2.7 stars!!!! I liked this book but it definitely fell a little flat for me!! I think I wanted more of the romance and I just didn't get that at like the end. I also wasn't a big fan of luca I feel like I didn't get his personality that much, This book is definitely plot driven then character driven which isn't a bad thing don't get me wrong but it just wasn't my favorite thing!! I think this is a really cute and fast paced romance book if you want something quick!! The girl in this book her name is Story and I thought she was really cute I love the mother and daughter relationship in this book it was so cute!!

Introverted Astoria 'Story' is on the outside of the other Diplomat kids at her school and she can't wait to start Princeton in the Fall. She loves and knows a lot about Rome. It's one chance encounter at a gelato shop that turns her life topsy-turvy. When she bumps into famous singer Jasmine and Scottish heartthrob Luca Kinnaird what starts as a diversion from the ruthless paparazzi turns into much more. Little by little Story finds that Luca is filled with surprises and maybe she might have her own Audrey Hepburn happy ever after.

What worked: Modern-day twist on Roman Holiday. Love all the fun shout-outs to Audrey Hepburn in this fast-paced contemporary romance set in Rome. There's lots of history and visual imagery throughout this engaging tale.

I loved the twist on Roman Holiday where Luca is the one with royal background and Story is the commoner. Story shies away from social media so it's a huge step to go from someone who had no presence online to being hounded by the paparazzi at every turn. She finds out who are her real friends and those who try to take advantage of her sudden fame online.

Luca comes across first as an entitled member of the upper class. Story has no knowledge he is in fact from Scottish royalty. He slowly opens himself up to her and I know I fell for him like she did.

There's also mention of how 'real' social media is and isn't and how some will spread lies to benefit themselves. There's mention of addiction and how Story doesn't want to mention her father's death to it. Also, Jasmine's boyfriend is in rehab. When Luca asks what she would like for her part in playing the fake girlfriend, Story asks for a scholarship in her father's name.

A fun take on the fake romance trope.

Magical ride through Rome with an engaging cast of characters. Unlike Roman Holiday, this one has a happily ever after. I think Audrey would approve!

4.3 rounded down to 4/5

Sabrina Fedel's "All Roads Lead to Rome" offers readers a charming and nostalgic journey reminiscent of classic rom-coms, with a modern twist set against the backdrop of the Eternal City. With echoes of "Roman Holiday" and a fresh take on familiar tropes, this gender-reversed tale delivers a delightful blend of romance, humor, and social commentary.

At the heart of the story is Astoria "Story" Herriot, a shy and introspective young woman whose life takes an unexpected turn when she becomes embroiled in a fake dating scheme with Scottish celebrity Luca Kinnaird. As their worlds collide amidst the picturesque streets of Rome, Story finds herself navigating the complexities of fame, love, and personal identity.

Fedel's narrative is infused with a palpable sense of wanderlust, transporting readers to the enchanting streets and landmarks of Rome. Through meticulous attention to detail and vivid descriptions, the author captures the essence of the city, allowing readers to immerse themselves in its rich history and vibrant culture.

The dynamic between Story and Luca is both endearing and electrifying, fueled by their undeniable chemistry and the tension of their contrasting backgrounds. Luca's swoon-worthy charm and Scottish charisma add depth to his character, while Story's relatable vulnerability and wit make her a captivating protagonist.

While the novel excels in its depiction of romance and setting, there are moments where the pacing falters, particularly in the second half of the story. Some scenes could benefit from more emotional depth and development, enhancing the overall impact of pivotal moments in the plot.

Despite these minor flaws, "All Roads Lead to Rome" is a delightful read that blends timeless romance with modern sensibilities. Fedel skillfully navigates themes of social media scrutiny, class differences, personal growth, and addiction, offering readers a thought-provoking exploration of love and authenticity in the digital age.

With its evocative setting, engaging characters, and heartfelt message, "All Roads Lead to Rome" is sure to captivate fans of contemporary romance and classic cinema alike. Whether you're longing for a virtual tour of Rome or a heartwarming love story with a twist, this novel delivers an enchanting journey with a fairy-tale ending that will leave you longing for amore.

I really enjoyed this romance, and Story as a main character was great. She was more mature than I expected from a YA romance main character, and I'm so here for it. The serious topics related to substance use and abuse helped the plot feel more real and raw. I also loved the way the romance developed, because while it was slightly predictable, it was still so cute. And, who doesn't enjoy a story where a wealthy Scottish man does literally anything? This was a cute romance that I am glad to have read.

