If you’ve spent any time on BookTok, you know the stakes were high for the Netflix adaptation of Jenna Evans Welch’s bestseller. People were obsessed. They wanted the Florence sun, the secret diary, and, most importantly, the perfect faces for Lina, Ren, and Thomas. When the movie finally dropped, the Love and Gelato cast became an immediate talking point—not just because of the performances, but because of how much the production veered away from the source material.
It was a bold move.
The film, directed by Brandon Camp, features a mix of fresh faces and established European actors. Susanna Skaggs leads the pack as Lina Emerson. Before this, you might have caught her in Halt and Catch Fire, but this was her massive "it" girl moment. She brings a certain awkward, wide-eyed sincerity to the role of a girl grieving her mother while being thrust into the chaotic beauty of Italy. It’s a lot for one character to carry. Especially when the script asks her to be both a grieving daughter and a rom-com lead simultaneously.
Breaking down the Love and Gelato cast members
Let's get into the specifics of who actually played these characters. Susanna Skaggs really had to do the heavy lifting. Her portrayal of Lina is arguably more frantic than the book version, but she captures that "fish out of water" vibe perfectly. Then you have the love interests. This is where things get interesting for the fans.
Tobia De Angelis plays Lorenzo (Ren) Ferrara. If he looks familiar to international audiences, it’s likely from his work in Italian productions like I bastardi di Pizzofalcone. In the book, Ren is this tall, athletic, almost "too perfect" guy. The movie went a different direction. De Angelis plays him with a more grounded, artistic, and slightly geeky energy. It’s a choice. Some loved the "boy next door" sweetness he brought, while others were busy mourning the book-accurate Ren they had pictured for years.
Then there’s Owen McDonnell as Howard. You know him. He was Eve’s husband, Niko, in Killing Eve. Seeing him go from that intense drama to playing the "maybe-dad" figure in an Italian villa was a total pivot. He brings a much-needed warmth to the screen. Honestly, his chemistry with Skaggs is what gives the movie its emotional core. It’s less about the romance and more about a girl finding a father figure when she thought she had no one left.
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The secondary characters that filled out Florence
- Anjelika Washington as Addie: She’s the best friend every girl needs. Washington, known for Stargirl, provides the high-energy comedic relief via FaceTime. It’s a tough gig, acting mostly to a phone screen, but she makes it work.
- Saul Nanni as Alessandro Albani: Every teen movie needs the rich, charming "wrong" choice. Nanni fits the bill. He’s an Italian actor who has been working since he was a kid in Disney Channel Italy’s Alex & Co. He has that effortless "I own this city" look that the role of Alessandro absolutely required.
- Valentina Lodovini as Francesca: She’s a powerhouse in Italian cinema. Having her in the cast adds a layer of authenticity to the setting. She isn't just a background character; she represents the connection to Lina’s mother’s past.
Why the casting and script choices sparked a debate
Adaptations are tricky. Always have been. But the Love and Gelato cast had to deal with a script that essentially rewrote the plot. In the book, Lina’s mother’s diary is the North Star. In the movie, the diary feels like a secondary prop. This changed how the actors had to interact.
There was a lot of chatter online about the age of the actors versus the characters. Lina is supposed to be seventeen. Susanna Skaggs was in her early twenties during filming. That’s standard Hollywood math, but in a coming-of-age story set in the high-stakes world of first loves, that gap can sometimes make the "teen" problems feel a bit trivial.
Also, can we talk about the location? Florence is basically a cast member itself. The cinematography by Stefano Paradiso makes the city look edible. The actors are often competing with the Duomo or the Ponte Vecchio for your attention. Sometimes the city wins.
The "Ren" controversy explained
If you scroll through Reddit or Goodreads, the biggest gripe is almost always Ren. In the novel, Ren is half-Italian, half-Korean. Fans were specifically looking forward to seeing that representation on screen. When Tobia De Angelis was cast, it sparked a conversation about why the production moved away from the specific ethnic identity Jenna Evans Welch wrote.
It wasn’t just about looks. It was about the missed opportunity for diverse storytelling in a major Netflix rom-com. De Angelis is a talented actor, no doubt. He plays "sweet and supportive" incredibly well. But for a lot of readers, the character on screen just wasn’t the Ren they spent hundreds of pages falling in love with.
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Behind the scenes: The Italian connection
One thing the movie got right was hiring local. Most of the supporting cast and the crew were Italian. This prevents the movie from feeling like a total "tourist trap" production. When you see Lina interacting with people in the markets or at the opera, those aren't just extras with fake accents. They are the real deal.
Director Brandon Camp, who also wrote the screenplay, seemed to want to lean into the "American girl finds herself" trope more than the mystery of the father. This placed a huge burden on the Love and Gelato cast to sell a story that felt more like The Lizzie McGuire Movie and less like a YA mystery novel.
Alex Zarfati and Tera Hendrickson, the producers, clearly aimed for a "summer escape" vibe. They achieved it. Even if the plot feels thin at times, the cast looks like they are having the time of their lives eating world-class gelato and wandering through 500-year-old gardens.
What the actors did to prepare
Susanna Skaggs has mentioned in interviews that she didn't actually spend a ton of time in Italy before filming. She was learning the city as Lina was learning the city. That’s a cool bit of method acting, even if it wasn't intentional. You can see her genuine awe in some of those wide shots.
Tobia De Angelis, being a local, reportedly helped show the cast around. That off-screen friendship is likely why the "Ren and Lina" dynamic feels so comfortable, even if the romantic tension isn't as high-octane as some fans wanted.
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The lasting impact of the film
Despite the mixed reviews from hardcore book fans, the movie performed well on Netflix’s global charts. It’s a "comfort watch." People keep coming back to it because sometimes you just want to see pretty people in a pretty place eating pasta.
The Love and Gelato cast served their purpose: they brought a beloved, lighthearted story to a visual medium. While it might not be the definitive version of Lina’s story for everyone, it introduced a whole new audience to the world Jenna Evans Welch created.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of the actors or the story itself, here is the move. Check out the other books in the series—Love & Luck and Love & Olives. They don't follow the same characters, but they have that same "travel-romance" DNA.
Actionable steps for fans of the cast and story
- Follow the newcomers: If you liked Susanna Skaggs, keep an eye on her upcoming indie projects. She has a grounded style that suggests she’s heading for more dramatic roles soon.
- Explore Italian Cinema: If Saul Nanni (Alessandro) caught your eye, watch Under the Riccione Sun on Netflix. It’s another Italian summer vibe movie where he gets more screen time.
- Read the Source Material: Seriously. If you’ve only seen the movie, you’re missing about 60% of the character development for the Love and Gelato cast's counterparts. The book's version of Ren is a completely different experience.
- Check the Soundtrack: The music in the film is a great entry point into contemporary Italian pop. It adds a layer to the "Italian Summer" aesthetic that the cast works so hard to build.
The reality is that no adaptation is perfect. The cast did what they could with a script that wanted to be a lighthearted romp. Whether you’re a "Ren purist" or you just loved the scenery, the film remains a staple of the Netflix YA library.