I was so utterly charmed by La Dolce Veto! It had the soft, slow feel of a perfect day spent in the Italian sun ☀️ I love when a book’s backdrop becomes a living, breathing part of the story. And that could not be more true of La Musa here.

This story follows Izzy, a former US senator brought down by a texting scandal (cough - actually by an insecure man child - cough). To escape the public eye, she flees to La Musa, Italy with the intention of loving a calm, carefree life. Her plans are upended right when she arrives as the tenant of the house she is staying at makes it clear he wants to nothing to do with a flighty American. But it’s not long until their arguing turns to banter and their chemistry starts to simmer.

I absolutely LOVED Izzy. Her journey to find herself and her purpose after her life is upended was so inspiring. We see the real physical and mental side effects of being a burnt out, over worked and under appreciated woman. And if that’s not relatable, I don’t know what is.

And Benito, my man, my man. His loyalty to his mother and his hometown is endearing. It made it so easy to root for him to win Izzy over. Swoon.

This is such a fun, light romance to kick start your Spring. I highly recommend!

Sharp, heartfelt, and completely immersive, this one grabbed me right away and never really let go. It blended political tension, feminism, family drama, and self-reinvention in a way that felt deeply personal, and I loved how much heart was woven through all of it. Italy was such a huge part of the magic too. La Musa felt alive on the page, like it was its own character, full of warmth, history, chaos, and charm. ✨🍋

This book felt especially tender in the way it explored what happens when the life you thought you were building falls apart, and you’re left figuring out who you are without it. There was something so beautiful about watching that unfold alongside love, family, and the possibility of a different kind of future. A few moments dragged a little, but the writing, tone, and overall vibe were so good that I absolutely did not care. This was exactly the kind of book I love to get lost in, and I flew through it. Four and a half stars, rounded up to five. 💛📚

Thank you to NetGalley and Keeperton for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I present to you the newest Emily Henry: Caitlin Alice Gilbert. This book is so smart, hilarious, personable, and fun. This novel is like if the town of GILMORE GIRLS transported to a small town in Italy. I fell in love with Izzy and Benito, and I absolutely loved the humor in these pages. Caitlin is a debut author to watch closely. I haven’t been this invested in a rom com since reading THE WEDDING PEOPLE in 2024. So good.

All is not fair in amore and war when it comes to politics.

Meet Isabella (Izzy) Rhodes, California's current congresswoman who ends up fleeing to Italy after some *personal* texts are leaked to the press. In the small town of La Musa. Izzy finds herself embroiled in both the city and family politics of mayor Benito.

La Dolce Veto will have you wanting to sip on an Aperol spritz while reading this utterly addictive book that beautifully blends real world problems with Italian escapism.

The chemistry is amazing, the scenery wanderlust-worthy, and the characters so darn-well written. I honestly didn't know what would happen next and loved every moment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Arndell for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

I ADORED this book. One bed trope, a strong, FIERCELY independent political goddess, a gorgeous Italian MMC and the most stunning setting in the heart of Umbria? Like what more could I actually ask for.
The plot went at the perfect pace, the storyline wasn’t predictable and it was genuinely, truly a unique concept. I read a lot of romance and my god is it good to find a fun new concept!! I feel like politics is so rarely immortalised in romance books, and when it is, it’s about men (classic!), but Izzy is a straight up powerhouse and I adored her.
There’s a whole cast of gorgeous side characters you could just imagine. Like honestly call Netflix, this could be a stunning movie… 5 stars, no notes

Everything is falling apart in the most public, humiliating way possible, and instead of fixing it, we’re romanticizing the wreckage with a one-way ticket to Italy—honestly, the drama of it all. Reviewing La Dolce Veto by Caitlin Alice Gilbert. Published by Keeperton Audiobooks | Arndell—huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted ARC and ALC.

This story drops you straight into scandal and never really lets you settle, which I appreciated. Izzy’s life doesn’t just crack—it implodes—and what follows isn’t some perfectly packaged reinvention. It’s messy, uncomfortable, and full of second-guessing. She runs to La Musa thinking distance will fix things, but instead she’s forced to sit with herself… which might be worse.

The Italian village setting is everything you want it to be: warm, chaotic, a little nosy, and completely charming. It wraps around Izzy like a soft place to land, even when she doesn’t quite know how to exist in it yet. The side characters bring so much life to the story, and the sense of found family really carries the emotional weight.

Benito starts off firmly in his grumpy era, but what makes him work is that he’s not just there to be the love interest. He has his own baggage, his own responsibilities, and his own complicated relationship with the town. Their dynamic feels grounded—less fantasy, more “two people figuring it out in real time.”

What stood out most is how the book handles identity. Izzy isn’t just recovering from a scandal—she’s grieving the version of herself she thought she’d be. And that thread runs deeper than the romance, which I really liked.

And the audiobook? So well done. Anthea Greco brings an incredible level of nuance to the narration. From the subtle emotional shifts to the distinct character voices and accents, it never feels flat or repetitive. It actually enhances the story, especially in those quieter, introspective moments where Izzy is spiraling internally. It’s the kind of performance that makes you want to keep listening just one more chapter.

