What happens when a girl who feels abandoned by her father travels to Greece and discovers that the truth behind his disappearance is more complicated than she imagined? Love and Olives by Jenna Evans Welch is a young adult contemporary romance about family, forgiveness, first love, and finding yourself.
Set against the beautiful backdrop of Santorini, Greece, the novel follows Liv Varanakis as she reconnects with her estranged father, Nico, and becomes involved in his search for the legendary lost city of Atlantis. Along the way, she meets Theo, her father’s charming assistant, and begins to understand that some of life’s most important discoveries have nothing to do with ancient treasures.
Published in 2020, Love and Olives combines romance, Greek mythology, family drama, and an emotional journey of healing. Simon Teen+1
Love and Olives Book Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Book | Love and Olives |
| Author | Jenna Evans Welch |
| Genre | Young Adult, Contemporary Romance |
| Setting | Santorini, Greece |
| Main Character | Liv Varanakis |
| Main Romance | Liv and Theo |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster |
| Publication Date | November 10, 2020 |
The story is particularly appealing to readers who enjoy emotional family relationships, travel-inspired romance, Greek mythology, and characters who grow through difficult experiences.
What Is Love and Olives About?
Love and Olives follows Liv Varanakis, a teenage girl who has spent years trying to forget her father.
When Liv was eight years old, her father, Nico, left their family and went to Greece to pursue his fascination with Atlantis, the legendary lost city. His departure left Liv confused and hurt. She struggled to understand how someone who once shared her love of mythology could leave her behind.
Over time, Liv begins using the name Liv instead of Olive, creating a new identity that helps her distance herself from painful childhood memories.
Everything changes when she receives a postcard from her father. Nico invites her to Santorini, where he is working on a documentary about his theories concerning Atlantis.
Although Liv is reluctant to reconnect with him, she eventually travels to Greece. There, she meets Theo, her father’s charismatic assistant, and finds herself surrounded by the beautiful landscapes and mythology she once loved.
However, the trip becomes much more than an adventure involving Atlantis. Liv gradually discovers that understanding her father’s past may be the key to healing her own emotional wounds.
Love and Olives Summary: The Main Plot
Liv’s Complicated Relationship With Her Father
Liv’s relationship with her father is at the heart of the novel.
Before Nico disappeared, he and Liv shared a special interest in Greek mythology and Atlantis. Their connection was built around stories, imagination, and the possibility of discovering something extraordinary.
But when Nico left for Greece, Liv felt as though she had been replaced by his obsession with finding Atlantis.
She could not understand why her father would choose an imaginary lost city over spending time with his daughter. His absence affected her confidence and changed how she viewed herself.
Rather than continue being the girl who loved mythology and missed her father, Liv attempts to become someone different.
Her journey to Santorini forces her to confront those feelings instead of continuing to avoid them.
The Journey to Santorini, Greece
When Liv finally arrives in Santorini, she enters a world that feels completely different from her everyday life.
The island’s beautiful scenery, turquoise waters, traditional villages, and connection to Greek mythology create an exciting setting for the story.
However, being reunited with Nico is not easy.
Liv has spent years imagining what she would say if she ever saw him again. Now that the opportunity has arrived, she struggles to decide whether she should trust him.
Nico wants to reconnect with his daughter, but their relationship cannot immediately return to the way it was before he left.
Liv also becomes involved in his documentary project, which gives her an opportunity to understand his passion for Atlantis.
Meeting Theo
Theo is one of the most important people Liv meets during her stay in Greece.
He works with Nico and becomes Liv’s companion as she adjusts to her new surroundings.
At first, Liv does not particularly want Theo to see her vulnerable side. She is already uncomfortable being around her father, and having someone else witness her emotional struggles makes things more complicated.
However, Theo gradually becomes someone she can trust.
Their interactions bring humor, romantic tension, and warmth to the story. He helps Liv experience Santorini beyond her father’s documentary project.
Their relationship also encourages Liv to become more comfortable with herself.
The Mystery of the Twenty-Six Items
One of the most interesting elements of Love and Olives is the collection of twenty-six items connected to Liv’s father.
