Love and Gelato

By: Jenna Evans Welch

3.5/5 🍦

It's National Ice Cream Day, so here's my pathetic attempt at making an ice cream-inspired book stalk... It could use some work 😂 The good news is, there's a great book to accompany the not-so-great stack!

Love and Gelato follows Lina to Tuscany, Italy... the last place she wants to be. In fact, the only reason she's there is because it was her mother's dying wish that she get to know her father: the man who hasn't been in her life for 16 years. While there, Lina discovers her mom's old journal and decides to retrace her mother's steps with the help of cute boy Ren. While following the writing in the journal, Lina gets more than an adventure: she uncovers secrets and maybe even finds romance of her own.

Love and Gelato is a cute tale that takes you to the heart of Italy. No need to splurge on a ticket when this book feels like an Italian dream! The budding romance between Lina and Ren is perfect for a day at the beach. I remember reading this book nearly five years ago, and I still think about it occasionally. I remember only taking a day or two to finish it, and truly being enthralled by the secret Lina was attempting to uncover. I also loved that this was a true YA read in the sense that it wasn't too heavy or completely unrealistic, yet not completely realistic. It was truly and escapism read.