Wow the emotional trauma with the mom and daughter really hit me in the face. I related so much to that feeling of never feeling like enough. Overall it was a very sad, hopeful book about love and getting what you deserve in life. Heavy trigger warnings about child loss. Emotional aspects set aside, I loved how the characters developed and find each other as the years goes on. I completely devoured this book, I was hooked from the beginning. I would recommend this book to my group.

Slow burn, no spice, and a FMC who is 12 years overdue for therapy 😂 All that said, it was a quick enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

In a way, I enjoyed the overall premise and intention behind the book: a grieving woman works through internal and external obstacles to find independence, passion, and love. However, the pacing and writing of this story felt a bit too disjointed for me to fully enjoy. From the start, there was dissonance for me from the cute and bright title, book cover and meet-cute, to the deep and dark tragedy surrounding our protagonist.
The novel is easy to read, and the chemistry and banter of our leads is truly very sweet. I appreciated the transnational and intercultural backgrounds of our protagonists, representing many folks who come from complex, overlapping backgrounds. For example, Suzie is Korean-Peruvian-American, which is incredible because while that type of representation is not uncommon, it is rarely seen in media and literature. However, outside of explaining her heritage, there is barely mention of reflecting on her multifaceted cultural identity, especially on being Korean, while in the states or other countries.
Also, Stevie’s internal monologue felt at odds with the events of the story to the point where I felt like I was missing crucial pieces of the book as a reader. While I love an enlightened character by the end of the book, it was difficult to follow her emotional journey, and I wanted to learn more deeply about her healing and relationship with her mother.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

I truly enjoyed this book because I recently traveled to Italy and could relate. It made me want to go back.

I enjoyed the story and writing.

I highly recommend this book and look foward to more by this author.

Thank you netgalley and publishers for this arc.

The description is very misleading this is not a lighthearted romance set in Italy. There are heavy subjects and heartbreak. Wasn't what I was expecting and found it hard to keep reading.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for arc first 3 chapters was hard to read should have a been trigger warnings about it and the book wasn’t what I was expecting I was fought it would be something light and fun summer read I was hoping but I was wrong it was heartbreak, emotional, grief and family drama and teen pregnancy we see the main character how to learn to love herself how to deal with her grief and a relationship overall the book wasn’t ok just wasn’t what I was expecting and fell flat at a few times 3.5 stars

Stevie Choi’s plans for her future encounter a detour by a tragedy when she is seventeen. She compensates for her heartbreak by becoming successful in her chosen job. While attending a friend’s wedding in Rome, she meets handsome, charming Cristian. She has been warned about him, but the attraction is there. Despite living far apart, they choose to remain friends until something tears them apart. Will they ever be reunited and will Stevie find peace in her life?

The synopsis I read about this book did not emphasize that the traumatic event (trigger warning) in Stevie’s life at seventeen and that the long lasting intrusion and affects of grief were an important part of this story, as well as the cool treatment of her by her mother. Had it, I might not have chosen this book. However, it did turn out to be an engaging read. There is not a lot of com in the rom com of this story, yet I liked Stevie’s character and was rooting for her. There is a lot here…friendship, found family, healing, learning to pursue your dreams. Incidentally, despite the title, not a lot of time is spent in Rome. Actually, there is more about Utah, where Stevie lives, along with a captivating visit to Egypt.

I found this book quite challenging to read and rate. It is not what I would call "heartwarming" nor a "rom-com"; it deals with some pretty heavy topics (which I didn't think were done very well and dragged the book down for me personally); and, for a book with "Rome" in the title, I felt like the characters spent more time in Egypt than they did in Italy (the lure of Rome being part of why I chose to read the book in the first place).

I liked the beginning with Stevie and Christian meeting at the wedding and their night together walking around Rome. I liked the idea of their arrangement and how they decided to keep in touch. All of that was a good start; but it just seemed to go downhill from there. I didn't like the addition of the traumatic event Stevie went through; some of the dialogue from other characters was appalling and felt unnecessary to make the point; there were whole sections that I glossed over because they seemed irrelevant to the rest of the story; and overall it just felt like too many things were jammed into the book to make it cohesive and engaging. In the end, unfortunately, I just felt disappointed and misled. It wasn't the fun, travel romance I'd been expecting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read and review it.

I appreciate the warnings at the beginning of the book and I was okay to read it but there moments in the book that it was boring or too much. Some moments it was okay, but overall it had the right tone for the topics talking.

I must admit there were parts of this book that I loved and then there parts of this book that I hated. I felt that Stevie's family travails were just too many and too much. The story of SIDS was heartbreaking and after the light-hearted beginning of the book, totally unexpected. And it just kept getting worse, for every little happy thing that happened, even worse things happens until I felt Stevie's sadness pressing down on me. The only redeeming thing is at least (spoiler alert) there is a happy ending, although exactly how it was accomplished is not explained.

