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Meet Me in Italy #3
A Wedding in Lake Como
A destination wedding in Italy’s Lake Como brings three best friends back together to face the secrets of the past in this romantic novel from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst.
Best friends Ava, Madison, and Chelsea made a pact to reunite for each other’s weddings when their careers sent them in different directions. But after one of them makes a choice that tears the group apart, an upcoming wedding might be their last chance to heal old wounds.
Ava is about to marry the man she loves in a lavish ceremony on the shores of Lake Como, but she’s haunted by the mistakes she’s made.
Madison’s made a name for herself as an influencer in the fashion world but is threatened by a scandal impacting everything she holds dear.
And Chelsea has the perfect family she always craved, but her professional dreams have fallen by the wayside.
As they return to Italy’s gorgeous coast, the three women revisit their life-changing first trip to Lake Como during college. When Madison comes face-to-face with the college sweetheart who was at the heart of one of the most pivotal times of her life, can they forge a new way forward?
Best friends Ava, Madison, and Chelsea made a pact to reunite for each other’s weddings when their careers sent them in different directions. But after one of them makes a choice that tears the group apart, an upcoming wedding might be their last chance to heal old wounds.
Ava is about to marry the man she loves in a lavish ceremony on the shores of Lake Como, but she’s haunted by the mistakes she’s made.
Madison’s made a name for herself as an influencer in the fashion world but is threatened by a scandal impacting everything she holds dear.
And Chelsea has the perfect family she always craved, but her professional dreams have fallen by the wayside.
As they return to Italy’s gorgeous coast, the three women revisit their life-changing first trip to Lake Como during college. When Madison comes face-to-face with the college sweetheart who was at the heart of one of the most pivotal times of her life, can they forge a new way forward?
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First published May 14, 2024
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About the author
Jennifer Probst
113 books10.2k followersJennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She holds a masters in English Literature and lives in the beautiful Hudson Valley in upstate New York. Her family keeps her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean. Her passions include horse racing, Scrabble, rescue dogs, Italian food, and wine—not necessarily in that order.
She is the NYT, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, spent 26 weeks on the NY Times. Her work has been translated in over a dozen countries, sold over a million copies, and was dubbed a "romance phenom" by Kirkus Reviews. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases at www.jenniferprobst.com. Sign up of her newsletter at www.jenniferprobst.com/newsletter for a free book.
She is the NYT, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, spent 26 weeks on the NY Times. Her work has been translated in over a dozen countries, sold over a million copies, and was dubbed a "romance phenom" by Kirkus Reviews. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases at www.jenniferprobst.com. Sign up of her newsletter at www.jenniferprobst.com/newsletter for a free book.
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July 27, 2024
**Many thanks to Berkley and Jennifer Probst for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley! Now available as of 5.14!**
"True friendship resists time, distance, and silence" - Isabel Allende
Maddie has never been the center of attention...at least, not in the way she would hope. As a quiet, tall, redhead who would rather pore over poetry than party, she doesn't have the confidence to talk to the 'cool' kids and feels like a very tiny fish in a large pond as a freshman in college. So she's nothing short of stunned when two of the popular and fun girls, Ava and Chelsey, come up to her and seem interested in being friends. Ava is at the center of the group, with her drop-dead gorgeous looks and personality, and Maddie feels special to be chosen as one of her nearest and dearest. The three spend countless hours together, with Ava and Chelsey encouraging Maddie to follow her TRUE dream of being a unique social media influencer, whose goal is to bring quirky fashion and a unique vibe to the mainstream...and of course, gain a social media following and earn a living along the way.
The three are inseparable over the years, navigating life and love as a group and tightening their own bonds...and when Maddie meets the ultra hunky Riggs at a bar and slowly falls for him, it seems all of the pieces of her life are coming together. But Ava's special attachment to Maddie and her neediness as a friend slowly starts to erode the edges of her relationship and Maddie starts to question if what she's feeling could be forever...or if her friendship and her business should be her TRUE priority. As she slowly climbs to greater popularity with Ava's help, one unfortunate incident calls their ENTIRE friendship and group harmony into question...and ultimately leaves the girls at odds with one another, their friendship estranged and seemingly a thing of the past.
UNTIL one day, when Maddie receives a wedding invitation...AVA's wedding invitation. She's getting married in gorgeous Lake Como, Italy...and the girls had made a pact to be part of EACH wedding day back in their college years. After a scandal online, Maddie's career is hanging by a thread and she finds herself questioning if this is the moment for reconciliation....but with such heartache and betrayal in the past, is there any hope for a new future? Can Maddie, Chelsey, and Ava reclaim the magic they once had as a unit...or has life and growth forced them apart for a reason...and for good?
New to Jennifer Probst and not knowing what to expect from the third in a series, I am happy to report that this book is very firmly a light romance whose focus is more on female friendship AND that it can most definitely be read as a stand-alone book. (From what I gather, it's the location that makes this part of a series rather than any recurring themes or characters.) And although this one looked a bit long given the subject matter (400 pages!) I have to admit I got swept away initially by the promise of an enchanting locale to come, as well as the sort of "introverted fashionista comes out of her shell" premise.
But somewhere between 30-50% of this read, I came to realize that what came off as fun and fresh in the beginning was moving into more shallow and redundant 'fluff' territory...and not even the promise of the enchanting Lake Como could keep me FULLY invested.
For starters, if you aren't a fashionista or would rather grab the NY Times than Vogue...I'd steer clear of this book. There are endless (and I mean endless) descriptions of what everyone is wearing, what their outfits look like, designers et. al for about, I don't know, 30-40% of the book? Yes, I know that Maddie's passion is fashion and that is fine to an extent...I love watching the Devil Wears Prada and ogling designer dresses on Say Yes to the Dress from time to time...but when it gets to the point that I'm rolling my eyes waiting for the clothing's description to be over so we can move on...that tells me it's a bit MUCH.
