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Evie in Venice
From the author of Livia in Rome comes a modern-day Venetian romance for fans of Jenny Han!
Seventeen-year-old self-taught artist Evie heads to Venice on an art exchange.
The catch? Her parents think she’s on a science trip.
As if lying wasn’t hard enough, her host family’s son, Leonardo, a fellow art student, looks down his nose at Evie. Her only comfort is online, where she shares her art with an anonymous online crush.
But when she’s assigned a project with Leonardo, she starts to question her feelings – both online and off ...
A new YA romance from the author of Livia in Rome, this time set against the beautiful backdrop of Venice
Perfect for fans of Love and Gelato, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Anna and the French Kiss and XOXO.
Think scenic gondola rides, colourful carnival parades, fine art museums and an on-and-offline love triangle!
Seventeen-year-old self-taught artist Evie heads to Venice on an art exchange.
The catch? Her parents think she’s on a science trip.
As if lying wasn’t hard enough, her host family’s son, Leonardo, a fellow art student, looks down his nose at Evie. Her only comfort is online, where she shares her art with an anonymous online crush.
But when she’s assigned a project with Leonardo, she starts to question her feelings – both online and off ...
A new YA romance from the author of Livia in Rome, this time set against the beautiful backdrop of Venice
Perfect for fans of Love and Gelato, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Anna and the French Kiss and XOXO.
Think scenic gondola rides, colourful carnival parades, fine art museums and an on-and-offline love triangle!
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 3, 2026
I received a review copy from the publisher in preparation for a UKYASpotlight interview. It has not affected my opinions.
EVIE IN VENICE is a story about art and following your dreams despite family pressures to do something stable. Particularly with finding cuts to the arts and the increasing financial pressures to follow very restrictive career pathways, I think it is important to have books showing that the money isn't everything - Evie's parents aren't rich but there is a discussion that they're doing things they mind meaningful and that's just as important. Given this is a book for teens who may be making those decisions about A-Levels and uni, knowing that there should be space for passion is important.
This theme is mirrored really nicely by the pressures out on the students at the art school. There is a demand by certain members of the faculty to follow very prescriptive classical styles, even if the students long to put their own stamps on it. It proves a source of tension beyond the romance that helps intensify the struggle Evie is going through as even being in the art school isn't a chance to escape from pressure to be a certain way.
The romance itself digs into the questions around online versus in person communication. There can be a lot of push back from certain quarters over online not being as meaningful or not as true a friendship as in person, but this book looks at how online can provide that. There is a chance to meet people in places that they don't feel the need to hide who they are when online. Yes, there are downsides to that, but Evie and Rebel don't have the same pressures to be a certain way when chatting on the forums, allowing an intimacy born of truth to form.
I guessed immediately who the real-life version of her online friend was (the audience knowing before the characters is an established trope!) and it made the whole situation funnier. There are so many things going just wrong enough that they don't work it out. I loved how the app worked to keep them apart in a way that didn't feel contrived by the result of safeguarding allied by bots that can't distinguish genuine danger from non-identifying information - and blocking it all to be safe (in the UK, this is called the Scunthorpe problem.)
I liked how the book explores Venice as both the destination and as the home. There is a discussion of the impacts of tourism on the families who have called it home for generations, while also showing - and celebrating - the things that make it such a magnet for tourists. There isn't a clear cut answer given because there isn't one.
EVIE IN VENICE is a story about art and following your dreams despite family pressures to do something stable. Particularly with finding cuts to the arts and the increasing financial pressures to follow very restrictive career pathways, I think it is important to have books showing that the money isn't everything - Evie's parents aren't rich but there is a discussion that they're doing things they mind meaningful and that's just as important. Given this is a book for teens who may be making those decisions about A-Levels and uni, knowing that there should be space for passion is important.
This theme is mirrored really nicely by the pressures out on the students at the art school. There is a demand by certain members of the faculty to follow very prescriptive classical styles, even if the students long to put their own stamps on it. It proves a source of tension beyond the romance that helps intensify the struggle Evie is going through as even being in the art school isn't a chance to escape from pressure to be a certain way.
The romance itself digs into the questions around online versus in person communication. There can be a lot of push back from certain quarters over online not being as meaningful or not as true a friendship as in person, but this book looks at how online can provide that. There is a chance to meet people in places that they don't feel the need to hide who they are when online. Yes, there are downsides to that, but Evie and Rebel don't have the same pressures to be a certain way when chatting on the forums, allowing an intimacy born of truth to form.
