Review: Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

9/16/2017

I had been wanting to read Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch for a long time, so I could not pass it up when I found it at my library. With all of the tragedy and fear in the news right now, I needed a pick me up, and this was the perfect choice. I fell in love with this book and will definitely try to read more of Welch's work!

The Story

After the tragic death of her mother, Lina is whisked away to a summer in Tuscany, Italy. However, she only makes the trip because it was her mother's dying wish for her to meet Howard, her father. Her life seems as if it is falling to pieces, and she struggles to find peace with her new life.
Everything changes when she is given her mother's journal. Suddenly, Lina discovers Italy through her mother's eyes and learns about the truth behind her parentage.
If Lina's life was not crazy enough, she meets Ren, a charming boy who shows her the magic of Italy. Together, they put the pieces together to uncover the story of Lina's mother.

What I liked

This was a wonderful novel to kick off my September reading! I adored many aspects of this book including:

The Setting: I have always wanted to go to Italy, so the setting swept me away. I loved to feel as if I was Lina walking the streets of Italy with a fantastic guy and a cone of gelato. The author also makes many references to the history and art of Italy which added a strong foundation to the already-whimsical setting.
The Journal: The story was beautifully crafted as Lina's mother slowly revealed bits and pieces of her life through a journal. I enjoyed witnessing mother and daughter working together to uncover the entire truth. Even from the grave, Lina's mother remained a strong presence through her journal.
The Characters: Jenna Evans Welch created an astounding cast of characters who I found likeable and relatable. Lina's grief is depicted excellently, and she has the right amount of spunk where she is able to find herself. Ren is incredibly sweet and supportive as he helps Lina to discover the truth about her family. Howard is endearing as a father and adds nice comic relief when things get intense. All of the characters blended well together and helped to formulate a beautiful story.

What I Did Not Like

I was very unhappy when I turned the final page and there was nothing left to read of Lina's story. I want more!

Overall

Love and Gelato is an amazing book and I reccomend it to anyone looking for fun, romantic read. It was a beautiful story and is a book I will not easily forget!

Rating: 5/5

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