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sea_su's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
Cute love story. It didn't happen the way I thought it would. The last chapter definitely could've been more instead of quick details but overall it was enjoying to read. The only thing that annoyed me was that she meets a guy in Italy but he's really from New Jersey.
Cute love story. It didn't happen the way I thought it would. The last chapter definitely could've been more instead of quick details but overall it was enjoying to read. The only thing that annoyed me was that she meets a guy in Italy but he's really from New Jersey.
shhchar's review against another edition
3.0
The best books are the ones that can authentically transport you to different places. You'll find that with Love, Lucy. There are plenty of books that take you to England and France, not as many that take you to Italy. If you loved Anna and the French Kiss, I can guarantee you'll love this one!
Lucy is a likable protagonist who really grows into herself as the novel progresses. There may be points in her interactions with others (namely her parents) where you just want to push her in the right direction, but for the most part you can back her actions. I really loved to see representation of a girl, who is quiet and unassuming on her own, really shine in something like theater. There are stereotypes that you must be loud and musical to be in the performing arts, but Lucy defies that stereotype.
Jesse remains an enigma for almost the entirety of the book. The reader gets to know Lucy very well, not as much Jesse. Nevertheless, he's still 'dreamy' and fills the role of a romantic interest. This book shined in its side characters: Lucy's roommates, and the overly-kind Shane.
This book is enjoyable if you love 'vacation flirtations,' college settings, and, of course, romance.
Note: I received an advanced copy from the NOVL newsletter. Thanks so much!
Lucy is a likable protagonist who really grows into herself as the novel progresses. There may be points in her interactions with others (namely her parents) where you just want to push her in the right direction, but for the most part you can back her actions. I really loved to see representation of a girl, who is quiet and unassuming on her own, really shine in something like theater. There are stereotypes that you must be loud and musical to be in the performing arts, but Lucy defies that stereotype.
Jesse remains an enigma for almost the entirety of the book. The reader gets to know Lucy very well, not as much Jesse. Nevertheless, he's still 'dreamy' and fills the role of a romantic interest. This book shined in its side characters: Lucy's roommates, and the overly-kind Shane.
This book is enjoyable if you love 'vacation flirtations,' college settings, and, of course, romance.
Note: I received an advanced copy from the NOVL newsletter. Thanks so much!
jadn11's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to love this book. There was travel and a love triangle and I couldn't wait to read it. Unfortunately I found myself disliking Lucy who was meek and a total pushover. This continued until the end. The love triangle was also meek and not very likable. Some of the situations used to create "tension" in the romance were ridiculous and not well explained. But seriously, why randomly delete your email?? Even the descriptions of Italy were bland. Overall, this book was meh.
cathyatratedreads's review against another edition
3.0
I couldn't resist reading a book based on the story of "A Room with a View." I've watched the movie many times and always enjoy it. This book was just what I was expecting: a light romance that was easy reading and had familiar elements. Fun. And pretty clean.
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com: https://ratedreads.com/love-lucy-young-adult-book-review/
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com: https://ratedreads.com/love-lucy-young-adult-book-review/
secondchancestyle's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars. This was a beach read for me. I can imagine it being a romantic comedy since she goes backpacking through Europe, falls in love, and then starts college with a broken heart. She's definitely a hopeless romantic. There were a lot of annoying parts in this book, but I kept reading anyway. Her father is basically forcing her to go to school for business even though she is a talented actress because of how difficult the industry is. Then there's a love triangle and she cheats on her boyfriend with the boy she fell in love with in Italy. Another reviewer has said that she was surprised she couldn't have them both, and I agree that this was another point of annoyance. All in all, if you like rom-coms, you'll like this. I enjoyed the travel part of the book the most as opposed to her in school (book has two parts).
brandypainter's review against another edition
3.0
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
Love, Lucy by April Lindner is a book I was equal parts nervous and excited about reading. I heard good things about Lindner's first two novel retellings (though I never read them as I don't like the original novels). Love, Lucy however, is a retelling of a novel I do like, A Room with a View. While I always am excited about reworkings of old favorites, I'm also wary because reworking a classic into a modern tale is not as easy as it sounds. It isn't just about transferring a story into the present. I think Love, Lucy does the reworking part well. It may fall short in some areas for readers who have never read A Room with a View though.
Note on cover: Who is that girl???? That is not how Lucy is described in the book.
