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Lucy gets to spend a month backpacking around Europe the summer between high school and her first year of college thanks to her father. She, along with her traveling companion Charlene, visit Italy last and check in to the Hostel Bertolini, where the two are expecting a lovely room with a view, a bit of a splurge compared to the rest of their trip. When they check in, they find they don’t have the room they were promised, so after Charlene does some complaining, two young men who work for the hotel and sleep there too switch rooms with the young women so they can have the promised view.
As anyone who has read or seen the classic A Room with a View can tell, this YA romance is based on that story by E.M. Forster. That’s why I read this: because I love the original (OK, I have watched the movie multiple times). I didn’t have high expectations, just wanted a fun, light read, and Love, Lucy didn’t disappoint in that regard.
It follows Lucy as she has a short vacation romance with one of the young men, Jesse, an American who works part-time at the hotel. But then she has to return to Philadelphia, where she’s promised to attend her father’s alma mater and major in business. She made a deal that if he paid for this great trip, she’d abide by his wishes and put her love for theater behind her, focusing on more practical studies for her future.
She dutifully attends Forsythe University and tries to put her short romance with Jesse behind her, too. She even meets a new guy, who has all the perfect qualities for her, and she should be happy. But she really doesn’t like business, and she’s having a hard time forgetting Jesse. And when she sees that the school is going to put on a production of Rent, one of her favorite shows, she feels she can’t resist the urge to try out for her dream part.
Of course, life gets complicated for Lucy. And Jesse somehow manages to come back into her life, despite his telling her he had no interest in coming back to the States anytime soon, preferring to work and “busk” his way (singing and playing guitar) around Europe. How can she follow her heart but honor her father’s wishes and be realistic about how life goes?
I enjoyed this book and the chance to armchair-travel to Florence and Rome and revisit the characters and story of A Room with a View. This pales in comparison to the original, but it’s fun.
Rated: Moderate. There are only a few uses of mild and moderate language. There are some kissing scenes, and a couple of sex scenes that are not detailed, just a few references to taking clothes off and being together that way.
Love it! Can’t wait to read…