Pivoting to a far lighter YA read for the holidays, I selected Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch. And what’s a novel set in Tuscany without a cup of dark, rich Italian hot chocolate?
Living with Ghosts
How often are you surprised with a trip to Italy, where you’ll summer with the father you’ve never met? No? Just Lina? Okay, cool.
Lina is still mourning her mother, Hadley's, rapid decline after a brief battle with cancer, when suddenly, she’s whisked away to Tuscany. Scratch that: an American graveyard in rural Italy with the father she never knew. But this reunion was her mother’s dying wish, so she has to honor it, right? Leaving behind her best friend and her life in America, Lina barely even registers the magical scenery or the incredible food - she just wants to get this summer over with.
Her attempts to remain disinterested (and pretend she's NOT living in a cemetery) are upended when she finds one of her mother’s old journals she kept while studying photography in Italy. Itching for a chance to reconnect with the parent she’s lost, the diary is a revelation. Soon, Lina and her mother’s parallel journeys through love and loss grow mysteriously intertwined, and Lina is desperate to understand this new side of the woman who raised her. Why is she really here, and why did her mother ever leave? How can she at once laugh with and grieve for this new version of her young mother? Recruiting the help of a kind (and yes, cute) young local named Ren, Lina uncovers not just her mom’s past, but a surprising love for this new country. Maybe it's the gelato or the breathtaking sunrises talking, but, despite everything, her time in Italy makes Lina want to live again - not just survive.
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”
Gelato for the Soul
You've heard the phrase "chicken soup for the soul." Well, this book is like gelato for the soul. Rich, dreamy, sweet, and soothing. If you’re craving a wistful summer romance, a bittersweet family reunion, or an escape to Europe for the holidays, look no further: this is the novel for you. And yes, okay, it can be a little cheesy at times. But Love & Gelato truly strikes a beautiful balance between familial and romantic relationships, and focuses on our protagonist's growth more than her love life. These qualities, compounded by a stunning setting and evocative imagery and characterization make this a truly enjoyable read.
Though Evans Welch's novel is delightful to the senses, it isn't without its deeper, more somber moments. Lina's grief, often palpable, is commingled with her moments of joy and yearning. And I find it's necessary to maintain this thread of reality: loss doesn't stop time from ticking on, but the ache doesn't go away, either. I can't help but compare Lina's relationship with her mother to the dynamic found in The Girl Who Chased the Moon. Though each protagonist is desperate to learn more about a newly discovered side of their mothers, this is where their paths diverge. Lina's reckoning with her mother's life and death remains at the forefront of the novel without overpowering it, and we consistently witness Lina's attempts to connect with and understand her parent, even in the smallest moments. I'm not arguing that death should be on anyone's mind at all times, but the narration of The Girl Who Chased the Moon gave the impression that Emily's relationship with her mother was similarly impactful, when in fact it was barely mentioned or referenced. As a result, Lina felt more fully developed as a character, and her arc was far more fulfilling.
Beyond her loss, Lina herself is an immediately likeable, well-written character, if at times made a little too clueless. I say with complete honesty that I wanted to be Lina when I first read this book in high school. She's funny, smart, stubborn, and determined. And somehow, in the midst of unspeakable grief and anger, Lina is hopeful. Her adventures and romance were so utterly bright and captivating, too, and just exuded warm summer light. (Yes, I'll be on the first flight to Italy this summer.)
Lina's youthful glow was punctuated by her young mother's own voice in this well-executed narrative structure. Piecing together her mother's secret past via diary felt reminiscent of Mamma Mia in the best ways. I just love the idea of continuing to get to know someone even when they're not around, and this instance obviously speaks to the power of the written word, and the enduring power of the ones we love. Reading pages from her mother's journal brought balance and intrigue to the narrative; Hadley's perspective was refreshing and added great nuance to both characters. These diary entries and the knowledge they imparted also brought mother and daughter together in new and beautiful ways. I somehow want to be friends with college-aged Hadley AND her daughter Lina.
Jenna Evans Welch's Love & Gelato is a heartwarming, bittersweet coming-of-age story brimming with, you guessed it, love and gelato. Delving deep into the complexities of familial relationships, young love, and the foreign streets of Italy, this novel handily garners around 3.7 out of 5 stars. I want to give 4, but the story could've been stronger with further characterization of Lina's father, Howard, and less writing of Lina as a clueless 17-year-old. As I've mentioned, this book is for those who love Mamma Mia, or are fans of YA such as The Girl Who Chased the Moon or anything by Morgan Matson.
The Last Hot Chocolate Recipe You'll Ever Need
Like with A Burning, I've been dying to use this novel as an excuse to recreate a certain Italian brew. I nearly died and went to heaven when I first sampled an Italian hot chocolate (Cioccolata Calda) in Genoa, Italy, and haven't found a comparable version of it elsewhere. (I also haven't stopped thinking about it since then.) The trademark qualities of an Italian hot chocolate, or at least of the cups I had, are viscosity and flavor. A true Italian hot chocolate is dark, bordering on bittersweet, and incredibly thick.
Be warned: this drink does not fall under the refreshing category. It is literally like drinking melted dark chocolate, and would best be described as indulgent.
1 cup whole milk, divided
1 cup heavy whipping cream
4 tablespoons granulated sugar
1½ teaspoons cornstarch (reduce to 3/4 teaspoon if a thinner consistency is preferred)
4½ ounces of dark chocolate, or finely chopped from a bar
Whipped cream, optional for garnish
Chocolate shavings, optional for garnish
You need some seriously dark chocolate for a more authentic flavor, so I'd stay away from milk chocolate or anything less than 60% cacao. Rosemary Molloy, who spent time living in Italy, has an almost identical recipe here, minus the heavy whipping cream.
I think I've said this every week of December now, but this hot chocolate is possibly the most wintry drink ever. It's just so nice to cozy up with a cup of it during the cold holiday season, especially if you have ample time to take a sugar-induced nap after. Now, is this a drink Lina would have regularly enjoyed during her hot summer in Italy? Probably not. But, like gelato, this brew is inextricable from my memories of Italy, and as such a comforting drink, she should've consumed it by the gallon. I'm planning to save this treat for special occasions, and by special occasions, I mean every day until at least April.
Excuse me while I go draft an itinerary for a nonexistent Italian vacation :)
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