Review: Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson

Flirting In Italian

By: Lauren Henderson

Pub. Date: June 12, 2012

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Pages: 320

Source: Netgalley

Four girls. One magical, and possibly dangerous Italian summer. Family mysteries, ancient castles, long hot nights of dancing under the stars . . . and, of course, plenty of gorgeous Italian boys!

I thought this book was going to have so much potential and I was very excited to be able to read it early, but sadly, I was very disappointed. I think this book would have been perfect if it was a stand alone-instead it is part of a series. Everything was dragged on and by the time you reached the end, you are no closer to the mystery of finding out who Violet is then you were in the beginning.

See, Violet finds out that she is the exact replica of this girl in a painting from the 1700's. Violet decides to go to Italy to investigate and to figure out who she really is. She joins a summer program where she will be able to learn about the family she might come from and also to learn Italian.

One thing I did enjoy was the history of who Violet really was. But as I said, the author makes you buy the second book to find out the mystery. I didn't connect to the characters, in fact, I couldn't stand Luca, the boy Violet had a crush on (and who might be a distant cousin of hers!?!). Luca annoyed me. One minute he was sweet, the next he was being a jerk. The entire book was Violet trying to figure out her feelings for him.

I did enjoyed the setting. I think Henderson did a good job describing Italy, and I felt like I was there. I wish I was! I thought it was very brave that Violet decided to go on this journey to find out where she came from. I wish I had the balls to do something like that!

I do think a lot of people will enjoy Flirting in Italian, but it just wasn't for me.