Lucy Sommersworth is on a backpacking tour of Europe following her senior year of high school. This is the trip she got from her father for her agreement to give up acting and major in business. The part of the trip Lucy is most excited about is Italy. Upon arriving in Florence, Lucy meets Jesse, an American boy who travels, busks, and works odd jobs wherever he ends up. Lucy and Jesse have an almost instant connection and their relationship grows quickly as he shows her around Florence and then they travel together to Rome. But Rome is the end of Lucy's trip and soon she is back in the US at her new college with a heart that misses both Jesse and theater. Lucy is determined to get on with her life though and begins dating someone new. She also defies her father and auditions for a part in the musical Rent. When Jesse shows up unexpectedly and her father demands she quit the play or he won't pay her tuition, Lucy has some serious decisions to make about who she is and what she wants out of life. Does she go the safe route or risk everything for what she truly wants?
Lucy's story is one that anyone can relate to. She is caught in that place where she is still learning who she is and what she wants to do with that. Her father wants her to follow the path he thinks is best, but Lucy's talents and passion don't fit that plan. She grows and changes as the story unfolds: finding her voice, making mistakes, learning to atone, and finding happiness. This doesn't come without its share of drama.
The first half of Lucy's story is a fun travel book which paints a beautiful picture of Florence and Rome with nods to both Forrester's original novel and the movie Roman Holiday. In this section Lucy is learning how to state her own opinions and desires and go after what she wants. Her relationship with Jesse develops at a fast pace, but in a realistic way that didn't leave me disbelieving its genuineness. Jesse himself is not that nuanced of a character. He's charming. He's fun. He's artistic. It's easy to see how Lucy falls for him. There isn't much more to him than that. As a fun travel story, this part of the book excels.
The second half of the story takes place at Lucy's new school (Forsythe) and is filled with quite a bit more angst and drama. Lucy misses Jesse. His emails are rare and she soon figures he's moved on. When an email she writes him comes back saying his address is invalid, she knows its time to move on. She is dating someone else and working on her role as Maureen in Rent when Jesse shows back up in her life. This whole section finds Lucy making some less than wise decisions that hurt more than one person, including herself. Lucy learns much about who she is and what she wants, but it's not a pain free journey. When is it ever?
The trickiest part about a modern retelling that's original relies so much on the importance of marriage in a girl's life is translating that idea into modern terms. I think Lindner does that well. Lucy's struggle is more about choosing between the safe business road her father wants her to take, and the more artistic route she is more comfortable with. The two romantic interests in this book reflect that struggle. One boy is safe. The other boy is an adventure. One boy has a lot in common with her own struggle with her father. The other is more rebellious and wants to make his own rules. In cutting down the cast of characters and recreating the most crucial elements of the plot, Lindner does credit to A Room with a View. (I do prefer the original novel.)
For those who haven't read A Room with a View, this book may seem high on the romantic angst and low on actual character development. Even Lucy is rather shallowly developed at points. I think there is a chance that this book will be compared to Gayle Forman's Just One Day more than it will the original work it is imitating. There are many similarities between this and Forman's book, and I feel Forman handles the same themes and character development better. However, Love, Lucy has its own charm too. I enjoyed the time I spent reading it and will certainly pick up more of Lindner's work in the future.
Love, Lucy is a fun read for those who like stories of travel and romance.
I read an e-galley made available by the publisher, Poppy, via Edelweiss. Love Lucy goes on sale January 27th.
Love, Lucy by April Lindner is a book I was equal parts nervous and excited about reading. I heard good things about Lindner's first two novel retellings (though I never read them as I don't like the original novels). Love, Lucy however, is a retelling of a novel I do like, A Room with a View. While I always am excited about reworkings of old favorites, I'm also wary because reworking a classic into a modern tale is not as easy as it sounds. It isn't just about transferring a story into the present. I think Love, Lucy does the reworking part well. It may fall short in some areas for readers who have never read A Room with a View though.
Note on cover: Who is that girl???? That is not how Lucy is described in the book.
Lucy Sommersworth is on a backpacking tour of Europe following her senior year of high school. This is the trip she got from her father for her agreement to give up acting and major in business. The part of the trip Lucy is most excited about is Italy. Upon arriving in Florence, Lucy meets Jesse, an American boy who travels, busks, and works odd jobs wherever he ends up. Lucy and Jesse have an almost instant connection and their relationship grows quickly as he shows her around Florence and then they travel together to Rome. But Rome is the end of Lucy's trip and soon she is back in the US at her new college with a heart that misses both Jesse and theater. Lucy is determined to get on with her life though and begins dating someone new. She also defies her father and auditions for a part in the musical Rent. When Jesse shows up unexpectedly and her father demands she quit the play or he won't pay her tuition, Lucy has some serious decisions to make about who she is and what she wants out of life. Does she go the safe route or risk everything for what she truly wants?
