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La Dolce Veto

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From debut author Caitlin Alice Gilbert comes a bold and emotionally resonant romance that flips the script on scandal, and shows the power of self-discovery, redemption, and a summer of love in a small Italian town.

When steamy text messages between tenacious US Congresswoman Isabella Rhodes and her opposing candidate, Levi Cross, go public just before the election, Izzy’s reputation takes a nose dive and her political career comes to a crashing end.

Desperate to have some time out she returns to the gorgeous Italian village of La Musa, which she last visited when she was nineteen, to lick her wounds and recover. Welcomed with open arms at the Villa Farentino by matriarch Anita, she doesn’t get the same reception from her grumpy son Benito who’s just returned from England to take over as mayor after his father, Rafaello, left town...and his wife.

But Izzy can’t escape politics or matters of the heart and she quickly becomes embroiled in the village’s mission to stop Rafaello’s greedy development company from building a 5-star hotel, and along the way discovers that there’s a lot more to Benito than she thought.

When Izzy unwittingly becomes the face of the proposed development her cover is blown and she has to decide - can she save the town, mend her broken heart, and have the life she’s worked so hard for or does she want to stay out of the limelight and risk it all?

400 pages, Paperback

Published April 7, 2026

28 people are currently reading
4224 people want to read

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Caitlin Alice Gilbert

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 436 reviews
Profile Image for Cozy Puppy Reads.
150 reviews45 followers
April 15, 2026
As someone with a serious case of wanderlust who has always dreamed of visiting Italy, I loved how this story transported me. I was so excited to dive into La Dolce Veto by Caitlin Alice Gilbert, and I was surprised to learn it was her debut novel! The setting was incredibly detailed, and it felt like a total mini-vacation to the dreamy atmosphere of the sun-soaked Umbrian town of La Musa. The author paints such a vivid picture of the local life, from the gelato and wine to the incredible food, it really captures that feeling of hopping on a plane, saying goodbye to your everyday life, and starting over somewhere new. The scenes set in Lake Como were also so beautiful, the descriptions are so lush that I could practically see the sunlight hitting the water. It was a fun touch to see slight easter egg references to stories with similar themes, like Eat Pray Love and Under the Tuscan Sun, which perfectly set the tone for this journey of reinventing yourself.

I don’t usually gravitate toward workplace-centered or political-themed romances, especially with a main character serving as a congresswoman, but I really liked how ambitious and driven the female lead, Isabella, was. Watching her navigate her career in a traditionally male-dominated field, while overcoming failure and trying to find her own way forward, was a really nice, empowering message. The familiar romance tropes kept this story fun and light, too. For example, the grumpy/sunshine dynamic and forced proximity at the Villa Farentino kept the banter sharp and engaging throughout.

For my fellow audiobook lovers, the narration by Anthea Greco is very clear and easy to follow, even at 2x speed or higher. I mostly listened to the audio, but I did find myself jumping over to the ebook in my Kindle app to translate some of the brief Italian conversational phrases so I could fully soak in the context. Doing a bit of "immersive reading"—reading and listening at the same time—was definitely the best way to catch every detail of the culture and the story! Overall, this is a light, romantic read for your spring or summer TBR.

✨ Perfect if you love:
✈️ Travel romances set in Italy
🏡 Charming small town vibes
☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine dynamic
🚪 Forced proximity & sharp banter
🌱 Stories about self-discovery and starting over

Thank you to the publisher, Keeperton Audiobooks / Arndell, for the advanced listener copy and ebook via NetGalley for review consideration. I am choosing to leave this review voluntarily. These are my honest opinions.
Profile Image for anzhelika ୨ৎ.
234 reviews151 followers
Read
April 22, 2026
rtc!!

pre-read:
got the e-arc and alc on release date, and so far so good! going to try to finish it this week!

˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley, Keeperton | Arndell, and Caitlin Alice Gilbert for the digital arc and alc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗
Profile Image for Angy Twisted  Library.
108 reviews15 followers
April 19, 2026
Thank you keeperton and arndell 🫶

okay but I didn’t expect to get this attached…
I went in thinking it would just be a cute small town Italian romance, and it ended up having way more depth than i thought. Izzy feels really reaaaal she makes messy choices, has her struggles, but you can’t help rooting for her.
and Benito… aaaaa yeah he got me. he starts off very closed off and a bit difficult, but the slow shift in his character is so worth it. the grumpy x sunshine dynamic really delivers.
also this is a true slow burn. like *SLOOW* slow. the tension, the forced proximity AND with the “only one bed trope… itt takes its time but the payoff feels earned.
I was a bit unsure about the political subplot at first, but it actually added a lot without taking away from the romance.
and the setting?? italian summer, small town vibes, food, family drama… it’s very easy to get lost in it. and as an italian … I loved the little details and the way everything felt, it just hit different💕
I finished it waaay too fast and I’m still thinking about it, which says a lot 😭
Profile Image for Brianna Higdon.
74 reviews17 followers
March 26, 2026
I love getting to read an authors debut novel and I’m especially excited if it’s an advanced copy. La Dolce Veto was such a great debut and I’m so happy I got my hands on it. I was a little unsure how I’d feel about a political romance but I was absolutely enraged and hooked from the prologue. Caitlin’s writing is amazing and who doesn’t want to read about a romance in a small village in Italy? Izzy was such a new type of character to read about but I fell in love with her drive and want to make the word a better place while also wanting to have her love reciprocated. I’m always ready to read about a grumpy MMC so Benito was a great character for me. I loved to see him thaw with Izzy and finally do what he wanted instead of what others wanted him to do. I loved the romance between Izzy and Benito and everything that had to overcome to be together. This was such a dreamy romance and I really loved it. I rate it 4/5 stars and recommend it to anyone who likes forced proximity, and only one bed romances set in Italy.
Profile Image for anovelaccount (Kayla).
345 reviews50 followers
April 10, 2026
Wow, honestly, this book blew me away and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it! I loved everything about it—wasn’t initially sure how I felt about the politics aspect but it turned out to be such a unique element tactfully handled, the slow burn romance, the SETTING 😍, and even the drama.

Benito was the most perfect grumpy Italian dreamboat that I was iffy on initially but grew to adore. Izzy was flawed and her decisions at times drove me crazy, but she was so real and believable and relatable. I still was rooting for her and for her and Benito to get together already! 😂 Love/hate relationship with the slow burn but it was worth it.

So much happens in this book and I was certainly never bored. I felt like all of the plot lines worked well together to give our MCs their very hard earned HEA. I appreciated how they really had to work for it and the ending was never totally transparent as to how everything was going to work out.

I was in lovvvve with the small Italian countryside town! In faaaaact, back in 2016, my husband and I visited a small town outside of Florence called Fiesole that sounded exactly like the town described in this book! So this book was really brought to life in my mind and I felt like I was living it alongside Izzy.

🎧Listen, I think Anthea Greco may be one of my new favorite audiobook narrators! She was simply incredible. Her voice was absolutely perfect for Izzy and her ability to do other characters’ voices, including Italian accents, was truly flawless and kept me so invested in the story. Highly HIGHLY recommend listening to this one!!
Profile Image for AvidReader.
1,511 reviews348 followers
April 17, 2026
That was a fun ride.
Don’t get me wrong, this book made me feel so many emotional. In the prologue itself I was spitting mad on behalf of heroine. And then again in various parts of the book. It made me laugh and it made me cheer for some characters (I’m looking at you Anita).

I loved how charming La Musa was depicted in the story. The various characters and their quirks- I enjoyed it all.

To say Izzy’s journey was turbulent is understatement. But it also had a wonderful message- to never give up. Another highlight was Izzy stood firm for herself when it was needed. I liked hero Benito too.

I wish there was more character growth for Izzy. I also didn’t like that she was kinda rotating between Giac and Benito when she actually liked Benito more. But it all worked out in the end.
Overall an enjoyable romance.

-Politician Heroine.
-Quirky small town.
-Women empowerment.
-Well written and fun romance.
-Safe and recommended.

I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Amber (ambersmagicallibrary).
112 reviews37 followers
May 6, 2026
This story made me want to get on a plane and go Italy!! I could feel the scenery!! So good and I am not even big on the topic of politics but this didn’t feel overtaken by the topic.

I loved Izzy’s redemption story and how grumpy Benito was!! 😜 Their sneaking around was the best. I overall enjoyed the story and it kept me entertained completely! I look forward to more from this author!
Profile Image for Laura Beth.
190 reviews6 followers
March 24, 2026
A heartfelt thanks to NetGalley, Keeperton, Arndell, and Caitlin Alice Gilbert for the ALC of La Dolce Veto.

