2.75 stars

This was a sweet and rather predictable little romcom. Perfect for beach read season or as company on a European vacation.

I was hoping the audiobook would incorporate a narrator with an Italian accent to bring to life another layer of authenticity.

Additionally the project (that is the title of the book) was rather short lived and maybe could have used a bit more development.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

When I first requested this book, I TOTALLY thought this would be a friends to lovers situation based on the title but I was super wrong! I just visited Venice again (for the 3rd time) about a month ago and I was eager to return to the setting in the form of this book!

Daisy, our FMC, is visiting Venice with her boyfriend, her best friend Jeremy, and Jeremy’s gf. Daisy and Jeremy are both broken up with by their SOs, who were cheating with one another for a hot minute. In Jermey’s ex gf’s break up note, she said that Jermey and Daisy belong together. Therefore, Jermey and Daisy decide to give dating a shot!

Lorenzo is a super handsome Casanova type male who happens to work at the hotel Jeremy and Daisy are staying at. In hopes of getting promoted, Lorenzo sets out to help these two fall in love; however, Daisy and Lorenzo start to develop feelings for each other. The burn is ever so slow between these two and Daisy continues to try and date Jeremy for quite a while. Finally, Daisy is all in with Lorenzo until they have to deal with the real fact that they both live on different continents.

I enjoyed Daisy’s backstory of being a chef and her passion that resulted from losing her father. Lorenzo is my favorite character and has the most complexity. He was a very talented musician until he was injured which resulted in his hotel career taking off. Throughout the book, we see these two characters try to find themselves in these interests and try to figure out how things will work out between them.

Read this book if you like:

🇮🇹 love triangle
🍝 set in Venice and includes historic sites
🇮🇹 slow burn
🍝 forced proximity
🇮🇹 lying about their feelings
🍝 trying to avoid getting “caught” in the act

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you so much to Harlequinn Audio and the author for the Advanced Listener Copy of this one!

"Friends to Lovers Project" by Paula Ottoni is a delightful, light-hearted romance that offers a refreshing twist on its titular trope! Best friends Jeremy and Daisy find themselves unexpectedly dumped while in Venice with their significant others. This sparks an idea: what if they tried to see if everyone else was right and they could actually make it as a couple? Meanwhile, the hotel concierge, Lorenzo, sees their predicament as a golden opportunity to prove to his boss that he can truly make guests' dreams come true. What he doesn't anticipate, however, is the profound effect spending so much time with the lovely Daisy will have on him.

This story was a little different from what the title initially suggested, delivering a charming romance with a little bit of spice. While Jeremy isn't the most lovable character (understandable, given he's just been dumped!), the chemistry between Daisy and Lorenzo is simply amazing from day one. Daisy genuinely tries to ignite sparks with Jeremy, but he seems oblivious to her in that way. Conversely, with Lorenzo, the sparks are practically setting Venice ablaze! It's a fun read that keeps you rooting for the right connections.

As for the audiobook, Carly Robins and Will Damron deliver a fantastic dual narration! Their voices fit the characters incredibly well, and they rarely had to venture outside their main character portrayals. The reading style truly brought the scenes to life, particularly highlighting the undeniable chemistry between Daisy and Lorenzo. Will Damron also did an excellent job portraying Jeremy as standoffish, which perfectly matched his character. The pacing felt fast, but this mirrored the book's quick timeline, unfolding over just seven days in Venice. The narration was very cohesive and easy to follow, making the listening experience seamless.

I highly recommend this book, especially in audiobook format, to fellow romance readers and even travelers! It's a great listen for those who enjoy a charming story with unexpected twists and a delightful setting.

The love story without an HEA, but don’t panic, there is an HEA. Just not the one planned. When friends choose to test the friends to lovers trope by forcing romance, is it any wonder that it fails spectacularly. Daisy Hogan indeed gets her HEA, but it’s not with her best friend. Lorenzo Fontana has loved Venice, it brings him peace, but he has closed himself off to his true love, the violin. He needs to learn that true happiness is being true to yourself. This is what they teach each other, finally putting all the pieces of their life together. This story is one turn after another, surprising even themselves at every turn. A delightfully enchanting tale.

Carly Robins did a wonderful job narrating Daisy’s bubbly persona. Will Damron is a new voice to me and I thoroughly enjoyed his narration. His reading of Lorenzo’s Italian was chef’s kiss.

