Read of the Week: ‘Wish You Were Italian’ by Kristin Rae

Pippa is in Italy for the summer and, despite her parents’ wishes, she has no intention of just studying the local art! She has a list of things of her own to do: from swimming in the Mediterranean Sea to getting a makeover – and falling for an Italian boy! As Pippa explores the dramatic ruins of Rome and Pompeii, she is swept into her own drama with two guys: an irresistible local she knows is nothing but trouble and a cute American archaeology student . . . Will she find her true love?

The perfect reckless romance to enjoy whether you are home or abroad.

Italy is a mystery to me. I’ve never left the country, though I’ve wanted to, and Italy is on the top of my list when it comes to traveling. The history, the architecture, the romance, all that good stuff. Kristin Rae gave me this beautiful book and practically transported me there. And I feel the need to bring this up first because this is probably the strongest aspect of the entire novel. I’ve never read a book that’s gone so in depth as Wish You Were Italian. All the sights and sounds were so vivid in my mind, and even though I’ve never seen any of them firsthand, after reading this adorable novel I feel like I have. It’s very rare to say you’ve fallen in love with a place based on the way it reads through a novel, and I can honestly say it’s only happened to be twice before and this marks the third time. As a writer, the ability to do that, I find, is a remarkable one, and Rae certainly has it.

The characters of Wish You Were Italian are all so lovely and admirable in their own ways. While most novels claim there’s a love triangle present, Wish You Were Italian rings true, and I found myself falling in love with both Darren and Bruno at different points in the novel until I forced myself to take a side and save myself the trouble of heartbreak early on out. Bruno was charming, but also irritating and had my emotions very muddled, while Darren had my heart from start to finish and I loved that for once we had a nice boy that the main character actually really liked. The nice boys of YA are often overlooked for the broody rude boys and even though I will admit I’m oftentimes on board with it, when it came to this book, things just fit. I loved the slow-building connections and just how natural everything felt. Pippa got the experience of a lifetime that us youth can only dream of and I lived vicariously through her the whole way through. Fans of Just One Day and Just One Year will love this book to pieces, while being able to admire the differences and quirks.

A sweet, slow, foreign romance that doesn’t come off overbearing, Wish You Were Italian will certainly take over as one of the most notable reads of summer.

Rating: 9/10