What do you think?
Rate this book
Lyckan finns i ett ögonblick
Kate Eberlens kärlek till dans i alla dess former och staden Rom gav henne inspirationen till den nya romanen Lyckan finns i ett ögonblick.
Letty och Alf träffas på en kurs i italienska för utlänningar i Rom, ett språk som båda kämpar med. Men det språk de kan tala utan svårighet är dansens. Letty började sin bana som balettdansös innan karriären tog slut på grund av en knäskada, medan Alf är brittisk mästare i pardans. Hon kommer från London och han från Blackpool och deras olika ursprung har ingen betydelse så länge de upptäcker Rom och lär känna varandra.
Men i ett slag förändras allt när båda konfronteras med sitt förflutna och deras respektive hemligheter hotar att röjas. Vad var det som fick dem att lämna England, och vad flyr de ifrån? Letty och Alf får allt svårare att berätta sanningen om sina liv för varandra. Letty återvänder till London och Alf till Blackpool. Frågan är om de kan hitta en framtid tillsammans?
Letty och Alf träffas på en kurs i italienska för utlänningar i Rom, ett språk som båda kämpar med. Men det språk de kan tala utan svårighet är dansens. Letty började sin bana som balettdansös innan karriären tog slut på grund av en knäskada, medan Alf är brittisk mästare i pardans. Hon kommer från London och han från Blackpool och deras olika ursprung har ingen betydelse så länge de upptäcker Rom och lär känna varandra.
Men i ett slag förändras allt när båda konfronteras med sitt förflutna och deras respektive hemligheter hotar att röjas. Vad var det som fick dem att lämna England, och vad flyr de ifrån? Letty och Alf får allt svårare att berätta sanningen om sina liv för varandra. Letty återvänder till London och Alf till Blackpool. Frågan är om de kan hitta en framtid tillsammans?
404 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2020
69 people are currently reading
1299 people want to read
About the author
Kate Eberlen
13 books221 followersKate Eberlen grew up in a small town thirty miles from London and spent her childhood reading books and longing to escape. She studied Classics at Oxford University before working in publishing and as a teacher. Kate now lives on the south coast of England, but spends as much time as she can in Italy, a country she loves. She is married with one son.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews
May 4, 2020
Romance novel, part set in ROME
3.5*
This is the story of the burgeoning romance between Alf and Letty, who happen upon each other in an Italian class in Rome. It turns out that both have a dancing background which they discover when they naturally fall into rhythmic steps on the Piazza Navona. How romantic is that! Alf was the Junior Ballroom and Latin Champion and Letty was a perfectionist ballerina who, unfortunately, snapped her cruciate ligament and her ballet moves never recovered sufficiently for her to continue in the profession. He has only recently left school after A Levels and she is taking a little time out from her Classics studies at Oxford.
The novel is divided into three parts and the first part – set in 2018 – charts the tentative first steps of love. The prose is delightful and there is sunshine in the writing, with a nicely constructed narrative. It is, in fact, polished writing and storytelling. It is also stunning for armchair travel to Rome, whether it is dining in a trattoria, following the well trodden path of the Via Appia, passing by the Circus Maximus or wandering up to the Palatine. The author charts insights into Italian life (the Italians always drink beer with pizza and only tourists would order a Cappuccino after midday – don’t be that person! Or that Prince Charming in Italian is the Blue Prince. Who knew?…). It is clear the author is invested in the story and delights in the sense of place, hinting, though at darker backgrounds for both Letty and Alf.
Part Two dials back 18 months to explore these backgrounds, looking at their individual encounters and how they eventually come to be in Rome. It is a bit of a mash-up between An Education / The Graduate / Pretty Woman. It paints Alf as a great ballroom dance teacher (he hales from a family of ballroom dancers), but who is a bit of a hapless liar, who starts a relationship with Gina, with whom he comes to Rome all those months later. Letty finds herself entangled with Spencer, an older, rich man; she also faces some personal demons. The setting moves away from Rome, to Oxford, London and Blackpool with a quick trip to New York thrown in.
Part three is a helter skelter ride to the finish line.
It is almost as though one writer beautifully penned Part One; and, then, a second, different hand took over and authored Parts Two and Three. Part One set the bar high and I was delighted to be part of the poignant Letty/Alf story, I loved my immersive ‘trip’ to the author’s well-researched city, and revelled in the warmth of the story. I then felt the ‘other’ author in Parts Two/Three had chosen her ending and was intent on getting her characters to the pre-ordained conclusion, at whatever cost. That cost for me was rather high. Parts Two/Three were like una insalata mista sprinkled with a multitude of big, life-changing themes, that, to my mind, needed a firmer editing hand. There is a lot of buzz around this novel, so do pick up a copy and judge for yourself!
3.5*
This is the story of the burgeoning romance between Alf and Letty, who happen upon each other in an Italian class in Rome. It turns out that both have a dancing background which they discover when they naturally fall into rhythmic steps on the Piazza Navona. How romantic is that! Alf was the Junior Ballroom and Latin Champion and Letty was a perfectionist ballerina who, unfortunately, snapped her cruciate ligament and her ballet moves never recovered sufficiently for her to continue in the profession. He has only recently left school after A Levels and she is taking a little time out from her Classics studies at Oxford.
The novel is divided into three parts and the first part – set in 2018 – charts the tentative first steps of love. The prose is delightful and there is sunshine in the writing, with a nicely constructed narrative. It is, in fact, polished writing and storytelling. It is also stunning for armchair travel to Rome, whether it is dining in a trattoria, following the well trodden path of the Via Appia, passing by the Circus Maximus or wandering up to the Palatine. The author charts insights into Italian life (the Italians always drink beer with pizza and only tourists would order a Cappuccino after midday – don’t be that person! Or that Prince Charming in Italian is the Blue Prince. Who knew?…). It is clear the author is invested in the story and delights in the sense of place, hinting, though at darker backgrounds for both Letty and Alf.
Part Two dials back 18 months to explore these backgrounds, looking at their individual encounters and how they eventually come to be in Rome. It is a bit of a mash-up between An Education / The Graduate / Pretty Woman. It paints Alf as a great ballroom dance teacher (he hales from a family of ballroom dancers), but who is a bit of a hapless liar, who starts a relationship with Gina, with whom he comes to Rome all those months later. Letty finds herself entangled with Spencer, an older, rich man; she also faces some personal demons. The setting moves away from Rome, to Oxford, London and Blackpool with a quick trip to New York thrown in.
Part three is a helter skelter ride to the finish line.