It's also very hard to fall in love with the female friendships in this one if you don't see the merit of the relationships...and with these three, the initial 'depth' of Maddie felt like a bait and switch. The minute her character decides to go full bore into social media influencing...I already felt my eyes drooping. At first, I was hoping she was going to be a different kind of influencer (although in many ways I doubt such a thing even exists), one who was far more focused on her purpose than her adoring fans...but nope. Ava's influence sort of just brings out what was present in her all along...a desperation to be popular and beloved, and to turn her page into a cash cow. Any sort of respect I had for Maddie sort of withered as the book went on, and honestly, once Ava went so far as to betray her? I was pretty disgusted.
And then there's the character of Ava. Painted as the sort of beautiful, hypnotic enigma that you just can't help but love...but I felt the opposite. She read classic narcissist for me from almost the first page, and despite Maddie's insecurity, I felt like someone as smart as she was should have easily been able to see what a toxic person she was in many respects. Although by the end of the book some transformation has taken place, I STILL wouldn't have been able to forgive her transgressions. Poor Chelsea, the third member of this trio, is the most likable BY FAR...and yet gets the least amount of 'page time' (rather than screen time) and we are all worse off for it. Chelsea is the only one of these three who resembled a fully functioning adult (even by story's end!) and I just didn't understand why she got the bum rush. Maddie's parents also play an important role in her background, but although interesting character development could have come from exploring THOSE relationships too...they are hardly mentioned.
All of this leads to what can only be called a messy, Jerry Springer-esque ending that honestly sort of turned my stomach. As much as I loved the idea of a little jaunt to Italy, I felt like so much of the focus was on the drama that it took away from any true 'growth' most of these characters could have experienced in the interim. As much as this is a pretty readable book (if you don't mind all of the fashion and influencer chat), I spent so much of the read frustrated by the characters and their decisions that I felt compelled to bump down my rating on that basis alone. I'm sure the 20 something set will be satisfied with a lot of the content here, but as a book that I expected to be aimed at a bit of an older audience (perhaps older than me, even!) it was about as deep and resonant as a tiny toy drum.
And although this cover and picture paints a beautiful picture of an idyllic love story in a spectacular locale...this book felt more like a cautionary tale of the dangers of both being an influencer and of BEING influenced by justTHAT kind of narcissistic friend.
3.5 stars, rounded down from 4
"True friendship resists time, distance, and silence" - Isabel Allende
Maddie has never been the center of attention...at least, not in the way she would hope. As a quiet, tall, redhead who would rather pore over poetry than party, she doesn't have the confidence to talk to the 'cool' kids and feels like a very tiny fish in a large pond as a freshman in college. So she's nothing short of stunned when two of the popular and fun girls, Ava and Chelsey, come up to her and seem interested in being friends. Ava is at the center of the group, with her drop-dead gorgeous looks and personality, and Maddie feels special to be chosen as one of her nearest and dearest. The three spend countless hours together, with Ava and Chelsey encouraging Maddie to follow her TRUE dream of being a unique social media influencer, whose goal is to bring quirky fashion and a unique vibe to the mainstream...and of course, gain a social media following and earn a living along the way.
The three are inseparable over the years, navigating life and love as a group and tightening their own bonds...and when Maddie meets the ultra hunky Riggs at a bar and slowly falls for him, it seems all of the pieces of her life are coming together. But Ava's special attachment to Maddie and her neediness as a friend slowly starts to erode the edges of her relationship and Maddie starts to question if what she's feeling could be forever...or if her friendship and her business should be her TRUE priority. As she slowly climbs to greater popularity with Ava's help, one unfortunate incident calls their ENTIRE friendship and group harmony into question...and ultimately leaves the girls at odds with one another, their friendship estranged and seemingly a thing of the past.
UNTIL one day, when Maddie receives a wedding invitation...AVA's wedding invitation. She's getting married in gorgeous Lake Como, Italy...and the girls had made a pact to be part of EACH wedding day back in their college years. After a scandal online, Maddie's career is hanging by a thread and she finds herself questioning if this is the moment for reconciliation....but with such heartache and betrayal in the past, is there any hope for a new future? Can Maddie, Chelsey, and Ava reclaim the magic they once had as a unit...or has life and growth forced them apart for a reason...and for good?
New to Jennifer Probst and not knowing what to expect from the third in a series, I am happy to report that this book is very firmly a light romance whose focus is more on female friendship AND that it can most definitely be read as a stand-alone book. (From what I gather, it's the location that makes this part of a series rather than any recurring themes or characters.) And although this one looked a bit long given the subject matter (400 pages!) I have to admit I got swept away initially by the promise of an enchanting locale to come, as well as the sort of "introverted fashionista comes out of her shell" premise.
But somewhere between 30-50% of this read, I came to realize that what came off as fun and fresh in the beginning was moving into more shallow and redundant 'fluff' territory...and not even the promise of the enchanting Lake Como could keep me FULLY invested.
For starters, if you aren't a fashionista or would rather grab the NY Times than Vogue...I'd steer clear of this book. There are endless (and I mean endless) descriptions of what everyone is wearing, what their outfits look like, designers et. al for about, I don't know, 30-40% of the book? Yes, I know that Maddie's passion is fashion and that is fine to an extent...I love watching the Devil Wears Prada and ogling designer dresses on Say Yes to the Dress from time to time...but when it gets to the point that I'm rolling my eyes waiting for the clothing's description to be over so we can move on...that tells me it's a bit MUCH.
It's also very hard to fall in love with the female friendships in this one if you don't see the merit of the relationships...and with these three, the initial 'depth' of Maddie felt like a bait and switch. The minute her character decides to go full bore into social media influencing...I already felt my eyes drooping. At first, I was hoping she was going to be a different kind of influencer (although in many ways I doubt such a thing even exists), one who was far more focused on her purpose than her adoring fans...but nope. Ava's influence sort of just brings out what was present in her all along...a desperation to be popular and beloved, and to turn her page into a cash cow. Any sort of respect I had for Maddie sort of withered as the book went on, and honestly, once Ava went so far as to betray her? I was pretty disgusted.
And then there's the character of Ava. Painted as the sort of beautiful, hypnotic enigma that you just can't help but love...but I felt the opposite. She read classic narcissist for me from almost the first page, and despite Maddie's insecurity, I felt like someone as smart as she was should have easily been able to see what a toxic person she was in many respects. Although by the end of the book some transformation has taken place, I STILL wouldn't have been able to forgive her transgressions. Poor Chelsea, the third member of this trio, is the most likable BY FAR...and yet gets the least amount of 'page time' (rather than screen time) and we are all worse off for it. Chelsea is the only one of these three who resembled a fully functioning adult (even by story's end!) and I just didn't understand why she got the bum rush. Maddie's parents also play an important role in her background, but although interesting character development could have come from exploring THOSE relationships too...they are hardly mentioned.
All of this leads to what can only be called a messy, Jerry Springer-esque ending that honestly sort of turned my stomach. As much as I loved the idea of a little jaunt to Italy, I felt like so much of the focus was on the drama that it took away from any true 'growth' most of these characters could have experienced in the interim. As much as this is a pretty readable book (if you don't mind all of the fashion and influencer chat), I spent so much of the read frustrated by the characters and their decisions that I felt compelled to bump down my rating on that basis alone. I'm sure the 20 something set will be satisfied with a lot of the content here, but as a book that I expected to be aimed at a bit of an older audience (perhaps older than me, even!) it was about as deep and resonant as a tiny toy drum.
And although this cover and picture paints a beautiful picture of an idyllic love story in a spectacular locale...this book felt more like a cautionary tale of the dangers of both being an influencer and of BEING influenced by justTHAT kind of narcissistic friend.
3.5 stars, rounded down from 4
March 23, 2025
I am prone to disliking stories about American women going abroad. This is not made better by having Ava be half Italian for the fun of it.
I hated Ava from the beginning. She is the worst kind of toxic person, and shouldn't call anyone a friend. Maddie is very woe is me, which is okay, but grows increasingly more annoying as she furthers her influencer career. Chelsea, the only palatable friend, is off screen too often for my liking.
Two tropes I abhor are second chance romance and cheating, and this book has a healthy dose of both. In my opinion, forgiveness comes too quick.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley
I hated Ava from the beginning. She is the worst kind of toxic person, and shouldn't call anyone a friend. Maddie is very woe is me, which is okay, but grows increasingly more annoying as she furthers her influencer career. Chelsea, the only palatable friend, is off screen too often for my liking.
Two tropes I abhor are second chance romance and cheating, and this book has a healthy dose of both. In my opinion, forgiveness comes too quick.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley
May 31, 2024
This is not quite the book I was expecting and not really in a good way (for me). To be fair I seemed to enjoy this book a lot less than the majority of reviews I saw so feel free to take this with a grain of salt. I knew this was a book about female friendships and also likely to have some romance. While it was about female friendships it was about a super toxic female friendship and it was a lot about forgiveness and I have to say I was cheering forgiveness on in this situation. Sometimes moving on is only about you and not giving anything to those who hurt you. I also expected this book to primarily take place in Italy, but it was mostly taking place in the past in New York City. While I did like the main character’s love interest and didn’t forgive his mistakes I didn’t like the main character or any of her relationships a lot. This book annoyed me and it was difficult to make myself want to pick this one up. I did like the writing although I had hoped for a little more description of Italy. Overall I found this book ok, but I don’t think I will be rushing to read the other two books that came before this. Overall I gave it 2.5 stars rounded up for the quality of the writing.
January 30, 2024
Why why… why did you end this book like this? OMG I need more! Awesome story of finding your true self, finding your path, and true love.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes I enjoy reading books about the power of the bestie and the girl group. But sometimes it makes me a little jealous because I’ve never had that.
This new book tells a story of a journey through time as college women and growing up finding our way amid all of the struggles to find their path.
There are so many awesome pieces in here that it’s hard to pick out a favorite, but I absolutely fell in love with Riggs and Maddie. The perfect couple that grew so much through the book. And the author depicted the intricacy of their relationship beautifully.
But you could see the cracks and you knew where the cracks were coming from. The three female characters are an extremely supportive tight-knit group, but yet one has these threads of control, manipulation, and almost a menace-like attitude that she quickly hides.
This book is told in two different alternate times by Maddie. We get the highs and the lows and an ultimate betrayal that broke my heart. Honestly. But it’s cushioned with her healing and growing with an ending that also killed me. I feel gypped because I wanted so much more for that ending.
A Wedding in Lake Como is a trip in so many ways. It’s a trip through college; through finding yourself; through supporting friends; and through finding yourself and healing.
It’s also a trip through beautiful destinations that we get to experience from the writer’s artistic pen. It’s a story to remember but I really wish she would rewrite the ending! Or maybe give us an epilogue as another short story! There’s an idea!
This is an awesome story of finding your true self, finding your path, and true love. I love it!
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full Review - https://amidlifewife.com/a-wedding-in...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes I enjoy reading books about the power of the bestie and the girl group. But sometimes it makes me a little jealous because I’ve never had that.
This new book tells a story of a journey through time as college women and growing up finding our way amid all of the struggles to find their path.
There are so many awesome pieces in here that it’s hard to pick out a favorite, but I absolutely fell in love with Riggs and Maddie. The perfect couple that grew so much through the book. And the author depicted the intricacy of their relationship beautifully.
But you could see the cracks and you knew where the cracks were coming from. The three female characters are an extremely supportive tight-knit group, but yet one has these threads of control, manipulation, and almost a menace-like attitude that she quickly hides.
This book is told in two different alternate times by Maddie. We get the highs and the lows and an ultimate betrayal that broke my heart. Honestly. But it’s cushioned with her healing and growing with an ending that also killed me. I feel gypped because I wanted so much more for that ending.
