I adored this book. I love Italy and this book does such a great job of transporting the reader there. The characters were realistic and believable and I would up falling in love with them, especially Violet and Matteo. Following their journey was so sweet.

I honestly loved that this book was set in Rome, but I felt that the main characters did not have enough chemistry and their relationship progression was too fast.

🗺✈️Book Review:
Title: Ciao For Now
Author: Kate Bromley
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/3 stars

When you can't afford to travel, read about it, right?! This time, Bromley takes us to Italy in her newest rom-com!

Violet Luciano has earned an internship in Rome with a fashion brand that has huge potential to become the newest "it" label. Working as a future fashion designer is cutthroat, especially when a competition is announced. The winner will receive a job at a highly reputable fashion label in New York City! As luck would have it, on her first day at her new internship, she's selected to go on the coffee run. Which wouldn't be so bad if she didn't accidentally spill said coffee onto the laptop of Matteo, her professor's son! Being that it's a rom-com, this is the meet cute, right? Enemies to lovers?
Violet will be faced with deciding between love or her career all too soon!

Published: June 6th, 2023

Thank you, @netgalley, and @graydonhousebooks for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I read this one awhile back (because I absolutely ADORE everything Kate Bromley writes!!) but I haven’t reviewed it yet, so here we are!

This book was so cute. I loved the traveling component, as I often do with Kate’s books. This one traveled to Rome, bringing readers on the journey alongside Violet’s dream of becoming a fashion designer. But of course a horrifying meet-cute in a coffee shop leads her to meet the one person she really shouldn’t get involved with.

If you’re looking for fun travel-filled romcoms where characters strive to chase their dreams, Kate’s books are perfect for you!

Tropes:
- Rome setting
- Meet cute
- Forbidden romance
- Enemies to lovers
- Strengthening friendships
- Chasing dreams
- Vacation romance
- Work-related romance

3.5 stars [Liked it] - This book started out strong, I loved the premise, the characters and the writing but as I read on the story fell a little flat. I still enjoyed it and would recommend checking it out.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I love the setting in this book— Italy! Such a beautiful backdrop for this fun romcom. Violet is a 30 something fashion intern and meets Matt who’s a writer. Both from America. It’s a whole grumpy/sunshine ordeal. I love seeing how ambitious she is and even if she feels like she’s behind her peers, she keeps focused on her dreams and what she wants to do. I thought this was a fun, uplifting read.

WE LOVE AN ITALIAN SETTING! I'm so obsessed! Very much Emily in Paris vibes which I loved! Meet cute and enemies to lovers! Such great banter and grumpy/sunshine! It was such a fun relationship. I loved the setting of course and it just added to the chemistry. I really had a good time with this book.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Graydon House for sharing this heartfelt book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Ciao for Now is like Roman Holiday meets Project Runway and on paper is the absolute perfect book for me, however I didnt love it as much as I was hoping for. Here is what i did love- the banter, omg it was so good and the entire book of just that would make me happy. I loved the two of them together a lot, I loved their chemistry and their sarcastic back and forth. I loved the setting as well, I want to go to Rome. But I just think everything else didnt live up to the amazing potential of the characters. I thought the side characters were ok but did not add as much to the story, with the exception of Mira and Louise who should have been featured even more. I did end up liking the book and would definitely read more from the author.

I loved this book, and Bromley keeps getting better and better. This book was swoon worthy, fun, and hopeful. I loved the characters and the relationships, both romantic and friendly. I loved how the main character grew and came into herself.

Buon giorno book friends!⁣
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Do you know more than one language? I can get by in Spanish and am fluent in 'Jersey' (fugeddaboudit!) … and that’s about it. ⁣
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But I can assure you that Kate Bromleys' books are my book love language … and Ciao for Now was the most charming and adorable read by her yet!⁣
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Forget Emily in Paris… and hello to Violet in Rome! This was the most fun escape to Italy with the beautiful atmosphere, the incredible fashion, swoony grumpy Matteo, and all the banter and hilarity that will have you laughing out loud and scrambling to book a trip to Europe!⁣
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It’s a unputdownable story of stepping out of your comfort zone, choosing yourself first, and that it’s never too late to follow your dreams. Ohh … and with all the forced proximity and grump + sunshine vibes … there’s also a bit of falling in love.💕⁣
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Such a delightful read and adorable story - grab this one - you can say “Grazie!" to me later!

I just couldn't get into this book despite the fact that I was beyond thrilled there was a rom-com finally set in Rome. Unfortunately, it dragged for me and I didn't love any of the characters.

This is an adorable rom com set in Italy. It's a grumpy/sunshine romance set against the backdrop of the fashion industry. It doesn't take much to make me want to visit Italy and this book definitely did that with it's description of the food, island of Capri and general Italian lifestyle.

