Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch is a young adult contemporary romance set in Italy. Following her mother’s death, Lina is forced to move to Italy to fulfill her mother’s dying wish and get to know her long lost father. All Lina wants to do is go home until she receives her mother’s old notebook and stumbles upon a trail of clues making up a mystery she’s determined to solve. With the help of her neighbor Ren, Lina is determined to find out why her mother wanted her to get to know a father who’s been absent from her life for thirteen years. She’s set on uncovering the secrets her mother has hidden, no matter how horrible they may be.
The Pros: Love and Gelato was a very enjoyable book, and it’s incredibly easy to read. I found reading this a great way to relax and unwind after a long day. It was overall lighthearted and there were a lot of sweet fluffy scenes that made me smile.
The Cons: Love and Gelato definitely isn’t the type of book to read if you’re searching for a literary masterpiece. The plot and the writing is simple, and it’s more geared to be a sweet little romance with a nice and basic message. If you’re going into it for the plot and the writing, you’ll be disappointed.
To summarize, I gave Love and Gelato a five star rating simply because I found it very enjoyable and calming to read. I loved the atmosphere and I enjoyed watching Ren and Lina slowly figure out they liked each other. The ending left me satisfied and happy, and that’s enough for me. I recommend Love and Gelato to people who want a sweet, relaxing romance to curl up and read on the couch.