From #1 New York Times bestselling author Vi Keeland comes an all-new summer romance. Set against the sun-soaked hills of Tuscany, this is a story about legacy, second chances, and learning that sometimes, the most important pieces are the ones we never knew were missing.
She’s counting down the days until she leaves Tuscany. He’s counting on making her stay.
Some people go to Tuscany to find themselves. Allegra Bianchi goes to escape—New York, her ex’s new relationship, and a career that derailed the moment she was passed over for partner.
Her plan is simple: settle her eccentric Italian grandmother’s estate, sell whatever isn’t nailed down, and return to the life she’s worked too hard to lose.
Instead, she walks into a mess—a crumbling antique shop, two hundred acres of leased vineyard land, and one infuriating clause in the will: live and work in the shop for three months, or inherit nothing.
Then there’s the neighbor she clashes with instantly. Matteo Lucchese is the infuriatingly handsome winemaker who leases her family’s land and refuses to be impressed by her credentials—or her attitude. He’s rugged and stubborn, stuck living in a time that feels long past, and the word rush isn’t part of his vocabulary. Basically, they’re exact opposites.
But as the days stretch into weeks, Tuscany chips away at the armor Allegra doesn’t realize she’s wearing, and Matteo shows her the appeal of slowing down, of staying rooted, of wanting something other than climbing the corporate ladder.
She goes to Tuscany to escape.
But now that the countdown to going home is on, Allegra isn’t sure she’s ready to leave.
And the life she’s falling for comes with a looming expiration date.
Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times,#1 Wall Street Journal, and USA TodayBestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles have appeared in over one hundred Bestseller lists and are currently translated in twenty-six languages. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.
4.5 stars! Ok absolutely will be reading more Vi Keeland books moving forward. I loved The Fall Affair, and this perfectly encapsulated Tuscany in fall. Reading this on the train to Florence was a peak experience.
The pacing of the plot and the romantic relationship were both fantastic. I loved the neighbors to lovers trope, and they had so much tension. The spice was the perfect amount too. I also loved the development of each character and their emotional backstories. They felt well-rounded and complex, yet this was still light-hearted and fun. I especially loved Allergra's relationship with her grandmother; she was hilarious, and her letters to Allegra were so heartwarming.
One thing though that kept taking me out of the story was how Matteo's Italian accent was sometimes written into the dialogue and sometimes not. That was a bit jarring. And I wasn't the biggest fan of the third act breakup. But loved this romance, and it'll definitely be a staple fall book rec!
Thank you so much to Bloom Books for sending me a copy of The Fall Affair. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)
The premise was good, albeit very well worn in plenty of other stories. But that wasn’t a deterrent for me. There’s nothing wrong with a tried and true plot if it actually serves the story. But it didn’t land very well with me.
It was packed with slow dialogue, and by 60% they were still talking. The stakes were exactly where they had been at the beginning, the tension never really rose, and everything started to feel a little forced.
The premise:
Allegra inherits her grandmother’s property in Tuscany. After she doesn’t make partner at her law firm, she decides to go to Tuscany, where she meets Matteo, the sweetheart who rents part of her nonna’s vineyard.
And… that’s pretty much what happens. Some pie gets burned. They have a date that isn’t a date because Allegra can’t date him because she’s only staying for three months. 🤦♀️
That is a terrible way to drive romantic tension forward. As a reader, I didn’t understand Allegra at all. Her refusal to even date Matteo felt like a problem created purely because the story needed one. It didn’t raise the stakes it just made her increasingly difficult to relate to.
I really tried with this one because I like this author a lot. I had such a great time with Jilted. But by 60%, nothing had really happened to move the plot forward, and I simply wasn’t invested anymore.
Yes, an unexpected sister shows up and is supposed to be a big deal, but even that fell flat for me. It didn’t actually move the story forward.
I DNF’d at 60% not because the writing was bad, but because I was bored.
Pure, unadulterated escapism with a swoonworthy Italian hero and a breathtaking setting. I ate up every minute of this book! Bonus points for Connor Crais's sexy Italian accent in the DUET-style audiobook!
DNF! I really enjoy Vi Keeland’s books and was excited for this one. But I could not get past the way the dialogue was written for the Italian characters - with a bad accent. It drives me nuts and I just couldn’t go on. Just write plain English not a with the fake accent. Since the MMC also spoke this way I just couldn’t read it any further.
Example: Using “da” instead of “the” (but not consistently) and sentences like this “But I no get around to putting in a new tub, so eh, there’s nowhere to take the bath or the shower”.
