Name: Love Your Life
ISBN: 9781787632301

Sophie Kinsella

A woman who ditches her dating app for a writer's retreat in Italy, only to find that real love comes with its own filters

Love Your Life

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of I Owe You One, an utterly delightful novel about a woman who ditches her dating app for a writer's retreat in Italy--only to find that real love comes with its own filters "As close to perfect as romantic comedies get."--Jenny Colgan, New York Times bestselling author of The Bookshop on the Corner Call Ava romantic, but she thinks love should be found in the real world, not on apps that filter men by height, job, or astrological sign. She believes in feelings, not algorithms. So after a recent breakup and dating app debacle, she decides to put love on hold and escapes to a remote writers' retreat in coastal Italy. She's determined to finish writing the novel she's been fantasizing about, even though it means leaving her close-knit group of friends and her precious dog, Harold, behind. At the retreat, she's not allowed to use her real name or reveal any personal information. When the neighboring martial arts retreat is canceled and a few of its attendees join their small writing community, Ava, now going by "Aria," meets "Dutch," a man who seems too good to be true. The two embark on a baggage-free, whirlwind love affair, cliff-jumping into gem-colored Mediterranean waters and exploring the splendor of the Italian coast. Things seem to be perfect for Aria and Dutch. But then their real identities--Ava and Matt--must return to London. As their fantasy starts to fade, they discover just how different their personal worlds are. From food choices to annoying habits to sauna etiquette . . . are they compatible in anything? And then there's the prickly situation with Matt's ex-girlfriend, who isn't too eager to let him go. As one mishap follows another, it seems while they love each other, they just can't love each other's lives. Can they reconcile their differences to find one life together?

This book was solid! Not my favorite romance I've ever read but it does differ quite a bit from the formulas and tropes of a regular romance book. I think it was unique and easy to follow. 

Paige Leitner

Sarah Sammis

At play is a similar dynamic to the early romance of Becky and Luke (see Confessions of a Shopaholic. Here though Ava's not as extreme in her interests and obsessions. Most of the humor of their relationship comes from the dynamics of those around them: friends, roommates, and Harold.

http://pussreboots.com/blog/2022/comm...

Edit: I thought I could just leave it at that, but I have some THOUGHTS. 

1. You cannot expect me to believe they fell in love in one week without knowing anything about each other. That's infatuation at best, which brings me to point numero 2

2. You can't just tell the reader that they love each other while not having any chemistry or banter AT ALL - THE ONLY THING THEY TALK ABOUT IS HOW DIFFERENT THEY ARE. There is absolutely nothing redeeming about their relationship, just throwaway statements by the MC claiming that they are in love.

3. Ava expects that Matt will change, but refuses to acknowledge that she also lives a flawed life. You can't just push your lifestyle onto the person you claim to "love" 

Kate B-L

No, just absolutely no 

Edit: I thought I could just leave it at that, but I have some THOUGHTS. 

1. You cannot expect me to believe they fell in love in one week without knowing anything about each other. That's infatuation at best, which brings me to point numero 2

2. You can't just tell the reader that they love each other while not having any chemistry or banter AT ALL - THE ONLY THING THEY TALK ABOUT IS HOW DIFFERENT THEY ARE. There is absolutely nothing redeeming about their relationship, just throwaway statements by the MC claiming that they are in love.

3. Ava expects that Matt will change, but refuses to acknowledge that she also lives a flawed life. You can't just push your lifestyle onto the person you claim to "love" 

Crystal L

Thank you to Random House, Dial Press, and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

4/5 Stars! 

Sophie Kinsella does it again (were you expecting anything different?)! Ava decides that an Italian retreat is exactly what she needs to get her life back on track. Leaving behind her adorable dog she packs up and heads to a writers retreat where you're required to live under a pseudonym throughout the duration of the program. Ava quickly develops feelings for Matt and they decide to give the relationship a go once they leave the retreat. What makes this story great is that it breaks the trope of a fantasy vacation affair and shows what it's like once you return back to your normal life. Sometimes relationships aren't easy, and when they leave the comfort of the writer's retreat, reality shines a new life on Ava and Matt.

