Overall opinion of the book:

This is a great, heart warming novel and I’m so glad I had the oppourtunity to read it. It is unlike any other romance/chick lit I’ve read. Although it is enjoyable and uplifting, there are many complex issues discussed. It was refreshing to read a romance story that wasn’t perfect. When I say this, I don’t mean the writing was poor, I’m referring to the characters. Often in romance novels the character the protagonist falls for is perfect, but not in this novel, everyone has their flaws which come to the surface.

I’ll be honest, when I initially read the synopses of this book, I expected it to be an easy to read chick lit. While in some ways it was, it was great that Samantha discusses more serious topics too. There is a great balance between developing a better understanding of the things discussed in the book and enjoying two character’s blossoming romance.

One Summer in Rome goes into much detail of Mary’s experiences living in foster homes. As someone who hasn’t experienced this before, it was interesting to hear this story being portrayed and the affects this had on her childhood and adulthood. Mary is such a great character and as a protagonist I felt she was perfect for this book. I thoroughly enjoyed her story and development as a character throughout.

Samantha is a fantastic writer, and given this is the first book of hers I’ve read, I’m definitely going to check out her other novels. Her writing style was great. It was easy to follow and although she does write about some sensitive topics, she does it in a way that doesn’t weigh the book down; rather the issues discussed all serve a purpose to allow the characters to grow in their personal journeys.

Samantha’s characterisation was fantastic. Although Mary is the main protagonist, we follow closely the family she works and lives with, the Rossi’s. We discover a lot about each character and follow their journeys throughout the novel too. Samantha brings to life these characters so vividly and I became invested in each character as the story progressed.

Having visited Rome around this time last year, I knew and had been to many of the places mentioned in the book. Given this, I was able to picture the places Mary was referring to clearly. Not only that, I remember just how lovely Rome was as a city. As soon as I started wandering around it I fell in love with it, much like Mary did. This book has definitely left me pining to visit Rome again sometime soon, two days there was definitely not long enough!

While I did thoroughly enjoyed One Summer in Rome, at times it did feel a little cliche, in regards to the blossoming romance and how it was described. Without giving too much of the story away, one character in the novel is blind. A lot of the story focusses on this, and how the character and Mary react to this. At times, it did feel as though this was being over emphasised by how Mary thinks about the particular character. I also felt that as a character, Mary talked about her own issues a little too much when helping other people with their problems. Rather than giving advice based on her own experiences, at times it did feel as though Mary steers the conversation away from the character’s issues to her own instead. This doesn’t happen frequently, but I felt that it did a handful of times in the novel. However, Samantha’s writes about sensitive issues very well, especially when discussing blindness and the LGBTQIA+ community.

The language, punctuation and grammar used was flawless and many times the Italian language was integrated into the speech. I only know a limited amount of Italian so I found this interesting and educational; I definitely learned more of the language by reading this book! It also served as a reminder of the differences between the British and Italian cultures and language. As someone who loves the English language, it was fun to read Mary trying to explain our colloquialisms and Idioms. Sometimes as a nation we forget how ridiculous some of them sound!


Final thoughts:

Overall I would certainly recommend this book. It put me in a Summery mood and made me long to visit Rome again. This book would be a brilliant poolside companion for you if you love a great romance and are going on holiday this year.

Too often romance books are just focused on a perfect couple and their love story developing, but not this book. It emphasises that being different is okay which I absolutely loved. It displays cracks and imperfections in families and relationships, and more importantly it emphasises that there’s no such thing as a “perfect” life. Samantha includes a lot of representation for people who are blind, grew up in foster care and are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s not often I get to read books with this level of representation and to be honest, I think more authors need to take a leaf out of Samantha’s book, it’s great!

The last thing I’ll say about this book is don’t read it on an empty stomach, it will make you hungry (lol)! There is a LOT of talk about traditional Italian food. It all sounds delicious and will definitely leave you salivating and craving pizza like it did with me (especially having visited Rome and knowing how good the food is!)

Oh, how I've enjoyed my trip to Italy whilst reading this novel; I feel as if I've been kissed by the Italian sun and I most definitely have a hankering for authentic pizza!

