Madison has never felt wanted after growing up with neglectful parents. When she goes to college she pals up with Ava and Chelsea. The three girls become best friends, supporting each other to be the best they can. On holiday in Italy they make a pact to be there for each others weddings.
When Ava betrays Madison she runs away from both of them and concentrates on her career as an influencer. When years later Maddie recieves an invitation to Ava's wedding. She is unsure if she wants to go. One on hand her career has imploded and it's a chance to put some ghosts to rest, so to speak. Lake Como is an emotional reunion, one where secrets are revealed and a hope to heal from the past. Jennifer Probst really makes the reader feel like they are in Italy. A wedding in Lake Como is an enjoayble read.
ARC received, this is my volunatary review.

This is the perfect summer book, to read on vacation or to read at home so you can pretend you’re on vacation in a beautiful villa on gorgeous Lake Como. The characters are well drawn and feel like people you might know. They need to work through some difficult issues to regain the friendship they had in college. I really enjoyed this book, 4 stars.

From the publisher:
“Best [college] friends Ava, Madison, and Chelsea made a pact to reunite for each other’s weddings when their careers sent them in different directions. But after one of them makes a choice that tears the group apart, an upcoming wedding might be their last chance to heal old wounds…As they return to Italy’s gorgeous coast, the three women revisit their life-changing first trip to Lake Como during college. When Madison comes face-to-face with ex to the college sweetheart who was at the heart of one of the most pivotal times of her life, can they forge a new way forward?”

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of [this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A WEDDING IN LAKE COMO is the third instalment in Jennifer Probst’s contemporary, adult MEET ME IN ITALY women’s fiction series. A WEDDING IN LAKE COMO is a complete stand alone, and is not connected to the previous instalments.

Told from first person perspective (Madison), following two timelines, A WEDDING IN LAKE COMO focuses on the friendship between Maddie, Ava and Chelsea. During her first year of college, Madison Heart met Ava and Chelsea, and entered into a years long friendship but betrayal would rip the trio apart during their senior year at college, pushing Madison to strike out on her own, making it big in the world of influencers, acting, modelling and stars. Fast forward five years wherein Maddie will receive an invitation to Ava’s wedding, a wedding to take place in Lake Como, Italy. Continuing to struggle with the betrayal that left her broken and hurt, Maddie was reminded about a promise they made, five years before, a promise Maddie knew would force her to face the people that broke her heart.

A WEDDING IN LAKE COMO is a slow building story of friendships and betrayal, relationships and mistakes, jealousy, obsession, forgiveness and love. The reader is pulled into one woman’s journey through college and life, as she must come to terms with what was, and what would never be. Facing the truth, and the people who destroyed her faith in friendships and love, Maddie would discover the heart still wants what the mind can never forget. The premise is impassioned, dramatic and emotional; the characters are desperate, determined, struggling and intense.



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A Wedding In Lake Como by Jennifer Probst is a telling of friendships, betrayal, and finding their way back to each other. Italy is the setting for this beautiful story. Probst uses the beauty of Italy as the backdrop of bringing old friends back together. You see two timelines, one tells the backstory of 3 college friends, their pact of promising to be at each other’s weddings no matter what is going on in their current lives, and second is the storyline of the present day of finding love and repairing the rift between friends.

This was such an engaging story with exploration of so many meaningful themes, a backdrop of New York City and Italy, and characters you will hate and love with equal measure.

Probst's writing is so descriptive and thoughtful. I have now done a deep dive of Brunate and Nesso, small towns in Italy I really want to explore as soon as possible, have a newfound appreciation for what celebrities go through, and need to talk to my best friend from college as soon as I am done writing this review!

This is a bingeable, quick read that made me think so much about true friendship. I think so many of us can name at least one person we met in our twenties that really was there for the awkward, often bad-decision, transitional time in our lives. I think back on some of the choices that I made in my early 20s and cringe. The three main characters in this story come together around the start of college and have their ups and downs. I love how Probst explores what it means to hold grudges, forgive, and find your peace. I loved Maddie’s character the best.

Maddie is an influencer but I think anyone can certainly relate to her.

”I was a walking contradiction, shy and awkward inside, yet dying to be seen and recognized by others.”

Not only is she trying to make it in fashion and the demand to grow followers and find her own artistic voice is tough, but she’s also trying to piece herself back together after things change. This story also depicted what happens when someone in the public eye makes one poor public mistake. Celebrities are human and I love how her character works on herself after that mistake. I also really enjoyed the way Maddie’s brain processed things. She is emotional but also balanced and tries very hard to look at all perspectives.

She experiences something with her two best friends that changes everything and I think most of us can relate to what her character does to try to get back on track. There is so much depth in the story and I was so invested in what happens to all of them! To be honest, I would love another book in this Italy series with these characters!

