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A review by katiemack
When in Rome by Liam Callanan
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I requested this because I was intrigued by the setting--I have a lot of fond memories of Rome--and because the premise of Claire hanging out with three nuns in a convent to figure out her relationship to religion feels unique. While the descriptions of Rome's food, culture, and beauty are compelling and lush, unfortunately, I disliked the characters. (Well, all the characters except the nuns. The nuns are hilarious, and I would love to hang out with them.)
Claire is so wishy-washy in her priorities that I became disinterested in her journey. This might have been affected by Liam Callanan's narrative drive; while the framework is there, the plot meanders so much that it becomes tough to follow. The second-chance romance blossoming between Claire and Marcus is mildly interesting but, again, Marcus doesn't have much going for him besides the fact that he's a successful actor and has loved Claire for decades. While she doesn't feature heavily in the story, Claire's daughter Dorothy behaves more like a nineteen-year-old than a twenty-nine-year-old, inserting at least one abbreviation in each of her texts (think "G2G" or similar) and bemoaning how "old people" think.
I felt myself disengaging from the book halfway through because of these feelings, and while there are a couple of exciting plot points toward the end, I wish it had worked better for me.
Claire is so wishy-washy in her priorities that I became disinterested in her journey. This might have been affected by Liam Callanan's narrative drive; while the framework is there, the plot meanders so much that it becomes tough to follow. The second-chance romance blossoming between Claire and Marcus is mildly interesting but, again, Marcus doesn't have much going for him besides the fact that he's a successful actor and has loved Claire for decades. While she doesn't feature heavily in the story, Claire's daughter Dorothy behaves more like a nineteen-year-old than a twenty-nine-year-old, inserting at least one abbreviation in each of her texts (think "G2G" or similar) and bemoaning how "old people" think.
I felt myself disengaging from the book halfway through because of these feelings, and while there are a couple of exciting plot points toward the end, I wish it had worked better for me.