I really enjoyed this book! It is the story of the rollercoaster relationship of Ava and Matt who meet at writing retreat in Italy and then continue the relationship when they return to England. New relationships are hard, getting used to how the other ones live, finding out the other ones faults and meeting each other’s family and friends. There were several parts of this story that made me laugh out loud ! There was also a part that brought tears to my eyes. This was definitely a good read and one I would recommend to others.. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for a chance to read this great book in exchange for an honest review.

Ava is passionate about many things. Like writing, and aromatherapy among other things. The problem is, she can't seem to focus long enough to successfully begin a career in any of the fields she is excited about. She also can't seem to finish the historical romance novel she has started to write. With some helpful motivation from her friends, Ava decides to attend a writers retreat in Italy. Individuals attending the retreat are discouraged from sharing any personal details about themselves, including their first names. Ava has decided to be called "Aria." When she meets the handsome and charming "Dutch" she feels an instant attraction. As the pair spends more time together they feel themselves falling deeper in love. They decide to give their relationship a shot in the real world, back among their friends, families, jobs and other responsibilities. Reality soon sets in and the pair start to wonder if their love can survive in the real world. From Dutch's overbearing and judgmental family to Ava's lack of dedication to any specific career path, they struggle to maintain the love they found in the retreat.
Sophie Kinsella is a master at crafting smart witty and multilayered characters that readers can't help but root for. While I loved the mains in this story I do think the side characters, especially Ava's dog Harold are the stars of the show. Love your Life is a unique spin on the traditional women's fiction genre, blending many elements of humor, heartwarming and surprise twists into a fascinating book you might find hard to put down. I highly recommend Love Your Life for those looking for a witty yet endearing story full of delightful characters.

Let’s start with WHAT A CUTE STORY. Oh wow! I really enjoyed this book, it was fun and adventurous. Hilarious at times, heartfelt and just quite something.

Ava is writing a book, to focus she decides to go on a writing retreat in Italy, the rules are simple: the participants must choose a fake name and reveal nothing about themselves. Between writing exercises and fun days at the beach she falls in love with “Dutch”, how can she be so lucky to have found Dutch, they are one and the same, meant to be.

That is until they get back to London, and real life catches up with awkward moments, and pesky habits. And maybe, they are not compatible AT ALL.

Somehow this book was my first Sophie Kinsella book; I'm not quite sure how that happened! This book was a ride for me. At first I thought everything seemed to be coming together too easily. Then I thought it seemed entirely unrealistic and there is NO way that these two completely opposite people should be together, but somehow they're making it work? And then finally, well I found myself tearing up as the book ended. It was a wild ride. I think I loved the Ava and Matt's friends more than I really loved either of them, but luckily there's a lot of friendship interaction in this book that kept me going! It's a great, closed door, no-steam romance that will hit you right in the feels. I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Escapist fun

I have enjoyed all of Sophie Kinsella's books and this one is no exception. To be frank, it is not her very best, but who's going to be picky this year of all years!

The blurbs and other reviewers have synopsized the plot and described the characters, so I don't need to. I will tell you that you will be transported by reading the humour of other people's romantic troubles and foibles, so get ready for a light-hearted romp.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me an e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

I've had both good and bad luck with Kinsella books in recent years - she can be super hit or miss. Sometimes the characters are just quirky enough, sometimes they're over-the-top and annoying with it. This book was an interesting reading experience because it REALLY toed the line. I was tempted to DNF because good lord was Ava annoying... but I’m glad I kept going!

My biggest issue with the story is that Ava and Matt were basically in love right away on their retreat, without knowing anything about their "real lives" outside. Kinsella didn't do a good job of building up my investment in the relationship while they were in Italy so that I would CARE about them when they were home. If I didn't see all the good things up front that made them want to keep trying, why should I care if they're together?

Their relationship was truly frustrating at times and her blindness to it all was even worse. Ava was frustrating and Matt was just okay for me. It seriously took a while but I was thoroughly enjoying myself around the 70% mark lol whoops. They had so much stuff to work through - I truly didn't think this book would have a happy ending for a while!

The side characters were interesting - I enjoyed getting to know both friend groups and seeing their quirks, as well as how they'd all get along and hang out.

If you're like me and read all of her books regardless of your experience with the previous book she wrote, give this one a try. I think you'll enjoy it if you push through. All in all, it was kind of a weird one, but enjoyable by the end.

Sophie Kinsella has been a must read author for me for a long time, so I was excited to dive into this book. For the most part, it lived up to my expectations for one of her books. My big problem however, is that these characters should have never been a couple. I don't usually root for a couple to breakup, but I spent the majority of this book thinking that they just needed to end it. They both needed to get their own lives together first. That said, I liked the characters individually, and Ava's friends are hysterical. I would still recommend this, but don't go into it thinking it's a great love story.

