Beautiful novel that revolves around dance, Italian and opera
Letty a young woman who has a troubled past with her mental health but adores her grandmother. When her grandmother dies she leaves letty a sum of money to use for travelling so letty goes to Italy
Once there she decides to learn Italian and enrols at a small school
There are lots of different nationalities in the class but only one British guy named Alf
As they learn Italian Alf eventually plucks up courage to ask letty out and they travel to different parts of Rome every day
Then one hot afternoon after he has taught letty some dance moves he kisses her and he knows he will forever love her letty feels the same but it’s complicated as the saying goes

This was an unusual romantic story, and I really enjoyed it. The common thread between the two young people is dance, which is different.. Alf, a ballroom dancer since he was a child, and Letty, one time ballet dancer, meet up in Rome at an Italian language school. They are drawn to each other, but there are complications in both their lives back in UK, and in Rome, which means that a romance between them is not going to be straightforward.
The characterisation is strong and beautifully drawn. I became really invested in the lives of Alf and Lettie, all their family members and their issues.
Their time in Rome and visits to parts of Italy is very well described, as are the Italian people they encounter.
There are one or two unexpected twists to this story, which are deliciously intriguing.

The area of London where Lettie lives, and Blackpool, home for Alf, are accurately depicted.
Alf and Lettie are such very different characters, from very different backgrounds. Their story is refreshingly honest, and I enjoyed it immensely, I did not want it to end.

I have to say however, that there is an issue with the formatting in the e book edition. The letters fi, or fl, are missing from any words they appear in, both at the beginning of the words and in the middle. This is disconcerting to say the least, but fortunately I was able to largely ignore it and still enjoy the flow of the narrative, only being brought up short once or twice on the meaning of a phrase!
It’s testament to the quality of the storytelling that this reader could do that, others may find it too irritating. This is clearly not the fault of the author, and I will look for more of her work.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this title.

This was wonderful. I loved the different viewpoints in the book particularly Frances' towards the end. I love the different settings, I've never been to Rome but it really made me want to go there and I live in London and always love some London content. This book made me feel so much and made me forget about the negativity in the world right now. I was so afraid I wouldn't like the ending but I adored it.

A beautifully written, ultimately heartwarming romance, it tells the story of Alf and Letty who meet at a language school in Rome - they form a relationship but it transpires they have both come to Italy to escape from their lives back in England, and soon that past begins to catch up with them both. Will that prevent a happy ever after? Told from alternating points of view, the characters are well developed and I enjoyed getting to know them as the book progressed. What the author does exceptionally well is in her description of the setting - as one of my favourite cities, I really could visualise the Rome she described and as a result the story really drew me in. Add to that the fact that there is a dance aspect to the book and this book ticked so many boxes for me. All in all, a sweet and satisfying read that gave me an enjoyable few hours of escapism - and led me to immediately pick up Eberlen's previous novel which I had heard good things about but never got around to reading previously.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A delightful romance with some gripping twists set in Rome, Blackpool and London.
The Italian scenery and way of life, the language and the references to ballet and opera all help to lend this love story between Alf and Letty a very continental, contemporary and cultured feel.
Alf and Letty meet in an Italian language class. He is instantly smitten with her but Letty is doing all she can not to notice. Both of these endearing young people are in Rome for the same reason, to escape a lot of emotional pain back home. In Alf's case he is a little bit more at ease, less troubled and more positive about whatever the future holds. Letty on the other hand is haunted by the past and by a particular person.
There is a lot of dancing in this novel which only adds to its charm. Alf never pursued a career in dancing but he was a Ballroom and Latin champion and his Mum and grandmother run a dance school in Blackpool. The pair come from very different backgrounds and it is a joy to learn more about the significant people in their lives, how the parental relationships are different and how Alf and Letty both view their families. Can dance bring them to an understanding, helping Alf to grow up and Letty to share the burden of her fears?
The characters, and not just the main duo, are vividly brought to life, idiosyncrasies, warts and all, and in some cases, some very dark aspects. that give the book a certain amount of grit. This prevents the book from being a sweet but forgettable read whilst also dropping in some shocking connections!
Choices are made that both Alf and Letty in their separate lives will regret and which will determine the paths they then tread. The thing is though, the past is the past and the future is yet to come, but in the present moment could Alf and Letty forge a brand new path together that leads to love, light and happier times?
I enjoyed this book so much I would like to read Kate's other novel Miss You and then investigate the previous books she has written under the pseudonym Imogen Parker (her real name).

