I wanted to love this book. I wanted so bad to love this book. I think it might have to do with the fact that people tried comparing it to The Summer I Turned Pretty and Magnolia Parks. Those books do a great job managing angsty characters that sometimes we love to hate but the fact is we still love them. Hearing that I might be judging this book too harshly.

There was so much going on throughout this book that it started to gofer like things were thrown in just to be thrown in. Sometimes when there are that many plot points it starts to make them seem under developed and unfortunately that is just how I felt with this book. There was such a blur on what the plot of this book actually was which made me feel a little frustrated trying to get through it. I was disappointed because the story itself sounded interesting and it was not necessarily poorly written so I am sure that other books that this author decides to put out will be a hit but I think there was just a little too much going on in this one.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story.

A family wedding brings two prodigal children back to their small hometown of Chivasso, Italy. As the sun-drenched summer unfurls, innocence is lost, both through pleasure and the resurfacing of ugly family secrets. By the end of this pivotal summer, Magdalen and Theo are forever changed.

** spoiler alert **

🍷 My Take: The writing and narration are beautifully poignant, but the main characters and their respective families have so much pain that the story was hard to enjoy. And while the summer ended, providing a natural conclusion to the story, the characters’ narratives and story arcs do not provide resolution.

👩🏻‍🏫 Reader Notes/Trigger Warnings: This book has heaviness woven throughout. Secrets are alluded to, but not revealed until nearly the end, making them loom throughout the story. Take care. Problematic elements of the story include on-page adultery and child abuse, a person under the influence of drugs, and lots of cursing and crude language. Colonial museum practices are also present as both families include scholars of ancient Egypt that have been part of digs excavating artifacts that are then brought back to a museum in Italy without any conversation of customs or the like.

🥰 Thanks to @ReadForeverPub for the gifted electronic ALC of the book. All opinions are my own.

This book wasn’t for me sadly. Great idea for a story. The characters didn’t seem realistic. Sorry I hate to give negative reviews.

This was a cute coming of age romance novel. Loved the narrators and the world was that was created. Perfect summer read and with a very realistic storyline. Each character brought their own issues and trauma to the relationship, and you watch how those issues affect the dynamic their relationship and how they approach certain issues.

A good story concept that could have been presented in a better way. Lots of sex scenes, which felt like they took away from the deeper meaning the story could have portrayed. The narration was good.

This book was not for me sadly. I just could not get over all the drama and angst between all of the characters and releated to them 0%. This book is marketed if you love Magnolia Parks you will love this one and from what I have heard of the Magnolia Parks series I would believe that to be true. If you love drama, angst and characters making all the wrong decisions this one is for you. I had to dnf at 30%.

I really wanted to like this story. The cover was beautiful and the premise was intriguing. I listened to the audio and I enjoyed the narrators. However, after several alternating segments of each character I just wasn’t invested in this story. I didn’t care enough to find out the conclusion of this story. There was a lot of back story and I’m sure some readers will connect with this tale.

I could not get into this. I'm not sure if it was the narrator or the storyline but I found myself bored 10% in and couldn't finish.

To be completely transparent, I was approved for this audiobook and forgot to download and give feedback before it was archived. It was bothering me that I didn't have a chance to properly review it and ended up purchasing the book after it was released.

I was initially drawn to the book because it included some of my favorite tropes: childhood friends to lovers, bad boy x good girl, forbidden romance, and best friend's brother! But aside from that, this book was unfortunately not for me. I just found it tough to stay invested in Theo and Magdalen's relationship for the whole duration and found myself wanting to DNF at times. I am a SUCKER for angst, but was frustrated with the constant back and forth/anxiety that could have been fixed if they had simply TALKED! The lack of communication felt incredibly immature and it didn't resonate with me especially with where I am at this point in my life.

The main issue is that there was no clear direction or plot within the story itself. There was too much emphasis on the toxicity and tension within their relationship without really catering to the emotional development (which is usually what I'm invested in when I'm reading romance) leading to a lack of chemistry that felt truly authentic.

While I didn't entirely love the book, it was a quick, enjoyable read overall. The artwork/cover for the book is gorgeous and I totally would have picked it up if I saw it in stores! I'd recommend this book for anyone who is a fan of slow burn, angst, or destination weddings!

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, Hatchette Audio & NetGalley, for the ALC of this book. Overall, this book wasn't bad. It had some enjoyable parts, and I liked getting to see Maudlin come out of her shell a bit. That being said, I honestly couldn't tell you the plot of this story other than angry, hot boy returns home after being gone a long time and quiet, virgin girl comes home from college determined to lose her v card. It just seemed to lack an overarching plotline.

This audio was not entirely for me just due to the plot of the story. The narrators were fantastic and you could envision the scenes and feel the emotions of the characters through them. I will definitely be giving the book another chance though as I do better with print.

UGH the audio wasn't good. I had to stop listening at 39%

I grabed a copy from my library instead and it definitely didn't translate to audio so well.

It was pretty cute, had a lot of heart in it. I liked the characters and I loved the plot!

3.5 stars

ALC BOOK REVIEW

I’ll Look for You Everywhere by Cameron Capello
3 STARS

Thank you Forever and Hachette Audio for the #free ALC of this book!

SYNOPSIS: “In this angsty debut from BookTok’s @ChamberofSecretBooks, a wedding forces one university student to return to her small town where she must finally face the long-buried secrets and heated tension between her and her brother’s best friend.

Once close to her big family, Magdalen Savoy is now paralyzed with anxiety every time she’s tempted to leave her safe haven at Oxford and return to her Italian village. But when Magdalen receives an invitation to her sister’s wedding, she has no choice but to pack her bag for what is sure to be a long summer with the man she still can’t forget.