A Wedding in Lake Como is a trip in so many ways. It’s a trip through college; through finding yourself; through supporting friends; and through finding yourself and healing.
It’s also a trip through beautiful destinations that we get to experience from the writer’s artistic pen. It’s a story to remember but I really wish she would rewrite the ending! Or maybe give us an epilogue as another short story! There’s an idea!
This is an awesome story of finding your true self, finding your path, and true love. I love it!
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full Review - https://amidlifewife.com/a-wedding-in...
July 18, 2024
LOOK AT THAT COVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was a no-brainer when it came to requesting it from Netgalley. I love the chick lit and I love fictional vacations (while I remain firmly planted on my sofa). The story here is about three friends who met in college. Ava was the Regina George, Maddie was Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink and Chelsea completed the trifecta (but was totally undeveloped with no movie character to compare her to). The three made a pact to be in each other’s wedding . . . but that was before a superbadawful thing happened five years ago that splintered their group.
Really the only thing I have to say here is . . .
And OF COURSE it took until 73% to reveal what had happened. Nope. Not forgivable. Now let me channel my newfound Swiftiness and . . . .
♪♬♪ Screamed, "Fuck you,Aimee Ava" to the night sky ♪♬♪
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This was a no-brainer when it came to requesting it from Netgalley. I love the chick lit and I love fictional vacations (while I remain firmly planted on my sofa). The story here is about three friends who met in college. Ava was the Regina George, Maddie was Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink and Chelsea completed the trifecta (but was totally undeveloped with no movie character to compare her to). The three made a pact to be in each other’s wedding . . . but that was before a superbadawful thing happened five years ago that splintered their group.
Really the only thing I have to say here is . . .
And OF COURSE it took until 73% to reveal what had happened. Nope. Not forgivable. Now let me channel my newfound Swiftiness and . . . .
♪♬♪ Screamed, "Fuck you,
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 23, 2024
A heartfelt novel about three estranged friends reunited for one of their destination weddings in Lake Como. Told in flashbacks, this was a story about female friendship, betrayals, secrets, second chances and star crossed lovers as one rising social media star's boyfriend cheats on her with her best friend throwing her life in a whole different trajectory. Good on audio narrated by Carlotta Brentan and one of my fav in this series that easily be read as a standalone. Definitely worth a read for fans of authors like Emily Giffin.
May 14, 2024
Jennifer Probst has written some incredible books, and this is no different. I loved A Wedding in Lake Como! Themes present throughout this novel include coming of age, female friendship, second chances, and found family. This one certainly has emotional undertones and forgiveness is a huge factor in the characters’ lives but ultimately, it’s a relatable book and will leave readers feeling satisfied. If you’re a fan of the author’s previous novels in the series (you don’t have to have read them to enjoy this one) then you won’t want to miss this one. It’s a great beach read and one that you can read in a few hours. I recommend it!
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
May 15, 2024
4 Stars!
(ARC provided by author/Berkley Publishing)
Madison Heart never felt wanted as a child, but then she meets two women at college that become as close as sisters. Their friendship changes her life and makes her finally feel accepted and whole. She grew up an awkward, small town girl, and these relationships had defined her and helped her develop a new confidence. She'd learned more about her inner self, and was chasing her dreams of being famous. She'd always been interested in fashion, modeling, and becoming a social media influencer. As her career exploded, she was suddenly the new it girl in New York. She was on her way to becoming everything she ever wanted to be when she meets the love of her life. She has it all, and then her perfect world starts to crumble. As her friend group implodes she feels lost and lonely. She's tired of being angry, and has reached her breaking point when she receives a wedding invitation to Italy. Will she stop running, and confront the past? It's been years since their fallout, and the women that had become her family feel like strangers. Will a life changing trip finally bring her the peace she craves?
A Wedding in Lake Como (Meet Me in Italy #3) by Jennifer Probst is a heartwarming, emotional, college romance about healing, forgiveness, choices, connections, self discovery, first loves, second chances and finding your person. This story explores the intricacies of female friendship, found family, personal growth and evolving. It's a beautiful journey following three friends through all the pivotal moments of their lives. <333
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C...
(ARC provided by author/Berkley Publishing)
Madison Heart never felt wanted as a child, but then she meets two women at college that become as close as sisters. Their friendship changes her life and makes her finally feel accepted and whole. She grew up an awkward, small town girl, and these relationships had defined her and helped her develop a new confidence. She'd learned more about her inner self, and was chasing her dreams of being famous. She'd always been interested in fashion, modeling, and becoming a social media influencer. As her career exploded, she was suddenly the new it girl in New York. She was on her way to becoming everything she ever wanted to be when she meets the love of her life. She has it all, and then her perfect world starts to crumble. As her friend group implodes she feels lost and lonely. She's tired of being angry, and has reached her breaking point when she receives a wedding invitation to Italy. Will she stop running, and confront the past? It's been years since their fallout, and the women that had become her family feel like strangers. Will a life changing trip finally bring her the peace she craves?
A Wedding in Lake Como (Meet Me in Italy #3) by Jennifer Probst is a heartwarming, emotional, college romance about healing, forgiveness, choices, connections, self discovery, first loves, second chances and finding your person. This story explores the intricacies of female friendship, found family, personal growth and evolving. It's a beautiful journey following three friends through all the pivotal moments of their lives. <333
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C...
April 3, 2024
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted (free) ARC
This book could be about two hundred pages shorter, and you’d still get the whole story. It would be helpful if the past and present chapters were clearly defined with a label at the beginning of each, the vibes weren’t different enough for me to immediately know which time frame I was in.
A story of friendship, lost and attempting to be found again. We see the characters in various stages of their lives at different points. I didn’t find them particularly lovable, so I didn’t find myself ever becoming fully invested in the story. The thing about contemporary novels is you NEED to make me love the character(s) to commit to a typically less exciting read. Unfortunately this one was just not for me.
