TRS Tropes 2025 ~ Friends to Lovers
The Friends-to-Lovers Project by Paula Ottoni
A Spicy Opposites Attract Rom Com Set in Venice
Sponsored
If any place can turn two best friends into lovers, it’s Venice.
Well, only if you don’t have a dreamy tour guide like Lorenzo…
For LA chef Daisy Hogan, this trip to Venice is the start of her new life—inspiration for her California restaurant, saying yes to stability and basically fulfilling all her dad’s dreams. But then the trip goes sideways, and she’s left in the most romantic city in the world with her best friend, Jeremy. He’s stable, reliable. If she wants to salvage the future she planned, maybe she should fall for her friend?
So they agree to a friends-to-lovers project. What could go wrong?
Enter Lorenzo Fontana, hotel concierge by day, violinist in his dreams. He gave up music for a practical life in the city he loves, and to keep his job, he’s vowed to be Daisy and Jeremy’s personal guide to romance. Only he’s not supposed to be feeling this personal about their project…
With racing hearts, longing glances and gondola rides, Daisy begins questioning the project, her plans and even her future. Is it possible to live a life where the dreams she’s fulfilling are her own?
Reviews
“I enjoyed Daisy’s backstory of being a chef and her passion that resulted from losing her father. Lorenzo is my favorite character and has the most complexity. He was a very talented musician until he was injured which resulted in his hotel career taking off. Throughout the book, we see these two characters try to find themselves in these interests and try to figure out how things will work out between them.” — Reader, Amazon
Paula Ottoni
Paula Ottoni was born and raised in Brazil and moved to Denmark in 2016. Today she is married to a Dane and has two children. She completed a master’s in video game design at the IT University of Copenhagen and works as a game writer and narrative designer. She is learning to be a Viking, but winter swimming remains a locked achievement.
Vote for Your Favorite
Vote for your favorite book in this week’s trope for a chance to win a copy of the book you’re voting for! You’re entered to win a prize. The author has a chance to win a super cool prize. It’s a win-win!
Friends to Lovers Romance Quiz
Which hero in this week’s trope is your perfect match? Take the quiz and find out.