What a joyous read. Thoughtful. How do we face imminent death? Do we accept our mortality or refuse to go gentle into that good night? Do we choose to grasp the love and happiness offered and cling to that as deliberately as we can? Are we frank or deceptive? Lizzie and Dante are a match made in Elba who struggle with this issue since Lizzie is facing an imminent expiration date. So, too, does an extended family of people who choose to travel the path with them. This is more Lizzie’s story than Dante’s and what a roller coaster ride it is, gathering joy in love and friendship. But it’s also the story of friends and the family we choose. Even the ending, mortality aside, is uplifting and joyful. Wow. What an exquisite ride. It’s not often that you find a novel filled with characters you love and would want to meet in real life, from 12 year old Etta to former foster brother, Grey, to Rohan, who wants to rewrite Romeo and Juliette, and Ruby, the makeup artist. We all need a Lizzie in our lives. Shed some tears and spread the joy. A most rewarding read..

There was nothing not to love about this book, right down to the simplicity of the title. I like to make a list of words that describe a book as inspiration for what to include in the review. For this book, it has to be love, friendship, grief, good food, Shakespeare, motherhood, and family.

There is a wonderful, intelligent cast of characters. Lizzie and her friends are vacationing on Elba, the island where Napoleon was exiled. Lizzy is a Shakespearean professor who has some serious health issues. Her best friend Grey writes best-selling horror novels. Grey's partner Rohan is a celebrated action movie actor who has aspirations of writing a movie adaptation for Romeo and Juliet, which leads to a lot of interesting discussions. He doesn't understand much about Romeo and Juliet.

Etta is my favorite character. She is about 11 years old and running wild when Dante, her dad, is busy running his restaurant. She desperately wants a mother. Her father only spends the summers on Elba, but no matter where he is, he cooks. In Elba, his restaurant appears to be a ramshackle building but it is reservation only. There are marvelous descriptions of the food, food which I would not eat as it is mostly seafood, but that Rohan swooned over. Thinking it over, one of the love stories in this book is about good food as Rohan and Dante were both passionate about it.

There are two really beautiful love stories in this book, the one between Dante and Lizzy, and the attachment that grew between Etta and Lizzy. I highly recommend this book which may break your heart a little but will also put it back together again. Love is worth the pain.

Thanks to the author Mary Bly, the publisher Random House, and NetGalley for the ARC. It was my pleasure to read and review this book.

An intelligent, sensitive love story, deeply felt and beautifully observed. In painting, artists use chiaroscuro, the play between dark and light, to heighten effects and create three-dimensional characters. That’s what Mary Bly has done in Lizzie and Dante. All the stuff I love in Eloisa James–the clever dialogue, the romantic chemistry, the complicated negotiations between the sexes–is here, but sharpened and deepened to make poignant contrasts. I loved it.

Innovative. That is the one word I would use to describe this novel. Readers will need to experience it for themselves to understand. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a chance to read an ARC of Lizzie and Dante.

Lizzie & Dante ripped my heart out and then restored it, gently and lovingly. A magical trip to Elba with wonderful new friends and plenty of food and wine.

As an avid reader of Mary Bly’s books written under her pen name, Eloisa James, I couldn’t wait to read Lizzie & Dante, her first novel written under her own name.

Lizzie is a Shakespeare professor on a summer trip to the Italian island of Elba with her best friend and his movie-star partner who is writing a new movie adaption of Romeo and Juliet. Lizzie is the literary consultant on the project but spends her time on the beach, contemplating the next phase of treatment in her terminal illness. On the beach, she meets Dante, an internationally famous chef, and his twelve-year-old daughter. Dante and Lizzie begin a passionate love affair and issues of sex, love, and desire become entangled with grief and loss.

Lizzie & Dante is a wonderful book, filled with engaging, memorable characters. The story is both heartwarming and thought-provoking as you view Lizzie’s perspective on the tough life choices she is facing. The story deals with difficult modern-day issues in a thoughtful, life-affirming manner. Ultimately, the book is about the power of love and about choosing to love before it is too late.

I am so bummed!! I wanted to love this book so much. It's a love story (not a romance) set in Italy, one of my favorite places ever. I haven't read anything by Eloisa James, but know a lot of people love her romances, so I was excited to start with this book from her.

I am DNF-ing it after Chapter 2. This author is a professor and I'm sure is very intelligent. However, I felt like this book came across as the author trying to prove that to the reader. It was very difficult to get into, and at times hard to follow.

Set on the Island of Elba, Italy, this is an endearing story with beautifully flawed characters that I couldn’t help but love. It is told from two points of view, 32 year old Lizzie and 12 year old Etta. But the story is also deeply woven into the lives of 4 other diverse characters who each bring something exceptional to the story.

This was a very quick and entertaining read but also had me tearing up on more than once occasion. The author did a wonderful job of weaving positivity and optimism into very heavy content concerning a devastating diagnosis. A heartfelt story about life, love, and family.

The book gave me “Hallmark movie” vibes, so if you love those I think this would be a good book to pick up when it’s released.

Pub Date: June 1

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a heartwarming read. I loved every minute of Lizzie's Elba vacation. Dante was romantic, Etta was preteen precocious, Rohan was movie star hunky, Grey was loving and loveable, Ruby was ...well just Ruby. Lizzie must decide if she will fight on or give in. We the reader hope she will fight and we cheer at Dante and Etta's affect on her spirit. There can be no better place to fall in love than an island in the Mediterranean during summer.

This is well written and I expected no less from an accomplished English professor. The feel of time and place is felt in each paragraph. Summer, sand, sun, wine, gourmet food , landscape, unpretentious food , friends, family and Love. If I have any one thing I did not like it would be that I found the Epilogue unnecessary. I would have preferred to make up my own epilogue.

3.5 stars rounded up

This book falls into many of the romance novel tropes without making me outright hate it. It leans on an interesting mix of pop culture and classical literature to give depth to the characters, while still making them interesting. It's called Lizzie and Dante, but the storytelling alternates between Dante's daughter, Etta, and Lizzie. It has an interesting cast of supporting characters that stretch its themes beyond that of a regular romance and give meaning to the types of love. I didn't connect with the characters as I hoped, but this would make a good summer, beach read nonetheless.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lizzie is going to the beautiful island of Elba with her friend Grey and his partner Rohan. Lizzie and Grey were partners from the time they were children in foster care until he began a relationship with Rohan. Rohan is a famous Hollywood actor who's making his directorial debut with Romeo and Juliet in the coming year and Lizzie being a college professor of Shakespeare is helping him with his script. Lizzie is also dying. She has been diagnosed with stage 3 cancer and doesn't wish to continue her treatments. Before coming to the island, she gives away her books and makes arrangements with the local Episcopal church to be cremated and buried in their prayer garden. Elba is intended.to be her final lavish vacation.

While resting on the beach, Lizzie meets Dante and his dog Lulu. Dante is a world famous chef, though Lizzie has no idea of this upon meeting. Lizzie falls for Dante and his daughter Etta which of course causes her to rethink her plan entirely.

This book was beautiful! The writing. The characters. The descriptions of the food and the scenery. The story. Reading this makes you fall in love with reading love stories all over again. This isn't some trite boy meets girl and they kiss and marry. THE END. This makes you feel for her when she's scared to make love because of her many scars. Laugh with her when she has moments of joy, and cry with her when she has to decide just how far shes willing to go to live. You truly end up asking yourself hard questions as well. Would you choose to undergo many painful surgeries for another month? Maybe more? What is a sign of strength? Holding on until the bitter end or letting go when you're ready? This is a beautiful love story don't get me wrong. Lizzie and Dante are perfect together. They bring out the best in each other and Etta finds the mother she's craved her whole life. But intertwined within the love story is a story of life and death and what's right for one may not be for another.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Id give this six stars if I could. This story will stay with me for a long time. Its beautiful. Heartfelt. And absolutely one of the best summer reads of 2021.

Thank you to Random House, NetGalley, and Mary Bly for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

First of all, I am very glad that this is a Mary Bly, not an Eloisa James book and marketed as such because if the Eloisa James regulars, who still aren't over one particular Lindow heir having drowned in a bog, would pretty much expire from this one. It's a very well written book that is, in my opinion, a Shakespearean tragedy without the high body count. Kind of like Romeo and Juliet but instead of a family feud you have a biological impossibility of happily ever after. BIG SPOILER <spoiler> Lizzie does not die immediately after the wonderful (yet still rather medicated and painful Elba vacation) but by the epilogue, five years later, she has already expired following a rather atrocious fight with the incurable illness.</spoiler>. I know it's supposed to be a story about love and how it is worth fighting for it but to me it was mostly about pain and the unfairness of destiny. I have enjoyed the read because of the writing, the Shakespearean exegesis and because of the refreshing voice and presence of a twelve year old who (thankfully) did have her whole life ahead of her. But for the life of me I couldn't feel any joy so, my dear fellow reader, if you are already sad, I'd say save this for later. It's definitely worth reading but I'm not sure if it's worth paying for therapy because on top of whatever is not going well in your life, an exquisitely crafted story broke your heart. I didn't knock off a star because it's sad and now I have to go look for at least ten fluffy, no-angst romances to even it out but because of Lizzie. I did not find he at all convincing as a thirty year old in 2019. Perhaps because I am rather within that age group. I get that she was a highly educated college professor with a severe illness but still, throughout the book I was getting more the vibe of a 50 or 60 year old. Her voice, her behavior, her pop culture references were all from a different decade and it was strange because some of the other characters (like Roh or Gray) didn't have that issue. She was the odd one out for some reason.
I honestly cared more about Lizzie's history and relationship with Gray than with Dante. There was more depth there.
And now to the sex scenes <spoiler> there are none. I mean , yes, they have sex (quite soon after they meet actually) and there is plenty of talk about orgasms and pleasure, teen-age masturbatory fantasies and even a song about sacred sperm but when it comes to what I'd call sex scenes in a contemporary romance they are terribly lacking. Kind of like not entirely closed but barely cracked door. So you know the sex is fantastic - I really liked the 'magic Italian penis' wording - but you don't get to see any of it. </spoiler>
I recommend this to people who want to read something different and well written with the warning that while it is a love story (several love stories actually) it's NOT romance. Or happy.

This is one of those books that stays with you for a long time. I finished it last night and have thought about it off and on all day. I keep asking myself “what would I do?” Mary Bly pulled all of the emotions out of me. It’s funny at times, sad and very poignant. I loved Lizzie and Dante and all the supporting characters. This is just such a well written and thought out book.

What an emotional book! Lizzie is such a wonderful character that she will very quickly draw you in. This book is an emotional read full of characters that will pull on your heartstrings. None more than Etta, the young girl who desperately wants a mother. I have read every book by the author under her alter ego, Eloisa James, but I was not sure if I was going to read her first foray into contemporary novels and I am so glad I did, so if you are having the same doubts read this book! While I love her regency writing at times those books can stall or suffer from the constraints of the genre but that was never a problem here. This book started off a little slow for me but then a few chapters in it took off and I could not put it down.

I wish there had been more of Lizze and Dante. Their love story is almost a side note to this story. In my opinion there was too much of the side character friends and not enough of the central trio. Also there is a very odd backstory between two characters that just does not make a lot of sense and feels like a waste of time. I think this book would have been better without it but again the rest of the story shines so brightly that it is very much worth reading no matter it’s imperfections. It felt like the author very much wanted to tell a story about friends becoming a family when Lizze me Dante and Etta were the relationships that jumped off the page more strongly and deserved the spotlight. The writing is so strong here, along with the emotions, that I cannot wait to see what Mary Bly rights next! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

For those who don’t know, Mary Bly is Eloisa James who is one of my favorite historical romance writers. I was excited to read this because I am such a fan of her work and was intrigued by what a book written under her own name would be. This novel is a beautiful piece of fiction. It’s not one of those contemporary romances that gets a cartoon and “a novel” on the cover in hopes of being taken seriously (which I very much enjoy, but they’re fluff). Though most would probably consider this “women’s fiction” as it centers Lizzie’s story, I consider this to be true fiction.

From the first page this book has a certain gravitas to it. It made me slow down my reading and savor the words. I found myself highlighting fun turns of phrase, clever descriptions, and certain quotes I wanted to remember and found things to highlight throughout the book. One of my favorite quotes from the book is, “She found herself asking unanswerable questions rather than avoiding them. How did she feel? She felt curious. Were there ever dinosaurs on Elba? Had they looked up at the stars, or out at the darkening sea?”

I’m not a big Shakespeare person, but I loved the references in this book. Lizzie is a Shakespeare professor (like Mary) and Rohan is writing a move based on Romeo & Juliet. I’m sure there were a lot of references I didn’t pick up on, but I enjoyed the ones I caught. I also enjoyed Lizzie’s internal commentary every time Rohan misinterpreted the Bard.

I loved all the characters in this book. I found Lizzie’s brain to be absolutely fascinating and being in her head made me feel smarter. I loved the little things like her grouping similes in groups of three. I thought it was clever for Mary to mark the book as not a romance by having the alternative voice to Lizzie’s be Etta’s and not Dante’s. I enjoyed Etta’s chapters. The voice was correct for that of a 13 year old, a lot of writers struggle to have the voice match the age and this one worked perfectly. The men were absolutely wonderful as well. Dante is a dream. I loved the complicated relationship between Grey and Rohan. Each person felt full and had a distinct enough voices that sections of dialog didn’t need a lot of dialog tags.

