If any place can turn two best friends into lovers, it’s Venice.
Well, only if you don’t have a dreamy tour guide like Lorenzo…
For LA chef Daisy Hogan, this trip to Venice is the start of her new life—inspiration for her California restaurant, saying yes to stability and basically fulfilling all her dad’s dreams. But then the trip goes sideways, and she’s left in the most romantic city in the world with her best friend, Jeremy. He’s stable, reliable. If she wants to salvage the future she planned, maybe she should fall for her friend?
So they agree to a friends-to-lovers project. What could go wrong?
Enter Lorenzo Fontana, hotel concierge by day, violinist in his dreams. He gave up music for a practical life in the city he loves, and to keep his job, he’s vowed to be Daisy and Jeremy’s personal guide to romance. Only he’s not supposed to be feeling this personal about their project…
With racing hearts, longing glances and gondola rides, Daisy begins questioning the project, her plans and even her future. Is it possible to live a life where the dreams she’s fulfilling are her own?
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My Review
This is a tender, heartfelt romance set against the romantic backdrop of Venice. After a painful breakup, Daisy joins her best friend Jeremy on a trip meant to help her heal—but the vacation soon stirs up unexpected emotions. As Daisy tries to sort through her lingering heartbreak, her friendship with Jeremy deepens in ways she didn’t anticipate. Then comes Lorenzo, a charming Italian tour guide whose easy warmth and flirtation add both excitement and confusion to her journey.
Ottoni beautifully captures the tension between comfort and desire, friendship and passion, making Daisy’s emotional turmoil feel authentic. While Daisy’s need for love can sometimes feel overwhelming and the pacing wavers in places, the story ultimately delivers a satisfying mix of heart, introspection, and sensuality. With its slow-burn triangle, cross-cultural charm, and emotional depth, The Friends to Lovers Project is a short yet engaging read that explores how heartbreak can open the door to unexpected love.
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