I enjoy Leonie Mack's books generally and this was no different. Her descriptions are always so vivid and wonderful, almost taking you to the places in the book.

Alex and Jules have both had traumatic pasts which makes pursuing a relationship difficult. Although they had an instant connection, both of them (especially Alex). The villagers however really want Alex to move on and be happy, and play matchmakers for the couple. Jules has her own issues that makes her self-doubt take over. The story was a little predictable but still charming, and overall I enjoyed it

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a heartwarming tale of two people coming to terms with the events of their recent pasts and not looking to fall in love, especially as their future plans don't mesh in the slightest. I found Jules to be a stronger, more nuanced character than Alex, but their story is well told (even if it does drag somewhat in the middle of the book) and the supporting cast, including Arco, is delightful. Also delightful are the detailed descriptions of a more remote area of northern Italy and the farm work that Jules signs on for. An enjoyable read.

Another fabulous story from Leonie Mack. I just adore her books and this one is simply beautiful.

We have two lost and damaged characters brought together and finding their way through the obstacles to a happy ever after. The setting in Italy is, as always, so wonderfully realised that you feel you’ve actually been living there for the duration of the book.

Julia is Australasian and has escaped a terrible relationship with Luca and is waiting for the B&B she invested her money and love in, to be sold. Alex is Italian and has a tragic back story which is slowly revealed.

There’s a cast of amazing characters who unlike many secondary characters in books - actually come to life too.

I love LM’s voice and found this a riveting and emotionally satisfying story. Highly recommend. 5 star read.

LOVE, LOVE, LOOOOOOVVVEEE, LOVED IT!!!… Absolutely stunning!!!… I was completely swept away!!…
Brilliant

I blame Leonie Mack for introducing me to a little slice of Italy that I now feel the need to explore! The community, the food, the work ethic, the pride and the landscape of this area really come through strong in this story, creating a brilliant setting for a possible autumn romance.

“Wine is more than culture here. It’s life.”

“Trees welcomed the morning light in every shade from deep green to glowing orange and red. The only signs of human settlement were the occasional tiny hamlets of clay-roofed houses with thin ribbons of smoke emerging from the chimneys."

Imagine this. After being jilted by love and while waiting on your passport to fly home to Australia, you stumble across a man playing the accordion (not an instrument I often encounter in a romance, but I’m open to it). This man somehow rewrites your final days in Italy.

For me as a reader, this is a story of second chances. Alex and Jules are complex characters. They are fairly young, yet it feels like they have lived a lifetime. Unfortunately for me, it felt like this story was taking a lifetime, only picking up about halfway through the book. There is a lot of push and pull, as well as ups and downs, which mirrors my feelings about the book. For example, I loved the setting and the characters (the dog and the cat are possibly my favorites), but the pacing was too long and drawn out for me. It’s a beautiful story that I feel just needs edited a little more to quicken the pace.


Thank you to Boldwood Books for this gifted copy via NetGalley. These opinions are entirely my own. If you are drawn to a book with a complicated love story that takes place in the gorgeous Italian countryside, then pour yourself a glass of vino and enjoy Leonie Mack’s latest, In Italy for Love.

I'll admit it was the Italy setting that caught my attention. I was in it for the Italian scenarios, people, food or culture.
There is some of that, yes, but in general I didn't care for the romance aspect of the story.
It was fine, just it won't be memorable for my taste.

In Italy for Love is a light and enjoyable read that follows Julia as she escapes her ex-boyfriend and finds herself working on an olive farm in Italy. The setting is absolutely idyllic, and the author's ability to transport readers to the Italian countryside is fantastic. It starts with a sweet meet cute and charming coincidence; the romance between Julia and Alex is sweet and believable; and there's a touch of suspense as back story unravels that keeps you turning the pages. I did love how developed Alex was as a character/love interest, and his exploration of grief felt authentic without being too much of a personality trait.

However, the book is pretty predictable, and the ending is spelled out pretty clearly. Overall, it's a charming escape read that's perfect for fans of romance novels, but it didn't have a tremendous impact on me!

I would rate this book 3.5 out of 5 stars (rounded up to 4).

This was an extremely cute romance 🥰 The slow burn tension with fade to black romance scenes, adorable pets, wholesome meddling family, and all the roller coaster of emotions makes this book hard to put down!

A very intense read. A story of losing love , falling out of love and the confidence to fall in love again. It was a moving story at time. Loved the chestnut part. Attila the cat was fab and Arco the dog. Alex and Jules were great characters . Set mainly in Italy and a bit in Australia . A good ending. I did love it .

pub date: October 22nd, 2024

Julia "Jules" Volpe's dream of living in Italy has turned into a disaster. A year after breaking up with her ex, Luca, she's still living with him, stuck in a dilapidated B&B that they had planned to run together. With no money and an expired passport, Jules feels trapped. Instead of asking her parents for help at 27, she takes a job on an olive farm to save enough money to renew her passport and return home.

