Better Than Gelato

by Libby Tanner

Goodbye mind-numbing business classes, hello hunky Italian men…

When Juliet Evans scores a job as a nanny in Italy, she’s ready for a year of excitement and glamour. She is not ready for a diabolical six-year-old who swears like a pirate and hurls silverware with terrifying accuracy.

Still, it’s a small price to pay to explore Milan, take a million photos, and fantasize about becoming a professional photographer. And yes, she knows she has to take over the family business when she returns home, but a little denial never hurt anyone.

And speaking of denial, she is definitely not attracted to research intern, Jake Fields. She barely even notices his adorable dimples and quiet charm. Besides, dating an American in Italy is like eating at McDonald’s in Rome—ridiculous! Yet, despite her best efforts, Juliet finds herself in the bewildering and euphoric grip of first love.

It’s exhilarating! Intoxicating! Even better than gelato! Until it’s the one thing standing in the way of her dreams.

The future she’s always wanted is so close. Now what is she willing to give up to get it?

Perfect for fans of romantic travel stories, coming-of-age romance, and contemporary love stories set in breathtaking destinations.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

300 pages, Paperback

First published June 17, 2025

About the author

Libby Tanner grew up in a small town in Northern California that would be charming in a novel, but felt suffocating as a teenager. Yes, she left as fast as she could, and yes, she misses it very much.

In college Libby earned a degree in Communications. She wishes she would have studied creative writing instead of playing it safe, but also remembers she had student loans to pay off.

She is the mother of four sweet hooligans and is married to the world’s sexiest accountant (the world’s only sexy accountant?).

Her dream date would be eating crab legs in a hot air balloon over a vineyard.

Reviews

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better Than Gelato by Libby Tanner
Contemporary NA romance.
Juliet Evans knows her future is set but she still wants so time for herself to dream. She finds a one-year post for a live-in nanny in Milan, Italy. She will take care of the six-year-old and spend her free time learning, and dreaming of being a famous photographer though she knows a family business is reality. She makes amazing friends and has a wonderful adventure she’ll never forget. She falls in love.
Suddenly her future isn’t quite so clear.

A beautiful setting. She’s a brave young woman to travel across the country by herself and then to make friends with a group who knew the prior nanny. She takes the advice to dress better and enjoy the local food. She’s living a dream. But dreams end. Is she ready?

Charming to dream. Far from reality for most. I was able to travel for a few weeks at a time over the years and loved learning and seeing the world.

A beautiful destination. A charming romance.

[Suzanne Bourgeois · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes me miss Milan, and i've never been there, lol. i have been to italy and this book makes me wish i was there for more than a couple of days. this books feels more like a coming of age book rather than a pure romance novel. this is because you get to see the year Juliet grew up. sure romance was the lens you watched this through, but there was so much other going on, following passions and creating life long friendships, heck, even taming the untamable child, lol. Juliet is who i wish i could have been. there was a lot of introspection this book invoked.

[Ashley Yungbluth · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Better Than Gelato" by Libby Tanner is her debut book. For it being her first book published, I felt she did a wonderful job. I enjoyed riding along with Juliet to Italy while she was discovering herself and figuring out what she wanted to do in life. The relationships she forms and the experiences she goes through help transform her into the beautiful person that she is. Juliet is going to college for a business degree to help with her families business, but photography is her passion. She heads to Italy for a year to be a nanny to a little girl who is a little bit of a troublemaker. In Italy, she meets a group of friends, and they all become really close. Juliet has never really been in love, and when she finds herself falling for one of the friends, Jake, in the group, she isn't sure what to expect or do. One of my favorite scenes is when Juliet is on a date with Jake, and she wants to take a picture and climbs up in the tree. I absolutely loved Juliet's character, and for the most part, I liked Jake's. There was a time that I was upset with Jake, but I kept reading on and was glad with the way that Libby explained his character choices. I'm not going to lie, I cried and felt all kinds of emotions with this book. Overall, I felt Libby did a wonderful job and would read the next book or other books by her.

[Alexandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Juliet is college student who works as a nanny. She experiences her first love. She's dealing with choosing a profession that she is passionate about and taking over the family business. She is dealing with all of the choices of youth.

This book made me want to go to Italy. I loved how Libby described all of Juliet's experiences. I'm looking forward to book 2.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Debut Book
A heartfelt story
Comedy, love, grief, heartbreak, happiness
It was a fun heartwarming read

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had it all - comedy, love, grief, heartbreak, happiness, sadness and travel! Juliette goes to Italy for a year to work as a nanny before she finishes college and takes over the family business. Juliet wins over her charge and their bond is adorable. While away her passion for photography knows no bounds and she gets some great shots- especially of her new friends. She finds love even though she was not looking for it. She finds friendships that will stand the test of time. I really enjoyed this book! Thank you to City Owl Press, NetGalley and Libby Tanner for the ARC of this book which I received for free for my review.

[Lindsey McMahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story of first love told with the back drop of beautiful Milan! I was immersed in the setting and hooked with the love story. I couldn’t put this book down. I love the way Libby Tanner weaved in Juliet’s first experience abroad with her first love. This story is as much about love as it is about a young woman finding herself and going after what she truly wants. Bravo on your debut Libby Tanner!

I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own. 😊

[Emma_bookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, you know what you get with a romance and I don't read cutesy romances that often so its nice when I find a good one!

I like the Italian link to this, their love for gelato is like mine! I like the photography link also, it's nice to have hobbies that become a career, I wish all jobs were like that!

Juliet seems like a really nice person, down to earth and I warmed to her immediately. I wasn't sure of Jake at first but he grew on me.

The friendship circle was nice to read of also. Having a group of friends to confide in is always good. It made me smile when Paolo shared his news!

A nice, cosy, cutesy read, would recommend!

[Sentinelle23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️🤗🍦A magnificent, moving story!


California:

On the plane, 20-year-old Juliet carefully observed her neighbors, especially a tall, burly man who was clinging to his seat.

After a few minutes of discussion, the plane took off, bound for Milan, Italy...

--------

A magnificent, moving story, very enjoyable to read and so reminiscent of a true story, the kind you would love to live...

Everything is perfect: the story and the characters.

I loved this magnificent plot full of surprises with an unexpected ending.

I loved Juliet's character as well as the supporting characters.

I recommend this splendid, moving story, a must-read!
A real gem!

[Katy Beth Mckee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about this story which probably had a lot to due with being so much older than the main character and never having had any kind of similar situation. This story is well written and the background of Italy as well as the characters are really well described. I felt like we really got to know Juliet and all her new friends. There are some moments of tears which is well written if bittersweet. I did wonder how a nanny got so much time off though. The ending gave you a peek what some of them were up to a few years later. There was also a big surprise but I think I would have like one more chapter that brought people together for something like a 10 year reunion. #CMCon26

[Ashley Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars? Maybe. It was okay. I have nothing else to say.

[Kez Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a charming journey of falling in love, making new friends, and following your dreams.
Juliet has an adventurous gap year in Milan, experiencing the food and culture, working as a nanny to a challenging 6 year old with killer fashion advice, and making a new group of friends that would change her life.
She gets to explore, follow her passions for photography, and embrace new connections, but her looming future keeps holding her back with responsibilities to her family and their business.
This is a journey of self discovery, found family, and a coming of age adventure that brings love, doubts, challenges, conflicts and second chances.
I absolutely adored the characters in this, they each have a charming personality and were so supportive. It was heartfelt, emotional and inspiring.

[Tami Wylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the perfect romance read; charming, sweet and emotional with an exotic setting. The main character was very likable as we follow her as she tries to find herself again after some emotional dramas. She finds herself and love,in an excellently described setting that is picturesque and comforting. I was left with a warm, fuzzy feeling after I had read this book (and a craving for gelato!) This is a great escape story for a cozy, lazy afternoon read.

[Janne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one took a little time to pull me in, but I’m glad I kept going! ✨

A heartfelt story about love, family, and finding your path. It blends cozy moments, real struggles, and emotional growth in the best way ❤️ The setting made me want to pack a bag and fly to Italy! 🇮🇹

A warm, hopeful ending sealed the deal for me.
4 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a free ARC copy to read!

[Bookstabritni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spice Rating: 🫑

This book was very unexpected. I expected something lighthearted and predictable, but this book is a very realistic depiction of first love. It’s sweet, relatably awkward and emotional. It went in a direction that I didn’t see coming and I found it very refreshing. The FMC is genuine, sunshiny and a bit cynical. The MMC is incredibly kind but naive. This book takes place over a few years and I loved the journey to maturity. Though I would call this a romance, the FMC’s journey of navigating love, friendship, family, priorities and chasing her dreams is the more important story.

