Was very much not a fan of this one. Characters were boring and had no chemistry. Absolutely insufferable

"The world is still scary to me, but it's okay to be scared because the things that are true can't ever be really lost. Rome taught me to love, and love taught me to believe."

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's/Delacorte Romance for an ARC of All Roads Lead to Rome in exchange for an honest review.

All Roads Lead to Rome follows a 17-year-old teenage girl named Astoria Herriot, aka Story who is one of the children of the American diplomatic corps stationed in Rome. After a chance encounter with a young man named Luca Kinnaird in a gelateria, Story is pulled into a fake dating scheme in order to protect Luca's relationship with a popular pop princess. However, there is also something in it for her- an annual scholarship in her dad's memory. As Story shows Luca the sights of Rome while attending elite parties and events she never could have imagined, her carefully drawn line between the real world and the celebrity reality that Luca lives in starts to blur and her feelings start to bleed over the line.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I loved this book! I've been obsessed with Rome for a long time because my family is Italian so it was so cool to finally read a contemporary romance set in Rome. Luca and Story's friendship evolution was so fun from their first meeting in the gelateria (which was such an entertaining scene) to the very last scene in the book (which I won't spoil here because it was one of my absolute favorite scenes!). While Luca and Story were the focus, there was such a great supporting cast of characters including Luca's best friend Andrew and Andrew's cousin, Dani. Even though Dani is only in a few scenes, she still has such a personality and is such a fun character.

The most interesting thing I found about this book was that the author was not afraid to tackle some tough topics such as addiction and rehab so I would definitely look up trigger warnings for this book because it is a large part of Story's arc through the novel. The author handled these topics with such class and grace which I appreciated considering my own connections with these topics.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good love story set in Rome with some Hallmark vibes! 5/5 stars!

3.9 stars! (rounded)

what?! this was the cutest thing ever. and im glad i applied for the arc! this is the perfect summer read and soo underrated. i want to go to europe now 😭 also can we talk about the cover?! im OBSESSED. the design is gorgeous. but anyway, i enjoy this! at times it got a little repetitive for me, but it was an easy read overall. i only wish i had a deeper connection to the characters, but it the ending was so cute. 🥹 a sweet and heartwarming romance for sure! this book also had other important topics discussed which i appreciated <3 i felt astoria (the FMC) was also super relatable and im glad she FINALLY stood up for herself. i just loved how she viewed some things. very sensible! also sometimes this book has a good sense of humor too haha. but yeah, i dont have much to say! but i do recommend this, and i will def be reading whatever else she comes out with! plus, maybe a reread next summer?! this was the perfect way to end my summer reading. HERE I COME FALL <3🤭 ima round up the rating

A celebrity love story that takes place in Rome? Sign me up!!

Astoria (aka Story) Herriot just wanted some ice cream. Unfortunately for her, that's the exact shop where famous Scottish guy Luca and his famous gf Jasmine are hiding out, waiting for the paparazzi outside to go away. Things only spiral from there. The paps assume Story is Luca's girlfriend, and now Luca wants her to play the part, in exchange for paying for fundraising in honor of Story's dead father. But as they spend more time together, Story sees that all of his fame and wealth is a cover as she gets to know the real Luca and begins to fall for him.

This book was really cute! And I think the aspects discussing addiction (ie Story's father) and drawing boundaries when you have fame with regards to social media and the public were done well. I think the story felt low stakes when it was *supposed* to be high stakes, so that threw me off. While I liked Story in the beginning, her characterization devolved into "not like other girls" really fast and got old. If she's really that kind of girl, show us instead of telling us!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC that I am woefully behind in reviewing.