Liv keeps these objects in a box beneath her bed. Each item represents a memory or connection to Nico.
As the story develops, the meaning behind these objects becomes increasingly important.
They provide clues about her father’s personality, their shared past, and the complicated emotions surrounding his departure.
The objects also reveal how differently Liv and Nico understand their relationship.
For Liv, they represent memories of someone who abandoned her. For Nico, they carry a deeper emotional meaning connected to his love for his daughter.
The mystery surrounding the final item becomes one of the most important questions in the novel.
Love and Olives Main Characters
The characters make the story more than a simple romance set in Greece. Each one contributes to Liv’s emotional development and the central themes of family and forgiveness.
1. Liv (Olive) Varanakis
Liv is the protagonist of the novel.
She is intelligent, emotional, and interested in mythology, although her father’s departure has made her uncomfortable with the person she used to be.
Her decision to use the name Liv reflects her desire to separate herself from painful memories.
Throughout the story, she learns that she does not have to reject her childhood identity to move forward.
Her emotional journey is about rediscovering Olive and accepting that being hurt does not mean she has to stop believing in love.
2. Nico Varanakis
Nico is Liv’s father.
His fascination with Atlantis played a significant role in his decision to move to Greece. Although Liv initially believes he abandoned her because he cared more about Atlantis, the truth is more complicated.
His character explores the importance of mental health, family relationships, and the difficulty of communicating emotional struggles.
Nico’s relationship with Liv forms the emotional foundation of the novel.
3. Theo
Theo is Nico’s assistant and one of the central romantic interests.
He is charming, supportive, and comfortable in Santorini. His relationship with Liv develops gradually as they spend more time together.
Theo provides a different perspective on Liv’s situation and helps her enjoy her time in Greece.
Their romance adds a lighter element to a story that also deals with abandonment and emotional pain.
4. Liv’s Mother
Liv’s mother plays an important role in the family storyline.
She encourages Liv to visit her father because she understands that unresolved feelings continue to affect her daughter.
However, her decisions and the information she withheld also contribute to Liv’s complicated understanding of her family’s past.
Her character highlights how silence can sometimes make difficult family situations even harder.
Major Themes in Love and Olives
Family, Love and Forgiveness
The strongest theme in the novel is the relationship between parents and children.
Liv’s experience demonstrates how deeply a parent’s absence can affect a child. Even when love exists, a lack of communication can create misunderstandings that last for years.
The story also explores forgiveness without suggesting that emotional pain can simply disappear.
Finding Your True Identity
Liv’s decision to use a different name represents her attempt to escape her childhood.
As she spends time in Greece, she begins to realize that she does not need to become someone else to be worthy of love.
Her journey toward accepting the name Olive represents personal growth and self-discovery.
Greek Mythology and Atlantis
Atlantis is more than an interesting mystery in the novel.
It represents the connection Liv once shared with her father and the dreams they had when she was younger.
The search for the lost city becomes a metaphor for finding something that feels missing.
Mental Health and Understanding
The book also explores mental health and the importance of understanding the struggles other people may be experiencing.
Nico’s story reveals that his decisions were influenced by emotional difficulties that Liv did not understand when she was younger.
The novel encourages readers to look beyond appearances and recognize that people may be dealing with challenges they cannot easily explain.
First Love and Emotional Growth
Liv and Theo’s developing relationship adds romance to the story.
Their connection gives Liv an opportunity to experience something new while she works through her complicated family history.
Their romance also shows how relationships can encourage people to become more confident and open.
Love and Olives Ending Explained
Spoilers ahead
The ending of Love and Olives brings the story’s emotional journey to a satisfying conclusion.
As Liv spends more time with Nico, she gradually learns that his departure was not simply a decision to choose Atlantis over his family.
Nico had been dealing with mental health struggles. He believed that leaving would protect Liv and her mother from the difficulties he was experiencing. Although his intentions came from a place of love, his absence caused years of emotional pain.
Eventually, Liv understands more about her father’s decisions and begins to rebuild their relationship.
One particularly important moment comes when she discovers the meaning of the twenty-sixth item on her father’s list.
The final item is Liv herself.
