Imperfect Delight

April 1, 2018
An aging rock star and the owner of a gelateria form an instant, unlikely connection in the south of France.When Milena Migliari meets Nick Cruickshank, lead singer of the world-famous English rock group the Bebonkers, she isn't looking for romance. In fact, she's sworn off men and is living with a female partner, Viviane, with whom she's preparing to start in vitro fertilization treatments. But Milena's life is far from settled. She's a dreamer and fanatically devoted to creating exquisite gelato, which she sells at her own small gelateria. Viviane may not take Milena's work seriously, but to her, it is an art. She finds a more receptive audience in the most unlikely of places: Nick Cruickshank, whose impending wedding has sent him into his own existential crisis. Under the strain of unwelcome guests and embedded tabloid reporters at his French estate, Nick becomes increasingly estranged from his fiancee, Aileen, a fashion entrepreneur. But after a few chance encounters with Milena--and her gelato--he finds himself transfixed. Frustrated by the commercial limitations on his own music, he recognizes Milena as a true original. But both Nick and Milena must choose between an instant connection and their pre-existing commitments and responsibilities. This latest novel by De Carlo (Primitive Heart, 2014, etc.) would have been more persuasive if the relationship between Nick and Milena had been more fleshed out. The novel gets bogged down in internal reflection and philosophical rumination, and as a result, the characters spend very little time together. Milena's gelato creations are described in terms so mystical that they approach the absurd. Hard-core foodies will likely enjoy this meticulously researched and described element of the novel; others may be left cold.A frustrating European romance.

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May 15, 2018
Gelato might seem like a simple dessert, something to enjoy for a moment and then forget about, but not to Milena Migliari. Her Provence gelato shop is her pride and joy, and she loves nothing more than tinkering with new recipes, sourcing the freshest ingredients, and seeing a customer's eyes light up with joy at the first taste. Her shop mostly caters to tourists, but she receives an unexpectedly large order from a very unexpected customer: Nick Cruickshank, the lead singer of an astronomically popular British rock band. Nick is accustomed to life's finer things, but he's immediately impressed by the creativity and passion evident in Milena's product. The two strike up an unlikely friendship, each inspiring the other through tastes, sights, and sounds. As Nick and Milena's relationship develops, they begin to rethink their priorities. A best-seller in its original Italian, De Carlo's full sensory experience of a novel loses nothing in translation. Fans of Italo Calvino, Laura Madeleine, and Mary Simses will enjoy this refreshing story of two souls recognizing themselves in one another.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)