That's Amore
By Georgia Beers

Lily Chambers is looking for a way out of her writing funk... Okay it's worse than that. So she's looking forward to a change of pace by heading to Rome. Italy is everything she expected, delicious food, amazing history and architecture and one beautiful Italian tour guide, Marina Troiani.

Marina is carefree and loves what she does. Helping Lily is more than just something to do, she's drawn to her and soon the attraction sparks. But with Lily trying to get her book finished and no plans to stay in Italy, how can the strong connection stay together when they will be a continent apart?

This book is the perfect summer novel. It is sweet, heartwarming, and lighthearted. And above all, it makes you long to visit Rome.

Writer Lily is experiencing writer's block and flies to Rome to find inspiration. However, love was not part of her plan...

I loved the fact that Marina showed Lily around the city. Since I have never been to Rome myself, I literally soaked up the descriptions of the various places and the culinary delights. It felt like I was in Rome with them.

And the chemistry between the two of them... oh my goodness! As soon as they met, I knew sparks would fly. I also really liked how their relationship developed, and even though Lily kept telling herself that the arrangement between her and Marina was just “casual,” the feelings on both sides were clearly palpable. Marina was just an absolutely wonderful character. She was so full of life, positivity, and energy. She was thoroughly likable, and it was completely understandable that she immediately set Lily's heart on fire.

The 3-act breakup was tough. Sure, I saw it coming, and it was no surprise that it happened for that particular reason. Still, it was really hard. Especially because it was only told from Lily's point of view. I suffered with her.

A truly beautiful age gap novel that I highly recommend. I read it on the beach during my summer vacation and it was just perfect for that! Well, and now I urgently need to go to Rome...

Lily is an author of romance novels struggling with writer blocks and even having struggles with passion in life and she feels like a fraud. Her editor suggested she goes on a trip to Rome and she might get her passion back. Lily meets your guide Marina who show her around the Rome and in part starts to get over her writing in block in unique ways and starts to see there more to life as Lily grows closer to Marina as their relationship heats up can they continue once Lily returns home or is it’s just a moment. I love Marina she was witty outgoing brought you out your shell and love the description of Rome the food both characters have great chemistry. I love that it was a reasonable age gap didn’t like the third act break up but I suspected it was coming overall good romance.


I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

That’s Amore is a charming romance set against the picturesque backdrop of Rome, and I loved every moment of it. The premise of traveling and meeting someone special in such a romantic city is always a winner for me, and Georgia Beers captures the magic beautifully.

The characters are absolutely delightful. Lily, a 49-year-old romance writer struggling with writer’s block, and Marina, a vibrant 35-year-old Roman tour guide. Marina’s vibe throughout the book reminds me of a character from The L Word, which added to her charm. The true hero and main character of this book is the illustrious Reggie. He brings a wonderful comedic relief during the more angsty parts of the story.

The story pulled me in right away, especially with Lily’s creative struggles, and I appreciated the well-paced development of her connection with Marina. The buildup to their first mutual interest felt natural and engaging. I also loved that the book is about a romance novelist writing her own love story—such a meta touch that added depth to the narrative.

One of my favorite moments was a quote that made me laugh out loud: “Sorry, I say, till laughing softly. ‘I’m just wondering how long I can keep up this level of desire before I simply burst into flames and turn into a pile of ash in this bed.’” The vibe of the book strikes a perfect balance between heartwarming and steamy.

This read captivated me from start to finish—so much so that I finished it in one night, waking up eager to see how it all resolved. I particularly appreciated how it offered a glimpse into Roman life, especially through the eyes of a temporary ex-pat navigating her mental landscape. The food descriptions and the setting added a delicious layer to the story, and the ending of Chapter 16 really shook me to my core.

Considering the beloved tropes of age gap and a third-act breakup, the story was both familiar and fresh. Overall, I highly enjoyed That’s Amore! and plan to explore more works by Georgia Beers. A solid 4-star read that I recommend for anyone looking for an engaging, emotional romance set in the Eternal City.

Good start. I love the way Beers crafts sentences….. Her stories always read like your pal catching you up on their life, your funny, clever and observant pal!
The book settles down! We only are privy to one pov. Unfortunately when things go awry, I'm not 100% in agreement with that p.o.v. I must admit my jaw literally dropped at the end of chapter 16!
I enjoyed this, but as I say didn’t quite agree with the narrators p.o.v. after the bump. However it was very interesting to read a book where I feel the main was a wee bit lucky and had I been the other mains pal, I’m not sure I would have advised her to that solution. Italy was the third main in this book, and I will confess to craving charcuterie and wine throughout! Another enjoyable read from a reliable writer.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is adorable! The characters have relatable personalities and everyone loves when a dog is one of the main focuses of the book!