Lane Hokanson

Beautiful blend of fairytale and real life. Gorgeously diverse and the perfect way to spend a Sunday.

This book was just absolutely wonderful! It shows how relationships aren’t a bed of roses but they also have obstacles that the couple goes through in other to strengthen their bond with each other. There’s no such thing as a “baggage-less” relationship since one way or another you have to acknowledge your partner’s past in order to embrace all of them. 

I love how Matt and Ava were able to look past their differences, find a compromise and take their relationship to the next level. There was some strong character development between the two of them. 

Gabriella Parker

This book was just absolutely wonderful! It shows how relationships aren’t a bed of roses but they also have obstacles that the couple goes through in other to strengthen their bond with each other. There’s no such thing as a “baggage-less” relationship since one way or another you have to acknowledge your partner’s past in order to embrace all of them. 

I love how Matt and Ava were able to look past their differences, find a compromise and take their relationship to the next level. There was some strong character development between the two of them. 

Harold is my spirit animal. He's a menace to society and I love him.

Sophia

Christina Rae Lu

** spoiler alert **
           The two main characters clearly.... and I mean CLEARLY had no connection or whatsoever; they both belong in two different worlds.... but yeah, somehow at the end they still ended up together (I honestly was rooting for Nell and Topher). I always enjoy Sophie Kinsella’s books, to some extent. I like the humor and how she writes her novels however, she always manages to make the heroine of her stories annoying as f**k and this Ava is no exception. And Matt is soo dull as a character, he doesn’t speak to me at all.... it’s empty and hollow. I don’t know how I managed to finish the story at all...

Case in point: harold the menacing dog and ava should’ve ended up together.

Sabina 

DNF. 
I hate leaving poor reviews, I just can't pick this book up anymore.

I cannot cope with the characters of this book. Ava is an immature, delusional, toxic person and Matt is the dullest person ever, it's obvious he has secrets and I can't even be bothered to wonder what they are. Just a big fat NO from me.

Rose Stanley

OK, but not her best TBH. Main characters felt like less likeable versions of Becky and Luke from the Shopaholic books. Nell and Topher were great though.

cossette

find this review & others on my blog 🤍 

Trigger warnings: Mentions of parental death 

I’ve read several of Sophie Kinsella’s books before — I had picked up a copy of Confessions of a Shopaholic at an airport once, and a couple of her standalones (I Owe You One, Wedding Night, I’ve Got Your Number) shortly after. Just like all of Kinsella’s other books that I’ve read, Love Your Life was equally charming and heartwarming. I had a fair idea of what to expect from Kinsella — An optimistic heroine, witty banter, and a scene where the love interest and main character pretty much give each other a piece of their own minds for the first time, which leads them to reevaluate their life choices. And while all of that was true, I was still pleasantly surprised by Love Your Life. 

I’m not going to lie, I was a little nervous about this one — It took me a couple of chapters before I really started to enjoy it. First, I felt like the “instant attraction” trope to be a little unbelievable. Instant attraction as a trope is one of my least favorites, although occasionally I’m pleasantly surprised. I feel like the instant attraction trope is usually overdone, and often doesn’t allow for characters to actually grow and develop. To me, it felt like Ava and Matt – or Aria and Dutch – were exchanging “I Love You”’s within three days of knowing each other. Three days! Who says “I Love You” in three days, to a stranger they’ve just met, who they know nothing about? Might I reiterate that they don’t even know each other’s real names or their jobs, or even where they live at this point? Which is why I wasn’t surprised when their relationship started to fall apart in London. There was simply no foundation to their relationship. What I love about Kinsella’s writing is that everything is clearly laid out for you. You can see where the relationship starts to crumble; things that seem like throwaway bits in the beginning are never that. For the majority of the book, I was actively rooting against Ava and Matt. I remember thinking “I’ve never wanted a love interest and the main character to NOT work out so badly” for the majority of the book, but by the very end, I came to understand why Ava and Matt had fallen for each other in the first place, and was rooting for them. I just wish it didn’t take the entire book for me to finally understand what they found appealing about each other. 

