I’ve never read this author before (at least I don’t think so) and now I know why if this was any indication of the characters she creates. Ava and Matt were absolutely insane. Ava more so - in a completely deluded, needs therapy or an institution sort of way. I couldn’t stand either of them once they got back from the retreat and skipped to the end of the book - still insane and I don’t feel like I missed a thing. Two stars only for a slight portion being in Italy.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

While on vacation, you "Love Your Life" and present your best self. Drama, family, job and money worries are put aside and for the those carefree days, trouble doesn't follow. Finding love on holiday and trying to merge that idyllic sun-kissed romance with reality is a 'shore' way to get burned. 

While on a writing retreat would-be writer Aria and martial arts' aficionado Dutch are an unlikely pairing. After living in a vacation bubble, their fledgling relationship is tested in the real world. As they shed their alter egos, will Ava and Matt's conflicting backgrounds align? Can a whirlwind romance take root in regular life? 

Thank you #NetGalley and the publisher for an early edition in exchange for an honest review. Curling up with a Sophie Kinsella novel is a great way to spend the afternoon. Cozy up under the comforter, pour a spot of tea and get ready to be swept away by the story. Kinsella pens novels filled with quirky characters, laugh-out-loud moments and provides the perfect blend of an escape read bookmarked with everyday life.

Well, it's actually painful for me to give this book three stars, because I love Sophie Kinsella novels. 

The story follows the relationship between Ava and Matt (Dutch), who meet at a writing retreat in Italy. It's basically a love at first sight thing for Ava and the rest of the book feels like Ava trying to force the relationship to work despite its many drawbacks. 

She wore me out.  

I liked her dog. I liked the scenes in Italy. Her friends were okay. Matt might have been okay except I felt like I always just saw him through Ava's eyes and that didn't give me a true picture.  

There were a couple of funny scenes (naked sauna), but overall, I didn't feel the love for this book as much as I did many other Kinsella novels.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

Never settle. In a career, a hobby, or a relationship. Love can be found in many ways. But get your dog under control because there is no excuse for a canine as disobedient as Harold. Love Your Life is a  feel-good story for when life's got you thinking there are no happy endings. Ava's eternal optimism will enforce smiles when silver linings seem hard to find.

This was a fun read!  A little hard to get into but enjoyed it!  Ava and Matt meet at a writers retreat.  They    Go by Aria and Dutch as they are not supposed to use real names or divulge their real lived.  They fall for each other but when they get back to London they discover their difference in life styles is overwhelming!  They struggle to find common ground and make their romance work but it is a struggle with his and her unconventional roommates and his wealthy family!  Lots of humor!

Thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for allowing me to get a copy of this book so I could read and review. The story started so fun and promising. I loved the friendship between the 4 girls and the love of Ava for her dog, Harold. I loved every sentence and where the story was going until Ava arrived at the writer's retreat in Italy. Then, the story turned a little silly and boring. I usually love this author's books, but this one was not my favorite.

The first thing that got my attention was the cover because it’s so cute and I love dogs 💖. The synopsis sounded interesting and I thought I would love this. The beginning had me invested. But then the more I kept reading the more I was disappointed. The characters were just so bland to me. I didn’t see any chemistry between Ava and Matt. It all just seemed to fast and to forced and I just didn’t see it going anywhere. But as I got near the end I did enjoy how it came together. Ava and Matt needed to get their life’s in order before being together and that worked out well.

Classic Kinsella, so a fun, light read overall.  But honestly, I wasn't sure I should be rooting for the central couple to succeed; they truly seemed to lack compatibility.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Laughter, tears - BEST BOOK yet!  I simply could not put it down.  There were times I literally could not stop laughing.  The author truly made me feel so much a part of the character's life - the inner dialog, the hilarious situations - all with such heart.  Makes you stop and think about love, life, what is important, and how we can truly be our best selves - and do it with a person who is different than you are.  So much in a relationship is about respecting each other's differences and embracing them - without losing ourselves!  I absolutely LOVED this book and will recommend it to everyone!  Heart warming, charming, funny - a great read!  Thank you Netgalley and especially thank you Sophie Kinsella!!