Mary Smith has nothing keeping her in the UK. As an orphan with no family whatsoever, her friend Jill makes her realise that she has no real reason to continue being the whipping boy for her boss Brenda. So, with a little more Jill-like encouragement, Mary finds herself travelling to Rome to spend the summer waitressing in a pizzeria. Whilst romance is off the cards for Mary following her last relationship, living with a family is a new experience for her, and one she is ready to embrace. But is there such a thing as a perfect family?

This is a warm and wonderful read. I particularly liked the kindness which oozes out of the character of Mary - I'm a true believer in kindness being the most important trait a person can have and it's a joy to find someone displaying it in a story. There is a great mix of characters, all beautifully created with their own personalities and problems. Bit by bit, things are brought out into the open giving this novel a real-life vibe. There is so much to discover in this delicious read ... sounds, scents and smells contributing to the overall images which the writing provokes. I've never really come across any explanation about the use of crystals before either, but find my interest piqued enough to do a little research on my own. Without any doubt, this is a five star read and one I'm very happy to recommend.

My sincere thanks to publishers HQ Digital for approving my copy via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

I'm excited to be sharing my review. It's written with thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me on the tour, and providing my copy of the book through Netgalley.
Following her break up with Jake, Mary Smith heads to Rome for a fresh start. Working at the La Dolce Vita Pizzeria, in a job that comes with its own accommodation, Mary gets to know the Rossi family - and in particular, their son Dante. At first, Dante seems standoffish and reluctant to allow Mary into his life, but as they grow closer, Mary realises she is not the only one with secrets in their past.
At the time of writing, Britain is having one of its hottest ever Bank Holidays, so I enjoyed the opportunity to sit in the sun and imagine myself spending the summer in Rome. Tonge's descriptions of the area where Mary is staying are wonderful, and it was easy to transport myself there and immerse myself in Italian culture.
I must admit that One Summer In Rome is a far cry from the gory crime novels I usually read. However, it is so much more than a chick lit novel. Unusually for me, I found all the characters to be likeable and enjoyed getting to know them. They are all very well developed with complex back stories, which not only helped me to connect emotionally with them, but also allowed Tonge to raise some important issues. She explores addiction, homosexuality, domestic violence and disability, and this gives the novel an extra layer beyond the typical romantic comedy.