This is a fake dating, opposites attract romance that is a quick read for anyone who loves romance novels. I especially liked the mini tour of Rome's attractions and the awkward start to a fake relationship that grows easily though the book. A must read for those seeking a book with a happy ending. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

i have mixed feelings about this book. The first was everything I ever wanted from a YA romcom it was fast-paced and I adored or main characters, Astoria (story for short) and Luca. However once we got to about the 50% mark everything changed the pacing wasn't consistent, the writing seemed and the plot slowed down. Despite the problems in the second half i did still enjoy this book and will be reading from this author again in the future.,

Rome sparkles on every page of this delightful romance. I loved traveling throughout the city and daydreamed of gelato while reading. I also enjoyed the smart take on the fake-dating trope, discovering the world of the "dips", and following Luca and Story on all of their fun adventures.

This book!!! The setting itself was cento per cento! Most of it took place in Italy, and Fidel painted Rome beautifully. I really liked Story as the main character and definitely related to her throughout the book. It was fun to watch her grow and try new things. Can we please get a sequel of her at college!?

Now on to Luca...I don't know what it was about him, but I was never fully sold. He was sweet at times, but also his choices made me question him (and if he was who Story should be with) more than once. Besides that though, I loved all the side characters (Jack and Andrew in particular)!

This was one I couldn't put down - definitely recommend if you're looking for a quick escape or longing for a trip to Italy!!

In Sabrina Fedel's delightful novel, "All Roads Lead to Rome," we meet Astoria "Story" Herriot, an introverted and slightly anxious young woman with an encyclopedic knowledge of Rome. Story's life is turned upside down when she finds herself in a fake dating scheme with Scottish heartthrob, Luca Kinnaird, to protect his relationship with a pop princess. As Story shows Luca the hidden gems of Rome and helps him navigate the city's bustling streets, she discovers that there's more to life than her carefully planned future. Fedel's writing is witty and charming, bringing the vibrant city of Rome to life with vivid descriptions and colorful characters. Story is a relatable protagonist, and readers will root for her as she navigates the ups and downs of her newfound romance with Luca. The supporting cast of characters is equally well-developed, each adding their own unique charm to the story. As Story and Luca's fake relationship begins to blur the lines between reality and fiction, they find themselves questioning their true feelings for each other. Fedel expertly weaves together humor, romance, and self-discovery, creating a story that is both heartwarming and thought-provoking. "All Roads Lead to Rome" is a delightful and entertaining novel that will appeal to fans of contemporary romance and anyone who loves a good fake dating story. Fedel's writing is a breath of fresh air, and readers will find themselves swept away by the magic of Rome and the undeniable chemistry between Story and Luca.

Certain YA books will hold a special place in my heart, and this is one of them. Our heroine Story is brilliant, plucky, and only afraid of opening herself up to friendship and even love. Luca is a hero that comes along quite nicely due to Story's positive influence, and I found myself smitten with him too. The scenery is dynamic and a Roman Holiday whirlwind, with lots of education on the history and monuments. Smart heroines are delightful and Story grew so much during her pretend-romance to Luca. I was thrilled to see the author is a lawyer as well, so many of my favorites are!

After a month of reading YA romance (normally not my favorite genre) for an assignment, I ended with All Roads Lead to Rome. I had saved it for last because Rome is one of my favorite cities. (Seriously, you must try the gelato at Giolitti!) However, I thought the book failed to soar quite as high as I expected, given the Eternal City as a background. I expected a 5-star book and this might only be 4.5 stars (which is still impressive). To be fair, this might be the fact that I read six other YA romances right before this. That may have colored my opinion. But I thought this fake dating story lost some of the pacing and character development around halfway through the book. Astoria is a fine main character who learns to stand up for herself and Luca grows throughout the book. The book addresses some serious topics and ends exactly as expected. This is a better-than-average book that teen readers will flock to. It also, after I have time to reflect, might be one of the better romance books to have crossed my desk lately.

I don’t think I actually know what happened in this book. But I enjoyed it.

A y-a fake dating/celebrity trope.

3.5 ⭐️

What happens when an introverted daughter of a diplomat gets swept up into a fake dating scheme with a Scottish celebrity all to protect his relationship with a pop singer? Well, in All Roads Lead To Rome you’ll find out!

This book reminded me of a Disney Original movie in all the best ways. From the setting of Rome to the “fake date me to protect my relationship with a pop star” story-line it all felt like the perfect blend of delightful and slightly out of the realm of possibilities. So basically, I ate it up. ;)

Overall, I found Story to be an interesting and engaging character to follow, although I did feel like she was giving “i’m not like other girls” energy on occasion. Luca was the perfect Scottish boy to sweep Story into a hot mess of a situation and I really enjoyed having a story center around a Scottish character rather than the typical British royalty. Mostly because the Scottish slang was so entertaining to read. Luca’s best friend, Andy was an especially fun addition to the story and while i think he was a bit harder on Story than I would have liked at times, he really added an extra layer of humor.