La Dolce Veto follows the story of Congresswoman Isabella Rhodes, whose career takes a turn for the worse when steamy text messages between her and political opponent Levi Cross are leaked just before the election. Izzy escapes to the charming Italian village of La Musa, where she stays at the Villa Farentino.

Izzy soon discovers that she will have to share the villa with Benito Farentino, the newly elected mayor who is trying to save his hometown, and does not trust outsiders.

What to expect
-Debut novel
-Only one bed
-Forced proximity
-Small Italian town
-Grumpy/sunshine
-Politics
-Banter and romance

The narration by Anthea Greco was perfect and brought the story to life. She used distinct character voices and accents that added so much depth while listening.

Izzy was such a strong and capable female lead. I really admired her resilience throughout the story. La Dolce Veto gave me Under the Tuscan Sun vibes (which I loved, especially with the nod to the movie).

The humor, banter, and romance were perfectly balanced, making it such an enjoyable read.
I still can’t believe this was a debut, it was so well done. I finished the audiobook in less than 24 hours. I loved Caitlin’s writing style and didn’t want the story to end, it was such a charming and delightful book!


Profile Image for Erica.
135 reviews10 followers
April 4, 2026
I loved this one and still shocked it was a debut! I’m not one who loves political romances but this was done right! The plot, the Italian summer feels, Benito, and all of the side characters, had me wanting to fly through this book in one sitting! I liked that Izzy didn’t want to change the small town she loved so much, but was helping others find the beauty she saw in it. I loved Benito as the MMC! He was kind and gentle but still had a bit of grumpy to him. Even though it was a slow burn (IMO), I still really enjoyed this one!
Profile Image for Gianna.
204 reviews121 followers
April 9, 2026
I devoured this so quick!

A woman who struggles with the balance of career and love, and in order to step back she moves to Italy. The entire book is so atmospheric, and I felt like I was there with these characters. And the ROMANCE that blossoms in this (slow burn) was absolute perfection.

If you need a bingeable summer romance-I would highly recommend!
Profile Image for Sarimarys.
299 reviews23 followers
April 21, 2026
La Dolce Veto is such a fun debut with a strong heroine and the most gorgeous Italian setting. I loved that Izzy is a US Congresswoman it made the story relatable, and I was so invested in her journey.

This book show the reality of being a woman in politics the misogyny, the pressure, the constant scrutiny. Add in Benito family drama, small town tension, and I was completely hooked.

The audiobook narration was fantastic even that it was just one narrator, but she gave every character so much personality, it made listening such a joy.

And the way the author writes about Italy… the villages, the food, the charm I just wanted to be there.

This was such an enjoyable, fast paced read. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!

Huge thanks to Arndell and Keeperton for sending me the ARC and ALC before release day!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kelsea Wolf.
74 reviews4 followers
March 13, 2026
This was such a fun read / listen. I received an ARC and an ALC (thank you to Keeperton / Arndell and NetGalley) and was able to do an immersive read. I’ll start with praise for the audiobook - Anthea Greco is one of my favorites and she does an amazing job. I love her voice and she did amazing distinguishing between the various characters / accents. If you’re a fan of audiobooks - this is a good one to out on your list!

This was such a fun spin on the whole “American woman goes to European country to find herself” tale. I now want to run away to Italy and drink all the wine and eat all the pasta. The author really sells the setting. Our FMC Izzy is trying to reset after a tough and very public “scandal.” She rents a room from a woman and unknowingly moves in with the grumpy (and handsome) mayor of the town.

I enjoyed the plot of the book and the romance. This is one of the rare exceptions where a third act break up made sense. I wasn’t sure how we would wrap everything up with a HEA, but I was satisfied by the ending. I did find myself getting frustrated with the FMC towards the end of the story, but she came around.

This is an awesome debut novel and I would definitely recommend!
Profile Image for Gosia.
341 reviews8 followers
March 24, 2026
4.5⭐️ rounded up cause I had ABSOLUTELY THE BEST TIME WITH THIS BOOK AND THE AUDIOBOOK!!!

I am a bit biased cause I love good Italian setting, small Italian town shenanigans and lines either in Italian or with Italian accent (the audiobook is MAGNIFICENT when it comes to all the accents!!!). Add the politics part and some family drama that is not overly dramatic but just the perfect amount of - I SIMPLY HAD THE BEST TIME WITH THIS STORY.

