4 stars

The characters were super relatable and sweet, and I loved the ending. Overall, a nice, light read that got me out of a slump again!

This book was just ok for me. I liked the description and I thought that the premise was cute, but the characters feel a bit flat for me. I did not really fall in love with either Anna nor Jake, so when they got together it was just kind of a "meh alright" feeling instead of one filled with satisfaction. I understand that this is the classic enemies to lover troupe, but nothing about this one really stood out to me. I liked the setting of the book and the characters banter, but that was about it. Was definitely not a bad novel, just one that felt average for me personally.

4 Stars!!!

I really enjoyed this contemporary romance! The premise of the book is two very different people come together, fake date, and work at a castle in Italy. Throughout the book, the couple develops real feelings and it's a happily ever after. I liked the backgrounds of both characters, the heroine is a chef and the hero is an ex-firefighter/ex-con.

The only thing I didn't like about this story was the unnecessary arguing from both characters in the first 25% of the book. I almost DNFed it because it was so immature and difficult to read. But, I'm glad I pushed through because the rest of the book was a delight.

I received this book as an ARC and reviewed it voluntarily.

Cozy and quick novel. I enjoyed it but would not seek to read anything else written in this style. The characters are okay if you're looking for something to read to pass the time. Overall, not horrible but I would not recommend to a friend.

Newly single and without a job or home, Anna finds an opportunity too good to ignore, but she needs to be part of a couple and ropes in her neighbour Jake as her fake boyfriend. They never got on well as they are opposites, but now they are living and working together will they finally get to know the other person?
A great read and a great setting.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the premise of this book; an enemies-to-lovers, fake dating romance, set in a castle on Lake Como; what more could you ask for! And it absolutely lived up to my expectations, although the setting did make me extremely jealous!

I loved the 2 main characters. I did find the beginning of the book a little rushed between them from their initial meeting to leaving for Italy. I also found some of Jake's initial comments toward Anna a little uncomfortable and unnatural, but once they were in Italy the book came together and settled in. I really enjoyed their relationship from the start, even when they were butting heads constantly. I liked that it switched perspectives because I felt we got more insight into how they felt about each other beyond the fighting. They both seemed to respect each other and weren't judgemental, despite how different they were. They learnt how similar their values were and weren't afraid to apologise which I found refreshing. I loved how protective and unapologetic Jake was when it came to his family, and I loved how strong and supportive Anne was and I think they really came to bring out the best in each other. I also loved their families and friends and the support and friendship they all had for each other.

I was 100% ready for the "there was only 1 bed trope" but it wasn't to be. I think it definitely could have worked considering they were pretending to be a couple, but I did admittedly like that the author gave them the choice when they wanted to share a room. I think if they had to work together and share a room at the start they wouldn't have lasted a week!

Overall, a really great, quick read and would definitely recommend!

When both Anna, the uptight chef, and Jake, the bad boy next-door neighbor, have major life changes, they seek refuge in a dream job: working in an Italian castle. The only catch? The owners are seeking a couple to do the job. Working together, Anna and Jake agree to take on this once-in-a-lifetime job and pretend to be a couple. As their personalities clash, everyone is left wondering… will they kill each other or do opposites really attract?!

Thoughts:
First off, I am a huge fan of the faking dating & enemies to lovers tropes, and I thought this book executed them super well!! I liked that the characters were in constant conflict because it helped propel the enemies to lovers plot and I was here for it!

This book was such fun to read! I read this in a day and once I started, I physically couldn’t stop. The sexual tension in this is so well done. Although, I was expecting more details on the actual sex scenes considering how crass Jake talked about this subject during the first half of this novel (look I know I’m shameless, it's fine). The ending was also very adorable!

This is a happy summer romcom and definitely one to get you out of a reading slump!

Thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK, and Kathryn Freeman for this copy in exchange for my review :)

After a very, very bad week in which she loses her house, job, and boyfriend, Anna decides to apply for a job as a live in chef at a castle in Lake Como. The catch? The job is for a couple. Luckily, Anna’s father’s neighbor Jake agrees to tag along. On the not so lucky side of things, Anna and Jake have never gotten along.

I knew I was going to love this book the second I read fake dating and set in Italy! This was a super cute and quick read. Fake dating is one of my favourite tropes and I really enjoyed seeing Jake and Anna’s relationship develop.

The setting of the book was absolutely gorgeous. The relationships between Jake and Anna and the supporting characters felt very genuine too- so heartwarming!

It definitely took a while for Jake to grow on me due to the assumptions he kept making based on his past experiences. His growth and renewed trust was very evident by the end of the book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the advanced reading copy!

This book, paired with a glass of wine, would be an excellent vacation read!

Enemies to lovers, fake dating, forced proximity, and set in Italy…absolutely perfect! I loved both Jake and Anna and their banter was great. The tension between the two of them was *chef’s kiss*. The story kept me entertained and the pace wasn’t too slow or too fast. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this one but I was pleasantly surprised.

An enjoyable read, in a lovely setting. This had two tropes I quite enjoy (fake relationship and enemies to lovers) and the two leads had really good chemistry from the start. My only criticism is that more than once both Anna and Jake let their insecurities rule them and instead of talking things through they just projected their issues onto one another which got a bit repetitive. Overall though I was engaged throughout and was rooting for them both as individuals and as a couple. ( A solid 3.75 ⭐️).

Enemies-to-lovers in a fake relationship in a romantic location abroad, check check and check. Three of my favorite things and the tension was tangible. I really enjoyed Anna and Jake's stories and how they intertwined into their own story. I specifically liked that we got both of perspectives so despite the miscommunications or erratic behaviors we got to understand their thought process and the way they worked through their constant rows every time broke their barriers down and set up the steamy chemistry for a believe-able and authentic love story. The slow burn kept the pages turning. Even as I predicted how things were turned out, I was rooting for those outcomes. A full cast of lovable characters, except for the two very well-done dirtbags we all want to punch, I also love when the families and friends are people we care about as much as the main characters. This was a sweet and enjoyable read.

This book may have been a predictable romance story but I loved the characters and overall thought it was a good book! The two main characters were very likeable and the entire book I was rooting for them to get together. I liked the plot line and felt it was unique from other romance novels I’ve read recently. I feel like this would be a great summer beach read!

This was a great read! A slow-burn enemies-to-lovers in a castle in Italy? How could you go wrong?

I had a few minor quibbles with some aspects of the plot and character development, but overall the characters were engaging, the setting dreamy, and the story very satisfying. I'll definitely recommend it to romance lovers.

Thank you to Netgalley & HarperCollins UK (One More Chapter) for the opportunity to read this in advance of publication.

An enemies to lovers with fake dating set in a castle on the lake? The perfect kind of romance for me!
Even if i wasn't a fan of the writing style i gave the book 4/5 stars because i really liked Anna and Jake story.

A perfect beach read!

This book is a good hate to lovers style book with a quirky setting.

I really liked the character Anna straight away but like Anna herself in the book I found Jake was a slow burner!

This was a light hearted romcom which is perfect for sitting on the beach or in the sun on a bistro set in Lake Como!

This book is adorable. Pulled me in from the beginning and wildly exceeded my expectations. This is my first from this author but will not be my last.

I loved the setting and reading this seriously made me want to drop everything and move to Lake Como. The premise was everything you'd want a light hearted romance book to be, but unfortunately, I didn't really love the writing style that much and I found that toward the middle/end I began to lose interest. I found some of the character's actions to be frustrating and the romance felt forced at times. I do love a good enemies-to-lovers trope but I don't think there was a enough communication in this one in order for me to fully support the relationship. Nonethless, the author did a great job portraying Italy and fully immersing you into this summer life.

Oh what a joy it was to receive this ARC! The Italian Job is an enemies to lovers romance with the perfect amount of palpable sexual tension and adorable flawed main characters. It gave me all the emotions from laughter to tears. Also, I think the author must have siblings because the family dynamics were spot on and gold! I highly recommend you pick up this book now and fall into Jake and Anna’s Italian journey.

The Italian Job: 4/5 Stars!

If you know me, you know I love anything and everything that has to do with Italy. What could be better than a story following Jake and Anna, flawed, fun characters who take up a job living in an Italian castle? Honestly, it took me a little while to get into the book, and I worried from the first few chapters that it would be a difficult book to get through.

This proved completely incorrect and as soon as the plot started moving I was HOOKED! The enemies-to-lovers trope is one of my absolute favorites, and I could feel Anna and Jake heading that direction in a way that was anything but basic and predictable. Kathryn Freeman's writing style really made these characters come to life and had me imagining I was in a beautiful castle at Lake Como the whole time.

I read this book as an advanced readers copy, but now that the physical copy has been published, I cannot wait to get my hands on it!

"Pretending to love each other when there were bruised feelings, raw hurt, or worse…That had disaster written all over it..."
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What do you do when you find your boyfriend cheating on you? You move to a castle in Italy of course with a new fake boyfriend in tow. Well, that's what Anna Roberts decides to do. And her fake boyfriend is none other than the boy next door, Jake Tucker, who just so happens to be an expert at getting on her nerves. But with a year ahead in the romantic Lake Como working her dream job, Anna soon sees a different side to Jake.
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"You’re the organised to my chaotic, the sensible to my crazy..."
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This was a cute story - I love the fake dating trope and Jake Tucker was something else! Set in beautiful Lake Como it was a refreshing twist on the forced proximity plot line. I wasn't the biggest fan of Anna but she definitely grew on me. A perfect summer read! Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter at Harper Collins for the ARC.
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"Hope is what drives us forwards, what keeps us going through the tough stuff..."