This book could be about two hundred pages shorter, and you’d still get the whole story. It would be helpful if the past and present chapters were clearly defined with a label at the beginning of each, the vibes weren’t different enough for me to immediately know which time frame I was in.
A story of friendship, lost and attempting to be found again. We see the characters in various stages of their lives at different points. I didn’t find them particularly lovable, so I didn’t find myself ever becoming fully invested in the story. The thing about contemporary novels is you NEED to make me love the character(s) to commit to a typically less exciting read. Unfortunately this one was just not for me.
November 15, 2023
A quick read that stands as a good reminder of the power of lifelong friendship, an apology, forgiveness, and second chances. 3.5 stars.
Synopsis: BFFs Ava, Madison, and Chelsea made a pact in Lake Como in their young 20s that, no matter where their careers and life took them, they'd reunite for each other's weddings. The three met at university and became inseparable, but a choice by Ava tore the group apart. Now, Ava is getting married in Lake Como, and she invites her two estranged friends, Madison and Chelsea - an invite they decide to accept because of the pact many years ago. The women meet up again in completely different places in life - Ava, marrying the man of her dreams yet haunted by her past; Madison, who "made it" as a fashion influencer yet is struggling through a public scandal; and Chelsa, who has the perfect family she always wanted yet struggles to accept that she never reached her professional dreams. Can this wedding heal old wounds and bring the women back together?
Here's what I found a bit disjointed about this book - yes, Ava made a HUGE mistake that ruined the friendship, so of course, that's why Madison needed space and an explanation at Ava's wedding later in life. But there was SO much more that she did that would require an explainer, too - she was a manipulative, jealous friend who wanted ultimate control over the behaviors of her friends. So, by the end of the book, I'm thinking, "Run, Madison...run!" It was hard to get behind THESE friendships specifically because I didn't get that warm and fuzzy lifelong friend feeling. Ultimately, I felt like I didn't want to be a part of this group of friends.
The other thing is that I didn't feel Chelsea needed to be a part of this novel, and I kept thinking that Chelsea must feel like the odd man out all of the time because it was clear that the real friendship was between Ava and Madison.
The positives - the New York City and Lake Como settings were well written, and I felt immersed in their lives based on the descriptions of those places. I really liked the story about Madison and Riggs - the second chance at love storyline was more potent than the second chance at friendship plot.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: BFFs Ava, Madison, and Chelsea made a pact in Lake Como in their young 20s that, no matter where their careers and life took them, they'd reunite for each other's weddings. The three met at university and became inseparable, but a choice by Ava tore the group apart. Now, Ava is getting married in Lake Como, and she invites her two estranged friends, Madison and Chelsea - an invite they decide to accept because of the pact many years ago. The women meet up again in completely different places in life - Ava, marrying the man of her dreams yet haunted by her past; Madison, who "made it" as a fashion influencer yet is struggling through a public scandal; and Chelsa, who has the perfect family she always wanted yet struggles to accept that she never reached her professional dreams. Can this wedding heal old wounds and bring the women back together?
Here's what I found a bit disjointed about this book - yes, Ava made a HUGE mistake that ruined the friendship, so of course, that's why Madison needed space and an explanation at Ava's wedding later in life. But there was SO much more that she did that would require an explainer, too - she was a manipulative, jealous friend who wanted ultimate control over the behaviors of her friends. So, by the end of the book, I'm thinking, "Run, Madison...run!" It was hard to get behind THESE friendships specifically because I didn't get that warm and fuzzy lifelong friend feeling. Ultimately, I felt like I didn't want to be a part of this group of friends.
The other thing is that I didn't feel Chelsea needed to be a part of this novel, and I kept thinking that Chelsea must feel like the odd man out all of the time because it was clear that the real friendship was between Ava and Madison.
The positives - the New York City and Lake Como settings were well written, and I felt immersed in their lives based on the descriptions of those places. I really liked the story about Madison and Riggs - the second chance at love storyline was more potent than the second chance at friendship plot.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2024
Three women face past failures to become friends once again as one is marrying in Lake Como. The third in the Meet Me in Italy series, A Wedding in Lake Como, shares glimpses of a toxic friendship from college and how its affected adulthood.
Probst's series continues to be well written, and the scenery comes to life in NYC, LA and Italy. The growth of the three friends takes years with forgiveness waiting in Italy, along with past loves.
Thank you, Berkley Publishing Group
Probst's series continues to be well written, and the scenery comes to life in NYC, LA and Italy. The growth of the three friends takes years with forgiveness waiting in Italy, along with past loves.
Thank you, Berkley Publishing Group
July 1, 2024
Welcome to the Maddie and Ava show. 🙄 About three friends, but you hardly get to know Chelsea. So basically just the two. The majority of the book takes place in New York, which was disappointing. Maddie and Ava were horrible. Ava is narcissistic and, apparently, Maddie is too blind to notice. Which her and her boyfriend fight about—he’s completely right. Maddie was just looking for fame bc her parents neglected her. (Please, somebody like me!) Toxic relationship all the way. The way that Ava betrays Maddie…there’s no way there could be forgiveness. Plus, at the end, knowing something about Riggs…I lost all respect for him. I was looking for an upbeat book about friendship, but there was so much negativity and toxicity that it just put me in a bad mood.
May 14, 2024
A Wedding in Lake Como was a different story from what I expected it to be. I expected most of the story to take place in Italy, but most of it is set in NYC in the past, not in Lake Como, and not in the present. Only about the last third of the book is set in the present. It made the balance between the flashbacks to the past and the present uneven.
The main theme is toxic female friendship, which is not my favorite. If I knew it was the case I probably would not have picked the book up. I liked the writing style, so I was interested enough to continue reading, but because the story didn't match my expectations, I didn't love it. I also think that the blurb and the cover are a little misleading I believe many readers will enjoy A Wedding in Lake Como, but it was not the right book for me.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley
The main theme is toxic female friendship, which is not my favorite. If I knew it was the case I probably would not have picked the book up. I liked the writing style, so I was interested enough to continue reading, but because the story didn't match my expectations, I didn't love it. I also think that the blurb and the cover are a little misleading I believe many readers will enjoy A Wedding in Lake Como, but it was not the right book for me.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley
October 7, 2024
Is your bonfire dying down? Just throw this book in there and you’re good to go!
