I wanted to like this book, but I really struggled to connect with it. The main characters weren’t very likable, and the male main character was especially awful. There was little growth with the main characters, and I couldn’t enjoy the book because of how awful Magdalen was treated by Theo. If you enjoy stories where the wounded guy constantly is cruel to the woman and keeps pushing her away, then this book is for you. I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

Cameron Capello's I'll Look for You Everywhere is a mix between Andre Aciman's Call Me by Your Name and Sally Rooney's Normal People with its attention to the Italian culture and a coming of age story. If you're looking for a lighthearted romance, this is not the book for you. That's not to say you shouldn't read this book. You should, but prepare yourself for a bit of heartbreak.

Magdalen Savoy (Maggie) and Theodore Sinclair (Theo) both left Chivasso for different reasons. Maggie feels invisible in life. Theo wishes he was invisible. Maggie and Theo both reluctantly return to Chivasso for the wedding of Lucia, Maggie's sister. With one look shared between Maggie and Theo, a summer of longing is set in motion.

Intertwined with the story of Maggie and Theo confronting their demons is a story of family and friendship and how sometimes we overlook the bad parts of people just to hold onto them for a bit longer, incurring irreparable damage along the way. This book portrays love in all its glory and its downfall.

Thank you Forever and NetGalley for a chance to read Cameron's debut novel. I look forward to seeing what she writes next.

One of the things I found most fascinating with this story were the recurring themes of longing and self-loathing within both leading characters.

Magdalen has low self-esteem, which can be expected from growing up with a mother who constantly belittles her. She also often mentions a coldness about her that seems to follow her around and which she thinks affects the others around her and makes them distance themselves, especially in regard to Theo.

The fact that everyone around her are unable to see the signs of her depression and subtle self-harm is just further implication that no one has bothered to actually look at her, see her; they all remark on her thinness, to which Magdalen’s excuse is that she doesn’t much like the food in England, when in reality she would spend days rotting in her bed, crying.

Theo resents the influence his father has over him, fearing the similarities that grow with age. He is traumatized by his childhood, by what he knows and has kept hidden within himself for years; he alone bears responsibility for his family’s secrets. Because of this he has run away, only to return home for the very same reason as Magdalen: a wedding.

The return to Chivasso is what throws these two troubled souls together. For the first time, both of them are experiencing what it is like to love, but it isn’t easy, as they attempt to recover and reconcile their pasts with their presents. Theo thinks that by loving Magdalen he has destined her for ruination, and yet she is perfectly happy to be ruined, if only by him.

I found this novel reminiscent of Sally Rooney’s works, particularly Normal People, where there is a constant struggle between loving oneself and loving another. It grapples with how to be broken and still love like you aren’t.

Although this story is marketed as a romance, it felt more like romantic literary fiction (this is also how I like to classify Sally Rooney). There is an introspective intensity to the writing that explored humanity and intimacy in ways that felt much deeper than typical romance novels. It’s not just about love and healing your heart, but also healing yourself, your soul; it’s about letting someone else go in order to be better for them and for yourself.

I’m sorry but this book was not for me!! it was unbearable because of the inconsistently and the writing style. .

If you want a tension-filled romance set on the Italian coast, this book is for you! Magdalen is going home from school at Oxford for her sister’s wedding in Italy and feels a pull towards Theo, her best friend’s brother who has not returned home in years. Theo and Magdalen both have trauma to work through while they struggle not to act on their feelings for each other.

This book is 100% for all the readers who grew up on Wattpad, and I mean that in the best way! Each page is filled with tension and catching storytelling.
I was immediately hooked by the writing style throughout the book, especially Carmen's use of such an atmospheric setting.

My main struggle with this book was the side characters, including both families. They all felt somewhat one-dimensional to me, and I wish that Magdalen and Theo had more support from their families. Maggie and Annika had some sweet moments in their friendship, but I would have liked to see more. The same goes for Annika and Theo.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, this just wasn't for me.

I found both main characters (and side characters too) to be quite annoying and immature. Theo, in my opinion, is emotionally unstable and extremely toxic with his back-and-forth pushing of his lust-filled relationship with Magdalen, who is also way too forgiving of his behavior.

All in all, this book was just too horny and lusty for me to even find the book enjoyable.

I had high hopes for this one for some reason and it just…. Didn’t work for me. I’m over the whole “inexperienced innocent girl falling for the popular bad boy with trauma” trope. I wanted more to the story than just the two of them being horny in Italy for a summer… but alas. Here we are.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

This story isn’t driven by a high-paced plot, but rather by character development and emotional depth. For me, it still felt incredibly believable and heartfelt. Theo definitely has his moments where he comes off as a jerk, but it’s clear that he’s carrying a lot of emotional baggage and has not yet grown in terms of maturity. He even admits as much to Maggie, acknowledging his flaws and constantly warning her that he might not be the guy she hopes for. That sense of self-awareness added a layer of complexity to his character, making him more relatable than simply being a “bad boy.”

