Love Your Life
A Novel
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3.9 • 399 Ratings
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Party Crasher, an utterly delightful novel about a woman who ditches her dating app for a writer’s retreat in Italy—only to find that real love comes with its own filters
“Sophie Kinsella keeps her finger on the cultural pulse, while leaving me giddy with laughter.”—Jojo Moyes, author of The Giver of Stars and The Last Letter from Your Lover
Call Ava romantic, but she thinks love should be found in the real world, not on apps that filter men by height, job, or astrological sign. She believes in feelings, not algorithms. So after a recent breakup and dating app debacle, she decides to put love on hold and escapes to a remote writers’ retreat in coastal Italy. She’s determined to finish writing the novel she’s been fantasizing about, even though it means leaving her close-knit group of friends and her precious dog, Harold, behind.
At the retreat, she’s not allowed to use her real name or reveal any personal information. When the neighboring martial arts retreat is canceled and a few of its attendees join their small writing community, Ava, now going by “Aria,” meets “Dutch,” a man who seems too good to be true. The two embark on a baggage-free, whirlwind love affair, cliff-jumping into gem-colored Mediterranean waters and exploring the splendor of the Italian coast. Things seem to be perfect for Aria and Dutch.
But then their real identities—Ava and Matt—must return to London. As their fantasy starts to fade, they discover just how different their personal worlds are. From food choices to annoying habits to sauna etiquette . . . are they compatible in anything? And then there’s the prickly situation with Matt’s ex-girlfriend, who isn’t too eager to let him go. As one mishap follows another, it seems while they love each other, they just can’t love each other’s lives. Can they reconcile their differences to find one life together?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A spellbinding romance comes to a crashing halt in the sparkling latest from Kinsella (Confessions of a Shopaholic). Ava, an aspiring author and hopeless romantic, arrives in Italy for a weeklong writer's retreat where, to facilitate productivity and limit small talk, everyone is required to remain anonymous. From the moment she meets "Dutch," a gorgeous stranger staying at the same monastery, she feels her "life fallen stunningly into place." They embark on a whirlwind romance and, on their last day in Italy, vow to make their relationship work back home in the U.K. no matter what reality brings. But as soon as they return to London, their magical bubble is burst. Dutch is not the carefree carpenter Ava imagined him to be, but Matt Warwick, COO of a successful dollhouse company. While chaotic Ava enjoys "rescuing" abandoned furniture and books, measured Matt can't abide clutter. For her part, Ava can't stand Matt's horrific art collection and shivers all night in his freezing bedroom. Worst of all, Matt is not a fan of Ava's beloved but badly behaved beagle, Harold. In the face of these unexpected differences, can they really find a way to keep their promise? Kinsella's clever romance about the nature of compromise alternates laugh-out-loud humor with moments that will tug at readers' heartstrings. This rollicking rom-com is a hit.
Customer Reviews
Not too bad not on great
Got a few laughs. Was kind of predictable in some instances
Slow read
I wanted to really like this book but you need to be really, really patient as it develops so slowly. I tried to see how this would end but can’t stick with it which is a shame. If the pace had picked up I would have totally recommended this as I love this author’s books.
Boring beyond words
Garbage. Predictable, shallow, boring and cringey. I usually love this authors books, but she took a dipstick leading lady and glommed her with the most predictable outcome.