📚✨Book Review✨📚

My Big Fat Italian Break-Up
Author: Nancy Barone

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Note: I received a copy of this book to review via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

What I Liked:
🍝The setting is such a dream. I love ALL things Italian and stories that take place in Italy. It’s my favorite place to visit in the entire world, so any chance to connect with the Italian countryside speaks to my soul.

🍝There is something about Italian men that does it. And Italian food. And then there are the Italian side characters. They all all truly so vibrant. They jump off the page in the most magical way!

What I Didn’t Like:
🍝DO NOT read while hungry!!!! Honestly I found myself reaching for a snack constantly because the me of food was all over. I’m dreaming of Nutella cornettos now….

Final Thoughts:
🍝I didn’t realize this was book 2 in series, but the author makes it easy to pick everything up. Heads up id you like to read the complete series on order, to start with book 1!

Be prepared to laugh, swoon, and fall head over heels in love with the unforgettable characters in this witty and wonderful novel. I was enthralled from start to finish, and I’m still floating.

This was such a cute book. I found myself at the start of it relating to Erica and how she had big plans for her life, she was following her dreams and trying to get her new business ventured known and build her clientele.

I related to her when Julian was trying to tell her to calm down, they were comfortable etc. I thought he was quite belittling in a way, he wasn’t supporting her as much as I wanted him to. They seemed like a great pair but I didn’t feel Julian was as supportive of Erica as she was him. Having him jet set off around the world every so often to follow his dreams.

However, then we meet sexy Alberto… Mmmmhm. He was a lovely man and I feel much better paired for Erica than Julian. But I have to say, the ending is too cute and I am glad that it turned out the way it… no spoilers!

It was a cute, romantic read and a great one for summer. Perfect holiday read for me! Thank you to @netgalley and Nancy Barone for allowing me an e-ARC copy of this book.

I haven't read the previous book in this series, which means that I had to catch up with some of the backstory, although this want a real issue. To be honest I found this book frustrating, Erica is constantly worried about her weight, her business and her husband to be Julian's constant trips as part of his book publicity. Saying that this is probably more realistic than an idyllic life in such a wonderful location. There are parts that I can definitely relate to such as a rather over the top exercise class and perhaps the occasional overeating session, although I can honestly say that I've never kissed a chef. Lack of belief in self worth can be very debilitating, and it is good to read about how someone else actually deals with it.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

I did not like this book. The amount of negative self talk and fat shaming was too much. The FMC was unlikable and I just couldn't enjoy this read.

Having received an invitation to read and review this book, I was intrigued by the title. However, it wasn't as good as I had hoped. I struggled to read some parts and the language was not great in some parts. This has not put me off Nancy's books as I have read some excellent ones of hers.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I absolutely loved this book!.

A fun read for the summer.

This book is the second in a series although you can read it as a stand alone.

The characters were amusing, I wanted their plans to work, at some points during the story.

I recommend this book.

My Big Fat Italian Break-up is a wonderful romantic comedy set in the gorgeous region of Tuscany, Italy. The novel is the second book that I have read from author, Nancy Barone and it was so much better than the first novel that I read from her.

The characters in the novel are very colorful and entertaining. I loved all of the characters as each of them had very distinct personalities. Barone’s talent in creating unique and distinct characters really shine in this novel. I especially loved how Barone captured the sensitive and thoughtful personality of her BFF, Paul — a gay friend for the ages.

The story is easy and light. There are some LGBTQ background noise but that just added to an already engaging story.

Oh, and did I mention food? OMG! There’s mention of dozens of delectable dishes! And boy did these mentions make my mouth water. I swear I gained at least ten pounds just reading about them. I’ll have to look up the recipes for some of these desserts, antipastos, and entreés one day.

Though I was expecting a different outcome (based on the book title,) I was still very pleased with the finale. Full of smiles and giggles, My Big Fat Italian Break-up is a must read for fans of rom-coms like, Romantically Challenged, In a New York Minute, and Island Affair. Five outstanding stars.

