The Great Italian Holiday Mix-Up ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Great Italian Holiday Mix-Up by Sandy Barker
G👀dreads

Nick and Delaney each think they’ve planned the perfect romantic getaway – a mystery holiday designed by a travel matchmaking service.

And what’s more idyllic than the sun-soaked Isle of Capri with its stunning scenery, air of romance and endless Aperol Spritzes?

But when the itineraries go astray, Nick walks into a hotel suite that’s already occupied – just not by his fiancée.

Two frantic phone calls later, Nick and Delaney discover the their partners are together in Reykjavík and they’re stuck sharing a room in one of the most romantic places on earth.

As they scramble to fix the mix-up, fate steps in and they start to wonder if the wrong holiday might just be the right one after all.

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Humor

The How/Why: 🤷 It was just published last week so it might have been SM ad. OR I was searching Hoopla for a different Italian Holiday title and this one popped up so I tagged it.
I was looking for something light and fluffy after my last more serious book. I call it balance ⚖  Plus Italy 💓 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

🎉 Overall Storytelling? 🎉🎉🎉🎉

🎣 Did it grab and keep my attention? 🎣🎣🎣🎣

🗣️Would I recommend it to anyone? Yes ➕If you like a chick flick

🕮 Would I want a sequel? No ➖

📚 Would I want to read more books by this author? Yes ➕

💣💥 📢 Content Warnings? No

🌶 Spice? Yes

🌪 Plot Twist? No

👟 Pace? Okay

💻 Tidbits ~ A Travel Matchmaking Service SNAFU mix-matched two couples. Or did fate jump in an re-match them?
Delaney and Nicholas have been in a long distance relationship for two years.
Nick (short for Nicholas) and Pippa have been together for almost a decade. 
They used a travel service where you individually fill out questionnaires. The matchmaking service picks the destination and books your mystery trip to the perfect romantic location. You do not know where you are going until you arrive at the airport. Interesting concept I must admit. Takes the "where should we go" out of the equation for those of us who have a difficult time deciding. ✋[raises hand]

Nick and Nicholas have the same last name which is how the switch-a-roo takes place, sending Delaney and Nick to Capri Italy; Nicholas and Pippa to Reykjavik Iceland.
In the "Things That Don't Always Happen in Real Life" Department they were all traveling separately. It's explained so it makes sense.

Delaney is supper bubbly and spontaneous "Valley Girl" vibes. Her boyfriend Nicholas is an uptight self-absorbed jerk.
Nick is easy going although he's a professional stunt man who enjoys the adrenaline rush. Pippa is more structured and reserved.

To create the Forced Proximity, Mt Etna erupts closing off Capri to travel. The hotel is booked, in fact the entire island is booked so ya, with zero occupancy Delaney and Nick are stuck in the same room. The hotel manager is apologetic, and although it's not the hotels fault, he throws in some passes for touristy attractions. Both being easy spirts they explore the island together. 
It doesn't take long for them to realize they have a lot in common and their current long term and longish term relationships are the wrong fit and have gotten complacent. Was this mix-up a disaster or a wake-up call?
Mix in the beautiful location of Capri and all its built in love language. 

Me - channeling Jane Austen - "Seven years would be insufficient to make some people acquainted with each other, and seven days are more than enough for others". 

My annoyance was the constant references to Delaney being small, tiny, little, etc. I get the petite girl/tall muscular guy painted picture, but it started to feel like if it was movie you'd start a drinking game. Take a shot every time they mention xyz. 
TBH that annoys me equally as much when the protagonist is plus size, full figure, nothing fits, overused in the narrative.

Favorite Character: Lorenzo the hotel manager. He could work in my hotel... if I had one!

I'd say Beach Read but I don't always vacay at the beach, so instead: Throw this one in your travel bag for your next vacay. I hope you and your travel partner end up in the same location! 

🎧 Narrator: Nicolette Chin 😑, Ben Higgins :swoon: worthy🔥

🎧7.0 hours 🕮 269 pages

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