2.75 stars


Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC (it's my first one :))

I enjoyed the first half of the book. There is something about meeting someone at weddings (one that isn't the groom or the bride) that I found so sweet. It was an easy read and the first half was quite interesting to get into.

But I seem to have lost the plot or direction of this book. It felt a little bit... all over the place - like it was MESSY. It felt like all the flaws of Stevie were just there and not given any justice at all.

I truly expected more from this book based on the description (which felt a little far from the actual plot).

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. All Roads Lead to Rome by Yamile Saied is a heartwarming and adventurous story about self-discovery, love, and the beauty of travel. Saied’s writing is engaging and vivid, capturing the magic of the setting and the emotions of the characters. The story is both fun and heartfelt, making it an enjoyable read for those who love stories about love, travel, and personal growth. Overall, All Roads Lead to Rome is a delightful and inspiring novel.

Stevie is a woman with a complex family life. Trying to find out how to achieve her dreams while also finding love is a challenge for her. But upon meeting Cristian, she thinks she has a place to start.

This book was an easy read. My favorite character was Cristian, and he felt grounded and reasonable. While Stevie has been through a lot, I grew tired of Stevie’s inability to communicate and her childishness in relationships.
The book dealt with a lot of complex themes, which kept it interesting. However, I don’t feel like it did any of them well. It was a bit all over the place, in that it felt like 4 different books wound up into one messy one. I couldn’t tell if the author wanted it to be a rom-com, a book about grief, a book about following your dreams, a book about a trio of best friends, or a book about a mother-daughter relationship.

My favorite quote was “You need to go to therapy, bebé.”

Thanks for the ARC, Netgalley!

The cover may suggest a light hearted rom com but don't let that fool you- this book is SO much more! Grief, love, friendship, and conflicts mix together to create a truly beautiful story. It is not dark or heavy, just a simply beautiful story.

All Roads Lead to Rome is an uplifting, beautifully crafted story with rich character development and an honest portrayal of the complexities of interpersonal relationships—especially between mothers and daughters, and the often times difficult dynamic with stepfathers. Through Stevie’s journey across the globe, we see that even those who seem to have it all—money, good looks, great friends—are ultimately searching for the same thing: a sense of belonging and unconditional love.

This is the story of Stevie Choi and Cristian, but it’s so much more than just a love story. It’s a story about friendship, family, grief, healing, and the journey to finding oneself. I also loved the multicultural aspect—it’s always great to see that represented in a novel.

Quick note: Based on the description alone, I initially expected a lighthearted rom-com with sprinkles of grief and conflict. But this book turned out to be so much more, and that’s exactly why I loved it. However, if you’re looking for a truly lighthearted rom-com, keep this in mind! The author provides trigger warnings at the start, which I appreciated. Readers—always check for trigger warnings!

Stevie has endured immense loss in her life, and as a result, she spends years running—from commitment, from love, from the possibility of more pain. However, deep down, she longs for connection and belonging. And in the midst of running, she unexpectedly stumbles into love.

Stevie and Cristian meet in Rome (there’s a whole backstory to this, but I don’t want to spoil it!), where their instant connection leads to a playful, seemingly harmless pact: if they’re both still single at seventy, they’ll marry each other. In the meantime, they agree to remain “fiancé” friends. But with miles between them and their lives pulling them in different directions, can they truly maintain this friendship—and the feelings that come with it?

Their friendship is deeply supportive, allowing them both to grow, love, and learn in different ways. I really liked how the book explores the delicate relationship between love and timing.

The family dynamics in this book are painful and, at times, extremely frustrating—I often wanted to shake some of these characters! But the story also subtly highlights the beauty of friendships and the people who stand by us through life’s hardest moments. My only wish is that we had seen more of the behind-the-scenes resolution at the end. But then again, isn’t that how it often happens in life?

I found myself deeply invested in Stevie’s growth, resilience, and relationships. Her journey is raw, emotional, and messy—but ultimately, uplifting. I loved this book!

Thank you to Net Galley, the author and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

This started a little slowly for me but once I got into it I really enjoyed the story! Not quite as lighthearted as the cover suggests.

This wasn't quite the travel romcom the blurb (and cover) suggest, but it was a really moving love story.

this book was okay. It was pretty much a standard romance with all the normal repeating cliches and cheesy lines. It was not unique from other romances unfortunately, and it was not that interesting, to me it was a little hard to get through.

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

While I understand some advance readers feel differently, I really enjoyed ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME. This is not your typical syrupy sweet romance or rom com. The description and cover might be slightly misleading in that respect. This story is not afraid to tackle tough issues such as teen pregnancy, grief, and death. However, it does not end up being a heavy book. The author incorporates Stevie's heartbreak into a story about healing and moving towards the future. Things are not wrapped up completely with a nice bow (for example I wished for a little more resolution with respect to how Stevie's family treats her) but I appreciate and admire how the story tries to stay true to life in that respect. I will look forward to more from this author.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.