This sweet second chance romance is set mainly in Italy. There was a good flow to the story which made for an easy read with engaging characters. I was invested in the characters and their story and the descriptive writing. Overall this was a clean romance and a heartwarming read.

I love a romance set abroad, and this cover with its vibrant colours and Sunny scene immediately attracted me as a nice, easy, summers read. Perfect since we've had a couple of super sunny days recently!
This is about second chances, and how love is bigger than anything.
I loved the idea of the wedding company and learning a bit about the adventuring, despite that not being something that would ever appeal to me!
There were so many lovely, sweet moments throughout. Both with the main characters and many of the side characters we met throughout.
I could absolutely see a series here with some of the other characters such as Toni, Ginny, and Kira, who all definitely have stories to tell!
It's such a light romance to race through in a couple of days. I'd definitely recommend

An Italian Wedding Adventure by Leonie Mack

My sincere thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read An Italian Wedding Adventure by Leonie Mack. I give my unbiased opinion of the book in the following review.

I love Leonie Mack's writing! I discovered her last year and plan to continue reading her books. They are a perfect mixture of fun and serious. I love watching her characters grow personally as well as more in love page by page. In this book the main characters Andreas and Sophie are getting a second chance at love when they are thrown together eight years after Andreas turned down Sophie's February 29th proposal. He has been climbing mountains, literally, and Sophie has been working as a destination wedding planner. When one of Sophie's clients wants an adventure wedding on a mountain summit, her company combines forces with Andreas' to try and make this happen. If it goes well, the two companies would combine to offer more adventure weddings in the future which would benefit them both. Will they be able to work together? Will Andreas be able to put aside his aversion to weddings? How do they really feel after all this time? Can the mountain top wedding really go off without a hitch? Believe me, you will want to read this book to find out. It was sometimes frustrating watching Sophie and Andreas work through overcoming the past so they could be together in the present, the conclusion was more than satisfying.

Leonie Mack has this incredible talent to create such endearing, delightfully quirky characters to life. Her characters and romances are often not the norm- but are so sweet and compelling. The settings of her novels are always a character of their own. An Italian Wedding Adventure was quintessential Leonie Mack- fun, compelling, romantic read. I loved Sophie and Andreas. Their journey was all about second chances to fix and grow from past regrets. I've said before- I will read whatever Leonie Mack writes. It always brings such joy- a perfect summer beach bag read.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #Boldwood Books for the ARC.

📱E-Book Review📱

An Italian Wedding Adventure
Leonie Mack

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is the first book in the Adventure Weddings series and also the first book that I've read by this author.
I was instantly drawn to this one for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, just look how cute that front cover image is! It definitely gives me summer vibes and I knew it would be the perfect pick for a weekend relaxing in the garden.
Secondly, I'm obsessed with Italy and lemons! My daughter moved over to Italy over a year ago now and I just have to experience as much as I possibly can whilst I can't visit.

This was a gorgeous read and definitely satisfied my craving for all things Italian.
The descriptive writing transported me there with our couple as they navigate their awkward reunion during a scouting mission for work.

I loved that we got the dual pov chapters which allowed us to delve into both of our main character's mindsets.
Both Sophie and Andreas were great characters for us to explore and the connection was quite clear from the start - but.... I did find them frustrating at times, but this is standard for this kind of second chance romance storyline....and I love it really!
I just wish I could give them both a prod and get them to stop wasting time overthinking everything!

I found the writing style really light and easy to read. I was invested in the characters and their story from the start - but I did find the chapters to be quite long, which I wasn't used to in this genre.
Still, I raced through this anyway and enjoyed every minute.

I can't wait to read more from this author, especially as I've spotted more Italy based books in their back catalogue!....

Leonie Mack books are such an escape from the real world and i must say this one was up there with one of the best!

with a fantastic setting, great characters and an amazing story to match this is the perfect summery read

Thank you for the eARC in exchange for honest feedback!

