Book Review: Wish you were Italian by Kristin Rae

• Age Range: 12 - 17 years
• Grade Level: 7 and up
• Series: If Only
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens (May 6, 2014)

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The summer before senior year of high school. It’s supposed to be one of the biggest summers of her life, but Pippa is headed to an art program she has no interest in. The one saving grace is it’s in Italy. And when the opportunity strikes, she decides to ditch the program and travel Italy accomplishing her own list of goals. Things like swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, eating a whole pizza in one sitting…and falling in love with an Italian boy!
As she explores the famous cities of Rome and Pompeii, Pippa finds herself falling for two boys: a local guy she knows is nothing but trouble and a cute American archaeology student who keeps disappearing and reappearing at the strangest moments. Will Pippa find her true love before her parents find out the truth about her summer program?

At a Glance:
When Andye went to ALA (without me) she gave my mom (Amy @readingteen2) and I a bag full of books (thanks second mommy). This book was in the bag. I started reading it right away and could not stop. I devoured it until the very end.

Action:

There was no action, gore, or violence.

Hero or Zero?

Bruno - Zero:  Bruno is nothing but trouble... Why? 
1. Can't help but flirt with every single girl he meets. 
2. A stupid little player. 
3. Arrogant, self-centered, idiot. 
4. Even though he's really, really, really... Like, really, attractive, I still don't like him. 
5. He gets in the way of Pippa and Darren being together.

Darren - Hero: Darren makes me realize that there are actually good boys out there.  
1. He is as sweet as can be.
2. Not an arrogant, self-centered, idiot.
3. His hair reminds me of Claudio Sanchez's hair (the vocalist of Coheed and Cambria), even though it might not look like it on the cover of the book.
4. He's so funny.
5. And he's really just adorable.

Heroine:
I really liked Pippa's character. Sometimes she reminded me of me (except for the big lying to her parents part... I would never get away with that).
I do dream about going to Italy, seeing all the sites, eating gelato, and eating authentic Italian food. Pippa gets to do all of that, which makes me insanely jealous. I guess I just have to wait till I'm older to finally go to Italy. This book did have a good message and I would say that that message would be to teenage girls... Don't lie to your parents!!! Even if you get a perfect cute boy out of it! And that it's important to listen to your parents because there older and have WAY more experience than you!
Oh gosh... I sound like my mother.

Something I loved:
I absolutely loved that the book was set in Italy. The book would not be the same if it was Wish you were German. No. Would not work.
I also loved how Darren was not there the whole book. I loved how he would pop up every now and then, and be there for Pippa when she really needed him.

Something(s) I hated:
There was nothing I really hated about it. Except for Bruno. But the book wouldn't be as good as it is now without Bruno.

Cliffhanger? 
Not really. Kristin Rae ended it very well, because I don't think there will be a sequel to this... Sadly.

Would I recommend it?
If you like contemporary romance then yes. Read it now.



Rating: