Review: Love & Olives (Love & Gelato #3) by Jenna Evans Welch

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Published: November 10, 2020

Genre: YA Contemporary

Source: Print ARC

Rating: 4 stars

GOODREADS

 Blurb:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Love & Gelato comes a Mamma Mia–inspired tale about a teen girl finding romance while trying to connect with her absent father in beautiful Santorini, Greece.

Liv Varanakis doesn’t have a lot of fond memories of her father, which makes sense—he fled to Greece when she was only eight. What Liv does remember, though, is their shared love for Greek myths and the lost city of Atlantis. So when Liv suddenly receives a postcard from her father explaining that National Geographic is funding a documentary about his theories on Atlantis—and will she fly out to Greece and help?—Liv jumps at the opportunity.

But when she arrives to gorgeous Santorini, things are a little…awkward. There are so many questions, so many emotions that flood to the surface after seeing her father for the first time in years. And yet Liv doesn’t want their past to get in the way of a possible reconciliation. She also definitely doesn’t want Theo—her father’s charismatic so-called “protégé”—to witness her struggle.

And that means diving into all that Santorini has to offer—the beautiful sunsets, the turquoise water, the hidden caves, and the delicious cuisine. But not everything on the Greek island is as perfect as it seems. Because as Liv slowly begins to discover, her father may not have invited her to Greece for Atlantis, but for something much more important.

Review:

When reading a Welch book, I always know I’m going to feel good by the end of it. The stories are all meaningful, romantic, and have a good blend of heavy and light. Love & Olives immediately pulled at my heartstrings because I felt connected to Liv on a whole other level. 

I loved that the story’s central theme was Atlantis but with an underlining meaning of family and forgiveness. Liv has some deep hurt from a father who left her when she was very young. Fast-forward to her senior year in high school when her father contacts her about something major happening. 

When Liv was young, she and her father bonded over their love and belief of the City of Alantis. Now that she’s older, those dreams have been put on the back burner. That is until her dad contacts her about an amazing opportunity courtesy of National Geographic. 

Next thing she knows, Liv is on her way to Greece. Where she comes face to face with her father and her own fears and disappointments. She also learns a lot about herself. Of course, there’s a sweet romance brewing with her dad’s protégé, Theo. 

I fell in love with everything about this book. It was so descriptive and beautiful. Liv is the type of heroine you can’t help but root for. She isn’t perfect, but it’s her imperfections that make her all the more loveable. Perfect ending for a perfect story. 

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are subjective but my own. 

Buy the book:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

(Photo courtesy of Goodreads)

About the Author:

Jenna Evans Welch was the kind of insatiable child reader who had no choice but to grow up to become a writer. She is the New York Times Bestselling author of LOVE & GELATO and the upcoming LOVE & LUCK. When she isn’t writing girl abroad stories, Jenna can be found chasing her children or making elaborate messes in the kitchen. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband and two young children.