Though she’s sworn off love, Jules is captivated by the beauty of the town of Cividale del Friuli and its welcoming community. Her walls begin to come down, especially after meeting Alex, a handsome man with a troubled past of his own. As they both resist falling in love, their connection deepens, leaving Jules questioning her decision to avoid romance.

overall I enjoyed this book and it was cute I love the setting of the book!

Thank You Netgalley and the publisher

This book was so good! The romance was so cute and it was so enjoyable. The setting was perfect and it made me feel like i was there.

⭐️⭐️

The wind blows a little bit colder (sorry, cheesy frozen reference), and the autumn vibes are all around, and it's October-the season of Halloween, so this should've been a perfect seasonal read!!!

Unfortunately, I wasn't too much a fan. I didn't actively dislike it, but I can't say I loved it.

The characters.. despite the backstories they had, they weren't very interesting as humans. Maybe it makes it realistic in a way, but they were awkward with their interactions and actions, and the miscommunication and assumption of each others' emotions based on facial expressions got a bit too much.

What I did like was everything other than the characters or the plot. Because this book is written in third person pov, it portrays autumn in Italy so well, and now I'm more obsessed with autumn than ever. Olives, harvest and the cool air felt very vivid, so despite not actively engaging in with the characters, I felt more excited for fall than ever!

Oh and this is a completely off the topic side note, but the random Korean show reference was so funny-

"Or like one of those Korean shows: if we die at the same time, we'll be reborn on the same day and find each other in the next life"

-yup, sounds like a drama I've watched

Anyways, (I don't know why this review sounds someone sleep deprived wrote it. Maybe it's because I am) overall, this was a good starter for autumn, but not a favoured romance book.

Thank you for providing a copy of this arc in exchange for a review. I enjoyed reading about autumn in Italy, but rather felt that the dialogues and the characters' interactions were too awkward at times.

If you're a sucker for travel and romance, In Italy for Love by Leonie Mack is the perfect pick. That being said, I'll be honest—it starts off a bit slow. The first few chapters left me waiting for something to happen, and it took some time for the story to pick up speed. But trust me, once it does, it's like a slow burn that turns into a cozy blaze. As the main character's relationship deepens, so does the connection you feel with the characters. They both have their own emotional baggage to deal with, and it’s satisfying to watch them grow and find happiness together. Quick, easy read that's totally worth it. It's a charming, feel-good romance that delivers all the beautiful scenery and heartfelt moments you could ask for. If you’ve ever dreamed of falling in love in Italy, this book will transport you right there.

Review will be posted on GoodReads, Amazon, and any other social media or book websites as soon as the book is live.

Our MC Julia is stuck in Italy, living in a rundown B&B that was once her dream but is now a nightmare. She has an expired passport and is forced to live with her ex, Luca. Not quite ready to ask her parents for help, Jules decides to head as far away from Luca as she can to work on an olive farm until she has enough money to pay for her passport and a ticket back home. However things don't always go to plan and as Julia settles into the farm life and is welcomed into the community she finds herself falling for Alex and not at all rushing to get back home. Alex has his own issues going on and doesn't want to fall in love or settle down, but they can't seem to stay away from each other.

This is the third book I have read by the author, and whilst I do like her writing style I feel that is sometimes lacks depth and you don't really find yourself getting to know the characters as well as you may like. When I look back on the books I feel the same about them all. I have enjoyed them, but just didn't love them of the characters,

I do however love the cover art and the location and her description of the area and seasons is lovely.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Do you take a risk for love… a leap of faith… a trust in fate? even though last time you risked everything it backfired…?
This story was a wonderful ‘will they won’t they’ journey for Julia and Alex. Happy, sad, funny, heartbreaking, frustrating - feel everything on this emotional rollercoaster with the two friends, whilst keeping your fingers crossed for a happy ending right to the final pages.

The setting of this book was beautiful and I appreciated the descriptive details of the beautiful Italian scenery, as well as becoming absorbed in the Italian culture, way of life and family heritage.

Thoroughly recommend this book if you’re looking for a good romance.

Thank you @netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC
@leoniejmack - great read thank you! 🤩

While Paris may be known as the "city of love", Italy as a whole, captured my heart years ago when I visited with my parents.
Could it be all the men yelling "bella"?
Could it be the abundance of handsome men?
Could it be some of the best food on Earth, imo?
Could it be the beautiful charm in the small towns throughout the country?
All I know is I could easily find myself wrapped up in it all and changing the course of my life for a man, all in the name of love.