Congress woman (ex congress woman?) Izzy escapes the States after “a sex scandal with barely any sex” and goes to a little town in Umbria, Italy. She was there for a study abroad program and plans to settle there, regroup and find a job as a florist (in a town that doesn’t even have a flower shop). The place she rented turns out to be - Villa Florentino - happens to be mayor’s house. Enter the mayor - Benito. The story is packed with just perfect Italian vibes!
There is some family drama as well as political one.

Overall this book was highly entertaining. I loved the politics aspect, it kept the story interesting, especially mixed with Benito’s family “drama”.
Whole book is written in Izzy’s POV with 1st person narration.
It’s little to no spice romance. It’s def not open door, more like “fade to black” one.
While the romance is very much a part of the plot it’s not main-main focus so just a heads up if you’re expecting extremely romantic read.

The audiobook definitely elevated my reading experience. Audio performance is amazing, and all the accents, especially Italian ones gave very true and strong Italian setting vibes.
Audio duration: ~10h
Listening speed: 2x
Narrator: Anthea Greco (I’m adding her to my list of fav narrators!)

Go for it if you want a good time, highly entertaining, easy read that will make you smile.
I have a lot of highlights and at least half of them is for lines that made me smile.
Check out my reading activity for some of the quotes ;)

Also: let’s take a moment to appreciate the cover and the title!!!
Profile Image for thebookish.dragon.
289 reviews33 followers
April 25, 2026
Format: 🎧
Spice: 🌶️


Izzy give very strong female politician vibes, channeling the feminist vibes of someone like AOC. Levi was a dirt trash can full of 💩, and just when you think it’s not possible to hate him more we see him AGAIN and nope - we hate him more.

The story was very reminiscent of films like Under the Tuscan Sun (a fact that is actually brought up in the book itself), but with a fun modern twist. I really enjoyed the Italian backdrop, and I can definitely say I’ll be having Italian food tonight because the descriptions made me hangry af 😂


The Audio: single narration, Anthea Greco. Anthea did an amazing job! Her tone and pace was really engaging and I just believed she was a disgraced US Congresswoman seeking her American Italian getaway. She’ll definitely be on my radar for future audiobook picks!




Notable tropes and themes —

☀️ Grumpy MMC
🗳️ Leaked Intimate Texts
☀️ US Political drama
🗳️ Forced Proximity
☀️ Career Redemption
🗳️ Strong Woman in a Male-dominated field
☀️ Slow burn romance
🗳️ Italian small-town countryside setting
☀️ Found Family
🗳️ Vacation Romance
☀️ One Bed



I received this ALC from Keeperton Audiobooks | Arndell as an opportunity to listen and give my honest review.
Profile Image for Melissa (BWM)  Lynn.
1,338 reviews35 followers
March 7, 2026
3.75⭐, 2🌶️

Okay first of all - a moment for Caitlin, because this was such a unique debut release for her! This was such a fun book that plays off the jokes of so many famous “eat, pray, love” stories when a woman hits peak stress in life and goes to explore abroad. Isabella is a politician that just lost her election and escapes to a small town in Italy to recharge. Of course the home she is staying in has a HOT, GRUMPY, MAYOR, for a next “door” neighbor.

I loved that this book fit the political climate - how Isa is a politician dealing with so much misogyny is so apt. And then just the little bits of harassment throughout the book had my feminism raging. Then Benito dealing with his POS dad (and his ex, sorry she was not a positive character/ girls girl). so much drama in this book which definitely had me being like “I am NOT stopping this audiobook. What other household chores do I need to do?!”

💛Forced Proximity
🧡Grumpy x Sunshine
🇮🇹 Cozy Italian Small Town
🧡 Political Romance
💛New Beginning

So the romance for this book wasn’t my favorite - so much was going on for Isabella and Benito. Even how this book ended, I was a bit hesitant because it just felt like they both were in a weird space of still needing to find their happiest self (maybe a second book would help me?) Isabella is back in public office and Benito is finding his place in the world and I wanted more of them together, happy, and stable.

Thank you NetGalley and Keeperton/ Arndell Books for an eARC/ ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Profile Image for Monica.
258 reviews6 followers
March 19, 2026
Ummmm, YES A MILLION TIMES YESSSS!!

