Love & Rome (Jenna Lo Bianco, Macmillan)

Stella Chiaro is an Australian-Italian artist trying to find her place in the eternal city. With a one-way ticket back to Australia and dwindling funds, Stella has six months left to find her dream job so she can finally call Rome home. Trying to make ends meet, she finds her resolve tested by art-world gatekeepers, and her heart is tried when a sweet café owner and a sexy roommate cross her path. Love & Rome is Jenna Lo Bianco’s second novel. Much like her first work, The Italian Marriage, her latest takes readers on a gastronomic and sensorial trip. Featuring Rome’s iconic buildings, trademark piazzas, and exquisite cuisine, Love & Rome is an immersive experience, showcasing the centuries-old beauty and traditions weaved into the everyday lives of those who call the city home. Through Stella’s painful past and uncertain future, Lo Bianco explores the complexity of relationships, the importance of friendship and trust, and the drive to keep trying, to keep hoping for something magical—it makes you believe in destiny. Love & Rome is a contemporary romance that will appeal to those who love spicy but not overly explicit love stories. From profound and well-explored characters who consume an almost illegal amount of coffee to unforgettable sunrises and sunsets, Love & Rome is for readers who enjoy books by Beth O’Leary, Rachael John, and Karina May.