It is almost as though one writer beautifully penned Part One; and, then, a second, different hand took over and authored Parts Two and Three. Part One set the bar high and I was delighted to be part of the poignant Letty/Alf story, I loved my immersive ‘trip’ to the author’s well-researched city, and revelled in the warmth of the story. I then felt the ‘other’ author in Parts Two/Three had chosen her ending and was intent on getting her characters to the pre-ordained conclusion, at whatever cost. That cost for me was rather high. Parts Two/Three were like una insalata mista sprinkled with a multitude of big, life-changing themes, that, to my mind, needed a firmer editing hand. There is a lot of buzz around this novel, so do pick up a copy and judge for yourself!
March 1, 2020
4.5 stars
This was a slow starter for me, it seemed to include lots of extraneous details about the characters' daily activities that baffled me a bit at first and I had to work a bit to figure out what was going on. I'm kind of a lazy reader so that level of effort almost made me bail a couple of times, but the other reviews raved about this and I didn't want to miss out. I also struggled to get used to the present tense narrative as well, probably because it's not what I'm used to.
I was so relieved I didn't bail on this, it was such a romantic read with all of the feels. Gradually all of the details that I had thought were unnecessary at the beginning fell beautifully into place. I was kind of in awe at how intricately plotted this story was. The clues are 'bread-crumbed' through the narrative so I had quite a few 'oh, right' moments of epiphany as read which I absolutely loved.
At its heart it's a romance featuring two characters with a past. Most of the story is set in Rome and the story makes full use of the history and heat and classical beauty of Italy. Once this started to come together, I struggled to put it down and I feel like I've spent a couple of days somewhere warm and beautiful instead of cold, rainy England.
Romantic and escapist, this is a lovely standalone read. Recommended.
**Thanks to the publisher via netgalley for the arc.**
This was a slow starter for me, it seemed to include lots of extraneous details about the characters' daily activities that baffled me a bit at first and I had to work a bit to figure out what was going on. I'm kind of a lazy reader so that level of effort almost made me bail a couple of times, but the other reviews raved about this and I didn't want to miss out. I also struggled to get used to the present tense narrative as well, probably because it's not what I'm used to.
I was so relieved I didn't bail on this, it was such a romantic read with all of the feels. Gradually all of the details that I had thought were unnecessary at the beginning fell beautifully into place. I was kind of in awe at how intricately plotted this story was. The clues are 'bread-crumbed' through the narrative so I had quite a few 'oh, right' moments of epiphany as read which I absolutely loved.
At its heart it's a romance featuring two characters with a past. Most of the story is set in Rome and the story makes full use of the history and heat and classical beauty of Italy. Once this started to come together, I struggled to put it down and I feel like I've spent a couple of days somewhere warm and beautiful instead of cold, rainy England.
Romantic and escapist, this is a lovely standalone read. Recommended.
**Thanks to the publisher via netgalley for the arc.**
May 1, 2020
>>In einer fremden Stadt ist der Tanz die Sprache ihrer Liebe<<
„Only You – Alles beginnt in Rom“ von Kate Eberlen ist der neue Roman der Autorin und ich habe mich so wahnsinnig auf diese Liebesgeschichte gefreut! Doch wie das leider oftmals ist mit den Erwartungen, hat mich Only You leider etwas enttäuscht. Aber zuerst einmal zum positiven, denn wirklich gelungen ist der Autorin hier mir als Leser das Urlaubsfeeling und Italien näher zu bringen, das hat mir auch sehr sehr gut gefallen! Ich hätte spontan wirklich Lust gehabt selbst durch Rom zu laufen, einfach toll! Die Liebesgeschichte und die Charaktere blieben für mich dann leider doch eher etwas ausdruckslos, naiv und an einigen Stellen gab es für meinen Geschmack viel zu viel gewolltes Drama, was einfach auch ziemlich flott abgehandelt war und für mich persönlich irgendwie kaum tiefe Gefühle rüber kamen. Mein Fazit: Kann man lesen, muss man aber nicht...
„Only You – Alles beginnt in Rom“ von Kate Eberlen ist der neue Roman der Autorin und ich habe mich so wahnsinnig auf diese Liebesgeschichte gefreut! Doch wie das leider oftmals ist mit den Erwartungen, hat mich Only You leider etwas enttäuscht. Aber zuerst einmal zum positiven, denn wirklich gelungen ist der Autorin hier mir als Leser das Urlaubsfeeling und Italien näher zu bringen, das hat mir auch sehr sehr gut gefallen! Ich hätte spontan wirklich Lust gehabt selbst durch Rom zu laufen, einfach toll! Die Liebesgeschichte und die Charaktere blieben für mich dann leider doch eher etwas ausdruckslos, naiv und an einigen Stellen gab es für meinen Geschmack viel zu viel gewolltes Drama, was einfach auch ziemlich flott abgehandelt war und für mich persönlich irgendwie kaum tiefe Gefühle rüber kamen. Mein Fazit: Kann man lesen, muss man aber nicht...
April 28, 2020
Obwohl ich ein paar Startschwierigkeiten hatte, gefiel mir das Buch wirklich gut! Ich habe in letzter Zeit viel Romance gelesen, meistens leichte Lektüre bei der man nicht viel nachdenken muss. Das ist hier anders. Erst fand ich das etwas negativ, aber dann ist mir klar geworden, dass diese Geschichte mehr als einfach nur eine Romanze ist. Sie ist ernsthafter und tiefgründiger und handelt von Krankheit - sowohl seelischer als auch körperlicher. Und es handelt von Liebe - falscher und echter Liebe.
•
Die beiden Protagonistin nähern sich nur sehr langsam einander an. Erste Gespräche, vorsichtige und zaghaft Berührungen, wie die beiden langsam durch den Tanz zueinander finden. Das alles fand ich wundervoll gefühlvoll geschrieben. Auch wie sich durch Rückblicke und Erinnerungen langsam die Vergangenheit zusammen setzt und wie man nach und nach versteht wie Letty so vorsichtig geworden ist. Man denkt man weiß was ihr damals passiert ist, man hat eine Ahnung warum sie so verschlossen ist und dann kriegt man ein weiteres Puzzlestück und man denkt sich irgendwann, wie viel kann ein Mensch aushalten?
•
Der Mittelteil des Buches findet komplett in der Vergangenheit statt. Ein sehr gutes Mittel um den Leser zu locken und bei Atem zu halten. Auch hier wird man vorsichtig an die Dinge herangeführt und zu keiner Zeit mit Informationen überschüttet was ich sehr angenehm fand. Das heißt jedoch keineswegs, dass alles nur gemächlich ist, denn es gibt ein paar Schockmomente an denen ich wirklich pausieren musste und das gelesen wirken lassen musste.
