Thank you to the publisher and Negalley for the free book for review.

I'm usually a fan of Sophie Kinsella's often fun, romantic comedies, however, this one is probably one of my least favorite novels by her in recent years.

Ava is putting dating on the back burner after a recent dating fiasco and breakup. Determined to finish writing the novel she's been scheming up for years, she enrolls in a writing retreat in Italy, packs her bags and plans to reset and really get to work on her book. No need to focus on dating when you're in a place that allows you to fully focus on your writing. Ava arrives at her writing retreat focused and ready to work. But when another workshop taking place at the same retreat cancels and is allowed to join the writer's workshop, Ava finds herself enamored with one of the new attendees.

Throughout the retreat the attendees are. not allowed to use their real names, Ava (going by Aria) finds herself in a whirlwind romance with "Dutch" believing that they're meant to be. The two leave the retreat to go back to real life and shockingly - things don't go as Ava had hoped.

While the premise is kind of fun and silly, I didn't feel any joy reading this book. The insta-love felt contrived and awkward (not in a good, humorous way) and by the end I was ready for Ava and Matt's story to be over.
I'll continue to read Sophie Kinsella, this was just okay for me.




I'm still a fan, but this one wasn't my favorite.

I was alwys a big fan of sophie kinsella. She dispointed me a little bit with this book. she tends to have a way of creating characters that are likable. I loved ava but i did not particularly understand her connection to matt. I did not feel anything regarding this couple and this factor made me simply not care about the ending. I enjoyed the book in a sense that it was well written...but the story did nothing for me in terms for emotions...

Unfortunately this story didn't grab my interest. I kno some people really like it, but I guess it wasn't for me.

Love Your Life

by Sophie Kinsella

Ava is the latest in the line of Sophie Kinsella’s over the top lovable main characters. She rescues almost everything—from her mischievous beagle Harold to books no one else would want to buy. She is passionate about her ever-changing interests but never seems to achieve any of her goals. Her conversations with herself and others can best be described as stream of consciousness. The word “tidy” is not in her vocabulary.

Ava’s support group from university choir days is a cadre of unlike souls who nevertheless get along fabulously. Ava goes to Italy at their urging for a writer’s retreat where she meets Matt whose family business is all consuming. He has a sterile apartment, weird taste in art, and two odd roommates. Their dynamic is amusing in a male supportive kind of way.

The rules at the writer’s retreat keep everyone anonymous and focused on their writing—in theory. Ava and Matt quickly focus on each other and reveal their identities to continue their relationship when they return home. Watching Ava and Matt interact is liking the proverbial train wreck. You know disaster will happen, yet you can’t look away. Although much of the book is pleasantly predictable, there are some stunning surprises along the way. Love Your Life is a fun foray into chick lit: twenty-first century romance featuring online dating and What’s App and wacky but lovable characters. It is a humous look at the glue that hold friendships together and the ties that bind hearts in love.

I would like to extend my thanks to NetGalley and to Random House (Dial Press) for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Romance, Women’s Fiction

Notes: Some foul language

Publication: October 27, 2020—Random House (Dial)

Memorable Lines:

Maud’s basic conundrum in life is that she has three children but only two hands.

Nell doesn’t normally do hope. Not since she got ill. She describes her life philosophy as “managed pessimism.”

For a few minutes we’re both silent as rain starts to thunder down on the car roof. Hurt is crackling around the car like a lightning storm.

This checked off everything I look for in a book. Was not disappointed. Really enjoyed this book. I will read more from this author. Must read

This was not my favorite Kinsella book. The likeable characters and laugh-out-loud moments I've come to expect were missing in Love of Your Life.

From a young age, we’re surrounded by books and movies that have us believe that love should be something grand and extravagant—a sweep-you-off-your-feet fairy tale experience. But in Sophie Kinsella’s Love Your Life, one couple discovers that the fairy tale doesn’t last forever...

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery

I am a massive fan of Sophie Kinsella's work and this did NOT disappoint! It was soooooo cute! I loved the characters and this may be one of my favorite books of the year!

I'm not usually a Kinsella fan, but this one was really good. I love the fact that she leaves to start over and find herself.

After falling head over heels in love on a writers retreat in Italy, Ava and Matt land back in the UK only to realise that they are two very different people with two very different lives. As their lacking compatibility pushes them apart, can they learn to accept each other’s differences and still be happy together?

I absolutely stormed through this book, it was a really easy read and kept me hooked the whole way through. I loved seeing Ava and Matt’s polar opposite lives and watching their friend groups combine into one fun circle. This book had me laughing out loud on several occasions, making it a really uplifting read. I also really appreciated how the book raised awareness about Lupus, as it is not a disease that is commonly talked about in film/books/TV despite its severity.

