This book is going to make teenage girls everywhere want to run away to Italy. (Smile...just kidding)
I really enjoyed this book. It's serious, funny and shocking at times. The main character's mother dies of cancer and as a result, Lina moves to Italy for the summer to live with the father she didn't know she had. Needless to say, she doesn't want to be there. What teenager would want to live with a stranger after losing the only parent they have ever known?
However, Howard, the father, isn't the overbearing type. He does his best to stay out of the Lina's way and be more of a friend and a guardian. Of course, what young adult novel is complete without a little romance and some bad judgement on behalf of the teenagers in question?
At the risk of revealing too much, I will give you my rating. 4 stars. The story is well written, well edited and showcases the knowledge of someone who has actually been to Italy to study. There are moments when the beauty and majesty of Italy truly shines through the author's descriptions.
However, for those of us who do not speak Italian, the splatterings of Italian dialogue make really enjoying the story difficult. Instead of being able to stay absorbed in the story, we're dragged back to reality at random, in order to ask Google translate for assistance.
Overall, Love and Gelato is an excellent way to spend a few hours of your time.
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