Gelato at the Villa by Robin Jones Gunn

Book Review: Gelato at the Villa - Robin Jones Gunn 

5 Stars - A Favorite Book of 2025 

Have you ever had a friend that you were praying would return to the Lord after hurt from the past? Have you been the friend that turned back to the Lord after His constant pursuit? This book is one you don't want to miss. 

This book was SO impactful for me. I laughed. I cried. I can't recommend it enough!

We need more friendship stories in books and I loved this one! In this book, we follow Grace and Claire. Told from Grace's POV, we see our best friends travel to Italy, making stops in Venice, Florence and Bellagio. The girls enjoy art, cooking, AMAZING food, gelato (of course!), museums and the LORD truly works on this trip. I also LOVED the people they met along the way and all the travel details.

I have a full YouTube reading vlog coming out on August 25th with ALL the tears and thoughts, but all I can say is this book is one I needed! 

Seeing Grace's POV praying for her friend who had been running from the Lord for so long after being hurt by people in the church years ago was powerful. She was patient with Claire. She honored her requests. She let the Lord lead her in the conversations, even when she didn't know what to say. Grace also encountered the Lord's peace when things aren't going great at her job. 

Yes, this book brings Italy to life and makes you really want some good Italian food and Gelato, but it also had the Lord front and center in their trip and by the end, we really see forgiveness, a prodigal daughter moment and good friendship on display. This is how you tell a beautiful, in depth story under 300 pages! :)

The Lord is always pursuing us. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. See my blog post for my favorite quotes as well in the graphics!

Thank you to TLC Book Tours, Revell and Robin Jones Gunn for a complimentary copy of this book to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*trigger warning for mentions of past abuse as a child but not graphically detailed.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7742126756
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/618547
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JltXdc

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased.


 

Tea with Elephants by Robin Jones Gunn

 

 Tea with Elephants by Robin Jones Gunn - 4 Stars 

This story is a heartfelt journey of friendship, faith, and self-discovery that takes readers on an emotional safari through the stunning landscapes of Africa. Centered on the friendship sister bond between Fern Espinoza and Lily Graden, the book truly captures the essence of a long-term friendship that has weathered the trials of time and distance.

This is a Christian contemporary women's fiction story that I truly felt connected to. I loved the writing style, faith content, travel elements and the characters. This book opens up to the teenage years of Fern and Lily, who first connected while  volunteering in Costa Rica. 20 years later, here they are, embarking on a long-awaiting trip to Africa - a dream trip that they talked about many years ago. This trip soon becomes one of emotional growth as each woman carriers their own struggles. The author intertwines their personal stories well with the beautiful backdrop of Africa. 

We see Fern dealing with struggles as she lost her job at a Christian publishing company and is unsure of what her next steps in life are, just as Lily is worried about the hardships within her marriage. Both ladies experience personal growth and lessons that challenge their perspectives and encourage them to surrender to the Lord's plan in their lives. 

Overall, this is more than just a safari story among friends - this is a story filled with lighthearted moments and deeper reflections between two friends who are more sisters than friends. I loved the side characters they met along the way that encouraged them in their faith and challenges. Anyone who loves good faith filled, travel, contemporary adventure stories will like this! 

Highly recommend. Thank you to the publisher for providing an early copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6712043391
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4eD1I4s
Baker Book House (Recommended): https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/579829

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on any items purchased from these links.