This just didn’t end up being a book that interested me. When I first read the premise, I was very excited and invested, but getting into it made it clear that it just wasn’t for me. Hopefully it works for others out there!

Sophie Kinsella is such a fun author. I think her latest book, Love Your Life, might actually be my favorite novel of hers. Hilarious, romantic, and full of depth.

Sophie Kinsella has been a favorite author of mine for years but Love Your Life isn't one of her best books. It felt too rushed and jumped ahead several months throughout the book. The characters weren't lovable like her previous books' characters and the fast pace made the story unbelievable and it lacks her usual humor. Hopefully the next book will be back to Sophie's normal standard.

Sophie Kinsella always knows how to write odd ball characters in such a lovable way, you find yourself loving the quirkiness and cheering them on. Love Your Life, felt that way immediately with Ava.

After meeting at a writing retreat, where the participants were unable to share any personal details, much less their real names. Always being taken by the idea and sorry of romance, Ava, immediately feels swept off her feet the minute she meets ‘Dutch’, another participant. They get swept into a bubble but only knowing each other as Aria and Dutch, even after boarding the plan to go home to London.

Shortly after the plane lands, they both are faced with the reality of their real lives as Ava and Matt. They have to figure out if they were swept up in a lofty idea of romance or they actually had a connection.

This quirky group of friends was so fun. I love the talk of Matt-land and Ava-land and how different they are in their day to day life. After quite a few bumps in the road, they had to decide if the other was worth the discovering of new territory.

You won't find Ava on a dating app. To her love should be something organic - boy meets girl movie romance and such and after her latest breakup she is swearing off dating for a while. Ava decides it's time to focus on writing her novel and books a spot in a writing retreat in Italy. After passing off her rescue dog, Harold, to her best friends she settles into her adventure. Upon arrival she learns that while she is at the monastery she isn't allowed to use her real name or share any personal information with the other writers so Ava becomes "Aria". Day one begins with a little confusion as three non-writers join their group after their course was canceled at the last minute. Quickly "Aria" finds herself swooning over one of the late-comers named "Dutch" and a fast romance ignites. After days filled with cliff-jumping into the Mediterranean and consuming all the gelato "Aria" and "Dutch" find themselves head over heels in love - only one problem...they don't know the first thing about each other. When the retreat ends and the two must return to their normal lives Ava and Matt must navigate who they really are which proves to be much more difficult than they thought. Why does Ava feel the need to rescue everything and why does Matt behave like a robot with his family? As things get increasingly more complicated Ava wonders if they can keep the promises they made to each other back in Italy and be each other's happily ever after. Sophie Kinsella is an automatic buy for me. I love her writing style and reading her books usually just makes me happy. However, this one did not give me the warm and fuzzies. I had such a strong feeling of ick reading most of this as two people couldn't be more wrong for one another. Both Matt and Ava were selfish and self-centered and really didn't deserve one another at times. Though I didn't enjoy this one, it might be the right fit for others. Big thanks to NetGalley and Random House for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sophie Kinsella has long been my favorite authors. In fact in my early twenties when I was just finding my feet I found her shopaholic series. With that being said I always have anticipation for a new release of hers. Love your life did not disappoint. With Sophie's trademark humor and just a tad of sass combined with a love story makes this book feel like a warm embrace.

Another home run novel by Sophie Kinsella! She continues to be one of favorite authors and “Love Your Life” is just as great as her previous books.

I really enjoyed Ava’s character and her story. I also loved being transported to the Italy in a time when traveling isn’t an option. I was captivated by the plot from the beginning and would recommend this novel to any romantic comedy fan.

Thank you Net Galley and Random House Publishing for my digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

A very jolly quick read, with pacey (almost breathless) narration from the protagonist, Ava.
Ava finds it hard to fully focus and is always starting new projects, which is why she's on a writing retreat in Italy so she can work on her novel. She's easily distracted though, mostly by the handsome man who has had his martial arts retreat cancelled. Can an intense and slightly mysterious holiday fling (they don't know each other's real names) have any longevity? What will her new friend think about her old friends? Or indeed, her very naughty dog, Harold? And what will she think of his friends, and his penchant for challenging art? Entertaining read, and Ava, while she might be a bit flaky and addicted to WhatsApp, is an engaging heroine.

I am an enormous Sophie Kinsella fan, so maybe I’m biased, but I absolutely adored this one. As always, Kinsella delivers heartfelt laughs and tender moments.

I have always loved how fun and relatable Sophie Kinsella makes her characters, and this book is no exception. Her books always provide a wonderful escape and are very entertaining and I feel like her main character Ava is like the heroines in her earlier books, which is what drew me to her originally. Fabulous book and story, extremely heartwarming, and some great "chick-lit"!