This plot reminded me a lot of the short story "Italian Summer" by Diane Marina (published in It's Only Love: A Short Story Collection).

The story had some good moments. I was interested in the story and its characters right from the start - it's important to have that connection or I can't get into the story. The characters were fun, but right around the middle, it started to get a bit boring to me. There was the unnecessary character of Lily's niece, which just slowed the story down. I felt like several chapters were just lather, rinse, repeat - until the dramatic part, when the story picked up for me again.

What I loved were the sights, sounds, and smells of Rome. Not just Italy, but specifically its capital city. Having visited, I can say Beers painted a true representation of the city, and she did a great job of making me want to visit again. Overall, I will say I liked this book quite a bit despite the hiccup midway through, and Beers continues to be one of my favorite lesbian romance authors.

In the last days of summer, it sounds like heaven to open a cozy, cute read with holiday vibes and mouth-watering Italian food.
Lily Chambers is a bestselling romance author who’s lost her spark—both on the page and in her own love life. A trip to Rome promises to save her from writer's block so she takes a chance. It turns up to be just what she needs, not only reigniting her inspiration but introducing her to Marina, a tour guide who quickly becomes so much more. Together they wander cobblestone streets, sip espresso, share wine, and indulge in gelato and pasta. It’s also heart-melting to see how much they both adore dogs.
This story feels less like watching two people fall in love and more like falling back in love with life itself. There’s an age gap, a touch of longing, and we warned you might feel a little bit tempted to book your next holiday in Rome.

That's Amore by Georgia Beers is a sweet queer romance between American writer Lily and Italian food tour guide Marina – and, of course, with the most important side character, Lily's chihuahua Reggie. While searching for inspiration for her new book, Lily travels to Italy, meets Marina on a food tour, and visits Rome under Marina's guidance. Their relationship develops over two months until Lily has almost completed her book and decides to return to New York. I'm trying to avoid spoilers, but of course they end up together! How could they appear on the cover together and then not have a long-term relationship?

I enjoyed this book and flew through it over the course of two days. Lily's character is so well developed and I love her sarcastic internal monologue. I also felt inspired by her love of writing and romance, and now I kind of want to write my own romance book? Thanks for that, Georgia Beers!

Marina's character, on the other hand, felt two-dimensional. She's a food tour guide who has family problems, but neither are explored in depth. What was it like to grow up with her supportive mother? Where are the specific family stories for Marina that we receive for Lily? Even Serena read to me as a stronger character than Marina, the main love interest. I also found Lily's fixation on Marina's accent and skin tone to be exoticising. Yes, we get that Lily loves Marina's Italian accent, but does it have to be mentioned almost every time Marina talks?

I also had issues with the slow burn romance. I loved the "exploring Rome together" vibe: trying new food, walking at night, learning to make pasta together, tasting all the wines, etc. But because I didn't feel Marina's character was well developed, the slow burn fell flat for me. When they kissed for the first time, I was like, "Huh, okay, that's nice for them." But I didn't feel that intensity that slow burn should be building towards. There were so many opportunities to strengthen the slow burn, and I felt that was the most lacking point – hence the three-star review.

Still, I love a good sapphic romance. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in travelling romances, especially in Italy. I think it's also a good romance about a struggling author fighting writers' block (similar to Emily Henry's Beach Read).

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and Georgia Beers for this ARC!

3 stars

Lily Chambers is a well known romance author. She has written screenplays and by her own words “a bunch of books”. She’s currently facing a writer’s block, the worst in her career and her agent suggests a trip to Rome, one of the most romantic cities in the world, to see if it would spark inspiration. She stays at the gorgeous Hotel Cavatassi, and one afternoon meets a woman named Serena who lives nearby and, after striking up a friendship, she invites her on a food tour. The tour guide, a breathtaking Italian named Marina Troiani, and for Lily, it’s attraction at first sight. Marina very generously offers to take Lily on a few adventures hoping to help inspiration strike for her next book. From there, their interactions evolve and before long they’re having dates and hookups, but are they on the same page? Is it really casual for both of them? Lily eventually has to go back to her home in New York, will their relationship, however defined, survive the distance or will it crumble to pieces without so much as a goodbye?

This is the third book I’ve read written by Georgia Beers and as expected, I enjoyed it! The two previous book I had read were second chance romances so I thought an age gap storyline would be a nice change of pace. I liked that both characters felt like real, normal people. Lily talked about her tendency to overthink and showed her anxiety by cleaning every part of her house before doing something that made her nervous. The descriptions of the food made them sound incredible and, even though I’m not much of a wine drinker, this book made me want a glass.

With Marina, I think I finally understand the term “book boyfriend”, she is definitely a “book girlfriend”. There were more than a few moments in the book when I was blushing, giggling and kicking my feet. Sure, there were things she could have handled better but I would go to war for Marina. I would have loved to have a chapter from her perspective, to understand her thought process for some of her choices instead of just being told why she did what she did.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing me with an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The writing advice probably most often given is to write what you know, and I don't know if that is exactly waht Georgia Beers is doing here, but she certainly seems well tuned-in to Lily Chambers, the romance writer in That's Amore. The highly successful Lily is having some writing block and goes to Rome in hopes that being in a new setting might kick her writing into gear (and props to Beers for having one of the few agents in books who isn't a merciless taskmaster).

Lily finds a new friend and great views, but the writing isn't really moving along--at least not until she meets Marina Troiana, the Italian tour guide who immediately intrigues Lily. The interactions between Lily and Marina are cute and sexy and pretty much what one would want from a romantic couple.

I personally rated this 4.5 stars because of a few minor issues that dropped it from absolutely perfect for me, but it felt closer to 5 than a 4, so as far as full stars go, I'd go more toward 5. I have trouble with miscommunication that could easily be corrected (and lack of communication that because fairly irritating), and there was a subplot (if you could call it that) with Marina';s family that seemed to go nowhere and wasn't really needed. But I enjoyed nearly every other character in this book.

DNF at 20%. I tried multiple times to get back into it, but the writing and the way the plot develops just didn't grab me.
I wish the author a lot of luck with their release in two days!

Georgia Beers has once again crafted a descriptive and emotional love story for Lily and Marina where there is not only an age gap to navigate but also an ocean!!
The delight of the story is added to by the main setting of Rome and the addition of great supporting characters like Serena, Chloe and Jessie.
The story keeps you turning the pages and takes you on a journey to Italy and the laid back lifestyle there, the descriptions of food and wine makes you want to head to your favourite Italian restaurant!!
There’s also an Easter egg as part of the insight of a writers processes!!
Thanks to Bold Stokes Books and NetGalley for the ARC and a chance to give an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the eARC of this book!

alexa play casual by Chappell Roan

It took me a lil bit to really get into this book, but once I did, I was LOCKED. IN. I've never been to Italy before but I feel like I NEED to go now, the descriptions of the scenery and the food were so riveting and made me hungry more than once.

I thought the romance between Lily and Marina was very sweet, although more than once I wanted to throw a book at Lily because she kept trying to insist to herself that things were casual when they most definitely were NOT. And I also loved that our protagonist was 49 years old. I haven't read a lot of sapphic romances with main characters older than their 30's, and it's nice to see some other representation!

Overall I think this is a fun read for anyone who likes age gap romances, beautiful vacation destinations, and thinking "YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH HER YOU IDIOT" about the main character as they're reading.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for this eARC!!

This book got me hooked pretty easily, and I was NOT disappointed!

The story takes place in Rome, Italy (which is one of my favorite countries). Where we meet our main characters, Lily and Marina. They are both lovely, one full of dreams and the other lacking in inspiration to write her next book. I felt both of them were so compatible from the beginning, because one can give the other what she needs to fulfill her mission in Rome.

While reading this, I felt calm, rooting for them, and the romantic atmosphere that sets in is wonderful.

I got to point out two things that surprised me: first, it's a single point of view from the older one, Lily, wich is amazing to see, I haven't seen one in a while; second, the description of the places, feelings and characters were wonderfully done, leaving you with a clear imagine of what the author wants to describe, wich for me helped me a lot picturing everyhting.

I have to admit that at the end, I cried of happiness for both of them, the love they created is stunning and loving, I could really feel it, which warmed my heart!

I never went to Rome, specifically, but now I want to. I want to taste all the pastas and different wines possible, and fall in love with a tour guide.
Also, where do I find a Marina for me?

I totally recommend this amazing book if you like age-gap and a slow burn romantic atmosphere <3

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.