If you’re a fan of beautiful Italy or want to visit there someday, women’s fiction, and self-reflection, this is a book I think you’ll really enjoy!

Three friends reunited again, for a wedding of one of them.
Will they find what they looking for?
Enjoyed this story a lot. Storyline is great.

Author Jennifer Probst pens another heartwarming story about three best friends with her latest book, A Wedding in Lake Como.

Maddie, Chelsea and Ava meet in college and immediately become besties. They do everything together and encourage each other to achieve their dreams. Due to Maddie's upbringing, she has never felt love and constantly seeks acceptance. She loves fashion and plans to influence others with her unique style via social media and modeling. Chelsea is a financial wiz and hopes to open a firm to help women and working-class families become financially secure. Ava comes from money and is the leader of the threesome. While she is controlling, she goes out of her way to help her friends. Her huge mistake shatters their friendship for years. Luckily, Maddie and Chelsea decide to attend her wedding in Lake Como, and they begin to heal the past.

I enjoyed this emotional adventure and how the relationships of the characters evolved. Due to the wonderful descriptions, I felt like I was in Italy taking in the sights and sounds of the locale. Ms. Probst is one of my goto authors and I never pass up a chance to read her latest book offering.

Complimentary copy provided.

A destination setting that gave Mamma Mia vibes, a full cast of women, and family drama. I'd enjoy this as a film, but it leaned a little too into the womens fiction label than the romance, which isn't my favorite. Solid summer read.

I expecting that plot twist! Madison, Ava and Chelsea are college friends that have experiences. As the story progresses, and they come together in beautiful Lake Como you see how they grow and evolve. This is a story of how their choices affect each other and form the person they are.

Maddie, Ava, and Chelsea become friends as they enter college. They bond quickly and deeply, eventually weeding out others in the group. The story quickly unfolds showing Ava as the leader of the friendship. Yet the story is told from Maddie’s point of view. And while Chelsea plays an important role, many times she takes a back seat to the dynamics that play out between Maddie and Ava.

Then Riggs enters the equation and causes a shift in the Maddie/Ava relationship…. While Riggs and Maddie build a strong relationship, Ava clings tightly to Maddie. By the time graduation rolls around, Maddie and Riggs are ready to live together and they do. Meanwhile, Maddie’s career takes off, causing her to travel and this puts a strain on their relationship.

Everything blows up, and all the relationships are severed… until a wedding in Italy brings the girls back together. And slowly, as Maddie heals in Italy, she and Riggs and begin the road back to friendship first…

I would love to see a spin-off that actually pairs Maddie and Riggs in the future, or a Christmas novella, nicely wrapping up their final steps to a happy ending.

4 Lake Como Stars

In my first read from this author, I found a tale of female friendship and an Italian setting. What a pairing! As sometimes happens with friendship, the trio was thick as thieves in college, but then something tore them apart.

Ava and Madison hadn’t spoken for five years until the wedding announcement arrived. Ava is Italian and now lives in a gorgeous villa on Lake Como. She’s invited Maddie and Chelsea to the wedding.

The book has timelines that share the trio’s fun college years and hints at the toxicity that ended the friendship. At one point during college, they visited Lake Como, and I was enchanted by the descriptions of the scenery.

As Maddie wavers on whether to attend the wedding, she grapples with a personal crisis that threatens her career as an influencer. Can she face Ava and come to forgive her? Chelsea is struggling, too, as she has given up her career to embrace motherhood. Can she find a way to reclaim her career? As each woman works to find their true self and happiness, can they reunite and cement their friendship?

There are some love stories in the mix, too. Maddie finds a soulmate in Riggs during college, but their love isn’t strong enough to endure career ambitions and betrayal.

I rooted for the women to grow, evolve, and reconnect and for them to each find fulfillment.

This can be read as a stand-alone but is listed as “Meet Me in Italy #3.” I enjoyed it so much that I will revisit Italy with the earlier two books!

OMG THIS BOOK!!!! I truly love Jennifer Probst and was so exicited about another book in the Italy.l setting. The friendship between Maddie, Chelsea and Ava was truly special...until it wasn't. Loved Riggs and Maddie together, hated Ava and the circumstances. Seriously could have pushed me over with a feather with the developments in the end of this incredible story. This author gives you Italy on a plate and it's like you're right there exploring the beautiful surroundings of that vibrant city. I need more of Maddie and Riggs, didn't want this book to end. Very well written, definitely angst throughout the book, definitely steamy between Maddie and Riggs. I loved every single bit of it.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