I loved this book sooo much, I couldn’t stop listening/reading.

It was so fun to read it brought me lots of laughs and a little bit of heartache. Definitely a fun time and so darn good.

Izzy and Benito are the it couple right now, I loved his gruff side his soft side and HIS JEALOUS SIDE!!!

Gahhh, and Izzy powerful and strong. But she’s still human.

I loved everything about this, from the meeting, to the drama, to the heartaches. It brought me joy that Izzy came out on top. She deserves it.

This book is told in only the FMC POV so there’s that, but when it is told this good, you don’t even miss the MMC POV. Do I wish I did know Benito’s thoughts? Of course the author did an amazing job with descriptions and feeling. 5 starts to the story 5stars to the narration!

This is the book you want to read this summer. So add to your TBRs
Profile Image for Katrina.
85 reviews38 followers
March 17, 2026
I did an immersive read for this and it was so much fun. It truly felt like one of those movies when the FMC goes to a small town in Italy and ends up falling in love with the town and a REALLY hot Italian man. I loved Izzy and her whole chaotic journey of self discovery. There was closed door spice, so if you’re not into graphic scenes, this is definitely the book for you! Thank you keeperton/arndell and the author for the arc!
272 reviews11 followers
April 4, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Keeperton for the ARC!

La Dolce Veto is a sweet and funny romance set in exotic Italy. I liked the enemies to lovers trope and how our characters slowly opened up to each other. The FMC was smart and ambitious and the sunshine in the story whereas the MMC was a grumpy mayor. A little family drama, some trauma from the past and this was an enjoyable romance.
17 reviews
April 21, 2026
I received an ARC of La Dolce Veto from Keeperton and NetGalley. This book was so enjoyable to read! Isabella, the fmc, career dives and she jets off to a small town in Italy to recover, and meets some local characters including the grumpy mmc. It’s set in a gorgeous Italian town, that makes you want to jet off to visit Italy! If you like a grumpy mmc and sunshine fmc, forced proximity, and small town romances, this could be for you! It’s combined with some gorgeous Italian small town charm making this a fabulous read.

Thanks to Keeperton and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

#LaDolceVeto #NetGalley.
Profile Image for Courtney Autumn.
488 reviews
May 2, 2026
3.5☆

US Congresswoman Izzy Rhodes is on the path to take the political world by storm when steamy text messages between her and political opponent Levi are leaked (conveniently before the election). Disgraced and defeated, she escapes to the charming little village of La Musa, Italy with the hopes to rebuild her life... but of course, there’s also a handsome broody local mayor named Benito living under the same roof.

With vibes reminiscent of 𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘶𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘶𝘯, 𝗟𝗮 𝗗𝗼𝗹𝗰𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗼 is a bold and fun contemporary romance debut. Caitlin Gilbert does an impeccable job balancing banter with romance. I was skeptical of the political theme within romance, but it worked well. Izzy is an ambitious FMC with a lot of drive and just as much heart which makes her easy to root for and entirely relatable. The slow-burn romance between her and Benito is sweet, and the array of characters within La Musa are every bit as delightful.

From politics to pasta, from pizza to prosecco, this was easy to devour, and I adored my time spent in La Musa. For lovers of grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, small town vibes, Italian settings, and stories of self-discovery and starting over, don’t miss this one!

🎙️ Anthea Greco does an absolutely remarkable job with the narration. She gives solid distinction between characters. Her accents add depth and bring the culture and Italian setting to life. This was a joy to the ears!


✨ Thank you to Keeperton Audio & Net Galley for this ALC. [𝘗𝘶𝘣 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦: 4•14•2026]
Profile Image for Yadi.
604 reviews6 followers
March 30, 2026
✨ I enjoy this story a lot! I love stories where the MFC travels to a different place to scape her past and there she finds the hottie that will help her overcome her past. This is where Benito comes in he was definitely and upgrade for Izzy who wouldn’t want a tall black hair sexy Italian with a little bit of bad attitude 😆

The romance was cute and swooning though it did gave me a little jump scare at the end. But what I love the most was Izzy self discovery and how she was able to overcome her insecurities and continue her dreams. And that is ok to start over and not let your fears consume you.

The narration was fun and engaging.

