Book Review: Will There Be Love? by Whitney Cubbison

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Vibrant cover of the "Will There Be Love" book by Whitney Cubbison, showcasing a striking red background with the title written in bold, white, hand-painted style lettering. A delicate illustration of dark purple orchids with green stems decorates the lower half, creating a dramatic and romantic visual that reflects the novel's theme.

You might recall that I absolutely loved Will There Be Wine? back in 2023 and considered it one of my top reads from that year. (As a travel-loving single woman trying to navigate the dating world with great friends, it felt like it might have been written about me). I was excited then to see that author Whitney Cubbison had written a sequel: Will There Be Love? — and it didn’t disappoint. Once again, Cubbison delivers a heartfelt, honest, and relatable story, but this time with even deeper emotional layers and broader perspectives.

Will There Be Love?

While Austen and Matt, the two characters I grew to love in the first book, are back, they aren’t the complete focus this time around. Instead, Will There Be Love? explores a larger group of interconnected complicated characters at various stages of life, each navigating love, friendship, and careers. I really enjoyed how this sequel built on the foundation of the first book, but it still has its own story. In fact, while it’s helpful to have read Will There Be Wine? first (because you’ll appreciate the character arcs more deeply), I think readers could also jump into this one and still completely understand the story and find plenty to love.

This book focuses on Ophelia, an American woman living in Rome with her Italian husband, Gianluca, and their two children. She’s about to turn 40, so the couple pull together a group of close friends to celebrate in Ibiza. The party takes a very unexpected…and very complicated…turn when one of the guests turns out to be her husband’s mistress.

Cubbison skillfully handles some heavier topics in this story. Will There Be Wine? was a little lighter and centered more around rediscovery and friendship after heartbreak, Will There Be Love? goes a little deeper into issues like how relationships can change a person, infidelity, identity shifts, and the realities of maintaining relationships as life pulls people in different directions. Even so, the book still maintains moments of humor and hope, which kept it from ever feeling too heavy.

A lively scene of friends enjoying wine and conversation in a cozy bar setting.

I also have to say — the settings were, of course, something I enjoyed! The story moves between Rome, Paris, and Ibiza (with some references to New York City and the United Kingdom), and while it certainly wasn’t a focus of the book, there are still some fun references that bring the locations to life.

As for the reading experience itself: I actually read this book in just one day! (Admittedly, I was stuck in airports—ironically, the Rome airport—and two different airplanes.) The story was very engaging and I was genuinely invested in each charachter’s journey, so I just kept turning pages.

What I really admire about Whitney Cubbison’s writing is her ability to make her characters feel so real and their thoughts and feelings so authentic. Their doubts, mistakes, victories, and vulnerabilities are all so real, and she captures the emotional messiness of life (and love) in a way that feels comforting and validating. It’s not always a straight path to “happily ever after” — and that’s exactly what makes these stories and characters so genuine and real. She also manages to highlight just how important friendships are, even (especially?) in adulthood.

If you like contemporary fiction, stories about expats, and books that mix humor, heartache, and hope, you’ll love Will There Be Love?.

Person holding a tablet displaying the vibrant red cover of "Will There Be Love" by Whitney Cubbison, featuring bold white lettering and illustrated dark purple orchids, with a scenic vineyard and cloudy sky in the background.

Final Thoughts

Will There Be Love? is a thoughtful, heartwarming, and sometimes bittersweet sequel that explores the various stages of relationships. It’s about how we define love, the importance of friendship, staying true to ourselves, and learning to stay open to all the twists and turns that life — and love — can throw at us.

(And if you can’t get enough of books set in Italy, be sure to check out my list of books set in Italy.)

Review Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, I liked it a lot!
Author: Whitney Cubbison
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Women’s Literature
Places Featured: Rome, Italy; Paris, France, and Ibiza, Spain

***I was given a version of this book for free in exchange for an honest book review; thank you to the author. The was released on 29 April 2025.

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Jen Price is the creator of Travel Books and Movies, where she helps readers explore the world through stories on the page and screen. Currently living in Italy, she shares her love of travel, books, and films through personal guides, reviews, and itineraries that blend real-world destinations with unforgettable stories.