Ava is a fun loving and happy 30 something single lady. She loves her dog, Harold. She rescues books and plants and furniture. She believes in love at first sight, even though her friends think online dating algorithms are the only way to meet someone. Ava is an aspiring author but has an unfinished novel. She decides to go on a writing retreat in Italy to get some inspiration to finish her book. The retreat is an immersive experience where the participants shed their identities and just focus on their writing. Ava becomes Aria and she finds herself falling for “Dutch” and the feeling is mutual. They begin spending their free time together, exploring the Italian landscape and writing together during the day. The only rule was that they didn’t reveal anything about their lives. By the end of the week, they are in love and promise to find a way to make their relationship work. Real life sets in quickly and they find out that Ava and Matt live in a much different world than Aria and Dutch, but can they find a way to make their worlds work together?
Sophie Kinsella always draws the reader in with a good story and Love Your Life was no exception. Between Harold the beagle (who by the way was a perfect representation of what beagle ownership, excuse me friendship, is like), the dynamic supporting characters, and that signature Kinsella wit, this book was so much fun. Peppered with sweet and serious moments, Ava's antics will keep the reader feeling all the emotions as she navigates her journey to find out just how much she truly loves her life.
I highly recommend, especially for Kinsella fans. I would probably rate it alongside I Owe You One and My Not So Perfect Life.

As a longtime fan of Sophie Kinsella's work, this is the first time I didn't completely connect with the heroine immediately. And that's a good thing.

We're currently living through a time period where we can't help but self-reflect. After all, we've been quarantined for months at this point. This time alone has made us reevaluate, reconsider and try to right some wrongs. Love Your Life is about looking inward and improving yourself on your terms.

 In Love Your Life, Kinsella's latest novel, we follow Londoner Ava as she attends a writing retreat in Italy. While there, Ava meets and falls in love with another participant. The catch? The retreat is meant to be an immersive experience so the writers can focus solely on their work. Neither Ava nor "Dutch," the man she is spending time with can use their real names in the retreat or share personal information. Their love is developed entirely in an Italian bubble.

When they return to the real world with their real lives and real problems, Ava and "Dutch," who we learn is named Matt, try to merge their two lives. It's not as easy, fantastical or storybook as Ava would like.  Their journey together, and as regular people trying to figure out their lives, isn't a straight line, which makes it all the more enjoyable to read.

Perhaps the most colorful, entertaining and interesting element to Love Your Life are Ava and Matt's friends. I found myself, I found myself absorbed in Nell's resolve, Topher's frank personality and Nihal's analytic personality. 

Overall, this book was a wonderful, much-needed, escape.

In Sophie Kinsella's "Love Your Life", Ava is a struggling writer who has hit a roadblock in her writing and in her love life. She takes off for an exotic writing retreat, where she meets a handsome man and "falls in love." However, she learns that real life is much more difficult than a mysterious vacation abroad. With the help of her friend group, she learns what's really important in life. I enjoyed the relationship between Ava and her friends more than the relationship between Ava and Matt.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank You NetGAlley/Publisher & Author for this gifted e-book!

Summary--
Call Ava romantic, but she thinks love should be found in the real world, not on apps that filter men by height, job, or astrological sign. She believes in feelings, not algorithms. So after a recent breakup and dating app debacle, she decides to put love on hold and escapes to a remote writers' retreat in coastal Italy. She's determined to finish writing the novel she's been fantasizing about, even though it means leaving her close-knit group of friends and her precious dog, Harold, behind.

At the retreat, she's not allowed to use her real name or reveal any personal information. When the neighboring martial arts retreat is canceled and a few of its attendees join their small writing community, Ava, now going by "Aria," meets "Dutch," a man who seems too good to be true. The two embark on a baggage-free, whirlwind love affair, cliff-jumping into gem-colored Mediterranean waters and exploring the splendor of the Italian coast. Things seem to be perfect for Aria and Dutch.

Review--
This book is Chick Lit and takes place in London and Italy. The story is based around & told by Ava. 
This was a very cute loving romance book. I enjoyed this book alot. It was cute, funny, enjoyable. 
Worth the time to read for sure. 

