Could not finish this book. There was nothing gripping about it, and it seemed to be written a little confusingly not explaining the Italian

🔎 ARC Review Time!

In Italy For Love

@leoniejmack
@boldwoodbooksnl
@netgalley

Publication Date: October 22nd, 2024

My Rating:
🌟 4/5

👀Read if you like
Roommates to Lovers
Damaged MCs
Slow Burn

Still living with her ex, Luca, a year after they’ve broken up, desperate to sell the dilapidated B&B that was meant to be their future, Jules knows she needs to leave. There are just two problems. Her passport has expired and she’s broke.

Not quite ready to ask her parents for help – at the ripe old age of twenty-seven – 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.

Jules has sworn off love, but she hadn’t bargained on the beauty of Cividale del Friuli, the ancient Italian town on the banks of the gloriously blue Natisone river. As the community of farmers, neighbours and locals generously welcome her into their lives, Jules can feel her defences crumbling. But it’s when she meets Alex, broodingly handsome yet charmingly gallant, that Jules truly knows she’s in trouble. Because Alex has sworn off love too, and his reasons run deep enough for him to keep his word just as Jules is starting to reconsider her resistance to romance.

🔎 My review
This was my first Leonie Mack book and I couldn't put it down. This is such a cute heartfelt book that follows Jules and Alex. I loved seeing how their story evolved especially since they have different pasts. Definitely a story that follows internal growth, family, and love. The last cherry on top are the adorable fur babies Arco and Attila. I highly recommend!!

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC

#books #bookreviews #bookstagrammer #bookworm #bookstagram #bookobsessed #romance #romancebooks #leoniemack #boldwoodbooks #InItalyforLove #NetGalley

The perfect autumn read! Get ready for gorgeous fall Italian settings and a beautiful love story of two people who swore they’d given up on it.

Jules moved to Italy for her ex-boyfriend, but now can’t get away from him fast enough and get back to her native Australia. But she’s stuck in Italy for a few more weeks with a dwindling bank account until her passport is in order. So what’s a girl to do but go to the farthest reaches of Italy and work on a farm in exchange for room and board.

And what does she find but one of the most beautiful places she never knew about, and one of the hottest—and most brooding—men she’s ever seen. But Jules is in no place for a relationship and neither is Alex. As if that’ll stop chemistry and so many feelings. . . . I don’t want to give too much away—just read it!

There are so many things to love about this book, but top among them are the stunning descriptions of the countryside, the village, the farm, the people, the feelings, EVERYTHING. I didn’t know this part of Italy existed, and now I’m dying to go to Cividale, eat Fruilian food, see the gorgeous Natisone River, do some hiking, and experience this place.

And if you’re a dog lover, you’ll adore Jules’ dog, who’s the star of the adorable meet-cute and a fixture throughout the book.

Meet Julia Volpe, still living with her ex after their personal and business relationship has soured. Running from this situation, just her and her pup, she ends up in Cividale del Friuli, working on an olive farm. Crossing the bridge, she meets the handsome, but guarded, Alex and they end up on a one night date. Stumbling into the olive farm the next day, she finds her housing accommodations have fallen through and she's left with an unpaid job and no place to stay. The family on the farm has quick plans for housing while they fix her room, leaving her staying with the handsome stranger from last night, Alex. Three years after losing his wife, Alex has sworn off romance and pushes Julia away at every chance. He is still haunted by the thoughts of his lost wife, but finds himself drawn to Julia daily. We walk through their friendship and sorta relationship, uncovering truths about each other and possibly embracing new romances.

I loved this book! It was sweet and frustrating but ultimately 100% worth the read. I loved Julia's bravery and willingness to try again after being burned by her ex. I was definitely frustrated with Alex at times but given the situation, I think his reactions were valid. I do wish we could have went more into depth into their relationship and why they began to fall for one another. However, I still did enjoy the book! Made my want to go work on a olive farm in Italy with a small family! Leonie did an incredible job of describing the place and made it so easy to picture yourself there.

Would definitely read another book by this author!

I liked the sound of this one when I came across it. I enjoyed Alex and Jules connection when they first met and the moments soon after, Especially when family and friends got involved

At times if felt difficult to connect or like something was missing.

Overall a cute little read

Thank you, NetGalley, for the download!

A charming, quick read! This is packed with Italian verbiage and cultural plot lines that are extremely immersive. I actually found myself more interested in the lifestyle and family aspects than the main characters. Makes you want to vacation in Italy, for sure!