This was such a cute book. Don't let the name deceived you as it did me. I thought this was going to be a friend-to-lovers book, but it wasn't, but it did not disappoint me. I giggled and laughed through this book. The relationship between Daisy and Lorenzo was adorable. I'm not the hugest fan of miscommunication trope, but this one had a slight take but nothing that steered me off. I cried and loved how much showed their love for each other. All in all, the Tension between the two MCs was hot from the beginning and this lighthearted read is a must for the summer

This Audio was done by Carly Robins and Will Damron. They book did a great job at bringing each character's emotions through the audio. Well done!

Thank you NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Daisy and Jeremy are best friends who went to Venice on a trip with their partners... or at least that was the plan until both are abruptly broken up with on the first night. So what's a girl to do? Well for Daisy, she decides that maybe she should listen to all the rom-coms and the people in her life who say that friends-to-lovers is the ideal relationship and makes a project with Jeremy, the Friends-to-Lover Project. With the help of dreamy hotel concierge Lorenzo and the back drop of Venice creating some romance shouldn't be hard, right?

Well there's definitely romance cooking up in this book and some really great parts about finding who you are and following your dreams. I did think pacing-wise it could have been broken up a bit more. As a listener seeing that a whole chapter was an hour long was a little stressful. It needed some clearer stopping points other than just perspective shifts. The narrators were absolutely wonderful though and brought the characters to life!

Overall a good listen with some will-they-won't-they tension.

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Audio and Paula Ottomi for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Daisy, her boyfriend, her best friend and his girlfriend go on vacation to Venice. After 1 day, Daisy’s boyfriend and her BF’s (Jeremy) girlfriend leave together. Daisy and Jeremy realize life would be easier if they were in love and come to the conclusion that they should try to do just that while in Italy and enlist the help of the hotel concierge, Lorenzo.

Enjoyed the story and the premise was cute. The Italian high end hotel and all the sites of Venice was a great backdrop to the story.

Two parts made me cringe and roll my eyes. When Lorenzo channels Casanova it was bad enough but in a few parts the “Casanova” persona was talking to him. Not a fan. Luckily it was only in a few parts but unfortunately stuck with me. Next was dropping the love word after I believe 2-3 days. I mean, attraction, like, lust….sure but love? That’s some kind of crazy instalove stuff I struggle with.

Also, I listened to the audio so I’m unclear on the length but the chapters were long, 20+ minutes even on 1.5 speed. I’m strongly against long chapters.

I did enjoy how they each did what they needed to do to see their dreams through independently and the ending was good.

Disclaimer: I received this as an ALC in exchange for an honest review— thank you! 🤗

Italy? Venice? Love for food and romance? Seduction lessons? Loved all of that. I was invested until the extreme back and forth of if Daisy was going to stay or not. And then also not knowing what Lorenzo was going to do. I think with all the talk of “maybe things will just click” during the actual friends-to-lovers project with Jeremy, I was expecting it to have “just clicked” for Daisy and Lorenzo. But how it went down just muddled my feelings.

I WILL SAY THOUGH… We love a man that shows his woman just how gorgeous she really is and builds up her confidence.

The narration of this book was done really well! I could picture both characters having the narrators voices and they capture the personalities perfectly.

This book was such a delightful surprise, a heartwarming, easy read/listen with just the right amount of emotion, humor, and romantic tension. I really enjoyed following Daisy’s journey as she navigates life, love, and all the unexpected turns in between.

From the very start, I was drawn into Daisy’s charm and determination. She’s funny, relatable, and so easy to root for. Her trip to Venice sets the stage for a story full of self-discovery, sweet moments, and a romance that slowly sneaks up on you. And then there’s Lorenzo, gentle, passionate, and completely swoon-worthy. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and their connection felt authentic and earned.

The dual POV added so much depth to their story. I loved getting to hear both Daisy and Lorenzo’s thoughts, which made their growth and bond feel even more personal. There were a few slower moments, but the pacing picked up beautifully, and I appreciated how the characters stayed true to themselves while learning to open their hearts.

Now let’s talk about the audiobook. Carly Robins & Will Damron did a fantastic job. Their performances were engaging, expressive, and brought each scene to life in such a vivid way. They captured the emotional nuances of the characters perfectly, making the story feel even more immersive. It truly felt like listening to a movie unfold in your ears.

