Wish You Were Italian
Author: Kristin Rae
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: May 6, 2014
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Summary:
First Sentence: You can do this.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
My Review:
What attracted me to Wish You Were Italian was that the premise of the book was so cute and reminded me of one of my favorite books when I was younger. The only difference between Wish You Were Italian and one of my favorite books when I was younger was that my favorite book was set in Paris and Wish You Were Italian is set in Italy (duh). I hoped I would love Wish You Were Italian as much as I loved my other favorite book when I was younger, but sadly, that didn’t happen. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed reading Wish You Were Italian, but it just didn’t impress me much.
Throughout Wish You Were Italian, I found myself admiring Pippa…sometimes. Never in a million years would I have the guts to ditch my plans in a whole another country and just…live life the way I want to. I’ll have to plan a lot of budgets, study google maps like it’s my final exam, and cram as much of the language as I could before doing all that Pippa did. I would also be afraid to go against my parents wishes and interact with strangers so casually. However, Pippa did all that and more effortlessly, although I sometimes didn’t agree with her decisions.
“I’m in a foreign country and I’m planning to lie to my parents about my whereabouts for almost three months.” (ARC 37)
Pippa did annoy me sometimes. For example, let’s say you just met a stranger named Chiara and talked for two days. The first day you guys just talked when you bought food from the shop Chiara works in; on the second day you guys hung out a lot longer because Chiara showed you around. Chiara then offers you FREE lodging after only knowing you for two days to stay with her family. When I saw Pippa agreeing, cue the dun dun DUN music in my heads. What if the Chiara’s entire family are serial killers? Mask murderers? Thieves? How do you know for sure? I don’t know if I’m just being overly-dramatic and I don’t know if Italians are just that friendly overall, but honestly, to me, the situation was totally weird and creepy. Maybe it’s just because I live in New York City, a place with a higher crime rate compared to other places and where the words “STRANGER DANGER” are pounded into our brains since kindergarten, but if I was in Pippa’s position, I’ll be overly suspicious and refuse to take Chiara’s offer.
“We would like to invite you to stay with us.”
“Oh”…”That’s so generous of you.”
“We would love for you to stay,” she says. (ARC 75)
There is a love triangle in Wish You Were Italian, as hinted in the summary and the title. I’m sad to say that the love triangle did annoy me at times because it was so obvious, right from the very start, who Pippa would end up with. (Hint: Just looking at the book summary will tell you who Pippa will most likely end up with.) Even if you can’t tell who Pippa chose, the events in Wish You Were Italian makes it fairly obvious who the better guy is for her. What really annoyed me was the fact that Pippa is so clueless throughout it all, wondering if that guy really likes her, wondering what is up with that other guy, etc. It got really tiring to read those parts.
Overall, I’m sad to say that Wish You Were Italian didn’t impress me much. The writing didn’t stand out, I wasn’t sold on the romance, and it was just an overall “meh” read. Wish You Were Italian was a book that could be easily forgotten, despite the fact that it’s a book set in Italy, a country I really want to visit.
I was kinda excited to read this one, but with the love triangle I am not so excited anymore!
Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings
Missie recently posted…Week Recap – Some Rain, Some Sun, No Spring
Ha ha, I thought everyone would know that there would be a love triangle by reading the book summary. o:
Kelly recently posted…A Weekend Signing With Jenny Han + Morgan Matson With A Giveaway
I’ve heard about Wish You Were Italian here and there, but never put much attention to it. I actually thought the story was exactly how the title tells it, but now that I’ve read the synopsis, I guess it’s not. Reading you’re review made it even more obvious that it’s not what it’s about, but it did bring the interest in this book up a little for me. You made some very good points though, but I think I’m going to think about it…for a while :)
Well, yeah, the title of the book doesn’t play a HUGE part of the book at all. The main character of the book, Pippa, barely thinks about wishing that her American boy love interest was Italian; she just compares them two.
If you do pick this one up, I hope you’ll enjoy it Hillary! (:
Kelly recently posted…A Weekend Signing With Jenny Han + Morgan Matson With A Giveaway
The synopsis of this book intrigued me – I love books set in Italy! Mainly because I speak near-fluent Italian, but haven’t had the chance to visit the country yet. However, after seeing several reviews on this book, I have a feeling it may disappoint me. Thank you for the review, however. :)
Ebony recently posted…Bout of Books 10
I studied Italian in middle school, but sadly forgot everything I’ve learned by now. I haven’t visited Italy either. :P
Kelly recently posted…A Weekend Signing With Jenny Han + Morgan Matson With A Giveaway
Ahh sorry this one wasn’t as good as you’d thought it would be! This kind of reminds me of Royally Lost, because Becca trusts Nikolai and follows him around after only knowing him for like a few days while Pippa goes off with Chiara in a short amount of time. Definitely sounds sketchy tome, and I feel like you should at least be a LITTLE hesitant towards going into someone’s house in a FOREIGN place! Fantastic review, Kelly! <33
Eileen @ Singing and Reading in the Rain recently posted…Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
I’ve heard horrible things about Royally Lost and I haven’t read that one yet (and will probably never will), but I’m sure Wish You Were Italian is a lot better than that one. o:
And YESSSS, I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought this was weird and creepy!
Thank you Eileen! <3
Kelly recently posted…A Weekend Signing With Jenny Han + Morgan Matson With A Giveaway
I saw this book and wanted to read it immediately. I just love books that have a boy and a girl on the cover, especially when a famous romantic landmark is there, too! Anyway, A+ review! I hate it when a relationship develops way too quickly and unrealistically, too!
Yep, I love reading those kind of books too!
Those relationships just don’t make sense sadly. :l
Kelly recently posted…A Weekend Signing With Jenny Han + Morgan Matson With A Giveaway
I want to read to this book because of the Italian part (<3 Rome), but a love triangle (againt), meh.
Sanne recently posted…The Fault in Our Stars merchandise
YESSS. The Italy part of the book was what made me want to read this one.
Mhm, Wish You Were Italian has a love triangle sadly. :l
Kelly recently posted…A Weekend Signing With Jenny Han + Morgan Matson With A Giveaway
I love international adventure books!! I’m so excited to read this one now!
Wish You Were Italian has a lot of information about Italy, so if you love details like that, you’ll also love this one Jeannette! (:
Kelly recently posted…A Weekend Signing With Jenny Han + Morgan Matson With A Giveaway
I was skeptical about this book & I saw many giveaways for this book. I’m glad I held off till I read this review. Thanks for being honest.
I was kind of excited about this book but now I’m a little bit skeptical. Great review!
Maddie Croox recently posted…May TBR! | 2014
I love books set abroad in places I’d love to visit. I usually feel as if I’ve take a little trip there and gotten my interest piqued to visit the place urgently. Of course I’ve heard and read so much about Italy, I can’t wait to actually visit!
I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy the book as much as you’d hoped. I hope to admire Pippa the same you did once I finally get my hands on this book.
Chanpreet recently posted…Release Day blitz and Giveaway: Rush Too Far by Abbi Glines
great review, Kelly! can’t wait to read this!
Wait, she agreed to give live with a family she doesn’t know, in a foreign country? Are you on something, girl?! That is so… so… dangerous! And stupid! If I were in her place I won’t agree, or at least not until I learn more about the family and make sure that, yeah, I’m not gonna get murdered in my sleep!
NOOOO, love triangle? Shot me now. I hate those…
I’ve got to say, though, Kelly, that I didn’t get the feel of a “2.5 star” from your review. If I didn’t see the rating, I’d say it was a three star kind of read xD
Great review, though!
Nitzan Schwarz recently posted…Review: Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
I really want to read this. But with your ratings, not so sure anymore. :/
Clarisse recently posted…Book Review – The Longest Ride
Well I really want to go to Italy so that part of this book really intrigued! But! I probably would get just as annoyed with Pippa as you did… making it really difficult for me to enjoy the book! Plus the love triangle! Bleh! So what was the book that you used to love?