This was my first book by Jennifer Probst. Also, while this is part of a series, I didn't feel I was missing any of the styoryline or character development by starting with this installment.
This tale follows three friends from their college meeting through their complicated history. There is a dual timeline, starting in the present where they are estranged. The story offers regular glimpses to the past. The setting was well written and the storyline was thoroughly developed.
I felt slightly misled by the title, I expected the bulk of the story to be set in Italy, and instead the characters didn't arrive in Italy until almost halfway. Also, I expected a bit more focus on romance. This storyline focused more on the individual growth of specific characters and the evolution of the friendship and not as much on the romance.
Overall a solid read, 3.5 stars. Thank you to Berkley for the opportunity to read a NetGally ARC all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a well written book. It flows nicely and is a bit predictable. I found myself wishing I had friends like Maddie did. It’s an enjoyable book and a perfect beach read.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

This was a good book. I enjoyed hearing the back story leading up to the falling out and how they ended up at the wedding in Lake Como. The friendship these girls shared was very heart warming. It’s crazy how one bad decision can change everything. I enjoyed this book.

Synopsis in a sentence (or two):
Maddie, Ava, and Chelsea meet in college and become immediate friends. Their bond appears unbreakable until it shatters.

Pacing/Storyline:
It’s rare for me to say I’d like to see a book turn into a movie, and for the record, the book IS always better. Yet, A Wedding in Lake Como would make a beautiful movie. In a way, this story had elements of an updated Beaches. It’s a slow-burn drama about three friends detailing the transformation of their relationship as they mature through their college years and twenties. I’m not typically a lover of slow-burn dramas, but this story kept me invested. It kept lingering in the back of my mind, urging me to pick it back up every time I put it down.

Midway through the novel, the story detours from the honeymoon friendship stage to describe the reason for the friendship’s demise. That drama catapults the story into a faster-paced unraveling. Told from dual timelines, Jennifer Probst writes with beautiful detail. I loved how she laced together the depth of the setting with layered, very flawed characters. Her words read like a painting. I will be looking for more from her.

Characters:
Watching the evolution of Maddie and eventually seeing Ava’s transformation made this a four-star book for me, and I debated higher. Madison, the MC, and her two friends, Ava and Chelsea, were both authentic and toxic simultaneously. The hesitancy I felt with the characters initially was the way they came off as so very self-involved. Midway through the novel, it becomes clear that this portrayal was deliberate, and thankfully, their conceited personalities don’t stick around through the entire storyline. Ultimately, it’s a compelling story about friendship, forgiveness, and the journey to find peace.

Recommended to readers who love:
📚Kristin Hannah, Jodi Picoult, Jojo Moyes
📚Influencer main characters
📚Friendship and forgiveness themes

Rating: 4.0

Disclosure:
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the Digital Review Copy of A Wedding in Lake Como. All opinions are my own.

I was completely absorbed in this book.
The friendship between Maddie, Chelsea, and Ava was the central focus but I was more drawn to Riggs and Maddie.
I just knew instinctively what a big part of plot twist would entail but hadn’t anticipated the other punch Probst landed on me.
My favorite character was Riggs and my heart broke for him several times although he brought most of his own misery on himself.
I didn’t really care for Ava. She was needy and manipulative but Maddie allowed herself to be ruled by Ava too.
I had a lot of conflicting emotions and also feelings of hypocrisy. I wanted things to work with Riggs but came down much harder on Ava probably because I knew she’d make the first move in what happened. Still no excuse but I’m more of a hardliner and less forgiving than Maddie.
Maddie needed to really discover who she was instead of dodging her feelings and her past. But I would never let Ava be that close again.

Ava, Maddie, and Chelsea were best friends. They were inseparable until one friend’s choice tore their group apart. In college, the three made a pact that no matter what their futures’ hold they will all reunite at each other’s weddings. Ava is getting married in Lake Como and the three haven’t been together for years. They all come together and share their secrets from the past. But is it too late, will the three women mend their friendship or is it too late?

This book is part of the author’s Meet Me in Italy series, but may be read as standalone. It’s a beautiful story of friendship and love told via the past and the present by Maddie of the wedding and the time leading up to the event that tore the friendship apart. My heart broke for Maddie but I was satisfied with the ending. I also loved all the descriptions of Lake Como. If you love books of friendship and an Italian setting, give this one a try.

A WEDDING IN LAKE COMO by Jennifer Probst, both women's fiction and a contemporary romance, comes out May 14. It's the third installment in Probst's Meet Me in Italy series. Each book in the series is a standalone story. The other two books are OUR ITALIAN SUMMER and THE SECRET LOVE LETTERS OF OLIVIA MORETTI.

Set-Up
Three young women from very different backgrounds become best friends in college. Maddie, Ava, and Chelsea are experiencing self-discovery through the freedom of their college years while dreaming of the endless possibilities ahead of them. It's a book about female friendships, young love, mistakes made along the way, personal growth, and forgiveness. This novel takes us from college in NYC, to the fashion and acting scene in LA, to an Italian mega villa in Lake Como.

