"Love & Gelato" by Jenna Evans Welch

Love & Gelato reminded me a lot of Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. So if you liked Anna, you will definitely enjoy Love & Gelato. Our main character Lina recently lost her mother to cancer and on her deathbed, her mother makes Lina promise that she would go to Italy and live with her old friend Howard. Lina had never heard of this person before and is understandably very hesitant to go through with these plans, when her grandmother drops a bombshell: Howard is Lina’s estranged father and it is time to reconnect with him. I know the premise seems a bit strange and far-fetched but things do get cleared up as the story moves along.

I really enjoyed this book. It is fun and fluffy, and includes wonderful descriptions of the Italian country side (it is set in Tuscany around Florence). Lina makes new friends and learns her mother’s deepest secrets. The book also emphasizes that parents and family are not necessarily people we share DNA with, but those who, love, nurture and support us.

The only thing I had a bit of an issue with in this book is that all the events are crammed into a 5-day period. I think if they were stretched over a longer period of time and not rushed with such a lightning speed, everything would feel more natural, especially as far as relationships go. Nonetheless, I really liked this book and gave it 5 out of 5 stars, a super cute story and a great book to relax with.