I loved the humour, wit and competition. I loved the random 'not quite movie' quotes. I loved the comments on fonts! I absolutely loved it all and it's my favourite fiction read of the year to date.
There's a little nod to P.S. I Love You in this story of Lexi Walker, who embarks on the Italian adventure which she and her artist mother had planned for so many years - but which her mother dies before making. Setting off with a carefully constructed itinerary and four sealed letters from her mother, it's not long before her carefully planned trip starts to unravel - yet with touches of her mother's artwork mysteriously appearing in unexpected ways.
Rashly, on the long trans-Atlantic flight to Italy, Lexi challenged architect Mark Russo, the man in the seat alongside her, to a photography challenge: whoever captures the heart of Italy in five days wins. Following her mother's letters, and her photographic challenge around Rome, Lexi runs into Mark time and again - sometimes literally. They both have reservations about romance, especially holiday romance, but can the magic - the heart - of Italy weave its way to their own hearts?
As already mentioned, there is SO much to love in this story. As well as being genuinely hilarious in several places (Lexi re-telling at dinner with Mark's family the story of what happened by the Trevi Fountain without giving away that it involved Mark and herself is laugh-out-loud funny and one of the best written scenes in the book), there is a lot of gentle depth here. You could see it as just a brilliantly written, clever, witty read, but it's so much more. Between the nods to Star Wars, Sense and Sensibility et al, there is plenty of quiet wisdom you might not expect. This is a perfect holiday/vacation read. Light yet with depth enough to give some points to ponder, entertaining, funny in a way which keeps the reader chuckling frequently, easy to read either in a good solid reading session (perhaps under an olive tree in Italy with a nice cool drink to hand?) or in mini-bites - picking it up and putting it down between on-tour activities.
Astoundingly, this is the debut published novel from author Andra Loy, whose earlier unpublished work has clearly honed her outstanding storytelling skills. The Roman Holiday Rule reads like a book from an author with a long-established track record. She is an amazing find for Haven, and her name has gone straight onto my must-read authors list.
NOTE: I read a pre-publication version supplied by the publisher. No review was required. All comments and opinions above are entirely my own.
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