I have a confession to make. Although I have several of her books on my ‘TBR’ (to be read) mountain, ‘One Summer In Rome’ is the first of her books that I have actually read. Oh boy where have I been all this time? I know now just what I have been missing and I fully intend to read her other books just as soon as I can. I absolutely LOVED ‘One Summer In Rome’ but more about that in a bit.
I absolutely loved the character of Mary Smith. She has an unstable background as she was in care as a child and was passed from foster family to foster family. As a result Mary has never felt settled or as though she was part of a real family. I really felt for her and I so wished that I could have jumped into the pages of the book to give her a hug. Mary experiences heartbreak and on the spur of the moment she buys a one way ticket to Rome. Before she leaves the UK, she knows that she has a job to go to in Rome but at the same time she can’t help having doubts about what she is doing. Mary seems very down on herself and by that I mean that she often makes negative comments about herself before anybody else does. This is her defence mechanism and is largely a result of her background. Mary hasn’t got a lot of self confidence and I just wished I could have reassured her. It isn’t long until Mary finds her feet and she soon settles down in her new role, even if there is the occasional hiccup along the way. The pizzeria also has the added bonus of the absolutely gorgeous sounding Dante, who is the chef at the pizzeria. He just sounds ideal and I certainly wouldn’t get bored if I had to work with him. Dante has been hurt in the past and he has had to accept some major changes to his life. Dante was a police officer but something happened and Dante went blind. Dante is very self conscious too and doesn’t seem to have much confidence in himself. Dante has a guide dog, who is a massive help to him and helps him to lead an independent life. Dante is a chef and it is amazing just how he carries out his role and how brilliant he is in his role. Sparks fly when Mary and Dante first meet and it isn’t long before the chemistry is well and truly there. Mary and Dante just seem destined to be together. Will Mary stay in Rome once the summer is over? Will Mary and Dante get together? Will the pizzeria remain successful? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
My first thought on finishing the book was ‘Wow’. It was an incredible read and I absolutely loved it. Reading this book became seriously addictive and I just couldn’t put the book down. The book wasn’t glued to my hand but it might as well have been because the book came everywhere with me. I was so focussed on the book that I could shut out all distractions. Usually I have the attention span of a gnat and I am easily distracted but not in this case. Before I knew it, I had cleared a fair chunk of the book but because I was enjoying the story so much I hadn’t noticed how much I had read. From the moment I picked up the book, I was swept along by the story. I genuinely took to all of the characters and I was rooting for them, even if I did want to shake certain people by the shoulders for their behaviour. The author uses such powerful descriptions that if I closed my eyes I could imagine that I was in the square outside the pizzeria with the sun beating down on my face and I was eating an ice cream. In fact reading this book made me want to run out and buy some ice cream. It’s just as well that the shop was shut.
In conclusion this is one of those books that is the perfect summertime read. It has great characters, romance, gorgeous sounding men, beautiful sounding women, great locations, drama and a lot of ice cream. I would definitely recommend this book and this author to other readers. I can’t wait to read what comes next from this author but in the meantime I will dig out the author’s other books that are in my ‘to be read’ mountain. I just instinctively know that I am going to love each and every one of them. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Mary has been disappointed in love and has decided to be brave and move to Rome for the summer. She has arranged a job, courtesy of her friend Sarah who has been working there for the previous few months in a pizzeria. It's a live-in position so she has no worries about accommodation and she knows the background of the position and the family who she will be working for from Sarah. It's a huge step for Mary but one she feels she needs to take in order to take charge of her life.
Things don't go as smoothly as she hopes though when she is greeted by the glowering figures of the owner's son Dante and waiter Rocco, neither of whom seem happy to have her on board. The rest of the family especially young Lucia, her mum Nathalie and her granddad Alfonso more than make up for the disappointment and welcome her into the fold of the Dolce Vita pizzeria.
Before long Mary realises that all is not happy within the walls of the restaurant and finds out that a rival restaurant owner is doing her best to topple the Dolce Vita from the local Top Ten list of places to eat and essentially threaten the very existence of the Dolce Vita. Mary puts her plan to be an accepted member of the team into action and sets to the task of saving Dolce Vita and the Rosso family from the spite of the rival owner. Although she knows there are facts surrounding the Rosso family being kept secret from her, Mary works to get the restaurant noticed for all the right reasons. One by one the skeletons tumble from the closet and Mary gains the confidence and trust of each of the people she has been struggling to befriend.
I love the way Mary uses the disappointment of her life back in England to make new resolutions for a better life for herself and her new found substitute family.
The author creates a beautiful setting for the restaurant and the characters all have a degree of mystery about them to make what could have been a very shallow read into something with far more substance which makes this a thoroughly enjoyable read which still manages to keep an air of escapism within its pages.
The descriptions of the food, the picturesque setting and the ability of the writer to portray the feeling of the heat of the sun on your back make you yearn for a trip to Rome in order to meet the typically Italian Rosso family. When's my flight...?

One Summer In Rome by Samantha Tonge is a wonderful contemporary novel that focuses on kindness, family and belonging.
The reader escapes for a few hours to the sights, sounds and smells of Rome. Tantalizing descriptions enable the reader to 'see' the pizzeria's and almost touch the delicacies on offer.
The story is about family. We all long to belong. Family chooses to love and to protect all members. Family encourages. "We all have the potential to achieve whatever we want." Family are those we choose to have in our inner circle.
We are all fighting battles from the past - consuming ourselves with guilt, regret or longing. "There is nothing comfortable about regrets." The past is gone. "Dwelling on the past serves no purpose." We need to put down our baggage and move forward.
To protect ourselves, we build walls that have the potential to become prisons. We need to demolish the walls and learn to live and love and trust again. "That shell... was beginning to crack."
There is the difficult topic of domestic abuse. "Gender is irrelevant when it comes to this sort of thing." Domestic abuse is not our fault. We should not feel ashamed and must always seek help to stand up to the abuser.
People are prejudiced. We must never judge others. We must love them.
Another theme is that of disabilities. Too often people see the disability and not the person. They label others under a blanket heading. We must look beyond the label and see the individual.
The characters are wonderfully drawn. One Summer In Rome was a light hearted novel in spite of some serious themes. There was some highly amusing banter to entertain the reader. There were also a couple of dogs who wove their way into the readers hearts.
One Summer In Rome is a really fun read that tackles contemporary issues in a sensitive way.
I will leave you with my favourite quote:
"Kindness was the most powerful tool available to humans."
I received this book for free from Net Galley. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Well I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Rome and I so didn't want it to end. I completely fell in love with all of the Characters, especially Dante, how could one not.