This revelation changes how she understands everything that happened between them. Nico never stopped considering his daughter the most important part of his life.
The discovery gives Liv a new perspective on their relationship. She realizes that although they lost years together, they still have an opportunity to reconnect.
Another emotional moment comes when Nico explains that Liv is his Atlantis. The lost city was never as important as the daughter he loved.
Meanwhile, Liv and Theo also find their way back to each other. Their relationship develops into something more meaningful, and Liv becomes more comfortable embracing her real identity as Olive.
The ending brings together the novel’s major themes: forgiveness, family, mental health, love, and rediscovering what truly matters.
Ultimately, Atlantis becomes a symbol of something Liv and her father thought they had lost but managed to find again: each other.
Does Love and Olives Have a Happy Ending?
Yes. Love and Olives has an emotional and hopeful ending.
Liv and Nico begin rebuilding their father-daughter relationship after years of separation. Liv also makes progress in accepting her identity and understanding her father’s struggles.
Her relationship with Theo develops positively as well.
The ending is particularly satisfying for readers who enjoy stories about family reconciliation and second chances.
Is Love and Olives a Romance Book?
Yes. It is a young adult contemporary romance with family drama, travel, and mythology.
The romance between Liv and Theo is an important part of the story, but the relationship between Liv and her father receives considerable attention too.
Readers looking for a romance with emotional depth and a beautiful European setting may enjoy this book.
Is Love and Olives Appropriate for Young Adults?
Love and Olives is marketed as young adult fiction. The publisher lists it for readers aged 12 and above.
Its main subjects include family separation, emotional struggles, romance, and personal growth. It is generally suitable for teenage readers who enjoy contemporary young adult stories. Simon Teen+1
Who Should Read Love and Olives?
This book may appeal to readers who enjoy:
- Young adult contemporary romance.
- Stories set in beautiful European destinations.
- Emotional father-daughter relationships.
- Greek mythology and historical mysteries.
- Characters discovering their true identities.
- Romantic stories involving personal growth.
- Family drama and emotional reconciliation.
If you enjoyed books with travel, romance, and meaningful family relationships, this novel is worth considering.
Frequently Asked Questions About Love and Olives
What is Love and Olives about?
Love and Olives follows Liv Varanakis, a teenage girl who travels to Santorini to reconnect with her estranged father, Nico. During her visit, she becomes involved in his search for Atlantis and develops a relationship with his assistant, Theo.
Who wrote Love and Olives?
The novel was written by Jenna Evans Welch, the bestselling author of Love & Gelato and Love & Luck.
Who are the main characters in Love and Olives?
The main characters are Liv Varanakis, her father Nico Varanakis, and Theo, her father’s assistant and Liv’s romantic interest.
Where does Love and Olives take place?
Most of the story takes place in Santorini, Greece, where Liv visits her father and becomes involved in his documentary project about Atlantis.
Is Love and Olives a standalone book?
Yes. It is a standalone novel and can be read without completing another book first.
Does Love and Olives have a happy ending?
Yes. The story concludes with Liv and her father beginning to rebuild their relationship, while Liv also finds happiness in her developing relationship with Theo.
What is the significance of Atlantis in Love and Olives?
Atlantis represents the shared childhood interest between Liv and her father. It also symbolizes their lost relationship and the possibility of finding something important again.
What is the final item on Nico’s list?
The twenty-sixth item is Liv herself. This discovery reveals how important his daughter has always been to him.
Is Love and Olives suitable for teenagers?
Yes. The publisher lists the book for readers aged 12 and above.
Final Thoughts on Love and Olives
Love and Olives by Jenna Evans Welch is a heartfelt young adult novel that combines romance, Greek mythology, beautiful scenery, and an emotional family story.
Although Liv initially travels to Santorini because of her father’s search for Atlantis, she discovers something much more meaningful along the way. Her journey helps her understand her past, reconnect with her father, and become comfortable with the person she truly is.
The romance between Liv and Theo adds charm to the story, while the father-daughter relationship provides its emotional heart.
If you enjoy contemporary romance with family drama, personal growth, and a beautiful Greek setting, Love and Olives deserves a place on your reading list.