If you’re in the mood for a cozy romance with an Italian flair, heartfelt characters, and standout narration, this one is definitely worth adding to your TBR!

Thank you so much to @hqn_shamelessromantics @harlequinbooks & Harlequin audio for the complimentary ebook & ALC of The Friends-to-Lovers Project by @apaulaottoni

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange to an honest review

So, to start out, I am not a big bubblegum romance reader. However, I was pleasantly surprised with Paula Ottoni's work and I will definitely add her to my author's I will read again :)

Reading "The Friends-To-Lovers Project" reminded me a lot of those cozy winter days I would snuggle on the couch with my mama on cold days and watch a feel-good-cheesy-but-cute Hallmark movie. It's definitely not something I would want to read all the time, but it was a welcome breath of air in between my intense and high fantasy reads.
Now...
I knew from the get-go how the story would go, while this usually irritates me a bit I didn't mind it too much, again "feel-good-cheesy-but-cute" vibes going on here.
I will say my one complaint is Jeremy. He was such a flat character. I get that he was a side character, but I would have liked to see a bit more character development and more dimensionality to his character.
I loved everything about Lorenzo of course, as my own husband is half Italian. I am a sucker for that accent. The setting was perfect; it has now sparked a HUGE desire to visit Italy soon!

Overall, this was a fun and quick read that I enjoyed. I would definitely recommend this for a vacay read :)

What a great trip to Venice! I loved this audiobook!

Daisy and Jeremy are best friends. They take a trip to Venice with the significant others. When they are left in Venice alone they embark on a friends to lovers project. If it works in Daisy's Rom Com books, why can't it work for them. They enlist the help of the tall, dark and handsome hotel concierge Lorenzo in their project. What could go wrong.

This was such a fun and spicy RomCom! And the trip to Venice was a plus!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
*mild spoilers* I did enjoy this book more towards the end. The beginning was hard for me to get into because of insta-getting over your exes and trying to move on. (You find that out in the first 2% of the book or something, obviously establishing the premise of the book.) The attention to detail was amazing, the author did their research about Venice, and getting lost in that labyrinth of a city. He was very romantic and very passionate about all the things he loved. The ending was so sweet, I would definitely consider reading more of this author's books.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio & Paula Ottoni for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is SUCH a fun premise- two best friends get mutually broken up with (while on vacation in Venice, Italy!) and plot to try to fall in love to finally have their HEA in the most romantic city in the world. Surely they've just missed all the signs they were meant to be, right?

I won't give away what happens there- although the synopsis practically does so maybe I will-- but I will say the insta love in this book really made me understand why many don't like that trope. Soooo many life goals turned on their side for someone you just met? Ick.

The setting is spectacular. The places with MCs visit throughout the book could create a tourist's Venice bucket list.

Again- I really loved the premise- but the plane didn't land for me.

Narration was incredibly well done.

3.5⭐️ ARC review of the audiobook.

This was a really cute, quick, fun listen. I enjoyed the narrators (one of whom is Carly Robins and she’s great) and they made the audiobook really enjoyable. The setting (Venice) is fully on display which I loved, the banter is fun, and the story itself is sweet. There’s a lot of steam and tension, and a little spice thrown in. Definitely a good choice if you’re a contemporary romance lover looking for a fluffy, easy read!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for ARC. 🖤

Maybe it’s just me, but I really struggled with this one—despite the promising plot. As someone who dreams of retiring in Italy someday (even though I’m not Italian), I totally get the appeal of finding love in such a romantic setting. I’ve fallen in love with the culture, the people, and the scenery, so I was excited to dive into this story.

Unfortunately, as the book went on, it started to drag. The pacing felt slow and repetitive, and the characters just didn’t seem to connect. It felt like they were simply placed into the story without much depth or development. By the end, I had more questions than answers, and honestly, I found myself more intrigued by the side story involving Daisy’s best friend—who we barely get to know. It seems like there might be a second book focused on his character?

One bright spot: I loved learning bits of Italian history alongside Daisy, and once again, the audiobook narrators did a fantastic job—they’re the main reason I stuck with it.

