Romance

Review: An Italian Island Love Story by Leonie Mack

May 8, 2026

Synopsis:

When wedding planner Toni Goschl arrives on the sun-drenched Tuscan island of Elba, she can’t wait to finally meet her online friend Gabri in person. There’s only one small problem… instead of the female florist she’d been expecting, waiting for her is heartbreakingly handsome, jaw-droppingly gorgeous, Gabriele Orzati. With only a week to go until the beach-front wedding Toni and Gabri are working on, they decide to make the best of an awkward situation and spend the time together as planned.

For seven unforgettable days, as Toni gets to know the breathtaking island – and the open-hearted man who calls Elba home – she finds it increasingly difficult, in the close quarters of Gabri’s clifftop villa, to resist turning their friendship into something more.

But Toni and Gabri both have heartache in their pasts, complex lives and commitments and as the week of the wedding gathers pace, real life swims back into focus. When the time comes for Toni to head home, there’s only one question she will have to answer – can a romance begun under the dreamy Italian sun ever become a happily-ever-after?

Review:

I’m always drawn to a good summer romance, and this book had many elements I genuinely enjoyed. We follow two main characters who are trying to move forward with their lives but feel stuck. Both carry the weight of past relationship trauma holding them back, which makes them hesitant to form new connections and afraid of opening themselves up again.
When a misunderstanding about each other’s gender (names) leads them to spend a few unexpected days together, what begins as light-hearted fun slowly develops into something more. Their time together is filled with cute interactions that build intimacy, even as both try to keep emotional distance.

There is quite a bit of miscommunication, some of which could easily have been avoided. Still, it’s understandable given how guarded they both are and how afraid they are of getting too attached or confronting what that might mean. The setting added to the overall charm and gave the story an atmosphere that was easy to sink into.
While I did wish for a bit more emotional depth in certain places, this was ultimately an enjoyable and comforting read that delivered what I was hoping for.

🌙 Recension: An Italian Island Love Story (Adventure Weddings #3) by Leonie Mack
📚 Genre: Romance
📅 Release Date: April 29, 2026
📖 Publisher: Boldwood Books
📱 Read as: Kindle
📗 available in various formats – included in Kindle Unlimited
💸 I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 312
⭐️ 3/5