I always love Sophie Kinsella’s warmth and sense of humor, and both are on full display in this sweet book. I love Kinsella so I didn’t read the blurb and just dove in, which I think is a good way to go with this book because it doesn’t take the expected chick-lit path. In the beginning, our heroine is at a writer’s retreat in Italy where no one gives their real name. She goes by “Aria” and meets a gorgeous man named “Dutch.” They have a whirlwind romance but come to an agreement not to ask eachother any real-life details, including names. And that’s just the beginning of this sweet, affectionate book.

Without giving away the plot I have to say there were several unique heartwarming aspects I loved most. One is Ava’s dog, Harold, who is a character unto himself. Another is Ava’s close friend Nell. Nell has a serious illness and all her friends rally around her. Her disability is presented always in a realistic, kind and well-considered way. As someone who has had my own health challenges in the past, I love to see disabled characters thriving in books, particularly romantic books like this one. And my final two favorite things were the two main characters. As always, Kinsella creates a magical and vibrant world with loveable characters in which you can totally lose yourself. I always emerge happier after reading one of her colorful novels, which are always a little deeper than they first seem.

I give this book 4-plus stars. It’s a great, heartwarming escape when you need a little runaway time to another place where you can feel good about life, love and the world (like say in the middle of a pandemic or a contentious presidential election).

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House and Sophie Kinsella for the advance copy of this sweet and warm book. I am looking forward to reading Harold the dog’s book next.

Sophie Kinsella's books are always upbeat and entertaining and this one is no different. The setting in Italy was beautiful and Ava's character was very likable. I found myself laughing and smiling so much while reading this book. I recommend it highly.

I've never met a Sophie Kinsella book I didn't enjoy, and this one was no different! I was swept away along with the characters in the opening few chapters in gorgeous Italy, and I loved how their relationship progressed throughout the book. The last few chapters put a huge smile on my face, which is all I ever want in a romance :) Of course, there were some laugh-out-loud moments (naked sauna, anyone?) and overall, I had a great time reading this book! Definitely recommend!

*I got this on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Despite being more predictable than a virgin's period, Love Your Life was, at its core, a pretty fuckin' hilarious and über cute read. Without a doubt, it was a step up from Sophie Kinsella's last novel, I Owe You One, which was uncharacteristically lacking the signature spark that I've come to expect from her books. Thankfully, with the publication of Love Your Life (which I'd argue is her funniest book yet), it would seem that Ms. Kinsella has reclaimed her mojo and laid the fears to rest that I Owe You One was anything more than a one-time fluke.

Love Your Life excelled where most rom-coms/chick-lit novels consistently fall short: having full-fledged supporting characters. While most books in the genre tend to have nondescript, one-dimensional, stock supporting characters whom you wouldn't be able to tell apart with a gun to your head, Love Your Life was the rare, but welcome, exception to the rule. Each character brought something different and fresh to the table. The friend characters were all fun and interesting in their own right, and it felt like they served a greater purpose than simply filling the designated rom-com role of proverbial BFF/sidekick whom the female MC can bitch to and get either conflict-inducing or conflict-resolving advice from when shit goes down with the token boy toy. I can count on one hand the books that I've read in which the supporting characters outshone the MCs, and now Love Your Life is definitely among their number. I can honestly say that Ava's friends (especially Nell and Sarika) were my favorite—not to mention the funniest—characters in the book.

Where the problem lies, however, is in the unlikability (I'm coining a new word here—call me Shakespearina) of the female protagonist and MC, Ava. If you looked up the definition of likable heroine in the dictionary, Ava would be pictured as an antonym, to be sure. Ava is the archetype of your everyday astrology ho. She's all perky and wannabe hipster and "I know Matt because I feel his energy," which at first was super funny but didn't take long to really get under my skin. She's just not someone I really liked or could connect with as a character, which made liking and being able to get through the book kind of difficult for me. But to each her own. I'm sure others will enjoy Love Your Life much more than I did simply because they find Ava amusing and endearing instead of annoying af and/or they are just overall less tetchy with MCs than I am.

Nevertheless, I can't deny that Love Your Life is chock-full of the very wit and charm that have become a staple of all Sophie Kinsella's books. If you're looking for a quick laugh or something to transport you out of the real world for a short while, Love Your Life is the perfect book to help you on those fronts.

This review is availiable on Goodreads as of 05 September 2020.

Ava and Matt meet afternoon a writing retreat in Italy. At first they don’t know anything about each other, even their names, due to the rules of the retreat. They fall madly in love and vow to continue their relationship after the retreat, Ava knowing that Matt is THE ONE. Even as little things start to come out such as Matt plays golf (Ava HATES golf), she is determine he is perfect. Can their relationship survive in the real world?

I absolutely loved this book. disclaimer, I am huge Sophie Kinsella fan so it did not surprise me that I loved the book. I love her style of writing. Even after finishing the book I can pictures scenes from the book.

The title is one of the most fitting titles for a book I’ve read in awhile. Ava strives to love her life even if it means never finishing anything because something new catches her eye. She encourages Matt to love his life even if it means making some changes. In the end the story ends up exactly how it should.

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.