Londoner Ava is excited to attend a writers retreat in Italy. One of the rules requires participants to use a different namE during the retreat. As Aria, she is immediately infatuated with Dutch, who joins the group after his retreat is unexpectedly canceled. Aria and Dutch spend the week exploring the area and having fantastic sex. Ava is sure they’re soulmates.

Fully prepared to embark on a long distance relationship, Ava is thrilled to learn Dutch also lives in London, though he is actually called Matt. Their return to real life does not proceed smoothly. Matt is an executive in his parents’ doll company and bears little resemblance to laidback, fun loving Dutch. Worse still, he is not an immediate fan of Ava’s beloved dog, Harold. As the couple navigates challenges, they are surprised to discover their friends get along quite well, which may save their relationship.

Sophie Kinsella reliably provides humorous escapist reading. LOVE YOUR LIFE got off to a rough start for me. I found the beginning a little cringe-y and did not immediately love either Dutch or Matt. But the importance of friends to the main characters really saved this book. #LoveYourLife #netgalley

This book is about Ava who meets "Dutch" (not his real name) at a writer's retreat in Italy and starts a whirlwind love affair. When these two both return home to London, nothing in their relationship works out as well as they think. "Dutch" is now Matt who works long hours at his toxic family business, his ex-girlfriend is mentioned by his mother constantly, and maybe hates Ava's dog Harold. Can they learn to love each other's lives?

This was cute but not great. The cast of characters, Ava's friend and Matt's friends, were actually more interesting than either of the two leads. Sign me up for Nell and Topher's book! I didn't really like Matt or Ava, together or not. Sophie Kinsella's way of writing quirky female characters can be hit or miss, and this was a miss. Ava's "over optimism" hit me as naïve and her narration annoyed me. To the point where I set the book down and didn't pick it up for a few days. I almost didn't finish it. But I'm glad I did, because I did like the ending. But I wished I had more of the ending to see how these two worked it out. Because at the end, I still don't know if I liked this couple or believed in their chemistry.

I really liked how Love Your Life was like Kinsella’s old books. The characters were likeable. The middle of the book was a bit rough but I liked how it all fell into place.

I also really liked how Ava and Matt met in Italy on a writer’s retreat and then carried on with their fling in London. Except it wasn’t a fling, they were attempting to make it be a relationship. They quickly realized they weren’t on vacation anymore when they realized how different they were and things wasn’t all sunshine and roses.

They tried to work around their differences but they kept running into trouble. Ava ended up taking Matt’s advice to finish something.

I really liked how Matt ended up being friends with Ava’s friends and how his friends became part of the group also. I thought that loyalty was refreshing to see.

Love Your Life was a four star rating. I loved how it all fell into place at the end. Thank you Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read and review this. I would definitely recommend this to any Sophie Kinsella reader. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Love Your Life was another great book from Sophie Kinsella.

"Aria" and "Dutch" meet on a writing retreat where they don't know anything about the other, including their real names. They fall for each other quickly, but can they make it work in the real world, especially when they don't have anything in common?

This book gave me major Shopaholic vibes! The time Ava and Matt spent in Italy flew by quickly and I wasn't sure how it was going to go from there. They were so different in real life and you could see they were quickly grating on each other. Ava was a typical quirky but loveable Kinsella lead. Dutch/Matt was a little bit harder to crack but I loved to see how they both developed. I loved their friends and the relationships they build with one another. This is only one of a few books I've ever read with a character who has a chronic illness. I really appreciate the addition of Nell and her portrayal of what life with a chronic illness can be like.

The ending was so perfect. I don't want to give anything away, but I love how Kinsella wrapped it up and the development of Ava and Matt's relationship.

I continue to be a fan of Sophie Kinsella's books and will read anything she writes.

I love Sophie Kinsella stories - the relatable protagonists with relationships and mishaps that make me smile or cringe, and Love Your Life completely feeds her fanbase! Ava and Matt don't have the perfect relationship and their ups and downs seem so authentic. Harold as a foil just makes Love Your Life that much more enjoyable. The story starts with a bang, slows down for a ways in the middle but by the end I couldn't put it down and was desperate to know what would happen to Ava, Matt and their friends. For ChickLit fans, Kinsella simply doesn't disappoint! Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to preview #LoveYourLife by Sophie Kinsella. It was exactly the distraction I needed!

I think this was just not the book for me. The insta-love of the characters was a little too unbelievable for me, Also the blatant disregard for red flags was eye roll inducing to the point that I just didn't want to continue reading.

I completely understand why Sophie Kinsella books get turned into movies. I just picture the whole book on the big screen. This has the sarcastic charm and wit that we love about this author. It’s the rom/com and chick-lit vibe that she is so famous for. If you are looking for a quirky fun read, definitely pick this one up.

