Book Review: The Heavenly Italian Ice Cream Shop

Blurb: Full of mouth-watering flavours, sunshine and escapist adventure, The Heavenly Italian Ice Cream Shop will delight fans of Vivien's Heavenly Ice Cream Shop as well as drawing in new readers with a taste for sweet treats and romance. Anna and her husband Matteo are preparing to embark on a delicious Italian adventure. After a year and a half running their ice cream shop on Brighton beach and raising their baby Isabella, Matteo is starting to miss Italy. A shared passion for ices means it's easy to settle on a new business idea - they'll open a sorbet shop on the town's cobbled square, a short walk from the sparkling blue sea. For a while, life is sweet; but then Matteo's overbearing family get involved…

Anna's younger sister Imogen has settled in Brighton running Vivien's Ice Cream Shop with boyfriend Finn, and for the first time in her life, she's enjoying putting down some roots. But then, late in the summer, things start to change and her willpower is put to the test…

First of all I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: The Heavenly Italian Ice Cream Shop follows on from Abby Clements' previous book, Vivien's Heavenly Ice Cream Shop. However, I really don't think you need to have read the first book to fully enjoy it, as the author easily fills in any gaps there could be, and soon, you find yourself immersed in the story and the characters as if you had known them all your life. 

I always enjoy stories that tell you what happened after the happy ever after and this one is exactly that. Anna, the eldest sister has just had a daughter with her gorgeous Italian boyfriend and they are learning to manage their successful ice cream shop in Brighton with the stressing life of new parents. And then, Imogen, the youngest sister thinks he has found the perfect partner to settle but her wanderlust only grows the longer she stays at home. As you can see, both sisters are in completely different moments of their lives but their love and support for each other is stronger than ever. I really enjoyed reading the sisters' interactions and seeing their bond grow.

The story from here is easy to follow and highly entertaining with more than a fair bit of family drama. Soon, the sisters find themselves in new situations and new places and you feel like you are one more in the story. When the story takes us to Sorrento I could so easily picture the stunning Italian scenery! Abby Clements has a way of transporting you far far away from home, and make you enjoy the most delicious treats too. Her descriptions of ice cream and other delicious sweet creations are so detailed and scrumptious that left me with no other choice than consume great quantities of ice cream while enjoying this summery read.

I was surprised of how much this novel made me think about my own life too. I recognized a bit of myself in Imogen, I've always wanted to see the world before settling and I take every opportunity to travel (I still need to find a job that allows me to travel more though) so I could really relate to her. I really wanted the best for her, and struggled with her when she started feeling lost, not really knowing what she is supposed to do, as I've been there myself. She is a characters that is going to stay for me for a long while. 

I am sure old and new fans of Abby Clements will fall in love with this story and its characters. It definitely has all the ingredients for the perfect summer read. 

Rating: