This YA contemporary romance is a quick read due to the author’s easy writing style and beautiful voice. The main character is Lina, a teen who lost her mother and is fulfilling her dying/living wish to visit Italy.

When we meet Lina, she’s a brat in all caps. She’s awful to Howard and everyone else on her path; let’s face it: she flat-out uses Thomas. Yes, she’s vulnerable because of her mother’s passing, but it shouldn’t have been an automatic forgive your attitude card, yet it seems that Welch condones the bad behavior and rudeness like it was expected, and frankly, it got borderline annoying. However, on the flip side, Welch truly transports us to Tuscany through the vivid settings and all the places Lina visits, and you can practically taste all the food Lina eats.

For all intents and purposes, Ren is Lina’s love interest, but he has a girlfriend, and it’s odd how Welch portrays their relationship. As soon as Lina comes into the picture, the girlfriend is ignored and lied to, and Welch seems to condone Ren’s actions of emotionally cheating on her, which just goes to show his skewed moral compass. Yet, he’s the swoon-worthy love interest?

Howard, being the kind-hearted, patient man he is, has some awesomely sweet moments as a father figure, and readers can’t help feeling sorry for him throughout the book. Welch’s built-in element of mystery about Lina’s mother’s past, her time in Italy, and the journal she left for Lina keeps readers turning the pages to learn more. This is what made this a 2-star read.