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Sleepless in Sicily
Under the Sicilian sun, anything can happen...
For most women, getting locked into a storeroom with movie star and undeniable heartthrob Rowan during a pre-production shoot in London would be the stuff of dreams. But for shy makeup artist Lila, it's more like a nightmare. It doesn't matter that Rowan is kind, easy to talk to and even more gorgeous up close. With her social anxiety, she can't bear the idea of being embroiled in gossip and rumours about what exactly they were doing together.
More scandal is also not an option for outspoken Rowan, whose agency is threatening to drop him if he doesn't toe the line. After the two make their escape, they promise to keep the incident a secret, and when they meet again on set in stunning Sicily, they pretend not to know each other. But between the blue skies and sizzling Italian heat, it becomes impossible to ignore the attraction simmering between them...
Lila and Rowan couldn't be more different... but can they find a way to bring their worlds together?
For fans of Sandy Barker, Mandy Baggot and Samantha Parks, Sleepless in Sicily is the perfect summer holiday read.
For most women, getting locked into a storeroom with movie star and undeniable heartthrob Rowan during a pre-production shoot in London would be the stuff of dreams. But for shy makeup artist Lila, it's more like a nightmare. It doesn't matter that Rowan is kind, easy to talk to and even more gorgeous up close. With her social anxiety, she can't bear the idea of being embroiled in gossip and rumours about what exactly they were doing together.
More scandal is also not an option for outspoken Rowan, whose agency is threatening to drop him if he doesn't toe the line. After the two make their escape, they promise to keep the incident a secret, and when they meet again on set in stunning Sicily, they pretend not to know each other. But between the blue skies and sizzling Italian heat, it becomes impossible to ignore the attraction simmering between them...
Lila and Rowan couldn't be more different... but can they find a way to bring their worlds together?
For fans of Sandy Barker, Mandy Baggot and Samantha Parks, Sleepless in Sicily is the perfect summer holiday read.
- GenresRomance
275 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 29, 2021
39 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Emma Jackson
9 books47 followersA devoted bookworm and secret-story-scribbler since she was 6 years old, Emma joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association on their New Writers’ Scheme at the beginning of 2019, determined to focus on her writing. She has been overwhelmed by the encouragement given by the published authors and fellow NWS members who are part of the RNA and highly recommends joining to any romance writers looking for support and friendly guidance (there are some bursaries available).
When she’s not running around after her two daughters and trying to complete her current work-in-progress, Emma loves to read, bake, catch up on binge-watching TV programmes with her partner and plan lots of craft projects that will inevitably end up unfinished. A MISTLETOE MIRACLE was her bestselling debut novel, published by Orion Dash, followed by SUMMER IN THE CITY and ONE KISS BEFORE CHRISTMAS will be released this November 2nd.
Also writes fantasy under Emma S. Jackson. THE DEVIL'S BRIDE was published by DarkStroke in February 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 13, 2021
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
New make-up artist Lila loves her job but she is incredibly shy and suffers from social anxiety. When her new colleagues invite her out for the evening she finds an excuse to not go by sorting out the stockroom.
The stockroom light doesn’t work and the door has to be propped open or it locks. Enter movie star Rowan who is trying to find somewhere private to make a phone call and closes the door behind him trapping the pair.
Eventually, they manage to free themselves, but Rowan asks Lila to keep their encounter a secret as he has a reputation of being a lady’s man and with filming on his new movie about to start he doesn’t need the publicity that he is involved with someone new.
The movie is being shot in Sicily and Lila is the junior make-up artist there. Being away from home, with people she doesn’t know, in a foreign country is playing havoc with her anxiety. Rowan notices and the pair have a secret friendship, but with their feelings running high will they give into them?
Sleepless in Sicily is a Rom-Com featuring two likeable characters. It was an easy read and the plot was enjoyable. I loved the setting of Sicily, with its glorious weather and beaches. Lila’s anxiety played a large part in the story and I thought it was written well by someone who has either done plenty of research or has personal experience of it. I loved the Gremlins analogy that she uses to explain it.
