Review: The Bridge Back to You

This was such a warm, emotional second-chance romance. I loved the restaurant setting, the food vibes, and all the shared history between Olivia and Carmello. There was so much heart in this one, and I really liked that their relationship felt messy and realistic instead of easy after all the years they had been apart.

I also really appreciated the chronic illness rep with Olivia’s endometriosis—it felt thoughtfully done and added a lot to her story. Overall, this was such a lovely, heartfelt read.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Olivia owes everything to Celia's Place. It’s where she learned how to be a great chef. It’s also where she first fell in love. But at nineteen, Olivia had a wanderlust she couldn’t deny. And Carmello, whose mother owned the restaurant, couldn’t leave Celia's Place behind any more than he could force Olivia to stay.

Now, ten years later, Olivia is a successful personal chef. Her job allows her to travel the world, and she has never stayed in the same place for too long. When Carmello learns that his mother left shares of her beloved restaurant to both him and Olivia, he plans to buy her portion of the shares back quickly and painlessly. 

That is, until Olivia shows up at the restaurant, ready to help run it. Carmello sees an opportunity: drive Olivia away from his restaurant so that she will want to sign over her shares. But Olivia sees things a bit differently. She finally has the chance to stay in one place and build a home after years on the move, and perhaps now is the right time to explore whether that home can be with the one who got away. 

Soon enough, sparks begin to fly, but can Olivia and Carmello avoid the mistakes of the past?