I absolutely loved the YA Reese’s Book Club pick, FURIA, by Yamile Saied Méndez, and when I picked up her most recent release, ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME, I felt all of the amazing heart and wisdom and light that Yamile pours into her stories. And I absolutely loved it!✨

All Roads Lead to Rome is actually the third book in a Women’s Fiction Trilogy about three best friends: Nadia, Madi, and Stevie, who is the heroine of this book. The amazing thing about these books is that they can all be read as standalones, and they all feature women coming into their own in their 30’s, which I deeply resonated with!✨

Stevie’s journey is not an easy one…but the happy ending for her story is hard-won and so beautifully satisfying. Yamile also does such an amazing job of tackling hard topics in order to give a voice to those who battle them, and yet, in the midst of horrible pain, Stevie survives. She learns to breathe again.✨

There are so many beautiful layers to Stevie’s story, but I loved the magic she found while traveling, the love she had in feeding people, and her blossoming relationship with Cristian was so beautiful! I absolutely loved it!✨

Stevie meets Cristian in Rome on New Year's Day--at the wedding of her best friend and one-time lover. They both ditch the reception and spend a memorable evening exploring Rome, with Cristian as Stevie's guide. In a twist on the Trevi Fountain wishes, they pledge to marry each other at age 70 if they're both single.

As they return to their real lives, they keep in touch and Stevie keeps wondering if he could be the one. But he doesn't know her tragic secret and estranged from her mother, she wonders if anyone will ever love her. They spend a memorable week in Egypt but still are not really together.

Stevie is a wonderful character who you will want as your best friend. Fabulously successful in her career with a cadre of close friends, she cannot solve the mystery of how to get along with her mother, And Cristian is just fabulous. This love story spans several years and will have you turning pages in hopes they find their happily ever after. But as wonderful as the book is, the early Rome setting is incidental. #AllRoadsLeadtoRome #NetGalley

Solid Dramatic Romance Marred By Mismatched Cover/ Description. I'd had an ARC of this book for a few months before publication, despite only finishing it on publication day due to both life and a rather insane pace of reading - it was my 81st completed book of the year and 11th of the month. At least through this point, even the next day, the cover of the book and the description of the book both hint at a lot more visual and visceral travel based romance than what is delivered here, to the level that I felt the star deduction was warranted for this mismatch - a mismatch that can be corrected at any time, perhaps as soon as even within the very time I'm writing this review. Thus, if the cover and description have been updated by the time you read this review and reflect more of what I'm about to tell you, heh, my reason for deducting a star is no longer there and I would consider it a five star read instead.

Now, as to what this book actually is... prepare for some very dusty rooms. While there is a lot more telling than showing here, due to the nature of how Mendez chooses to tell the story, and perhaps the events of the book - both good and bad - could have landed even harder with a more first person / showing narrative, the story still works quite well as is and I have no actual problem with it. Yes, some people won't prefer it, but others wouldn't prefer it if it *were* done in the first person/ showing kind of manner, so meh, your mileage will absolutely vary there.

Still, the story as presented is powerful, if one of those romance tales that spans several years. This is far from an insta-romance, yet I'm also not sure that I would classify it as slow burn. Instead, this is a tale of life molding two people - mostly one of them - to the point where they *finally* realize they are what each other always wanted... even if they had to go through so much pain and hardship (along with fun and adventure) to get there. Thus, it actually works as a more serious balance to so much of the more "bubblegum pop" types of romances that are out there and thus a solid tale to stay within the romance space yet get a different taste and texture from a story than may be your typical. (Or perhaps this is your typical and you *need* some bubblegum pop. While that isn't this review, find my other reviews wherever you see this one and you can likely find some recs for some of those too. :D)

This is one of those books where you need to be ready to read about life continually knocking our main character down... and sometimes she stays down perhaps longer than is healthy or wise. And that isn't the kind of book everyone can read at every stage of their lives, so you need to be prepared for that. It gets *deep* into the stages of grief and loss of different elements of our main character's life, and if that is too much for you... go grab some of that bubblegum. Heal up. Come to this one when you can handle this kind of tale. Because it *is* a good tale that deserves to be known,

Overall truly a strong tale that I perhaps have a quibble or two with the manner in which it is told and a more serious problem with how it is currently marketed at release time, neither of which actually seriously detracts from the power of the story itself.

Very much recommended.

Easily my new fav by Yamile Saied Mendez!! This was a strangers to friends to lovers slow burn that spans years, takes place across continents and sees two people going through extreme highs and lows as they fight their way back to one another in the ultimate feel-good ending. I loved how strong Stevie was, dealing with loss at a young age and an absentee mother as she chases after her dreams of being a personal chef all the while pining for the one man she met in Rome as a teenager. Highly recommended for fans of star crossed lovers romance stories. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

CW: teen pregnancy, infant loss (SIDS), depression, child with seizure condition

𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐓𝐨 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐞
𝐛𝐲 𝐘𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐌é𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐳
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟒𝐭𝐡

- - -

I had a hard time putting this book down. This is such a delightful, emotional read. I am writing this review with tears in my eyes. It's just such a soul-stirring book.

