Roman Crazy

PJV QUICKIE: Roman Crazy is going on my Top 10 list of favorite books this year. Relatable characters, funny dialogue, and descriptive writing made this a five-star read. As soon as I finished the last page I wanted to start reading it again.

Review:
Avery Bardot was going through the motions in her staid, predictable life, when she caught her husband cheating on her. Deciding things were not going to change unless she makes the changes herself, a spur-of-the-moment decision to join her friend Daisy in Rome should be just what she needs to pick herself up and get on with her life. What she doesn’t expect is to run into Marcello Bianchi, the “semester abroad” fling that she never forgot.

Now, as she takes time to discover the beautiful city of Rome, she rediscovers herself and her love of art. And maybe, she re-discovers how wonderful love can be.

~~~~~~~

This is a wonderful second-chance romance but it’s so much more than that. I can’t say enough wonderful things about Roman Crazy – I really, really enjoyed being “in” this book. And that’s part of what made it so wonderful, I really felt like I was there, with Avery, walking the cobbled streets of Rome, I could almost taste the food and smell the delicious scents. I’ve never been to Italy, so I can’t say if they got everything right, but the descriptions were full and rich and it took no effort on my part to imagine the scenes. Roman Crazy gave me an acute case of wanderlust.

A lot of times I like a book because of the hunky hero or love interest. Marcello was a good character, but he wasn’t my focus – it was Avery I was cheering for. I love Avery – she’s real, not perfect. She took the easy way out when she was younger and if she hadn’t caught her husband cheating may have just kept on being alive, but not living. She jumped on this second chance and I was genuinely cheering on this fictional character. She made a few missteps along the way but grew into a strong character who knows what she wants and goes for it. (Also, I seriously want to hug the authors for the choice she makes near the end).

Throughout, Roman Crazy has humor, introspection, passion (both physical and food-related), and holds a steady pace from start to finish. I had a “book high” for days after reading Roman Crazy and I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author duo.

I've liked Alice Clayton since first reading Wallbanger. Unfortunately none of her books have lived up to that one. I wanted to like this book so hard but it just felt dialed in. Lately I feel like Alice has had concepts for books she wants to write, and pitches and outlines the plot, and then she's been filling in the blanks and fleshing out that outline. There were so many missed opportunities here that could have been elevated by her comic style, and moments that could have tugged at the heart were glossed over. Avery seemed to be a shell, and Marcello... well, we don't really get to know him. I can give you outline details about Marcello but nothing more. That's not because it's Avery's POV -- I knew Ansel quite well in Sweet Filthy Boy and that's all Mia's POV. It's that there's nothing to him. We hear he has a temper but we never see it, we don't know what he likes and what he doesn't, we have the barest details of his life without Avery for 9 years. Much like Cream of the Crop, the parts that serve the premise of the work (the travel to Rome, Rome as a city, the ups and downs of expat life) were for the most part painfully written (did I read that Alice has never been to Rome? I assume that Nina has). With Simone, the writers fall into that unfortunate trope in romance writing, that any woman who is in competition for the hero must be a raving bitch. It's so tired and frankly it's lazy writing, a way to manufacture drama (remember in Wallbanger when Caroline and Simon's Harem had no personal problems or beefs with one another? That was good writing, and closer to reality, IMO). I'm sorry I didn't like this book, because I like Alice and from what I know of Nina I think she's lovely. I've seen better from Alice, though, and I hope to see more fleshed-out work from Nina. (ps why do romance books have terrible copy-editing? there's so much back and forth between BC and BU that I wondered if Avery was faking her degree)

Avery initiates divorce proceedings after she walks in on her husband in flagrante then goes to Rome to visit a friend and get her groove back. She immediately runs in to Marcello, the Italian man she was in love with in college. She spends the next months getting back into doing art restoration and painting--which she had given up to be an attorney's wife--and moving back into a relationship with Marcello, realizing she never stopped loving him.

The authors did a good job of capturing what it is like to be in Rome and that brought back great memories for me. But, otherwise, I did not care much for this book. Marcello was a bore, with a Formica thin personality. His only identifiable characteristics are being gorgeous, working a lot, and adoring her, at least until near the end where we find he is also very into family. That's pretty much it---he has no other personality characteristics, he speaks little and only in broken English (though he lived in NYC for a while), and we never hear anything about his interests outside his work or anything else about him. He wants Avery back immediately when they meet again, requiring no explanations about her abandoning him without a word before, nor telling him her other secret that he actually knew about. Instead, he worships the ground she walks on and does everything to support her and give her everything she wants and needs without expecting anything in return--except hot sex of course. Although he was supposed to be a very proud, even arrogant, man he is a little too "whatever you want me to do, I'll do and even anticipate your wanting it before you even tell me." If you had a heroine who acted like a doormat for man like that, readers would be up in arms.

Otherwise the rest of the story is more woman's fiction than romance, all about her getting herself together. Overall, I found the tension level too low to hold my interest and read it in bits and pieces to help me fall asleep at night.

I really like some of Clayton's other novels, particularly Wallbanger, and can't help think this is more of coauthor's Nina Bocci's work than Clayton's because her other work had more tension.

One word comes to mind as I think about Roman Crazy: Serendipity. A stroke of luck at a perfect time that leads to an exciting discovery. Roman Crazy is a truly exciting discovery for readers, and its theme will resonate with those who believe that fate has a role to play in love.

Avery Bardot didn't go to Rome looking for love. She went to Rome to discover herself, apart from all of the stereotypes that had come to define her life: garden clubs, society luncheons, family gatherings, and exquisite boredom. A woman who felt like, and had gradually become little more than attractive arm candy for her wealthy, successful, recently-discovered-cheating husband. Avery wasn't looking for someone to sweep her off her feet, to rescue her from boredom or loneliness, or to "complete" her. She was looking for a second chance at life, on her own terms. And she found it.

The fact that she also found Marcello -- a lover from a happier time, the man she let go of nine years before -- and proceeded to fall head-over-heels in love with him again was pure, sweet serendipity. Call it fate, call it destiny, call it what you want - to me, it was a magical happenstance. And I loved experiencing it with her every step of the way.

Several of my favorite authors -- all much more articulate than I -- have reviewed Roman Crazy, and loved it as much as I did. It's hard to follow such glowing, succinct reviews. So I'll sum it up: Roman Crazy is THE most entertaining, light-hearted, genuinely heartfelt romance I've read in a very long time. It's an ultimate reading experience for the end of summer, precisely because it lacks mind-bending twists or the deep, angsty drama of darker romances. I can only imagine what a pleasure it was to write, because I could feel the creativity, camaraderie, and genuine fun pouring off of every page. It reads like a summer vacation feels: refreshing, warm, relaxing, and simply beautiful.

The visual imagery is so stunning that the characters came to life in a setting so perfectly laid out that it feels like a virtual trip to Rome. The sights and sounds of the city; the scents of the flowers, the clay, the markets and fresh paint; the taste of the food; the fragile beauty of ancient tapestries and frescoes was all so vividly described that I lost myself in the experience. The intensity of every character's feelings - be it embarrassment, delight, anger, confusion, happiness or sexual ecstasy - were perfectly woven within the story, making the entire package powerfully real on every level.

Of course I fell in love with Marcello; you can't help but fall in love with Marcello! But I loved every quirk of every character, even Daniel, Avery's ex, because they were all so relatable and approachable. And even in its very few, slightly darker moments, there is an underlying steadiness, a seamlessness, that made the story flow effortlessly from scene to scene. Other than imagining Alice and Nina laughing their way through parts of the manuscript, there is little evidence that Roman Crazy was co-authored, because it is so tightly woven it's an artistic tapestry unto itself.

Roman Crazy is a deeply passionate love story, with touches of gentle humor; but it is so much more. It's a story of steadfast friendship, self-discovery, maturity, and awakening. It's deeply satisfying in every way. I can't wait to see what the other "Broads Abroad" come up with as the series continues, but I'd give anything to hide away in their luggage.

I was interested in this book because it was set in my native Massachusetts as well as Trastevere a favorite Roman neighborhood. Unfortunately, I was completely disinterested in the flatpack central character, a privileged young woman who abandons the career which her expensive education trained her to pursue for the life of a society matron . Of course, as in similar formulaic novels , once she decides to resume the erstwhile career again, she lands easily into a new start in the an famously narrow field. Pretty much the same way she quickly finds a ready-made boyfriend once she decides to divorce her husband.

There were other annoyances that made it hard to continue reading this story, even if the plot was anything more than an opportunity for surface descriptions. The scene where the mother-in-law, enumerates each of her jewels with a description of her husband's affairs, was pure just laughable. And, of yes, loved having the rival for her lover's affections, physically circle her to size her up.

Then can we talk about what they call continuity issues in films? I see that one of the authors has an Italian name, but have either of them actually been to Rome? No one -- listen to me, no one -- take the Metro from the airport. It's a flat 50 Euro taxi charge and everyone knows that's how you get in to the city. And this young woman is wealthy, so there's no way she'd be dragging rolling luggage along the Metro. There were a number of other mistakes, but I finally gave up and stopped reading. I will throw in my favorite example, though, and that's the morning telephone meeting with her divorce lawyer in Boston. Rome is six hours AHEAD of Boston, so that means, the Boston lawyer got up at 4:00 am? Also, an Italian would be mortified at the idea of ordering a cappucino past 11:00 am, and would never allow American character to do so. Plus, carry-out coffee isn't done in Italy, so carrying a cup of coffee across the Piazza Campo de' Fiori wouldn't happen.

I had enough a third of the way in. I am getting too old to keep plowing through books where the author calls it in.

Disappointing compared to previous books I've read by Alice Clayton (Wallbanger series). Didn't feel any connection to the characters because they were never developed individually or as a couple. The glimpses into Avery's and Marcello's pasts aren't enough to go on. Missed opportunity and a let down after reading so many positive reviews.

This is my first read by Ms. Clayton. I totally loved the beginning of the book; it had me in stitches! It continued to be a good story, but it lost the momentum of the first several chapters. The visions of Rome were magnificent!! Very descriptive and colorful. In all, a good book. I don't know that I'll follow the series, but I will definitely read more of Ms. Clayton's books.

4.5 Painted in Wine stars

Man.
This book.
This book kept me entertained from page one.
This was my first full length Alice Clayton and (obviously) first full length Nina Bocci, and I am so about it.
Marcello was the bomb dot com. I swear, he is just all the things.
Avery was pretty awesome too! Like, I would so traipse around Rome with her.
Bocci and Clayton give me daydreams of my paints, Italy, and romance.

Roman Crazy was definitely enjoyable.
I will say it fell flat for me in a couple of places, but it happens.

Roman Crazy is a vibrant second chance romance that takes us on a lovely adventure around Italy. A novel about finding yourself, and love again after loosing it all.
A fabulous dreamy read, and probably my most favorite book I've read this year. A book full of happy!!!!

Avery just found her husband doing the secretary; hot and heavy sex on top of the desk she bought for him. Funny thing is that more so than the fact that she found him cheating on her, she's overwhelmed with sadness to realize that he has more passion for his secretary than he does for her. Sad because she gave up on her career and on her own dreams , to be a wife. She got lost behind the shadow of her husband, and she too, has lost all passion for her marriage and for her life in general.

Avery's best friend Daisy is an architect living abroad, right now she's in Rome and after hearing about her best friend's pain, she invites Avery to spend the summer in Italy with her. Maybe in Italy Avery will find her second wind and renew the passion she once felt for life. Little does Avery know, that on her first night in Italy she will encounter the one that got away, many summers ago; Marcello.