“Love makes me strong… even when I don’t know if it loves me back.”

That line hit harder than expected.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

This is for readers who want more than just a love story. If you like character-driven books, small-town charm, a bit of chaos, and a main character who feels real instead of perfect, this one’s worth picking up—especially in audio.

So what would you do—disappear somewhere beautiful to start over, or face everything head-on where you are?

#LaDolceVeto #BookReview #NetGalley #AudiobookReview #WomensFiction #RomanceReads #ARCReview #Bookstagram #CozyReads #ItalySetting #SlowBurnRomance #FoundFamily #ReadersOfInstagram

This a a pleasure to read! It is a great Debut Novel!

A heartwarming self-discovery journey! Izzy faces a personal scandal while facing an ex/friend during congress elections. She decides to pack her bags and go back to Italy where she went during an exchange School Year in University.
In a small town setting, she not only finds once again her passion but propose.
Slow burn, Force proximity, Small town!

Thank you author, Keeperton and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book, in exchange of my honest review

I thoroughly enjoyed this read!

Did it give Eat, Pray, Love vibes? Absolutely.
Was it a rom-com? YES… duh.
But this book was also so much more.

At its heart, this is a story about vulnerability, self-discovery, bravery, and starting over. It paints such a vivid and honest picture of what so many women face...both professionally and personally, and does so with so much care and authenticity.

Izzy’s journey felt incredibly real. There were emotional and heavier moments, but they never felt overwhelming. Instead, you’re right there with her through it all, feeling every setback, every spark of hope, and every step toward finding herself again.

It’s relatable, inspiring, and ultimately uplifting. The kind of story that reminds you that even when everything falls apart, something beautiful can still come from it.

And honestly… in a world that feels a little too heavy sometimes, who wouldn’t want to escape to a dreamy Italian village with a gorgeous (slightly grumpy) Italian man?

I’m so glad I found this one.

What do you mean this is Caitlin’s debut??? I need MORE!!!
I’m afraid I fell in love with a place I cannot visit because it doesn’t exist 😭

first of all, the vibes are amaaazing!! as someone whose coping mechanism is running away from my problems, I would retreat somewhere in the world where no one knows me if something like that happened to me, and I couldn’t think of a better place than Italy because it would mean eating my feelings in pasta and live my “eat, pray, love” fantasy.

I absolutely loved Sutton’s personality and everything she stood for. However, I felt Benito’s personality was a bit lukewarm, I didn’t feel like he put a lot of effort until he did. And I like intense passionate romances. But I guess that’s how it was meant to be.

My favorite part was her choosing herself and her career and giving it one more try even if nothing big could come up from it. And when she rejected Levi? CHEFS KISS!!!

Thank you so much to Kepeerton and Caitlin for this ARC and ALC!

Suddenly, I want to run away to Italy and live there indefinitely.

I really loved Izzy’s character. She is fierce, but beat down, intelligent, but struggles with imposter syndromes, and incredibly dedicated, even when it feels like everyone is fighting against her.

Also, who doesn’t love a hot Italian small town mayor?!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️.5/5

As someone with a serious case of wanderlust who has always dreamed of visiting Italy, I loved how this story transported me. I was so excited to dive into La Dolce Veto by Caitlin Alice Gilbert, and I was surprised to learn it was her debut novel! The setting was incredibly detailed, and it felt like a total mini-vacation to the dreamy atmosphere of the sun-soaked Umbrian town of La Musa. The author paints such a vivid picture of the local life, from the gelato and wine to the incredible food, it really captures that feeling of hopping on a plane, saying goodbye to your everyday life, and starting over somewhere new. The scenes set in Lake Como were also so beautiful, the descriptions are so lush that I could practically see the sunlight hitting the water. It was a fun touch to see slight easter egg references to stories with similar themes, like Eat Pray Love and Under the Tuscan Sun, which perfectly set the tone for this journey of reinventing yourself.

I don’t usually gravitate toward workplace-centered or political-themed romances, especially with a main character serving as a congresswoman, but I really liked how ambitious and driven the female lead, Isabella, was. Watching her navigate her career in a traditionally male-dominated field, while overcoming failure and trying to find her own way forward, was a really nice, empowering message. The familiar romance tropes kept this story fun and light, too. For example, the grumpy/sunshine dynamic and forced proximity at the Villa Farentino kept the banter sharp and engaging throughout.

For my fellow audiobook lovers, the narration by Anthea Greco is very clear and easy to follow, even at 2x speed or higher. I mostly listened to the audio, but I did find myself jumping over to the ebook in my Kindle app to translate some of the brief Italian conversational phrases so I could fully soak in the context. Doing a bit of "immersive reading"—reading and listening at the same time—was definitely the best way to catch every detail of the culture and the story! Overall, this is a light, romantic read for your spring or summer TBR.

✨ Perfect if you love:
✈️ Travel romances set in Italy
🏡 Charming small town vibes
☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine dynamic
🚪 Forced proximity & sharp banter
🌱 Stories about self-discovery and starting over

Thank you to the publisher, Keeperton Audiobooks / Arndell, for the advanced listener copy and ebook via NetGalley for review consideration. I am choosing to leave this review voluntarily. These are my honest opinions.