Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson - ADVISABLE

Henderson, Lauren Flirting in Italian 320 pgs. Delacorte Press, 2012. $17.99. Language: PG (some minor swears and the Italian word for B). Mature Content: PG Violence: G. 

Violet loves art history and wants to get into a good college. As she’s studying she finds a painting whose subject looks exactly like her. She finds a program that immerses young women in the Italian culture close to where the painting originated from and talks her mom into sending her there for the summer so she can investigate any possible connections. While there she meets Luca, a very good-looking Italian whose family has resided in the area for generations. She finds out that it’s his family relative that is the subject of the painting of whom she resembles. As she continues to “immerse” herself in the culture and find out more about any possible connection she might have to Luca and his family she finds there are plenty of people that want to make sure that never happens. 

I thought the book was great and reminded me a lot of Bridget Jones’ Diary but on a teenage level. Violent tries so hard to be confident but struggles internally. This would be great in either a middle school or high school. 

ADVISABLE: HS Reviewer: SM