The romance in this novel fell flat for me. I didn't like how the characters interacted with each other, or with anyone else in the novel. Andreas was insufferable. We get it. You hate love. Weddings are stupid. I feel bad for Sophie because she said yes to a man who's just going to continually disappoint her with his lack of emotions.
I didn't understand why the bridesmaid drama was in there. It felt like it just got shoved in to give the story a conflict, but the storm conflict was already there so it didn't make sense to me and was unnecessary.
That being said, I did love the romance between the couple Sophie was working with. They clearly loved each other, and they were the catalyst to get Andreas off of his hate horse.
I'm sad to say I didn't enjoy this one as much as I wanted to. It just wasn't for me.

For some reason I just couldn’t connect with this book; the descriptions of the locations in Italy were wonderful and really made me feel like I was there but I just wanted the story to get a move on. The second definitely picked up the pace a bit but I found myself skipping ahead trying to find out if anything would happen. I also found Andreas quite irritating and selfish with a magically timed turnaround that was just a bit too convenient in such a short period of time.

**ARC** I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. Thank you NetGalley.

This book is a second chance romance set in Italy. I honestly was not really a fan of this book. Unfortunately I had to DNF around 30%. I could pick it back up in the future but I'm not sure I will. I didn't really feel the connection between the two main characters Sarah and Andreas. I felt that some scenes could have been shortened. I originally picked this book due to the cover looking like it would be a fluffy easy summer read. Unfortunately it just wasn't exactly what I wanted. I guess I shouldn't have judged the book by its cover.

Being totally honest with this one, I really struggled. I took too long to get through this which says it all. It's not that the writing was bad because it wasn't. It's just that it was too descriptive for the type of book it was supposed to be. It read more like a travel guide to Italian nature spots and less like a cozy rom-com. Speaking of which I just didn't buy it between the 2 main characters Sophies and Andreas. This is a 2nd chance romance meaning they had a brief 5 month relationship 8 years ago whilst travelling predominantly and then the Sophie decides to propose even though she knows the Andreas doesn't ever want to get married and is heartbroken when he turns her down and they break up - shocker. Fast forward the 8 years in which time she has married and divorced but is still somehow still 'hung up' on this guy. Through her work destination wedding planning and hus work Adventure holidays guide they are forced into proximity of scouting and planning an Italian destination wedding and the rest is pretty predictable for the most part. This unfortunately also fearured one of my worst tropes - the miscommunication/ assumptions/ not saying you feel and this would just avoid the majority of the storyline which to be honest needed to have been a shorter book.
I'm sorry but this was not for me this time.
I would still like to thank Boldworld books for providing me with a copy of the book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

((3.5 rounded to 4))

An Italian Wedding Adventure is a warm, scenic second-chance romance that combines destination weddings, adventure travel, and emotional reconnection—all set against the stunning backdrop of the Italian mountains.

It’s a story with a unique premise: wedding planner Sophie-Leigh once boldly proposed to her boyfriend, Andreas, on Leap Day eight years ago… only to be rejected. Now, fate (and a company merger) throws them back together, forcing them to confront their past while planning a wedding for another couple in the great outdoors.

💕 Second chance romance |👱 Third-Person POV | 🇮🇹 Italy

From the start, I was drawn in by the fun concept and adorable cover. The setting is absolutely the star here—Mack paints the Italian landscapes beautifully, making you feel like you’re climbing alongside Sophie & Andreas. The mountain wedding angle felt fresh and added a bit of charm and excitement that set this book apart from other romance reads.

The dynamic between Sophie & Andreas had real potential, and I liked the emotional tension as they gradually revisited their shared history. Their slow-burn reconnection works well in parts, and the Leap Day proposal twist added a memorable touch. However, their interactions at times felt repetitive, with a lot of back-and-forth that didn’t always move the story forward.

But despite that, I found it difficult to connect with the story on an emotional level—and for me, a big part of that came down to the third-person point of view. I personally tend to connect more deeply with characters when a story is written in first-person, especially in romance, where emotional intimacy is so central. Here, the third-person narration kept me at arm’s length. Even during more emotional or vulnerable scenes, I felt like an observer rather than truly being inside Sophie or Andreas’s heads.

The POV shifts between the two characters also weren’t always clearly signaled, which added to the distance I felt. At times I had to pause and reorient myself, which disrupted the flow and made it harder to stay engaged. I wanted to feel more of what the characters were feeling—the heartbreak, the hesitation, the chemistry—but the narrative style didn’t quite get me there.