April 19, 2025
The perfect ending to a story about friendship, love, betrayal and forgiveness. I am not crying… ALL the FEELS!
July 13, 2024
Mixed feelings about this one. Very little of this book is about Italy or Lake Como. This book is about female friendships, betrayal and forgiveness. The main characters (Ava and Maddie) are not very likable, and their toxic relationship has negative consequences that impact their lives from college into their adult years. Maddie's career as a fashion social influencer and her obsession with likes and followers is both annoying and a great example of the downside of chasing fame. The book's ending felt a bit unfinished.
May 15, 2024
DNF @ 25% because the MC is annoying and I do not like a single character. They all feel very superficial. Also the comments about "I can eat anything and not gain a pound, poor me" are gross. And the "I am going to refuse anyone's help at all, because if I bootstrap my way into becoming AN INFLUENCER (bleh) then I am better than anyone else?!" pleaaaaseeeee so entitled.
Also I do NOT recommend this audiobook. The narrator's voice is extra whiny which does not do the characters any favors.
Also I do NOT recommend this audiobook. The narrator's voice is extra whiny which does not do the characters any favors.
March 5, 2025
Cute fun pool read except that it actually stressed me out how unhealthy all the friendships were and there was NOT enough lake como content to make up for it
May 6, 2024
4/5 stars
Thank you Berkley Publishing for the advanced reading copy!
NOTE: While this is the third in the series, you don't have to have read the first two to read this one! I haven't, and I didn't feel like I missed anything at all. I'm fairly certain these are meant to be standalone, because the synopses of the first two don't seem to overlap with this one at all!
SYNOPSIS-- Ava, Madison and Chelsea were inseparable for years, until one of them made a terrible choice that tore the group apart. Now, years later, Ava is about to marry the love of her life. Returning to a pact they made in their youth to reunite for each other's weddings, Maddie and Chelsea are forced to confront the past they share with Ava, and decide if they are willing to move forward. When all of their goals and careers come into question, there's only one way to figure all of this out: together. Will Lake Como be enough to repair past mistakes? Or is that part of their lives lost forever?
This was such a solid book, and would make a GREAT beach read!! So many themes in this one that I loved; Friendship/found family, female friendships, young love, coming of age and forgiveness truly made for a beautiful story. While some of the themes in this book were hard to read, this story had a calming effect that somehow turned this into a comfort read. The Italian setting really set the scene, and the parts of the story in other places (like New York and LA) shone just as bright. Plus, if you're at all into fashion or influencers, this would be a great book for you. Overall, this story took me to so many emotional places. It was a beautiful story of the complexity of female friendships and growing up with close friends, all while growing apart. The characters had such great development and the dialogue healed parts of me that have been festering for a long time. Things came full circle in this story and wrapped up so nicely. I learned a lot about forgiveness from this story and I really enjoyed the ride through this one.
SEMI SPOILER:
Thank you Berkley Publishing for the advanced reading copy!
NOTE: While this is the third in the series, you don't have to have read the first two to read this one! I haven't, and I didn't feel like I missed anything at all. I'm fairly certain these are meant to be standalone, because the synopses of the first two don't seem to overlap with this one at all!
SYNOPSIS-- Ava, Madison and Chelsea were inseparable for years, until one of them made a terrible choice that tore the group apart. Now, years later, Ava is about to marry the love of her life. Returning to a pact they made in their youth to reunite for each other's weddings, Maddie and Chelsea are forced to confront the past they share with Ava, and decide if they are willing to move forward. When all of their goals and careers come into question, there's only one way to figure all of this out: together. Will Lake Como be enough to repair past mistakes? Or is that part of their lives lost forever?
This was such a solid book, and would make a GREAT beach read!! So many themes in this one that I loved; Friendship/found family, female friendships, young love, coming of age and forgiveness truly made for a beautiful story. While some of the themes in this book were hard to read, this story had a calming effect that somehow turned this into a comfort read. The Italian setting really set the scene, and the parts of the story in other places (like New York and LA) shone just as bright. Plus, if you're at all into fashion or influencers, this would be a great book for you. Overall, this story took me to so many emotional places. It was a beautiful story of the complexity of female friendships and growing up with close friends, all while growing apart. The characters had such great development and the dialogue healed parts of me that have been festering for a long time. Things came full circle in this story and wrapped up so nicely. I learned a lot about forgiveness from this story and I really enjoyed the ride through this one.
SEMI SPOILER:
May 24, 2024
How is this my first book by Jennifer Probst? She is a fantastic story teller.
This story is an amalgamation of so many themes including coming of age, young love and female friendships, including all the drama that comes with young adulthood.
I loved the dual timeline as it builds up the suspense to reveal the friendship destructing mistakes made.
The characters were flawed, and so authentic, some likable others not so much. Honestly quite perfect.
This story is an amalgamation of so many themes including coming of age, young love and female friendships, including all the drama that comes with young adulthood.
I loved the dual timeline as it builds up the suspense to reveal the friendship destructing mistakes made.
The characters were flawed, and so authentic, some likable others not so much. Honestly quite perfect.
September 17, 2024
I really enjoyed this one, perfect cap to the end of summer reads! The first in this series was good, the second was great, and this one was fantastic! Can’t wait for #4 to be released! 9/10.
July 27, 2024
I will be forever salty that this was the final book for me to complete my 2024 reading goals. However, it was about as good as I expected:
• Maddie — extremely “pick-me”; has no actually grasp on reality and thus making her annoyingly unrealistic
• Ava — the definition of toxic, emotionally manipulative, controlling
• Chelsea — do you even serve a purpose here?