•
Am Ende gab es die ein oder andere Sache, die nicht unbedingt hätte sein müssen. Und vielleicht fand ich die Auflösung auch etwas zu einfach gestaltet, da doch ein paar Fragen offen blieben und ein großer Aspekt aus Lettys Vergangenheit fast vom Tisch gefegt wurde.
•
Trotzdem: Im Großen und Ganzen hat mir die Geschichte wirklich gut gefallen!
Klischees sind bei solchen Liebesromanen natürlich immer vorhanden, aber ich finde die Autorin hat einen guten Job gemacht auch die unschönen Teile gut und verständlich wiederzugeben.
•
Die beiden Protagonistin nähern sich nur sehr langsam einander an. Erste Gespräche, vorsichtige und zaghaft Berührungen, wie die beiden langsam durch den Tanz zueinander finden. Das alles fand ich wundervoll gefühlvoll geschrieben. Auch wie sich durch Rückblicke und Erinnerungen langsam die Vergangenheit zusammen setzt und wie man nach und nach versteht wie Letty so vorsichtig geworden ist. Man denkt man weiß was ihr damals passiert ist, man hat eine Ahnung warum sie so verschlossen ist und dann kriegt man ein weiteres Puzzlestück und man denkt sich irgendwann, wie viel kann ein Mensch aushalten?
•
Der Mittelteil des Buches findet komplett in der Vergangenheit statt. Ein sehr gutes Mittel um den Leser zu locken und bei Atem zu halten. Auch hier wird man vorsichtig an die Dinge herangeführt und zu keiner Zeit mit Informationen überschüttet was ich sehr angenehm fand. Das heißt jedoch keineswegs, dass alles nur gemächlich ist, denn es gibt ein paar Schockmomente an denen ich wirklich pausieren musste und das gelesen wirken lassen musste.
•
Am Ende gab es die ein oder andere Sache, die nicht unbedingt hätte sein müssen. Und vielleicht fand ich die Auflösung auch etwas zu einfach gestaltet, da doch ein paar Fragen offen blieben und ein großer Aspekt aus Lettys Vergangenheit fast vom Tisch gefegt wurde.
•
Trotzdem: Im Großen und Ganzen hat mir die Geschichte wirklich gut gefallen!
Klischees sind bei solchen Liebesromanen natürlich immer vorhanden, aber ich finde die Autorin hat einen guten Job gemacht auch die unschönen Teile gut und verständlich wiederzugeben.
September 28, 2020
"ONLY YOU" has all the hallmarks of what a fine novel should be. It's engaging, compelling, well-written, and has characters who become instantly real and relatable. Normally, I'm not a fan of contemporary or near contemporary (i.e. spanning from 2010 to 2018) novels. But after having read Kate Eberlen's previous novel, "Miss You", which touched me deeply, I was keen to read "Only You".
The novel begins in Rome where Alf, a young, blond Englishman and skilled dancer/dance instructor (who had won awards in his hometown of Blackpool for ballroom and Latin dancing) is one of 2 native English speakers in an Italian language class in Rome. The other native English speaker is Letty, a 20-something Londoner and Classics student at Oxford. Alf notices Letty, finds her attractive and, by degrees, tries to ingratiate himself with her. At first, Letty is determined to keep her distance from Alf. What I loved as the novel proceeded to expand in scope is the way the author would reveal to the reader the backstories of both Alf and Letty, which would subtly influence how Alf and Letty developed a closeness and trust in each other.
Yet, this is no fairy tale novel. "ONLY YOU" conveys in the truest sense how a romantic relationship for a young couple blossoms, flounders (for a host of reasons), and gives rise to questions whose answers can only be found through the vicissitudes of life itself as it is played out over time. This is a thoroughly satisfying novel that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND to anyone reading this review.
The novel begins in Rome where Alf, a young, blond Englishman and skilled dancer/dance instructor (who had won awards in his hometown of Blackpool for ballroom and Latin dancing) is one of 2 native English speakers in an Italian language class in Rome. The other native English speaker is Letty, a 20-something Londoner and Classics student at Oxford. Alf notices Letty, finds her attractive and, by degrees, tries to ingratiate himself with her. At first, Letty is determined to keep her distance from Alf. What I loved as the novel proceeded to expand in scope is the way the author would reveal to the reader the backstories of both Alf and Letty, which would subtly influence how Alf and Letty developed a closeness and trust in each other.
Yet, this is no fairy tale novel. "ONLY YOU" conveys in the truest sense how a romantic relationship for a young couple blossoms, flounders (for a host of reasons), and gives rise to questions whose answers can only be found through the vicissitudes of life itself as it is played out over time. This is a thoroughly satisfying novel that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND to anyone reading this review.
October 9, 2020
"The most anticipated Romance of the year" - really? Is it really? Because I did not find this book remotely romantic. It was an absolute snooze fest!
It was tormentingly slow, the pacing was disjointed, the characters underdeveloped and unoriginal. The story line is predictable, you know what's going to happen between the characters because nothing is done with subtlety or finesse, and the author drags it out for forever. Nothing remotely interesting happened, which made the reading experience torturous!
If you like a book that can send you to sleep, read this.
Just don't read it if you are actually after a story of love and romance.
It was tormentingly slow, the pacing was disjointed, the characters underdeveloped and unoriginal. The story line is predictable, you know what's going to happen between the characters because nothing is done with subtlety or finesse, and the author drags it out for forever. Nothing remotely interesting happened, which made the reading experience torturous!
If you like a book that can send you to sleep, read this.
Just don't read it if you are actually after a story of love and romance.
April 30, 2020
This story entranced me from page one. It had everything I love about a good story: fascinating characters, a great storyline, Italy, dancing and a little bit of tension. I hated having to put it down and in the end, gave up the afternoon to finish it. It was that good.
The characters are well written, good to read about and totally believable. I just loved Alf, young but mature for his years. A true gentleman and a ballroom and Latin dancer. What's not to love about a man who can dance? If I was forty years younger I would have fallen in love with him!
Letty is so vulnerable; I just wanted to wrap her up and make things right for her. I felt all her defencelessness and fears; the writing was so good you could really get inside the heads of the characters.
I just loved wandering around Rome with these two and felt I was there. As I did when Letty is dancing in Alf's arms...a Viennese Waltz in a piazza, what a dream. I loved this story and was sorry when it ended. I highly recommend reading this one.
The characters are well written, good to read about and totally believable. I just loved Alf, young but mature for his years. A true gentleman and a ballroom and Latin dancer. What's not to love about a man who can dance? If I was forty years younger I would have fallen in love with him!
