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3.18 AVERAGE
3.18 AVERAGE
I found this story to be very absorbing with an underlying tone of melancholy. The writing was magnetic. The start had a lot of anxious yearning and lots of intrigue and mystery that created tension. With all of the angst you forgot that there was a big secret that both characters were holding onto and with the big reveal you can see how much the love interests were connected all along. I liked that they were on opposite ends of the sexual spectrum but were both afraid of intimacy. I was also was delighted by him always seeing her, even when she didn’t want to be seen. I’ll be scourging the internet for a bonus epilogue.
3.5 ⭐️ SPOILERS AHEAD
What a beautiful setting for this story, Chivasso, Italy! So dreamy! I absolutely adored the two neighbouring families growing up next to each other and how they own a museum in the town, ahh so cool! I wish I grew up there!
On with the review….were we supposed to hate/be angry at Theo as much as I was?
What a beautiful setting for this story, Chivasso, Italy! So dreamy! I absolutely adored the two neighbouring families growing up next to each other and how they own a museum in the town, ahh so cool! I wish I grew up there!
On with the review….were we supposed to hate/be angry at Theo as much as I was?
I was confused from the start and couldn’t get into this book unfortunately. DNF.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, Forever Publishing & Cameron Capello for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book has me questioning: what actually defines an HEA (Happily Ever After) ending? At first, I felt like arguing that this can't be categorized as a romance with such an open ending. But maybe my first inclination is wrong.. definitely something a book club could have a great conversation about.
The miscommunication trope is prominent in this story simply because it's a coming of age- early-ish 20s story about two people unsure of themselves and even how to communicate. The angst, immaturity and misdirection of the MCs makes complete sense and is a function of the story.
Narration was incredibly well done. I felt more immersed in the story hearing legitimate Italian pronunciations rather than what I made up in my head.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3/5. Releases in audio 1/21/25.
Heat Index: 6/10
The Vibes:
—coming of age
—childhood friends to lovers
—Italy~
The Basics:
Returning to her Italian village for the summer isn't easy for Magdalen, but she has to do it for her sister's wedding. What makes it more challenging still is the return of Theo, her best friend's brother who she hasn't seen in years. They're both different people—and they might not be able to resist each other.
The Review:
I would definitely categorize this as "New Adult", and while those aren't total misses for me, I did feel with this one... that I was a bit too old for it. A lot of Magdalen's struggles are internal and truly about finding yourself and coming of age. Which is universal, in a sense; it just wasn't the most riveting material.
Capello does hit that "in-between" of young adulthood very well, and I do tend to wonder how her writing style would fare with older characters. At times, I found Theo and Magdalen frustrating, but it's not inauthentic.
Where I think her writing does shine is in the description of Italy, and Magdalen's family in particular. I haven't lived in the area where this story takes place, exactly, but I have lived in Italy and made my way around the country. The way it's written here feels lovely and real, and the atmosphere fits well with the somewhat melancholy, thoughtful story.
I did like parts of this, and again, in many ways it felt authentic. I just wanted something more gripping. New Adult fans will probably get more out of this.
The Sex:
A lot of people seem to think of this as super spicy~. I found it pretty tame, but then again, that could've just been a writing style thing.
While this didn't wow me, I do see the makings of a solid story here. I think it just needed a bit more verve. It read a bit more like women's fiction (and again, coming of age) than romance to me, but hey, a lot of people will probably disagree.
Thanks to NetGalley and Forever for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Heat Index: 6/10
The Vibes:
—coming of age
—childhood friends to lovers
—Italy~
The Basics:
Returning to her Italian village for the summer isn't easy for Magdalen, but she has to do it for her sister's wedding. What makes it more challenging still is the return of Theo, her best friend's brother who she hasn't seen in years. They're both different people—and they might not be able to resist each other.
The Review:
I would definitely categorize this as "New Adult", and while those aren't total misses for me, I did feel with this one... that I was a bit too old for it. A lot of Magdalen's struggles are internal and truly about finding yourself and coming of age. Which is universal, in a sense; it just wasn't the most riveting material.
Capello does hit that "in-between" of young adulthood very well, and I do tend to wonder how her writing style would fare with older characters. At times, I found Theo and Magdalen frustrating, but it's not inauthentic.
Where I think her writing does shine is in the description of Italy, and Magdalen's family in particular. I haven't lived in the area where this story takes place, exactly, but I have lived in Italy and made my way around the country. The way it's written here feels lovely and real, and the atmosphere fits well with the somewhat melancholy, thoughtful story.
I did like parts of this, and again, in many ways it felt authentic. I just wanted something more gripping. New Adult fans will probably get more out of this.
The Sex:
A lot of people seem to think of this as super spicy~. I found it pretty tame, but then again, that could've just been a writing style thing.
While this didn't wow me, I do see the makings of a solid story here. I think it just needed a bit more verve. It read a bit more like women's fiction (and again, coming of age) than romance to me, but hey, a lot of people will probably disagree.
Thanks to NetGalley and Forever for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.