Love. No matter which way you slice it, at times it’s the hardest thing in the world and at times it’s the easiest. It’s a mixture. It’s part of the reason that I am a huge fan of Christina Lauren and Anna Todd, because they capture the craziness of relationships in a way that no one else does. It’s been awhile since I have read a book that captures the ups and downs of romance that would be on par with them. And then I read Roman Crazy by Alice Clayton and Nina Bocci. They managed to write a book that I didn’t know I needed, but I always wanted.
If you haven’t heard of Alice Clayton – you have been missing out. I fell for her books when I started reading The Unidentified Red Head. It was one of the first romance books that I had read outside of Christina Lauren’s. I fell so hard for those books. Nina Bocci is a relative new comer, but I’ve been familiar with her as a publicist. So I was intrigued when I heard that they were writing a book together. When it came in the mail I sat down to read it immediately.
What kept me turning the pages and unable to move?
1 – The story of friendship.
One of the best things about Roman Crazy is that the friendship between Avery and Daisy. They are best friends and they would do anything for each other. Bocci and Clayton write a strong storyline of friendship and willing to go above and beyond. You can tell the writers value friendship and I love that.
2 – The one that got away.
I think that we all have that one person in our lives that got away. Marcello is that person for Avery. What makes him so appealing as a character is he’s not perfect, but he loves and loves deep. He’s the type of love that we all are working for – the one where you know that you’ve been through some shit, but this is what forever looks like. It’s work and sometimes it’s hard – but love is all about being there for the one you love when you need them. And Marcello has that concept down.
3 – Rome.
I love being transported far away and a lot of authors don’t accomplish that. Bocci and Clayton accomplish this with every page. They make you feel like you have been transported.
4 – That feeling that anything is possible.
As we grow up, there are things that we give up because of situations in our lives. It doesn’t always make sense. It’s not always easy. But as we give up our dreams, it doesn’t meant that they die. Don’t let go and if you do – hear the call to make your dreams come true when they call. Avery does. And she’s all the better for it.
5 – The ability to let go.
Life is a series of ups and downs, but it’s a matter of riding the waves. Bocci and Clayton weave together a powerful story of friendship, love, and following the roads that life leads you on. But they also show you that sometimes you need to let go and move forward, because living in the past isn’t helping anyone.
Here’s the synopsis-
Avery Bardot steps off the plane in Rome, looking for a fresh start. She’s left behind a soon-to-be ex-husband in Boston and plans to spend the summer with her best friend Daisy, licking her wounds—and perhaps a gelato or two. But when her American-expat friend throws her a welcome party on her first night, Avery’s thrown for a loop when she sees a man she never thought she’d see again: Italian architect Marcello Bianchi.
Marcello was the man—the one who got away. And now her past is colliding with her present, a present where she should be mourning the loss of her marriage and—hey, that fettuccine is delicious! And so is Marcello…
Slipping easily into the good life of summertime in Rome, Avery spends her days exploring a city that makes art historians swoon, and her nights swooning over her unexpected what was old is new again romance. It’s heady, it’s fevered, it’s wanton, and it’s crazy. But could this really be her new life? Or is it just a temporary reprieve before returning to the land of twin-set cardigans and crustless sandwiches?
Roman Crazy is a fun read. Don’t assume that it’s a story about sex, because it’s a romance novel. They weave together a tale of friendship, love, and finding your way in a world where you are set up to fall into societies ideals and sometimes forget who you are. It’s a story that reminds you not to loose yourself, but not to shut out the ones who bring you to life in the first place. Roman Crazy will hit you in the heart and remind you to live your life and not simply exist.
Love is out there, you may just need to go on a little journey to get it.
Roman Crazy hits bookstores September 13th.