₊˚ෆ Thank you, NetGalley, and Hachette Audio. ₊˚ෆ

🎧 Audiobook +📗 Ebook: The Friends-to-Lovers Project-a standalone

✍🏾 Author: Paul Ottoni -I read Never Date a Roommate-gave it 3⭐

📃Page Count: 288

📅Publication date: 7/1/25 | Read: 6/28/25

🏃🏾‍➡️Run Time: 8:01

🌎 Setting: Venice, Italy

👆🏾POV: 1st person dual

Genre: Multicultural Interests, Contemporary Romance, Rom-Com

Tropes: love triangle, male/female friendship, BFFs to lovers, matchmaker, right person/wrong time, music

⚠️TW: death of parent, grief

🗣️Narrator: Carly Roberts and Will Damron voice all the characters with standouts from: Daisy, Lorenzo, Jeremy, and Luigi. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrators worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrators paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.


Summary: Daisy has taken a trip to Italy for inspiration. Her father's old restaurant is being sold, and she plans to buy it to follow through with his dream. Jeremy accompanied Daisy along with their significant others, but Ryan and Alice breaks up with them and run away together. Daisy and Jeremy invent a project to see if they can be BFFs to lovers. They plan to go on romantic dates and only take it further if they get that "feeling." Lorenzo overhears them and volunteers to be their tour guide through Italy. Their relationship gets complicated when he and Daisy are attracted to each other.

👩🏾 Heroine: Daisy Hogan-27, LA chef at a Santa Monica restaurant

👨🏾 Hero: Lorenzo Fontana-28, a hotel concierge and violinist

🎭 Side Characters:

* Jeremy Burton-Daisy's BFF
* Ryan + Alice-Daisy and Jeremy's exes
* Luigi Marchesi-Lorenzo boss/father figure
* Nick-Daisy's brother moving to Hawaii

🤔 My Thoughts: From the culture, history, and food, I felt like I was in Italy with Daisy and Lorenzo. Their romance was set in the perfect place, but their dreams just didn't match up. Daisy's life was in LA and Lorenzo promised Luigi he would stay in Venice at the hotel. His music also called to him because of Daisy's influence. He wanted to join an orchestra and had to leave Daisy. Jeremy became a side character after he and Daisy decided the project failed, and they were better as best friends. Jeremy was still in Italy when Daisy and Lorenzo fell in love and continued to be her confidante. They part ways, their dreams change, and they reunite together in Italy.

*Spice: 4/5 🌶️
*Emotion: 4/5 🥲
*Couple: 4/5 💑
*Rating: 4/5 ⭐

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin-Romance |Afterglow Books by Harlequin, Harlequin Audio, and Paul Ottoni for this ARC & ALC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

The Friends to Lovers Project is fun and cute, with a charming premise and some genuinely sweet moments, but the writing holds it back. The tone is sweet - like a beach read. The setup is appealing: two best friends attempting a structured romance experiment while on a trip to Venice. Uneven pacing and clunky prose undercut the emotional beats. Daisy is likable, but her character arc lacks depth, and her romantic options. Jeremy, the safe best friend, and Lorenzo, the dreamy concierge never quite deliver the emotional payoff the story aims for. Cute but not for me.

I couldn’t get into this book—it’s just not for me. First, I really dislike it when romances open with a breakup. I read romance because I want to read about relationships that succeed, not ones that fail. Second, the pace in the opening is slow. It’s two people sitting talking at a bar, which is very static. I’m sure others will enjoy the book. The narration is well done.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Best friends Daisy and Jeremy have zero chemistry but while on vacation in Italy together, decide they should see if a spark could be created. Enter Lorenzo, the hunky, suave tour guide, who seems to have sizzling chemistry with Daisy!

This was such a fun book, it really made me feel like I was in Venice, tasting the food, enjoying the sights! The narrators brought everything to life! This was a great summer escape!

Loved the premise, didn’t love the execution. Were Jeremy and Daisy even friends? Hard to say, because they barely speak. For knowing each other since they were 7, their chemistry was slim to none. I liked Lorenzo for Daisy a lot more….. but then you get to the spicy scenes, and they sound like my ten year old cousin wrote them. They’re juvenile and gave me the ick. I had to skip them, they were so weird. I liked the narration a lot, CJ Bloom never ever misses and Will Damron is great too. Was weird that he spoke with no accent when narrating Lorenzo though, as he’s supposed to be Italian.. overall, this one wasn’t for me.