From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of I Owe You One, 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“As close to perfect as romantic comedies get.”—Jenny Colgan, New York Times bestselling author of The Bookshop on the CornerCall Ava romantic, but she thinks love should be found … Corner
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?
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Sweet and cute… Harold is a star!
Sophie Kinsella is my go-to for fun, lovely reads that resonate with life and her latest does not disappoint. I loved getting lost in these characters (especially Harold, the dog, who might be my new favorite fictional dog ever!). You’ll love getting lost in this one!
Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “Love Your Life” by Sophie Kinsella, October, 2020
Sophie Kinsella, the author of “Love Your Life” has written an amusing, witty, and entertaining story. The genres for this novel are Fiction, Humor, Romance, and Women’s Fiction. Especially in these stressful times, I would certainly recommend a dose of Sophie Kinsella’s “Love Your Life”. The timeline for this story is set in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. The author describes her colorful characters as complex, complicated, flawed, and totally likable! My favorite character is Ralph, and you guessed it is a dog, definitely has a way of asserting himself!
Ava is through with all the various dating apps and is off to Italy on a writer’s retreat. All the visitors give a “fake name” for the duration. With the addition of a few new members, Ava is drawn to a man who seems to like adventure, and she has the best time of her life. When it is time to leave the retreat, she learns his name is Matt. The two both live in London.
Back home in London, both discover they have very different lives and have to decide if they can compromise, and accept each other as they really are. This is a refreshing and charming read, and just perfect to escape from the problems in our worlds.
LOVE YOUR LIFE by Sophie Kinsella is another charming and witty read by the author. Filled with her trademark humor, quirky characters, and unique plot, fans are going to love this read! While some of the book dragged a bit for me (especially in the middle), when I think about the story as a whole, I can’t help but love it. I’ve been reading Kinsella’s books for years and while I loved some more than others it all comes down to this: no matter what the book, Kinsella has a unique writing style that just resonates with me as a reader. So, I will continue to read all her books and more than likely love each one of them.
In LOVE YOUR LIFE readers will meet Ava and Matt. When the two first met and fell in love they knew nothing personal about each other. They were both at a writing retreat where all personal information was said to take away from the experience, so they left their “baggage” at the door and fell in love with little personal information on each other. But when back in the real world, the two realize that the fairytale they were living in while in Italy doesn’t follow them back home and they must learn to love each other quirks, faults, and all, or be apart. Which one will they choose?
I loved Ava’s dog Harold and the part he played in the story. He was certainly a nuisance as he gets away with everything (including snatching sandwiches from her friends, attacking purses because they appear threatening, and ripping up Matt’s shirts) but he is also a bright spot within the story. I’m an animal lover so if animals are essentially secondary characters, you know I’m going to love them!
Ava, while slightly scatterbrained, is such a loveable and warm character that her faults become nonexistent (almost anyway). Sophie knows how to write endearing characters and she always makes her female leads like this. I think this is why I always come back for more.
The plot: The book examines relationships after the fairytale. You know when you first meet someone and start to fall in love in that bubble? Then slowly the real-world seeps in? This is that book. It’s realistic, intriguing, funny, and full of heart!
The secondary characters! I loved Ava and Matt’s friends. Each of them had their own quirks and I remember fondly laughing at their antics. It’s so nice when secondary characters make a book feel whole and these ones did just that. Sophie even adds in small personal touches to them, like chronic illness. They felt perfect for the story.
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There wasn’t much I didn’t like about this book but there were a few things that lead me to giving it less than 5 stars. For one, Matt was stone cold at times and it made me feel like he didn’t care for Ava as much as she cared for him. I know that’s not true because he showed his emotions at times, but it was so scattered that it felt almost forced.
These two fell in love so fast! Actually, TOO FAST! I’m not a fan of insta love stories and that’s exactly what went on in this story. I honestly don’t find it realistic at all.
Other than these small things I think this is going to be another hit from Kinsella! It’s a sweet, charming read with loveable characters, a unique plot, and humor that will make anyone laugh! I highly recommend it.
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3.5 stars
Ava and Matt meet at a writers retreat in Italy as Dutch and Aria and fall in love, but when they return to their normal lives, they realize they couldn’t be more different. They have to try to navigate being with each other as well as integrating their lives together and it isn’t as easy as they suspected.