Rowan was a very misunderstood character who came across as a bit of a big head, serial dater, womaniser, etc. Where actually he was none of that and he was very sweet, loyal, and family orientated. I loved the interactions with his giraffe-hating sister (you will need to read the book to understand this sentence).
The book kept me interest and entertained the whole way through. I was invested in the will-they-won’t-they part of the plot that kept you guessing for a long time. If you love Rom Com’s then grab a copy of this book.
New make-up artist Lila loves her job but she is incredibly shy and suffers from social anxiety. When her new colleagues invite her out for the evening she finds an excuse to not go by sorting out the stockroom.
The stockroom light doesn’t work and the door has to be propped open or it locks. Enter movie star Rowan who is trying to find somewhere private to make a phone call and closes the door behind him trapping the pair.
Eventually, they manage to free themselves, but Rowan asks Lila to keep their encounter a secret as he has a reputation of being a lady’s man and with filming on his new movie about to start he doesn’t need the publicity that he is involved with someone new.
The movie is being shot in Sicily and Lila is the junior make-up artist there. Being away from home, with people she doesn’t know, in a foreign country is playing havoc with her anxiety. Rowan notices and the pair have a secret friendship, but with their feelings running high will they give into them?
Sleepless in Sicily is a Rom-Com featuring two likeable characters. It was an easy read and the plot was enjoyable. I loved the setting of Sicily, with its glorious weather and beaches. Lila’s anxiety played a large part in the story and I thought it was written well by someone who has either done plenty of research or has personal experience of it. I loved the Gremlins analogy that she uses to explain it.
Rowan was a very misunderstood character who came across as a bit of a big head, serial dater, womaniser, etc. Where actually he was none of that and he was very sweet, loyal, and family orientated. I loved the interactions with his giraffe-hating sister (you will need to read the book to understand this sentence).
The book kept me interest and entertained the whole way through. I was invested in the will-they-won’t-they part of the plot that kept you guessing for a long time. If you love Rom Com’s then grab a copy of this book.
August 2, 2021
I received this book from Netgalley/Orion Dash in exchange of an honest review. Though the copy I read was my own.
Haha, how to start confusing. I got an ARC for this one from Orion Dash (so hyped to be part of their club), but that one just wasn’t working for me in the way of format, so I pre-ordered the book and read that instead. XD
Now to the book. The book starts off fantastic, but sadly… things go south and that was mostly due to Lila. I don’t mind insecurity. I don’t mind someone with social anxiety. I want to make that clear, because I know how the internet is these days. However. Lila’s constant thoughts about EVERYTHING and EVERYONE just got very depressing, tiring, and really pulled me away from the book. Lila was CONSTANTLY thinking/worrying/making up scenarios/acting all out of it. At points she would be MID-conversation, gets asked a question and it takes her 4 pages (Kindle) of thoughts before she answers, by which time I am out and already forgot the question… having to go back again. That is just too much. I mean, just a few sentences, sure. But 4 freaking pages of worries, anxiety, OMG will I be still loved, OMG people, OMG fill whatever, it was too much. And that is how the whole book goes. And that is why I am rating this book way lower. Because I just dreaded Lila’s POV. I just dreaded that whole clusterfuck of thoughts that would inevitably come. I mean, seriously? Why didn’t she go and find help? Why did she just walk around with this? This was so unhealthy. She is constantly second-guessing everyone and rolls in a whirlpool of bad thoughts all day.
Rowan was also not all that, especially later he just got a tad weird, hard to explain, but I much more prefer the Rowan we met in that closet. XD But still, Rowan’s POV was one that was a breath of fresh air.
The romance? Sure.. there was some flirting, but really? SPOILER ALERT. It takes up to 60% before they freaking kiss. And then things go much faster. But 60% until someone kisses? NO. I don’t mind if it takes a bit of time, but this was just too late for me. Plus, given how it took them, it was, for me, weird how fast they had sex and the whole shebang. Like, oh, we kissed, now OK, that is a hurdle done, let’s go sex!
The story was also very slow paced and at times I just wanted the story to go just a bit further, a bit faster. A bit more.
We also have something happening between a movie star and a make-up artist and I was happy to see how that was handled and what Rowan did there. I was pretty proud of him.