I received a digital ARC from Head of Zeus, through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

I really hated how much focus was put on the main character's weight/looks and how oh her fiance couldn't possibly have really chosen her over all the other hot skinny moms?? I understand a character having insecurities but it came up like every other page which is a lot

2 stars...

Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My Big Fat Italian Break-Up follows Erica Cantelli who has gotten, what she thinks, everything she wanted: a B&B in the Italian countryside, a relationship with a great man, and time to finally spend with her children. But then things start to go wrong. The B&B has a scheming competitor, the great man is never home, and they just can't set a date on their wedding.

I really did not like this book. It may have been my fault because I didn't know this was the second book in the series, but I found the main character extremely insufferable. She was lonely, but refused to communicate with her fiancé. She said she wanted to get married, but then wouldn't do anything about the wedding, and she was very rude to everyone in her life. In addition, there was just SO much talk on how she was unhappy about her body. I found the language to be extremely toxic: she refers to herself as enormous, her fiancé called her a “sausage” as a term of endearment, and her stepmother repeatedly saying that she should’ve “just gotten the damn stomach bypass like I told you to." Overall, this made me feel very uncomfortable, and think it could be triggering to other readers.

I ended up DNF ing this book. I could not get into it and the constant mentions regarding her weight, her image was not great and put me off.

I wanted to love this book more but, honestly the troupe is played and I struggled to stay engaged. I wish things would shift in this genre.

I just couldn't enjoy this book, the way the main character talks about herself was so triggering. I don't know if it's because i hadn't read the first book but i felt like the author didn't set any groundwork to make it make sense. I barely finished it as it was so bad.

I received this e-arc from NetGalley and Head of Zeus in exchange for an honest review.

Erica lives in Tuscany with her partner,Julian, and 2 kids while running a B&B. While Julian’s writing career is taking off and he begins to spend more time away from home; Erica is left at home trying to save the failing B&B. Erica now needs to try and save her family and her business.

I found this book to be an easy read. I wasn’t aware that this was a sequel book but the author added enough historical detail that it was still easy to follow. I loved the details about Tuscany that helped you to really picture the scenery.

My only real issue with this book was how Erica weight and body shape was portrayed. As someone who is not skinny themselves, it felt like curvier or larger womens bodies were repeatedly described as something to be ashamed of.

Loved this read of the idealic Italian life but not all is as it seems, dreaming of a life running their b and b together in the hope to have more time to spend with family doesn't turn out to be reality but the family struggle through with the help of amazing friends

3.5* from me for this one. Having dreamt of running her own b&b in Tuscany, Erica finally gets to fulfill the dream with the new man in her life. Sadly Erica has been left with insicurities after the awful treatment from her first husband and this shapes some of her actions. A few twists along the way keep you hooked. Definitely worth reading.

I'm Italian born and bred and like rom com set in Italy. This is a good one and I had a lot of fun and rooted for the characters.
It's well written, the setting is realistic, and there's plenty of humour.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This book just wasn't for me at all. The toxic way she spoke about her own body was off putting. Some parts unrealistic and by 20% in i started to notice some plot holes. It felt like her mind was spiralling out of control on multiply occasions. Being a mother to teenagers myself and a former immigrant i wouldn't dream off picking up my kids and dumping them into a country that they didn't speak the language, of course i know that this happens quite a lot in RL but i didn't read the first novel in this series to be able to see how she came to this difficult decision. Maybe there was different reasons than the ones mentioned in this book about living out her dream?

Erica Cantelli is a divorcee that leaves Boston with another man and her kids to run a B&B in Tuscany Italy. The two are supposed to get married but every time they start planning the event something comes up. Her soon to be husband is a writer and travels with his agent to promote his book. Erica has her doubts as the B&B is having a slow month and others are busy. She thinks her soon to be husband is having an affair with his agent. She is an over weight women trying to lose weight but while doing this loses confidence in herself. This was a very funny at times story with everything going on but in the end everything works out.

DNF @ chapter 3. I was excited for this because of the anticipated food descriptions, but instead got “Woe, Is Me, I’m not a size 0.” EVERY. OTHER. PARAGRAPH. No thank you