Letty is so vulnerable; I just wanted to wrap her up and make things right for her. I felt all her defencelessness and fears; the writing was so good you could really get inside the heads of the characters.
I just loved wandering around Rome with these two and felt I was there. As I did when Letty is dancing in Alf's arms...a Viennese Waltz in a piazza, what a dream. I loved this story and was sorry when it ended. I highly recommend reading this one.
November 8, 2020
Letty en Alf leren elkaar kennen in Rome, waar ze allebei een cursus Italiaans volgen. Ze zijn de enige studenten die Engels spreken, maar dat zorgt niet direct voor hun speciale connectie. Alf, die als gids werkt en groepen mensen rondleidt, nodigt Letty uit om samen met hem de stad te verkennen. Op één van hun ontdekkingstochten komen ze erachter dat ze allebei een passie voor dans hebben, een passie waar ze elkaar in vinden en waardoor ze uiteindelijk voor elkaar vallen, ondanks hun verschillende achtergronden. Ze voelen zich gelukkig, maar hebben allebei ook grote geheimen voor elkaar. Geheimen die hun toekomst volledig kunnen veranderen. Waar lopen ze voor weg? En zullen ze deze obstakels kunnen overwinnen?
Het boek is opgedeeld in 3 delen: het heden, het verleden en de toekomst. In het heden leer je beide personages kennen en hun perspectieven wisselen elkaar af. Het verhaal start langzaam, met veel details over hun dagelijkse leven die eerst niet zo interessant lijken en het riep bij mij ook vragen op over sommige acties van de personages, acties die ik niet altijd goed begreep en waardoor ik niet direct een connectie met ze voelde. Maar als je doorleest komt het verhaal steeds beter op gang, verdwijnen onbelangrijkere details naar de achtergrond en zeker wanneer Kate Eberlen het verleden van Letty en Alf langzaam ontvouwt, komt er op steeds meer vragen een antwoord, wordt het verhaal meeslepender en kon ik het boek op een gegeven moment niet meer wegleggen totdat ik wist hoe het precies af zou lopen.
Het is een liefdesverhaal, maar nog veel meer dan dat. Beide personages hebben een interessant achtergrondverhaal, het verhaal heeft diepgang en is toch fris en vlot geschreven. Rome is bijna een personage op zichzelf, door beeldende, kleurrijke omschrijvingen van onder andere de omgeving, de inwoners, het eten en bepaalde gewoontes. Extra leuk als je al eens in de stad bent geweest, want dan zul je zeker plaatsen herkennen. Als je, net als ik, veel vragen hebt in het begin, zet dan zeker even door, want uiteindelijk heb ik toch echt wel genoten van dit bijzondere verhaal!
3.5⭐️
Het boek is opgedeeld in 3 delen: het heden, het verleden en de toekomst. In het heden leer je beide personages kennen en hun perspectieven wisselen elkaar af. Het verhaal start langzaam, met veel details over hun dagelijkse leven die eerst niet zo interessant lijken en het riep bij mij ook vragen op over sommige acties van de personages, acties die ik niet altijd goed begreep en waardoor ik niet direct een connectie met ze voelde. Maar als je doorleest komt het verhaal steeds beter op gang, verdwijnen onbelangrijkere details naar de achtergrond en zeker wanneer Kate Eberlen het verleden van Letty en Alf langzaam ontvouwt, komt er op steeds meer vragen een antwoord, wordt het verhaal meeslepender en kon ik het boek op een gegeven moment niet meer wegleggen totdat ik wist hoe het precies af zou lopen.
Het is een liefdesverhaal, maar nog veel meer dan dat. Beide personages hebben een interessant achtergrondverhaal, het verhaal heeft diepgang en is toch fris en vlot geschreven. Rome is bijna een personage op zichzelf, door beeldende, kleurrijke omschrijvingen van onder andere de omgeving, de inwoners, het eten en bepaalde gewoontes. Extra leuk als je al eens in de stad bent geweest, want dan zul je zeker plaatsen herkennen. Als je, net als ik, veel vragen hebt in het begin, zet dan zeker even door, want uiteindelijk heb ik toch echt wel genoten van dit bijzondere verhaal!
3.5⭐️
September 5, 2023
Zum Anfang hatte ich leider etwas Probleme in die Story hineinzukommen, aber nach ein paar Kapiteln hat sich dies geändert. Ich mochte vor allem das Italienische Setting ☀️🇮🇹und das es viel um die Sprache an sich ging. Des Weiteren gefiel mir auch die Einblicke und den Alltag in einer Sprachschule. So kamen beispielsweise viele Italienische Ausdrücke in dem Buch vor, aber ich habe es nicht als störend empfunden. ☺️💖Man erhält jeweils die Perspektive von Letty und Alf und dadurch konnte ich gut die Gedanken und Gefühle der Protagonisten nachvollziehen. Letty als Charakter fand ich sehr interessant, da sie eher verschlossen und schüchtern wirkt. Weiterhin habe mich die ganze Zeit gefragt, weswegen die Charaktere nach Rom gegangen sind und welches Problem sie belastet. Es erfolgt in der Mitte des Buches eine Auflöung, in dem jeweils die Vergangenheit der Charaktere beleuchtet wird und ich war echt schockiert, welche schwerwiegenden Dinge Letty schon erlebt hat.🙈 Durch Alfs Vergangenheit konnte ich persönlich seine Handlung in der Gegenwart besser verstehen. Es passieren viele schreckliche Dinge und so war ich die ganze Zeit gespannt, wie es jetzt ausgeht. Auch fand ich schön, dass man am Ende auch noch die Perspektive von Lettys Mutter erhält und man sie somit als Charakter etwas mehr kennenlernt.😊
Mich hat leider gestört, dass das Ende für mich einfach etwas überhastet wirkte und auch die Auflösung der Konflikte meiner Meinung nach, zu einfach war. Dennoch kann ich das Buch empfehlen und es bekommt von mir 4🌟
Mich hat leider gestört, dass das Ende für mich einfach etwas überhastet wirkte und auch die Auflösung der Konflikte meiner Meinung nach, zu einfach war. Dennoch kann ich das Buch empfehlen und es bekommt von mir 4🌟
May 5, 2020
Only You by Kate Eberlen has just been published April 30th with Mantle Books (Pan Macmillam imprint). Described as ‘the unmissable feel-good love story of the summe' Only You is a book that was unexpectedly much more intense than I had anticipated. Set primarily in Rome it is a wonderful journey through the streets and history of this beautiful city. I closed my eyes and virtually inhaled the scents and soaked up the sounds of a city that I have visited twice and plan to return to some day.
