“When it came to decorating she had a natural inclination towards the less-is-more approach, although she had to admit more-is-more was definitely working for this room. But that was the great thing about Rome. Nobody bothered with restraint”

The Lovers’ Guide to Rome is the second novel by Australian screenwriter and author, Mark Lamprell. Instructed by her Fine Arts Professor to do something “voosh” on her vacation, nineteen-year-old Alice goes to Rome. The plan is to meet her (very non-voosh) boyfriend, twenty-nine year-old lawyer Daniel in Florence the next day: they will shop for an engagement ring. But Rome, the Eternal City, the city that welcomes lovers, has other plans for Alice...

Megan and Alec Schack are on a mission: they have a day to track down an artisan who will make Megan’s latest project complete. And maybe they can rekindle a bit of the romance they found in Rome on their honeymoon, almost twenty years earlier, if they can just stop arguing with each other for long enough.

Constance is taking her beloved husband, Henry back to Rome, back to the Ponte Sant’Angelo, where they first met. His sister Lizzie has come along, too, to witness her brother’s ashes being scattered into the River Tiber, as he decreed in his will. But being in Rome brings back other memories for Constance, and doubts about their grand love emerge.

The City of Rome is also a star in this story: its tourist attractions, both well-known and obscure, its romantically-named streets and its stylish residents. It is actually the spirit of the city itself who narrates this tale, and, as the story moves around the city, gives the reader plenty of interesting historical tidbits, often delivered in a wry tone. Even the little vignettes describing the incidental characters (drivers, doctors, concierges etc) are amusing.

There is plenty of action in this madcap romp through Rome: a car accident and subsequent ambulance trip, a mugging, a daring visit to a gypsy camp, a crazy motorino ride down the famous Spanish Steps (as shown on the brilliant cover of the Allen & Unwin edition), trespass into a cemetery, quite a bit of getting lost, and a bout of dysentery.

Lamprell gives the reader appealingly flawed characters, snappy dialogue that includes a good helping of witty banter between them, plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and even a few thoughtful ones as he explores grief, jealousy, love at first sight, and insecurity. Lamprell’s first book was a fun read, but this one is even better. Perhaps not a book to be read in public as readers will find it difficult not to snicker, giggle and erupt with laughter. Very entertaining!
With thanks to Allen&Unwin and TheReadingRoom for this copy to read and review.