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boothdwellerbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Domestic abuse
kaylanoellesims's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Terminal illness
chimichannika's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
A very emotional, touching, sweet, riveting, heartfelt tale of love— romantic, yes, but just as much about familial and platonic love, as well. A few moments stuck out to me as an, oh yes, this is a very white, cishet, British book (not just in terms of turns of phrase, but the sensibilities/mindset of the narration) and at first I was a bit concerned it was going to go for the whole gay best friend trope with Bobby and Robin being her adorably in love gay neighbors, but they ended up being wonderfully three-dimensional characters and kind of the emotional bedrock of the book. I wish we could’ve gotten more on the noodles shop—what kind of noodles? Ramen? Udon? Pho? It’s never made clear, as all we really know about Bobby’s culture is his family name—Han—and that he owns a noodle shop franchise, and I wanted more info on them! there’s also a weirdly phrased allusion to Bobby’s aunt in the very first chapter that took me out of the story and seemed vaguely derogatory and racist. Thankfully this seemed to be a one-off occurrence and the book is mostly unproblematic throughout. My other detractor was that the character repeatedly refers to the adage that “blood is thicker than water” and with this book having both UK and US editors, I would’ve hoped someone would’ve caught that or at least had Iris learn the full phrase, which literally means the opposite of how she uses it in this book. this isn’t nearly as upsetting as the weird racist comment at the start, but it still brought me out of the story each time it happened.
Apart from these things, though, it was still a riveting book that I didn’t want to put down— the depictions of the utter depth, acceptance, loyalty, and love that the Belotti family had for one another had me in tears at several points, as did the beautiful friendship bonds in the book, as well. This is my second of Josie’s books that I’ve read, the first being The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, and in both of them she manages to depict all of the complicated emotions surrounding grief so relatably and so well. The scene near the end of this book where Iris felt at a good place emotionally to release her mother’s ashes was so beautifully, emotionally, poignantly written, as was the love that was so blatantly evident between them, as well. I also particularly loved the line midway through the book that reads: “..I’ve learned since losing my mother that there is always a missing piece at any festivity or celebration. Other things and other people do not fill in that space, the river simply flows around it.” beautifully written. ♡
Another thing I particularly appreciated about this book was the characters’ choices and motivations— while I didn’t agree with some of the choices characters made, or like to think I would’ve done things differently, I didn’t have a clear answer for what the “right” or “best” solution would be in the situations in the book; there was no clear, easy resolution, and it not only made the characters and their choices more sympathetic, but also made them seem more realistic, too.
All in all a sweet, emotional, riveting book, and the only reason it’s getting a 4.5 instead of 5 from me is for the detractors mentioned at the start of my review. I’m also very happy to report that nothing except good things ever happens to the kitty, and he is very well loved and cared for throughout the entire book ♡ a brief heads up that this book contains depictions of abuse and escaping/surviving abuse that may be triggering to survivors, but also a note that the survivor gets her abuser-free, safe future at the end of the book ❣️ please be sure to check the trigger warnings on this book if this is something that may cause you distress while reading 🫶🏻
p. s. the music references in this book were fun to see (although the “famous piano piece” being The Entertainer did give me a good chuckle!) and I kept thinking throughout this book that this novel definitely deserves a spotify playlist with the songs mentioned in the book all compiled in it! maybe a fun fan project to undertake upon a reread sometime :)
Apart from these things, though, it was still a riveting book that I didn’t want to put down— the depictions of the utter depth, acceptance, loyalty, and love that the Belotti family had for one another had me in tears at several points, as did the beautiful friendship bonds in the book, as well. This is my second of Josie’s books that I’ve read, the first being The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, and in both of them she manages to depict all of the complicated emotions surrounding grief so relatably and so well. The scene near the end of this book where
Another thing I particularly appreciated about this book was the characters’ choices and motivations— while I didn’t agree with some of the choices characters made, or like to think I would’ve done things differently, I didn’t have a clear answer for what the “right” or “best” solution would be in the situations in the book; there was no clear, easy resolution, and it not only made the characters and their choices more sympathetic, but also made them seem more realistic, too.