I thought Story’s relationship with her parents was very beautiful and handled with care. The way the author wove her father’s story into everything was interesting and gave a level of depth to why Story is the way she is. I loved how much Story’s mom trusted her and that they seemed like good friends, as well as being mother/daughter.

There were a few parts of the story that I wished were giving a bit more time to create some emotional build up, but overall this was a fun and entertaining read.

3.5⭐️

I was excited to get this arc after seeing reviews saying The Lizzie McGuire Movie + Roman Holiday. It follows Astoria "Story" and Luca as they fake date to throw off the paparazzi from his relationship with his famous girlfriend.

This was a quick read. I loved reading about Rome and its history. The author did a good job making Rome an integral part of the story. I liked the commentary on the paparazzi and social media and how invasive both can be. And while it took a little bit for me to get into the romance, Story and Luca were cute by the end. It took me a while to warm up to Luca, but I could see his character growth. My biggest issue was how long the girlfriend plot dragged on for.

Okay, I'll be honest, I read this book because it was set in Italy and I have a soft spot for Italy. The cover also drew me in. I'll be honest again; I didn't love this book. It was cute and fun and had me wishing I could visit Rome again. I genuinely liked it. I have a few qualms, though. First of all, our leading lady's name being Story is a level of quirky I thought we left in 2014. I didn't love her name. Her as a character was great but she deserved a better name. Luca was a little annoying for the first half of the book. He was so oblivious to how working class people live and it peeved me. Some of the condescending things he says to Story had me fuming. He comes around in the second half of the book which is good. (Yay for character development!) This is definitely a well-written book and I enjoyed the majority of it (minus the qualms I listed) and it is such a solid YA novel.

Very very cute celeb fake dating romance! Our protagonist was so fun and our li was so cool, and the discussion of celeb culture is great! Thanks for the arc

I’m torn over All Roads Lead To Rome. It sounded adorable and charming. I love the cover and the first few chapters set it up to follow through, but it declined after that. I didn’t feel grounded in who Story was, most everything happened to her instead of her pursing something.
3.5 stars

I have very complicated feelings about this book. I requested the ARC because I studied in Rome for a semester and was excited at the prospect of revisiting a city that I love dearly. The first half of All
Roads Lead to Rome was a delight. I read the first half in an evening; I could not put it down! Our main character, Astoria (Story for short), captured my heart with her genuine desire to be ethical and her appreciation for the classics (Keats! Roman Holiday!) The set up of the fake dating scenario was a little fast, but I was compelled enough by the narrative and characters to overlook that. Luca was a swoony male lead, and Andrew was a great and vital side character. I enjoyed the little details about Rome that showed the author’s familiarity with the city. The Keats-Shelley House in particular owns my heart. As well, the author tries to address some very serious social issues (addiction, the ethics of fame and social media, greed, etc) that I appreciated. She plants the seeds of those themes very well in the beginning.

However, I struggled to get through the second half of the book. It felt almost as if I was reading a completely different novel in terms of pacing and plot. The second half dragged on with very low stakes until the last 15%. So much of the action happened off the page without Astoria having any agency over what happened. Aside from her choice to participate in the fake dating scenario, most things happened to her rather than stemming from choices she intentionally made. She is often told about what is happening rather than uncovering it for herself. I appreciate that Astoria’s character development hinges on her learning to stand up for herself, but there should be a way to accomplish that while still keeping the plot moving.

I truly think this book has the potential to be excellent, so I want to be gracious. This 3-star review does NOT turn me off from reading any of the author’s future novels. I would love to see what she writes next! It has really good bones, but I believe it would benefit from another round of editing for the themes to truly hit home and for the plot to make more sense.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love a sweet romance, especially one that using the fake-dating trope so well! This was such a fun story with the bonus of learning more about a fabulous city like Rome.

All Roads Lead to Rome features the fake-dating theme and shy protagonist of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han with a social media focus. With subtle storytelling that showcases the darker realities as in Jenna and Jonah’s Fauxmance by Emily Franklin, All Roads Lead to Rome likewise wraps a fun and light romance around the solid substance of celebrity culture, substance abuse, and staying true to who you are.

So charming and delightful, with likeable characters, sweet romance, and a rich setting that had me wanting to visit Rome. It was the perfect summer romance read!