My Review:In this charming, modern retelling of the classic Audrey Hepburn film Roman Holiday, a royal prince tries to escape his hectic and rigid life and ends up leading a young graduate student on a chase through the Eternal City.
Julia Costa is too busy trying to complete her PhD while also holding down a full-time job as a private tour guide in Rome to keep up with celebrity gossip. So when she crosses paths with a real, actual prince, she mistakes him for a client and takes him on a daylong tour of the city.
Intrigued by the idea of spending time with someone who obviously has no idea who he is, and delighted at the prospect of a day free of royal obligations, Niccolo La Torre, Crown Prince of Lazaretto, acts on impulse and assumes the role of Julia’s client. He swears to himself that he’ll return to his royal duties after only half a day…but he’s having the time of his life.
Until Julia presents him with the bill. Since he snuck out of the hotel without so much as a dime, he tries to escape, only to discover that she won’t let him out of her sight until he can pay her back. She’s determined to get her money…and perhaps more from the handsome stranger she’s fallen for.
Retellings can be difficult and I have already had a bad experience with a previous Roman Holiday retelling. That being said, I loved Teri Wilson's P&P retelling, Unleashing Mr. Darcy, so I was excited to read this one. I liked it but it was definitely lacking something and I'm not even sure I can tell you what that is. I think that Julia felt a bit undeveloped to me - we have a sense of her past and why she is a bit mistrustful in general - but I think there could have been more. As for Nico, he felt fleeting throughout the entire book. While I got the chemistry between them, I kept wanting something more. Even though Roman Holiday is, in and of itself, a whirlwind, somehow it didn't work in this modern context, at least for me. I still have high regard for and love this author so I will be reading the next book in this series. Let's hope it rings true for me!
Royally Roma comes out later this month on March 27, 2017, and you can purchase HERE. Book 2 of this series, Royally Romanov, comes out in July.
He didn't need a clairvoyant to tell him that this little holiday he'd embarked on would leave a mark. A slow-healing bruise that would leave him tortured and tender. In those melancholy moments, he would need these memories. Recollections of her lips, her smile, the grace with which she moved. Remembrance.
Eh, I don't think this would be a book for me since I'm really pick about my contemporary books. But the cover is kinda cute. ^_^
ReplyDeleteI've had a hard time with retellings, too. Jane Steele, for example. I always have an expectation in my mind of the story and how things should go, and I'm usually left disappointed.
ReplyDeleteI hate when it feels like something is just missing from the book to make it better. Sorry it wasn't better!! Great review!
ReplyDeleteoh I am glad you had a better experience with this retelling. It can be frustrating when a book lacks like this one sounds.
ReplyDeleteI've recently seen this one around so I'm curious about because it's a contemporary romance and that's my favorite. :) Sorry it wasn't a great read for you. :/ That's always a bummer.
ReplyDeleteRetellings can be tricky especially with something as beloved at Roman Holiday. Such a classic! I like the premise but I'll probably give this one a pass since it didn't exactly wow you.
ReplyDeleteI was highly looking forward to this one. It sucks that it fell a bit flat for you but at least you want to read the next book so I may just give this one a try :)
ReplyDeleteGenesis @ Latte Nights Reviews