Sophie Kinsella is incapable of disappointing me as a reader but this novel was among her best. Ava, like many Kinsella heroines, is unrelentingly positive but she’s not one dimensional, and her vulnerability makes her an endearing character. The romance story here is well crafted if a little formulaic, and Kinsella’s trademark wit and humor made this a highly enjoyable read.

I was excited to read this book as I always look forward to a new Sophie Kinsella book. And this did not disappoint, or at least not totally. The premise, Ava meets Matt at a writing retreat where he thinks he has gone to spend a week doing martial arts. They fall madly in love not knowing anything about each other. They then spend the next several hundred pages trying to reconcile this love with the fact that their lives do not mesh at all. She hates his taste in art, he doesn’t understand her love for her dog Harold; she cannot get along with his family, He thinks her flat is cluttered and dangerous. As Kinsella sets up a series of events that highlight their differences, the humor finally takes off.
Spoiler alert: it takes a while, but they finally conclude that they are still in love in spite of the differences.
Nice people, check
Romance, check
Humor, check, just not quite as funny as I have come to expect fro Kinsella.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

I was really excited about this book but I ended up disappointed. I did not like any of the characters and I found them all to be extremely annoying. It wasn't even a good annoying. It made it very difficult to get through the book. I did think the plot was interesting and I do love when you have two people from different worlds coming together. I wanted more cutesy moments between the two main characters and I felt like the book was lacking in that. Overall, I give this book 2 out of 5 stars.

Sophie Kinsella does it again! This book is equal parts hilarious and heartwarming from cover to cover. 

Kinsella’s brand of humour often has me alternating between cringing and giggling. You just know that characters are misinterpreting what others are thinking, and this makes for a hilarious, yet super uncomfortable read. There were a couple of times when I had to put the book down to pace my living room. 

This novel has some important relationship advice peppered throughout. Matt and Ava fall in love while at a writing retreat where personal talk is forbidden. They don’t know each others’ hobbies, where they come from, or even their real names. They view this as a magical experience, where they fall in love without really knowing each other. However, they know who each other is in essence, just not trivial details like whether or not one of them is a vegetarian, or if they share similar taste in art (spoiler alert: they really, really don’t).  After returning to London, they try to keep this magic alive by not talking about past relationships and anything else that could end the honeymoon phase of their relationship.  It quickly becomes obvious that communication and honesty are key in a successful relationship, and Ava and Matt learn that the hard way. 

Their differences are many, and some of them are hilarious, while others are a tad too extreme.  I understand that this is a romantic comedy, but there are a few points where I couldn’t help but think that Ava just can’t be a real person. She's just too ridiculous in her beliefs and behaviours.  But just when you think that maybe Matt and Ava can’t make it work out, there’s always a sweet moment that shows their true feelings for each other (Two words: pebble tower. My heart swelled at that point! You’ll see).

As usual with a good chick lit book, the side characters are what makes the book extra special.  Both Matt and Ava’s friends are unique and funny in their own ways.  Although, a couple of parts had me shaking my head in disbelief. (Basically everything to do with Maud. She’s a little too much.) Other characters, however, were loveable in their own, sometimes unlikeable ways (I know that’s a little contradictory, but some characters were so contrary and grumpy that you couldn’t help but love them). Topher and Nell were my favourites, and I kind of wish that they had been featured a little more in this book. 

This is a sweet and hilarious book about falling (and staying) in love when all odds are against you.

*This review will be posted to https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/ on October 20, 2020*

A lighthearted and entertaining story perfect chicklit readers. Thank you to NetGalley and Random HOuse for the opportunity to read an advanced copy

I was so excited to get this book because I am a huge Sophie Kinsella fan. I love her humor and her writing style. This book had all of that, but it just wasn’t one of my favorites.

The premise of this book is all about what makes two people great together. Can you get past all of your partner’s differences if the chemistry is there? Ava goes to a monastery to finish a book she’s been writing. No one at the retreat can say anything personal about themselves. So when Ava meets a guy and they hit it off, she doesn’t know anything about his how he lives his life.

I felt like the beginning was a bit rushed. I know the main point of the book was to show Ava’s relationship after the retreat, but we didn’t get to dive deep into the relationship and how it worked well before coming home. They were saying they loved each other before they left, and it seemed like I missed something.

When they got back to reality, they had completely different interests. Many things that would be “deal-breakers” in other relationships, but since they already established love for each other, they tried to look past it. It was frustrating to read when it was clear they both had issues with the other’s lifestyle and they wouldn’t address it. I felt like a lot of their problems could have been solved with a conversation.