Rating--3/5

Sophie Kinsella does it again! I was so excited to hear that Sophie had a new book coming out during quarantine summer and even more excited to find a Netgalley for it! Sophie’s characters are always hopeful, a little naive, and hilarious, and this book is so exception. It’s a little more complicated than your average chick lit, which is refreshing—the problems are real, and the romance isn’t easy. Sophie paints the picture of her characters and scenes so well that I can easily picture them in my head. She is the most ridiculously FUNNY author—I was cracking up several times while reading. Can’t wait for Sophie’s next book!

Matt and Ava go separately to Italy for a retreat and meet there with fake names as per the rules at retreat. Their relationship kicks off right away and without knowing even their names or background they fall in love. On returning back home, they realize both of them have previous baggage they need to deal with first. They set up rules and try to make the relationship work. They face many hurdles in their path.

It took some time for me to get involved in the plot but after 15%, the drama kicks in and makes the book very engaging. Ava is a kind of quirky female who is mostly sweet and cute but seemed a bit all over in her life. Matt was an entirely carefree person in Italy but the opposite stuck-up person in London. But I felt Matt's personality is more understandable and I could understand why he did things that way. The best part is both their friends who had amazing moments in the book and also a great support system. They are absolutely hilarious. Each friend has a very different personality that made the whole set up interesting. I also enjoyed the drama brought in by Matts' parents and his ex-girlfriend. It did seem like one of the Bollywood movies I had watched with an almost similar storyline. 

Overall, it was definitely juicy and fun. It is a light and quick read!

Sophie Kinsella is back!! I loved this book. So funny. Out loud giggling funny. Just so heartwarming and fun.. I shed a few tears as well.  I loved Ava and Matt. How they met, their relationship journey❤️And Harold!  Geez funny, crazy, naughty Harold. Reminds me of my pupper. I loved Ava’s and Matt’s friends too. I’ve read all of Sophie’s books. My most favorite was Can you keep a secret and this book is just as good!  Enjoy! What a great read!

I have been a fan of Sophie Kinsella for a long time, so I was very excited to read her new book. I must admit I liked the beginning section in Italy much more than the rest when they were back in London. I understand Ava and Matt had their issues, but Ava and all her quirks started to wear thin for me. A few are fine but sometimes she felt like a caricature of what the author thought a quirky female heroine should be.

Well, I've really been procrastinating about writing this review.  I don't enjoy writing semi-negative reviews.

I liked the first part of the book, when Ava was at the writing retreat and she was known as "Aria".  When the romance  was blooming between Aria and Dutch, their characters were fun and like-able, and you were rooting for them.  Once they returned to the real world however, and they became completely different people, it was unclear to me why they were so committed to making the relationship work.  I found Ava to be flighty, judgmental, and very irritating.  I'm still not sure why anyone would want to have Maude as a friend, and don't even get me started on that naughty dog. . .  So the middle of the book was not so great for me.  

The last part brought it back around, and I was happy with the ending, but unfortunately that large annoying middle part was too much for me to overlook and give a higher rating.  Being 1st person POV with Ava was just too exhausting for me.

As always, Kinsella provides the quintessential  summer read,  Light and lots of fun, the characters are engaging and Kinsella’s style is easygoing as ever.

I was drawn to this title because I've enjoyed books by Sophie Kinsella that I've read in the past and the plot sounded super cute and a bit different from other romances I've read. 

The basic premise is that Ava "Aria" is on a writer's retreat in Italy when she meets and instantly falls for Matt "Dutch." One of the big rules of the retreat is anonymity, and so Aria and Dutch follow the rules and engage in a week long whirlwind romance. Upon returning to London, it becomes very clear just how different their lives are and they struggle to keep the magic they felt in Italy alive. 

I had a hard time accepting why they would try so hard to stay together in London after their fling when they both appeared miserable. I also think that Matt's personality turned such a complete 180 when they returned while Ava's stayed fairly the same, making me not really enjoy Matt as a character and also (again) having trouble figuring out why they both felt that they *had* to make this relationship work. Both of these issues that I had with the book can be attributed, I think, to the book taking place in the first person POV, so we are only/always in Ava's head. 

I will say that I think reader's who are big fans of  Sohpie Kinsella will probably still enjoy this book quite a bit. Between quirky characters and hilarious (if not totally cringeworthy awkward) scenes, the romance has all the makings of a light, heartwarming Kinsella novel. This one just didn't work for me. I look forward to reading the next Kinsella novel nonetheless. Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for a eARC in exchange for an honest review.