The Roman Holiday Rule

Author: Andra Loy
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 336 
Release Date: August 4, 2026
Publisher: Haven

You can't fall in love with someone who lives somewhere else and expect a happily-ever-after.

Lexi Walker has finally committed to the Italian adventure that she and her late mother dreamed of for years--complete with a meticulously crafted itinerary, four sealed letters to open at Rome's most iconic sites, and her mother's final painting to present at the art festival Lexi is helping organize. She's ready for the perfect Roman getaway. What she doesn't expect is for her mother's artwork to start manifesting in real life, turning her carefully planned trip into something unpredictable.

Italian-American architect Mark Russo has sworn off American tourists after having his heart broken, and he's certainly not about to let another one distract him from winning the restoration bid that could reunite his estranged father with his grandfather. But when the captivating woman next to him on the flight to Rome proposes a photography challenge--whoever captures the heart of Italy in seven days wins--Mark can't resist the bet or her charm.

As Lexi follows the letters from her mother around the city, she encounters Mark everywhere she goes. Their competitive banter turns to undeniable chemistry, but they both know the cardinal rule of holiday romances. Will a little magic--and a lot of mishaps--break the Roman Holiday Rule?

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Reviewer: Tammy Lunsford

This incredibly sweet romance was full of laughter and swoon.  I mean it doesn't get much more romantic than Italy.

The descriptions of the scenery allowed me to live vicariously through the pages and wish I was there alongside the characters. The characters were well rounded and easy to like.  It was sweet, but not so sweet that it made you cringe.  It was just right.

The banter between the characters is what carried the story so well, along with an original plot that I dearly loved and a location to die for.

This was a new to me author, and I was very pleased.  I will be on the lookout for other books by this author.

I received this complimentary ARC from Haven Publishing through Interviews & Reviews via NetGalley.  I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

The Roman Holiday Rule by Andra Loy is a delightful romp through Rome where love and magic seem to follow the main character.

Lexi Walker has messages from her celebrated artist mother that she is only to open in Rome. Each message has a story tell of her mother and father's love story. Strangely, before Lexi even gets on the plane, things start to happen that make it seem as if her mother, or perhaps the magic of Rome, is pushing her along to her own love story.

Lexi is all about planning things out and sticking to that plan, but when she meets Mark Russo, an architect from America, but also lives in Italy, her life suddenly becomes entwined with his and her plans are becoming harder to stick to.

I had a hard time getting started with this one because I detest first person POV. In fact, I picked the book up and put it down several times because of that. Fortunately, I stuck with it and absolutely loved it. 

If you enjoy the Suitcase Sister series by Robin Jones Gunn, you will probably enjoy The Roman Holiday Rule.

I received a complimentary eBook copy courtesy of Haven via NetGalley for my honest opinion.

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Reviewer: Raechel Helwig

I ended up loving this one! Not that I am surprised - the cover is adorable, the blurb intriguing, and set in Italy is always a plus. 

The beginning started out just a little slow for me, but honestly, I think that was because my Kindle app was being terrible. Once I switched reading apps, I got way more into the story. 

Main character, Lexington Walker, is all about planning and sticking to that plan. She is an event planner and organizer, after all. Her long-awaited trip to Italy seems to continuously go off track, though, in all the good ways. 

I loved how Lexington met the main hero character, Mark Russo, and how they would bump into each other unexpectedly. Their entire relationship was definitely and obviously the highlight of the story. The banter between them was always lively and enjoyable, and how they genuinely grew to care for each other was sweet. And I loved the ending - that was certainly one of my favorite parts.

The setting was rich. I often felt like I was getting glimpses of Italy right alongside Lexington. The feel of Italy really wove into the pages well.

The Roman Holiday Rule was a truly delightful read, and I look forward to more from this author!

I received an eBook copy courtesy of Haven through Interviews & Reviews via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts expressed are entirely my own.

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Reviewer: Mindy Houng

“There’s a tiny section on the Venn diagram where maddening and captivating overlap.”

 What a fun and sweet romcom! From the first chapter, I was hooked. Lexi and Mark’s first-person voices were delightful. The above quote from the book explains their entire relationship in a sentence. Lexi and Mark both battled heartbreak of different origins, and their fear rising out of the heartbreak was the main thing keeping them apart. But their chemistry was instantaneous and their banter was truly amazing.

And the pop culture references, especially about Star Wars, were so fun. I loved Lexi for her organizational skills, soft and loyal heart, and taste for adventure. I also loved Mark with his fascinatingly creative mind, quirky sense of humor, tender and compassionate heart, and love for his family. The sights, sounds, taste, and feel of Rome as Lexi and Mark kept getting thrown together felt like I had gone on a Roman holiday with them. Though slightly predictable, the magical realism in the story was cute, and I loved watching how Lexi and Mark’s paths intersected every step of the way.

This is the perfect beach read. 

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Haven via Interviews & Reviews and NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

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