I might be more shocked than anybody that I actually completed all of my Netgalleys for October! So without further ado, HAPPY PUB DAY to Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella.
Synopsis:
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of I Owe You One, an utterly delightful novel about a woman who ditches her dating app for a writer’s retreat in Italy–only to find that real love comes with its own filters
“As close to perfect as romantic comedies get.”–Jenny Colgan, New York Times bestselling author of The Bookshop on the Corner
Call Ava romantic, but she thinks love should be found in the real world, not on apps that filter men by height, job, or astrological sign. She believes in feelings, not algorithms. So after a recent breakup and dating app debacle, she decides to put love on hold and escapes to a remote writers’ retreat in coastal Italy. She’s determined to finish writing the novel she’s been fantasizing about, even though it means leaving her close-knit group of friends and her precious dog, Harold, behind.
At the retreat, she’s not allowed to use her real name or reveal any personal information. When the neighboring martial arts retreat is canceled and a few of its attendees join their small writing community, Ava, now going by “Aria,” meets “Dutch,” a man who seems too good to be true. The two embark on a baggage-free, whirlwind love affair, cliff-jumping into gem-colored Mediterranean waters and exploring the splendor of the Italian coast. Things seem to be perfect for Aria and Dutch.
But then their real identities–Ava and Matt–must return to London. As their fantasy starts to fade, they discover just how different their personal worlds are. From food choices to annoying habits to sauna etiquette . . . are they compatible in anything? And then there’s the prickly situation with Matt’s ex-girlfriend, who isn’t too eager to let him go. As one mishap follows another, it seems while they love each other, they just can’t love each other’s lives. Can they reconcile their differences to find one life together?
First and foremost, thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have read a lot of Sophie Kinsella books and I have tended to really enjoy her stand alone novels. While I enjoyed this book as well, it was not one of my favorites by her.
Love Your Life is filled with Kinsella’s signature laugh out loud antics of the female lead, from start to finish. I found myself cringing and giggling at the same time, wondering what other crazy shenanigans Ava would find herself in.
While there were many funny moments in this book, I would be remiss to say that one of my least favorite troupes in a book is insta-love. I can sometimes get past insta-love over a couple of weeks, but this love story started after only one week. I could not believe that two people could be head over heels in love in such a short time.
However, the hopeless romantic in me continued on and I am so glad that I did. While the beginnings of their relationship was rushed and unbelievable at times, the way they grew together through the rest of the novel did have me invested. By the end of the book, I was rooting for Ava and was fully on board with the romance.
The one thing that really pulled this entire book together, for me, was the supporting characters. All of them blended well into the story with their colorful personalities and their quirky antics.
I would recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed any of Sophie Kinsella’s other standalone novels, or anyone looking for a cute, quick and laugh out loud rom com.
Book Details:
Title: Love Your Life
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Publication Date: Today!! October 27, 2020
Genre: Romance, Adult, Contemporary
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