To Sir, With Love by Lauren Layne
Pub Date: June 29, 2021

Lauren Layne did not disappoint with this modern You’ve Got Mail romantic comedy. To Sir, With Love is an funny, enemies to lovers, and almost too sweet rom-com that I don’t think you’ll want to miss.

Gracie is such a relatable character. She believes in romance, is incredibly kind and selfless, and lives for those fairytale moments. There is great chemistry, witty banter, and perfect relationship development between her and Sebastian. I do wish there was more of Sebastian’s background included.

The supporting characters were weaved into the story nicely. Lauren Layne’s writing made the setting, a New York City champagne store, come to life. I loved that Gracie’s character is strong, resilient, and, while reluctant, isn’t afraid to follow her dreams. It is a quick read, I read this in one sitting, and plan to read again soon with a glass of champagne.

I recommend To Sir, With Love to anyone who loves rom-coms, clean romance, and an enemies to lovers trope. Definitely a great summer read.


Thanks to Gallery Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy to review

To Sir, With Love made me feel warm and fuzzy. It was heavily reminiscent of You’ve Got Mail, which might be the best RomCom of all time, so I was extremely excited to read this.

Gracie is a romantic that is waiting to meet her Prince Charming. She’s been texting a stranger on a dating app and is starting to grow feelings for this man, Sir, that she’s never met. Until one day she meets the eyes of a beautiful man and she’s struck dumb: could this be the ONE?

Haha. No, he’s just the “evil” building owner who wants to buy her family’s champagne store. What follows is a little formulaic and typical, but it’s still so heartwarming and fun to read that I don’t even care. Gracie’s connection to Sebastian feels so genuine, she can’t help but wonder is she falling for two different men, Seb and Sir?

To Sir, With Love was full of hope and cheer and I adored every minute of it. The writing was terrific with fun and witty dialogue and worthwhile characters. The side characters added a lot to this story and I especially loved Gracie’s friend Keva. She was like the fairy godmother of fun.

Looking forward to more from Lauren Layne.

What a sweet re-telling of you've got mail! I couldn't put this book down and read it in one sitting! The characters were realistic, complex, and you couldn't help but root for them. This book is a love letter to New York and anyone who loves Rom-Coms, regardless of how realistic they are.

It was a very sweet enjoyable read, would give it 4.5/5 stars.

This was a great lighthearted read with a good amount of humor. It’s very enjoyable and can be read in one sitting. There’s great banter and the characters felt like people you’d actually know in real life versus seeming too fictional. It’s definitely something anybody who enjoyed “You’ve Got Mail” should read.
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

I was really excited about this book. Not only is the cover adorable, but the pages inside are really entertaining as well. Lauren Layne is known for writing really great chick flick type of stories and this one might be her best. TO SIR WITH LOVE is brimming with humor and heat and I devoured it easily.

If you want something with lots of banter and girl talk, then I think you’re going to enjoy this book. Maybe this light book isn’t for everyone, but with everything going on in the world right now, I think a simple, humorous read might be the thing to cheer people up. I know it certainly brightened my mood.

So if you’re looking for a Rom Com that will sweep you off your feet, then I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with this one from Lauren Layne.

Thirty-three year old Grace has recently lost her father to lung cancer and inherited his dream -- a high-end champagne shop in Midtown Manhattan. Although her dream was to pursue a career as an artist, she sets that dream aside and takes over the champagne shop. But she soon realizes that the shop is faltering. She shares her worries about the shop, her art, and life in general with a person she met on a blind dating app, whom she has dubbed "Sir." Because the app encourages its matches get to know each other through messages before exchanging real names or photos, she doesn't really know who this person is. A friendship develops and she grows closer to "Sir," who sympathizes with her, offers her sage advice through her difficulties, and lends a virtual shoulder when she's down. She's tempted to meet him, but they have both agreed that it would be best to remain friends.

At the same time, she's met a man named Sebastian. She ignores her attraction to him, especially when she realizes he's the businessman who wants to buy the building where her father's champagne shop is, and put her out of business. She doesn't want to fail her father, so she fights against Sebastian, despite the fact that her heart isn't really in the champagne business. But Sebastian won't go away, and helps her see that unless she makes changes in her father's store, it will eventually close. So although she fights the attraction, she finds herself growing more and more fond of Sebastian. At the same time, there's "Sir" whose compassion and understanding has also captured her heart.

So she has a decision to make between the two men...or does she really? (Read the book and find out the surprising twist!)

My favorite parts of this book: the main characters were very realistic, with everyday problems. The banter between the characters was wonderful. The plot was detailed enough to keep me turning the page, but not overburdened. And of course, the best part: the surprising happy ending!

Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for giving me an opportunity to read this fun book in exchange for a fair review.

Light-hearted and fun, yet packed full of emotion!
This was a great read, it was first by this author and it won't be my last!
It was light hearted and fun, I laughed out loud, I giggled, I swooned and I cried! It has "You've Got Mail" vibes, which I loved the movie so naturally I fell in love with the book too!
Sebastian is all business by day, but as Gracie finds out, he is all heart with a genuine kindness and concern for others wellbeing. Gracie is a struggling shop owner in New York, struggling to find her true purpose in life. When she finds it, with Sebastians help, she opens herself up to new possibilities. Gracie and Sebastian are a great pair, I'm so happy to have read their story.

4 Stars! This was a super cute book! I really enjoyed reading it and loved the HEA ending! Gracie & Sebastian are very lovable characters. The book is an enemies to lovers story. It can also be read as a standalone. Definitely recommended, especially if you’re a sucker for a fairytale-esk romance books!
You really can NOT go wrong with a Lauren Layne book.
*I received this book at no charge from NetGalley & I voluntarily left this review.*

Right off the bat, I loved the concept of this book. A total stranger that you are forced to get to know through the art of easy conversation instead of photos and awkward first dates that might or might not lead anywhere? Plus, we are instantly thrown into the life of Gracie Cooper, who runs the little champagne shop called Bubbles and More.

Gracie is the middle child of three who took over the shop after her father's battle with cancer. She made it her mission to turn the place around and get them out of debt as best as she could. She also is nothing short of a hopeless romantic, refusing to settle for less than what she wants - so her attraction to Sir is a shock to everyone she tells, but not a total surprise considering she wants the fairytale.

Sebastian Andrews is a well-known businessman in Manhattan who is currently trying to buy out the rest of Gracie's lease on her shop. Despite the fact that Ms. Cooper is stopped dead in her tracks the first moment they meet, she wants to hate him with everything in her because he is taking away the only thing she really worked to keep.

The two build an interesting sort of relationship and while parts are a little predictable (as most RomCom's are), I was left with nothing short of a happy little squeal when I reached the end. This book certain has it all and Sir is just what we need.

This was a sugary confection of a book. I love a good You've Got Mail retelling and this was a charming, breezy version of a storyline that already makes me think of comfort. Gracie is a fairy tale loving romantic who is trying to keep her family business afloat. She has an online friendship ,that also contains a dash of flirtation, with someone she refers to as Sir. It is the closest thing to romance in her life when Sebastian crashes in trying to encourage her to close up shop. He is all business but she can't help but notice his aqua eyes and how his company is less abrasive over time. Full of warmth and wit this book is like watching your favorite romcom with you best friend.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review,

2 1/2 stars. This modern retelling of You’ve Got Mail was sadly a disappointment for me. I cringed at the frequent fairy tale references and I couldn’t understand how they fell in love over their messaging when it was so breezy and shallow. I just wasn’t a fan of the writing or dialogue and the whole thing felt too cheesy. It could make for a cute hallmark film though.

Gracie Cooper, who runs a champagne shop co-owned by her sister and brother is single and too busy to date. She has signed up on a unique dating app that does not reveal names nor pictures of its clients. Gracie has been communicating with a person she calls "Sir." There is a definite connection between the two. In her "real" life, she bumps into and meets in person her nemesis and landlord, Sebastian Andrews. He has been trying to convince her, by mail, to vacate her space in his building. Between the emails sent back and forth to Sir and the interactions with Sebastian, Lauren Layne has given us a hot fudge sundae on a hot afternoon. Sweet and satisfying, a real treat.

Gracie Cooper is looking for the kind of love that exists in a Disney movie. Cue singing animals, fluffy dresses, and a handsome leading man and you had her at "hello". Sadly, now in her 30's and managing her family's champagne shop, love is not that easy to come by. But Gracie has a gift, the ability to find joy in the moment and to enjoy the people in her life even if they happen to be the perfect man with a very imperfect secret. Throw in a dating app, unexpected meetings, laugh-out-loud dialogue and you have all the makings for the perfect book. Lauren Layne does it again with To Sir, with Love and continues to prove to this reader that she is a master of her craft. A must read worth picking up again and again, this is a summer read that will leave you feeling like all things are possible, maybe even singing animals.

This book was a delight. As a fan of You've Got Mail, this interpretation felt like I was sitting back with a bowl of popcorn and reliving my favorite movie. The characters were close but not too similar to the movies, but their back and forth chemistry was unrivaled. It was a great beach read that I would recommend to any romance, fun, flirty book lovers. Highly recommend this for a fun read that'll make you want to believe in a fairy tale love story.

Lauren Layne had me at a modern day You've Got Mail. To Sir, with Love was a sweet story.

Gracie owns a champagne shop and Sebastian is offering to buy her out of her lease. Gracie instantly feels a rivalry and vows to prove to Sebastian that she can turn her business around. The connection between the two of them felt real. I loved that Gracie was able to get closer to her family again and had honest conversations with her siblings about what she wanted.

Meanwhile Gracie is having honest conversations with a mysterious man, Sir, online. Ones that discuss fear and are honest about their feelings and desires.

I enjoyed watching Gracie struggle with feelings she was developing for both Sebastian and Sir. I will say that I was surprised that Gracie didn't connect dots sooner. I also wished that Sebastian had initiated the second time that they had met so that it wouldn't feel so much like Gracie was putting in all of the effort. I wish we had gotten a little more of the two of them together, but overall this was a great slow-burn.

I recommend if you're looking for slow burn rivals to lovers with some flirty messages thrown in.

