I was thrilled to receive this @netgalley e-ARC from @harlequinbooks because I fell in love with @katebromleywrites debut novel Talk Bookish to Me! Her writing is so fresh, breezy, and full of humor and heart. Ciao for Now is the ✨perfect✨ summer rom-com! Transported to Rome, I fell in love with Violet. An aspiring fashion designer (a later in life pusuit!) she arrives in Italy for an extended internship and design compeition. She immediately clashes with her Professor’s son, a grumpy screenwriter who happens to be staying just down the hall. The meet disaster, the forced proximity, the banter, the night swimming, the sexual tension, the food, the landmarks, the weekend trip to the coast= perfection! I didn’t want the book to end! Pick this read up for the ultimate summer rom-com.

This was perfect! Matt and Violet’s story was a sweet stroll down a beautiful Italian via on a sunny day. I loved the fashion industry behind-the-scenes. Kate Bromley is becoming a must read for sweet romance.

Chic Fashion, Forced Proximity, MCs have Amazing Chemistry, Transports you to the streets of Rome, Forbidden Romance, Character Growth,

Was expecting a quick light rom com but this is much deeper. Chapters were longer than I usually like but right for this book, just took me a minute to get into the book because of that. There was a lot of emotional development and thoughts about mental health. Definitely shows how much self work is still required as one gets older, growth isn’t over after your early twenties.

Their meet cute was well cute but also a bit too cliche for my taste.

All in all I recommend. Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review.

Is there a better backdrop to falling in love than Italy? Nope! Is there a worse way to meet a guy than falling on his laptop and breaking it? Nope! Violet and Matt do not get off to a good start, but that just means their story is all the better for it.

Violet is a fashion student working in Italy and she is staying at a house where Matt a television writer resides. Opposites attract. Enemies become lovers.

This book had me laughing out loud. I thought it was charming and a lot of fun. 4 stars! Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC.

This was the perfect book to kick off the summer with! It felt like a mix of Emily in Paris and The Devil Wears Prada. The writing and characters are witty and loveable. I loved the mix of "grumpy/sunshine" and "enemies to lovers" tropes.

Thanks @netgalley @graydonhousebooks and Kate Bromley for the early look at Ciao for Now. It will be released on June 6, 2023.

This book’s greatest strength is how the author describes Rome and Capri. She captured the sights and tastes of Italy perfectly. It is a wonderful escapist rom-com.

Violet is in Rome, Italy for a month to compete against her design school classmates for a coveted prize. On her first day, she has a meet-disaster with broody Matt, who it turns out to be the son of one of her professors and is staying at the same apartment. As time goes on, their animosity turns to sparks, but Violet struggles with prioritizing her career rather than a relationship.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: 🔥🔥
Tropes: enemies to lovers, vacation romance, cool job

This sounds so good!! I actually received a papercopy from the author so I’ll read that version of it but this book sounds so cute and I can’t wait to read my paper copy!! Thank you netgalley for the arc of this cutie!

Thank you to @netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House and Kate Bromley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Available NEXT WEEK on June 6th!

3.5/5 - A real treat! This is an enemies to lovers romance in an idyllic setting (Rome! Capri!) with funnn themes (fashion! starting over! following your dreams! it’s never too late!).

I gotta say, I’m very picky about the enemies to lovers and grumpy/sunshine tropes because they often come across as cheesy or silly to me. This did not! Brinkley does witty banter WELL. The dialogue is engaging and smart and the characters are relatable, interesting and have a lot of depth and feeling. As a mid-thirty something who has a tendency to beat herself up, I connected with Violet in many ways and appreciated her struggle to show up and stand up for herself. By the end, I love that I witnessed so much growth in her.

I also loved the secondary characters, especially Marco and Professor Leoni. The inside look into the fashion world and design mentality was a fabulous escape, too!

My main wish is that I got to spend more time with Violet and Matt. They have such a unique connection and I wanted to explore that more. And I wanted more spice! As a result, the ending felt a bit abrupt for me but I liked how there weren’t any loose ends.

Book : Ciao For Now
Author : Kate Bromley
Pub Date : 06 Jun 2023

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing & the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book was a breath of fresh air! The cover is perfection and the story is so fun! I love a good lighthearted romcom and this book gave me the feel-goods and laughter all the way through. Violet and Matt are perfect flaws and all. I loved their story throughout the book.

If you love a fun & witty story with an enemies to lovers trope like me—you’ll devour up this book. The slow burn was perfection; not too slow (just right 🤌🏻🤌🏻).
I will have this on my shelf as a favorite of 2023!

Ciao For Now was surprisingly profound for a romantic comedy. There were so many memorable quotes, life affirming moments, and eye opening proclamations that you finish the book inspired and invigorated - ready to see what life truly has to offer if you are willing to put yourself out there and not take "no" for an answer.