Only You is the story of Letty and Alf, two young people who travel to Rome to escape their own lives back in the UK. Both have a past, a history that they are struggling with. Neither are sure of their way and are looking for answers. A chance meet-up in an Italian language class sets both Letty and Alf on a very serendipitous journey, one filled with heart-wrenching truths and a passionate romance.
Alf is a ballroom dancer, a champion dancer. He has danced and competed all his life, with both his mother and grandmother very involved in the business running a dance school at home in Blackpool. A life-changing decision during his final year in school results in Alf moving to Rome working in various positions to pay his way. Alf is a lovable charmer with the looks and the personality that appeals to most folk but he knows his Italian speaking skills are not good enough to sustain him so he makes the decision to join an Italian language school.
Letty is a troubled young woman running away from many traumatic events in her life. Letty had always dreamed of being a ballerina but her path changed. Now she is looking to hide, to forget her life and live in the shadows for a bit while she figures out how best to move on in her life. Letty is from an affluent family but her safety-net has crumbled and Letty is struggling to stay afloat. A month in Rome away from the chaos is escape for Letty, but with little spoken Italian, she makes a decision to take classes.
When Alf crosses paths with Letty the attraction is immediate. There is something about her. She is an almost ethereal presence in a room but Alf is wary around her, tentatively testing the waters daily. They do find a routine of meeting up after class, where Alf takes Letty on trips around the city. Alf works as a tour guide so he has a different approach on these trips and with Letty, a classics scholar, their adventures become more. A spontaneous dance around the stunning Piazza Navona triggers a spark, an electricity between the two and something changes.
Alf and Letty are both struggling with life for various reasons with Kate Eberlen raising many societal issues of mental health, abuse, consent and power. I was, however, a little taken back in relation to one particular plot-line, as I was hoping for a more appropriate outcome. But, putting that to one side, I really enjoyed the escapism of Only You.
Alf and Letty have a passionate, yet also very tender connection. but something so delicate will always struggle when faced with adversity. Letty returns to London and Alf to Blackpool but the memory of Rome lives on. Will they find each other again? Can their past be left in the past?
Only You is a novel that explores the frailty and fragility of love in all it’s colours. Letty and Alf are hurting, are confused but when together they find a sense of belonging and a clearer understanding of who they really are. The descriptions throughout are very vivid, providing the reader with the opportunity to imagine that they are walking down the Via Veneto, sipping Prosecco near the Pantheon, throwing coins in the Trevi Fountain or walking in the footsteps of Julius Caesar in the Forum. You see it all through the eyes of young love and it really is gorgeous to witness.
Only You is a sumptuous exploration of The Eternal City and a heart-aching tale of a passion, of true love. It is the story of two young people trying to find their way, trying to find themselves in a world that can ofttimes be extremely challenging and difficult.
Only You is the story of Letty and Alf, two young people who travel to Rome to escape their own lives back in the UK. Both have a past, a history that they are struggling with. Neither are sure of their way and are looking for answers. A chance meet-up in an Italian language class sets both Letty and Alf on a very serendipitous journey, one filled with heart-wrenching truths and a passionate romance.
Alf is a ballroom dancer, a champion dancer. He has danced and competed all his life, with both his mother and grandmother very involved in the business running a dance school at home in Blackpool. A life-changing decision during his final year in school results in Alf moving to Rome working in various positions to pay his way. Alf is a lovable charmer with the looks and the personality that appeals to most folk but he knows his Italian speaking skills are not good enough to sustain him so he makes the decision to join an Italian language school.
Letty is a troubled young woman running away from many traumatic events in her life. Letty had always dreamed of being a ballerina but her path changed. Now she is looking to hide, to forget her life and live in the shadows for a bit while she figures out how best to move on in her life. Letty is from an affluent family but her safety-net has crumbled and Letty is struggling to stay afloat. A month in Rome away from the chaos is escape for Letty, but with little spoken Italian, she makes a decision to take classes.
When Alf crosses paths with Letty the attraction is immediate. There is something about her. She is an almost ethereal presence in a room but Alf is wary around her, tentatively testing the waters daily. They do find a routine of meeting up after class, where Alf takes Letty on trips around the city. Alf works as a tour guide so he has a different approach on these trips and with Letty, a classics scholar, their adventures become more. A spontaneous dance around the stunning Piazza Navona triggers a spark, an electricity between the two and something changes.
Alf and Letty are both struggling with life for various reasons with Kate Eberlen raising many societal issues of mental health, abuse, consent and power. I was, however, a little taken back in relation to one particular plot-line, as I was hoping for a more appropriate outcome. But, putting that to one side, I really enjoyed the escapism of Only You.
Alf and Letty have a passionate, yet also very tender connection. but something so delicate will always struggle when faced with adversity. Letty returns to London and Alf to Blackpool but the memory of Rome lives on. Will they find each other again? Can their past be left in the past?
Only You is a novel that explores the frailty and fragility of love in all it’s colours. Letty and Alf are hurting, are confused but when together they find a sense of belonging and a clearer understanding of who they really are. The descriptions throughout are very vivid, providing the reader with the opportunity to imagine that they are walking down the Via Veneto, sipping Prosecco near the Pantheon, throwing coins in the Trevi Fountain or walking in the footsteps of Julius Caesar in the Forum. You see it all through the eyes of young love and it really is gorgeous to witness.
Only You is a sumptuous exploration of The Eternal City and a heart-aching tale of a passion, of true love. It is the story of two young people trying to find their way, trying to find themselves in a world that can ofttimes be extremely challenging and difficult.
March 15, 2021
“Als ik dans, weet ik wie ik ben. Als ik niet dans, weet ik niet of ik überhaupt iets ben.”
Letty brengt als Engelse de zomer door in Rome om Italiaans te leren. Alf is ook een vreemdeling in Rome en komt de dagen door met het geven van rondleidingen. In het bruisende Rome leren ze elkaar kennen en blijken ze dans als gedeelde passie te hebben. Hun verschillende achtergronden verdwijnen naar de achtergrond als ze samen dansen in Rome. Deze gelukkige momenten kunnen het verleden alleen niet veranderen. Zowel Letty als Alf dragen nog steeds geheimen met zich mee en de waarheid op tafel leggen is moeilijk.
Een sfeervol omslag, fijn papier met een fijn lettertype: een prettig begin van deze roman. Na een eerste kennismaking met Letty en Alf, maak je ook kennis met de stad Rome. Wie daar eens geweest is, zal de beschrijvingen van beide hoofdpersonages herkennen. Zelf ben ik er nog niet geweest, maar door de beschreven sfeer waande ik mij toch in een zonnige en sfeervolle stad.