💋 Kisses Only
🫑-🫑🫑🫑 Steamy/Closed Door
🌶️-🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Spicy/Open Door

[Cadence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better Than Gelato is a sweet romance, mainly taking place in Italy. It follows along with Juliet Evans, while she spends a summer in Italy as a nanny to a 6 year old "hooligan." During this year overseas she has so many wonderful experiences and makes a fantastic group of friends.

I really had to marinate on this one for a bit between finishing and starting this review. There were so many ups and downs that left me filled with every possible emotion, which despite a few tears, I actually love when that happens.

The pacing was a bit slower than I'm used to, but honestly, that didn't become a problem for me. I really enjoyed the time spent on the beautiful descriptions and the building up of the setting and characters.

This story was beautiful, emotional, full of heart, and also heartbreaking. However, there was a good amount of humor mixed in and balancing it all out. When I find an author who can perfectly blend humor in with heartache, I know that's an author I will continue to follow.

I laughed, I cried, and I just really enjoyed this ride that felt like real life. The characters weren't perfect, they made mistakes, just like everyone does, but there was also so much learning and growth. I can't wait to see what other beautiful stories Libby will create in the future.



I received an advanced review copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion and thoughts

[Rozann Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! A fun, honest, heartwarming story. The author is a wonderful story teller, and the main character’s optimism and love of life are infectious!!!

[Jen (That's What I'm Talking About)]

Read 7/29/2025-8/1/2025.

While the premise is delightful and the story is fun, I struggled with the main female character, Juliet. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize this was a New Adult romance before I picked it up. I generally stay away from YA and NA stories because I have difficulty relating to and connecting with the main characters because their lack of maturity ends up bothering me. Tanner pens a very realistic 20-year old, and that is probably why I had trouble with Juliet.

I know Better Than Gelato will do well with the right audience, but unfortunately, it’s not me.

DNF after 9 chapters - 30%.

[Jesseca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Juliet takes a break from college to be a nanny in Italy. While there she meets wonderful friends and falls in love for the first time.

I really loved how Juliet felt like a very human character. She does things that you love and can root for and she also does things that cause frustration and make you ask, “why??” I get tired of overly perfect characters in books. It was really nice to watch the character growth.

This is a closed door or clean romance, low angst, perfect vacation or summer read.

[Rhonda Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Juliet and Jake are quite the pair. Juliet discovers how many ways a heart can be disappointed and enthralled through the pages of this book. Jake makes his share of discoveries also. Some of the sweetest words: “I wanted to see you again…”

[Sisters Reviewing Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better Than Gelato by Libby Tanner

Crystal recommends Better Than Gelato by Libby Tanner

What I Expected
I met Libby at Coastal Magic Convention when she was in attendance as a reader. I thought she was absolutely delightful and could not wait to get my hands on something written by her. I was giggling within moments of beginning Better Than Gelato, but I was still entirely unsure of what to expect. I went into the book trusting Libby and looking forward to the adventure her story was going to take me on.

What I Loved

First, I just have to express my appreciation for the cover. The colors are gorgeous. The fun and adventure of traveling, of temporarily taking on a really cool place as “home” for a length of time is captured so well.

The nanny job. Juliet is in Milan to serve as a nanny and it is obvious from the very first moment that we are introduced to Isa that things will be interesting on this front. Isa is a force. I love the creative ways that Juliet addressed her and imagine she helped the parents to see ways they could work with her. I choose to see this as the reason Juliet seems to have so much free time throughout the book - she helps with Isa so well that the parents do not need to run out of the house and far, far away! I enjoyed the ease in the relationship between Juliet and the family and loved how comfortable her stay in Milan was because she ended up being a nanny for them.

The friendships. From the first meeting with Carmen, Paolo, Valentina, Diego, and Jake, when she misunderstood the ‘concert’ part of the invitation, I was enchanted. Who does not wish to be immersed in another country, a beautiful country, and be all but gifted a built-in friend group to provide them with company and comfort as they explore and learn about the new place? Julia’s personality helped her navigate the new friendships well, and this led to lifelong friendships that are probably the best thing to come out of this story!