“It’s never too late to live your dream”. That or “When in Rome…”, either case, Violet is taking both head on as she lands in Rome and gears up for an internship of a lifetime. Fresh off winning her placement along with two of her classmates, Violet is ready to embrace everything Rome has to offer - the food, the inspiration, and apparently the floor of a café as she face plants into a table after believing she has seen her ex half way across the world. Attempting to pick up her dignity along with a stranger's now smashed laptop off the floor, Violet comes face to face with a handsome (and rightfully irate) stranger who is, thanks to her, also covered in coffee. Attempting to rectify the situation, Violet offers to replace Matt’s coffee (which he accepts) and the laptop (which, thank heavens, he declined that offer!) The two quickly find that they go together like oil and water. Violet, dying to escape this increasingly painful situation, takes her leave when her friend and fellow internship winner Marco appears. Continuing on to her final destination and determined to leave her very embarrassing mishap with an unnecessarily (yet insanely attractive) man behind, Violet finally arrives at the professor’s residence that will be her little slice of heaven for the next three weeks. Excited beyond belief for her first night in Rome, geared up to meet the professor, and full of so many possibilities, Violet’s positive outlook comes crashing down when her personal antagonist steps through the terrace! Shocked to see Matt again, Violet quickly discovers Matt (or as his mother reveals - Matteo) is the professor’s son and will also be staying at the apartment while she is there. Not excited about having to deal with the bane of her existence under one roof, Violet attempts a truce (after a little well earned payback) so she can focus on her project. She wasn’t prepared for the U-turn their relationship was about to take.

What I like about it: I will admit at first, I wasn’t sure if this book was for me but when Violet shifts from killing Matteo with kindness to petty payback, I was hooked. When she dropped the people pleasure act and showed her true colors, I witnessed a Violet I could get behind and the story became so much more enjoyable. Her sarcasm, witty comebacks, off the cusp internal comments, all of it just kept me laughing. Whether they were fighting each other or falling for each other, Matteo and Violet together were some of the best moments - especially when he let his guard down and loosened up around her.

What I love about it: While I was not be able to empathize with Violet’s character initially, I did genuinely like her and her swift and devious delivery when it comes to Matteo. Marco is an absolute keeper! He is so dramatic in the best of ways! The author is also a master with dialogue. The back and forth is so engaging, you feel like you are at a ping pong match.

What I don’t like about it: For the first couple of chapters, who Violet was as a character was a little too ambiguous. We are introduced to her with very little background but we are suppose to connect with her. Without a proper introduction to who she is as a person, she didn’t initially make an impression so again, it was very difficult to empathize or even sympathize with her character. Instead, you find yourself in the role of a simple onlooker/observer - completely detached from the events transpiring in the café. For this reason, her situation with Matteo was somewhat confusing because she seemed to be more irritated with him than the situation justified. As the reader, I understood I was suppose to take her side but it didn’t make any sense why. As the book progresses and more is revealed about Violet, you find the connection that is needed to truly settle into the book.

As for the spice - while there is an intimate scene in the book, if removed - it wouldn’t take much away from it. The almost moments were hotter, more intimate, more enticing. If this went from a semi open door book to a closed door romance, again - it would still be just as enjoyable!

Looking closely at Violet, she is the textbook example of overthinking and not trusting oneself. I get it - she did what she believed was right and it blew up in her face. How can she trust an inner voice that lead her astray before. The downside - without that trust, she second guessed everything! Her goals, her designs, her dreams, people’s intent. Everything has to be analyzed, questioned, reviewed, and picked to pieces. Mix in the need to please and that poor girl was a walking mess.

Once we got into the heart of this book, there is just SO much to take away from it. I couldn't get enough of it and absolutely adored how it ended. As my first book by Kate Bromley, I had to get use to her writing style but once I did, I couldn't put it down and can't wait to pick up something else by her.

This was my first book by Kate Bromley, and I have now added her other books to my shopping cart! This book as so wonderful and I felt all the feels. The writing truly paints the pictures for the readers and Bronley’s descriptions of the characters really made you able to visualize everything in you mind. This is such a fun rom-com story with witty and sarcastic dialogue between the characters. You will fall in love with all the characters! It is a little bit of a slow start, but after the 5th chapter, I was hooked!!

This is Kate Bromley’s third book and she is an insta-buy author for me!!! This romance was so awesome and the slow burn was everything! Matt and Violet are just so irresistible! Do not wait preorder this book it comes out June 6th! I promise you won’t regret it!

as someone who loved talk bookish to me, i couldn’t wait to get my hands on another release by this author, and boy she didn’t disappoint! this was so stinking cute and all the different destinations truly took the readers on a vacation as well.

A witty fun rom com about opposites and not friends (they aren't really enemies) who become....lovers. Violet has moved from the US to Rome for her fashion dreams. She meets Matt when she stumbles and spills her coffee on his laptop (classic) and then realizes that she actually knows him. He's the son of her professor but he isn't interested in her, although they slowly get to know one another at various gatherings. Violet is a bit conflicted - she misses her romantic interest back in the US-and Matt's not the easiest character. This is as trope-y as can be but it's also set in Rome (Rome!) and I liked the supporting cast as much as I did Violet and Matt. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A light read.