Right from the start, I was drawn into the story, it was a real page turner and there was always something happening, going on, whether it be with the main characters or the other characters. Such a wonderful story of friendship, kindness, supporting each other and fighting for what you believe in.

I also loved how the character of Natale was into making jewellery as a hobby as this is something that I do in my spare time. I loved how there was a focus on crystals from Mary, as this isn't something that comes up in books very often and they are such beautiful stones.

A truly delightful author, her books are heartwarming, emotional and deal with real life issues that life can throw at us all in today's world.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the Publisher HQ Digital for this review copy given in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for organising the Blog Tour.

Mary Smith is making a big life changing decision. After losing her job, she’s found herself another in a family run pizzeria….in Rome! She’s bought herself a one-way ticket and is heading to Rome for the summer. Within hours of landing, Mary is convinced she has made the right decision, but after meeting Dante, the chef who doesn’t seem to want her there, she’s not so sure.

Shamefully, this is my first book by this author even though I’ve heard the author’s name so many times! Just for information, as the title suggests, the book is based in Rome! The cover of this book was so enticing that it just had to be read! The fact that it was based in a Pizzeria was also a big incentive!

This was a lovely heart-warming story filled with love and friendship, based in the most beautiful setting. The characters were all likeable and the story flowed well. It was absolutely perfect for a cold, rainy day and would make the ideal book for a summer beach read!

This book is every bit as colourful, attention-grabbing and vibrant as its cover! Dare I admit this is the first Samantha Tonge book I have read (ahh I know, I plan on rectifying this now I promise!) and I was thrilled to be offered the opportunity to read and review this via the publisher HQ Digital on Netgalley, then a few days later Rachel's Random Resources contacted me about the blog tour for it and it seemed fated to be (I think they already had me at the mention of pizzeria in the blurb).

I am a big fan of books set in sunny escapist backdrops or with delicious food involved and this definitely delivers both. You become quickly immersed in Rome; rustic pizza, coffee, herbs, fountains, historic architecture and the bustle of tourism and restaurants. Mary definitely chooses a good spot to turn her life around and have a memorable summer. I spent at least 80% of my time reading this book craving food (not exactly unusual for me but still, this one packs it, hard!).

If you love contemporary romance books like me, then this is definitely one to buy this Spring/Summer; it has all the drama, secrets, hope, poignancy and sizzle that you could hope for, I honestly relished it!

Because of the well written narrative you develop a deep love for the family featured, and I would definitely like to read more of the back stories of the supporting characters, particularly Rocco and Natale (future books/short stories here?).

Another aspect of the book I really enjoyed was Mary's love of crystals. I have a small collection of them myself and it was interesting to see that used within the plot in an authentic way; the emotional and energy connection made.