Beers writes a beautiful romance in this book! I absolutely loved the character of Lily. I found her to be relatable and well rounded. I also loved that she was a romance novel writer written into a romance novel! It felt strangely uncanny but heartwarming at the same time as Lily begins to find her way back from her crippling writer’s block.

By placing Lily in a beautiful but unfamiliar setting really gives this romance an edge, I was rooting for the characters to overcome all the obstacles facing them. I also really liked the character of Marina and thought that the two of them were well matched despite their age difference.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a story of creativity and love set in a beautiful backdrop and as such made for a brilliant book! I would like to thank the author and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

So this book has caused a big issue for my bank account. I’m now sweet talking my girlfriend to go on a trip to Rome with me!
This book was refreshing and fun. It allowed the reader to go on the journey with Lily, discovering Italy and slowly breaking down the walls of her writers block.
I loved the relationship between Marina and Lily. It felt authentic, especially the initial assumption they were ‘casual’. Their interactions made me giggle and blush which is always a great sign of well written chemistry.
This was a sweet summer read

DNF at 15%

I debated stopping this one for a couple of days before I finally gave up. I liked the premise of a writer escaping to Italy to work on her writer's block. But this one just didn't capture me, which sucks, because I usually like Georgia Beers books. I'm not a fan of age gap, though, so maybe that had something to do with it. Won't stop me from trying another of her books in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

Amazing book loved the characters and plot. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. I loved the book so much thank you for the arc.

A charming, feel-good read that delivers all the escapism you want in a romance novella. A Beers classic, if you like. Lily Chambers is a delightful but flawed MC — accomplished but creatively burnt-out, cynical about love yet yearning for something real. Her imposed Roman work holiday is the perfect backdrop for a sweet, slow-burn connection with Marina, a magnetic tour guide who steals every scene she’s in. Overall, a fun read that I enjoyed.

Georgia is one of my favorit authors. I never pass up the opportunity to read one of her books. That's Amore did not disappoint at all. Who doesn't love an age gap story with characters who have amazing chemistry and are very relatable. It was a joy to see characters from previous books as well. Well done ! I recommend.
4.5

Thanks to the publisher Bold Strokes Booka and NetGalley for this ARC copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for this ARC!

That's Amore is about a lesbian writer, both books and scripts, that has to run away from her home with her dog to Rome to try and get inspiration as she has been having a hard time writing. She meets an eccentric neighbour that leads her to a very gorgeous and younger Italian guide.

This book made me actually giggle, blush and feel my blood in all parts of my body. I enjoyed it quite a lot, specially the slowburn of something that could've been rushed. It takes me extra time to get into books when they're in first person, but it got easier as I adapted to the main character.

It took me some time to actually get hooked but the moment I reached certain part, it was impossible to let it go. There are many instances in which I needed to bite my fist because it was either extremely cute, or extremely hot.

If you're looking for a cute sapphic Summer romance, this is for you!

I really enjoyed That’s Amore. All the characters were fun to read about, not just Lily and Marina, but also the side characters, especially Reggie :). The chemistry between the main characters felt genuine, and the age difference didn’t bother me at all.

I loved how the author found a way to bring in some characters from previous novels, that always brings a smile to my face. The Rome setting was gorgeous and made me feel like I was there. Sweet, charming, and easy to get lost in.

At this point I sound like a broken record saying that Georgia Beers never disappoints :)

This has been a complicated read because I liked it but I didn´t love it, if that makes sense.

This is one of those books that it´s pretty cosy and lighthearted, so you can read it fast. Lily, the protagonist, goes on vacation to Italy because her edito thought it would be a nice way to get through her writer´s block (I feel her, I wish I had the money to do that as well). There she meets quite a few new friends and, between them, there´s Marina. A woman Lily quickly develops a crush on her.

Is this a slow burn? I´d say sort of. It tries to be a slow burn, and there is this push and pull of, will they get into a relationship despite Lily being here is temporary and might not last? But, ultimately, there is really not enough angst as to think they won´t get together.

So here´s my trouble with this book: I felt it boring.

Maybe I got reader´s block. Maybe there was not enough plot to justify me being interested the whole way through and absolutely not skip some chunks of it. But, hear me out, is it me or the characters weren´t fully developed?