This is the story of a woman who quits her job and moves to the Tuscan home her grandma left her in her will. Lucky for her (and for us), her neighbor is a hot Italian man named Matteo who is obsessed with her. Unfortunately for us, he says “da” every single time he speaks. In order to enjoy this book, I think you need to be picturing Michele Morrone and drinking something strong (I am pairing it with a limoncello spritz). Quick, cute, could be sexier!
This contemporary romance was great! It is set in Italy, has lovable characters and is very spicy! This author always does such a great job at writing her books. She is one of my favorite authors and her books never disappoint! It is an opposites attract, where both characters struggle with emotional damage and come together in such a beautiful way! I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Vi Keeland and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for this wonderful digital advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
2.5⭐ I suppose the author went on a trip to Italy and wanted to dedicate a book to it. The setting and Italian life are spot on, as is the character of the people; it really does transport you.
What more can I say when my favourite character is the grandmother, who’s dead?
I like the author, but this book is so predictable and has so many unnecessary scenes that it just wasn’t for me.
Well… off my list it goes… not permanently, but definitely not on my holiday reading list (I want to be entertained, not bored in September in Tuscany🫢🫣) I had high hopes for this title 😶🌫️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The Fall Affair by Vi Keeland was such a fun, romantic escape to Tuscany! I loved how escapist this story felt. The Tuscany setting was absolutely gorgeous, and Vi Keeland did a great job balancing the romance with the emotional side of Allegra’s journey. There’s something really satisfying about watching a character who is so focused on her career and the life she thought she wanted slowly realize that maybe she wants something completely different. And of course, Matteo made that realization a whole lot easier. 😂 Their chemistry was palpable, and their relationship had such a great mix of emotional, sweet, healing, and spicy moments.
Vi Keeland also manages to pull off some sort of surprise or twist in her romances, which is no easy feat when you’re working within a genre where readers can often guess where things are headed. The surprise here worked really well for me and added another layer to the story without taking away from the romance.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Andi Arndt and Connor Crais, and they were fantastic. Andi can basically do no wrong in my book—she could read me the phone book and I’d happily listen. 😂 But Connor Crais absolutely surprised me with his performance as Matteo. His Italian accent was flawless, and he really brought Matteo to life. Honestly, his narration elevated an already swoony character even more.
Perfect for readers who love:
* 🇮🇹 A romantic escape to Tuscany * 🍷 Vineyard settings * 💕 Enemies to lovers ish chemistry * 🌿 Healing romances & fresh starts * 🔥 Plenty of spice * ✨ Unexpected surprises in a romance * 🎧 Fantastic dual narration * 😍 A swoony, rugged Italian hero
The Fall Affair ir sweet and sexy but not ground breaking. In fact I read so many start over romance like this. The background of the story is in Italy.
The Italy part is described beautifully by Miss Keeland. I enjoy that part.
Oh my gosh, this was such a beautiful, cozy, and fun story!
Allegra is a hardworking lawyer whose entire life revolves around making partner. Until she doesn’t get it. Instead, her world is turned upside down when she inherits her grandmother’s home in Tuscany. There’s just one catch: she has to live there for three months before the inheritance is officially hers. It quickly becomes clear that her grandmother’s final wish wasn’t just to leave her a house, it was to teach her how to slow down and truly live.
Watching Allegra settle into Tuscany was one of my favorite parts of the book. The setting was absolutely gorgeous, and it made me want to pack my bags immediately. Then there’s Matteo…and let me just say, Italian men really do it better. 😍 The chemistry between these two was effortless, and I loved watching their relationship unfold.
This story is filled with wit, grief, personal growth, love, family, and friendship. It had me smiling, swooning, and appreciating the reminder that sometimes the life we plan isn’t the life we’re meant to have.
If you’re looking for a heartwarming romance with gorgeous fall vibes, a dreamy Italian setting, and characters you’ll want to spend time with, definitely pick this one up. It’s the perfect book to curl up with on a crisp fall day.
I went into this a little hesitant because WHAT is that man doing on the cover but was surprisingly blown away.
this book truly took me on a vacation to tuscany. the things I would do to be living on a vineyard with a hot man next door. I adored both of the characters and felt that the author did a really good job of showing their struggles with trust and love.
my only flaw with this book is it’s called the ‘fall’ affair and nothing about it felt like a fall book so a little bit of a catfish in that way but still so worth reading
This is what I am going to say about this book: Life is so unfair. Because what do you mean I don't have an Italian nonna who passed away and left me her estate in Tuscany that happens to be right next door to a winery that is owned by an insanely how Italian? I really did pull the short end of the stick in life...