💕Thanks to Keeperton for the gifted ALC
Profile Image for Jordan Vogel.
269 reviews32 followers
March 26, 2026
The fact that this is a debut?? Absolutely amazing. I jumped between the ebook and the audiobook, and it is a prefect read for Spring / Summer! This plot is so unlike anything I've read and I ate it up.

You have Isabella Rhodes, a rising star, US congresswoman, who gets involved in a scandal and then soon after, loses her election. With her tail between her legs, and a desperate need to escape US media, she runs to a tiny town in Italy, one she hasn't been to since she was a student studying abroad. There, she can finally breathe and live a quiet life of anonymity. Until she meets her bitter housemate, Benito, who apparently can't stand her and is the tiny town's mayor (?). No matter how hard she tries, she can't escape politics or her passion for public service and is thrown into plans on how to help the town and it's residents succeed. And becomes smitten with the mayor along the way...

I really wasn't sure how I was going to like this one, but I was beyond surprised in the best way. I adored this book so much and the audio was incredible! I loved the pacing, the drama, the tension between main characters- everything. I couldn't put it down. And, the entire time I was reading, I was internally planning my next Italy visit- this story makes daydreaming about adventuring around the country inevitable.

If this is her first go at writing a stellar romance novel, I'm very excited to see what Caitlin comes up with next!

Read if you like:
- roommates / forced proximity
- broody mmc
- enemies to lovers
- political (touch of celebrity) romance
- secret relationship
- only one bed
- small, Italian town setting

Thank you so much to Arndell and the author for an early copy!
Profile Image for Nena Taylor.
288 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
March 20, 2026
Where to start with this review? Firstly this is absolutely a 5 star read for me. From the very first sentence I knew this was a top read!! The story, the world building just incredible.
I love the characters, they had so much charm to them. I love the story of how she's a woman in Congress among all the men and she was making a difference. I loved how, when it ended she didnt give up ,she chose herself and found love in a country she loved in college. I love how strong all the women that was in this book, and hiw they overcame injustice. #Benizzy love it!! Now I want to see Italy for myself lol

Also the audiobook was fire 🔥 It kept me glued to the book
Thank you to keeperton/arndell for allowing to read/listen and review and net-galley
Profile Image for Nadia.
31 reviews
April 7, 2026
Firstly, thank you to NetGalley, Keeperton, and Arndell for the ARC and audiobook 💛

La Dolce Veto explores scandal, healing, and finding the courage to love again. Izzy’s story felt so raw at the start especially the way she was treated, which honestly frustrated me but her journey in Italy gave her the space to grow, rebuild, and rediscover her purpose.

I loved the found family element and the character development throughout. Benito is peak grumpy energy and I ate that up.

This book pulled me right out of a reading slump and delivered such strong romcom vibes with a touch of realism. And honestly, Italy felt like a character in its own right 🇮🇹

This book is perfect for anyone who loves slow burn, forced proximity, and emotional, self-redemption arcs 🇮🇹💛🧡
Profile Image for ReadingTilTheBreakOfDawn.
2,014 reviews109 followers
April 7, 2026
After a political scandal surfaces between 2 opposing politicians that were once a "thing", it ruins the career of Isabella Rhodes, but pushes Levi Cross into the positive light. Thinking she has no other choice, Izzy takes a break from the political scene to live and find herself in Italy. But will the small village of La Musa still hold the same appeal it once did when Izzy was younger? Or is Izzy just running away from her troubles looking for an escape?

It was obvious by the title alone that La Dolce Veto was going to include some political aspects. But what drew me in was the Italian setting. I love being transported to Italy with the food, the people, the culture and the way of life. It was everything that Izzy needed after being thrown to the wolves when she still had so much to give in her world of politics. Even though she felt like she had to run away from her troubles, she couldn't have picked a better place with amazing people that seemed to support her. But it was Benito, who just happened to be her roommate of sorts that wasn't sure about her or her intentions while visiting La Musa.

I enjoyed this story right from the start and felt for Izzy. It's always the woman that takes the fall in a "man's world". And when she took off to Italy, I was hopeful that that situation would give her answers and a happiness she hadn't had in quite some time. Of course, we have to have a love interest and Benito fit the bill. He questioned Izzy, but also found her intriguing. And Izzy couldn't help but be attracted to the gorgeous Italian that pushed her buttons. These two may not have seen eye to eye to begin with, but they complimented one another well and actually had quite a bit in common in how they saw the future.

