this is perhaps sophie kinsella's most real love story. I know an Ava. I think mostly everyone would know an Ava. The great, loyal friend who is haphazard and confused. so overwhelmingly positive that ambition is lost on her. so endearingly naive(?) about the world that sometimes she's the only person you can be around. and then there's Matt. Again I know a matt. I've dated a Matt. I've seen Matt in most men. They refuse to admit anything is wrong. They are quiet and nice but can be snarky when pushed. they don't communicate very well and swallow half their thoughts because they don't want to fight. I'm not sure i truly believe that Ava and Matt could ever make it work. but by the end Kinsella did her job. she made me want that. because it was nice to see two people grow and change through the course of a sexy chemsistry driven relationship. to me this was a very very different rom com. it followed the characters AFTER their week long meet cute. it follows them after they say "i love you" and it was very well done.

I am a huge Sophie Kinsella fan!! 'Love Your Life' proves again that she is  a queen of fiction! The story line is very simple, but funny and inviting.  The story started slow but It got better as you went along.  I loved the characters, natural yet flaw filled. At first Ava annoyed me to the point that I was hoping 'Dutch' would just "run the other way.”  At some point that changed and I came to love Ava. This book had me laughing out loud. I loved Matt's artwork, the sauna, and Harold. This is a great book to pick up for a light, fun read!

I expected a lot from this book. Largely, because I am a HUGE Sophie Kinsella fan. And while I overall enjoyed this book, I was disappointed for one big reason. Being in "Ava's head" was exhausting. There were a lot of exclamation points and she seemed to be all over the place. Almost manic. As a result, it just didn't live up to my expectations from Sophie Kinsella.

Kinda fun to read but not memorable

I would like to thank Sophie Kinsella, Random House/The Dial Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mild spoilers

Premise: A woman, Ava, goes on a writers’ retreat in an effort to focus on the book she’s trying to write. However, she gets distracted by a handsome man with whom she has major chemistry. By the end of the retreat—I think it was only a week—they’re in love and committed. And they mean it! They honestly do. But while on the retreat, their instructor had decreed a no-small-talk rule so the participants would actually spend their time writing rather than just hanging out and chatting; they didn’t even use their real names. So it wasn’t until Ava and “Dutch” were back on English soil that they really began to learn who one another was. The reader then watches them discover each other’s hobbies, quirks, and personalities, as well as their family and friends, and struggle to accept traits that would likely have been “deal breakers” if they hadn’t fallen in love before learning them.

This book was okay. Kinda fun to read but not all that memorable. It’s certainly an interesting concept—can you love someone despite fundamental differences? Or is it best to go through a vetting process to make sure you find someone with whom you’re guaranteed to be compatible? The story explores both avenues but ultimately makes the point that no couple is going to be perfectly compatible and you have to be prepared to compromise to make a relationship work.

The characters were sympathetic and endearing but still a bit problematic. Matt was rather cliche on several levels but still managed to worm his way into my heart; I was so happy to read about the pictures at the end. Ava was relatable with her habit of making goals and taking on projects but rarely meeting or finishing them because she’s easily distracted—and perhaps on a subconscious level she liked the idea of them more than she was willing to put in the work to achieve any of them. I’ve definitely done that a time or two. I did lose some patience with her overly compassionate nature—that bit about the unsecured back door was TSTL (too stupid to live) crap, and while I wouldn’t be as strict with my pet dog as the Warricks were, I wouldn’t have tolerated some of Harold’s behaviors the way Ava did.

Both Ava and Matt had great pals. I loved his more than hers; to be honest, I found her friends to be annoying at times, but his were just sweeties from start to finish. The OCD part of me loves that they all paired off, though I imagine that’ll have some readers rolling their eyes. My absolutely favorite character in the book was Topher, one of Matt’s friends who was super antisocial and not ashamed of it. He and I are kindred spirits.

Overall, I enjoyed this book as a Kinsella fan, though it’s not my favorite. In my estimation, there were three fatal flaws to this novel: the cliche aspects of Matt’s character, the TSTL aspects of Ava’s, and their insta-love (fewer and fewer readers tolerate that). A signature part of Kinsella’s writing has always been outrageousness—characters pulling ridiculous stunts like one would only see in rom-com movie—and I wonder if that’s part of why her books are relatively poorly rated. I know that’s my least favorite aspect of her writing. Regardless, I was just super happy that this was a new standalone and had nothing to do with her stupid Shopaholic series.

Afterthought—That’s an awful book cover. Maybe I missed something, but as far as I can tell, very few things in the picture are relative to the story.

When I was in my midtwenties and single, I used to love reading Sophie Kinsella’s romance novels. I was excited to see she came out with a new book and that it took place in Italy.  When I picked it up and as how long it was, I did not think I did not think this romance novel would keep my interest. I was wrong. Sophie Kinsella did a great job of creating a likeable main character, Ava, that you a rooting for. I was a little bummed that only a very small portion of the novel actually takes place in Italy.  I found it easy to relate to Ava and I loved her mischievous pup, Harold. I think we have all dated that guy who seems perfect, but struggled to get along with his family or dealt with being compared to an ex who still lingered around. The book was so relatable, I truly felt for Ava when she had to deal with Matt’s mother and his ex. While the book seemed cumbersome to read, I finished it in two days. It was the light read that I didn’t know I needed!

This one didn't really do much for me. I was in love with the premise, but the execution was lacking. And the main couple was sort of insufferable. I did like that the supporting characters were well thought out, but they tended to be annoying as well. It's difficult for me to get into a romance when I don't enjoy the characters. Oh well.

Classic Kinsella! I was laughing; I was wondering if these two disparate people would be able to find common ground and create a future together; I was rooting for them. Kinsella took me to highs and lows and ultimately, when considering the big picture, gave me one of the most satisfying resolutions I have experienced this year. You see, the cast of secondary characters is endearing and I wanted them to find what they didn't know they needed as well.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a copy of this book!
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I really enjoy SK’s standalone books. I never got into the shopaholic series as I just can’t fathom why there are so many of them.

However, this one was utterly delightful. Cheesy? Yes. Predictable? Yes. Questionable dialogue at times? Yes. But I don’t care. This is exactly what I needed. I found myself really enjoying the characters— especially the secondary ones— and laughing at loud a few times. So while many would brush this off because it’s “women fiction” this women was very pleased!

When Ava goes to a writing retreat for a week she's determined to write her book. And then she meets Dutch. Dutch isn't his real name, and Ava is going by the name Aria while at this retreat. The point is to not let anything distract them from their writing.
When they leave the retreat and find out each others real identities, things get rocky.

I did not initially like this book. I hated Ava and I was actually hoping that the two of them would break up. I thought that Ava was annoying and overly optimistic. She had a skewed outlook on life and believed that everything was sunshine and rainbows. I hated her. I just wanted to smack her over the head. 
I didn't much care for Matt (Dutch) either. I felt that he was a bland character and I didn't really see much chemistry between the two of them.
I loved the side characters immediately. As I met each of them, I fell in love with them. They were the bright spot when I hated this book.
HOWEVER, in the last approximately 100 pages, I was enthralled. Enraptured. Captivated. I couldn't put it down. Ava and Matt figure themselves out first as individuals before they are able to figure out life as a couple. I found myself really enjoying it in the end.

I have been in a reading slump and Love Your Life was exactly what I needed. Once I picked it up I couldn’t put it down. I loved all the quirky characters! It was an escape read and hated for it to end. I thought Harold needed some manners too but he won me over in the end. I was really going to upset if something bad happened to him.  So thank you for such an enjoyable read.  It was everything I love about Sophie’s books.

This book was a lot of fun, and it could have been a 5 star read, but I felt it dragged a bit in the middle of the book.

The characters were a lot of fun, but I do think the side characters (Ava and Matt's friends) were more interesting than Ava and Matt. I did enjoy that the relationship was established early on and the bulk of the book focused on how different they were and trying to make a relationship work.

I also really enjoyed that this takes place over a large span of time (over a year I think) and that the relationship developed over that time period.

While definitely not my favorite Sophie Kinsella, Love Your Life was a light-hearted romantic comedy. 

Ava meets "Dutch" on a writer's retreat in Italy where no one is allowed to share their true names or personal life details.  They have instant chemistry and both believe they're meant to be. But once they leave the retreat and their lives are revealed to each other, they might not be as compatible as they originally thought. 

I think my big hang up with this book was Ava. I thought she was incredibly unlikable. She came across as very immature and erratic. Her inner self-talk was obnoxious. 

The supporting cast of friends was great! They brought more depth and sincerity to the story. They made Ava better. I almost liked her based solely on her choice of friends. 

This was not nearly as funny as My (Not) So Perfect Life but I think Kinsella fans will enjoy it.

Sophie Kinsella veers from the Shopaholic books to this fabulous stand alone novel about dating in the modern world.  Ava is a hopeful romantic.  Even after a bad breakup and a ridiculously bad dating app encounter she believes in fate and love.  She has a great group of friends, since college, and an adorable beagle rescue called "Harold.".  Ava is happy, but needs a break.  In order to finish her romance novel,  Ava heads to Italy for a writing retreat.  No one can use their real name, the food is fantastic, and the entire set-up cuts down on distractions and helps Ava focus on her writing.  That is until a `gorgeous martial arts enthusiast ends up at Ava's retreat when his own is cancelled.  So now Ava, going by "Aria" meets "Dutch" and a hot, steamy romance begins.  They decide not to reveal true information about themselves, including their real names, until the end of the retreat.  Everything is perfect, and beautiful, right up until they leave Italy, when they must return to being Ava and Matt and decide if their attraction can survive in the real world of parents, friends, work and completely different lifestyles.  They also have polar opposite ideas on how much Harold should be involved in their relationship.  Kinsella's treatment of their mishaps and misunderstandings makes for a fun, easy read.  The characters are realistic  - who doesn't want a group of friends like Ava has?  Readers of Kinsella's other books, the Bridget Jones series, Jo Jo Moyes  and other popular British authors will love this.  There is loads of opportunity for discussion, making this a fun, light choice for book clubs.  I  am grateful to Net Galley for the ARC.  I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

Love Your Life is the newest book from one my favorite authors, Sophie Kinsella. The premise is really great- Ava and Matt fall for each other at an Italian writer's retreat where everyone goes by an assumed name and no talking about personal lives is permitted. However, when they return to their real lives in London, they realize real life is harder to navigate as a couple. I ended up really enjoying this one, although I almost quit it (Ava can be a bit over the top). I stuck with it though, because I really wanted to see how it turned out and I'm glad I did. I think this would've been better if some of Ava's eccentricities had been dialed down, but overall it was a fun read!

