Kissing in Italian    by Lauren Henderson Order:  USA  Can Delacorte, 2014 (2014) Hardcover, e-Book     Reviewed by Hilary Williamson If you're in the market for a light, fluffy YA novel with a tour of Italy, its culture and history, thrown in for good measure, then Lauren Henderson's Kissing in Italian will fit the bill. Violet Routledge is on a summer study program in Italy along with three other young women - redheaded, insecure Kelly who has become a close friend; Paige who only seems shallow; and African American Kendra who falls hard for an older man. Violet has fallen in love, with Luca di Vesperi, a handsome young aristocrat. Life is wonderful - until she realizes that they might be related! It all started with a visit to a London museum, where a portrait made Violet wonder how she 'could possibly have a twin in eighteenth century Italy.' As the very different young women explore Italian culture, from Siena to Venice, and get to know both young Italian men and backpackers, Violet desperately tries to contact her parents, to find out if she was adopted. That tension drives the story along, as do occasional conficts amongst the fellow travelers. Of course the mystery of Violet's parentage is eventually resolved, as is the relationship between these star-crossed young lovers in this delightful mix of Italian travelogue and YA romance. Great fun. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Teens books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews