to me. I know one of them had a lot of self esteem issues and I liked how that was handled. It wasn't always glaringly obvious, but she had her moments. And the book wasn't from her perspective, so you saw it from a different angle. The main character then had her own insecurities when comparing herself to other girls and that was kind of a different type. I liked the comparison of the two and appreciated that Lauren doesn't try to make it all the same. The other two girls seemed confident and perfect, but we learn that they're not what they seem and I think that was another awesome touch. This was one of those rare cases where I liked the book not so much because I liked the characters, but because they were done well.
The story was still interesting, even if it wasn't the fluffy romance I was hoping for. It wasn't super hard to figure out most of the little mysteries, but it was still a fun ride. And as I said, it was well written. It was the little things that kept me engaged and intrigued. Lauren knows how to tell a story pretty well.
Overall, this isn't what it appears to be, but it's definitely one to pick up if you want a quick read with adventure and foreign countries and realistic characters.
samchase112's review
3.0
Recommended to me by my favorite librarian :) <3
A cute, quick read with plenty of romance! A bit predictable, but I didn't mind so much.
I'm not really considering picking up the next book.
A cute, quick read with plenty of romance! A bit predictable, but I didn't mind so much.
I'm not really considering picking up the next book.
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