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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was literally the biggest surprise to me. I have never heard anyone talk about it and I think I actually downloaded it on accident to my kindle. Never heard of this author at all. I expected it to either be awful or be just a filler book. 3 stars. Nothing memorable. But wow. This was written perfectly. Perfect pacing. The perfect amount of slow burn. The perfect amount of “miss communication” I loved the setting of lake como. I loved the dynamic of the side characters, the parents and sister and the friends at the bar that had his back. I loved the way both of the love interests had each others back and I really resonated with Jake the MMC. He is very loyal to his family to the point of getting himself in trouble bc of it. Which I have found myself doing before. And he felt he was not good enough for Anna. But Anna was also very loyal to Jake and never let him go at something alone. I love their relationship and how it played out and the wedding scene at the end. It was also the perfect amount of spice at the right times.
Have you ever wanted to put a book down before the conflict so that you didn't have to finish the book and could live where the characters are happy and in love? Or is it just me?
Well, that was me with The Italian Job. I was so attached to both Jack and Anna that I didn't want to carry on with the book and risk them breaking up. But if I didn't, I wouldn't get to see the beauty of how opposites, while challenging to be around, can help in the areas you may lack. I loved how opposite the characters were. As a reader, I was able to experience the way they used their differences to help each other through their difficulties. I admit I did not feel as connected to Jack initially due to his difficult attitude and lousy self-talk. By the end of this novel, I now miss him. I enjoyed how Kathryn Freeman focused on building the characters and showing their growth while also having a solid plotline. The Italian Job has got me in a summer and vacationing mood!
I want to say a big thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, for allowing me to read this book. A book I will not soon forget and will definitely be recommending.
*I received an ARC from HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and given freely. Quotes used subject to change with publication.
Well, that was me with The Italian Job. I was so attached to both Jack and Anna that I didn't want to carry on with the book and risk them breaking up. But if I didn't, I wouldn't get to see the beauty of how opposites, while challenging to be around, can help in the areas you may lack. I loved how opposite the characters were. As a reader, I was able to experience the way they used their differences to help each other through their difficulties. I admit I did not feel as connected to Jack initially due to his difficult attitude and lousy self-talk. By the end of this novel, I now miss him. I enjoyed how Kathryn Freeman focused on building the characters and showing their growth while also having a solid plotline. The Italian Job has got me in a summer and vacationing mood!
I want to say a big thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, for allowing me to read this book. A book I will not soon forget and will definitely be recommending.
*I received an ARC from HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and given freely. Quotes used subject to change with publication.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was totally swept away with this novel. I adored the setting of Lake Como and fell in love with the castle and area as much as I did Anna and Jake. The pair are absolute opposites with Jake being a bit of a bad boy whilst Anna loves her lists and being organised. The two shouldn’t work in terms of working together never mind falling for each other but over the course of the story they do just that.
Jake is hot headed with Anna being level headed and they do clash quite often and I have to admit with Jake’s past, there were times I worried he might lose his cool and ruin things for himself and Anna. Whilst there are some wonderful characters that we get to meet, there are a couple of highly unlikeable ones that I wouldn’t have minded given them a good slap myself. There are a couple of tense moments but overall its a fun filled read.
The Italian Job is a will they, won’t they story which has humour, heartwarming moments as well as parts that will get you hot under the collar! The chemistry between Anna and Jake jumps off the pages and there are some steamy scenes which usually would make me cringe but they just made me so happy for the couple. The ending was everything I had hoped it would be and left me with a huge grin on my face and a heart that was fit to burst with joy. A wonderfully uplifting read that had me wanting to hot foot it to Italy!
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I truly enjoy this author's work. This was a great sorry of change, coming to terms with past hurt and not letting the past define your future.
I loved the castle although if you didn't tell me it was in Italy I would have easily believed this was in the UK or anywhere with castles and lakes.
I loved Jake and the way he flirted with Anna and how great he is with his family.
I loved the castle although if you didn't tell me it was in Italy I would have easily believed this was in the UK or anywhere with castles and lakes.
I loved Jake and the way he flirted with Anna and how great he is with his family.
"Pretending to love each other when there were bruised feelings, raw hurt, or worse…That had disaster written all over it..."
*
What do you do when you find your boyfriend cheating on you? You move to a castle in Italy of course with a new fake boyfriend in tow. Well, that's what Anna Roberts decides to do. And her fake boyfriend is none other than the boy next door, Jake Tucker, who just so happens to be an expert at getting on her nerves. But with a year ahead in the romantic Lake Como working her dream job, Anna soon sees a different side to Jake.
*
"You’re the organised to my chaotic, the sensible to my crazy..."
*
This was a cute story - I love the fake dating trope and Jake Tucker was something else! Set in beautiful Lake Como it was a refreshing twist on the forced proximity plot line. I wasn't the biggest fan of Anna but she definitely grew on me. A perfect summer read! Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter at Harper Collins for the ARC.
*
"Hope is what drives us forwards, what keeps us going through the tough stuff..."
*
What do you do when you find your boyfriend cheating on you? You move to a castle in Italy of course with a new fake boyfriend in tow. Well, that's what Anna Roberts decides to do. And her fake boyfriend is none other than the boy next door, Jake Tucker, who just so happens to be an expert at getting on her nerves. But with a year ahead in the romantic Lake Como working her dream job, Anna soon sees a different side to Jake.
*
"You’re the organised to my chaotic, the sensible to my crazy..."
*
This was a cute story - I love the fake dating trope and Jake Tucker was something else! Set in beautiful Lake Como it was a refreshing twist on the forced proximity plot line. I wasn't the biggest fan of Anna but she definitely grew on me. A perfect summer read! Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter at Harper Collins for the ARC.
*
"Hope is what drives us forwards, what keeps us going through the tough stuff..."
the characters went in circles sniping at each other over nothing for way too long. at 70% it feels like they should've made more progress with each other.
one open conversation could have solved so many problems.
3.5/5
This was a cutie little romance set in England then Italy, which is the ultimate dream, obviously. It was super cute and classically predictable (as every romance is.) This book comes out Friday, May 6th! Thanks a lot to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for gifting me this digital ARC.
Anna, a chef, and Jake, an ex-firefighter/bad boy get the opportunity to move into a castle on Lake Como to be the personal chef and handyman. The only catch is they must pretend to be a couple in love. They host their employers and their employer's friends and family including their son, Nigel, who turns out to be a real pain in the ass.
You get a bit of enemies (ish) to lovers, a bit of bad boy, and some grumpy/sunshine. Overall a cute read!
This was a cutie little romance set in England then Italy, which is the ultimate dream, obviously. It was super cute and classically predictable (as every romance is.) This book comes out Friday, May 6th! Thanks a lot to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for gifting me this digital ARC.
Anna, a chef, and Jake, an ex-firefighter/bad boy get the opportunity to move into a castle on Lake Como to be the personal chef and handyman. The only catch is they must pretend to be a couple in love. They host their employers and their employer's friends and family including their son, Nigel, who turns out to be a real pain in the ass.
You get a bit of enemies (ish) to lovers, a bit of bad boy, and some grumpy/sunshine. Overall a cute read!