Overall, this was a solid debut with a good cast of characters. I loved the setting and the way Gilbert combined politics with Italy and finding oneself. I didn't always enjoy the politics, but it fit who Izzy was and I liked the way the author brought that part of Izzy full circle. The romance was ok and could've been stronger with more physical chemistry. You could feel a camaraderie between Izzy and Benito, making their attraction believable over time. I just wanted something more electric. The middle part of the story did lag, but overall was still an enjoyable read that kept my attention.

If you're ready to be whisked away to a small Italian village to find yourself this spring, then La Dolce Veto will be sure to delight you. And if you have the chance, I would recommend the audiobook as the way to read it. WIth just a single POV, Anthea Greco did a great job narrating the story and giving life to not only Izzy, but also the side characters.

3.75 stars
Profile Image for Nicole.
186 reviews7 followers
March 18, 2026
Congresswoman Izzy—Isabella Rhodes—finds herself at the center of a political scandal when scandalous text messages between her and her opposing candidate are leaked. This causes her political career—something she worked so hard to build—to come to a crashing end. On top of this, she is dealing with the loss of the person she thought she loved, only to discover he was trying to one-up her in the campaign. As a result, she leaves California and flees to the small Italian town where she once studied abroad: La Musa.

It is here that she is warmly welcomed and accepted by Anita, the owner of the villa where she is staying during her relocation. Everyone she meets is kind, accepting, and willing to help her acclimate. However, Benito—Anita’s son, who has recently returned to his hometown to take over as mayor—is not as welcoming. Izzy soon finds herself pulled into another political situation as she tries to help save the small town of La Musa. All she wanted was to eat pasta, drink wine, and sleep without a care in the world. However, this begins to change as she develops deep feelings for the people and the town of La Musa.

This book has been on my radar since early January 2026! The cover, synopsis, and author immediately drew me in—and La Dolce Veto did NOT disappoint. I am beyond grateful to have read an ARC copy. It’s such a good book!

Izzy was written with so much love and emotion. I felt her sadness, anger, excitement, and love as I read. She has to be one of the strongest FMCs I’ve come across recently. She would get my vote in any campaign!

I loved—LOVED—Anita! She is such a strong supporting character and brings so much joy to Villa Farentino, both as a host and as a mother. I instantly fell in love with her, and I’m so glad she plays such a significant role in the story. I also really enjoyed Gica and the kindness he shows Izzy. These supporting characters added so much warmth to the overall story.

I was so invested in this book that I only stopped reading to feed my kids! Caitlin Gilbert did an amazing job with her debut novel. I’m so excited to see what she releases next because La Dolce Veto is BEAUTIFUL. Now excuse me while I go and imagine planning my trip to Italy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Caitlin Gilbert, and Arndell Publishing for the ARC. This book is so good!
Profile Image for meghin.
197 reviews24 followers
April 7, 2026
Thank you to Arndell, Keeperton Audiobooks and NetGalley for the ALC opportunity! Caitlin Alice Gilbert, debut author? Well, I’m a fan!

First off: I’d vote for Izzy in any campaign- she was a great FMC! The characters were all so perfectly flawed, relatable even at times, real. I was living for the Italian setting and Audrey Hepburn vibes. I enjoyed the overall story of Izzy realizing what she wanted out of life and her ability to fall in love along the way. I also appreciated Benito’s supportiveness and his family.

Some parts of the story were predictable - Izzy’s gay “love” interest, fake relationship (Sutton), Levi reaching out to Izzy via text and email, Izzy’s move to Italy leaked to the US, hooking up with the landlord‘s son, the Housewives references, Benito agreeing to work for his dad (3rd act breakup), Levi showing up at her parents.

Unpredictable: Benito’s mother becoming mayor, Izzy leaving Italy the 2nd time, Levi being the one to leak Izzy’s location (which is crazy because of course he leaked her texts!).

Quotes that stuck with me:
“I think it’s brave to love someone when you don’t know if they love you back.”
“I feel at home with Benito’s mouth on mine.”
“You’re keeping America safer by banging the mayor.”

I love the narrator! Anthea Greco is known for Italian setting narrations. She is smooth and steady. She has natural lower register tone but was able to switch to high for the moments that needed it! Her voice as Sutton was so different from Izzy’s - so talented! Her switching was flawless. She had me impressed in the overall experience of the story for sure!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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