The Look of Love

Love in Italy, Book 3

De: Leslie Pike

Narrado por: Connor Crais, Ava Lucas

In Sag Harbor, two neighbors have mastered the art of being content.

Or so they tell themselves.

At 38, Aldo is a successful realtor with effortless charm and a past rooted in Rome, where family loyalty runs deep. He came to New York for a fresh start, not complications, and definitely not feelings he didn’t plan on.

Charli, 52, is a family therapist and single mother raising two teenage boys with grit, humor, and hard-won wisdom. Her life is full, her boundaries firm, and romance firmly off her radar.

Theirs is a friendship built on trust, not expectations. Easy. Safe. Exactly enough.

Until one dance blurs the lines they never thought would be crossed.

What does love look like when it arrives later in life, unexpected, undeniable, and impossible to walk away from?

©2025 Leslie Pike (P)2026 Leslie Pike

Incredible Reverse Age Gap, Friends-to-Lovers Romance with Fantastic Narration!

The Look of Love is the third standalone audiobook in Leslie Pike’s Love in Italy series. Leslie Pike is the queen of feel-good romance, in my opinion. I always finish her love stories with a smile on my face and a lightness in my heart, just as I did with this one. This is a reverse age gap, friends-to-lovers romance. It centers around Charli, a 52-year-old divorced mom of two teenaged boys, and Aldo, her 38-year-old neighbor and friend. I absolutely loved that these two were good friends first before romantic feelings developed. It was evident how much they truly cared about each other as friends and how much Aldo cared for Charli’s boys and her mom. I also loved that he fell first and was completely unconcerned with their age difference. All he saw was Charli, not her age. Really the only person concerned with her age was Charli herself. Their romance develops naturally and beautifully. That’s not to say they don’t have challenges to overcome, because they do. But they handle those challenges with love and understanding, and a wisdom born of lives well lived. And the banter in this story was fantastic—not only between Charli and Aldo, but also with the boys and with Charli’s mother, Millie. I actually loved the secondary characters in this story as much as the main characters. The sassy, outspoken Millie was one of my favorite characters, and I adored her surprising connection with Aldo’s widowed father. And Charli’s sons, while certainly typical teenaged boys, were also not afraid to show their unending love and support for their mom. This story was sweet, emotional, and hopeful. I completely adored it from start to finish!

The dual-style narration from Ava Lucas and Connor Crais was performed flawlessly. I’m not typically a fan of dual-style narration, but these talented voice actors 100% pulled it off! Their character portrayals were impassioned, emotional, and heartfelt—and most of all, real. This was a truly beautiful love story, and the incredible narration made it just that much more beautiful. Highly recommend!

Great Addition to this Series!

This was a great age gap and friends to lovers addition to this Series. I loved every book in this series! We finally see Aldo find his love with Charli. All the characters in this story are great! Connor and Ava narrating this story really make it worth the listen! They did a fantastic job. This is a must listen!

cozy friends to more

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ .5
“Dedicated to the victims and survivors”
This psychological thriller was a wild experience. I was enthralled from start to finish and all I could think about was this needs to be a movie.
Imagine waking up at work only to realize something isn't right. It's an exact replica of your work station. You have only one customer which you must serve everyday, at the same time, who orders the same thing everytime. You don't want to know what happens if you don't comply…cooperate…condition yourself to your new life. Serving the one man who took you captive until your last breath.
This book has dark themes and may be triggering for some people.
Raven Wildewood & Michael Gallagher did an amazing job narrating this fantastic book.

Lovely Italian Romance

A Look of Love by Leslie Pike is a sweet, heartfelt friends-to-lovers romance that leans into comfort, connection, and emotional growth. Charli and Also are not only close friends but also neighbors, sharing an easy bond built on trust, laughter, and everyday moments. That familiarity makes it all the more powerful when one night changes everything and they begin to realize that what they feel isn’t just friendship anymore—it’s longing, hope, and the possibility of something deeper.
Pike does a wonderful job capturing the tenderness and uncertainty that comes with falling for someone who already means so much to you. The slow shift from friendship to love feels natural and sincere, making their journey both relatable and emotionally satisfying. A Look of Love is a warm, feel-good romance about taking a chance on the person who’s been right there all along.

Beautifully Heartfelt~Fantastic Story & Narration!

Leslie Pike pens another fantastic romance novel, a heartwarming romance that captivates your attention the entire time. This is a later in life romance, but I like to say it is more of a right time of their life romance. After his divorce, Aldo left his family in Rome and came to New York to start over, becoming a successful realtor in Sag Harbor. Charli is a family therapist and a single mom of two teenage boys, Dash and Wolf, and hasn’t even thought of romance or dating. Her neighbor and friend, Aldo, of eight years, is always looking out for her and her boys, and now he is looking to set her up on a date with his latest client. The date was nice enough, but the chemistry was not there. Then it happens, a realization that they did not have to look far for love, that it was right next door. Charli was hesitant because she is fourteen years older than him and afraid to jeopardize their friendship and his relationship with her sons, but Aldo convinces her, or rather the chemistry between them does. These two were great together and for each other, and he was great with her sons too. This wonderfully written and plotted story has the perfect balance of drama, heartwarming moments, heartfelt emotions and steamy romance. Leslie Pike, thank you for another beautiful story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧Ava Lucas and Connor Crais were the perfect cast to bring these characters to life, giving each a voice that was fitting and believable. Their character portrayals were incredible, showcasing every aspect of their personalities. Both were naturals in their roles, with Ava Lucas nailing it as Charli and Connor Crais as Aldo’s role, both were fabulous performing the roles of the side/secondary characters too, young and old. They set the ideal tone for the story, conveyed all the characters’ emotions into their performance and had you feel each one. Their versatility and talent truly shine in their performance, an entertaining performance that rivets you to the story.