The heroine of the story, Julia Volpe, does just that. Only it doesn't work out so well.
Packing up with low funds and no place to stay, she ventures off to another town - trading labor for a place to stay, while she gets her passport paperwork in order. And on her first day there, she meets Alessandro "Alex" Mattelig. Sharing one night of passion should help get over her broken heart, right?

Fate has other plans in mind, as the two who thought they'd never see each other again, are forced to live together. It was obvious where things would eventually lead, but Alex's past relationship does slow down the whole process.

What I loved most about this story was the life Julia led, immersing herself in this new world, working on an olive farm, and embracing everything around her. I loved how she made the best of the circumstances, even when things seemed to completely go wrong. And I think her attitude about life made Alex rethink his own approach to it.

While parts of this story were predictable, there was still a charm that I relished, and I adored the grand jesture at the end. Overall a fun romance that made me want to rebook a flight to Italy.

Want a sweet romance with seriousness, a sprinkling of spice and some feisty pets?
Well, In Italy Love may just be for you!
Julia upped sticks from Australia for love and a handsome Italian man. Fast forward a short while, and things aren't all sweetness and light. She finds herself without a home, money, or support. At least she has Arco, her pup.
Making her way home, she stops in a tiny village, Cividale del Friuli, hoping to wait for an elusive passport to arrive and some clarity about her life before she heads home.
That's when things go a bit awry. Meeting Alex, a busker of sorts, and making an out-of-character suggestion of dinner sparks a journey in a totally different direction to what she had imagined, especially as he ends up entangled in her temporary stay in Friuli. Along with his cat, Attilla.
It is a gorgeous autumnal read with its fair share of emotion and giggles, too.
Thoroughly enjoyed this.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC

This was such a sweet story that delved into some deep issues. Grief and heartbreak play a big role in our lead characters lives and decisions and it was beautiful to see how that was navigated and to see the relationship blossom between Jules and Alex. I loved the small town and the nosy neighbours. It was such a wholesome vibe and I enjoyed my time in this little book world.

Thank you to Boldwood books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Leonie Mack book, and I couldn’t put it down. I loved it!

Julia’s Italian dream has turned into a nightmare.

After moving to Italy for love things didn’t work out the way she’d hoped. Jules is still living with her ex, Luca, a year after they broke up, she’s desperate to sell the rundown B&B that was supposed to be their future. Jules knows she needs to move on, but two things stand in her way: her passport has expired, and she’s broke.

Not wanting to rely on her parents for help, Jules decides to head as far away as possible from Luca and finds herself on a family-run olive farm to work until she has enough money to pay for her passport and a ticket back to Australia.

Jules has sworn off love but the charm of Cividale – a gorgeous town on the banks of the stunning Natisone River and the welcoming community of farmers, locals, and neighbours begins to break down her walls. But it’s when she meets Alex, a handsome and charming man that she realises she’s in trouble. Alex has sworn off love as well and his reasons run deep enough to keep him from breaking his vow just as Jules starts to reconsider hers.

I don’t wanna say anymore – just read this book!!!

The setting was magnificent and so vividly described and written I loved everything about it! Cividale del Friuli sounds absolutely gorgeous and is now on my bucket list, it seems as though there was extensive research done on the setting, culture, etc and it paid off!

It was perfectly paced, the writing was good, and I loved all the characters except the Ex, Luca and especially loved the fur babies!

The character growth was so wholesome, and how the two MCs (Jules and Alex) overcame their struggles. Although heartbreaking I thought the grief element was executed well and it was good the grief was explored and the character development from it.

The family, love, grief, and personal growth elements tug at the heartstrings and really add depth to the story and I liked that it wasn’t solely based on the romance.

There did seem to be lots of Italian words in there and as someone who doesn’t know Italian, I found myself googling a lot!

Enjoyed the one-night stand, and met-again trope!

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

In Italy for Love

By Leonie Mack

I haven't read a romance for awhile and this was a sweet one to get back into the genre.

Jules has been in Italy for awhile building a not so successful business with a man she moved to the country for. However, not only has the business failed but so has her relationship. Disheartened and with damaged confidence, Jules travels to a small Italian town as far from her ex as can be to await passage home to Australia. From there she meets the wonderful characters of the small town including the elusive Alex.

The story paints a beautiful picture of small Italian towns and olive farms and the characters who inhibit them. However, I did struggle with the main characters a little. While both were grieving different pasts, I found their personalities difficult to relate to and understand their motivations. Similarly, their chemistry with each other felt a little lacking as well.

Overall though it was a good sweet read and made me wish I was working in a small Italian olive farm!

Thank you NetGalley and Leonie Mack for this read!