Hoewel het verhaal aan het begin naar mijn idee iets te veel kabbelt en soms iets te beschrijvend is (onder andere door veel namen), blijf je door de prettige schrijfstijl toch doorlezen.
Halverwege het boek maken we een sprong terug in de tijd. Op dat moment leerde ik Letty en Alf (en hun familie) pas echt kennen doordat hun achtergrond meer uitgediept wordt. De vaart komt in het verhaal, de levens van Alf en Letty verweven zich met elkaar en de manier waarop Eberlen deze met elkaar verbindt, is erg mooi.
Dansen op de Piazza Navona is niet zomaar een roman waarin twee mensen elkaar ontmoeten en verliefd worden. Dit is een roman met inhoud. Het verhaal gaat dieper dan twee verliefde mensen met een gedeelde passie, ze hebben namelijk een verleden. Net zoals ieder mens dat heeft. De meerdere perspectieven voegen echt iets toe aan dit verhaal, doordat zij iets vanuit een andere kant belichten.
Een boek waaruit blijkt hoe fijn het is om een (gedeelde) passie te hebben, om even te kunnen ontsnappen aan de werkelijkheid. Daarnaast lijken Letty en Alf de boodschap ‘Leef in het moment’ mee te willen geven aan de lezer. Geniet van het moment waarin je leeft, zodat je achteraf geen spijt hebt. Dit romantische, meeslepende en ook wel ontroerende boek is heerlijk om te lezen in vakanties of andere rustige momenten. Het is bovenal een fijn boek om aan de werkelijkheid te kunnen ontsnappen en mee te ontspannen.
Letty brengt als Engelse de zomer door in Rome om Italiaans te leren. Alf is ook een vreemdeling in Rome en komt de dagen door met het geven van rondleidingen. In het bruisende Rome leren ze elkaar kennen en blijken ze dans als gedeelde passie te hebben. Hun verschillende achtergronden verdwijnen naar de achtergrond als ze samen dansen in Rome. Deze gelukkige momenten kunnen het verleden alleen niet veranderen. Zowel Letty als Alf dragen nog steeds geheimen met zich mee en de waarheid op tafel leggen is moeilijk.
Een sfeervol omslag, fijn papier met een fijn lettertype: een prettig begin van deze roman. Na een eerste kennismaking met Letty en Alf, maak je ook kennis met de stad Rome. Wie daar eens geweest is, zal de beschrijvingen van beide hoofdpersonages herkennen. Zelf ben ik er nog niet geweest, maar door de beschreven sfeer waande ik mij toch in een zonnige en sfeervolle stad.
Hoewel het verhaal aan het begin naar mijn idee iets te veel kabbelt en soms iets te beschrijvend is (onder andere door veel namen), blijf je door de prettige schrijfstijl toch doorlezen.
Halverwege het boek maken we een sprong terug in de tijd. Op dat moment leerde ik Letty en Alf (en hun familie) pas echt kennen doordat hun achtergrond meer uitgediept wordt. De vaart komt in het verhaal, de levens van Alf en Letty verweven zich met elkaar en de manier waarop Eberlen deze met elkaar verbindt, is erg mooi.
Dansen op de Piazza Navona is niet zomaar een roman waarin twee mensen elkaar ontmoeten en verliefd worden. Dit is een roman met inhoud. Het verhaal gaat dieper dan twee verliefde mensen met een gedeelde passie, ze hebben namelijk een verleden. Net zoals ieder mens dat heeft. De meerdere perspectieven voegen echt iets toe aan dit verhaal, doordat zij iets vanuit een andere kant belichten.
Een boek waaruit blijkt hoe fijn het is om een (gedeelde) passie te hebben, om even te kunnen ontsnappen aan de werkelijkheid. Daarnaast lijken Letty en Alf de boodschap ‘Leef in het moment’ mee te willen geven aan de lezer. Geniet van het moment waarin je leeft, zodat je achteraf geen spijt hebt. Dit romantische, meeslepende en ook wel ontroerende boek is heerlijk om te lezen in vakanties of andere rustige momenten. Het is bovenal een fijn boek om aan de werkelijkheid te kunnen ontsnappen en mee te ontspannen.
April 10, 2020
A special thank you to HarperCollins Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A serendipitous and modern romance.
Letty and Alf are students in an Italian class in Rome. But their connection isn't because they are the only English-speaking students, it is because of dance. Alf is a former ballroom champion that oozes confidence and charm. Letty, more serious and studious, was forced to give up on her childhood dream of becoming a ballerina.
Taking a day trip together, Alf and Letty spontaneously waltz around the Piazza Novona. They begin a passionate relationship that is ignited because of their mutual love of dance.
But both are haunted by the secrets that brought them to Italy and by the fear that these secrets will tear them apart.
If Only is the Canadian title of Only You, a love story that is told from various points of view.
The beginning of the novel is both overwhelming and underwhelming... Let me explain. There are a lot of characters thrown at the reader, some with little significance and others that were important, yet hard to keep track of. Also, Letty and Alf call their grandparents and parents by their first names, which is confusing because there was no context given. The story gets off to a slow start, almost painfully such, with a lot of mundane detail about Letty and Alf's daily routines. But there is a quiet beauty to Eberlen's writing and the story begins to build with the characters that are pivotal to the story and the noise of the other insignificant characters fades into the background.
When Eberlen tells the backstory of what brings Alf and Letty to Italy, the book takes flight. It is with your patience of slogging through the slow start. Things start slotting into place—there are so many intricacies and layers. There are twists that are executed brilliantly. And it is so much more than a romance novel and so bloody clever—the parallel between La Traviata (originally titled Violetta) was subtle and interesting. I love an injection of culture in a book.
If Only is a poignant love story that takes place in a perfect setting. This serendipitous romance will dance its way into your heart.
A serendipitous and modern romance.
Letty and Alf are students in an Italian class in Rome. But their connection isn't because they are the only English-speaking students, it is because of dance. Alf is a former ballroom champion that oozes confidence and charm. Letty, more serious and studious, was forced to give up on her childhood dream of becoming a ballerina.
Taking a day trip together, Alf and Letty spontaneously waltz around the Piazza Novona. They begin a passionate relationship that is ignited because of their mutual love of dance.
But both are haunted by the secrets that brought them to Italy and by the fear that these secrets will tear them apart.
If Only is the Canadian title of Only You, a love story that is told from various points of view.
The beginning of the novel is both overwhelming and underwhelming... Let me explain. There are a lot of characters thrown at the reader, some with little significance and others that were important, yet hard to keep track of. Also, Letty and Alf call their grandparents and parents by their first names, which is confusing because there was no context given. The story gets off to a slow start, almost painfully such, with a lot of mundane detail about Letty and Alf's daily routines. But there is a quiet beauty to Eberlen's writing and the story begins to build with the characters that are pivotal to the story and the noise of the other insignificant characters fades into the background.
