Due palline di gelato, per favore: Love & Gelato, Netflix's summer romance, is the generous helping of comfort and adventure you've been waiting for.
Based on the YA bestseller of the same name, the film adaptation follows Lina's summer sojourn to Italy and will likely join the ranks of the best teen movies on Netflix. Plus, with a hint of mystery, a little amore and gorgeous grounds, we'd be remiss to skip out.
Perhaps taking a page from her own book, author Jenna Evans Welch seemingly used her move to Italy at 15 as inspiration for the story.
"It was so exciting to me to see the world and how much I didn’t know. [This growing awareness] is something that I really like to bring to books for teen readers because I think they’re already in that mindset: excited about what their lives could look like," she told Publisher's Weekly.
Allow us to give you the scoop—no pun intended—on Lina and everything she has in store for viewers this summer.
'Love & Gelato' Netflix
Lina just lost her mother to cancer, but she intends to make good on her promise of visiting Italy before starting college—it was her mother's final wish.
The intention of the trip is to have Lina connect with her father, whoever he might be. Upon arrival to the Mediterranean country, she stays with her mother's friend, Howie, and is given her old diary and camera, which ultimately gives Lina a glimpse into her mom's past and acts as a guidebook for the present day. Along the way, the notes scribbled on the pages spill a few juicy secrets.
(If this gives you a hankering for a getaway, check out our picks for the best destinations for solo travel.)
'Love & Gelato' trailer
Just try not to swoon when you see the getaway that awaits Lina. Anyone else starting to piece a few puzzles together about her pop?
'Love & Gelato' cast
Curious who's who? Have a look at the lineup below:
- Susanna Skaggs as Lina Emerson
- Anjelika Washington as Addie
- Owen McDonnell as Howard
- Valentina Lodovini as Francesca
- Alex Boniello as Fleetwood Zach
- Marie-France Arcilla as Vicki
- Saul Nanni as Alessandro Albani
- Tobia De Angelis as Lorenzo Ferrazza
'Love & Gelato' release date
Love & Gelato will make its way onto the service on June 22, giving you just the right amount of time to indulge in the lengthy and intense Stranger Things season 4. Think of this as a genre palette cleanser after your stay in Hawkins, Indiana.
'Love & Gelato' books
Although the adventure starts in Italy, author Evans Welch has tackled a few spinoffs in other equally lovely locales. Since you need a TBR pile refresh for the beach season, we recommend having a go at one—or all—of these stories.
No word yet on whether or not Love & Luck and Love & Olives will get the TV treatment, but we'll keep our fingers crossed!
Ciao, bella! We'll catch you in Italy.
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