When they get home, Matt returns to work at his family business and it’s clear to everyone but him that he is miserable. Ava is all over the place with her career and has no clear plan. Because they never discussed personal things while on the retreat, each new thing that pops up feels like a huge blow to the other. When Ava meets his parents, they are uninviting and basically just want him back with his ex. He doesn’t like staying at her place, and she doesn’t like staying at his, but she makes more sacrifices than he does. He’s broody and moody and I usually love that, but something was off here.
I really loved the premise of this book, but some things just kissed the mark for me. I’m not sure if it was the dog that was talked to like he was human, or Ava’s indecision, or Matt’s lack of confidence with his family, but maybe it was all three. There was also a lot of side characters it was hard to keep up with the names of everyone.
If you are looking for a light hearted rom com, this book is for you.
Love me, love my dog: upbeat heroine steals the show
I come back to Sophie Kinsella novels time and again because there’s such a broad thread of optimism woven into the tone of the story, usually inspired by the heroine. Love Your Life is definitely one such story and I loved the enthusiasm and positivity Ava puts into everything she does.
This is a story of opposites Ava and Matt attracting in an idyllic setting and then coming back to their real, everyday world. Their lives are not as compatible as they had hoped but they both give their romance a shot despite ominous signs that they are not made to last as a couple.
I actually liked Ava much better than Kinsella’s Becky of the Shopaholic series. Whereas Becky was obsessed with possessions and the high she derived from shopping, Ava is a champ at rescuing discarded objects and not really materialistic. Rescued dog, rescued furniture, rescued plants, rescued books: Ava is committed to her friends, her dog Harold and her boyfriend. She’s scattered and has difficulty honing in on one project to achieve but she’s got a good heart and you want her to be happy.
It’s been awhile since I’ve read a Kinsella romance and I was really delighted I picked this one up.
Thanks to publishers Random House/The Dial Press and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
This was an entertaining, well-written book. Ava’s gone through a romantic break-up, but is focused on getting the most out of attending a writer’s retreat in Italy and hopefully finishing her novel. Everyone is anonymous at the retreat, revealing no personal information, and Ava, going by “Aria,” meets “Dutch,” an attendee at a martial arts retreat that has been canceled. They hit it off, and when the retreat is over they head back to the real world hoping to make a success of their relationship. There was plenty of humor, charm and fun in this story. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.
A charming and funny novel but not my favorite Sophie Kinsella book. I failed to connect with the main characters. Ava felt very naive and Matt way too uptight. Ava’s love for Harold was heartwarming. I did love the secondary group of friends (especially Nell). I voluntarily reviewed an ARC received via NetGalley.
I love a good book by Sophie Kinsella, which both, keep you laughing and thinking as she sets up a scenario which is both comical, and thought provoking at the same time.
Her story lines, always make me feel the inner struggles of the characters and how they go about wading through the differences.
The two main characters, Ava and Matt are as polar opposite as you can get, which presents us with a wonderful adventure as they get to know each other.
If you like to laugh at or with the characters as their deeply flawed personalities are exposed, this is the book for you.
Wonderful read. Great characters and story.
This was a cute and corky read. I am not normally a fan of instalove, but the way this story played out I didn’t mind it. It really shows not only how hard starting a new relationship is, but how you learn to love and truthful tolerant the little things that people do. No one is perfect and Ava and Matt show us that in a fun little adventure. The two meet in an oddball way and then try to continue their new love connection once they come back home. But life is never easy and once they get a glimpse of each other’s worlds they find there is things that they would never normally want to be around. Humor is always a huge part in Miss Kinsella’s books and this one had me laughing out loud many times.
3.5 Stars!
I’m glad that this book is not at par with her previous releases which sadly, wasn’t it for me.
This book has some laugh out loud moments that had me smiling while reading it. Although, do not expect well matured characters because as with her previous books, mostly, the heroines are not.
Still, it was an enjoyable light read especially if you’re kind of stress with our current situation. Perfect for chicklit lovers.
I always look forward to a new release from Sophie Kinsella, and Love Your Life did not disappoint! I finished it in one weekend, as I was unable to put it down. As always, be prepared to laugh! Her books come with so much lighthearted humor, which I think everyone can use right about now. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it’s beautiful ending!