Mehsi, was there something you did like? Sure, Rowan x Lila was, despite all the issues, still a couple with tons of chemistry. The beginning part with the closet was the best part of the whole book, I loved those pages. I loved reading about Sicily (still want to visit one day). The cover is just absolutely freaking YAS and I would love to frame it. I love reading about the movie from two POV (even if one is a girl who constantly drowns in thoughts). See how it goes with make-up but also with the movie stars. I loved Rowan’s family and Lila’s brother was the best.
I think if Lila’s thought had been cut down (on Goodreads I even mentioned that this book could easily be 50-100 pages less then), the pacing was a bit better, this could have been a dream of a book. Now.. not so much and I sadly have to rate it 2 stars
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Haha, how to start confusing. I got an ARC for this one from Orion Dash (so hyped to be part of their club), but that one just wasn’t working for me in the way of format, so I pre-ordered the book and read that instead. XD
Now to the book. The book starts off fantastic, but sadly… things go south and that was mostly due to Lila. I don’t mind insecurity. I don’t mind someone with social anxiety. I want to make that clear, because I know how the internet is these days. However. Lila’s constant thoughts about EVERYTHING and EVERYONE just got very depressing, tiring, and really pulled me away from the book. Lila was CONSTANTLY thinking/worrying/making up scenarios/acting all out of it. At points she would be MID-conversation, gets asked a question and it takes her 4 pages (Kindle) of thoughts before she answers, by which time I am out and already forgot the question… having to go back again. That is just too much. I mean, just a few sentences, sure. But 4 freaking pages of worries, anxiety, OMG will I be still loved, OMG people, OMG fill whatever, it was too much. And that is how the whole book goes. And that is why I am rating this book way lower. Because I just dreaded Lila’s POV. I just dreaded that whole clusterfuck of thoughts that would inevitably come. I mean, seriously? Why didn’t she go and find help? Why did she just walk around with this? This was so unhealthy. She is constantly second-guessing everyone and rolls in a whirlpool of bad thoughts all day.
Rowan was also not all that, especially later he just got a tad weird, hard to explain, but I much more prefer the Rowan we met in that closet. XD But still, Rowan’s POV was one that was a breath of fresh air.
The romance? Sure.. there was some flirting, but really? SPOILER ALERT. It takes up to 60% before they freaking kiss. And then things go much faster. But 60% until someone kisses? NO. I don’t mind if it takes a bit of time, but this was just too late for me. Plus, given how it took them, it was, for me, weird how fast they had sex and the whole shebang. Like, oh, we kissed, now OK, that is a hurdle done, let’s go sex!
The story was also very slow paced and at times I just wanted the story to go just a bit further, a bit faster. A bit more.
We also have something happening between a movie star and a make-up artist and I was happy to see how that was handled and what Rowan did there. I was pretty proud of him.
Mehsi, was there something you did like? Sure, Rowan x Lila was, despite all the issues, still a couple with tons of chemistry. The beginning part with the closet was the best part of the whole book, I loved those pages. I loved reading about Sicily (still want to visit one day). The cover is just absolutely freaking YAS and I would love to frame it. I love reading about the movie from two POV (even if one is a girl who constantly drowns in thoughts). See how it goes with make-up but also with the movie stars. I loved Rowan’s family and Lila’s brother was the best.
I think if Lila’s thought had been cut down (on Goodreads I even mentioned that this book could easily be 50-100 pages less then), the pacing was a bit better, this could have been a dream of a book. Now.. not so much and I sadly have to rate it 2 stars
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
September 21, 2022
Eye opening novel that deals with social anxiety in great detail, but also sensitively.
For it is what main character Lila is dealing with the entire time and we can see just how it shapes her every interaction with everyone.
Well apart from with Rowan who is on paper not a great match, given he is from a completely different world, and a movie star at that, but he is also salt of the earth, one of my favourite characters in a long while.
Certainly my latest book boyfriend, I absolutely loved the guy and only wanted good things for him.
I loved life on a film set, on location in Sicily and seeing how Lila deals with everything, despite being very far out of her comfort zone is inspiring.
