My Roman Summer

Livia's summer vacation involves going to Rome and visiting her grandmother, whom she hadn't seen since she was a child. She's excited to get to know her grandmother, but is surprised when a boy from her childhood has her attention. Instead of helping in the family cafe, she's told she has to take Italian classes. There's something else that no one is telling her. Why her mother and grandmother haven't spoken since she moved to Scotland. Plus, there's other secrets and Giulio, an annoying, cute boy. Livia refuses to be in a stereotypical Italian romance. Only Rome might have other things in mind for her.

What worked: Cute, sweet romance set in Rome. Livia feels she's not Italian enough and hopes that spending the summer in Rome with her grandmother will help. Instead, her grandmother criticizes not only her mother but also Livia for her lack of Italian.

Giulio is the boy she grew up with, but the relationship he has with Livia's grandmother has them off on a rocky start. Livia thinks he's annoying. Giulio called her 'Scotland', which doesn't help. Their relationship is not quite friends but slowly grows into something more.

The descriptions of Rome and the cuisine are lush. So are the friendships Livia makes at the language school. Fast-paced with a scattering of Italian and history.

There's a family secret that no one talks about. A bubbling romance that faces obstacles, and of course, the romance of Rome. What's not to love!

Sweet romance that's a perfect beach read.