The entirety of this book takes place on Elba and now I am absolutely dying to go there. The setting was absolutely part of the magic of the book. It made me want spend a summer on the beach on Elba and fall in love with a chef who will make me a hamburger when I don’t want his fancy food. Lizzie and Dante’s romance was just beautiful. Some non-romance readers might think that they dive in unrealistically fast, but I had no problem with that at all. I actually enjoyed not being in Dante’s head because it made me pay attention to his words and actions when he interacted with Lizzie and showed his love. I better stop there or else I’ll go on forever.

Thank you to Net Galley and The Dial Press and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Eloisa James' novels. Lizzie & Dante is written under her real name, Mary Bly. It does not disappoint!

Hugh Fennyman, fictional, cynical money lender and apothecary, has a scene in the Tom Stoppard screenplay Shakespeare in Love that, no matter how many times I have watched the movie, always grabs me by the throat. Actor Tom Wilkinson's Fennyman comes to a moment of epiphany when the power and genius of the play with which he has been dabbling overtakes him in a genuine, soul-revealing moment. Touched, he declaims in awe: "sad…and wonderful." Reading Lizzie & Dante reminded me strongly of the feeling that performance moves in me. Joyful, hopeful, tragic, soaring and lyrical, Mary Bly’s Lizzie & Dante is a work about human relationships that balances mortality and transcendence at its core. It is sad and wonderful. This is an extraordinary novel by a gifted writer who guides us through a story with an inevitable but, ultimately, authentic ending. If you are a reader who enjoys reflecting on larger questions about the human condition such as why we fall in love, and how that love can profoundly change the lives of those around us, this book will delight and cause you to ponder. If you are that reader, it will grab you by the throat.

Penned under her real name, Mary Bly, famed historical romance author Eloisa James brings us a heart tugging story of a Shakespeare professor and an Italian chef. I dare say this novel is a love letter to Italy, the homeland of her husband. This story is filled with descriptions of the Island of Elba and the rich culture and cuisine.

Lizzie is battling cancer and has come to the Island along with her best friend and his boyfriend to help on a new movie about Romeo and Juliet. Lizzie is really there to escape from the reality of her illness and to rest.

This is a beautiful book. I hope Ms Bly will pen some more contemporary fiction in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dial Press for the ARC to read and review.

Lizzie and Dante is a perfect escape—let this heartfelt book whisk you away to the beautiful and historic setting of Elba, where you will meet these two glorious characters and the wonderful people who surround them. Lizzie is such a complex character, and I loved getting to know her, each part of her personal history is revealed to us at the same time we are hoping desperately for a bright future. All of the characters have so many layers, and their interactions with each other are charming, intelligent, and oftentimes frustrating and complicated. There is a lot of sparring between these lovely people, both emotional and intellectual, and it was exciting to see them grow and connect, beginning as friends and acquaintances, and becoming a true family.

Actual Rating 3.5 Stars!

Lizzie & Dante follows the story of Shakespearian scholar, Lizzie. On the heels of a difficult break-up and devastating heath diagnosis, Lizzie decides to take one last vacation to Elba with her friends. Lizzie knows she’s got some important decisions to make about the future and is quickly running out of time. The last thing she planned on was meeting Dante and his twelve year old daughter, Etta. For once, everything Lizzie ever wanted is right within her grasps, but time is a vicious and cruel character. Will Lizzie take a risk on love and happiness and enjoy the time she has left or will Lizzie let fear control her decisions? There’s only one way to find out….

Lizzie & Dante is a beautiful story that will take readers on one heck of a journey. It’s impossible to not fall in love with the characters, the setting, and of course the food. I adored Lizzie and her friends. I thought Dante was just amazing. Lizzie didn’t plan on finding love when she went to Italy, but love found her anyway. When Lizzie told him about her diagnosis, he didn’t get scared away. If anything, it made him want to fight harder for what little time they had left. And then you have Etta. Etta really stole the show for me. She was funny and had a huge heart. Her pov at the end, left me with tears in my eyes.

All in all, I found this book to be a really beautiful story. The reason for the low rating is for the pacing. As much as I loved these characters, I do feel that because of the slower pace for the first half of the book, it took me far too long to get invested in the story. Sadly, I am the type of reader that will get distracted easily, so the pacing needs to be on point right out of the gate. That being said, I am happy to report that the pacing did pick up for the second part of the book and once I was locked into Lizzie’s story, I never looked back.

Lizzie & Dante is a heartwarming tale of love and enjoying each moment life has to offer. This story made me laugh and swoon and at times, I had tears in my eyes. The pacing was the only issue I had with this story, and that was definitely a “me” problem. I do think this story has a lot to offer and will be enjoyed by many. So, keep tissues on hand and definitely give this book a try.