I devoured this book in an afternoon, poolside while on holiday and thought it was certainly a fantastic holiday read.
Thank you to Orion Dash and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
For it is what main character Lila is dealing with the entire time and we can see just how it shapes her every interaction with everyone.
Well apart from with Rowan who is on paper not a great match, given he is from a completely different world, and a movie star at that, but he is also salt of the earth, one of my favourite characters in a long while.
Certainly my latest book boyfriend, I absolutely loved the guy and only wanted good things for him.
I loved life on a film set, on location in Sicily and seeing how Lila deals with everything, despite being very far out of her comfort zone is inspiring.
I devoured this book in an afternoon, poolside while on holiday and thought it was certainly a fantastic holiday read.
Thank you to Orion Dash and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
January 25, 2022
Sleepless in Sicily is such a cute romance that I quickly flew through!
Our two main characters are incredibly realistic and I found myself feeling compassion for both of them. It was easy for me to relate to Lila and her social anxiety, as I suffer too and I felt that it was an accurate representation of the illness. I loved the Gremlins analogy the most!
My only issue was the insta-love. I feel like it was all a bit rushed and wish it had been dragged out!
Overall, this was such a fun and quick read that is more than just the romance between the two but a look at different mental illnesses and how they affect day to day.
3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Our two main characters are incredibly realistic and I found myself feeling compassion for both of them. It was easy for me to relate to Lila and her social anxiety, as I suffer too and I felt that it was an accurate representation of the illness. I loved the Gremlins analogy the most!
My only issue was the insta-love. I feel like it was all a bit rushed and wish it had been dragged out!
Overall, this was such a fun and quick read that is more than just the romance between the two but a look at different mental illnesses and how they affect day to day.
3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2021
Sleepless in Sicily had me engrossed from the first sentence. It follows Lila, goes out to Sicily on her first job as a makeup assistant, while grappling with Social anxiety on a film set, as well as Rowan as he grapples with his acting career and image.
Sparks fly, there's lots of drama and intrigue as well as teaching me more about how hard life can be if you have social anxiety. This aspect has been well researched.
The characters are all believable and in most cases likeable too.
Overall, a good read.
Sparks fly, there's lots of drama and intrigue as well as teaching me more about how hard life can be if you have social anxiety. This aspect has been well researched.
The characters are all believable and in most cases likeable too.
Overall, a good read.
June 30, 2022
Gave up at 23%.Honestly all these destination romance books have been such a letdown so far I'll just resort to reading travel guides.
October 26, 2021
Beautiful book, I loved the main characters Lila and Rowen, they are characters that you feel you wish you knew. The story wasn’t just your normal romantic fiction it has a deeper feel as it brings up how Lila suffers with social anxiety and how it controls her life and how she finds ways to cope. The love story between the two main characters is so heart warming. Great book, I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it. I had never read anything by the author before but will definitely be reading more of her books as she is a fabulous writer.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 2, 2021
The cover of this book leads you to believe that is going to be a certain kind of holiday romance that you have seen many times before, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I absolutely love holiday romance stories, I read them by the stack in the summer and have several waiting for my attention as we speak that I can’t wait to sink back into my deckchair and devour in place of actually going on an overseas trip this summer. However, this book doesn’t fall quite comfortably into that niche, it is something a bit different, but no the less fabulous for it.
When you read the blurb, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it is going to develop along the standard lines, and it does contain all the bits of those holiday romances you love. A trip to the sun-drenched shores of Sicily, a glamorous film set location, hunky leading man sets shy, ingenue makeup artist’s heart a-fluttering. However, the book goes beyond this superficial love story to delve deeply into the motivations and personality traits of the leading characters in a way that is painfully observant and so realistic that, if you have any of these traits yourself, it will make your heart hurt in empathy. Or that is certainly what happened to me when I read it.