Based in Rome as a diplomatic lawyer's daughter, Astoria has a passion for classic films starring Audrey Hepburn and for history. She meets Scottish Rogue Luca Kinnaird through happenstance. And then becomes his fake girlfriend to protect the object of Luca's real affections, pop star Jasmine. Astoria "Story" will take the limelight as the fake girlfriend so that Luca and Jasmine can date in secret without the media scrutiny. Story does a good job for a time of faking it and not falling for Luca's charms. Until she does. There are mishaps and miscommunications and some overheard words that throw the whole scenario into chaos. And the whole thing was very predictable. I thought we might get a little bit of a competition with another suitor, but that came to naught. It was pleasant. But didn't stand out for me.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review. I am a sucker for travel romances!! This book hits so many of my favorite tropes such as fake dating, celebrity romance, and travel romance. I enjoyed this twist to my favorite Audrey Hepburn movie, Roman Holiday. I enjoyed this cute and cozy romance between Story and Luca. Definitely gave me all the feels for a YA read and gave me the itch to travel and have my own fairytale ending.

Woof I really struggled with these two characters and really struggled to finish. MC has a huge case of Main Character Syndrome, and MMC is annoyingly perfect. Every problem is solved with the swipe of a credit card which is just...no. And they had a very apparent lack of chemistry.

So so much fun with plenty of emotional depth! Made me want to take an Italian vacation immediately!

This was my favorite book of the year! I went in expecting a light, cute romance, and while it definitely delivered on the charm, it gave me so much more. The story was heartfelt, refreshing, and packed with emotional depth, while still being a swoon-worthy romance that I couldn’t put down.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Rome, the setting felt like a character itself—vivid, enchanting, and steeped in history. I loved how the descriptions brought the city to life, from the buzzing streets to the dreamy landmarks. It made me want to book a trip immediately!

Astoria Herriot and Luca Kinnaird completely stole my heart. Story’s growth from an introverted outsider to someone embracing her feelings was so relatable, and Luca was the perfect mix of swoony and vulnerable. Their fake-dating dynamic felt believable and gave their romance the perfect slow-burn quality.

This book wasn’t just about romance—it explored themes of grief, social pressures, and self-discovery, all woven beautifully into the story. And that ending? Absolutely perfect.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this early. I’m already planning to reread it and can’t recommend it enough!

All Roads Lead to Rome is an entertaining take on the classic Roman Holiday. Story is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Due to some complicated circumstances, Luca is trying to keep his relationship with a pop star under wraps. Story is the perfect cover to save Luca from hot water. As Luca and Story fake date, things change, and they develop feelings for each other, but will there be consequences for what started off as a fake? It was a fun and entertaining read.

This book!

I loved it.

Sweet.

Cute.

AND ROME?!

I need to go immediately and live out this book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

All Roads Lead to Rome is a delightful escape filled with heart, humor, and a whirlwind romance set against the backdrop of stunning Rome. The audiobook does a fantastic job of bringing Astoria “Story” Herriot’s journey to life as she navigates the glamorous yet treacherous world of celebrity dating. The narrator captures Story’s introverted yet determined personality perfectly, making her relatable and endearing. Luca Kinnaird, the charming Scottish celebrity, is equally well-voiced, with his irresistible accent and magnetic presence.

At first, I wasn’t sure what to think of Luca—he seemed a little too slick and perfect. But as the story unfolded, I fell in love with him. He’s full of surprises and depth that I didn’t expect, which made his relationship with Story feel authentic and engaging. Their dynamic is full of fun banter and undeniable chemistry, especially as their fake dating situation turns into something real.

The plot, while somewhat predictable, is elevated by the audiobook’s immersive experience. Rome itself feels like a character, with all the city’s charm brought to life in Story and Luca’s adventures. I could almost taste the gelato and feel the warm Italian breeze. I loved learning about Rome through Story’s eyes!

This is one of my favorite fake dating stories! The emotional depth that is brought to Story’s personal growth, her anxiety about the future, and her budding romance with Luca adds sincerity to the narrative. The pacing is perfect for an audiobook, balancing the lighthearted moments with more intense, heartfelt scenes.

Overall, All Roads Lead to Rome is a charming listen that’s perfect for fans of fake dating tropes, celebrity romance, and those looking for a cozy, romantic getaway—without leaving their headphones.