Probst really said “give me one of each friend group stereotype please!” Each character (main and side) was un-relatable and so annoying. The way they all act in the story makes you think they’re high schoolers, but I had to constantly remind myself that they’re college/post-college people. The amount of adoration Maddie has for Ava in the beginning is as delusional as someone gets, and the repetitive, unrealistic descriptions Maddie uses continues to push the reader away from the characters. I’m doubting her abilities to be an influencer b/c she’s not connecting with anyone.
In addition to the flat, simple-designed characters, Probst writes some situations that I find hard to believe or down-right comical. Inviting someone to your wedding who you haven’t talked to in 5 years? I know Ava is rich but come on. Also, apparently it’s BOLD WILD DARING to wear white the night before your wedding during a WEDDING-RELATED EVENT!!!!! Crazy. It’s these things that drag the book even more down b/c there’s literally nothing that makes sense or can be taken seriously.
Overall, predictable and boring. I found myself annoyed more than anything while reading, but the last 1/4 did get better and it is a decent “beach” book so take that as you will.
• Maddie — extremely “pick-me”; has no actually grasp on reality and thus making her annoyingly unrealistic
• Ava — the definition of toxic, emotionally manipulative, controlling
• Chelsea — do you even serve a purpose here?
Probst really said “give me one of each friend group stereotype please!” Each character (main and side) was un-relatable and so annoying. The way they all act in the story makes you think they’re high schoolers, but I had to constantly remind myself that they’re college/post-college people. The amount of adoration Maddie has for Ava in the beginning is as delusional as someone gets, and the repetitive, unrealistic descriptions Maddie uses continues to push the reader away from the characters. I’m doubting her abilities to be an influencer b/c she’s not connecting with anyone.
In addition to the flat, simple-designed characters, Probst writes some situations that I find hard to believe or down-right comical. Inviting someone to your wedding who you haven’t talked to in 5 years? I know Ava is rich but come on. Also, apparently it’s BOLD WILD DARING to wear white the night before your wedding during a WEDDING-RELATED EVENT!!!!! Crazy. It’s these things that drag the book even more down b/c there’s literally nothing that makes sense or can be taken seriously.
Overall, predictable and boring. I found myself annoyed more than anything while reading, but the last 1/4 did get better and it is a decent “beach” book so take that as you will.
March 18, 2024
Three best friends make a pact to reunite for each other’s weddings after their careers sent them in different directions. But when a bad decision is made, it rips the group apart until an opportunity presents itself. An upcoming wedding might just be the opportunity to heal old wounds.
Told in past and present tense, you not only get a good picture of the friendship between Ava, Madison, and Chelsea, but you also get to see where things went terribly wrong. These characters are in different places in their lives and only time will tell if old wounds can be healed.
A Wedding in Lake Como is so much more than a love story or romance. It's a story about friendship and loss. A story about growth and forgiveness. And well, you can't go wrong with Lake Como as your setting. All in all, a quick, yet enjoyable read.
*Thank you so much to the publisher & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title*
Told in past and present tense, you not only get a good picture of the friendship between Ava, Madison, and Chelsea, but you also get to see where things went terribly wrong. These characters are in different places in their lives and only time will tell if old wounds can be healed.
A Wedding in Lake Como is so much more than a love story or romance. It's a story about friendship and loss. A story about growth and forgiveness. And well, you can't go wrong with Lake Como as your setting. All in all, a quick, yet enjoyable read.
*Thank you so much to the publisher & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title*
February 28, 2025
Best friends Ava, Madison, and Chelsea are going back to Italy where they went when they were sophomores in college. Hopefully, they will soon be attending one another’s weddings. As this touching story unfolds, we have an after and we have a before, mostly told from Maddie’s perspective. We learn a lot about each of their women. Ava is the bright light everyone wants to be around. Chelsea is described as a straight shooter. Maddie wanted to be a model, something she would be perfect for.
Their friendship has been frozen in time, especially after Ava’s actions shattered Chelsea’s life. Amidst this turmoil, Ava and Maddie share a secret that Chelsea remained unaware of. Ava offers Maddie something seemingly unattainable—a glimpse into a life of safety and fulfillment. Maddie is determined to protect her friend and would do anything for her. However, this bond is unhealthy, blurring the lines between friendship and something more.
Like the previous books in this series, this one is packed with depth and intrigue. While reading the series in order isn’t strictly necessary, especially considering the changing characters and locations in Italy, each book offers memorable reads that resonate with readers. We connect with the characters, their stories, and the hope they hold dear. Interestingly, while conflicts arise between the trio, I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing the evolution of these conflicts through Jennifer Probst’s writing. It offered a chance to find goodness in each character.
Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Their friendship has been frozen in time, especially after Ava’s actions shattered Chelsea’s life. Amidst this turmoil, Ava and Maddie share a secret that Chelsea remained unaware of. Ava offers Maddie something seemingly unattainable—a glimpse into a life of safety and fulfillment. Maddie is determined to protect her friend and would do anything for her. However, this bond is unhealthy, blurring the lines between friendship and something more.
Like the previous books in this series, this one is packed with depth and intrigue. While reading the series in order isn’t strictly necessary, especially considering the changing characters and locations in Italy, each book offers memorable reads that resonate with readers. We connect with the characters, their stories, and the hope they hold dear. Interestingly, while conflicts arise between the trio, I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing the evolution of these conflicts through Jennifer Probst’s writing. It offered a chance to find goodness in each character.
Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
February 4, 2025
This book is not what is promised in the description in my opinion. The description makes it sound like a book about friends reuniting in Italy 5 years after a fall out. I assumed we’d hear more about Maddie’s career and Chelsea’s life, I assumed it wouldn’t take 90% of the book before Maddie sees Riggs again. And more than anything I assumed I’d be rooting for everyone to make up. That is not what happened for me.
Most of this book takes place in the past. Maddie and Ava’s friendship is absolutely toxic. Maddie has a strange obsession with Ava and that feeling is mutual. Ava tries to completely control Maddie’s life while giving off the impression that she is being supportive and loving. And Maddie has a real need for love because of her relationship with her parents.