Lily was okay, I guess. She was a bit childish (not a complain), loved her dog and felt guilty for not being able to comply with the deadlines for her latest novel. Marina was less fleshed out. All I learned from her in half the book was that she was really good and passionate about her job (doing even more than she probably should) and that... she didn´t quite want to do what her family wished for her. That´s all. It felt like, if you change her for any random character with a minimum of kindness, the plot would have worked the same: I just didn´t see anything on her that make her distinct.

Because the characters felt a bit flat for me, and the chapters very repetitive (basically it was just Lily meeting with friends at places to eat - meet Marina - think about the day), I didn´t fully enjoy reading this.

I still like this author though, and her style. Last time I read something by her I enjoyed it better, so I don´t discard this is a one book problem (or a me problem) and I will definitely try reading something else by her in the future. So take this review with that in mind.

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this book by this amazing author

i loved the fact that the author in the introduction to this book stated that though she had been to touring europe she hadnt had a holiday romance to get the idea for this book.... because when you read it those are your actual thoughts but i believe it was based on all that yummy food and wine from italy..... makes me want to go there now...

lily chambers is a successful writer with many a book to her name but her recent case of writers block has her worried.... she just cant get the words or the storyline out....so what does her publisher do.... he sends her on a holiday to the most romantic place that he knows.... Rome where he hopes it will inspire her.....

Marina Troiani has dreams.... she wants to be a successful tour guide not stuck in her families hotel .... she has aspirations of her own and wants to see if being a tour guide will be the way she wants to go building up a business based on her knowledge of tours she can put together

so when lily joins her friends tour on that day with marina guiding it instead of enjoying the sights and sounds that marina was pointing out lily was watching marina.... and getting all sorts of ideas and some of them werent for her book....

have to say i really want to go to rome now and eat pasta drink that wine and see for myself how cool a tour guided trip would be over there... sounds like fun... but also this storyline was a definite hit for me.... could not put this book down...well who can when its a georgia beers book... she makes her characters and the places come alive... i sat there drooling over the food and wanting to drink wine that i dont even drink...

looking forward to the next book by this author

I was really interested in the premise of this book and excited to read a WLW romance. 

I enjoyed the setting and the ability to escape to a little street in Rome with all the pasta and gelato I could dream of.

However, the writing and plotting fell flat for me. The first person POV read very young and childish and the tone did not match the age, education or skill set of the character. It was jarring. The pacing and the way that character moved through time in the novel felt disjointed and I found myself uninvested in the character’s journey - which was disappointing as I love to travel and feel that anticipation and excitement. For these two reasons, I found it difficult to connect with the characters in a meaningful way.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!

The MC in That's Amore, Lily, is a successful romance author facing an awful case of writers' block, so her agent sends her on a trip to Rome to spark inspiration. To her own surprise, Lily finds herself swept of her feet by an food-tour guide, Marina, who makes her feel all the feelings. But the long distance... and quite an age gap... Lily knows it all has to remain casual... right?!

That's Amore is a fun romance taking place, for the most part, in my home country - Italy. I loved the setting and the "love affair" the MC has with Italian food, because... how could you not 😉 and the way the author brought the atmosphere in Rome to life felt so magical and tangible.

In terms of the romance, I really enjoyed the first part - the spark, the early development - basically everything that happened in Italy. However, while that "third act break-up" was expected, I didn't love how it was handled and how things developed afterwards. Without going too much into spoilery details, I feel like someone still owed someone else way more explanations for their behaviour...

Anyway, I'd recommend this to anyone who loves lighthearted romances with a food-loving touch!

A fun, feel-good sapphic romance set against the dreamy backdrop of Rome 🇮🇹—That’s Amore follows a burnt-out author and her charming tour guide through pasta, pining, and personal rediscovery. Lily’s struggle to find her spark again felt super relatable, and Marina was the perfect mix of warm, grounded, and swoon-worthy. It’s light, sweet, and easy to devour—like a scoop of gelato on a hot Roman afternoon 🍦📖💘.

I love Georgia Beers, but this book just didn't have the same feel to it. I appreciated that the main character was older, however if the author/character hadn't mentioned Lily's age, I would've assumed she was far younger. Marina seemed the more mature of the two. I also felt like the plot glossed over a lot of dialogue and action that could've given Lily more dimensions. While I loved the setting, and I adored Marina, the book just fell flat this time.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.