The Italian Job

I see fake dating, I see Italy, I read.

The Italian Job tells the story of Anna and Jake. After being cheated on and feeling the need to quit her previous job (never date your boss, folks), Anna feels a bit lost. After googling "dream job", she finds a couple looking for two people to manage their castle in Northern Italy. The catch? They're looking for a couple and Anna is, in fact, totally single. Not just single, but completely losing her faith in herself and her worthiness.
I love this premise - I loved how crazy it is and how it's basically my life long dream put into a story. It felt like the author had gone into my brain and pretty much wrote the romantic comedy of my dreams. I don't particularly love the fake dating trope, because I can never imagine the realism in pretending to date someone, but I could imagine it here. Who wouldn't pretend to date someone in exchange for a year living in a castle! In! Italy!

I love the opposites-attract trope. I loved how both of them had their own insecurities, and how they dealt with each other's meltdowns. I loved how beautifully they read together, how genuine their care was. And the plot of Jake being an ex-con felt really important, to me. How wealth played a huge factor in his time in prison, in his having spent any time at all. How unfair it was that he had to deal with all that because he defended his younger sister. I loved how Jake helped his sister not just by protecting her, but by leading her to therapy.

Overall, I really loved this book. I loved the characters, the plot, and the scenery. I loved their chemistry and their development and I'm looking forward to read more books from the author!


[spoiler ahead]
The only thing, now that I think about it, that I wished had been treated with a little more tact is the fact that Daisy was a minor. I don't know how old Miles is, but assuming he's somewhere around Anna's age, wasn't that a literal crime? And I get that that's part of the reason Jake's time in prison was so unfair, and it's a totally normal situation to have happened, but Jesus. That's not okay. That's not something you sweep under a rug.

I knew I was going to love this book from the description. It’s everything I typically love in a romance book! I mean who wouldn’t want to be whisked away to an imaginary castle in Italy?

You really get a feel for the characters, I love Anna and her lists! The relationship between her and Jake is full of sexual tension, snarky (but very witty) comments and an overall sense of fitting.

This is definitely a book I would purchase once it’s released and even though this is my first time reading anything by Kathryn Freeman it certainly won’t be my last. I’m off to read her other books.

If I could sum up this book in a couple of words it would be sensual and rewarding.

Big thank you to harpercollins uk for the arc in exchange for an honest review! It’s been one of my favourite reads this year!

Seriously read this in one sitting, was pulled into the story from the beginning! Loved the relationship between Anna & Jake and the rest of the complimentary characters. I mean wouldn’t want to fall in love with the bad boy neighbour, a beautiful castle and an Italian coast.

Anna has recently spilt up with her boyfriend and moved back in with her dad, when she spots her dream job online.

The job would involve moving into an Italian castle for a year - the only issue is they’re looking for a couple. Enter Jake Tucker, Anna’s neighbour and lifelong nemesis - after a bad recent few years he’s also looking for a new start so agrees to be Anna’s fake boyfriend and move to Italy with her.

I loved this book, it was a slow burn enemies to friends to lovers and I just fell in love with the characters. It has all the best romance tropes without being too much, my only criticism is that I wish it was a bit longer - I needed more from Jake and Anna and felt the ending was slightly rushed.

Reading this book felt like inhaling a breath of fresh air. I honestly didn’t know that I needed this book until I finished it. It was so good, I really loved it. The MCs are too tier, especially, the WMC, I love her. The story was entertaining. Moreover, I really liked the word building and the description of the scenery, it wouldn’t be wrong of me to say that I was living vicariously through the characters. In a nutshell, it’s a full 5 stars read for me!

I think so far this is my favorite book of the author! I consider myself as a devoted fan of enemies to lovers trope and when you add the perfect location: a castle in Lake Como and pretending lovers trope into the equation: this turns into an addictive reading!

Anna Roberts- such a great organizer, aspiring chef, playing by rules, exemplary daughter who is raised by her police officer dad, just lost her job, her home by being cheated on her boyfriend who is also her boss at the restaurant, coming from powerful family of the town!

She barely finds a job: thanks to Miles-the cheater douchebag who insists to take her back and his family owns most of the restaurant at the town.

Anna returns back to the childhood house, living with her dad. And returning back to home also brings out the memories of her childhood nemesis bad boy Jake Tucker, who had time in prison because of punching her ex- Miles and he rejects to talk about the reason why he kicked his ass. He loses his job at fire station because of being convicted and he barely finds handy man jobs. Everybody is talking behind his back. He has to fix his reputation and start over.

When Anna checked for her dream job: she finds one year commitment at a castle- Lake Como: where she can practice her culinary skills but then she realizes the job is for couple: she needs someone to manage the entire castle with her, pretending her boyfriend. And only one man is desperate to leave town and find a proper job immediately: yes: the same man teasing her nonstop, calling her “Saint Anna”, her long time nemesis and bad boy neighbor Jake Tucker!

Interestingly the couple they had an interview who are the owners of the castle want them start the job immediately!

If Anna and Jake manage not to kill each other, burying the hatchets for one year, they can also manage the entire place properly! But they didn’t count the high chemistry and palpable attraction with them. What if they can be real friends or what if they want to be more than friends!

Well: it was enjoyable, fun read! I got a little mad at Jake who kept thinking little about himself and his insecurities made him a big jerk at the beginning of the book. But I learned to like him. At some parts both Anna and Jake made me nervous. I want to grab them by their necks and force them come clean about their feelings. They kept making assumptions about each other. That was truly exhausting.

Overall: it was still entertaining example of great enemies to lovers trope!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Netgalley & HarperCollins UK (One More Chapter)!

After a series of life-altering events, Anna Roberts finds an ad for her dream job. In order to become the manager of a beautiful Italian castle she needs to pose as one half of a couple. The only catch is she has no other half. Knowing that he has also had a few difficult years, Anna asks her longtime neighbor, Jake Tucker, to pretend to be her significant other and take the job with her. The two will now have to not only navigate this new setting but the emotions brewing between them.

The Italian Job is a fun fake relationship book with just a touch of enemies to lovers. There is plenty of spicy tension and good banter. The storyline is fast-paced and well plotted. Anna and Jake are definitely opposites in spite of having similar upbringings but the author shows just how much opposites do attract. I found Anna to be more relatable to me than Jake as I am forever making lists.

The Italian Job would make a great addition to bring along on a vacation or for a day at the beach.

This is the first book that I have read from author Kathryn Freeman but it definitely will not be the last.

I LOVED this one! I had trouble with some of my latest reads to connect with the characters but not in this one. I’ve read a couple of Katheryn Freeman’s other books and really enjoyed them but I have to say she outdid herself with this one.

There’s lots of positive things to say about this one. I read it in almost one sitting. I mean who doesn’t love a sexy yet sensitive and very caring book boyfriend? And the setting of the book at an Italian castle. And the sexual tension and banter between the to main characters.

I like how grumpy Jake is at the beginning with Anna but that it’s clear from the get go that he likes to wind her up. In the beginning Anna’s lists and planning irks him but he begins to love them. Jake is so sweet to her and really does support and encourage her. And him preparing the pool for her 😍 And when he practicality admits that he’s had a crush on her since childhood.

I also love how it’s not Miles that’s coming between them but his need to protect Anna and his beliefs that he’s not worthy of her. When clearly he is.

-As she marched off to the large walk-in pantry he tried to work out why seeing her smile was so important.
Same reason you fixed the pool, dumb arse.

If you love the fake dating trope and enemies to lovers this one is for you!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to review this one!

Finished this book in one night! I loved it and thought it was a fun, easy read. I desperately want to live in a castle in Lake Como now thanks to this book. The enemy to lover trope was well done and I liked both of the main characters. Overall, I recommend this book.

To start off, ugh, I adore this cover!! My favorite types of novels are the ones that feel unique and fresh in the book community. This one was especially that. Anna travels to Italy to become a caretaker of a castle.. oh and with a "love interest". That sounds good to me.

It's also enemies to lovers, so you get to experience all the witty banter and sexual tension that makes you reading for more.

This was my first time reading a novel by Kathryn Freeman but I am excited to try out her future novels and pick up the physical copy of The Italian Job on release day.

This is the first I have read from this author, but it won’t be the last! I loved this book. I loved the characters, their stories, and the scenery. I loved the development of their relationship and the chemistry they had. Definitely recommend.

I loved this book. Enemies to lovers…okay maybe not enemies exactly, but they didn’t like each other very much. I read this book in just under 8 hours with a few breaks. I just could not put it down. The characters were likeable and relatable. Lake Como and a castle. What more can you ask for? I look forward to reading more from Kathryn Freeman.

A beautiful enemies to lovers, fake dating, forced proximity romance set in a castle on Lake Como, The Italian Job is an absolute treat. Anna and Jake have incredible chemistry and I loved their story so much!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers/fake dating tropes, this book is a must read. I was barely able to put it down! Anna and Jake grew up as opposites who seemed to despise each other, but as adults they agree to move to another country as a fake couple to care for a castle.

The author did a great job giving both characters complex feelings, which was nice to see in a male character. We got a good sense of why both Anna and Jake struggle to make their true feelings known and pursue a relationship. The story overall was well-written, and you can’t go wrong with a beautiful setting such as Italy. Some minor parts did feel a little unrealistic, like Anna and Jake’s parents relationship. But overall this was a fun, slow-burn, enjoyable read.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow...I don’t even know where to begin! This was so good. I’ve found a new author, and I couldn’t be more excited! The character development, on not only the main characters but side characters as well, was “molto bene”! And yes, I google that. The dialogue was wonderful. I want to run away to an Italian castle now...Luckily for my family, I already have a sweet blond husband.

Anna is controlled and meticulous, while Jake is hotheaded and seemingly controlled by his passions. They’ve been neighbors that don’t mesh for years, and each struggling with recent events that have led them to need a fresh start. Deciding to team up, they fake a relationship to have a chance at a dream job running a castle in Italy for a year. Luckily, they get more than just a fresh start in this touching and hilarious romantic comedy.

Seriously, my only beef with this novel is that I wish authors would find some other form of exclamation than using the Lord’s name in vain which is used constantly throughout the book. But other than that...I couldn’t put it down! For an added bonus, there was no political nonsense! I could just enjoy my life by reading a sweet/spicy romance.

This was an interesting story, the romance itself was well-written, though a bit predictable for me. It is definitely not my all time favourite read ever, but I did enjoy it quite a bit.