“You don’t have to be ready to love anything and everything you come across.” 

I found Ava to be likable, but frustrating at times. She was a refreshing main character, one riddled with faults – as most Sophie Kinsella characters are. Ava is a hoarder. She’s flighty. She has a need to “rescue” everything, from books, to furniture, to anything and everything else. But for all of her faults, there are some redeeming factors: she’s loyal, she’s optimistic, she’s passionate and curious and dedicated. Ava would drop everything at a moment’s notice for her friends and family, including her dog Harold. Oh, I absolutely adored Harold! Such an endearing dog, and his personality reminds me of my own Toto. 

Yes, Love Your Life is a rom-com, but the real love story in Love Your Life isn’t between Ava and Matt — or Aria and Dutch, but more so, their friends. Ava’s friends are truly what you’d call ride-or-die. I don’t think there’s anything they wouldn’t do for each other. We’ve got Nell, a brutally honest friend with some serious health issues, Sarika, a logical dater who believes that love can be found through algorithms only, and Maud, a single mother with a never-ending list of favors. I was charmed equally by them all. On Matt’s side, we’ve got Topher and Nihal, two antisocial friends, that are just as loyal. All of whom don’t shy away from telling Ava and Matt what they need to hear. Something that I’ve always loved about Kinsella’s books is how well-fleshed out every character is. Each character is brimming with personality. 

Overall, I would give Love Your Life 3 stars, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick and easy read!

Natasja

✰ 𝐍𝐎 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐑 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 ✰

A great romcom from Kinsella! With me being in Italy at the moment it was really nice to read a book that’s partly about this place as well. 
I absolutely loved Ava’s dog, Harold, and her group of friends. Also Matt’s friends are great even though they are a bit different. 

I did read it in Dutch instead of English but the writing was really easy and fast paced to go through which was exactly what I needed. It’s a lighthearted read that really did make me laugh every now and then. 
I got a bit annoyed around the middle and all the problems that kept reoccurring but it wasn’t a dealbreaker for me 😜
Definitely recommend this one if you’re up for a joyful and hilarious read! And if you love naughty dogs, like I do 🐶

Anika | @chaptersofmay

Love Your Life is a fun, entertaining, mood-boosting contemporary novel. In typical Sophie Kinsella fashion, it's packed with charm and charisma. I flew through it!

Kinsella's writing always feels like a giant cuddle. Every time I read her books I'm reminded of why I'm such a fan. It's funny and inviting, but has depth and intelligence. And those qualities are on full display from page one. There is a comedic spark in this book that makes it stand out, and it’s the ideal fictional escape. Whenever I pick up a Kinsella book, I'm always excited to read it. Her stories always put me in a good mood. And that was no different with Love Your Life.

The love story between Ava and Matt (or Aria and Dutch) is an interesting one, I really like the premise. In the beginning, they know nothing about each other. But quickly learn they're complete opposites. But not opposites in an enemies-to-lovers sense. They're already lovers and want the love to work, but their lives clash at every possible avenue. In other words, Ava is a walking mess, Matt is a rock in human form.

Regrettably, I did find Ava to be frustrating. She lives in a tight bubble of positivity and optimism. Sometimes, it's like grounded reality doesn't exist. Her dog is beyond frustrating too. His mischievous antics are exhausting. Nevertheless, I did occasionally like how Ava tried to see the best in everything. And some of the funniest moments in the story are Ava's slow realisation that she and Matt are not as compatible as she hoped. 

I also found Ava's friends to be irritating, but loved Matt's roommates, especially Topher. Despite being support characters, the conversations between the guys was a highlight for me. The dynamic between them made me smile and really contributed to the entertaining elements of the book.