I guessed immediately who the real-life version of her online friend was (the audience knowing before the characters is an established trope!) and it made the whole situation funnier. There are so many things going just wrong enough that they don't work it out. I loved how the app worked to keep them apart in a way that didn't feel contrived by the result of safeguarding allied by bots that can't distinguish genuine danger from non-identifying information - and blocking it all to be safe (in the UK, this is called the Scunthorpe problem.)
I liked how the book explores Venice as both the destination and as the home. There is a discussion of the impacts of tourism on the families who have called it home for generations, while also showing - and celebrating - the things that make it such a magnet for tourists. There isn't a clear cut answer given because there isn't one.
August 31, 2026
Evie in Venice is a fun, online-to-IRL YA romance with an arty twist that I loved, probably one of my quickest reads of the year. I just wanted to spend all my time in Venice with Evie, exploring, eating food, appreciating art, meeting new people. It was such a joy to read and I’m already a bit sad it’s over.
Evie heads to Venice on an art exchange, but as her parents would never let her go, they think she’s somewhere else entirely… on a science trip. In Florence. Keeping this massive secret from her family, she overcomes her nerves and settles in for a trip of a lifetime. Staying with an elitist art student and his family, she feels like a fraud. But she escapes from it all online on the art exchange app, chatting with anonymous artist RenaissanceRebel. He keeps her grounded. He is her safe place. But she has no idea who he is in real life…
Excuse me, how have I not read an online-to-IRL romcom before? And why is it my new favourite thing? These characters were perfect, the setting was completely breathtaking, the story swept me off my feet. Evie was adorable and I loved seeing her artwork come to life, her interactions with new friends, her courage to pursue something she’s passionate about, regardless of the consequences. I think we all need to be a little more like Evie.
Of course, because this book isn’t targeted to someone in their 30’s, I knew what would happen pretty early on, but I just didn’t care. This book filled up my cup, brightened my mood and fixed my reading slump. It’s a book about following your dreams, not giving in to pressure, learning to not care what other people think. It’s a heartwarming, funny, uplifting story of love, of rivalry, of art and Italian culture. And now I need more Bruna De Luca in my life!
Perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty and To All the Boys I've Loved Before.
Evie heads to Venice on an art exchange, but as her parents would never let her go, they think she’s somewhere else entirely… on a science trip. In Florence. Keeping this massive secret from her family, she overcomes her nerves and settles in for a trip of a lifetime. Staying with an elitist art student and his family, she feels like a fraud. But she escapes from it all online on the art exchange app, chatting with anonymous artist RenaissanceRebel. He keeps her grounded. He is her safe place. But she has no idea who he is in real life…
Excuse me, how have I not read an online-to-IRL romcom before? And why is it my new favourite thing? These characters were perfect, the setting was completely breathtaking, the story swept me off my feet. Evie was adorable and I loved seeing her artwork come to life, her interactions with new friends, her courage to pursue something she’s passionate about, regardless of the consequences. I think we all need to be a little more like Evie.
Of course, because this book isn’t targeted to someone in their 30’s, I knew what would happen pretty early on, but I just didn’t care. This book filled up my cup, brightened my mood and fixed my reading slump. It’s a book about following your dreams, not giving in to pressure, learning to not care what other people think. It’s a heartwarming, funny, uplifting story of love, of rivalry, of art and Italian culture. And now I need more Bruna De Luca in my life!
Perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty and To All the Boys I've Loved Before.
August 13, 2026
I thought that maybe I had finally aged out of the teen romance demographic but we are so back! I only read this to prepare for my upcoming trip to Venice, but it ended up being so cute (and wildly unrealistic) and everything I look for in a young love story. Very Lizzy McGuire Movie vibes. On top of that it actually had lots of Venice culture throughout, lots of Italian words and phrases, and gave me a couple of ideas to place to check out while I’m there!
July 21, 2026
This YA romance will make you want to transport yourself to Venice and find your own summer romance. Through her online artist persona, Evie connects with RenaissanceRebel, a Venetian street artist. While doing an exchange program Evie learns who RenaissanceRebel is and finds what makes her art truly special. This book is an easy summer read full of heartwarming romance.
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September 13, 2026Predictable but enjoyable!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews