The Italian Job started with lots of description and detail yet, I struggled to get past the characters. I wanted to love this book but, it missed the mark for me. I do not believe every book is for everyone and it is okay to not like or love a book.

I gave this book 5 stars despite my problems with it because it gave me what I expected. I wanted a light summer read with lots of laughing and loving and some crying.
We have an obviously attracting and gorgeous woman who has some issues and an obviously hot man also with issues of his own. Lots of hating and tension between the two of them. However they are likable so I didn’t mind their beauty that much and they have lots of issues that need resolving so the story isn’t boring.

All in all I enjoyed this fast and funny love story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy, all my opinions are my own and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

A year in Lake Cuomo taking care of a castle? Yes, Please! The location is what made me want to read this book, but the storyline was great. I enjoyed Jake and Anna's "fake" romance. The setting was breathtaking and the storyline kept me entertained and turning the page. This was one of those I didn't want to put down.

Unfortunately I just wasn’t able to get into this one. I really liked the concept but couldn’t get onboard with the characters.

2 1/2* rounded to 3.

I don’t like to give bad, or even mediocre reviews, because honestly I like most everything I read. However, having just finished this it was mediocre to me at best. I had big hopes for this book, but I’ve read a lot of “pretend we are a couple turns to love” stories lately *maybe it’s trending?). I just had a hard time connecting with the characters, and I found myself working through the book to finish it instead of enjoying it.

#netgalley
#harpercollins

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars

I have a weakness for contemporary romance wrapped up in an exotic destination. An enemies to lovers story? Okay. In Italy? I'm in!!

The convention that brought these two together was initially a little weak and there were a few holes in the back story but it wasn't enough to detract my attention or prevent me from finding out more. I liked both of the primary characters and their attraction to each other was believable. What was a little hard to take was how rude they were to each other. I can handle a little snark but some of their comments were downright rude to each other and even though they regretted their comments immediately, it didn't seem to stop them from repeating similar comments in the next chapter.

Regardless, I think this had some very good moments and the side characters, namely the parents, siblings and castle owners were a good addition to the complement of characters.

I enjoyed this book but didn't find it gripping enough to keep me coming back. Good dialogue, plausible set up, decent amount of heat. I liked the characters a lot and found them very relatable. I didn't need to suspend disbelief at their circumstances and I thought the plot was interesting but not gripping. I think a lot of romance readers will love this.

The Italian Job by Kathryn Freeman

Pub date: Out now

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins for this ebook in exchange for my honest review!

Thoughts: fake dating in a castle in Italy? Sign me up!

Dream job. Dream house. Fake fiancé. A year in a gorgeous Italian castle… When Anna Roberts’ life implodes, an online search leads her to an ad for the ultimate dream job – management of a gorgeous castle on the shores of Lake Como, accommodation included. The only catch? Anna can’t do it alone…With the last man on earth she’d choose!

The castle owners will only accept a couple as caretakers, which means Anna needs a man on her arm at the interview. Enter her neighbour, Jake Tucker. Though Anna and Jake have never seen eye-to-eye, Jake’s had a rough few years and an escape to Italy sounds ideal. Yet, when they get the job and jet off, Anna and Jake face an unexpected challenge. Pretending to be a couple is difficult … but pretending the tension simmering between them doesn’t exist is quickly proving impossible!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of The Italian Job in exchange for my honest review and opinion. Loved this book. Such a fun, unexpected read. Made me wish I was booking a first class ticket to Italy ASAP! Do yourself a big favor and read this!

I love Kathryn Freeman rom-coms and this one didn't disappoint. The setting was gorgeous and so well described (hello, beautiful Lake Como!), the story started at the perfect point, with a nice build up before Anna and Jake jetted off to their exciting job, and the chemistry - as usual for any Kathryn Freeman book - sizzled off the page.

Both of the main characters were three dimensional, with their own pasts, motivations and hang ups, and I liked the fact they had a shared (somewhat misunderstood) history. The other characters presented a great backdrop and were also well drawn without taking over from the couple at the centre of this story.

Overall a fab holiday read with a satisfying ending - I felt like I'd been to Italy after putting it down.

With thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

Trigger Warnings
This book contains:
• References to and small descriptions of cheating
• Descriptions of going to jail and why
• Vivid description of a serious car accident and saving the occupants lives.
Characters
Anna is a chef who’s made a great career for herself, until her partner who’s also the head chef and son of the owners of the restaurant she works are cheats on her and she’s forced to quit. She’s determined, passionate and highly resilient despite what life throws her way.
Jake is an ex-con firefighter who’s struggling to find work and respect thanks to the influence of the man who’s responsible for getting him arrested. He’s loyal to a fault and protects his family and loved ones regardless of the personal consequences he needs to suffer.
Storyline
Anna has just left her cheating ex and she’s looking for a new job when she comes across an add for a caretaker for a castle on Lake Como. Only catch is that they’re looking for a couple and won’t negotiate on taking on just her. Meanwhile, Jake is struggling to find work since getting out of jail, thoroughly depressed and worried he’ll need to move back in with his mum if he can’t find something soon.
Cue, Anna decides to ask Jake to pretend to be her boyfriend so they can both get away to Lake Como for a year to try and turn their lives around after the same man has ruined them both.
Overall Thoughts
I found this one really interesting. While there were times where I felt it was a bit “meh”, overall, I really enjoyed it!
Thinking back, the “meh” times were the important background establishing slower moments that while critical to the story overall, in the moment just felt boring to me. But I think that had more to do with pace and style of the books I’d read immediately prior to this one more than anything lacking in Kathryn’s writing.
Even though you KNOW something is going to happen to try and derail their relationship, I still found myself heartbroken, frustrated and pissed off on their behalf for everything that kept getting in the way of them having a real go at a real relationship.
And of course, the ending was exactly what I was hoping it’d be! What more could you ask for from a contemporary romance with the fake fiancé trope?

There are few books that encompass all my favourite tropes, character traits, and romance like the way Kathryn Freeman’s The Italian Job does! This book is exactly what you need for this summer, because no matter how far you may be, you will definitely feel like you’re frolicking the streets of Italy! Anna Roberts suddenly finds herself with her entire life turned upside down, and not seeing a way out, leads her to scour the internet for an answer (as we all do). And as fate would have it, her answer comes in the form of her dream job: managing a castle (yes, you read that right) in Lake Como! The only catch? She can’t be single to do so. Up to the task but missing her second half, Anna seeks help from her neighbor Jake Tucker, who has never seen eye to eye with her. But, surprisingly, Jake finds himself in a similar situation to Anna and an escape to Lake Como sounds like just what he needs. Pretending to be an in love couple to run a castle is absolutely no big deal, right? Make sure to check out The Italian Job this summer! Thank you NetGalley for this early view!

The Italian Job by Kathryn Freeman starts off extremely romantic which sounds amazing to me, but the hero does seem fairly annoying in many parts, the lack of communication is misused, there are uncomplicated circumstances to the maximum, and the finale is, well, too mushy. We don't read any foul language above, so it's even worse. Perhaps another time. Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for this copy.

I really wanted to love this book, but it was mediocre at best, tacky and over the top at worst. Jake has the mentality of a 16-year-old boy and Anna doesn't have much more maturity. The two have zero chemistry and the novel took on a tell don't show angle. I wish I could recommend this based on the concept, but it read like amateur fan fiction.

This was a fantastic slow burn, enemies to lovers/fake dating romance! I sped through the book, not wanting to put it down. There were a few spicy scenes that are well written (aka not overly cliche/cringe). I laughed and smiled at the banter between Anna and Jake. I also loved the switching POVs, giving us the “he probably hates me still” vs “Shes gorgeous and would never fall for me”

The characters, even our side characters, were well written. I loved the relationship between Jake and his family, especially his sisters! The book has some third act miscommunication (I normally hate miscommunication in books), but it actually works for the story. It aligns with Jake’s character and his flaws so it made sense for the story instead of being frustrating and unnecessary. In my opinion, it added to the development of Jake and his growth!

I did have two pet peeves though which is why I knocked half a star off my rating: 1) the author confuses Star Wars with Star Trek (blasphemy) - She references the Klingon language but attributes it to the Star Wars films?!
2) The relationship between Jake’s mom and Anna’s dad. It becomes a grey area/weird relationship dynamic for our MCs because if their parents end up together THEY WOULD BE STEP SIBLINGS-it’s not illegal but it feels like it should be.

Overall the book is well written and a perfect romance novel for the summer!

TW/CW: death of parent, sexual content, infidelity, car accident, pregnancy, miscarriage

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Italian Job was so much fun to read. First, they are going to Italy which is a place I can't wait to see. Then, they are staying and working in a castle. Uhm, yes, can I please work with them? It also doesn't hurt that I really liked Anna and Jake throughout the book either. It was definitely a neighbors to lover's romance, which I devoured like crazy. Plus, her ex being a complete douche canoe didn't hurt either.

Besides the traveling, we did get some drama. Of course, it was easy to overlook because the romance made it all up to me. Seriously, I really enjoyed watching these two dance around one another until they truly admitted their feelings. The ending was also really freaking cute and made me smile.

In the end, I adored this and can't wait for next romcom Kathryn writes.

Enemies-to-lovers, fake dating and a beautiful castle in Lake Como, Italy. These should have been the ingredients for the perfect summer read, but unfortunately, it didn't really do it for me. It was a fun read, but that's all there is to it for me.

I flew through this book. It was just what I needed at the time. I really enjoyed the banter that was in it. Anna was a great character, she has some depth that's for sure. I could see parts of myself in her. Jake was also really good, I loved seeing it from his side.

I loved the trope and how it was done but I did get really frustrated about the miscommunication going on.

The Italian job was a great read for the summer! I could not put it down! This was my first Kathryn Freeman. And I have to say I can't wait for more! I enjoyed this arc and I give it a 4.25! I would definitely re-read!

Maggie Moves On was a really fun read!! I enjoyed reading the renovation aspect, and loved all of the characters (especially Kevin!)

Silas is playful and swoony, I loved his confidence and flirtatiousness. There were times he was a little overkill, but he was a good match for Maggie. She had such a hard shell in the beginning, it was neat reading her walls start to crumble a bit and letting people in. I do wish this romance was about 100 pages shorter. It was a bit long! But it’s a lighthearted romance that is a perfect summer read!