Upon completing Ciao for Now I immediately ordered Kate Bromley's book Here for the Drama. I loved this book and was smitten from the first chapter. I loved the snarky, witty, and sometimes sarcastic vibes throughout the book that I can only guess is the authors amazing personality coming through her characters. I am all of the above and so is my husband so the interactions between to the two main characters made me smile often. Ciao for now was one of those light hearted stories with characters you enjoy and a book you can finish in one day.
Violet gets an opportunity to travel to Italy for a fashion design competition and she is both excited and terrified. Her friends and fellow competitors are much younger then her but Violet was swayed off course and just now making herself a priority. Getting this opportunity in Italy to work and learn from a legend is something special, and falling for a boy is a bonus. Unfortunately the boy is the son of her teacher and could cause problems with her friends if they find out. Violet is still recovering from her breakup with her ex but Matt is making it easier to forget everyday. Being with Matt is exciting and boy is he hot but he's also a terrible distraction and if Violet isn't careful she will miss out on a huge opportunity to make a name for herself.
This summer internship will teach Violet what's most important in life, all she has to do is accept that she deserves the best and all her wildest dreams will come true.

Thank you Uplit Reads and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the chance to read Kate Bromley's Ciao for Now on NetGalley.
What a fun little rom-com to start summer off with! I really enjoyed Violet and following along with her journey to Rome to pursue her dreams in the fashion industry.

When Violet makes a quick morning coffee run, she accidentally spills it all over Matteo's laptop. Matteo, a natural-born grump, isn't impressed in Violet's attempts to assuage her guilt. Starting off as enemies, they find their connection since Matteo's Mom is one of the professors working with Violet in her studies. They quickly realize how drawn to one another they are, and that they actually enjoy one another's company.
This book was flirty and fun!

•Ciao For Now 🇮🇹•

📚Genre: rom-com
🤔Rating: 🍺🍺🍺🍺(4/5)
#️⃣ of pages: 320
👯‍♀️ read if you like: enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance, Emily in Paris (but in Rome instead!)
📢Publishing Date: June 6, 2023

👍🏼:
•books set in Italy will always get a thumbs up from me!
•I fell in love with the main characters! They were both very likable and I was pulling for them
•the ending 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

👎🏼:
•a little slow start but it was great when it picked up

Overall…
This was such a light, fun read! The sarcastic and witty banter between all of the characters made it so fun to read. It gave me all the vibes of Emily in Paris (and I LOVE that show) with the fashion, the beautiful setting & of course, the guy. I just wanted to pop a bottle of Prosecco while reading this! This is the perfect feel-good summer read & a quick one to enjoy!


Special thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for an honest review!

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I literally can't get over the Italian setting for this book and all the glitzy world of high fashion. I couldn't possibly think of a better, more romantic setting for a fashion designer to fall in love.

Being someone who loves to sew as a hobby, this book was really fun for me! I felt such a strong connection to Violet and I absolutely loved her character. She was brave and hilarious right out of the gate. Violet is a 29-year-old trying to pursue her dreams as a fashion designer. She enters into a competition that could land her a dream job in NYC. She is bravely competing against two of her younger classmates (one who is her best friend, Marco).

The only problem is that her professor's son, Matt, is her ultimate enemy since arriving on her very first day in Italy. It's up to her to decide if she can push through to obtain her goals or if she will continually be distracted by this hot, but grouchy guy who ends up living just a few doors down from her in Italy. The attraction between the artsy, creative Violetta & the playful, charismatic Matt kept me giddy & smiling the whole time. The chemistry between them is undeniable and it's the perfect amount of grumpy sunshine/enemies to lovers.

There were so many scenes where I laughed out loud and I especially loved the scene at dinner when Violet makes Matt squirm at dinner. The dialogue in this book is so clever and witty. It feels real and honest but not over the top cheesy.

Not only was the romance fantastic, but I also thoroughly enjoyed each of the side characters. Marco was such a great support system for Violet and he cracked me up on several occasions. He was her biggest cheerleader in her journey! I loved all the strong friendships that Violet developed while in Italy - Louis & Mira especially.

There are a ton of things I could quote, but I think you should just read it for yourself and experience it on your own. This should be turned into a movie so I can scene how all these scenes play out in live action!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House, & Kate Bromley for my ARC of Ciao For Now!

A really cute rom-com that made me laugh out loud. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ciao For Now is a story about Violet, a 29-year-old woman who goes back to fashion design school after dropping out to follow her boyfriend to Chicago in her early 20s. She gets a fashion house internship in Rome for the summer and the book follows her and her friends through the design world. There’s a frenemies-to-lovers romance and plenty of Italian imagery. A super fun, quick read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Ciao For Now is a sweet story with a little enemies to lovers with also a second chance romance mixed in. Violetta and Matteo have instant chemistry but Violetta had a lot that she needed to overcome in order for her to get that HEA.