My Final Thoughts
This second-chance romance is a unique one. Most give us the second-chance moments, and often string us along, keeping us wondering what could ever have kept these two lovely human beings, so obviously meant for one another, apart. This story focused on the first-chance, and in the way of early romance involving young hearts, it had some sticky moments. I saw some red, very light red really, flags, but after sitting with the story, I realized that this was because they were young and wrapped up in themselves during that first-chance. The reason I adore second-chance romance is because I firmly believe that many relationships that begin too early, begin before the members of the relationship have truly found themselves; often as they find themselves and grow into who they are meant to be, the relationship cannot withstand the tests. Thus, I love when two characters get to figure themselves and come back together ready to be the partner the other needs.

What you get with Better Than Gelato is a love story embedded in a book about travel, friendships, and experiences that serves as a reminder that love is made that much better when you invest in those things and follow your dreams.

My Favorite Quotes
“She looks tougher than the last girl.” - Ira

“I know. Which is why I’ve always planned on doing things differently. Finishing college. Growing up. Taking the time to create a life for myself before I attach it to someone else’s.” - Juliet

[Dhawy Febrianti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book blends so many life elements together in a way that strongly touch your head and heart. For someone who’s been reading and reviewing romance novels lately, the love bomb doesn’t look new to my eyes. But the other elements I am mentioning, it all satisfies me with its great combination. Leaving a family pressure to your own passion, having a lifelong friendship in a foreign country, experiencing wonderful visits to neighboring places, continuing to follow your dream, it all makes me feel like being filled with the warmth of belonging, a sense of fresh readiness in mind, and several other feelings I can’t name. It’s just amazingly incredible.

This is the kind of read that gets me thinking, perhaps turning away from things doesn’t always mean dodging. Perhaps a distraction is needed to fulfill your mental needs, and to turn you into a new person with a clearer head who sees the better path to your future. Perhaps your temporary escape is just a way to regulate yourself before fighting whatever gets in your way to success.

———

Juliett Evans takes a nannying job outside the country. She goes to Italy with zero expectations to let her photography interest beat the business degree she pursues for the sake of her family’s dry cleaning shop.

Juliett comes with no plans to follow her dream. Her father was once hurt by a dream chaser, and she does not want to be the second. So, she leave just to escape torture from her business classes. But what if things start changing for her instead of her adjusting to things?

“I’ve found that the best way to stop worrying about the future is to distract yourself with all the pleasure you can get in the present.”

“My dad’s already been hurt buy one dream chaser. I can’t do that to him again.”

———

Honestly, seeing so much through such an easy-reading story is very mind-blowing. Understanding new perspectives beyond the romanticization is so eye-opening. And I love receiving all these feelings from this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Natalie Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all my expectations of this book were of a holiday romance, did I think there would be spice….maybe a little as the front cover was like other romances I’d read recently. Instead I got a wholesome and very cute holiday read that captured what it is to be in love for the very first time, as well as experiencing heartbreak for the very first time too. There were plenty of things going on in this book that kept it from getting tedious, which in a lot of ways surpassed some of the more raunchier books I’d read where one sex scene blended into another. Libby Tanner was able to create special moments with all of her characters and made you fall in love in the most unexpected places….a very headstrong six year old that reminded me far too much of my own daughter.

Did I find Jake a little toxic, yes, there were definitely things that set off some red flags for me, but then I remember that these characters are in their early twenties. They are going to make mistakes and grow as people and this book shows that perfectly. This book handled grief, love and loss very well and made me very jealous of the amazing friendship group Juliet was able to find.

My one criticism was I would have liked more descriptions of the places they visited. For a character who loved photography I would have loved to see the beautiful places from this unique perspective, especially as a few places on their travel itinerary are places I have been to myself and loved, but I understand that sometimes you can’t include everything and the relationships were the most important aspect of the story.

If you’re looking for a really beautiful coming of age story with wholesome romance and cute characters that you will wish were your besties, this is the book for you and as Marco beautifully put “some love is like gelato” IYKYK 😉

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know those books that end and you just sit there thinking, “no, don’t end yet”… that was this book for me. I could have happily stayed immersed in this world for much longer.

Thank you @cityowlbooks for the gifted digital copy via @netgalley. I really enjoyed this one.

𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝑮𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒐 by Libby Tanner was my first book by this author, but it definitely won’t be my last.

𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 ➜ 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴
𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨-𝘰𝘧-𝘢𝘨𝘦
𝘚𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘺
𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺
𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 & 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘰𝘳

This is a romantic travel story with coming-of-age themes, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Italy, with a cozy found family element that makes everything feel even warmer.

