I requested ‘Lizzie and Dante’ to review from netgalley having been swooned by the gorgeous cover of where the Elba sea meets the sky and the juicy Italian lemon. To me, this cover screamed easy-going, sun lounger summer read however I greatly underestimated the story of Lizzie and Dante. It’s no secret that Lizzie has stage 3 cancer and I have to admit I was a little apprehensive as to how Lizzie’s story would unfold. There are several complex issues underpinning the story of our two lovers however ‘Lizzie and Dante’ isn’t just a summer fling but a story of hope, love and learning who your family are and where you belong.
My favourite character was the lovely, charismatic Etta (who got her crimson red bra in the end!). It was great to read through the somewhat innocence and simplicity of a pre-teens eyes whilst also hearing from Lizzie’s conflicted point of view. Unlike some readers I was pleasantly surprised by the epilogue, I felt from the beginning that the end was almost inevitable and it wouldn’t have been right for Mary Bly to have finished Lizzie and Dante’s story in any other way.
If you’re looking for a straight forward romance with a predictable happily ever after ending, Lizzie and Dante may not be for you however if you’re in search of a story of love, friendship and family in the most important form, you will thoroughly enjoy reading ‘Lizzie and Dante’.
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