To Sicily with Love by Jennifer Probst

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

This book is a single-POV, closed door romance that will make you drool— not at the romance but at the FOOD!

Seriously- do NOT read this while hungry 😤 I went to Italy back in May on my honeymoon and this book actually brought me to REAL tears on multiple occasions because of how much I miss the food and culture. Jennifer did such an amazing job capturing the beauty of Italy and the love and community that revolves around food there. 

Aurora’s journey from being completely alone in life, to building and finding that community really made this book! Aurora’s relationship with her Babba was a delicate journey of grief and acceptance, and my heart felt full at the conclusion. 

The family aspect of this book is EVERYTHING! I am self admittedly not a family oriented person, and always dreamed of having my own big family full of love and laughter. To Sicily with Love really truly brought that family to life. I was so impressed with the author’s ability to have multiple scenes with many characters and no one got lost, and every person had their own individual personality. Bravo!! That’s hard stuff to write. 

What I felt like the book lacked was actually in the romance department, which I didn’t expect to be the case. I felt as if the developing romance between Aurora and Quint was told to the reader rather than shown. A lot of their interactions felt too perfect in a boring way and I would’ve loved further fleshing out of their chemistry. 

I do think a trigger warning is appropriate to share: the MFC has a complicated relationship with food and body image. This is something that improves with her healing journey and ends up being very body positive in the end, but does begin with some pretty intense negative self-talk. 

I would definitely read another in this series! Especially if it takes place in Rome 🥹 I miss that city with all my heart and soul. Now it’s time to make some lasagna 🍝

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC! 📖