I absolutely loved this. The relationship between Letty and Alf is beautiful and the development of the characters back stories throughout really adds another dimension. Really worth a read.

I enjoyed this book. I found the characters well drawn and believable and I really cared about them.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well written romance. It had a slow start but the gorgeous descriptions of Rome meant I stuck with it. The dancing sections were particularly enjoyable. Undemanding. A lighthearted easy read. Not my usual read as I would normally read thrillers or literary. Characters were believable and action interesting. I was glad to read it had a happy ending. Thanks to #pigeonhole and #Netgalley for a review copy. This review appears on Amazon.

Only You is set mainly in Rome, although Alf and Letty do visit other areas before returning to the UK. Whilst reading it, I really got a sense of the authors love for Rome and have been jotting down tips and places to visit.

The first part was about Alf and Letty falling for each other and discovering what things they have in common. Part two was like fitting jigsaw pieces together and finding out what caused them both to be in Rome. I especially enjoyed this section and raced through it, excited to know what was to become of their relationship in the third part. The return to the UK brought some surprises and I found myself so engrossed in reading that I was wandering around the house, unwilling to put my kindle down as I tried to cook and do other tasks.

This is a lovely book. I enjoyed Miss You a lot, so I’m thrilled that Kate’s second book was just as wonderful

Really slow to start and I really wanted to enjoy this more than I did but I just found it dragged too much. It’s a gentle romantic read and I am sure many more will enjoy it more, but not my cup of tea.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

book took me a wee while to get into, I found the characters rather annoying to begin with but I think that was maybe just me as once I got into it I didn't have any problems! 

The book tells the story of Letty and Alf who are both in Rome for different reasons. Each decides to join an Italian class to try and learn the language, again they have different reasons for signing up to the class. However, being the only two English people in the class they find themselves drawn to each other, perhaps reluctantly, and begin to get an understanding of each other. Both have secrets which are revealed throughout the book and there are quite a few twists which I was not expecting at all! 

I have never been to Italy or Rome but the locations were described in such a way that I was able to imagine the streets and views well. I also appreciated the depth to the characters and I think, once I got into the book and understood Letty more, the fact that I disliked her at the beginning is proof of how well the author wrote her character!

This contemporary love story is told as a dual narrative from the perspectives of the main protagonists, Alf and Letty. Both are learning Italian at a school in Rome and it is clear both have had their own mysterious reasons for leaving the UK. As the story unfolds from their individual perspectives, gradually their back stories are revealed and the reader comes to understand how their respective pasts inform their present circumstances and potentially jeopardise their happy-ever-after. This was something of a slow burner for me I wasn't instantly gripped either by the story or the characters and almost gave up. However, I persevered and was rewarded with a story which developed into a touching, poignant modern love story. I'm so glad that I kept reading and hope that other readers do not give up on this story too readily as it's worth the initial effort.

One particular challenge to reading this review copy though was that the grapheme 'fi' was omitted from any word which either started with or contained it. This did mean that throughout reading the novel I had to really think about what individual words it might be, but it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the story. Peculiarly, I checked to see if this had been an issue with other reviewers but nobody else has mentioned having this experience so I'm wondering if it's just the way my copy downloaded. Curious! Thank you for my ARC and good luck with this charming book.

A beautiful story in a wonderful romantic setting. A lovely story to get lost in for a few hours.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Fantastic - loved it! If you want a feel good book, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this one!

This story begins in one of my favourite places in the world (Rome) so it was off to a good start..... Alf & Letty were such lovely characters - I completely fell in love with them and so wanted a happy ending to their story. Alf is old fashioned in many ways (probably due to his dancing background) and was so easy to like. It took a little longer to figure Letty out, but once you hear what she has gone through in her life, it is easier to understand her.

I was not expecting the story to go in back in time to reveal how these two came together but I loved that it did - and it made such sense!

I would have no hesitation in saying that if you are looking for a lovely, feel good story, which starts in a wonderfully romantic city, you should read this - I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for letting me read this novel in return for a honest review.

Loved it: descriptions of Italy bought it to life, touched on dancing (ballet and ballroom) mental health issues and rape as well as inappropriate relationships. However the over riding theme was romance. A delight to read

A gentle love story that gradually evolves as the story progresses. It started slowly for me but picked up pace particularly once the two integral young people Alf and Letty parted company after their romantic meeting while both in Rome. The couple had pasts that thwarted their initial chance of being together.
I am pleased that I persevered in reading this

Such a beautiful novel! Romantic, but not soppy - if you know what I mean - and definitely not a story easily forgotten.