When Eberlen tells the backstory of what brings Alf and Letty to Italy, the book takes flight. It is with your patience of slogging through the slow start. Things start slotting into place—there are so many intricacies and layers. There are twists that are executed brilliantly. And it is so much more than a romance novel and so bloody clever—the parallel between La Traviata (originally titled Violetta) was subtle and interesting. I love an injection of culture in a book.
If Only is a poignant love story that takes place in a perfect setting. This serendipitous romance will dance its way into your heart.
March 31, 2020
What's not to love about this book, its written beautifully, well adapted and complex characters plus with the added bonus of touring Rome. I've even taking notes to places they visited so I can visit myself.
Even though I guessed the twists, it didn't take away from the story. Highlighted so many paragraphs due to its charming narrative. I only wished it didn't end the way it did so they could continue dancing throughout beautiful cities.
Even though I guessed the twists, it didn't take away from the story. Highlighted so many paragraphs due to its charming narrative. I only wished it didn't end the way it did so they could continue dancing throughout beautiful cities.
October 30, 2022
Ihanan positiivinen yllätys <3. Oli jotenki tosi raikasta palata kesän Roomareissun muistoihin tän kirjan avulla. Se et on vieraillu tän kirjan keskesillä paikoilla hiljattain teki lukemisesta tosi samaistuttavaa. Ehkä pitäis useemminki muistella vanhoja reissuja kirjojen avulla koska se oli aivan ihanaa 🫶🏻
Se et täs oli myös tosi keskeisenä osana tanssi oli aivan ihanaa. Pääsin samassa Roomatunnelmassa uppoutumaan myös mulle rakkaaseen tanssimaailmaan. Oli kiva et tanssin varjopuolia oli myös otettu mukaan koska niistä puhuminen ja niiden tunnistaminen on tärkeetä.
Myös se et joka toisessa kappaleessa on pojan pov ja joka toisessa tytön pov toi tähän tarinaan niin paljon lisää. Plus kaikki takaumat ja muut rakenteelliset asiat teki täst tosi onnistuneen kokonaisuuden lukijan (Ronjan) kannalta. Näitä lisää kiitos ja kuitti. 🦫
Se et täs oli myös tosi keskeisenä osana tanssi oli aivan ihanaa. Pääsin samassa Roomatunnelmassa uppoutumaan myös mulle rakkaaseen tanssimaailmaan. Oli kiva et tanssin varjopuolia oli myös otettu mukaan koska niistä puhuminen ja niiden tunnistaminen on tärkeetä.
Myös se et joka toisessa kappaleessa on pojan pov ja joka toisessa tytön pov toi tähän tarinaan niin paljon lisää. Plus kaikki takaumat ja muut rakenteelliset asiat teki täst tosi onnistuneen kokonaisuuden lukijan (Ronjan) kannalta. Näitä lisää kiitos ja kuitti. 🦫
May 20, 2020
Maybe I haven’t given this one enough of my time or patience, but I really struggled with this story line. It was very slow paced, a lot of pussy footing around to get to the nitty gritty and just not enough oomf or pizzazz to keep me entertained or hooked. I found both of the main characters lacking in anything interesting and really struggled to relate to either of them. Such a shame really, as I initially enjoyed the first impressions.
Letty and Alf are both in Rome, both have signed up for Italian classes and both have troubled pasts back in the UK. They meet, fall in love but like most things, true love is never an easy path to follow.
Nope, not for me unfortunately, too tame around the edges.
Letty and Alf are both in Rome, both have signed up for Italian classes and both have troubled pasts back in the UK. They meet, fall in love but like most things, true love is never an easy path to follow.
Nope, not for me unfortunately, too tame around the edges.
May 4, 2020
This was a beautifully written love story between Alf and Letty who meet in Rome at a language class. The story progresses slowly. Lived all he descriptions of the locations they visited - really brought the story alive. Eventually their back stories emerge - both slightly shocking and not what I was expecting. Just when you think all is lost with their relationship the story turns again. Well worth a read. Thank you to The Pigeonhole for the chance to read this title in exchange for a honest review.
January 7, 2020
If Only is a delightful romantic read with the right amount of messiness and turmoil needed to hook the reader. Set in romantic Italy, Letty and Alf are navigating their feelings while hiding some big secrets from their past. I enjoyed the conflict that was built into this romance story and following the twists and turns makes it an exciting read.
Want to read
January 12, 2020Oh I literally cannot wait for this one!
May 5, 2020
A delightful romance with some gripping twists set in Rome, Blackpool and London.
The Italian scenery and way of life, the language and the references to ballet and opera all help to lend this love story between Alf and Letty a very continental, contemporary and cultured feel.
Alf and Letty meet in an Italian language class. He is instantly smitten with her but Letty is doing all she can not to notice. Both of these endearing young people are in Rome for the same reason, to escape a lot of emotional pain back home. In Alf's case he is a little bit more at ease, less troubled and more positive about whatever the future holds. Letty on the other hand is haunted by the past and by a particular person.
There is a lot of dancing in this novel which only adds to its charm. Alf never pursued a career in dancing but he was a Ballroom and Latin champion and his Mum and grandmother run a dance school in Blackpool. The pair come from very different backgrounds and it is a joy to learn more about the significant people in their lives, how the parental relationships are different and how Alf and Letty both view their families. Can dance bring them to an understanding, helping Alf to grow up and Letty to share the burden of her fears?
The characters, and not just the main duo, are vividly brought to life, idiosyncrasies, warts and all, and in some cases, some very dark aspects. that give the book a certain amount of grit. This prevents the book from being a sweet but forgettable read whilst also dropping in some shocking connections!
Choices are made that both Alf and Letty in their separate lives will regret and which will determine the paths they then tread. The thing is though, the past is the past and the future is yet to come, but in the present moment could Alf and Letty forge a brand new path together that leads to love, light and happier times?
I enjoyed this book so much I would like to read Kate's other novel Miss You and then investigate the previous books she has written under the pseudonym Imogen Parker (her real name).
The Italian scenery and way of life, the language and the references to ballet and opera all help to lend this love story between Alf and Letty a very continental, contemporary and cultured feel.
Alf and Letty meet in an Italian language class. He is instantly smitten with her but Letty is doing all she can not to notice. Both of these endearing young people are in Rome for the same reason, to escape a lot of emotional pain back home. In Alf's case he is a little bit more at ease, less troubled and more positive about whatever the future holds. Letty on the other hand is haunted by the past and by a particular person.