Love Your Life
By: Sophie Kinsella
Random House Publishing
The Dial Press

I’m a big fan of author Sophie Kinsella and Love Your Life is another winner!

If you’ve read any of my reviews, it’s no secret that I love a quirky character! And boy is Ava delightfully quirky! Ava is a freelancer and dabbles in aromatherapy, writing, and furniture restoration. She starts a lot of projects, but doesn’t finish them. She likes to rescue books that no one wants and garbage furniture. She is an obsessed dog mom to her precious rescue beagle, Harold. She decides she wants to write a historical fiction novel and goes on a retreat in Italy that helps writers. The retreat has some kooky rule where you use a made up name instead of your own to help with the creative process. There she becomes “Aria” and meets “Dutch”. They have a steamy week of romance and when they find out they both live in London, decide to reveal themselves and continue the relationship.

But the perfect week for “Aria” and “Dutch” does not equal the perfect relationship for Ava and Matt. These two begin to see just how different they are! From food choices (Ava is a vegetarian and tries to covert Matt) to mattress types (firm vs. soft), apartments (modern with robots vs. shabby chic), dog training (dogs in bed or not) . . . Are they compatible in anything? They seem to love each other, but not each other’s lifestyles.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I adored this one. Ava and Matt were great characters and as a bonus their friends/roomates Nell, Maud, Topher and Nihal were great secondary characters. I could honestly see future books with those characters. Pretty, please!? 🤞🏻

Thanks to @netgalley and @thedialpress for honoring my request to read and review this eARC. This one is out today - 10/27!

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella is a delightful woman’s fiction book that I would also consider to be a romance. When Ava (no last name) and Matt Warwick meet at a writing retreat in rural Italy, it’s love at first sight and but can their holiday fling survive the real world when they are no longer Aria and Dutch, the names they assumed in one of the exercises for the course? They try to have a baggage-free relationship, which seems doomed to failure because even if you set them down temporarily, that luggage is still sitting there waiting for you to trip over it when you least expect it. I loved this story, delightful protagonists, a strong supporting cast of friends and family and a beagle who will steal your heart with his antics. A nice balance of humour and angst made this book one that kept me up reading way past my bedtime because I didn’t want to put it down till I knew how it ended. Steam Level: Medium. Content Warning: Gratuitous breaking of the don’t hurt the dog rule… don’t worry, he survives, but yes, this is something bothers me, especially when I can’t see why it was necessary. Publishing Date: October 27, 2020 #LoveYourLife #SophieKinsella #RandomHousePublishingGroup #RandomHouse #TheDialPress #WomansFiction #RomanticFiction #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #ContemporaryRomance

Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella is a smart, charming, and witty read. Although I was a little annoyed with the main character, in the end, I loved this book so much. There was character growth and the story proves that although true love isn't perfect, it can work when two people learn to compromise. I loved that Ava pushed the boundaries and did not settle for less, Also, Matt found his true happiness in life. The harsh realities of "real life" caused them to look within and figure out what they really wanted. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the electronic advanced readers copy of Love Your Life.

When optimistic and whimsical Ava signs up for a writing retreat at an Italian monastery she plans to finally focus on writing her novel, her passion of the moment. The retreat has strict rules to keep writers focused: kurta pajama dress code, restriction on personal details shared, and all participants must use aliases. But Ava- turned Aria- quickly loses her focus when a martial arts retreat gets canceled, and a dreamy man going by "Dutch" joins the group. The two hit it off in a whirlwind holiday romance, choosing to keep their pasts and real life at a distance and focus on each other in the present moment. But when the retreat ends, can Ava and Matt have the same sort of connection that Aria and Dutch had? Or will adjusting to each other's real-life selves prove too challenging.

As always, Kinsella delivers a hilarious rom-com with a dynamite cast of characters. I found the dynamic between Ava, Matt, and their friends to be the most compelling aspect, and in fact it was the friendship demonstrated in this novel that had me going a bit misty rather than the romance. I'm not going to lie, there were moments even I thought Matt and Ava should call it quits, but as usual, Kinsella won me over at the end. This is the first time I have read a Sophie Kinsella novel rather than listen to them on audio (which I highly recommend!). Her humor and upbeat narratives are perfect listening. I love a good, flawed main character, but Ava veered a bit too on the obnoxious side. I think I probably would have been less frustrated with Ava's obliviousness and often cringe-worthy behavior and just enjoyed the ride a bit more had I listened to this rather than read. Still a creative premise and a delightful adventure.

I love Sophie books and this was definitely one of my favorites! If you want a book to keep you up all night and enjoy every word than this is the book for you!!! Highly recommend all her books but this might be my new favorite!

i really could not get into this book, and I only stuck with it because there are few things worse to me than giving up on a book. it felt more unrealistic than romance novels usually do, and you just wanted to scream that they should find someone else the whole time. it honestly just felt a bit ridiculous and unhealthy.