But sadly, the romance was lacking in this love story. There wasn’t much to swoon over, so I couldn't understand why they were so desperate to be in love with each other. Still, I enjoyed the plot twists in their not-so-perfect relationship, and the way the conclusion played out. While Love You Life isn't my favourite Kinsella read, it was still a comfort and a joy to experience.

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katie 

'As close to perfect as romantic comedies get' Jenny Colgan 'A joyful, hilarious and heart-warming tale of the challenges we face when we sign up to be part of someone else's life' Beth O'Leary The irresistible new standalone novel from No. 1 bestselling author Sophie Kinsella. I love you . . . but what if I can't love your life? Ava is sick of online dating. She's always trusted her own instincts over an algorithm, anyway, and she wants a break from it all. So when she signs up to a semi-silent, anonymous writing retreat in glorious Italy, love is the last thing on her mind. Until she meets a handsome stranger. . . All she knows is that he's funny, he's kind and - she soon learns - he's great in bed. He's equally smitten, and after a whirlwind, intoxicating affair, they pledge their love without even knowing each other's real names. But when they return home, reality hits. They're both driven mad by each other's weird quirks and annoying habits, from his eccentric, naked-sauna-loving family to her terribly behaved, shirt-shredding dog. As disaster follows disaster, it seems that while they love each other, they just can't love each other's lives. Can they overcome their differences to find one life, together? ***** EVERYBODY LOVES SOPHIE KINSELLA: ***** 'Left me giddy with laughter. I loved it' JOJO MOYES 'Life doesn't get much better than a new Sophie Kinsella novel' RED 'Fast, furious and fabulous fun' WOMAN & HOME

The joyful and romantic new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author

Kourtney

Kinsella has a way of writing that can make me laugh, even when I'm scratching my head. Certain scenes in the book had me doing a literal LOL! I loved reading about the writing retreat. I once did a weekend writing retreat (that was a bust - I just read books and relaxed the whole time) and I dream of trying that again one day, so I read the beginning of the book with pure envy. 

I also liked that the secondary characters were well thought out and not flat one-trick ponies who are only there to propel the story. Instead, they had lives that continued on while Ava was away. Matt's friends also had distinct personalities, which I always appreciate. And then there was the dog who was untrained...Harold. 

Unfortunately, I did not like the main character. And that was enough to turn me off of truly loving this book. Ava is supposed to come off as this whimsical girl trying to find her place in this world, who is romantic and falls in love with someone exactly her opposite. She basically wrote the story of Dharma and Greg but without the endearing parts. Instead, Ava comes across as naive, whiny, and immature. Phrases such as "but reality is HARD!" would be cute if she was 18, but from a 30 year old is just not what you want to read, especially during a pandemic when the world is HARD.

I was hoping to see some growth in Ava's journey, but I didn't feel like it was there. Even when she completed a goal, she spent more time throwing it in everyone's face that she did something than moving onto her next item. 

There is such a thing as opposites attract, but there is also such a thing as too much of a difference that is distracting. Dutch/Matt was such someone more rooted to reality. He would question Ava's behaviors, which would infuriate her, but then would back down and allow it to continue. 

One of the big criticisms I read in reviews about the Shopaholic series is that Kinsella does not have Becky grow. She's still acting the same as she did in book 1, but it's ok because she has people who love her. I felt like Ava could be Becky's sister.

What really drove me nuts is that there is a paragraph where Ava's family is discussed. I thought, "ohhh so THAT is why she is like she is with her hoarding." But I never saw Matt make that same epiphany. And it was never discussed again. That was a let-down for me.

And Harold. Poor untrained Harold. I am a dog rescuer, and love my dogs just as I do my actual children, but I would never in this universe leave them untrained. It is so irresponsible. It's a dangerous message to send. And, well...read up on what happens to Harold to prove my point. 