The Characters
Growing up, Maddie's parents only took care of her basic needs, making it clear to her that she was an unplanned pregnancy. Once she turned eighteen, they washed their hands of her. Now, Maddie is putting herself through college. She finds the confidence she's been missing through the emotional support of her college friends.
Ava was raised by her wealthy, widowed Italian father. She has charisma that commands attention in any room she enters, but she carries baggage from her mother's death. It has made her manipulative and controlling, but she conceals it as concern and loving help for her friends.
Maddie was so desperate to be loved, she didn't see how toxic her friendship with Ava was becoming. On the other hand, Maddie tried to take as little as possible from Ava. Maddie wanted to make it on her own.
Chelsea rounds out this group of besties. She had the most idyllically "normal" upbringing. Although she's part of the group, Maddie and Ava are the primary characters.

Summary
Through their college years, the girls come to terms with their families and upbringings, build lasting friendships through supporting each other, plan their careers, and explore the dating scene. Sparks fly for Maddie and Riggs, and they build a deep romantic relationship. Riggs is studying law while Maddie builds her social media following to become a fashion influencer.
Ava takes her college girlfriends on an Italian vacation to her home on Lake Como. Here, the girls make a pact to attend each other's weddings, no matter where life leads them.
After Chelsea's wedding reception, Ava makes a huge mistake that destroys the group. Five years later, Ava is getting married to the man of her dreams in her hometown by Lake Como. Even with her past mistake and loss of friendship still haunting her, she puts out the invitation to her college friends.
Maddie, still single, is frustrated with her superficial reality and lack of meaningful relationships. She lashes out on social media, causing a public scandal that could ruin her career. Chelsea is married and has children, but she feels the tug between motherhood and unfulfilled professional goals.
Since Ava has smoothed things over with Chelsea, she'll be at the wedding. But Maddie is the X factor. Will Maddie face the pain of the past and hear Ava out? Will seeing another wedding guest from the past be too much? Will Ava's other secret push Maddie over the edge? Will Maddie hold on to her anger over the wrong done to her, or will she finally find healing?

My Thoughts
There's a lot to love about this book. The characters and their friendship dynamics kept me interested. I wanted to keep reading to see how the girls would grow through their college years and beyond. Riggs was perfect as Maddie's love interest. I wanted to see Maddie become successful, but my heart ached for her as their love is tested as they build their individual careers.
A few things bothered me about the characters, but it didn't keep me from enjoying the story. I had a hard time buying into Maddie's loveless family dynamics. Could anyone live with a child for eighteen years and ONLY feel responsible to feed and clothe her? How could they be so cold-hearted? Possible, but extreme. As Maddie works toward her dream of being a fashion influencer, deep down she hopes that if she's successful enough, she will earn her parents' love. I understand Maddie's misguided thinking, but the extreme brokenness in her family felt unrealistic.
The story takes readers to beautiful Lake Como in Italy twice. What a privilege Ava has to live in a luxurious Italian villa on the lake! She comes from so much wealth! Her background made me question why she would choose to go to college in the states when she could have chosen anywhere in the world. It's a minor point. Maybe I'm just jealous I didn't have a rich friend in college to invite me on extravagant vacations and pay for it all!

Wrap-up
A WEDDING IN LAKE COMO will attract a younger audience, say women in their 20's and 30's. I'm in an older group, ok, much older group, but I still enjoyed this book. The dynamics of three friends and a rocky romance kept my interest. The storyline of a social media influencer keeps the novel relevant today, and yet it brought the good times of my past college years to mind.
I give A WEDDING IN LAKE COMO by Jennifer Probst a strong 4 stars. If it sounds interesting to you, it's worth a read! If you like the sound of this book, you should check out my review of THE GOOD PART by Sophie Cousens.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC of this book. The opinions are my own. Feel free to leave a comment! I love talking with my readers!

Madison grew up a lonely child, feeling unloved and ignored by her parents. So when she met Chelsea and Ava in college, the three became best friends and form the family she has always wanted and needed. With the addition of her boyfriend Riggs and a blossoming career as a social media fashion influencer, Maddie has everything she has ever dreamed of. As senior year approaches, the girls begin discussing the future, making a pact that no matter where their lives and careers take them, they will all be at each others' weddings. Fast-forward five years, and Maddie is forced to decide whether or not she will honor that pact by attending Ava's wedding in Lake Como, Italy, after one of the friends made a life-changing mistake tearing them apart. Maddie, a now-famous model, actress, and influencer, is at a crossroads in her life - will she hold on to the past and continue in a career that has left her unfulfilled, or will she fly to Italy and seek answers and forgiveness from the two people who she once loved the most in her world? Probst does a great job capturing the difficulty of growing up and all of the mistakes and consequences that come with it, as well as the beauty of forgiveness and importance of family.