All in all a sweet, emotional, riveting book, and the only reason it’s getting a 4.5 instead of 5 from me is for the detractors mentioned at the start of my review. I’m also very happy to report that nothing except good things ever happens to the kitty, and he is very well loved and cared for throughout the entire book ♡ a brief heads up that this book contains depictions of abuse and escaping/surviving abuse that may be triggering to survivors, but also a note that the survivor gets her abuser-free, safe future at the end of the book ❣️ please be sure to check the trigger warnings on this book if this is something that may cause you distress while reading 🫶🏻
p. s. the music references in this book were fun to see (although the
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit, Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Cancer, and Drug use
blewballoon's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was just a series of let downs for me. I wanted a Christmas romance and this was barely Christmas, it's just sort of there in the background a little. I wanted to get invested in the romance but it was impossible when the main character is blatantly lying and keeping heavy secrets from the love interest. I would literally cringe during the sex scenes because I felt like it was wrong for her to sleep with someone who couldn't make an informed decision about wanting to be with her while he didn't have all of the facts. I wanted to appreciate the found family aspect, but that was complicated by lies as well. If you really liked the movie While You Were Sleeping, this might work for you? If you like watching a girl slide her way into someone else's family under false pretenses, here you go! Apart from not liking the premise and most of the plot, I do think the prose was pretty and I'd give the author another shot.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Minor: Violence, Domestic abuse, Death, Alcohol, and Cancer
neurodivergentbookworm's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
soobooksalot's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Cancer
okiecozyreader's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
I read this in three nights and thought it was a fun holiday read, a nice break from some heavy, long reads.
Iris is the daughter of Vivian, a singer who ended up with a secret family gelato recipe from New York. Iris comes to NYC to feel closer to her mom, who died 3 years ago from cancer, and to escape an abusive relationship. She and her mom watched a lot of American movies and she wants to see some of the famous locations for herself. She finds the gelato restaurant that serves the recipe she has from her mom, that she makes and knows well. But the patriarch of the family is ill and no one else knows the recipe.
I feel like the ending seems kind of random and put together to wrap it up. But I enjoyed these parts:
Found family
Miscommunication
Food / cooking / gelato
Father/daughter
Marshmallow heart …”her heart is still soft, unprotected, no shell.” P197
Iris is the daughter of Vivian, a singer who ended up with a secret family gelato recipe from New York. Iris comes to NYC to feel closer to her mom, who died 3 years ago from cancer, and to escape an abusive relationship. She and her mom watched a lot of American movies and she wants to see some of the famous locations for herself. She finds the gelato restaurant that serves the recipe she has from her mom, that she makes and knows well. But the patriarch of the family is ill and no one else knows the recipe.
I feel like the ending seems kind of random and put together to wrap it up. But I enjoyed these parts:
Found family
Miscommunication
Food / cooking / gelato
Father/daughter
Marshmallow heart …”her heart is still soft, unprotected, no shell.” P197
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Cancer, and Domestic abuse
mctmama's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
A fun book for December - a romance, set in New York City. Iris moves to NYC to escape a toxic relationship, and to try and start her new life in a city that her mom (now deceased) had loved. When she discovers a gelato shop that appears in one of her mother's scrapbooks, she is drawn inside. She meets Gio, the son of the owner who is now in the hospital, and cannot remember the family recipe. Of course, Iris has the recipe - her mom had a connection to the store from her early life, but Iris keeps that a secret. Iris starts her relationship with Gio with a few lies, which is always hard for me - no matter how noble she is trying to be. Of course, there is a happy ending. Filled with Italian family, secrets, music, and love, and of course, gelato.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Minor: Addiction
Although not a physically abusive relationship, the main character has fled from an emotionally, controlling relationship.gemin1reader's review against another edition
emotional
2.75
I enjoyed the final third of this book much more than the first two, because I spent most of that just wanting to shout at the main character to give the poor man his bloody ice cream recipe back.
Didn’t love the lies that formed the heart of the plot but without them wouldn’t have been much of a book. Some of the dialogue was a bit cheesy too. But on a positive note there were some very moving moments.
Didn’t love the lies that formed the heart of the plot but without them wouldn’t have been much of a book. Some of the dialogue was a bit cheesy too. But on a positive note there were some very moving moments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Domestic abuse
Minor: Violence
claire2409's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Death of parent