Letty and Alf both join a class in Rome to help them be fluent in the Italian language; both in the city for differing reasons, they are the only two English people there. Seemingly poles apart they feel a connection when they dance together, waltzing around the Piazza Navona - and from that moment on, things between them begin to change. It fairly obvious that both of them have secrets and throughout the book we get to know them better; but do they have what it takes to make a future together?

I've been very lucky recently - and during the world-wide lockdown - to read several books set in dream locations and now feel very Italian since finishing this one (even had spaghetti carbonara this evening). The setting is idyllic, and Kate Eberlen does full justice to this wonderful city, showing off it's sights and sounds throughout her novel. The characters will touch your soul, for several reasons, and I cannot think of anyone who won't be rooting for them to make it together. This is a marvellous story with a well-crafted array of characters, each clearly described and easy to imagine. With a clever storyline, it's very appealing from beginning to end and the kind of book which makes you sigh with satisfaction as you reach the end. A stunningly romantic read, one I'm very happy to recommend and give 4.5 shining stars.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

I was fortunate to receive a copy of this book to read from NetGalley.

"One person is all it takes to change a lifetime . . . But how will you know if they’re the one?"

Italy is my favourite European country and I have visited Rome twice, both around this time of year. The descriptions were beautiful.

I also loved the use of the Italian language during the book and have picked up quite a few new words!

This is a beautiful, romantic, love story and I will definitely read it again one day!

Unashamedly romantic, Only You is such a beautiful modern day love story without all the fluffiness that can often be par for the course in books of this genre. What makes a great love story are obviously the couple involved and Alf and Letty are no exception to the rule. If the main characters are so well imagined that the reader has a feeling they could be people you would want to know in real life and you feel bereft at the end of their journey then this is a novel for you. That’s exactly how I felt, having been so invested in Alf and Letty’s romance from start to finish, rapidly turning the pages of a story that will delight all of us hopeless romantics out there. This is a love story that touched my heart and soul,with me cheering them all the way through, hopeful for a happy ending where complications of real life can be swept aside and forgotten.
The setting for this novel appealed to me immensely despite the fact that I’ve never visited Italy or Blackpool!! Places and sights are brought to life in a way that awakens your senses and made me wish to explore this wonderful country for myself. Instead I had to console myself with imagining I was there with Alf and Letty revelling in all the beauty and culture and history that Italy has to offer. They are both in Rome, trying to escape from events that have turned their worlds upside down and it is virtually love at first sight for Alf when these two meet at language school. I absolutely loved the fact that despite their obvious differences they felt like two pieces of a puzzle that fit together. Handsome and charming, Alf is a confident character in many ways, offering himself as a tour guide to the many tourists keen to discover more of the history behind famous landmarks/settings. Letty meanwhile is an earnest academic, a student at Oxford and incredibly knowledgeable about the Latin language. In contrast to Alf she is a fragile young woman who clearly has had a troubled past and decided to close off many parts of herself. Can Alf reignite Letty’s passion for life?? It is their love of dancing, Alf once a champion ballroom dancer and Letty, a ballerina that cements their burgeoning friendship and my heart melted as their love blossomed.
With such glorious heartwarming scenes in Italy, I was already thoroughly engrossed in the storyline when the author takes us back in time to reveal Alf and Letty’s backstories and what significant events had taken place to bring them to this moment. For all their differences I loved both characters equally so to discover how life and their families had shaped these two individuals was immensely satisfying. Plus the past offers the reader other explanations that connect Alf and Letty in ways beyond their love of dancing, which I didn’t anticipate but which made me enjoy this novel even more. Although this is fiction,at no point did I feel anything went beyond the realms of possibility, retaining that sense of relatability all the way through.
As you’ve probably gathered this is my type of read. It’s beautifully written as well as enlightening and one that will definitely make you smile . Only You is a captivating love story that has such wide appeal. If you love Italy, it’s history culture and language, ballroom dancing or ballet or simply like to lose yourself in an intelligent romantic book then you’ve found your next read. Easily a five star review for me and I can’t wait to discover what this author has in store for us in the future. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

Lovely story with good wholesome characters. Was laughing one minute and then crying the next. Beautiful!