Whether she meant to or not, it is clear to the reader that the author has left a big part of herself on the pages of this novel. Noone can truly write such an authentic character as Lila if they haven’t had some personal experience of what she is suffering, whether themselves or through a loved one. The portrayal in this book of what it is like to live with social anxiety is the closest thing to reality that I have ever read. Although this is something that I experience to a much lesser extent than Lila, her thought processes are something I recognised all too readily, which meant I felt complete sympathy for her throughout the novel, really living the highs and lows with her, feeling the pain and pleasure. Being so immersed in a character’s story is a rare and precious experience and only happens when the author has felt the same thing as they write. I could feel the author living this book as she created it.
This is a fantastic book that takes the sun lounger novel to a different place. I’m not sure if I felt this just because I could relate so closely to the main character, but it has all the elements I look for in a summer read, as well as a profoundly relatable character in Lila. It left me feeling moved and seen in a way that in unusual in a genre many people deem superficial and fluffy, which just goes to prove that the people who look down on romance, probably don’t read many. True gems are out there if you look hard enough, and this is one.
If you are looking for something both entertaining and insightful to add to your holiday reading, here it is.
When you read the blurb, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it is going to develop along the standard lines, and it does contain all the bits of those holiday romances you love. A trip to the sun-drenched shores of Sicily, a glamorous film set location, hunky leading man sets shy, ingenue makeup artist’s heart a-fluttering. However, the book goes beyond this superficial love story to delve deeply into the motivations and personality traits of the leading characters in a way that is painfully observant and so realistic that, if you have any of these traits yourself, it will make your heart hurt in empathy. Or that is certainly what happened to me when I read it.
Whether she meant to or not, it is clear to the reader that the author has left a big part of herself on the pages of this novel. Noone can truly write such an authentic character as Lila if they haven’t had some personal experience of what she is suffering, whether themselves or through a loved one. The portrayal in this book of what it is like to live with social anxiety is the closest thing to reality that I have ever read. Although this is something that I experience to a much lesser extent than Lila, her thought processes are something I recognised all too readily, which meant I felt complete sympathy for her throughout the novel, really living the highs and lows with her, feeling the pain and pleasure. Being so immersed in a character’s story is a rare and precious experience and only happens when the author has felt the same thing as they write. I could feel the author living this book as she created it.
This is a fantastic book that takes the sun lounger novel to a different place. I’m not sure if I felt this just because I could relate so closely to the main character, but it has all the elements I look for in a summer read, as well as a profoundly relatable character in Lila. It left me feeling moved and seen in a way that in unusual in a genre many people deem superficial and fluffy, which just goes to prove that the people who look down on romance, probably don’t read many. True gems are out there if you look hard enough, and this is one.
If you are looking for something both entertaining and insightful to add to your holiday reading, here it is.
August 3, 2021
A lovely romance, in a very interesting setting - Sicily, of course, but it's mostly the whole "filming a movie" atmosphere that makes it special, even more so with the alternating points of view of a make-up assistant (Lila) and an actor (Rowan).
As a person with high social anxiety, I loved how relatable Lila was to me, and how adorable Rowan was to her. Extroverts might think Lila's anxiety exaggerated (it's not - if anything, mine is even worse) but hopefully, if they know someone who's been struggling with the same kind of problem, it will make them more likely to understand.
Also, I was happy to find out that this book is linked to Summer in the City (Lila is related to Stephen), but that doesn't make it less of a standalone. Just like I read A Mistletoe Miracle after Summer in the City last year, you could easily read this new book first then decide if you want to find out more about a few people mentioned in Lila's story.
As a person with high social anxiety, I loved how relatable Lila was to me, and how adorable Rowan was to her. Extroverts might think Lila's anxiety exaggerated (it's not - if anything, mine is even worse) but hopefully, if they know someone who's been struggling with the same kind of problem, it will make them more likely to understand.
Also, I was happy to find out that this book is linked to Summer in the City (Lila is related to Stephen), but that doesn't make it less of a standalone. Just like I read A Mistletoe Miracle after Summer in the City last year, you could easily read this new book first then decide if you want to find out more about a few people mentioned in Lila's story.
July 18, 2021
There reaches a point in the summer, where I just need to indulge in lovely gentle books with plenty of romance and a bit of sunshine. With a title like 'Sleepless in Sicily' this one just cried out to be read!