In this 3rd novel from the author, two Americans collide (literally) in Rome as they both are there temporarily to work on projects and visit families. Both are in their thirties and pursuing their dreams. Violet feels behind schedule as she is in her thirties and just now pursuing her dreams after putting them on hold for years for Greg, who ironically broke up with her for not being ambitious enough. Matteo is an established writer, but has little patience for Violet and seems closed off to love. Their chemistry is off the charts, but will they have what it takes to navigate attempting a real relationship.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Violet and Matt. Violet is a student who is interning in Italy. Matt is a screenwriter. It is an instant attraction when they meet at a cafe. Violet is interning at a fashion designer company. She is one of three designers up for an award. Violet and Matt each have issues but together they work them out and fall in love.

This was a super cute enemies to lovers and a bit later on in life finding yourself romance. The setting in Italy was truly perfect and described so well, I felt like I as wandering the streets of Rome with Violet. Matteo was just *chef's kiss* swoony. I also loved the fashion element. This was super cute. Thank you to Netgalley and Graydon House for the ARC.

A perfect summer read, especially if you're looking for a chance to feel as if you're travelling and stumbling upon love along the way. You're taken on a whirlwind journey through the enchanting streets of Rome, where dreams and love collide.

Violet Luciano is pursuing her passion for fashion design with unwavering determination. Her internship at a burgeoning fashion brand in Rome is her ticket to a brighter future and a coveted job in the fashion industry. However, when a simple coffee run takes an unexpected turn, Violet's path crosses with Matteo, her professor's seemingly grumpy son. What starts as a clash of personalities quickly turns into a tumultuous relationship filled with animosity, undeniable chemistry, and a whole lot of misadventures. It's your classic grumpy x sunshine featuring forced proximity that cultivates a blossoming summer love.

As the story unfolds, readers are treated to a summer of chic parties, thrilling escapades through the historic city of Rome, and the shared space of a home with the one person they can't stand. The more time Violet spends with Matteo, the more she finds herself entangled in emotions that distract her from her ultimate goal of winning the internship competition. The novel invites readers to ponder the age-old question of whether following one's heart is worth the risk, and whether love can truly conquer all.

This book was fine but I had a hard time believing that the two main characters were into each other. As a reader I am perfectly fine with an insta-love or insta-lust that turns into love trope happening in a book. But there needs to be something there establishing the quickness. In this book there was nothing established or explained literally from the first time these characters met they were having interactions that felt bizarre for them being total strangers. Some of the behavior also felt weird considering the main character is 29 and her love interest is supposed to be 32.

Overall, this is a fun, quick, summer read. Would definitely recommend to friends and will read another Kate Bromley book in the future. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Now for the nitty gritty:

Things I liked:
- Settings in Rome/Capri - this made me want to book a plane ticket immediately!
- Violet taking things into her own hands and going back to school 29 - inspiring!
- Story revolving around the fashion industry

Things I didn’t love:
- The third act break up and make up - there was honestly no good reason for either of these. One fight and you’re done? One little speech of sappy words and you’re back together…after a YEAR?
- Chemistry/main characters - I like Matteo and violet, but I didn’t LOVE them. I ws rooting for a happy ending because I’m a romance reader, not necessarily because I was rooting for them.
- The use of some misspelled or Americanized versions of Italian words (gratzi instead of grazie, scuzi instead of scusi).

This is an example of a perfect summer vibes romcom. The scenery is so well written that you truly feel that you're alongside Violet the entire time. On that note, I absolutely loved Violet. She felt brave and exciting and engaging, she was written like someone I would want to know and who I would aspire to be like. The grumpy x sunshine and enemies to lovers tropes were done artfully in this one.

The summer book I didn’t know I needed. This book simultaneously made me want to eat good food, drink Prosecco, and have Italian ASMR video playing in the background. It was filled with rich descriptions with a really fun plot layered over top.

Violet and Matt have basically the opposite of a meet cute, and start the book off as enemies. They are grumpy sunshine, but with forced proximity, it becomes an adorable banter turned into romance.

I loved the prospect of Violet being an older designer in this fashion program. She had paused her life to follow a partner but that fell through. She went back to her original dream. We love to see someone get back on their feet and fight for what they want and get their happy ending as well. If you are looking for a romantic comedy that will make you smile and make you laugh while transporting you far away this is a great pick 👏🏻

Violet, a 29 year old fashion student from New York, landed a summer internships in Rome. For one month she and two fellow classmates will have the opportunity to learn about the fashion business and compete for a job back in New York. After sidelining her dreams for her ex-boyfriend, Violet is determined to make up for lost time. That is until she meets Matteo (Matt). Once again, Violet finds herself having to chose between a man and her dreams. Will she finally be able to put her wants and needs first, or will she sacrifice everything for a shot at love???

I have been wanting to read one of Kate Bromley’s books for awhile now. Ciao For Now was the perfect introduction to her writing. This is a fun, fast-paced read, perfect for summer.

While this book is on the lighter side, Bromley highlights how women often sacrifice their own desires in order to obtain and keep men. I loved watching Violet as she navigated both a successful career and healthy relationship. Without giving anything away, the ending was top notch.

I had such a positive experience reading Kate’s work, I plan to read more from her in the near future!!!

Special thanks to Netgalley, Kate Bromley, and Harlequin Trade Publishing (Graydon House) for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.