Love and Gelato

Lina felt like her world was over when her mother died.  It's always just been the two of them, but when Hadley got sick, she started telling her daughter all about Howard, a sweet and funny guy she knew in Italy.  After the funeral, Lina found out why.  Hadley wants Lina to go live in Italy with Howard, her father.

Lina doesn't want to go, but she doesn't have many options.
Despite herself, she starts to fall in love with Italy, and Howard isn't so bad even if he does live in a cemetery.

A diary from her mother's time in Italy serves as a guide for her adventures and for discovering the truth about her parents' relationship.  Her go-to guy for all these adventures is Ren, a sweet and cute boy who lives close by.

Jenna Evans Welch's book is a fun adventure in Italy full of love and gelato with the weight of Lina's grief to make it feel more substantial.  Sarah Dessen fans will enjoy this one.  Recommended for grades 8 and up.