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kelcib's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Bullying, and Stalking
Minor: Terminal illness
abidavisf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
Largely, I enjoyed this read. It was easy to listen to and follow, but I did find it slightly slow in the middle. The story was also slightly frustrating. Though I understand why Iris kept the secret, I felt like it dragged on for a bit too long and could have been solved much quicker in real life (but maybe wouldn’t make for as good of a story!).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Addiction, Medical content, Grief, Infidelity, Abandonment, and Death of parent
seasonofreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
4.75
The story builds slowly and nicely at a pace that makes you want to keep reading not put the book down. I loved the detail about Little Italy, the foods and wines, the geography of living of in New York, and the family dynamics. These characters feel like real people that could actually exist and fall in love. A perfect rom-com to read between Thanksgiving and the first week of January. I loved it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Abandonment
kmmartin2000's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.0
This book has some well-rounded characters and really nice imagery. I felt like I was in a New York movie and it was a wonderful break from reality. The plot moved at an odd pace for me- it felt like some elements moved extremely quickly, whereas others dragged on for seemingly no reason. The climax and ending felt a bit cliched, but generally added to the charm of this cute winter read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
cheypreston's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship
rebndav's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
girldetectives's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death
amandab0514's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
sparkingjoyinreading's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Iris moved to New York to escape and has built a quiet life as a noodle chef in a restaurant owned by newfound friend, Bobby. Everything begins to change when Bobby takes her to an annual festival in Little Italy where she sees a door that she recognizes from a photo her mother left her. Walking inside, she meets Gio, the man who runs the gelateria where the special gelato Iris grew up eating originated. The catch? Only two people in the world are supposed to have the recipe- one, Santo, is in a coma, and the other is Felipe, Gio's father. So how did Iris end up with it in her late mother's scrapbook?
This novel is beautifully written. Josie Silver has a way of creating characters that feel so real. This book is an homage to the rom coms I love, but isn't gimmicky or shallow. Instead, I get lost in her descriptions of the little neighborhood Iris lives in and how she views life. I absolulely fell in love with this story about a woman who feels all alone in the world the connections she creates with the Belloti family, from gorgeous Gio to spunky Sophia to matriarch Maria. This book is utterly magical!
This novel is beautifully written. Josie Silver has a way of creating characters that feel so real. This book is an homage to the rom coms I love, but isn't gimmicky or shallow. Instead, I get lost in her descriptions of the little neighborhood Iris lives in and how she views life. I absolulely fell in love with this story about a woman who feels all alone in the world the connections she creates with the Belloti family, from gorgeous Gio to spunky Sophia to matriarch Maria. This book is utterly magical!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Death of parent
katiejohns's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Grief, and Toxic relationship