Without any spoilers of the plot, this book isn't all swoon-worthy heroes and pizza (though there is a lot of that), it tackles some dark issues and tugs at the emotions quite strongly. Perceptions of adversity in particular are challenged in a clever way, and force readers to perhaps examine their own preconceived ideas about mental health and disabilities, which I think is an important current issue. Ableist notions and attitudes to all manner of conditions needs to improve and many barriers need to be removed so that society is a more welcoming place for all. My eldest son has a lower limb condition that over his ten years has meant varying stages of treatments some of which involved him being in a wheelchair; access is one very real problem that still exists for so many people (shops & cafes with steps, limited space to manoeuvre, stupid displays blocking aisles, very high shelving, poor toilet facilities... I could rant for days) as well as assumptions (when he was a baby the dirty looks I got from him being in plaster casts as if I had obviously harmed him) and outright staring at him (why do people do this, without even saying hello or smiling, just gawp at a child in a chair or using medical devices?). Yet still, I feel this physical presentation of "disability" was often more readily accepted than the "invisible" conditions of being autistic and ADHD (that IS a whole other blog post!). I just ask that people think, see the person not the condition, and possibly just be open-minded about what you don't understand/relate to/experience directly.

In a nutshell this is a deliciously summery book about bravery, belonging and hope.

Mary Smith leads a very ordinary life. In order to shake things up, she buys a one way ticket to Rome and heads off to a waitressing position at Pizzeria Dolce Vita. She’s ready for a summer she’ll never forget and whilst there finds herself taken in by the Rossi family. Not only does she fall in love with the Italian capital but could there also be a chance of love for her?

Brilliantly written, this is the perfect summer read!

Thank you to NetGalley, HQ Digital and the author for the chance to review.

What a perfect book to have read over the first signs of Spring in April that we have have had this year. Reading about a summer spent in Italy as the weather is just warming up in England, felt like fabulous timing, and made me absorb the brilliance of the book even more.

This a a fantastic summer read, and if you like pizza then you will be in heaven with the book as its predominately set in La Dolce Vita pizzeria, with the Rossi family.

Featuring one hot pizza chef, Dante its no wonder that Mary has bought a one way ticket to Rome and is hoping to make a new life for herself! Dante I fell in love with very early on, and absolutely loved every scene that he was in. He like the rest of his family have gone through a nightmarish previous two years for a variety of reasons, which I can't reveal to you, rest assured once you learn the back story you will have admiration for the whole family at how they are coping with everything.

And the food all the varieties of pizza, and the associated scents and tastes are all present in this book that features far more of the life in Rome, than the tourist areas. There is a rivalry with another pizzerie, there are dance classes there are assorted tougher subjects tackled incredibly well and sensitively.

This is just a book that packs so much into its page, there is never a dull moment, and I just wish I could have stayed in this fictional Rome for a lot longer. This book is without a doubt Samantha Tonge at her best, it has comedy, romance, family, delicious food, exotic location and a great level of depth to the characters too. All I want to know is when is the next one out?!

Thank you to HQ Digital and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. A perfect summer read (even though I read it in the snow) it still had a feel good factor. I really like this authors style of writing

A stunning book by Samatha Tonge and no i haven't read any of her books previous to now so i don't know what her previous ones are like other than the reviews i have read. She writes from her heart about things that matter and this shows very clearly in this book....
the main character Mary Smith decides to book a one way ticket to Rome.... thats all we need to know for us to understand the premix of where this is going. sublime location and stunning read! i wasn't wrong. Mary leaves everything she knows behind and takes on a job in a pizzeria in the centre of Rome.
She metres Dnate a family ember of the pizzeria she's working for and theres a love story to match. although the beginning of their meeting isn't love at all but with trust comes friendship to begin with because she has to prove to the family she can be trusted due to some secrets the family have to uncover.
Its a good romantic book, easy to read and great style. Loved it.
Thanks to net galley for this,.

Having read books by Samantha Tonge before I was keen to read this one, I wasn’t disappointed. Slightly more intense then I expected covering issues that you wouldn’t normally see in a chic lit/ romance novels. The main character Mary is likeable and you can see her change throughout the book. She shows that life can be better if you let go of past misconceptions and be open to the world around you.

When Mary invests in a one way ticket to Rome, much encouraged by her elder motherly best friend and colleague Jill, she could never dream of what's to come. After heartbreak her whole life, playing the foster care system all her young life, finding Jake and falling in love until he chose moving for his work over her, Rome is a spur of the moment dream trip.