I really liked the premise of the movie star falling in love with the shy 'regular' girl, it may be a bit of a cliche, but I think most people will have fantasised about that at one point or another. The romance was pretty adorable, and definitely fitted the bill of a gentle summery read. I loved the trip to the island and was definitely wishing I was also in Sicily whilst reading.
It was nice that there was a very slight edge to the read as well, it wasn't just lovely, lovely, sunshine and happiness the whole time. A few important topics pop up, not least of all the Me Too movement and the how sexual harassment has become rife in the movie industry. Anxiety was another huge one, as well as addiction.
I did find Rowan a little bland as a character, which was a shame as it took the edge off the slightly steamier scenes. Overall though it was a lovely read, and it's always fun to get to visit a movie set in Italy!
I really liked the premise of the movie star falling in love with the shy 'regular' girl, it may be a bit of a cliche, but I think most people will have fantasised about that at one point or another. The romance was pretty adorable, and definitely fitted the bill of a gentle summery read. I loved the trip to the island and was definitely wishing I was also in Sicily whilst reading.
It was nice that there was a very slight edge to the read as well, it wasn't just lovely, lovely, sunshine and happiness the whole time. A few important topics pop up, not least of all the Me Too movement and the how sexual harassment has become rife in the movie industry. Anxiety was another huge one, as well as addiction.
I did find Rowan a little bland as a character, which was a shame as it took the edge off the slightly steamier scenes. Overall though it was a lovely read, and it's always fun to get to visit a movie set in Italy!
January 29, 2022
On this week's episode, the ladies were lucky enough to get an ARC of Emma Jackson’s Sleepless in Sicily and even had the opportunity to have a sit down with Emma herself. Our interview is included in the episode and we can easily say she is an absolute delight.
Sleepless in Sicily begins with a magical meet cute between an American makeup artist with crippling social anxiety and a drop-dead gorgeous British movie star. Will Lila be able to find a way to cope with the intrusive paparazzi to find love with Rowan? You’ll have to read and find out! They also discuss Lilith Fair performers which leads to a lot of off-key singing, Rae gushes over Ted Lasso season 2, and the ladies discuss why you should always bring a potato to a desert island.
Listen to the full episode and author interview here: https://anchor.fm/chicklitbookclubpod...
Sleepless in Sicily begins with a magical meet cute between an American makeup artist with crippling social anxiety and a drop-dead gorgeous British movie star. Will Lila be able to find a way to cope with the intrusive paparazzi to find love with Rowan? You’ll have to read and find out! They also discuss Lilith Fair performers which leads to a lot of off-key singing, Rae gushes over Ted Lasso season 2, and the ladies discuss why you should always bring a potato to a desert island.
Listen to the full episode and author interview here: https://anchor.fm/chicklitbookclubpod...
June 8, 2022
Being on holiday in Sicily seemed like the perfect opportunity to read this book.
Lila is a newly qualified makeup artist (MUA) and is potentially going to Sicily to work on a film.
Rowan is a British actor known for action films but this time he’s working on an independent film. His agent wants him to pretend to be dating a model Cassandra. Rowan isn’t too happy about this.
He and Lila meet and end up falling for one another trying to keep their relationship secret. A big thing is made of Lila’s social anxiety. I still found it a quaint, enjoyable read.
Lila is a newly qualified makeup artist (MUA) and is potentially going to Sicily to work on a film.
Rowan is a British actor known for action films but this time he’s working on an independent film. His agent wants him to pretend to be dating a model Cassandra. Rowan isn’t too happy about this.
He and Lila meet and end up falling for one another trying to keep their relationship secret. A big thing is made of Lila’s social anxiety. I still found it a quaint, enjoyable read.
August 16, 2021
4.5 stars. I absolutely loved this story and thought Lila's social anxiety was portrayed in a very relatable and sensitive way. Rowan was adorable and I loved the dynamic between him and Lila. I was rooting for them right off the bat. I really like a slow burn romance and although I normally prefer higher heat levels, the romantic scenes between the two characters were very sweet and well written. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to Sicily :-)
September 25, 2021
Fantastic and fresh!