Fans of Becky Bloomwood may enjoy this one, as to love Becky's antics can equate to loving Ava's antics. I didn't hate this one, but I didn't love it either. 

 I received a digital copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Elise Riley

Sophie Kinsella, well known for her Shopaholics series, gives us a new contemporary romance about making relationships succeed in the digital age. Ava is an optimist with a capital O. Bubbly and loving, she hunts for the bright side amidst the life struggles and gives her love openly to the most important people in her life: a trio of friends and Harold her feisty beagle. Her newest passion is a regency romance novel that she can’t quite seem to finish so she books a writing retreat at a monastery in Italy to buckle down.

The twist? Everyone wears the same simple clothing and goes by a new name. Ava, now Aria, meets a handsome fellow retreater named Dutch. The two fall in love but when the retreat is over the real trials of their relationship really between. Between Harold’s antics, Dutch’s (real name Matt) family, and Ava’s friends Love Your Life is full of Kinsella’s delightfully funny scenes. I honestly laughed out loud at some of the situations Ava got herself into.

This book excels in its commentary in the work it takes to make a relationship work. Ava doesn’t believe in dealbreakers as opposed to her super picky friend Sarika who relies on a list of dealbreakers to find her perfect match. Ava puts in the work to love a person as they come flaws and all, annoying parents and a persistent ex and all. 

The only weak spot for me was Matt. He isn’t as fully realized as the other characters in Ava’s world and it’s hard to get a sense of who he is. He remains kind of a random mystery and we readers have to rely on Ava’s voice to tell us who he is instead of getting to see for ourselves. 

However, Ava is strong enough to carry this book on her own. I was utterly charmed by her sense of self and passion. She just gushes love and care. This book also has tremendous heart and made me read until the very end to see every character to get their HEA.

Yuki Reads

3.75 stars rounded up. I love how fast-paced Sophie Kinsella’s novels are! Her characters are always chaotic and lovable, and the MC Ava definitely lived up to that.

Kaylee Z

No. Just... no

As a long-time fan of Sophie Kinsella, the moment that I heard about this book, I knew I had to have it. For all of my anticipation though, Love Your Life was a very disappointing read for me. The premise sounds adorable and quirky but the actual story was frustrating, cringy and painful to read. I will say though, if you are a fan of unlikable characters… this book it for you. 

“Unlikable” pretty much sums up every single character in this story perfectly. Aria/Ava is painfully ignorantly optimistic in terms of life, relationships and her career. Dutch/Matt is an ungrateful spoiled passive man-child. Each of their friend groups are full of jerks… honestly, I could not find a single character in this book that I cared about. My main focus on finishing it was in hopes that SOMEONE would have some growth and make it all worth it. Let me say, that did not happen. There was an attempt at an arc and growth for everyone but it was tacked on to the last few chapters and most of it happened off page and we are just expected to accept these character changes with no real context or sense of it being earned.

On that note, the general plotting of the book was so odd. The relationship happened insanely quickly and the retreat really only took place within a couple chapters. I was expecting this portion to take up at least half of the book so that we could actually understand why these two characters want to continue their tryst beyond the confines of the retreat. As it is, these two continuing their relationship and being considered #goals by their fellow retreat-ers was absolutely mind boggling. More than once I shouted at the book out loud “Why are you even together?!”. As I said before, if there was a redemption arc where in the end it was all worth it then this book would have turned around for me but the pacing in which that happened was jarring and seemingly thrown in.

Another thing that I do want to touch on is that there is a side-character with a medical condition that I don’t feel was tastefully added. It seemed like this aspect was put in the story literally as catalyst to make the friend groups be ‘better people’. It just didn’t sit right with me.

Honestly, I could go on but I don’t want to further detail my dislikes as I feel that the points I’ve raised touch on my biggest gripes and focus on plot, characters and a little bit of sensitivity issues. Of all of the Sophie Kinsella books that I’ve read, this is certainly the first that I have given a 1-star to and I am hoping it is a one-off as I do plan to check out her future new releases.