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ida_reads_77 's review for:
That's Amore!
by Georgia Beers
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
That's Amore by Georgia Beers is a sweet queer romance between American writer Lily and Italian food tour guide Marina – and, of course, with the most important side character, Lily's chihuahua Reggie. While searching for inspiration for her new book, Lily travels to Italy, meets Marina on a food tour, and visits Rome under Marina's guidance. Their relationship develops over two months until Lily has almost completed her book and decides to return to New York. I'm trying to avoid spoilers, but of course they end up together! How could they appear on the cover together and then not have a long-term relationship?
I enjoyed this book and flew through it over the course of two days. Lily's character is so well developed and I love her sarcastic internal monologue. I also felt inspired by her love of writing and romance, and now I kind of want to write my own romance book? Thanks for that, Georgia Beers!
Marina's character, on the other hand, felt two-dimensional. She's a food tour guide who has family problems, but neither are explored in depth. What was it like to grow up with her supportive mother? Where are the specific family stories for Marina that we receive for Lily? Even Serena read to me as a stronger character than Marina, the main love interest. I also found Lily's fixation on Marina's accent and skin tone to be exoticising. Yes, we get that Lily loves Marina's Italian accent, but does it have to be mentioned almost every time Marina talks?
I also had issues with the slow burn romance. I loved the "exploring Rome together" vibe: trying new food, walking at night, learning to make pasta together, tasting all the wines, etc. But because I didn't feel Marina's character was well developed, the slow burn fell flat for me. When they kissed for the first time, I was like, "Huh, okay, that's nice for them." But I didn't feel that intensity that slow burn should be building towards. There were so many opportunities to strengthen the slow burn, and I felt that was the most lacking point – hence the three-star review.
Still, I love a good sapphic romance. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in travelling romances, especially in Italy. I think it's also a good romance about a struggling author fighting writers' block (similar to Emily Henry's Beach Read).
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and Georgia Beers for this ARC!
3 stars
I enjoyed this book and flew through it over the course of two days. Lily's character is so well developed and I love her sarcastic internal monologue. I also felt inspired by her love of writing and romance, and now I kind of want to write my own romance book? Thanks for that, Georgia Beers!
Marina's character, on the other hand, felt two-dimensional. She's a food tour guide who has family problems, but neither are explored in depth. What was it like to grow up with her supportive mother? Where are the specific family stories for Marina that we receive for Lily? Even Serena read to me as a stronger character than Marina, the main love interest. I also found Lily's fixation on Marina's accent and skin tone to be exoticising. Yes, we get that Lily loves Marina's Italian accent, but does it have to be mentioned almost every time Marina talks?
I also had issues with the slow burn romance. I loved the "exploring Rome together" vibe: trying new food, walking at night, learning to make pasta together, tasting all the wines, etc. But because I didn't feel Marina's character was well developed, the slow burn fell flat for me. When they kissed for the first time, I was like, "Huh, okay, that's nice for them." But I didn't feel that intensity that slow burn should be building towards. There were so many opportunities to strengthen the slow burn, and I felt that was the most lacking point – hence the three-star review.
Still, I love a good sapphic romance. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in travelling romances, especially in Italy. I think it's also a good romance about a struggling author fighting writers' block (similar to Emily Henry's Beach Read).
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and Georgia Beers for this ARC!
3 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Sexism