As always with Kinsella novels, her characters have the best, quirky personalities. She is a master at clearly defining each character with their own unique wit, so as readers we understand them so well. As an American reading her novels, I love seeing the subtle differences in their vocabulary.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, I just didn’t love how it was broken out in the timeline. I would have liked to see more of their blossoming relationship, so I really understood what was on the line when they got back home. The bright points of the novel were the humor and the character development. I will still recommend this book to fellow Kinsella lovers, but it just wasn’t my favorite.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and Net Galley for my e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much for this ARC!

I have been a Sophie Kinsella fan since her very first book and will continue to be a fan forever! To be completely honest, this was probably my least favorite of her books. I thought the relationship was not the cute and silly typical stuff, it was more borderline toxic and downright uncomfortable. I am happy with how it ended but it was very awkward at times!

I loved the friendships and the dating struggles (they are all too real) and I love the retreat in Italy, but when they were back to real life, I did not love it.

I adore Sophie’s Kinsella’s novels, mostly because you know what you’re in for from the first page, but that does not make the storyline any less enjoyable. I found “Love Your Life” to be a cute story and a good reminder of why I started to read Kinsella’s novels in the first place.

Like the majority of Kinsella’s books, “Love Your Life” contains quirky, laugh out loud characters and romance with a promised happy ending. With so much negativity going on in the world right now, it’s nice to dive into something light-hearted and fun.

As the novel opens, we discover that Ava is finished with online dating. Additionally, she is uncertain of what she wants to be when she grows up (though she is in her thirties.) She lacks focus and has difficulty committing to a task. But darn it, she is going to write a book and, as a result, heads to Italy for a retreat. (That’s a dream come true right there!) At the retreat, everyone makes up new names and doesn't share any personal information. Naturally, right after she has sworn off love, Ava falls in love with Dutch (AKA Matt), even though she doesn't know anything about him. But can their relationship survive a return to the real world?

Like most of Kinsella’s characters, Ava is a bit eccentric (I keep thinking of the line in the “Beauty of the Beast” song “Belle” -- that girl is strange, no question; dazed and distracted, can't you tell?) While Ava has plenty of idiosyncrasies, that does not make her any less lovable as the novel’s heroine. She has her girlfriends, and she has a dog (bonus points for any protagonist who likes animals).

Yes, Ava and Matt’s relationship could be more developed—it was pretty predictable that in the real world, each other’s flaws would become rather grating. But they are also going to work things out and that’s okay because when you eat your favorite dessert, you don’t expect it to taste any different each and every time. In fact, it’s the sameness that makes it so delicious.

The Great American Novel, this is not, but sometimes guilty pleasures are worth the indulgences. I think many readers will enjoy “Love Your Life.”

Three and a half stars.

Thank you Net Galley, the author and Random House/Dial Press for my copy.

I usually enjoy Sophie Kinsella's writing, but this book is not working for me. I don't like the characters and the relationship is dysfunctional. It is a DNF for me after reading 30%.

Love Your Life is an entertaining book. It is a typical Sophie Kinsella book with a cute story line, fun characters, romance, and laughs. Sophie Kinsella's books always make me happy and this is no exception. Love Your Life is a perfect book for something lighter during 2020.

Love Your Life is about a women, Ava, that is done with online dating and goes to a writing retreat in Italy. At the retreat everyone makes up new names and doesn't share any personal information. Ava falls in love with Matt but doesn't know anything about him. After the retreat Ava and Matt find out who the other really is. Do they actually know each other? Will their relationship last?

I highly recommend Love Your Life to all Sophie Kinsella fans and anyone looking for a cute fun story. Anyone looking for a happy story Love Your Life is for you. This book will make you laugh and you will feel like the characters are your friends. Anyone that is a hopeless romantic and sick of online dating will love this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for Love Your Life.

This was really disappointing. I usually turn to this author's work when I need something light. This was the story of a toxic relationship.

I've never read anything by this author before and enjoyed the expressive way that she writes. The friendships throughout this book are so strong and the way each of the group's of friend support Ava and Matt are just great.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc

Love Your Life is an entertaining book. It is a typical Sophie Kinsella book with a cute story line, fun characters, romance, and laughs. Sophie Kinsella's books always make me happy and this is no exception. Love Your Life is a perfect book for something lighter during 2020.