Synopsis 📖
When 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘁 Evans lands a job as a nanny in Italy, she is ready for a year full of excitement and adventure. Italy offers endless photo opportunities and the chance to chase her dream of becoming a professional photographer, even if she is technically supposed to return home and take over the family dry cleaning business.

Then she meets 𝗝𝗮𝗸𝗲 Fields, a research student who catches her off guard in the best way. Despite her best efforts to stay focused, Juliet finds herself swept into the confusing and exhilarating experience of first love.

Thoughts 💛
The pacing is a medium burn that really lets you sink into Juliet’s world. I loved how realistic it felt watching young adults try to figure out what they want from life, discovering their passions, and learning how to fight for them.

And full transparency, there is a third act breakup, which is usually not my favorite trope. But here, it works, and it is handled really well. I genuinely loved how this story unfolded and wrapped up. I finished the last page not wanting it to end.

Final Thoughts ⭐
A heartfelt, immersive romance set in Italy that balances self discovery, love, and growth in such a satisfying way.
4.5 beautiful stars!

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better Than Gelato is the first book in Tanner's Ciao Bella series. This young adult, contemporary romance features Juliet Evans and Jake Fields.

Juliet is the youngest of five kids; she's the only one in college. She's a business major as she knows that once she has her degree, she will be returning home to take over the family dry cleaning business. It is not her passion, but her family and financial stability come first. Before she finishes her degree she decides to take a year off to enjoy her last opportunity for freedom. Juliet accepts a position as a nanny for 6-year old Isabella in Milan, Italy.

While working for Marco and Sofia Rossi, Juliet meets and befriends a diverse group of people, including Jake. They are the two sole Americans in the group. Jake is in Italy conducting clinical research while he awaits his medical school admission interviews.

Jake quickly becomes enamored with the beautiful Juliet and asks her to be his girlfriend. While typically averse to serious relationships, Juliet agrees. It may have been the best, or worst, decision of her life.

Tanner takes readers along for the ride of Juliet's transformative year where she can enjoy her youth and her freedom before responsibility and adulthood truly set in. While Juliet is no stranger to hardship, she has never experienced heartbreak. Reading her story was, at times, an emotional journey. There were times I was frustrated with her situation but I appreciated her strong support network. I also liked little Isa's character and her tenacity, and was especially glad that I was not her nanny.

I quite liked Tanner's writing style and hope to read more of her works in the future.

[Sonja Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read by this author and is also the first book in the Ciao Bella series.

As soon as I spotted this front cover image and title, I knew I had to read this one as soon as possible!

 

My daughter moved to Milan last year and so I automatically grab anything to do with Italy and although I'm yet to visit, I couldn't help but spot the image of the Duomo and see the relevance of that and the Italian gelato in the title.

 

This was such a great read and I adored the descriptive writing which transported me right into the heart of Milan.

My daughter takes me on face time trips around the town so a lot of the scenes seemed familiar to me and I could see such a vivid image in my head as I was reading.

 

I really connected with Juliet from the start. With the knowledge that her life was pretty much planned out already, having to take over the family business once she finishes college, she decides to take a nannying job in Italy for a year to experience life and find herself.

 

Of course, whilst there, we see her fall for the lovely Jake - another first for her, the grip of a first love - but  will her experiences here change the plan for her future or will she return ready to take on the family business.

 

I loved this coming of age story which had me gripped from start to finish.

It was great to see how Juliet matured through taming her ward, finding love and through all of the relationships and friendships that she made throughout the year.

 

This was so well written and I'm really excited to see what book 2 will bring us.

The perfect summer read.

 

 

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better Than Gelato by Libby Tanner.
The First Taste of Love is the Sweetest.
Ciao Bella book 1.
This was a good read. I did find it slow. I loved the cover and blurb of this book. The cover is stunning. That's why I signed up. I liked the writing style but I did find the story slow. I wasn't sure how I felt about the characters. I did like the family Juliet was a nanny for. I didn't dislike the characters but i didn't have any favourites. This took me a few days to read. It was different.


Blurb.
Goodbye mind-numbing business classes, hello hunky Italian men…

When Juliet Evans scores a job as a nanny in Italy, she’s ready for a year of excitement and glamour. She is not ready for a diabolical six-year-old who swears like a pirate and hurls silverware with terrifying accuracy.

Still, it’s a small price to pay to explore Milan, take a million photos, and fantasize about becoming a professional photographer. And yes, she knows she has to take over the family business when she returns home, but a little denial never hurt anyone.