The only person I liked in this book was Chelsea and the end of her story felt too sudden and lacking in details.
And the change in Ava’s life was pretty drastic.
This is the third book in this series, I had actually pre-ordered the fourth book and have since canceled it.
I’m bummed. I probably should have just dnf’d this book rather than sticking with it and giving it a bad rating. But it’s getting the rating I think it deserves based on my own enjoyment of the story. I don’t feel like this book fit the book description at all and I don’t like how casually the toxic friendship wad written off by the end.
Most of this book takes place in the past. Maddie and Ava’s friendship is absolutely toxic. Maddie has a strange obsession with Ava and that feeling is mutual. Ava tries to completely control Maddie’s life while giving off the impression that she is being supportive and loving. And Maddie has a real need for love because of her relationship with her parents.
The only person I liked in this book was Chelsea and the end of her story felt too sudden and lacking in details.
And the change in Ava’s life was pretty drastic.
This is the third book in this series, I had actually pre-ordered the fourth book and have since canceled it.
I’m bummed. I probably should have just dnf’d this book rather than sticking with it and giving it a bad rating. But it’s getting the rating I think it deserves based on my own enjoyment of the story. I don’t feel like this book fit the book description at all and I don’t like how casually the toxic friendship wad written off by the end.
July 11, 2024
I enjoyed “A Wedding in Lake Como” by Jennifer Probst, and had to read it in one sitting. I highly recommend this entertaining, captivating, and memorable novel to others. This is a book about friendship, sisterhood, forgiveness, second chances, loyalty, communication, love and hope. The author vividly describes the scenery and the colorful and dramatic characters. Do you have friends that are in your life forever? Have you had friends that have betrayed or wronged you in some ways? There are betrayals and secrets, and toxic friendships.
Three friends have met in college, and have many memorable adventures together. They make a promise that no matter what they will be at each other’s weddings. Ava, Madison and Chelsea have made this pact. As the years go by, each has their separate lives and are estranged. Ava is getting married at Lake Como, and extends an invitation for all three to unite together again. Ava wants a second chance, and forgiveness. Is this at all possible? I encourage you to read this thought-provoking novel.
Three friends have met in college, and have many memorable adventures together. They make a promise that no matter what they will be at each other’s weddings. Ava, Madison and Chelsea have made this pact. As the years go by, each has their separate lives and are estranged. Ava is getting married at Lake Como, and extends an invitation for all three to unite together again. Ava wants a second chance, and forgiveness. Is this at all possible? I encourage you to read this thought-provoking novel.
May 21, 2024
Ok ok. I have so much to say about this. First, this author’s other book, The Secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti, is one of my favorite books ever, so I had high expectations for this. But for context, the thing I love about that book is how peaceful it is. Positano and the plot line are written in such a simple, Italian way. But A Wedding in Lake Como is mostly set in NYC and LA and the main character is an influencer🤢. Even when the characters were in Lake Como, I didn’t feel the same spark I did with the Secret Love Letters. That book made me want to go to Positano so badly (I did and it amazing). I just don’t think the writing was as good in this one. Onto the actual plot points; Ava was literally a modern-day Allison DiLaurentis from Pretty Little Liars because that girl was manipulative bitch and such a bad friend. I did not expect that double plot twist with Ava and Riggs, though. My jaw was on the floor. Overall, I give it a 3.5/5. I could be judging it harshly, though.
December 30, 2024
3.5/5 A fun honeymoon read for me while on the trip! One of our stops was in Lake Como so this was a fitting read and enjoyed the references to some of the places we stopped at. This was a bit of your stereotypical romance reads though presented some interesting spins and changes to the characters dynamics/relationships. Very unrealistic at times but if you rolled with it/went with the drama it was exciting lol I think the difficult part was finding any character to fall in love with and due to all the relationships being rocky and seemingly fake, it was hard to root for anyone. I do feel some of the reveals/twists were quite big jumps that were done for shock value rather than adding to the plot. Overall, if you are looking for a dramatic, escapist book set (mostly) in beautiful Lake Como, then this fits the bill!
April 12, 2024
A Wedding in Lake Como revolves around three best friends but focuses mostly on the toxic relationship of two of the three friends, Ava and Maddie. Their friendship faces a major betrayal, and for five years, the relationship is beyond repair. Due to a pact they made at the beginning of their friendship, they are brought back together but only time will tell if trust can be restored. I enjoyed the growth of Ava and Maddie’s characters from the “before” to the “after” scenes. A Wedding in Lake Como tells such a strong story of platonic female love and sisterhood, and how it to may be just as toxic as other forms of love. I have mixed feeling about the ending of the book - I prefer clear cut answers and don’t like lingering questions but that didn’t overshadow my enjoyment of the book. I must give a warning if you read this book - you will want to visit Italy, and you will want to drink a glass (or two) of wine while reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC, in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC, in exchange for my honest review.
September 14, 2024
What is not to love when the story is about friendship and a bond that seemingly can't be broken. The 3 friends meet in college and become close friends, despite their very different upbringing. Ava lost her mother when she was a child, and her father is from Italy. She has what seems like an endless supply of money. Maddie was raised by both parents, but she was "conceived by accident." Her parents think only of themselves and can't wait for Maddie to grow up and leave home. Chelsea was raised by 2 loving parents, although there isn't much in the entire novel about her family.
If you liked One Italian Summer, you would enjoy this novel as well. This is book 3 in the Meet Me in Italy series. I didn't know this when I read it, but it can be read as a stand-alone book. I'd highly recommend this novel if you enjoy reading about family and friendship.
Thank you to Berkely Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.
If you liked One Italian Summer, you would enjoy this novel as well. This is book 3 in the Meet Me in Italy series. I didn't know this when I read it, but it can be read as a stand-alone book. I'd highly recommend this novel if you enjoy reading about family and friendship.
Thank you to Berkely Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.
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