Love Your Life is about a women, Ava, that is done with online dating and goes to a writing retreat in Italy. At the retreat everyone makes up new names and doesn't share any personal information. Ava falls in love with Matt but doesn't know anything about him. After the retreat Ava and Matt find out who the other really is. Do they actually know each other? Will their relationship last?

I am a Sophie Kinsella fan, so I was very pleased to receive an ARC from Netgalley. I think this might be her best book yet. In some previous books, I've found her female leads to be a bit "cringe-y," as my 12 year old son would say. But I really enjoyed both the hero and heroine in this book. Also, I usually don't care much for supporting characters. I often find myself speed reading through parts that are about the supporting characters to get back to the main characters, but I really enjoyed how they worked in this book and really enjoyed all the characters as a group.

Is it a perfect book? No, but I really enjoyed it and found myself laughing out loud at parts - which is a rare occurence for me.

I highly recommend!

Sophie Kinsella's books have been a part of my life for a long time now. I was excited when Netgalley approved me for an ARC of this title. The story opens with Ava embarking on a week long writing retreat in Italy. Of course, being a Kinsella story, Ava meets a guy there and romantic antics ensue.

I will say, unlike other reviewers, I could get on board with a couple in their 30s meeting and getting serious after a week of knowing each other. My husband and I met and were married within nine months. We've been married for 16 years now and still going strong. However, of course things weren't going to go smoothly for Ava and Matt because then there wouldn't be a story. Reading about a happy couple isn't that exciting ;)

Anyway, there were things I really liked about the story and other things that have been overdone (almost killing a pet, I'm looking at you). I thought Kinsella did a nice job of having Ava change before the end of the book. I do wish the other characters had been more fleshed out. They were not fully developed and that was unfortunate. It did seem some things were repeated more than needed - Topher was not conventionally attractive, but calling him ugly every time he was mentioned was not needed. And though I didn't like Genevieve the ending she was given was not in line with who she was or fair to her character.

In the end it was a decent book, but not my favorite of Kinsella's works.

Best Sophie Kinsella book Yet!
I have always enjoyed books by Sophie Kinsella, but have felt some books lack 1) conclusion and 2) depth of the male character. Love Your Life has none of these issues. Both of the main characters are so real, they're flawed and fun and ridiculous and human. I found myself giggling under my covers for a solid 10 minutes (I NEVER do that) and missed a work meeting to finish reading it on my phone at my desk.

2020 sucks, but Love Your Life made me peaceful at least for today, because love wins!

Just the name, Sophie Kinsella, will sell any book. This one lives up to her reputation as the queen of romantic comedies. I really enjoyed this book. It follows two people who fall in love on vacation and realize relationships are more difficult once you get back home. This novel takes you from England to Italy and back to England. The ending is believable and like Sophie Kinsella's other novels, also has real life obstacles through out the story. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who is an avid Kinsella fan or even a new reader.

I received a free ARC from netgalley.com for providing this review. I
need to start by saying I am a huge Sophie Kinsella fan! This book starts slowly and it takes a while to connect with Ava and Dutch/Matt who meet at a writers workshop retreat in Italy. However, as I followed the ups and downs of the two working together to build their relationship, I did begin to root for them. They struggle to come out of the bubble of their magical first week together and their very different lifestyles, as well as some obstacles they face in their personal development and careers. Ava is very optimistic and empathetic, as are most of Kinsella's protagonists, which lends a sense of fun and hope to the book. Definitely worth reading!

Love Your LIfe is a fun read from Sophie Kinsella. I always look forward to all of her books an enjoy the non Shopaholic series books. Escaping to London via Sophie Kinsella is always a nice reprieve from day to day, moreso now given the state of the world and how far off London feels at this time.

When Ava goes to Italy for a writer's retreat she meets Matt, who she knows as Dutch and who knows her as Aria. They leave the retreat sure they are in love and perfect for each other. They soon realize they don't know each other as well as they may have thought and Ava has to wonder if deal breakers in relationships are actually a thing she should take notice of.

Ava reminded me of Becky Bloomwood Brandon, with her energy and the way she makes rules and then changes them to fit her current state of mind. Matt reminded me of Luke with his more cut and dry outlook and certain inabilities to change.. Harold was the star of this book, he made me laugh with each escapade.



Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC by one of my favorite authors.

This author’s books are always a hit or miss for me. Her romances are always so cute and her mcs are super loveable, and this was no different here. However I feel like this book would appeal more to older millennials and not some kid in college LOL. Idk I guess it’s just got the kind of humour that gen z isn’t very fond of