I was really looking forward to this book but it took me ages to get into it. I persevered so I could give fair feedback and I’m glad I did as the last quarter of the book I quite enjoyed. It was a sweet story in the end and the characters were pleasant, just took a long time to get going x

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

To be honest, I struggled to get into this one. I loved the concept but I guess there was a disconnect for a bit. It was a cute story in the end and I enjoyed learning more about Venice and the dialect I never knew existed. It was also a great detail thst the main character uses a cane! You don't read many books with a MC like that.

YES! Loved it! What a wonderfully joyful book and my must-read recommendation for summer ‘22. I thought it was absolutely brilliant.
Firstly - women in STEM as our leading characters? Absolutely wonderful. Secondly - physical disabilities on our leading character with no murmur of it being represented as a flaw or something that needs to be fixed. Absolutely brilliant. This book has brought wider representation of women into the chick lit genre and I hope it’s here to stay. It’s so refreshing to see leading characters outside of what is considered the norm in chick-lit books, we need women of more diverse backgrounds and physical representations and this book really comes through for that.

It’s laugh out loud funny and set in beautiful Venice - but not through the eyes of a tourist but through local Venetians. It’s a romance but also a story of acceptance and finding family in the most unlikely of places.

There’s only one negative and that’s quite early on a reference is made to Norah’s weight and being glad that’s she not ‘heavy’ to row around. I thought this was unnecessary and took the shine off an otherwise excellent book.
Otherwise, absolutely recommend, loved it.

This was very cute! This was my first book by Leonor Mack and I’ll definitely need to read the first book in this series, “A Match Made in Venice”.

I requested this book from Netgalley because Venice holds a very special place in my heart. Not only is it one of my favorite cities in the world it’s where my husband and I got engaged. This city is pure magic and this book really captures it.

Norah is a research assistant who comes to Venice to study the algae in their lagoons. Norah has not only had a bad accident that left her walking with a cane, she’s had her heart broken and doesn’t know if she can find someone to love her.

Gianluca is a handsome Venetian who is hired to row her to different lagoons each weekend. Which starts as friendship quickly becomes more in this sweet romance.

This was a really enjoyable read. I'm a big fan of travel romance, so seeing Norah spend her summer in Venice and discover who she wants to be and find love in the process was a lot of fun. This book made me nostalgic for Venice, I could really picture everything that happened in this book through the descriptions. I will be reading the first book about Norah's sister now that I have been introduced to all the characters. Norah goes to Venice to get a fresh start and do her microbiology research after a pretty serious accident and Gianluca had a previous summer relationship that left him heartbroken, so neither character is looking for romance. Of course, that is exactly what they find. I enjoyed the inevitability of the romance. Both Norah and Gianluca had past relationships and issues they are dealing with and they recognize their chemistry but continue to try and deny it and insist they can only be friends. However, they slowly realize that they want more than friendship. I thought their friendship felt very authentic and you can tell they genuinely care for each other. The banter, chemistry, and tension between the characters had me very excited for when they finally got together. It's nice to see them develop such a deep connection and fall in love while navigating their own issues. This book gives depth to all of the characters too. We see them struggle with career decisions, academia, injuries, heartbreaks, and family issues, but we also see them learn about themselves, friendship, family, and love. I think this book does a great job of balancing serious subjects and real obstacles with sweet moments, witty conversations, and fun times together. This book has the only one bed trope, friend to lovers, two STEM protagonists, and city that feels almost magical. Overall, this book was a delightful read.

Norah is a British marine biology student freshly recovered from a terrible accident and a bad breakup. Gianluca is a Venetian gondolier with family issues and a fear of being left (again) by a visiting tourist he develops feelings for. The two meet when Norah lands a job studying algae in the lagoons of Venice and Gianluca is hired to be her “personal driver” (boater??) for the expeditions. A fast friendship is formed, but pretty soon both Norah and Gianluca are having to face the fact that the chemistry is undeniable, and deep feelings are developing. But with plenty of baggage from both of their pasts, and a deadline on things when she leaves Venice, can a relationship even happen?


We’ll Always Have Venice is a sweet read that pulled me in more than I expected. The first few chapters moved a bit slowly for me and I was worried I wouldn’t get in to it, but by the 20% mark I was hooked and read the rest really quickly. I think what I loved best about this book was that they truly did develop a deep friendship first. Sure, their physical attraction to each other was quick, but I appreciated that the author gave Norah and Gianluca the friendship, before anything else. I rooted for them throughout the book, and also loved all the supporting characters. This book was fun and sweet and enjoyable, and did make me want to go back and read the author’s other books (this was the first of hers I’d read.)

I received a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review.

I was so excited to read We’ll Always Have Venice by Leonie Mack, especially after reading about Norah, the protagonist, when she was introduced in Meet Me in Venice. This story follows Norah who travels to Venice on a ten-week internship to study algae in Venetian lagoons. Determined to get her career as a microbiologist back on track after suffering a spinal injury over a year ago, Norah uses this internship opportunity to start over. However, when she meets the handsome craftsman who has been hired to guide Norah on her excursions, her plans might just change.

Gianluca vowed never to have a summer romance again, especially after the disaterous relationship in his past. However, he didn’t expect to be so taken by the intelligent and funny Norah. Can these two people with very different lives and goals find their happily ever after?

Venice is the main backdrop to the story, and it is so vividly described that you almost feel like you’re there. The author swept me away with Didi’s story in Meet Me in Venice, and I was delighted to fall back into the magic of this wonderful city. Venice is so rich with character, and it’s a place I’ve always dreamed of visiting. This book reaffirms my need to go there! It sounds amazing, and it’s the perfect backdrop for Norah and Gianluca’s love story. From the unique islands to the peaceful lagoons to the gorgeous spots throughout Venice, there is a charm and beauty that jumps from the page.

Gianluca and Norah have a beautiful friends-to-lovers romance! They get along so well, and there is an ease to their relationship. Plus, their banter is witty, flirty, and fun, and their nicknames for each other are adorable. They have such a great connection, and I love how their relationship develops. The pair spends a lot of time together as Norah navigates the area to collect samples for her research and Gianluca guides her, and they have so many great experiences. I like how they slowly start to care for each other as more than friends, and it’s interesting to see how they work through their problems. Past heartbreak, abandonment issues, Norah’s short stay in Venice and future career, and more prove complicated obstacles for Gianluca and Nora.

The story also has some wonderful secondary characters, including Gianluca’s friends and grandmother and Norah’s family. And I love that Didi and Piero, the main characters from Meet Me in Venice, have secondary roles in this book. They are such great characters, and I was eager to see how their relationship was progressing. Norah and Didi’s mother is another recurring character, and she is just as unique and zany as she was when she was first introduced. Gianluca has a complicated relationship with his mother, and their story includes topics like resentment, the long-lasting effects of abandonment, and the pain of unspoken words. These topics are balanced well among others like friendship, the bonds of family, and the wonder of falling in love.

I loved this story and am quickly becoming a huge fan of the author’s contemporary romances. The characters are always so layered and interesting, the settings are gorgeous, and the love stories are positively swoon-worthy! I would definitely recommend the book to romance readers, and I am so thankful to Rachel’s Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and Leonie Mack for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

The story
Norah is a biological scientist. She was working on her Ph.D when a terrible boat accident resulted in a break of her spine. She’s spent the last year recovering. Now she has the opportunity to go work for ten short weeks in Venice researching algae growing in the lagoon. Her Venetion boss Manu arranges for her estranged son Gianluca to take Norah out on his boat at the weekends to collect samples. They become friends but both wish it could be more than that. Can the make it work?

My thoughts
I was so thrilled when I started to read this story to realise that Norah is the younger sister of Didi who was the main character in Leonie Mack’s A Match Made in Venice that I read and loved last year. This book can be read as a standalone but for me, the two fit hand in hand and they are both so lovely, I wouldn’t want to miss out on either! Both Norah and Gianluca have had sad times in their pasts that make them fearful of committing to each other, but they find in each other kindred spirits and genuine kindness. They are also both science-nerds even though Gianluca now works in an ancient craft. This story made me think about how we meet people in life that could be more to us, but sometimes sadly, the timing just doesn’t work. A lovely read!

Norah has recovered from a serious accident and wants to get her career back on track; there’s no time for a summer romance during her Italian internship. Gianluca is just doing his job, rather grudgingly, and definitely doesn’t want a summer fling because he’s been there, done that and suffered the heartbreak. So they’ll just be friends, right?

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but it definitely won’t be the last. Both Norah and Gianluca were excellently drawn characters, dealing with their conflicts in a nuanced and realistic manner. I loved their interactions, their nicknames for each other, the way they both wanted to hide their attraction but simply weren’t able to. The supporting cast also had depth - and I’m including Venice in that, because the lavish and detailed descriptions of the city made it a major player in the story and made me want to go back there again. A fabulous romantic read, and now I’m off to acquaint myself with Didi and Piero’s story.

I absolutely adored this book and it’s gorgeous setting. I feel like I’ve had a mini break in Venice and I’m delighted that We’ll Always Have Venice is a follow up to A Match Made in Venice including catching up with Didi and Piero again. This time we follow Didi’s sister Norah on her adventure in Venice, as she arrives on a scientific fact finding mission, collecting samples of algae, for ten weeks. Sworn off love after a disastrous relationship in the UK and an horrific boating accident, Norah finds herself thrown together with handsome oar builder, Gianluca. Both have been burned in love before and as their attraction and friendship grows can they throw off their pasts and embrace their future together? Wonderfully romantic.

I’ve read the author’s other books and this is the perfect beach read. We’ll always have venice is perfect for anyone who wants to read a lighthearted summer book!!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I'd read the first book and loved it, so was delighted to read this one. I absolutely loved it (possibly even more than Didi and Piero's story).

Norah is Didi's sister, and she comes to Venice on a placement for ten weeks. and meets the mysterious Gianluca and a host of other interesting characters..

The development of their love story is so well done and the characterization is simply fabulous. The author writes very well, and it is a joy to read such intelligent and nuanced stories. I would highly recommend this book.

Thanks Netgalley for a arc copy of this book for a honest review
We'll Always Have Venice was and will always be a 5 star read. I enjoyed Norah and Gianluca they were so cute. When it comes out I'm differently getting my own copy.


Happy Reading
Lisa

It is always a pleasure to relive memories of time spent in Venice. However, I found the pace of this book too slow for my liking.

I absolutely love the beautiful setting of this book. It is such a fun, light easy to read book that is both funny engaging easy to read and enjoyable.

As a reader who read (devoured) and loved (was obsessed with) Leonie Mack's, A Match Made in Venice, I was super keen to read the follow-up. And, dear reader, it did NOT disappoint

Norah is a complex multi-layered heroine. I really loved getting to know her more in this book, as we first meet her in A Match Made in Venice. She's career-oriented, and is driven to pursue excellence. She's tough on herself, and carries a lot of tension and frustration due to a terrible accident which has left her with a temporary disability. I think many readers will empathise with so many aspects of Norah's character, and it was so interesting to follow a character along her journey of the heart, while traversing the world of STEM and academia. There were some truly poignant and stirring moments that really caught me off guard, but they were all very satisfying and left me hanging between chapters.

Gianluca, our handsome and genuinely lovely hero, is a timely reminder that the good guy always wins, and that some of the most powerful relationships are grounded in friendship.

Set against the Venetian backdrop Mack so expertly conjures, We'll Always Have Venice is both a delight for the senses and the heart.

Prepare yourself for plenty of romance, tension, longing stares, holding hands, awkward moments, laughter, and three 'only one bed' scenes. It's superb. Loved it.

In a destination with a reputation for romance, can two people be ‘just friends?’

After an injury that left her with pins in her back and reliant on a cane, marine biologist and 25-year-old Norah York, is determined to get her science career back on track. When a 10-week internship opportunity to study the Venetian lagoon arises, she steps out on her own leaving Bridezilla’s (her mom) drama and her sister’s overly attentive care behind. It doesn’t take too long in Venice before she knows she’s made the right choice. It’s everything she needed; a distraction-free environment…that is, until she meets the perfect guy. The distraction? A gondolier and craftsman! Gianluca is a remèr (Venetian oarmaker) and one of four forcola-makers in Venice. He’s been allocated to transporting Norah around the lagoon for the duration of the stay. Don’t let this hunk fool you - he’s got brains between those ears. Once these two get past their baggage, can they be friends?

I absolutely LOVED this swoon-worthy romance! Boiled down, it’s a friendship pact that goes horribly wrong. The banter between the two main characters is spectacular as is the romantic chemistry and tension. I loved the sarcasm and witty exchanges and could easily see myself spending time with these two people. I also like the serendipitous phoenix in the adornment above Norah’s door! Most of all, I loved the fact that Norah is a STEM heroine. There are so few romance books written with intelligent females. I think I shouted a loud “YES!” when I discovered Norah’s career focus. Gianluca is the perfect distraction; a laid back craftsman hero hiding a physics degree. A slight foot in the open door regarding the romance - three ‘only-one-bed’ scenes - yet, tastefully written.

I’d only read a few chapters when I paused and ordered up Leonie Mack’s prequel to this one, ‘A Match Made In Venice.’ I know I’ll be reading them out of order, but I’m assured it won’t confuse me. You need to put this armchair travel through the Venetian lagoon on your reading list ASAP!

I was gifted this advance copy by Leonie Mack, Boldwood Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.