This is a cute contemporary romance. This is a very PG romance and it was wholesome. I enjoyed the setting and really want to go on a trip to Italy.

A slice of romantic escapism with all the ingredients for a comfort read, especially the beautiful setting near the Italian/Slovenian border. The heroine Jules is escaping from a messy situation with her ex, and by chance meets Alex, who is busking with an accordion in the street: “He had a short moustache and a little goatee. Those were not supposed to be sexy. And since when did she describe men as ‘sexy’?”

The dialogue between Jules and Alex felt a bit awkward at the start – especially the dog puns – but I think it was supposed to, as they were shy of each other. I liked the warmth, and giddy enthusiasm, of their initial fling which had a real sweetness to it. The backstory of Alex’s character was also sensitively handled, and gave the story a depth I wasn’t expecting. I think ‘In Italy For Love’ would appeal to fans of Isabelle Broom and Jo Thomas.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

It’s a book that you can read quickly. As an Italian I did not appreciate the many Italian words inserted here and there, I think that for those who are not Italian it can be a bit boring. The last part of the book is definitely more interesting than the first. The main problem, in my opinion, are the characters that I found uninteresting. Alex and Julia are not characters that I will carry in my heart.
I have the impression that something is missing, perhaps the characters are too poorly characterized and the plot could have been more interesting

An easy read with an entertaining story that develops poignant topics. Jules and Alex are cute and the setting is an important characteristic in this experience.

I do think there's lack of depth into Jules and Alex relationship. Why they fell in love of each other?, why it was different for Alex this time? Also, I felt that Alex's transformation was a little out of nowhere.

I'm adding more of Leonie Mack works in my TBR :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Loved this book, a classic one night stand and met again trope. The book really made me want to hop onto the next flight to Italy.

"just stay on the page with me for a minute, alex. we don't have to turn it yet."

mild spoilers:
i loved alex and the exploration into his grief, that stupid cat and his connection with laura's family <3 and jules!! oh it made me so mad when luca barged in telling her she's always dependent on a man, i loved her determination to make it back home to australia, being with alex wasn't her end goal and i admired that she wasn't going to stay for him (well until she got to the train that is lol). also alex with the grand gesture at the end!

"don't you think it's your turn to be brave"

friuli sounded absolutely beautiful, this author did an amazing job at describing this small area through the seasons and celebrating different traditions and cultures of the furlans. this was a nice romance with some really sweet moments and i absolutely fell in love with the characters and the setting!

Such a sweet romcom! Can't wait to read more by Leonie! I loved the setting and I loved the romance! Just pure fun!

Such a cute book! Nothing like an Italian countryside romance.
The first chapter hooked me because what do you mean she stayed LIVING with her ex for a year while he even had a new girlfriend. Girl please!!!
Jules and Alex were cute and we love a slow burn but I feel like they lacked depth in their connection and even their characters’ personalities felt flat. I wish there was more to them than grief and wanting to be loved.

I did really enjoy it and am thankful I got a chance to read it!

This was my first Leonie Mack book and I was pleasantly surprised! And I now have a new place to visit added to my bucket list. Cividale del Friuli sounds beautiful!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is cute take on the 'one night stand and met again' trope, that I love. The main characters both had there own struggles and I loved that these struggled didn't just vanish after they met but that they worked together the help the other.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

What a great romcom!! This is a first for me by this author but will not be my last. It was such a cute story! The writing style is great and I loved the characters chemistry.

what a cute book! I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the the setting. This book has single handedly convinced me to want to live in the italian country side! Although I do love low stakes romances, I found myself a little annoyed at the characters solely due to them not acknowledging their feelings towards the other. I wanted to see some yearning and begging yet the first 80% was awkwardness from the characters denying their chemistry. In all, i’m super happy I got to read this book!

It follows a woman struggling to bounce back after a breakup and failed business in Italy. She wants to move back to Australia but has to work at a farm in the mean time.
First time reading this author. Cute little Italian love story. I enjoyed the character conflicts not only with themselves but eachother too. Unfortunately I didn't feel enough of a connection between the two. Their intimacy felt rushed and without foundation.
Still was an easy read.

A simple Italian love story of a woman getting back on her feet after she and her ex broke up. I liked the premise of volunteering for room and board. The writing is not my favorite, I felt as if it lacked depth. There was a
bit overuse of Italian verbiage and not enough description of scenery and depth of feeling. I didn’t get to connect with the characters because of this.