I really liked the meet-cute at a wedding in Rome. It was so adorable and dreamy. How the main characters even gave each other 'promise' rings and call each other 'fake fiancé'. It's really cute!

I screamed when the FMC suggested to be just friends. Why?! That man is a walking green flag! They are almost out of existence! But once you learn more about her past and the heartbreaks she had to endure, you completely understand her.

I really enjoyed reading this gripping story and highly recommend this. Just grab a box of tissues!

This the final in what appears to be a series of 3 friends of Mendez's Romance Contemporary Novels. I prefer saying that than within the same story world because at the end of this book we get a wrap up of Nadia and Madi's lives which they are all told concurrently. I would recommend reading them in order of publishing.

This has to be my favorite one of all of her books. She has a way of writing the nuance of the Latinx story in such a myriad way that brings all the feelings. This book deals a lot with undealt trauma and depression so please read the content warnings; I don't want to give away any spoilers. But it was such an amazing book, it's one of those books that will live with me for a long time just like her other ones have. FURIA, still has a special place in my soul.

Stevie and Cristian their romance from the blurb seems fate driven. But it is actually so poetic and beautiful.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review as always, all words are my own.

This is not the rom com the cover and the blurb might lead you to believe it is. Sure, it's got the Stevie Cristian relationship and their banter but it's built on grief and family estrangement. Stevie's back story, the reason she's hopscotching around the world and pushing Cristian to the future spools out about half way through the novel. It gives her more depth but I think this would have worked better if the issues had been outlined earlier. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Over to others.

2.75 stars ⭐⭐💫

Stevie Choi's dreams were pulled out from under her as a teen, and she's been trying desperately to prove herself ever since. Amid complicated feelings at the Roman wedding of her best friend (with whom she is most certainly not in love), Stevie meets Cristian, a friend of a friend who she's been warned about. The two have instant chemistry, but neither is ready for a relationship, especially not a long-distance one. Stevie and Cristian go their separate ways having vowed to marry each other if they're still single when they're 70.

The book explores various timelines, with a long flashback to Stevie's time in high school, where we learn more about the tragedy her family has suffered, and setting the scene for her complicated relationship with her mother. Along the way, we see glimpses of Stevie and Cristian as they come in and out of each other's orbits throughout the years.

I enjoyed some aspects of this. Stevie and Cristian had great chemistry from the jump. The "will they, won't they" tension pulled at my heartstrings just the right amount. But despite Stevie's storied past and having to grow up fast, she came across as juvenile to me (though this may have been the writing style). The way she handled most of the relationships in her life lacked emotional maturity in a way I found frustrating, and which didn't seem to fit with the journey I expected Stevie to be on. Overall, this fell a bit flat for me, and felt notably different from the synopsis.

This is beautifully written and deeply emotional, but it’s not the light and breezy novel I expected from the cover. The flashbacks and family drama gave the book something of a New Adult feel, and I don’t like that kind of angst. I’m sure others will enjoy the book, but it’s not for me. DNF ~20%.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

It may be just another Wednesday, but picture it with an espresso and some cobblestone streets, and suddenly, it’s a Wednesday in Rome.

Stevie Choi had one slightly modest ambition: house, spouse, maybe a dog that doesn’t eat her shoes or homework. Instead, life drop-kicked her dream at seventeen and she became a globetrotting workaholic with a passport full of stamps, and an Instagram feed that screams "living my best life"—while quietly whispering "help."

Her romantic life? About as helpless. That is, until a frozen January in Rome when she meets Cristian, a charming stranger with the kindest smile. They’re perfect for each other … except for the whole ocean between them thing. So, naturally, they strike a totally reasonable deal: if they’re both still single at 70, they’ll get married.

However, as the years pass, continents and feelings shift. Stevie is faced with a terrifying choice: settle for safety, or risk everything for a guy she technically promised to marry after hip replacements.

To be honest, “All Roads Lead to Rome” is so much more than the love story it initially promises. While the romance sometimes is heartfelt and satisfying, the real weight of the novel lies in its exploration of grief, loss, and heartbreak. At times, it’s a bitter pill to swallow - emotionally taxing, and unafraid to linger in the ache of heartbreak. However, that depth actually is what gives the story its soul, it not being a typical romantic journey.

I always enjoy novels set in Italy as it's like travelling to your home country and seeing a different country.
This is cute, romantic novel with an interesting side about life changes choices
Liked it
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

DNF. Based off of the cover, I thought this was going to be a lighthearted read. So, I was surprised by the heavy themes of this book. There were several factors that led to my DNF. I didn't care for the author's writing style. Stevie's monologues were dragged out and cumbersome. The pacing felt uneven, and the plot of the book didn't feel consistent. I didn't really care for the characters. Stevie wasn't my favorite FMC. I just couldn't find the will to finish this one. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the ARC.

dreamy, fun, cool romance that definitely goes over some dark but realistic themes. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

this was such a thoughtful and thought provoking read. it was heart aching but heart healing too. i loved watching Stevie. with all her lifes events she seemed like someone i just wanted to reach for and give lots of time,listening and hugs. what happened to her when she was young was truly traumatic. and once again we are given the truth window of how things that happen no matter the time can shape who we are, where we find ourself and how we find our-self moving forward. and we are watching that with Stevie. i think its also important that we keep learning and seeing how what other do to support us, or those we have around us are also vital. vital to how we cope,recover or even just see ourselves. Stevie definitely didnt always have the people around her she deserved.
shes created a life that she finds she can cope with mostly by showing a front. but when she meets a unexpected ally at a wedding something shifts. in her and for her. and watching the years then pass and how she continues through life is such a joy to be part of. and i was rooting for her to find her own joy right the way through.