Ok but in all fairness, this book was giving Under the Tuscan Sun vibes and I was here for it! I loved every single thing about this book. I loved the plot, which sucked me in from page one. I will say this is a slow burn with more emphasis on plot than spice. Which to be honest is refreshing. The smut within this book was relevant to Allegra and Matteo's story. Because at the end of the day, this is a story about finding themselves, working through past traumas and find a love their deserves. Which leads me to our main characters. I loved Allegra and Matteo both separately and together. Allegra, is a boss babe lawyer who works to much but after quitting her job and uprooting her life to Italy after inheriting her nonna's estate with stipulations, this forced her to slow down. And Matteo, this man is so freaking thoughtful. But he also has a thing for American women 👀
At the end of the day, this book truly transported me to Italy. As someone who has visited Italy, specifically the Tuscany region multiple times, this book made me want to hop on a plane and find myself an Italian wine maker.
I listened to the audiobook for this one and all I'm going to say is, Connor Crais with an Italian accent 🧑🏻🍳💋. Pure perfection! This is a DUET NARRATION audiobook that is narrated by Connor Crais and Andy Arndt. Both did a fabulous job with the spoken Italian and accents. It really helped transport you right into the story. I loved every single thing about it!
Loved,loved, loved this book! This should be made into a movie for sure. I loved the Tuscany setting, and the whole story was wonderful, full of emotion, and just a wonderful romance, heartache and so much more. The comments from other readers said it all and I agree with all of them. Thanks for picking me for this giveaway!
Started a little slow for me, and was a bit of a slow burn, but once it got going I really enjoyed it. I even teared up just a bit. I think this would make a good movie. 4 1/2 stars
Vi Keeland’s The Fall Affair reminded me that sometimes life has to completely wreck your carefully organized plans before it hands you exactly what you needed all along. Bloom Books and Vi Keeland, thank you so much for the gifted book and ALC.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Sometimes the world breaks apart, but in the wreckage you find something beautiful.”
I started this audiobook during my commute thinking it would be an easy summer romance to keep me company on the drive. Instead, I found myself sitting in my driveway long after I got home because I wasn’t ready to leave Tuscany—or Allegra and Matteo.
Allegra immediately felt real to me. She’s spent years chasing the next promotion, measuring success by long hours and impossible expectations, only to have everything she’d planned disappear in an instant. Watching her reluctantly trade New York City for her late Nonna’s little corner of Tuscany was like watching someone slowly remember how to breathe again.
And then there’s Matteo.
Can we all agree that emotionally mature men who make wine, cook dinner, fix just about anything, and somehow still manage to be humble should probably be protected at all costs? Matteo completely stole this story for me. He’s patient without being a pushover, romantic without trying too hard, and carries his own heartbreak with such quiet grace that I couldn’t help falling for him right alongside Allegra.
What surprised me most wasn’t the romance—although it absolutely delivered—but how much this story became about family, legacy, grief, and figuring out what actually makes a life meaningful. Nonna’s presence lingers through every page, and her love for both her family and her community gives the entire novel its heart. More than once I caught myself smiling…and yes, I definitely teared up before the ending.
The audiobook made everything even richer. Andi Arndt captured Allegra’s determination, vulnerability, and humor beautifully, while Connor Crais absolutely melted me as Matteo. That Italian accent? Let’s just say if he offered me a glass of wine and a vineyard tour, I’d probably cancel my return flight too. Their duet-style performance made every conversation feel intimate and incredibly believable.
If you love opposites attract, breathtaking Italian settings, charming small-town communities, found family, emotional healing, and romances that balance laughter with heartfelt moments, don’t let this one pass you by. It’s warm, hopeful, wonderfully romantic, and quietly reminds us that success doesn’t always look the way we imagined.
Now tell me…if you inherited a little antique shop in Tuscany with a handsome winemaker living next door, would you stay for three months—or never leave?
I loved this!!!! My only regret…. Is that I didn’t do audio, and I bet the audio is amazing with the Italian accent! I can only imagine ❤️🔥
Allegra has been working nonstop to become partner at a law firm. She gets wrongfully passed up for the promotion, gets drunk, and quits. Fate would have it such that her grandmother in Italy passes away, and leaves everything to Allegra. So she heads to Italy to sort out the estate. Then we meet Matteo 🥹🥹🥹 who is the sweetest, most generous, helpful man in the village. He shows her around. And his accent sounded so cute.