Aside from being a magnificent will-they-won't-they romance, full of steam and stunning Sicily, Emma Jackson has spotlighted the mental health issue of social anxiety in such a clever and brilliant way. My 14 year old daughter suffers from S.A. and, hand on heart, I can honestly say I understand a lot more about what she is going through as a result of the narrative of this story and the female MC's inner feelings and dilemmas. Thank you!
Aside from being a magnificent will-they-won't-they romance, full of steam and stunning Sicily, Emma Jackson has spotlighted the mental health issue of social anxiety in such a clever and brilliant way. My 14 year old daughter suffers from S.A. and, hand on heart, I can honestly say I understand a lot more about what she is going through as a result of the narrative of this story and the female MC's inner feelings and dilemmas. Thank you!
November 22, 2021
Warning: Gives away some info
There was much of interest in this book. The author seems be very knowledgeable about what a person suffering with social anxiety goes through just trying to get by in every day life. I loved that the hero was so happy to assist her and stick with her in her traumas. The setting and the theme were both great, and I pretty much liked the book except for some usage of the "f" word throughout. I HATE the "f" word and am sorry that it has now become an every day word. Spoils a lot of good books for me.
But, of course, everyone isn't like me, I know.
There was much of interest in this book. The author seems be very knowledgeable about what a person suffering with social anxiety goes through just trying to get by in every day life. I loved that the hero was so happy to assist her and stick with her in her traumas. The setting and the theme were both great, and I pretty much liked the book except for some usage of the "f" word throughout. I HATE the "f" word and am sorry that it has now become an every day word. Spoils a lot of good books for me.
But, of course, everyone isn't like me, I know.
June 16, 2022
Makeup artist Lily suffers from social anxiety, so when she is trapped in a storeroom with an actor it is the stuff of nightmares.
Rowan is a famous actor who’s agency is threatening to drop him if he can’t stay out of the headlines. So if the tabloids find out he has spent a night locked in a storeroom with Lily it could ruin his career.
When they meet again in Italy on a film set they pretend to not know each other, but their chemistry tells a different story.
An easy holiday read.
Rowan is a famous actor who’s agency is threatening to drop him if he can’t stay out of the headlines. So if the tabloids find out he has spent a night locked in a storeroom with Lily it could ruin his career.
When they meet again in Italy on a film set they pretend to not know each other, but their chemistry tells a different story.
An easy holiday read.
February 24, 2023
Loved this book, the main characters Lila and Rowan are both interesting and well written. Lila suffers from social anxiety and is so quiet and timid. Rowan is an actor who appears confident on the outside but he has his own problems. The two meet and are drawn to each other but are they right for each other! Set in sunny Sicily on a film set, I pictured Rowan as the hero who tries to rescue the damsel in distress (Lila) and I was engrossed in their story.
July 15, 2021
A great starting scene that triggers events in the rest of the book. Some other great topical issues that were interesting. Whilst I found some chapters really good, the book overall lacked pace for me a bit sadly. A good read.
August 24, 2021
Heart warming
Lovely romantic and beautiful story, the characters and scenery were easily bought to life which made this book so easy to read.
Lovely romantic and beautiful story, the characters and scenery were easily bought to life which made this book so easy to read.
April 24, 2025
Perfect.
September 30, 2021
Such an amazing book. I absolutely appreciated that the character has a condition that I can identify with as I too have issues with Social anxiety. This was addressed in such an honest and informative way, and I could definitely feel the effort Emma went into to research this condition.
It was fabulous to see how Rowan managed to overcome some of her difficulties and try to lead a full life. It was a positive and uplifting book, and I adored the location and storyline.
It was brilliant to see Rowan connect with her brother too, and the opportunity to catch up with some lovely characters from Emma’s previous books.
Fun, entertaining and thought provoking, a great summer read!
It was fabulous to see how Rowan managed to overcome some of her difficulties and try to lead a full life. It was a positive and uplifting book, and I adored the location and storyline.
It was brilliant to see Rowan connect with her brother too, and the opportunity to catch up with some lovely characters from Emma’s previous books.
Fun, entertaining and thought provoking, a great summer read!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews