Book Review :: All Roads Lead to Rome by Sabrina Fedel

All Roads Lead to Rome by Sabrina Fedel
ISBN: 0593705211
Published by Delacorte
on 18 June 2024
Genres: Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 336
Goodreads

When the daughter of a diplomat fake dates a Scottish celebrity in Italy, she soon finds herself living her own Roman Holiday until the feelings get real and the paparazzi's knives come out.

Introverted, slightly anxious Astoria “Story” Herriot knows everything about Rome—her mom’s an attorney here and the two of them are living la dolce vita… at least until Story’s off to college in the fall.

But when Story is in the wrong gelato shop at the right time, she’s swept up in a fake dating scheme with Scottish heartthrob, Luca Kinnaird, to protect his relationship with a pop princess. There’s something in it for her, too—Luca promises to help fund a scholarship in her dad’s memory. Soon she’s showing Luca the best cafés, sightseeing at the Mouth of Truth, and picnicking at the ruins of the Abbey of Santa Maria del Piano. Story’s travel guide skills are 10/10, but what she knows about being a celebrity—or having feelings for one? Zero.

Pretending to be Luca’s guide—then his girlfriend—gets the paparazzi’s attention . . . and what’s true and what’s fake gets blurry as their different worlds crash together. Sophisticated, hot, rich, and with the most charming accent ever, Luca is full of surprises. And maybe, too, is Story’s perfectly planned future.

It’s a fairy-tale romance in the Eternal City…will it have a fairy tale ending?

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase with one of these links, I recieve a small commission at no additional cost to you. Read the full Affiliate Policy.

What is All Roads Lead to Rome by Sabrina Fedel about?

All Roads Lead to Rome by Sabrina Fedel is about what happens when a Roman Holiday-style romance stops being fake and starts getting genuinely messy.

Astoria ‘Story’ Herriot is introverted, a little anxious, and knows Rome better than most locals – her mum works there, and the two of them are living a pretty swish life before Story heads off to university in the autumn. Then she walks into the wrong gelato shop and ends up tangled in a fake dating scheme with Luca Kinnaird – Scottish heartthrob, certified celebrity, and very much trying to protect a secret relationship with a pop star.

“The people will believe whatever the paparazzi spin for them. And the paparazzi will spin what they want the people to believe.”

Story ends up playing tour guide/girlfriend. In return, Luca helps fund a scholarship in her late father’s memory. Story shows Luca all the sites with all her Rome knowledge, but the paparazzi start circling, and the line between real and pretend starts blurring.

Story’s carefully planned future suddenly feels a lot less certain.

My thoughts on All Roads Lead to Rome

A few things drew me to this book: Rome, a Scottish leading man, and the fun Young Adult contemporary romance vibes. Something I hadn’t read in a while.

I don’t actually have too much to say about this one! I enjoyed the characters, the setting, the plot (which was simple, but light-hearted and pretty much what you’d expect). It was also giving a little bit Lizzie McGuire, but that’s probably just because of the Rome setting. 🤣

I actually listened to All Roads Lead to Rome via audio (thanks, Libby), and it was a really fun listen. It was exactly what I was expecting – university-aged kids gallivanting around a European city, eating gelato and wearing sundresses, fake dating until the ‘fake’ becomes real.

If you’re looking for a chill summer YA romance set in Rome, then this is the one for you! Just don’t expect anything mindblowing or totally different from other books like it.

Have you read All Roads Lead to Rome by Sabrina Fedel? What did you think?