Seeing these two work together, help learn each other’s cultures, and sass each other was so fun. Plus did I mention he’s a winemaker?? 🤌🏼🍷 and we get to know Allegra’s grandma through letters she left. She was a HOOT! 🤣
This one is so dang cute and you need it!!!!
🍷 “I very much want to kiss you, Allegra, and I think you want the same.” 🍷 “You’re a dangerous woman, you know that?” 🍷 “Jesus, Allegra. You really know how to break a man. I promised myself I’d take my time with you.”
4.5 ⭐️ This is a: get under your cozy blanket with a cup of tea kind of read. It is a sweet love story that makes you think about what is important in life. I loved it!
Rating: ★★★.75 ARC Review: Yes I received an advance copy of this book from Bloom in exchange for an honest review. Release Date: August 18, 2026
Standalone or Series: Standalone POV: First Person, Dual Genre: Contemporary Romance Vibe: Summer Flirty Fun Pacing: Slowish Third-Act Breakup: Yes Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️ Cliffhanger: No Reread-worthy: Unfortunately not for me
Tropes: ✵Small Town ✵Forced Proximity ✵Neighbors to Lovers ✵Opposites Attract
Synopsis: After getting passed over for a huge promotion she worked so hard for, Allegra packs her bags and heads over to Tuscany to inherit the properly her grandmother left her. When she runs into the fun, sexy neighbor Matteo, she does everything in her power to avoid him. But what happens in Tuscany stays in Tuscany right?
My Thoughts: I normally love Vi Keeland’s books, but this one did fall a bit flat for me. It started off so strong with Allegra standing up for herself at work. When she got to Tuscany I was very excited for a fun flirty summer but instead I felt like the pace slowed down. Allegra felt almost one dimensional and a little bit bland. I was waiting for her to fully embrace her new life away from the hectic NYC lawyer reality she was used to, but she never quite got there. Matteo had some fun moments, but I never felt like I could form a full connection with him. As I continued reading, I started to not care about the characters at all.
I did really enjoyed Allegra’s relationship with her sister. I wish that had been explored a bit more. It showed a good reality of how strangers can become family over time. There was no rushed or forced relationship, and both of them took baby steps to get to know each other. The Tuscany setting was also so fun, and I really enjoyed seeing where they all traveled to!
I was really hoping to like this one a bit more, but I will still continue to pick up other Vi Keeland books because her other ones that I have read so far have been a hit for me.
Review of advanced copy received from author and Give Me Books PR.
It's always a delight to read a Vi Keeland book. Always. Without fail, she gets to play my heartstrings like a master harp player. Just tug and tug and tug. But I knew what I was signing up for, and I shall just dab my eyes with tissues and move on. The Fall Affair is not just a story that happens in Italy, it's a whole another realm of feelings stuffed into 300 something pages. And not to mention all the law talk and Allegra being a lawyer, woof. As someone who has gone to law school, all of this was like a music for my ears. And reminded me a little of Suits LA in a tiny way (Allegra in court felt a lot like Ted Black to me, oops). Matteo being such a good guy, and having his heart broken in the past by the one he loved since he was a teenager... I wanted to wrap both of them in a hug and not let go. Nona knew what was up when she was deciding what to do right before her death. I loved her voice throughout the whole book. And that twist that happened somewhere towards the middle of the book? I did not see that coming, but I love how it all came out in the end. Thank you for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book, and listen to an ALC at the same time. I had a blast. This book releases on August 18th, don't miss it. Highly recommend.
🎧Audio. After getting passed over for a promotion in favour of someone who'd clearly sucked their way there 🤨, New York lawyer Allegra, feeling all kinds of pissed off, gets drunk, tells her boss to basically fuck himself, and quits her job.
Later, she receives a letter informing her that her late Nonna has left her a rather large estate in Tuscany. Of course, there's a catch. To inherit it, she has to stay there for three months and slow down. Oh noooo. How awful. What a hardship 😄 So off she goes.
Ooohh, and what do you know? Her first encounter is with a knockout of a man who also happens to be her next-door neighbour. What are the chances? 🤔😄
Think cheesy made-for-Netflix movie, woman in crisis but she's not really, and it all works out in the end type shite. That's pretty much what this is. A beautiful setting, some family drama, letters from beyond the grave and one smooth Italian man. It's a nice enough story, but yep, nice is about all I'd say. Connor Crais and Andi Arndt's narration is really well done. That's about it 🤷🏻♀️❤️
After reading several books written by Vi Keeland, I started to get the pattern that there would almost always have a dual timeline featuring a character--usually the male main character--and his past (romantic) relationship and then someone dear to him would die for some reason, all of which was something I didn't mind at first but honestly, sometimes I simply wanted to read something refreshing from Vi for once.
That being said, this book was no exception. The happy-go-lucky Italian vineyard owner, Matteo, seemed to be in a great mood most of the time in this book and that was a perfect disguise for his darkest and most tragic secret. Then there was Allegra, an adorable firecracker who escaped all the way from her busy lawyer life in NYC to Tuscany, Italy for a change of scenery. The chemistry between Matteo and Allegra was inevitable, especially with the help of Allegra's beloved late nonna whose spirit never left.
Better yet, since I listened to the audiobook, both the narrators, Connor Crais and Andi Arndt, did such a spectacular job of bringing life into Matteo and Allegra beautifully. I loved the various accents from different characters and the flawless way they narrated this book. They really were the cherry on top and brought me so much delight while enjoying Matteo and Allegra's journey!
Lastly, even though I wasn't a big fan of Matteo's throwback and past relationship depicted here, I would still recommend The Fall Affair as you could never go wrong with any story taking place in the picturesque Tuscany, could you? *wink*
***Thanks to the author and Give Me Books Promotions for kindly providing me with an e-ARC & ALC in exchange for an honest review.***
My gosh this book was AMAZING!!!! Matteo and Allegra's story was beautiful, witty, and oh so perfect. Her grandma was hands down my favorite character. 🥹
While I enjoyed certain elements of the book, the pacing is so slow that the plot feels stagnant. At 46% in, I'm losing the motivation to finish. My main issue is the detailed flashbacks focused on Matteo’s late ex-wife. Since she’s no longer part of the present storyline, devoting so much page space to her takes away from Allegra, who as the FMC, should be driving the narrative.
THE FALL AFFAIR by VI KEELAND Pub Date: 08/18/2026 Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ (4.5/5)
“I quit my freaking job! In the men’s room after telling the senior partner he had a shriveled-up little dick.”
“Always wear lipstick to the grocery store. You never know when you will run into your past or your future.”
“What IS your thing?” “I’m pretty sure I’m looking at it.”
“A home isn’t your own until you get rid of the furniture that has had someone else’s naked ass on it.”
“But here’s the thing about keeping your heart safe – – it also keeps it lonely.“
“Sometimes the world breaks apart, but in the wreckage you find something beautiful.“
“Remember that passion, fades and rekindles. The real magic isn’t in the grand moments. It’s in staying steady and choosing one another again and again. Love is like a garden, some days it’s in full bloom, some days you’ll be stuck weeding. The secret is to keep tending.”
Thanks to Vi for my gifted copy of this book. I was psyched to received this PR box because I mean look how amazing it is!? I love her writing and couldn’t wait to get started on this one.
I just adored these characters. The relationship that Allegra had with her Nonna, Sophia just warmed my soul. She reminded me of a spicer version of my own Gma. Omg and the disdain Sophia had for her sister Anna was off the charts, her parting shot via that letter cracked me up. 😂😂😂.
Let me tell you, this book made me feel all of the things. It was a slow burn Instalove novel — 2 of my least fav things BUT I ended up really enjoying this story and the characters so much…my emotions crept up on my and I was crying at the end. Who am I!? 😂😂
Anyways, I recommend that you pick this one up…it’s funny, sexy and heartfelt.
So many great quotes which is why my quotes take up more space than my review. Read it for yourself and let’s chat about how much we loved everyone.
QOTD: Are you team steamy or discreet for a book cover? I’m a discreet cover girl.
Thank you to @vi_keeland and @read_bloom for the #gifted book.
This charming romance captivated me, set against the enchanting backdrop of Italy, a country I fell in love with during my own visit.
Allegra and Matteo are both reluctant and careful of opening their hearts again. I especially loved how Allegra’s nonna brought them together after her passing. Allegra’s journey to discover her true happiness was inspiring, and I appreciated Matteo finding peace and closure after losing his former wife.
The vivid descriptions of Italy’s breathtaking scenery immersed me in the story. I adored Matteo’s large, welcoming family and their heartfelt acceptance of Allegra. The letters from Allegra’s grandmother added a touching, emotional layer that truly resonated.
If you’re a fan of Italy, Italian men, and stories of self-discovery, this book is a perfect choice.