The Love Academy

It's a light and fluffy look at a school for romance in Venice. Kirsty is a journalist working for a magazine that has decided that the lowest common denominator is a place to aim for. Stars and gossip are the be-all and end-all of the magazine and she's been selected to go to Venice to try out this Love Academy. Despite her relationship with Joe or maybe because of her relationship to Joe, she's willing to go. She begs and cajoles her brother Kier to go with her, broken heart and all, his heart having been broken in Venice.

She finds herself attracted to her assigned date. Romanced by the idea of romance and seduced by the idea of being in love with herself and understanding herself a bit like an Italian. She questions her life, her show more love and her purpose and finds herself along the way.

There's sometimes a little too much detail about Venice. It's almost a travelogue. The food is described in detail (but then again it is Italy, Kirsty is describing what catches her fancy and it is realistic). Some of the other characters disappear and some are broad stroked charactures that never really come alive off the page but Kirsty is full of character and quite an enjoyable person to spend some time with (though I do have a sneaking suspicion that we might get bored of each other with too much exposure!)

It's a fun read, a read that diverted me through a few bus trips without too much trauma, and that's what it's ideal for. Nothing deep, fun. show less

I would almost say that this book is worth it just for the quotes at the beginning of each chapter but it also ended up being a pretty okay read. While parts were pretty obvious, disgruntled journalist goes to Italy to find out details about a Love Academy and starts to fall for an Italian, other parts were not so predictable. The story is enjoyable, humorous in places, frustrating in others but probably leaving you ready to pack your bags and head to Italy.