What happens when reality intrudes on fantasy? 

In the book, Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella, we meet Ava. Ava is a woman who is tired of trying to find love online, who is trying to find herself by experiencing different ideas. She has booked a working holiday in Italy to work on her book. While there, she meets a mysterious man who sets her heart and her body on fire. Italy is a world away from her “real” life and when she decides to pursue a holiday relationship, she never thinks it could become real.  

After realizing that the mysterious man in on the same flight home, they agree to see if the relationship could be more. The man’s name is Matt and once real life begins to intrude on their fantasy, life is nothing like the fantasy. What will Ava and Matt do when they are confronted by the reality of the other? 

Love Your Life is about loving your life. Loving the life you have and yet wanting to become more than stuck in the life you are currently living.  

Reading this story in the midst of a pandemic and buying a house reminds me that my life is worth loving and worth living the way it is while being hopeful that my life will continue to be the life I need and to LOVE MY LIFE in the moment.

would you believe me if I told you this was my first Sophie Kinsella novel? gasp--I know! not that I'm a stranger to her name or the infamous shopaholic series, but I never got around to picking up one of her titles. her latest release, LOVE YOUR LIFE, was so sweet and charming, and I'm happy that it was my first taste to her writing. 

in a nutshell, LOVE YOUR LIFE tells the story of Ava and Matt, who meet on a writer's retreat in Italy and fall madly in love without knowing anything about each other. discovering that they both live in London, they fly back home, determined to make it work. but even with the best laid plans, as Ava and Matt discover more about their personal lives and relationship and preferences, it becomes clear that they might not fit into each other's lives as well as they'd hoped.

Ava and Matt's whirlwind week in Italy made me wish that I, too, were on vacation, meeting a handsome stranger and falling in love (LOL), but their story goes to show that not everything is rainbows and butterflies, despite how much you want it to be--which is basically life, in it's own nutshell, no? they both tiptoed around talking about what was bothering them and when it finally happened, a part of me was so relieved. if I've learned anything from reading romcoms, or any genre, for that matter, it's that people need to TALK about how they're feeling. about everything. not a bad rule for real life, either, haha. 

there were some parts in the middle that dragged on for me, but I loved how it was tied together at the end. with friends and family--and PETS!--thrown in the mix, I loved reading about two people who also finally prioritized themselves before opening their lives and hearts to another person. LOVE YOUR LIFE is available now and is guaranteed to make you laugh, tear up (at least I did), and make you wish you also had an adorable beagle named Harold. huge thanks to Random House and Netgalley for sending a digital ARC my way! (note: this review is also available on goodreads, linked below.)

Thank you to Netgalley and Sophie Kinsella for my copy of Love your Life, for an honest review. I am a big fan of Kinsella and this story was very cute. The story starts with Ava heading to Italy for a writing seminar  and she meets a man named Dutch. (His seminar name) It seems to be love at first sight and how they can leave Italy and continue the relationship. Back in London, Ava and Matt try to make a go at a relationship. What ensues is cute and loving banter. They seemingly have nothing in common and yet they might their way. Their friends are a great treat to the story. This was a Rom Com.. that didn’t disappoint. Over all this was a 3 star read for me and I have recommend to all my family and fiends that love this genre. See my review on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

I received this book "Love Your Life" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. This was a cute romance story. The characters are great, very funny at times.

Both funny and stale, Love Your Life is not one of Kinsella's best novels.

I love Sophie Kinsella. Her books are light and funny. Typical romantic—but a crazy kind of romance. I love her Shopaholic series so much. But that being said, I want Becky Brandon to stay to her books. No Becky doesn't actually make an appearance, instead, Ava is just a clone. This made a lot of the humor fall flat because I felt like I had read it before. 

Spoiler
It is clear that these people weren't meant to be together. There is a message of compromise. But you should never expect some to become vegetarian because you are or lie to your partner about moving to a foreign country. Their inevitable breakup feels good. They need to go and live their own life instead of trying to change each other. I was sad about the outcome and its lack of truthfulness for a happy ending.

Love your life has its moments (like Ava's friend Nell who has lupus) but overall this was a rehash of old material with an unsatisfying ending.

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the concept and the book blurb but the book just didn't work for me.  Ava was so annoying and Matt had no personality.  I dont see how they would actually end up together.
Ava and Matt meet at a writing retreat where nobody is allowed to share any personal information and they fall for each other.  However once they go back to the real world they discover how incompatible they really are.  And I mean really they do not work together at all.  They HEA just does work for me in this book.