It wasn't the most amazing book, but I did enjoy most of it. I love the fake dating trope, so I did enjoy that aspect.

All Roads Lead to Rome is an homage to the movie Roman Holiday. Loner Astoria "Story" Herriot, attends an American School in Rome. She runs into Luca Kinnaird as he is attempting to escape from the paparazzi who are chasing him and Jasmine, an international pop star. Story has on the same color dress as Jasmine, so Luca grabs her and has her pretend that she is his tour guide. In exchange for posing as his girlfriend/tour guide, he promises to fund a memorial scholarship for recovering addicts in the name of her late father, who died of an overdose. As Story and Luca attend many society events and tourist attractions, their opposites-attract chemistry kicks in. Story takes Luca to many of her favorite places in Rome and the surrounding countryside, and ultimately ends up accompanying him to Scotland, where she finds out there is more to Luca than meets the eye.

Story has been living in Rome as one of the “Dip Squad,” the kids of the American diplomatic corps stationed in Rome, and she’s soaking in her last summer in the city before starting at Princeton in the fall. One day, as she’s getting gelato on her way home, she gets caught up in Scottish celebrity Luca Kinnaird’s attempts to hide his personal life from the paparazzi. It’s supposed to be a one-time thing, but when the paparazzi assume Story is Luca’s “mystery girlfriend,” she finds herself agreeing to a summer-long fake dating scheme.

As Story and Luca spend the summer exploring Rome, however, they start to develop real feelings for one another (surprise, surprise). But their fake dating scheme is supposed to be hiding Luca’s real relationship with a celebrity who has a huge and loyal fan base, and Story’s future at Princeton could be on the line if she’s discovered to be part of a high-profile international scandal.

This book was a delight. The romance is sweet (and appropriate for a wide range of readers), the banter is fun, and the setting is perfect for an escape any time of year. There are also some subplots about family and addiction that give the novel some depth beyond just a fluffy romance (though we’re here for those, too).

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Children’s, and Delacorte Romance for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are our own.

This review will be posted at https://threeheads.works/category/blog/ya-books/ on October 28, 2024.

LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!! I picked this opposites attract romance up because the cover was cute and I honestly had zero expectations. What I found was a new favorite YA book involving an introverted Princeton bound daughter of an American diplomatic lawyer living in Rome who fake dates and falls for a Scottish member of royalty (not knowing he had a title).

Full of food, Italian sightseeing and tons of paparazzi drama. Perfect for fans of Audrey Hepburn and A Roman holiday. This was great on audio narrated by Teralyn Davis. I have a new auto-buy author and I honestly can't recommend this one enough! Luca was swoony and Astoria (Stori) was a strong, incredibly memorable FMC. HUGE thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

CW: parental death from drug overdose, drug addiction

All Roads Lead to Rome is a standalone contemporary YA romance. Astoria is looking forward to graduation and enjoying living in Rome. But when she’s photographed with a celebrity, she finds herself in a spotlight she never asked for. She soon realizes that she might have more in common with the flirty celebrity than she ever imagined. The ending was just chefs kiss and so perfect! I would love to see the author write a sequel or their first year at Oxford together; because I just know they will be off on another epic adventure!

This was cute, it was just a bit boring. I like Story as a character but it felt as if everything was happening to her and she didn't have any agency. I would have preferred if it was dual pov.

I received an arc through netgalley.

loved this romance and her mom wants her to date this guy she has these amazing friends who are all dealing with different relationship issues . loved that she found her way in the job and found love

Astoria finds herself entangled with the rich and famous when she agrees to fake date Luca to help him hide his relationship with a pop star. As she acts as a tour guide for Luca around Rome, they end up getting closer even as they both know Luca's not available and there's an expiration date to their agreement. As the summer comes to an end, Astoria must decide what she wants and what's important to her. Overall, a fun summer read that will take some suspension of disbelief but features great settings.