After seven years, Theo finds himself back in Chivasso, where nothing changes. But upon seeing his best friend’s little sister, it’s obvious that the sweet Maggie from his childhood is long gone. He knows he should stay away, yet he can’t ignore the electricity he feels at her slightest touch.

It becomes hard to convince everyone else—and themselves—that there’s nothing between them. But long-buried secrets threaten to tear their families apart—and could possibly separate them forever…”

REVIEW: Given the premise (and the gorgeous cover) I wanted to love this book, but unfortunately it wasn’t for me.

This story unfolds in a stunning setting, offering a beautiful love story full of emotional depth. The characters face a constant push and pull, marked by loss, regrets, and hope.
While the emotional rollercoaster is powerful, I found myself distancing from the couple at times due to their constant fear and drama. The intensity of their feelings was compelling, but the cycle of hurt made it difficult to fully engage with their journey. The struggles between the characters feel real, but at times, the lack of effective communication left me frustrated. It often felt like the characters were not really talking to each other.

The audiobook narrators Cam Wilder and Grace Blyth did a stellar job! I'm definitely going to look for more books with them.

Although I saw Magdalen and Theo’s ending coming, it wasn’t entirely satisfying. The conclusion felt genuine but could have been more fulfilling. Despite that, the overall story was enjoyable, even if some of the drama and miscommunication seemed unnecessary.

Publisher: Forever, Hachette Audio
Pub date: OUT NOW!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian for the chance to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this audio. It was a spicy story with likable characters. The narrators on the audio were amazing, without them, I am not sure how much this story would engage me if I read the print version.

I’m so, so thankful to have received a copy of the audiobook I’ll Look For You Everywhere from Forever Publishing! At first, it was a little challenging to get into the story, but once I was about 10-15% in, I truly couldn’t stop listening. Theo and Magdalen have been neighbors all their lives, and when they both return home for Magdalen’s sister’s wedding, the summer becomes much more intense, with dark secrets looming over both of them.
What really made this story stand out for me was the narration. Both Cam Wilder and Grace Blyth did an amazing job bringing Theo and Magdalen to life. The “best friend’s brother” and “will they, won’t they” tropes were definitely highlights for me.
However, my main issue with the novel lies in its plotting. Too often, the focus on the tension and romance took over the story, leaving the subplots underdeveloped. By the end, I had nearly forgotten that both characters were harboring secrets from one another. This lack of consistency made the ending feel rushed and unfinished. I think revealing Magdalen’s secret earlier and saving Theo’s for later could have helped prevent the “info dump” at the end of the novel.
In truth, I would recommend this book to avid romance and smut readers. However, it won’t be my top recommendation due to my feelings about the overall story. While there were some great and emotionally raw moments, the book as a whole felt a bit jumbled.

This was a dramatic and often angsty story about childhood friends -- with childhood crushes -- who return to their hometown in Italy for a friend's wedding. Magdalen Savoy was gone for one year at university, and now she's home, trying to find her hiding place among the shadows of her loud family. Theo, her brother's best friend, is back after a seven-year absence; as try he might, he simply cannot resist her. From family drama and past trauma, these two navigate the complications of growing up together and discovering those childhood crushes may not have stayed in the past.

I have controversial feelings about this book. It was fast paced and easy to read, so this is a plus. But this also means that there is almost nothing to think about in this book. Theo is a typical bad boy with past trauma and Magdalen is the girl with a crush. The book mostly consists of dialogues between the main characters, so it is easy to follow and complete. What happens between the characters sounds cringy and cheesy at times, so if this is what a reader expects, you may like it.
Great narrator!
The setting in Italy is promising!

Wow, this book was longer than I expected, for not much to be happening. I loved the ideas of the tropes, settings, and premise behind these two. But I couldn’t get over the characters. They weren’t like able, and throughout the entire story I was just waiting for the reasons why I was supposed to be ok with not liking them. It didn’t come until the last 10% of the book. It just made Magdalen look naive and Theo look like a jerk.

However, the bright spot for me was introducing me to 2 new book narrators. I enjoyed Cam Wylder’s performance as Theo as he was able to share a nuanced performance. Grace Blyth’s performance as Magdalen did capture her naivety and growth in self discovery well.

Thanks to Forever for an ARC and Hachette Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest reviews.

A heart-stirring contemporary romance set in the breathtaking beauty of Italy! Picture this: a picturesque family wedding in a charming, sleepy Italian town—where long-lost lovers, Magdalen and Theo, are reunited after seven years of carefully avoiding one another. But the magic of Italy is undeniable, and once they’re both there, the irresistible pull between them grows stronger than ever, despite their past.

It’s a stunning, emotional love story wrapped in a gorgeous European setting. The chemistry is undeniable, but the journey is far from easy. There’s a constant tug-of-war between love and pain, filled with loss, regrets, and the flicker of hope. The emotional stakes are high, and the angst is palpable this couple can’t seem to escape the weight of their past. I found myself torn, hesitant to dive too deep because of their fears and drama, but that's exactly what made it so intense!

This is a perfect read for anyone who loves their romances with a hefty dose of heartache, longing, and the kind of emotional struggle that makes the hard-earned happily-ever-after all the more satisfying.

This. book was fast paced and easy to read. The setting description was great! The story had a lot of potential, but it just didn't hit the mark for me. I wanted to love it. I really did. I struggled with the characters and the story line. This one just wasn't for me. Huge thanks to Hachette audio and Netgalley for allowing me to listen and review this book.