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.

Fast-paced romcom with engaging banter between two unlikely protagonists. Stevie is the best man at her friend's wedding in Rome. After not too subtle jabs against her from not only the bride but her friends, Stevie just wants to leave. Then a chance encounter with bad boy Cristian happens. It doesn't hurt that he's good to look at. Cristian takes Stevie on a whirlwind night tour of Rome, where not only chemistry sparks.

I really liked Stevie, but all the self-reflections took away from an otherwise enchanting romance. Guilt and grief play a huge part in Stevie's reluctance to open up to others. Add to that infant death. All the backstory helps readers know more about Stevie's motivations and why she comes off as hard to others.

Though the title suggests the story is set mostly in Rome, that's not the case. The Utah backdrop was one I'm very familiar with, and Mendez nails the Mormon culture without getting too preachy. I loved the scenes in Cairo, which are captivating and vivid. Along with their budding romance that refuses to be ignored. The exchanges between Stevie and Cristian are dynamic and are the heart of this romance.

The strength of this novel is the banter and chemistry between Cristian and Stevie. I only wanted more of that and less of all the telling. But Stevie's story is complex and messy. Kind of like a real relationship.

Reflective romance with hope sprinkled through the pages.

I’m not 100%sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t what I got, the whole premise of the story is brilliant, the jumping between timelines was a bit confusing, maybe it was just me? Over all I enjoyed the book, I feel there should have been some trigger warnings at the beginning as some of the storylines caught me off guard.

Don't be fooled by the cover or the description: this is a deeply emotional story.

We don't see very much of Stevie "dating" other countries, though there is a LOVELY interlude in Egypt that was a stand-out. Rather you see a deep dive into Stevie's trauma and her fight to embrace love after loss. It's a good dive, just be prepared for it.

The pacing was really off to me, like it was a hard time figuring out the time jumps and how time was passing, but I know that doesn't bother every reader. Just a note from me.

This review is a bit all over the place but the timeline was too, so it feels right in my head. A solid three stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

*This review *may* contain spoilers*

Well this was a journey. How I wish I could meet a Cristian and toss three coins into the Fontana di Trevi. Stevie and Cristian’s relationship was so unique. Their path to a happy ending felt beautifully earned.

Now, Brady and Celine? I honestly don’t understand why they were in the story. They added absolutely nothing. Zero. Nada. I couldn’t stand their characters - they were so mean and condescending for no reason at all.

Stevie endured so much heartbreak, yet she kept going. It made my heart happy to see her finally follow her heart and allow herself to love again, despite all the pain she’d carried.

That said, as much as I loved Stevie getting her happy ending, something felt missing. I really wish we had gotten to see a conversation between her and her estranged mother. You can’t just say “everything worked out” when there was so much to unpack. And Frank? I dreaded every scene with him. His presence - and his attitude - just felt completely unnecessary.

All in all, it’s a deeply reflective story. It had its flaws, but I still really liked it.

Wow the emotional trauma with the mom and daughter really hit me in the face. I related so much to that feeling of never feeling like enough. Overall it was a very sad, hopeful book about love and getting what you deserve in life. Heavy trigger warnings about child loss. Emotional aspects set aside, I loved how the characters developed and find each other as the years goes on. I completely devoured this book, I was hooked from the beginning. I would recommend this book to my group.

Slow burn, no spice, and a FMC who is 12 years overdue for therapy 😂 All that said, it was a quick enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

In a way, I enjoyed the overall premise and intention behind the book: a grieving woman works through internal and external obstacles to find independence, passion, and love. However, the pacing and writing of this story felt a bit too disjointed for me to fully enjoy. From the start, there was dissonance for me from the cute and bright title, book cover and meet-cute, to the deep and dark tragedy surrounding our protagonist.
The novel is easy to read, and the chemistry and banter of our leads is truly very sweet. I appreciated the transnational and intercultural backgrounds of our protagonists, representing many folks who come from complex, overlapping backgrounds. For example, Suzie is Korean-Peruvian-American, which is incredible because while that type of representation is not uncommon, it is rarely seen in media and literature. However, outside of explaining her heritage, there is barely mention of reflecting on her multifaceted cultural identity, especially on being Korean, while in the states or other countries.
Also, Stevie’s internal monologue felt at odds with the events of the story to the point where I felt like I was missing crucial pieces of the book as a reader. While I love an enlightened character by the end of the book, it was difficult to follow her emotional journey, and I wanted to learn more deeply about her healing and relationship with her mother.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

I truly enjoyed this book because I recently traveled to Italy and could relate. It made me want to go back.

I enjoyed the story and writing.

I highly recommend this book and look foward to more by this author.

Thank you netgalley and publishers for this arc.

The description is very misleading this is not a lighthearted romance set in Italy. There are heavy subjects and heartbreak. Wasn't what I was expecting and found it hard to keep reading.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for arc first 3 chapters was hard to read should have a been trigger warnings about it and the book wasn’t what I was expecting I was fought it would be something light and fun summer read I was hoping but I was wrong it was heartbreak, emotional, grief and family drama and teen pregnancy we see the main character how to learn to love herself how to deal with her grief and a relationship overall the book wasn’t ok just wasn’t what I was expecting and fell flat at a few times 3.5 stars

Stevie Choi’s plans for her future encounter a detour by a tragedy when she is seventeen. She compensates for her heartbreak by becoming successful in her chosen job. While attending a friend’s wedding in Rome, she meets handsome, charming Cristian. She has been warned about him, but the attraction is there. Despite living far apart, they choose to remain friends until something tears them apart. Will they ever be reunited and will Stevie find peace in her life?

The synopsis I read about this book did not emphasize that the traumatic event (trigger warning) in Stevie’s life at seventeen and that the long lasting intrusion and affects of grief were an important part of this story, as well as the cool treatment of her by her mother. Had it, I might not have chosen this book. However, it did turn out to be an engaging read. There is not a lot of com in the rom com of this story, yet I liked Stevie’s character and was rooting for her. There is a lot here…friendship, found family, healing, learning to pursue your dreams. Incidentally, despite the title, not a lot of time is spent in Rome. Actually, there is more about Utah, where Stevie lives, along with a captivating visit to Egypt.