One Italian Summer

1.5/5
This book was ok for what it is. I'm not exactly the biggest fan of these type of cheesy romance dramas but this one was breezy and Serle's descriptions on the overall nature and environment of Italy was pleasant to envision. That being said, this book is pretty frustrating. It's funny that Serle is putting Katy, the story's lead protagonist, on this pedestal for readers to feel all this sympathy for her because of her mother's passing... and it's funny because Katy sucks. I have no reason to root for her in any way because she can't make a decision on her own without including her mother's opinions and views. Katy worships her mother, Carol, so highly and passionately that it's extremely annoying, irritating, and borderline in a way that's very grossly romantic...? Like as if Katy has a thing for her mother? It's weird. Also Eric, Katy's husband, is just thrown in the trash metaphorically by Katy pretty much the whole time for literally no reason at all. He's kind, loving, and trustworthy and Katy treats him like a villain. It's pretty dumb. And as pleasant as the descriptions are of Italy to read, I could see Italians being offended and grossed out by the surface level and stereotypical descriptions, similar to that of French people seeing “Emily In Paris.” Overall it was decent and I liked the twist but there's too many annoying things to make this redeemable.

This book was ok for what it is. I'm not exactly the biggest fan of these type of cheesy romance dramas but this one was breezy and Serle's descriptions on the overall nature and environment of Italy was pleasant to envision. That being said, this book is pretty frustrating. It's funny that Serle is putting Katy, the story's lead protagonist, on this pedestal for readers to feel all this sympathy for her because of her mother's passing... and it's funny because Katy sucks. I have no reason to root for her in any way because she can't make a decision on her own without including her mother's opinions and views. Katy worships her mother, Carol, so highly and passionately that it's extremely annoying, irritating, and borderline in a way that's very grossly romantic...? Like as if Katy has a thing for her mother? It's weird. Also Eric, Katy's husband, is just thrown in the trash metaphorically by Katy pretty much the whole time for literally no reason at all. He's kind, loving, and trustworthy and Katy treats him like a villain. It's pretty dumb. And as pleasant as the descriptions are of Italy to read, I could see Italians being offended and grossed out by the surface level and stereotypical descriptions, similar to that of French people seeing “Emily In Paris.” Overall it was decent and I liked the twist but there's too many annoying things to make this redeemable.