5 out of 5 stars1 out of 5 steam level

You should know, going into this review, that this was my 8th Lauren Layne. I randomly read a book of hers from my library and then went into a deep dive. So I was thrilled to get this book early from Gallery Books. This book is a spin on You’ve Got Mail. (If you’re a true YGM fan…which I am… you know that it was actually a spin on a previous movie starring Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullivan. Shop Around the Corner, anyone?) There were so many easter eggs for you’ve got mail. Gracie’s dog being named Cannoli? I mean, so great!

I was basically in love with the heroine. There’s so many things I could say about her, but I guess I’ll start by saying that I would 100% be friends with her irl. She had high expectations for her love life (some would say unrealistic), she worked hard, she tried to be generally nice, and she was quirky. I kept waiting for moments to mirror YGM perfectly- and the good news is that it is not an exact replica of the movie. This made it fun to continue reading, being pleasantly surprised as I turned the pages. Sebastian, our hero in the novel, was very likable as well. I think readers will be cheering for him.

The only thing I didn’t love about the book was the culmination of the assessment of the characters feelings (no spoilers) regarding irl vs online.

This is a low to no steam book. I think romance readers will love it as well as readers who are nervous to dip their toes into the world of romance.

while reading this book you should":

listen to: I’m a Fool to Want You by Frank Sinatrawatch: you’ve got mailresearch: The 1973 Hungarian play Parfumerie by Miklos Laszlo

thank you to the publisher (gallery books) for this advanced readers copy

happy reading,

dux

“Because you said you loved him. Because you deserve your fairy-tale ending. And because I’d do anything for you, Gracie Cooper. Even if it means letting you go.”

Title: To Sir, With Love
Author: Lauren Layne
Type: Standalone
Genres: Adult, Romance, Clean Adult, Contemporary Romance

The very best thing a romance can have is good writing and a good plot. The steamy scenes and the characters are a big plus, but for me the writing NEEDS to be good. Without good writing and a good plot, romance stories become a bit underwhelming. The ones that have sex in them become just porn or enjoyable for the steam, and the one's that don't and also lack good writing really are just a fan fiction. To Sir, With Love regretfully does not have steamy scenes (sad as it would have made the story dashingly better since our main character is so delightful to look at), but the good writing makes up for that and the lack of an incredible plot.

Don't get me wrong, the plot is great. It is fluffy, a true romantic comedy, a fantasy and a little princessy. However, we don't get big plot twists, we really don't get much angst, and the whole mystery is really all very obvious. BUT, no matter how cliche it was or how predictable the story was I found myself really really enamored by the writing and the whimsical narrator that I enjoyed the ride.

Gracie is a lover of all things romance and has been waiting for her Prince Charming - well all her life really. She has had no luck, yet she continues looking (in vain) for THE ONE. She has a whole list of qualities and attributions that make him the one, her family thinks she needs to give this idea of finding the perfect man and try out the field. However, this is not the only one of Gracie's problems. Her job is on the verge of collapse as a very sexy (yet unobtainable) suit type of guy wants to buy her property since she is almost going bankrupt. Seeing her family's legacy closed makes her eyes water and she does not want to give this up as well. To make matters worse the only guy she seems to be interested in, is one she hasn't even met. Using a new dating app she continues messaging her SIR back and forth, but he is also not available, but that doesn't stop her heart from fluttering for the two men she cannot have.

Another thing I really enjoyed about the book was the characters. Gracie is basically a real life princess or she wants to be, and although many people would find her a bit weak I found her intriguing. She was sweet and very pink, and sometimes its good to hear about the type of woman who struggles to find her voice. Yet when they do, they're invincible. I loved her journey in finding "the one" and ending up wanting to fight for her own dreams not the dreams other had for her. Through it all it was more of a "her" journey, and not only a romance story.

--- 3.5 stars ---

Listen, I love a good Meg Ryan Movie. While When Harry Met Sally is one of my all-time favs, You’ve Got Mail is definitely up there. So, when I read that TO SIR, WITH LOVE was a modern retelling of You’ve Got Mail - with an app instead of AOL email - I requested it immediately. And, instead of a bookstore, we have a family-owned champagne store, Bubbles & More.

This was just an incredibly sweet read - we love a good enemies to lovers, especially when the heroine is ambitious and a bit headstrong. And the ending? Swoon.


TO SIR, WITH LOVE publishes on June 29th! Thank you to @netgalley and @gallerybooks for the eARC to read and review.


CW // grief; death of a parent

A modern day retelling of You've Got Mail by Lauren Layne? Sign me up!! I loved everything about this book, from the initial meet cute, to the drunken checklist phone call, the adorable messages back and forth between Sir and Lady, to the hilarious cooking lesson (anyone imagine themselves ruining each course like Gracie and Sebastian or was that just me?!), the gallery opening and everything else in between. Gracie and Sebastian were such fun, loveable characters, as were their friends and family. Another winning book from Lauren Layne- can't wait for more!

Great Rom- Com. I love Lauren Layne's books but this is one of my favorites. I loved watching Gracie quit trying to please everyone and finally believe in herself.