Marcello and Avery met when she was doing an internship in Barcelona. As a major in Arts, Avery had been offered a position in a prestigious museum learning about art restoration. Their love was instant, hot and sizzling. By the time it was time for Avery to go back home to the States, her and Marcello had made plans to continue with their torrid love story, but Avery never came to him.

Marcello was deeply hurt by Avery for not coming back like she had promised, but life took them in different directions, yet somehow now, years later, the attraction is just as strong as it used to be. Will Avery give love another chance? Will she allow love to once again distract her from the career she wants? And can Marcello forgive her, and trust that she will not run again?

So many questions, and we get all the answers, along with the most beautiful Italian setting, amazing secondary characters in this vibrant story that will make you swoon and fall in love with Roman Crazy.

I love books that make me smile and feel happy, and Roman Crazy did so in spades. The beauty and authensity of the story transported me to Rome, I could feel the love, hear the laughter of the people hanging out in the Piazza, I could smell the delicious food, the feelings all too vivid, making me helpless to the charm of the story. These two authors collaborated in a seamless way, you could feel the camaraderie, and how much fun they had writing it, but I couldn't tell where one's words started or the other one's ended, it was perfection.

Even thought this book was an absolute winner for me, I gotta say that what I loved the most was that the story wasn't just solely focused on the romance. Avery was getting a second chance at friendships, at life, and at love. Re-discovering herself, her friends and love, after having lost direction in her own life. As someone who's been married for a long time I could relate to her; we loose ourselves in the roles of mother or wife, and forget a little bit about what we want and who we are inside. Ever since turning thirty I have spent a lot of time contemplating about this, and making it my goal to regain my sense of indentity as a woman, and making sure I devote time to myself, and toward my dreams.

To me this book was so much more than just an entertaining story, it was a reminder for me to never forget about myself, my friends, my family. A reminder for me to stop and smell the flowers, eat the sweets, buy the shoes, drink the wine, because life is too short, and we should live it, and do it passionately.

So... C'mon hop on that Vespa and allow the colorful and sweet words of this story to take over your heart and make you smile, big. A must read!!!!! A wonderful book not to miss.

My Roman Crazy music playlist:
*Summertime Romance by Johnnyswim
*Barcelona by Giulia Y Los Tellarini
*Lost Star by Adam Levine
*Lucky by Jason Mraz
*When I Was A Boy by Biel Ballester Trio
*You're the One That I Want by Lo-Fang
*She Makes Me Laugh by The Monkees
*True Love by Coldplay

This is a dream team! Alice Clayton and Nina Bocci have paired up to deliver an absolutely wonderful, heart-warming, sweet and steamy story of second-chance love. And you need to read it!

The first chapter is so fantastic; this story bursts out of the gates and introduces you to Avery, the fantastic heroine. Her soon-to-be ex-husband and his mother are something else! When her world turns upside down, Avery escapes to Rome and the comfort of her best friend, Daisy. It takes just hours for Avery to get knocked on her a$% (literally) by the one man she thought she would never see again. Enter Marcello, one of my favorite Book Boyfriends of 2016! He's everything you hope for: a strong, sweet, seductive, hunky hero. And, you'll find yourself falling just as quickly as Avery.

Roman Crazy is a wild ride of ups and downs as Marcello and Avery rediscover one another, put their past in its place and determine if and how they can move forward together. The book is chock-full of wonderful supporting characters. The sites, sounds and tastes of Rome are so beautifully described that the city becomes another character in this already superb cast. Roman Crazy is full of romance, friendships and self-discovery. Second-chance love is one of my most favorite Romance tropes and Roman Crazy is one of the best!

BFF Book Blog uses a set of icon ratings. This book received additional ratings for: angst, butterflies, hero, heroine, romance, steamy, supporting characters, sweet and world creation. An advance copy was received in exchange for an honest review.