Lucy's story is one that anyone can relate to. She is caught in that place where she is still learning who she is and what she wants to do with that. Her father wants her to follow the path he thinks is best, but Lucy's talents and passion don't fit that plan. She grows and changes as the story unfolds: finding her voice, making mistakes, learning to atone, and finding happiness. This doesn't come without its share of drama.
The first half of Lucy's story is a fun travel book which paints a beautiful picture of Florence and Rome with nods to both Forrester's original novel and the movie Roman Holiday. In this section Lucy is learning how to state her own opinions and desires and go after what she wants. Her relationship with Jesse develops at a fast pace, but in a realistic way that didn't leave me disbelieving its genuineness. Jesse himself is not that nuanced of a character. He's charming. He's fun. He's artistic. It's easy to see how Lucy falls for him. There isn't much more to him than that. As a fun travel story, this part of the book excels.
The second half of the story takes place at Lucy's new school (Forsythe) and is filled with quite a bit more angst and drama. Lucy misses Jesse. His emails are rare and she soon figures he's moved on. When an email she writes him comes back saying his address is invalid, she knows its time to move on. She is dating someone else and working on her role as Maureen in Rent when Jesse shows back up in her life. This whole section finds Lucy making some less than wise decisions that hurt more than one person, including herself. Lucy learns much about who she is and what she wants, but it's not a pain free journey. When is it ever?
The trickiest part about a modern retelling that's original relies so much on the importance of marriage in a girl's life is translating that idea into modern terms. I think Lindner does that well. Lucy's struggle is more about choosing between the safe business road her father wants her to take, and the more artistic route she is more comfortable with. The two romantic interests in this book reflect that struggle. One boy is safe. The other boy is an adventure. One boy has a lot in common with her own struggle with her father. The other is more rebellious and wants to make his own rules. In cutting down the cast of characters and recreating the most crucial elements of the plot, Lindner does credit to A Room with a View. (I do prefer the original novel.)
For those who haven't read A Room with a View, this book may seem high on the romantic angst and low on actual character development. Even Lucy is rather shallowly developed at points. I think there is a chance that this book will be compared to Gayle Forman's Just One Day more than it will the original work it is imitating. There are many similarities between this and Forman's book, and I feel Forman handles the same themes and character development better. However, Love, Lucy has its own charm too. I enjoyed the time I spent reading it and will certainly pick up more of Lindner's work in the future.
Love, Lucy is a fun read for those who like stories of travel and romance.
I read an e-galley made available by the publisher, Poppy, via Edelweiss. Love Lucy goes on sale January 27th.
ckausch's review against another edition
2.0
This was cute, but I don't think the characters were very well developed. If a reader really liked the travel aspects of Gayle Forman's Just One Day/Just One Week, I'd suggest this. Otherwise, I'd pass on this.
ohmybook's review against another edition
4.0
Very predictible, very cliché, but so so nice at the same time. And can I just pack my bags and go to Italy right this second?!
tiamushka's review against another edition
3.0
I love Italy, I've been there three times. A Room with a View is of course, one of the classics, and the movie, with Helana Bonham-Carter, is one of my all time favourites! It also contains my number one all time favourite kissing scene in the world, so I've been wanting to read this novel for awhile. Unfortunately for me, this just didn't capture the passion and the spirit of the originals. I wanted to be carried away to Italy, but the descriptions of Florence and Rome just didn't bring me there and I just didn't feel the passion for life that the original characters carried. The end did pick up a little bit of the passion which saved it for me.
allibruns's review against another edition
2.0
I don't particularly care for contemporary ya written in the third person and Love Lucy served to illustrate my point. It is hard for a book that relies so heavily on the romance to convey that to readers without being able to feel what the main character feels. I didn't get a sense of the romance between Lucy and Jesse. I also feel it's hard enough to portray teenagers without them coming off as bratty and immature and unable to know exactly what Lucy is thinking she comes off exactly as that.
What I did like was the travel portion of the book and how it made me want to go to Italy.
What I did like was the travel portion of the book and how it made me want to go to Italy.