Despite these issues, this was still a sweet and enjoyable read. The adventure-travel aspect gave it a refreshing twist, and the writing style—though light and sometimes a bit distant—shows real promise. I also loved the little nods to wedding chaos, romantic missteps, and how hard it is to move on when something is unresolved.

Overall, An Italian Wedding Adventure is a lovely escape with a beautiful setting, a soft emotional core, and just enough charm to keep you turning the pages. While it didn’t fully hook me or become a new favorite, it’s a solid choice for fans of destination romances, second chances, and travel-infused love stories. Definitely a cute pick for a summer or holiday read!

I kindly received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much Boldwood Books.

This was such a lovely read! We meet Sophie and Andreas…Sophie works as a destination wedding planner and Andreas works as a mountain guide. When their two companies merge to make Great Adventure Weddings they need to work together which is extremely awkward considering Sophie proposed to Andreas 8 years ago! This book has chapters which are slightly longer but I felt it allowed you to really get into the story. Sophie and Andreas’ chemistry is frustrating at times but overall, great characters! The story gives off summer vibes so if you have a holiday planned, take this book with you!

I thoroughly enjoyed this escapist romance by Leonie Mack. I learned about another area of Italy and a bit about climbing and wedding planning while enjoying the plot and characters of the quirky romance. Definitely something to read in your summer lounge chair!

I love this type of romance where there has been a miscommunication and then a couple reconnects after a long period of time. I loved these main characters with a bubbly FMC and a grumpy MMC and that they are the perfect match for each other. The author has created a fantastic setting which helps to immerse yourself into as a reader and feel all of the emotions that the cast of characters are feeling. I can not wait to read the next one in the series.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was not a huge fan of this book. I spent a lot of time just trying to get through it, as there were a ton of details and pieces I wasn't really drawn to or interested in. The characters weren't super strongly built, and I didn't feel as thought I had any connection to either of them, in turn not investing fully into their story. I feel like the bride/groom at the wedding were way too involved/ interested in someone else's love story when they were paying a ridiculous amount of money to travel and have a ceremony. I also felt like there were a few 'surprise' moments that weren't necessary. Finally, Andreas' inability to show feelings was painful to read. Like, he was supposed to be 40 and couldn't show someone that he loves her? The dual story telling didn't do anything to help with the nonsense either. Also, why is the cover on a beach? There is no 'man on paddle board while woman is on beach' scene.

Leonie does it again!
Mountaineer Andreas is a perfect if reluctant book boyfriend and the tension between him and wedding planner Sophia was perfect!
Loved the Lake Garda setting, it made me want to go back there!
As usual Leonie manages to make you laugh, cry and swoon all at the same time!

I’ve had a decade this week and this book has been my guilty pleasure through it all and the best kind of escapism. The FMC and MMC were just delightful, their story really worked even if I did find them difficult at times. Enjoyed this second chance romance so much!!

While Andreas wasn’t my idea of the perfect man, he did annoy me so much at times. The chemistry was palpable. I loved that Italy was the setting for this book and it was so well written I felt like I was there climbing with them!

Two people who never thought they would have to see each other again after a failed proposal. Unfortunately with their companies merging, one a trail guide and the other a wedding planner, what could possibly go wrong? I guess you could say this was forced proximity too.

I really enjoyed it, will definitely be going through some others from this author!

This one took me a while to get into - but once I did, I enjoyed it. It was something different with the main female character being a wedding planner, fulfilling clients unusual wedding requests! It was set abroad as well which I liked.
There is also climbing involved which I found interesting.
There were a lot of characters introduced, so I did find myself going back and forth in the book to remember who was who! I think this was one of the reasons it took me a while to get into it, as well as not particularly relating to the main character.
Overall, a good holiday read I think with some unusual aspects to it which made it stand out.

An Italian Wedding Adventure by Leonie Mack.
Adventure weddings book 1.
I did enjoy this book. I loved the cover and blurb of this book. I loved the setting. How Italy was described. I wasn't sure how I felt about the characters. I know I didn't like Andreas. He annoyed me. I loved the writing style and the story. The more I read the more I wasn't sure about Sophie. Kira I didn't like how she was. I am looking forward to the next book.

I enjoyed reading An Italian Wedding Adventure by Leonie Mack. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!