As for Maggie, she struck me as a wonderfully authentic, innocent young woman who, like Theo, has her own unresolved trauma. Her naivety and vulnerability felt real, and it made sense that she would fall for someone like him, even though he was far from perfect. I appreciated how their relationship wasn’t idealized; instead, it was messy, human, and full of imperfections.

Ultimately, I appreciated the story for what it was — a slow-burn character study about growth, love, and healing. The ending, in particular, felt just right for these characters and their journey. It wasn’t necessarily a fairy tale conclusion, but it felt earned, and that’s something I really valued.

This wasn’t for me. I could not get into it. Unfortunately after several attempts it was a DNF for me.

I'll Look for You, Everywhere is an intoxicating love story for the ages following Theo and Magdalen, childhood neighbours, as they are reunited for the first time in seven years to celebrate a family wedding in the sleepy Italian village they grew up in. Confronted with the ghosts of their pasts, Theo and Magdalen must face long-buried secrets that threaten to tear their worlds apart and possibly keep them apart for ever, too . . .

Loved it. Will recommend to others

Not my favorite. I loved the idea- a love story set in Italy between Theo and Magdalen who were childhood neighbors that haven’t seen each other in 7 years & they reunite at a wedding. The writing was meh. Not a favorite of mine

I was very drawn to the premise of this book and hello…. Italy! I was expecting a beautiful love story but it was it fell short just a tad with the “activities” and a very immature MMC. I still liked it and would read this author again.

I really tried to push through this but I couldn’t. Sadly, the FMC gave me an ick in the first couple chapters that I just couldn’t shake and the MMC is toxic and just not redeemable to me.

genuinely wish i could give this more. it’s like 2.5….

I founf Theo and Magdalen very toxic, the ending was very unsatisfying to me. Magdalen’s character was like a « sad girl/misunderstood » girl trope and lemme tell u this was well done cause i genuinely did NOT understand her or her angst.

I will say tho, the romantic/sexual tension between mag and theo was well written. that’s it.

I was really excited to dive into I'll Look For You, Everywhere after seeing it labeled as new adult, romance, and women's fiction. However, after just a few pages, I realized I had been misled. The book definitely needs an LGBTQ tag alongside its other genres, as it dives deep into themes of self-identity, gender, and figuring out who you're supposed to fall for. While I appreciate exploring these topics, this book wasn't quite what I was expecting.

The main character, Madelyn, starts off by making it clear that she absolutely cannot stand men. I mean, she's disgusted by them, which was fine — it's her journey. But then, just a few years later, she finds herself totally captivated by a man. I'm assuming he's supposed to be effeminate based on his description, which is apparently why she’s drawn to him. It felt a bit unbelievable to me, especially considering her initial stance on men. I get that people change, but this shift felt rushed and unrealistic.

Honestly, this book just wasn’t for me. I didn’t connect with the story, and the twists didn’t feel authentic to the characters’ development. While I’m sure it might resonate with others, I felt completely disgruntled. I’m not planning to read anything else from this author. One star, though I feel that’s being generous.

I struggled with this book and found it difficult to connect with. While the premise had potential, the lack of a clear plot or end goal made it challenging to stay engaged. The romance felt underdeveloped, and although I don’t mind modern twists like “Instagram love,” this particular portrayal didn’t resonate with me.

The characters, unfortunately, fell flat. While there seemed to be an attempt to make them appear mysterious, witty, and liberated, it felt forced, and I found them more frustrating than endearing. The pacing left me bored at times, and I kept waiting for the story to gain momentum, but it never quite did.

Thank you Forever for the arc

Thank you for the opportunity to read this e-ARC.
I liked the setting of being at Oxford and then in Italy.
I found it hard to connect with the main characters or believe in their chemistry. I just didn’t see it.
There was plenty of angst but romance was lacking

Ill Look for You Everywhere was disjointed. There were too may characters introduced too quickly in the first 2 chapters with not enough back story or description of them to understand why they were even in the story. The premise was great but I was lost soon after starting it with not enough interest to keep going. It felt like work!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is not your typical romance with a HEA, and while I get that it’s supposed to be more realistic, I couldn’t help but wish for a happier ending. Still, the writing was stunning, and I devoured every page.

The story focuses on connection, secrets, and messy, bittersweet love—it’s raw, emotional, and honest. The spice was perfect, adding to the tension without overshadowing the story.

I’m choosing to believe they’ll end up together. If you want a beautifully written, unconventional love story that stays with you, pick this one up.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

#Bookstagram #BookReview #MessyLove #LiteraryRomance #BeautifullyWritten #EmotionalReads #IllLookforYouEverywhere #netgalley

An angsty, best friend's little sister, star crossed lovers, VERY OPEN DOOR romance that I thought was well done. Told from dual POV this novel has witty banter, sizzling chemistry and falling in love vibes. This is a classic bad boy & innocent girl romance. Their families are close knit and there are secrets. . . what could go wrong 🤣🤷‍♀️

This novel is set in Italy & feels like a nice vacation from reality.

Thank you Forever for the ARC.