Working in Pizzeria Dolce Vita as a waitress, Mary encounters Dante the brother of Natale whom she befriends the best of the family whom run the business she's now working for. Though they get off to a tentative acquaintance at first, soon Dante and Mary grow closer despite any awkwardness at the beginning and discovering the mystery behind Dante's sight loss after enough trust has been created between the pair.



During the novel, the team all pull together including Maria's ideas for the restaurant in how they can stay within the top ten of pizzerias on the Lombardi list as they face their competition in ratings and with Maria's help hopefully they'll swim and not sink beneath the weight of their competitor's. Yet Rocco becomes threatening towards Maria and unsure why he is acting so, Maria finds herself feeling out of place once again.



From trusting in crystals over people and having fun dancing plus of course being up for a change and facing up to the challenges thrown her way, Mary is a weak seeming character but with hidden strength which is admirable and makes her even more likable for how well she stands on her own two feet never giving up whatever she faces. The plot is a slow developer over the course of the novel and is unrushed flowing just nicely and naturally. Each character has deep secrets which you won't expect and make the characters all the more real. This is a book you won't regret picking up if you love Jenny Colgan or Cathy Bramley's books!



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Mary Smith has never been one for spur of the moment decisions therefore
surprises even herself when she books a one-way ticket to Rome in an attempt
to reinvent herself. Having suffered a broken heart, she hopes to leave her
worries behind and build a new life for herself. She agrees to take a position at
La Dolce Vita, a pizzeria in the heart of Rome’s tourist area and leaves
everything she has ever known behind, with barely a second glance, to move in
with strangers hundreds of miles from home.
Having grown up in care and been moved between foster homes throughout
her childhood the experience of ‘living in’ at the restaurant with the Rossi
family isn’t an easy one for Mary to begin with. Dante the owner’s son makes it
clear from the start he doesn’t believe an English waitress is required at the
restaurant and Rocco the head waiter also appears to have it in for her at the
for reasons that soon become clear at the story continues.
Shortly after her arrival in Rome Mary learns of La Dolce Vita’s struggle to
maintain it’s place on the Lombardi List, which features the top 10 restaurants.
It is vital they remain on the list to secure the restaurants survival against their
main competitor Margherita, Margherita. Having quickly become part of the
‘family’ she has always dreamed of Mary is desperate to help in any way she
can and finds herself drawn to the handsome and mysterious Dante along the
way. Dante, an ex-policeman, has his own secret filled closet of skeletons
which piece by piece are revealed to Mary allowing her to understand his
standoffish demeanour. It’s not only Dante that is harbouring secrets though
and Mary soon realises that no one has the perfect life that she has always
thought she missed out on.
I really love Mary’s character and how she transforms from the ordinary,
scared girl we see at the beginning to the strong, brave, head-strong woman
she becomes. As well as the usual ‘will they, won’t they’ romantic storyline you
would expect from this genre the overriding message for me is a fantastic tale
of friendship and the overcoming of adversity. All added together these make
for a perfect heart-warming read. For me One Summer in Rome is the ideal
Summer or holiday read, it’s a perfect uplifting story to enjoy in the sunshine!
This is the first Samantha Tonge novel I have read, and I really enjoyed her
writing style, so I will definitely be seeking out and reading some of her other
titles in the near future

Lots of secrets in this story - nearly everyone has something to hide, and there's lots of heartache and guilt too. The message I took away from this novel is that it's important to remember that families aren't perfect.

The descriptions of Rome are evocative and though I've never been there in person, I was there in spirit right the way through the book.

A lovely easy read with plenty of Italian flavour. The feeling of family ties is strong and contrasts well with Mary's own fractured childhood, yet here in Rome she finds her own sense of place and belonging. More than a romance as we encounter all kinds of serious issues from drugs to blindness, terrorism and domestic abuse. Yet it is the growing friendship and the hint of romance to come between Mary and Dante that holds the story together. I enjoyed it.

I received a copy of One Summer in Rome by Samantha Tonge from NetGalley exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I struggled to get through this book. I was not a fan of Mary and found some parts of this book were a tad bit dark. I give this book 2 out of 5 stars.

Mixed reviews about this book. It was very difficult to get into and wasn't as good as i had expected from the description. Was disapointed as Id been looking forward to it