And speaking of denial, she is definitely not attracted to research intern, Jake Fields. She barely even notices his adorable dimples and quiet charm. Besides, dating an American in Italy is like eating at McDonald’s in Rome—ridiculous! Yet, despite her best efforts, Juliet finds herself in the bewildering and euphoric grip of first love.

It’s exhilarating! Intoxicating! Even better than gelato! Until it’s the one thing standing in the way of her dreams.

The future she’s always wanted is so close. Now what is she willing to give up to get it?

[Pattie · Rating 4 out of 5]

About the novel:
When Juliet Evans scores a job as a nanny in Italy, she’s ready for a year of excitement and glamour. She is not ready for a diabolical six-year-old who swears like a pirate and hurls silverware with terrifying accuracy. Still, it’s a small price to pay to explore Milan, take a million photos, and fantasize about becoming a professional photographer. And yes, she knows she has to take over the family business when she returns home, but a little denial never hurt anyone.

And speaking of denial, she is definitely not attracted to research intern, Jake Fields. She barely even notices his adorable dimples and quiet charm. Besides, dating an American in Italy is like eating at McDonald’s in Rome—ridiculous! Yet, despite her best efforts, Juliet finds herself in the bewildering and euphoric grip of first love.
It’s exhilarating! Intoxicating! Even better than gelato! Until it’s the one thing standing in the way of her dreams. The future she’s always wanted is so close. Now what is she willing to give up to get it?

For fans of romantic travel stories, coming-of-age romance, and contemporary love stories set in breathtaking destinations.

Review:
I had my doubts when I began reading this novel. It seemed as if the story was actually several stories all at once, and they were all going in different directions. Thankfully, the story arc seemed to solidify a few chapters in, and overall I did enjoy it.

Strengths: Juliet’s growth as a young woman was nice to see. She definitely nailed the nanny job once she got settled in, and the family was welcoming. Her new friends, a mix of Italian and expatriate young adults, were a great group.

Challenges: I wanted to give Juliet the advice most grown women want to give to young people: TALK TO YOUR PARENTS. Tell them your career goals. Don’t assume so much about the family expectations without discussing it with them first.

Overall, I did enjoy the book and I would recommend it for fans of Italy and coming-of-age novels. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars.

[Bianca Duthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part this is set in Italy which is described beautifully. It did make me hungry on several occasions though! The last section is set in the USA, I didn’t enjoy that section as much as the time in Italy but I think that was missing the group camaraderie of the far-flung friends.
The friendship group was really special and I loved reading their adventures. Paolo made me laugh, Diego made me cry, the girls were so warm and welcoming, I felt like I could slot into their group easily.
I loved the chapters that talked of Juliet's nannying of Isa, what a strong-willed little girl, but Juliet's quiet resolution to tame the beast resulted in some comedic and some heartwarming moments.
The main premise of this was around first love and how all-consuming that can be. To me however the main thread was about finding yourself and going for it. I really felt for Juliet talking about her degree that she was working on and wanted to shake her and shout say something! When she got her opportunity to soar it was brilliant to see her grab it and not let things stand in her way.
I thought after the first couple of chapters, once she was settled in Milan, the pace moved along very quickly.
I really liked the ending, and it left me wanting more so I would definitely recommend.

[Rebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this thinking I’d get a sweet, light-hearted story about Italy—and Libby Tanner completely exceeded my expectations. Juliet Evans is a whirlwind of charm, awkwardness, and determination, and I adored every moment following her adventures through Milan.
The kids? Hilarious. The six-year-old pirate swear machine? Iconic. I laughed, groaned, and cheered as Juliet navigated silverware missiles, chaotic family dinners, and all the chaos that comes with nanny life in a gorgeous foreign city.
And the romance! Jake Fields is quietly swoon-worthy—dimples, charm, and that “I’m noticing you in the cutest ways” energy that had me grinning like a fool. Their slow-burn, first-love story had me completely hooked, tugging at my heart while making me swoon over little everyday moments.
Libby Tanner has a gift for blending laughter, adventure, and a touch of romance that feels authentically intoxicating. Between the Italian scenery, Juliet’s photography dreams, and her first taste of love, this book left me smiling, happy, and ready to book my own trip to Milan.
If you love contemporary romance with heart, humor, and a breathtaking travel backdrop, Better Than Gelato is the perfect indulgence—truly better than gelato.