MY ROMAN SUMMER

An Italian Scottish teenager struggles to find her place.

Sixteen-year-old Livia Nardelli leaves Edinburgh to travel to Rome with her mother after her grandmother falls and ends up in the hospital. She’s excited to be part of her nonna’s life again and to take part in the family business, a bar that’s more of a cafe—“somewhere neighborhood pensioners go to gossip over coffees and pastries.” Livia hopes to prove she’s not an outsider in her Italian family or Italian culture. But she quickly learns she has competition for Nonna Adelina’s affection. Giulio has been helping out at the bar, and Livia quickly grows suspicious of this charming local. As she discovers new facets of herself and navigates tense family dynamics, new friendships, and concerns about the bar’s finances, she realizes she may have judged Giulio too hastily. This pleasant, fast-paced romance offers just the right amount of tension, and the characters’ relationships progress at a natural pace. Livia is a likeable and charming character: Her sense of humor and desire to do good are endearing qualities. Through Livia’s connection to new friend Kenzi, who was born in Italy to Moroccan parents, the novel celebrates immigration and explores the impact it has on second-generation children. De Luca’s story extends beyond the central romantic relationship, capturing what it means to truly love yourself and the family around you.

A lighthearted summer romance with an engaging narrator and thoughtfully crafted themes.