I was so excited to read this and was very grateful to gain access to advance copy. I really tried my hardest to finish this book, but I just couldn’t do it. The main character, Stevie, is very hard to like and I found very little that was redeeming about her. The story itself felt disjointed, especially the transition between the early chapters set in Rome and the flashback chapters focused on Stevie’s teenage years. The tone shift was so drastic, it felt like I was reading two completely different books. The Rome chapters were lighthearted, while the flashbacks were emotionally heavy and deeply sad, creating a jarring disconnect.

Some plot elements also felt random or poorly set up. A few extra sentences to properly introduce certain scenes could have made the narrative flow much better. On top of that, there were several inconsistencies throughout the book, as if major edits had been made without checking for continuity. For example, Stevie returns home from Rome in January and visits her mother. Yet a few chapters later, her mother calls and Stevie says they haven’t seen or spoken since Christmas—completely ignoring a full chapter where they interacted and Stevie stormed out.

There were also several grammatical errors that should have been caught in editing. While I can overlook the occasional mistake, the combination of these issues—with an unlikeable main character and a disjointed plot—made the book too frustrating for me to finish.

Lastly, the cover is incredibly misleading. The whimsical, illustrated design suggests a fun and lighthearted romance, but that doesn’t reflect the heavy emotional content within the story. It sets up the wrong expectations entirely.

The first 50% of this title was stellar. The beginning is playful and flirty with Stevie and Christian's meeting and agreement to be each other's Plan B fiances. I was surprised by the darker tone taken during the flashback portion of the narrative. For me, the book lost momentum halfway through and never recovered. The happy ending fell flat.

5/10

I was expecting a rom-com. When the book started, it felt like I was reading a rom-com.

Stevie was intriguing.
The connection with Cristian was cliche but intriguing enough to wonder if it would go somewhere that wasn’t cliche.

Then suddenly it stopped being a rom-com and turned into a drama about a kinda broken woman who really isn’t but kinda is and how she really likes a guy and the guy really likes her but for the sake of the story they don’t get together.

In the end, it was unfortunately all predictable and not as interesting of a ride as I really hoped it would be based on the cover and the title.

I feel like this whole thing was a bait and switch.
Which is too bad. Because I was excited for the book it got marketed as.

#netgalley #allroadsleadtorome

Romantic book that had its heartbreak and sweet moments.

It was great to see the growth of the characters as their lives matured. It felt like the world was opening up as the novel went on which helped me as a reader feel the weight and the pain carried, to acceptance.

Highly recommend.

An interesting rom-com with touches of sadness. Stevie has basic desires: a husband & kids and a job she enjoys. Her life didn't go the way she wanted, so she drowns herself in a job she's good at but doesn't enjoy but funds her globtrotting in the "off season". While attending a destination wedding of a co-worker, she mets a guy who she falls for. They joke about marrying in 50 years if still single. Jobs, distance, and the lack of belief in herself keeps Stevie from committing to the relationship. Can she get over everything and end up with her happy every after? It was a fun read with expected ups & downs of a rom-com.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

In a way, I appreciated the overall premise and intention behind *All Roads Lead to Rome*—a grieving woman navigating personal and external challenges to rediscover independence, passion, and love. Stevie’s journey is emotionally layered, and the novel is easy to read, with some truly sweet chemistry and banter between the leads.

Stevie and Cristian’s connection begins in Rome at a destination wedding, where their unexpected friendship offers her a new perspective on life. Their long-distance bond gives her the courage to seek a more authentic path forward, and I found myself rooting for Stevie along the way.

However, I went into this book expecting a lighthearted travel romance, and that was not the case at all. While the synopsis does mention Stevie’s heartbreak, it doesn’t fully prepare readers for the weighty themes of grief, teenage pregnancy, and loss—elements that shape much of the novel’s emotional depth. This was a bit misleading, and I likely wouldn’t have picked it up had I known the extent to which these themes would dominate the story.

That said, while the pacing and writing felt somewhat disjointed, the book remained engaging. Stevie’s character is compelling, and there’s plenty to explore beyond romance—friendship, found family, healing, and self-discovery. Despite the title, much of the book is actually set in Utah, with a surprisingly captivating visit to Egypt, rather than an extended stay in Rome.

Overall, while *All Roads Lead to Rome* didn’t deliver the breezy, travel-filled rom-com I had hoped for, it still offered moments of depth and growth that made for an interesting read.