{First Loves Global Blog Tour} Wish You Were Italian (If I Only #2) by Kristin Rae

Posted by Donna
Release Date: May 6th, 2014

Finished Date: May 21st, 2014
Publishers: Bloomsbury UK
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance 

Source: For Review
Format: Paperback
Pages: 323

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

Pippa has always wanted to go to Italy … but not by herself. And certainly not to sit in art school the entire summer learning about dead guys’ paintings. When she steps off the plane in Rome, she realizes that traveling solo gives her the freedom to do whatever she wants. So it’s arrivederci, boring art program and ciao, hot Italian guys!

Charming, daring, and romantic, Bruno is just the Italian Pippa’s looking for—except she keeps running into cute American archeology student Darren everywhere she goes. Pippa may be determined to fall in love with an Italian guy … but the electricity she feels with Darren says her heart might have other plans. Can Pippa figure out her feelings before her parents discover she left the program and—even worse—she loses her chance at love?

The Review: Wish You Were Italian is a light and cute read but one that is easy to fall in love with. 

Pippa has always wanted to visit Italy, but when her parents enrol her in a summer art course in Florence Pippa is less than happy. She doesn’t want to spend her summer learning, but instead she wants to be exploring. Upon arriving in Italy, Pippa makes the choice to take a detour from her planned route and go experience the sights of Italy on her own…but no sooner than stepping out of the taxi, she meets Darren, a American boy who she finds extremely cute and an Italian boy who is ever-so romantic. As Pippa want to fulfil her dream of falling in love with an Italian boy, she struggles with her feelings for both boys. Can Pippa find love in Italy or is she doomed to return home alone? 

Wish You Were Italian is an extremely enjoyable read that I easily devoured within a few days. As soon as I started I knew it was something I was going to end up enjoying and what better way when the setting of this book is based in ITALY! I plan to travel to Italy one day and this book didn’t help my craving – if anything it made me want to go even more. There is so much detail in this book and felt as though the author really took the time to explain the sights of Italy so much – without it I think this book would have fell flat but Kristin Rae did a fantastic job and I could easily imagine myself walking the streets of Italy.

Pippa is a lovable character – one that grows through-out. She takes a big risk by detouring from her planned route and taking control of her holiday, but I was thankful she came across Darren. He really helped her take in the sights of Italy and of course, he provided the sweet romance to the story too, and of course we can’t forget Bruno…he bought a lot of entertaining moments too. Although I did have a clear choice of who I wanted Pippa to be with. 

In all, Wish You Were Italian is a lovable story that  many YA Contemporary fans will love. 

We asked Kristin Rae ONE BIG questions and that was..... Do you believe in love at first sight?

Kristin’s Answer:

I believe in "incredibly strong attraction at first sight," but love? That comes with time. From conversations, sharing meals, taking long walks, learning about each other's quirks. I was REALLY attracted to my husband the first time I saw him when we were eighteen, but we let our friendship grow for nearly two years before taking that next step, and I couldn't imagine it happening any other way.

AUTHOR BIO

Lover of books, music, chocolate, and crafty things. My young adult contemporary debut WISH YOU WERE ITALIAN is out now from Bloomsbury. 
Represented by Marietta Zacker of the Nancy Gallt Literary Agency.

Follow the author:

http://www.kristinrae.com/

twitter username: @kristincreative