There is a lot of dancing in this novel which only adds to its charm. Alf never pursued a career in dancing but he was a Ballroom and Latin champion and his Mum and grandmother run a dance school in Blackpool. The pair come from very different backgrounds and it is a joy to learn more about the significant people in their lives, how the parental relationships are different and how Alf and Letty both view their families. Can dance bring them to an understanding, helping Alf to grow up and Letty to share the burden of her fears?
The characters, and not just the main duo, are vividly brought to life, idiosyncrasies, warts and all, and in some cases, some very dark aspects. that give the book a certain amount of grit. This prevents the book from being a sweet but forgettable read whilst also dropping in some shocking connections!
Choices are made that both Alf and Letty in their separate lives will regret and which will determine the paths they then tread. The thing is though, the past is the past and the future is yet to come, but in the present moment could Alf and Letty forge a brand new path together that leads to love, light and happier times?
I enjoyed this book so much I would like to read Kate's other novel Miss You and then investigate the previous books she has written under the pseudonym Imogen Parker (her real name).
December 19, 2021
Letty e Alf são os unicos que falam inglês numa aula de italiano em Roma Além disso, têm também uma paixão em comum, a dança. Cada um vem de mundos muito diferentes e têm passados cheios de segredos e que até aos dias de hoje os ensombra. Ambos deixaram as suas vidas em Inglaterra mas o que levou a isso? De quê e de quem fogem?
É neste livro que vamos descobrir tudo o que os levou a Itália e o porquê de o destino querer que os dois se encontrassem.
Então, este livro foi gentilmente cedido pela planeta,e à primeira vista pensei que iria ser mais um romance adulto cheio de clichés e com finais felizes. Mas esta história de facto surpreendeu-me de uma maneira que eu não esperava…
Confesso que até à pág. 200 demorei imenso a ganhar interesse pelo enredo e a sentir alguma ligação a estas personagens. Não me estavam a dizer nada de diferente nem especial e era tudo demasiado parado para o meu gosto. Tanto que me apeteceu desistir logo ali, mas como era leitura conjunta com a booksofbela, lá insisti e demos força uma à outra para continuar. Afinal de contas queríamos perceber se iria acontecer alguma coisa no livro. E ainda bem que não desisti.
Depois da pág. 200 há todo um novo enredo mais interessante, visto girar em torno do passado do Alf e da Letty e isso foi a parte que eu mais gostei! A partir daí só me apetecia saber mais e mais e fiquei viciada. Foram 400 págs em que metade demorei duas semanas a ler e a outra dois dias! Adorei conhecer a vida da Letty e tudo o que ela passou… mais do que o Alf, confesso. Consegui ligar-me mais à Letty.
Os capítulos não são curtos nem muito longos, o que acaba por ser um aspeto bom se quiserem ler em conjunto. A escrita é um pouco detalhada e o livro é narrado na 3ª pessoa, o que eu pessoalmente não adoro.
Concluindo, foi um livro que gostei de forma geral e que teve um plot twist ali no meio que me deixou de queixo caído.
Por todos estes aspetos bons e menos bons do livro, vou dar 3,5 estrelas
August 8, 2023
Dansen op de piazza Navona / only you by Kate Eberlen! This is one of the hardest reviews to write! Why ? On one side I thought the book was incredibly beautiful but on the other hand there were so many things in it that I didn't like ! There's a cheating trope in it, student / teacher with a small age gap and there's a surprise pregnancy. But it is oh so beautifully and descriptively written ! Rome is my second home and despite it raining here it brought me back to sunny Italy ! People sometimes say "that can't be a coincidence" and I also had that feeling a little with this book. The plot twists were almost predictable ! The story consists of three parts the present , the past and the future . In part 1 you got thrown to death with information of which you think " yeah this is cool but what should I do with it ? " In part 2 and part 3 , all of that is in place but because of that information overload in the first part , the other two feel reasonably raffled because it was coming together very quickly.
April 13, 2020
Letty and Alf are in Rome, both are taking an Italian class and over time they begin to fall for each other.
But both are keeping secrets and have fled England to avoid things in their pasts.
They might love each other but their pasts are catching up their presents.
How much longer can they keep quiet the baggage they are carrying into their new relationship?
When it comes out are they strong enough as a couple to lay their ghosts to rest and move on?
This was a sweet chick lit novel set between Italy and England with a whimsical story and a huge helping of romance along the way.
But both are keeping secrets and have fled England to avoid things in their pasts.
They might love each other but their pasts are catching up their presents.
How much longer can they keep quiet the baggage they are carrying into their new relationship?
When it comes out are they strong enough as a couple to lay their ghosts to rest and move on?
This was a sweet chick lit novel set between Italy and England with a whimsical story and a huge helping of romance along the way.
April 21, 2020
I was fortunate to receive a copy of this book to read from NetGalley.
"One person is all it takes to change a lifetime . . . But how will you know if they’re the one?"
Italy is my favourite European country and I have visited Rome twice, both around this time of year. The descriptions were beautiful.
I also loved the use of the Italian language during the book and have picked up quite a few new words!
This is a beautiful, romantic, love story and I will definitely read it again one day!
"One person is all it takes to change a lifetime . . . But how will you know if they’re the one?"
Italy is my favourite European country and I have visited Rome twice, both around this time of year. The descriptions were beautiful.
I also loved the use of the Italian language during the book and have picked up quite a few new words!
This is a beautiful, romantic, love story and I will definitely read it again one day!
February 12, 2021
The two English speakers one northerner and one southerner in their Italian class. I loved the differences but how they grew to love. Of all the places in this book I still was drawn to Blackpool the most, the coastal town by the sea. It was not the quickest of reads, it takes a while to get into and reminded me a little of a Karen Swan read.
May 4, 2020
This was a slow starter for me and I have to admit to skimming through a lot of the early chapters. However, I did enjoy the revelations of Alf and Letty and finding out what brought them both to Rome. Thanks to Pigeonhole and Kate for the opportunity to read this!
January 3, 2021
This book was a little slow to begin with, with an awful lot of detail but it’s only later that you realise why there’s so much. Couldn’t put the second half of the book down!!
June 22, 2025
Reread - 3.5⭐️
July 15, 2020
Best parts of this book are the travelogue elements through London and Italy, especially during these times of lockdown. The book is sweet, but little bit predictable.
May 22, 2023
Audiobook, coincidental and eye-rolly but good to pass the time whilst driving
June 12, 2024
Bizarre sociale omgang tussen de personages in het boek. Verhaallijn was ook vrij absurd.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews