This was a fun romantic comedic riff on the You've Got Mail trope of falling in love through correspondence. The main character is a relatable, kind hearted romantic who is looking for fairy tale love and finds it through an app that allows the users to correspond anonymously. This was a charming, funny read and although you can see the way the story plays out it is nevertheless satisfying.

Cute You've Got Mail type story of Gracie, a champagne shop owner, and Sebastian, head of a large corporation who is trying to buy her family business. While they are battling each other in their business lives, they don't realize that they are also writing each other flirty text messages on a dating app that doesn't allow photos. Humor abounds and when they realize that they are both feeling the same way romance wins in the end. Recommended.

“Love Is Blind meets You’ve Got Mail in this laugh-out-loud romantic comedy following two thirty-somethings who meet on a blind dating app—only to realize that their online chemistry is nothing compared to their offline rivalry.”

You had me at You’ve Got Mail. As a proud elder millennial, I believe I have seen the Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks romantic comedy approximately 50 times. It’s safe to say that any variation on this tale merited a reading, but I was not prepared to fall so hard for this story.

Full disclosure, any time a book is set in New York City, I cringe with anticipation that the author will likely be exposed as someone who clearly has never actually been there. I swear, I once read an NYC-set book where the protagonist was given the keys to her new boyfriend’s car to go to the grocery store. In Midtown. You know, as one does. Thankfully, Lauren Layne appears to be a true New Yorker, and I didn’t see any glaring continuity errors.

I fell into this story right away, immediately liking Gracie Cooper. I found her to be the best kind of woman-- someone who champions other women and makes friends with just about everyone she meets. Perhaps there was a bit of Ryan’s Kathleen Kelly in that, but the character was definitely her own. There’s something so heartfelt about the people in this story, and you find yourself cheering for all of them.

As with the source material, you, as an audience member, know that the two main characters are actually writing to each other, even when they do not. Watching the story unfold left a delightful squirminess in my stomach that was resolved at the perfect time in the plot. I can’t tell you how much I smiled in the last five chapters of this story.

There was an information dump on chapter two that I felt was a bit lazy and juvenile. The rest of the book does such a great job of showing and not telling that it felt incongruous with the writing quality. As this is my only criticism of the whole book, I’d say we’re safe to go ahead and slap a five-star rating on this bad boy.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for sharing a digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thanks to NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
Although this book is described as a nod to You’ve Got Mail, and in general Nora Ephron, it is that but also so much more. This book is a sweet story about Gracie, a wine shop owner, who is in a rut running the family business. Along comes Sebastian, the man with a plan, that includes putting her and the shop out of business. Hilarity ensues, a semi meet cute, mistaken identities, and a cast of colorful supporting characters.
This book is like a sunny spring day, warm laundry that is fresh out of the dryer, the perfect cup of tea, or an adorable kitten video on the internet. A must read for fans of Lauren Layne as it’s definitely one of her best.

This has such a cute premise!
I think it did You Got Mail justice.
I loved Gracie and Sebastian! I thought they had great chemistry and were great characters on their own.
I felt invested in them both early on, and enjoyed watching their story unfold.
Very cute and entertaining!

Gracie Cooper is searching for her perfect man and won’t stop until Prince Charming slides on her glass slipper.
This book was adorable from start to finish. A “You’ve Got Mail” of the modern era, with two strangers communicating via a dating app, not even realizing they are frenemies in real life.
Layne’s writing is fun and charismatic, providing a perfect fairy tale escape for a few hours. This is the first I’ve read from this author and I am looking forward to checking out her other books!

As soon as I read that this was a new take on ‘You’ve Got Mail’, I KNEW that I needed to read it. And can I just tell you that I have absolutely no regrets in that split second decision?
Gracie Cooper, lover of all things fairytale, lost in a lackluster lifer, well she reached down and touched all the parts of me that I think so many of us have. The ‘what-if’ factor was so abundantly strong in this, and I related so much. And not just for her, but for him as well.
I loved the initial animosity, the cleverly disguised hints, the stories going on in the background of the Cooper family.
I don’t think I have to even tell you that I loved this one, it’s probably pretty obvious by now, but I don’t mind shouting it from the rooftop either.
This was exactly what I was searching for, even if I didn’t know I was looking at the time.

This wonderful modern take on "You've Got Mail" left me with warm and fuzzy feelings!

Instead of following her dreams to become an artist, Gracie Cooper fulfills her father's deathbed wish of keeping the family champagne shop in business. After years of modernizing to keep things afloat Sebastian Andrews, young heir of the Andrews Corporation sweeps into Gracie's life with a buyout offer.

Unwilling to let go of her father's wishes, Gracie turns to her companion Sir whom she met via an app. Between the mixed signals from Sir and the constant appearance of Sebastian Andrews, Gracie has to face who's dreams she needs to follow: her father's or her own.

With a wonderful set of fun, strong women by her side Gracie begins to put her life in order. Caught up in thinking about the fantasy of her life, she learns to spend less time trying to live her dreams and more time just living.

A fresh take on this romantic classic, fans of the original will not be disappointed. Unlike usual retellings of Miklos Laszlo's Parfumerie, this version is told only through the perspective of the female character which in no way takes away from the dramatic irony of the stage and screen versions.

Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for the advanced copy!

Lauren Layne authors enjoyable romance novels, and this one is no exception to the rule! I thoroughly enjoyed "To Sir, with Love" and was sad to come to the end of the book. Gracie Cooper is a fairy-tale enthusiast and hopeless romantic looking for her perfect man. She has developed a blossoming romance with an unseen man online, and is also interested in Sebastian Andrews, an infuriating business rival. What will she do when she falls for both? You must read this book to find out! I really loved this book and think it should even be made into a TV movie!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I lOVED this book. It was so unbelievably cute, I read it in one sitting. I absolutely adored Sebastian and his kind and thoughtful personality. I loved the slow burn connection between him and Gracie. I also really liked the supporting characters and I appreciated the storyline added with her sister Lily and her husband. Being the fairytale believer myself, it was nice to relate to Gracie in her quest for prince charming. Overall this was a lovely and magical read!

The premise of this book is fun! I loved the beautiful family dynamic between Lily, Gracie and Caleb. This book was well written and clean but not cheesy. I think this may be my favorite of Lauren Laynes!!

Lauren Layne's newest book is made to be devoured in one night and one sitting just like the rom com movie it is emulating. That is just what I did! I am a long time Lauren Layne lover and I grew up with a crush on Tom Hanks because of You've Got Mail and while Sebastien Andrews is no Joe Fox this book is such a delight. It is nothing life altering...the story is as old as time, but it's fresh & fun here with a full slate of great secondary characters. Anyone looking for escapism or who is a fan of rom coms this is an obvious read, but I really think it could be a win for a multitude of readers. Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lauren Layne lays the perfect soundtrack for a romcom lover. With every new book by this author, she further solidifies my adoration for her work. Her books are filled with flirty repartee and entertaining banter while capturing a snapshot of a young and thriving adult in NYC trying to find love in all the wrong places and this book is no exception.

The connection between Grace and Sebastian felt organic and natural. There were a lot of moments of intimacy that lit up the pages that went beyond the physical. Simple conversations of getting to know one another and lingering gazes from across a room held more fire than any book with a physical aspect to it. Though it’s nice to solidify a relationship with a physical connection, I felt more steam and sexiness with their message and things left unsaid.

I thrive for the book from a dual perspective because having a male point of view makes for interesting insight, but having this story told in a single POV from Gracie’s view made the chemistry more intense since we feel the emotions directly from her. Sebastian is a mystery and I loved how his actions give you a better sense of him rather than if this story was told from his point of view. The author did an amazing job setting up the scenes to where I felt a part of them rather than reading about them. With her vivid imagery I could feel the emotions playing out and engage with how each character would respond.

This story was charismatic in writing, providing a fairytale story with two realistic characters. Your heart is invested in the outcome making it hard to put down this book. Certainly a book in which you keep telling yourself “just one more chapter”. This book is the quintessential romcom with the unique Lauren Layne twist. Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

This was a cute read with some fun banter happening in the dialogue. I think I would have enjoyed the story more, if I had been in the dark about Sir's identity along with Gracie. It felt frustrating that she wasn't putting the obvious clues together. The chemistry between Sebastian and Gracie fell a bit flat for me. I did enjoy the cast of side characters. All in all, this was a sweet and fluffy rom-com read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for access to this arc.

Immediately based on the summary, I was drawn to this romance read. Being hailed as "Love is Blind" meets "You've Got Mail," two thirtysomething meet and connect via a blind dating app with no names or pictures, only to discover their online chemistry is just as strong as their IRL workplace rivalry. We follow aspiring artist Grace who runs her late father's boutique champagne shop in Manhattan. She's cheerful and dreaming of her prince, who she believes is this guy from the app even though he has a girlfriend and they are just virtual pen pals. Then, her store is in trouble but she's hesitant to give up her dad's dream, and the man at the company who owns her building and wants to buy her out, why that owner is none other than the attractive and arrogant Sebastian. Overwhelmed with what path to take next, Gracie seeks solace and comfort in Sir, her faceless pen pal matched based on common interests. While she's falling deeper and deeper for Sir online, she doesn't realize that he's actually the man she cannot stand. These two have such banter from the jump that's just so delicious and fun as a reading, where I just want to keep reading more of this fun enemies to lovers tale. It's told partially in the present day, but then each chapter begins with a snippet of their anonymous texts giving us more of the juicy details. In the end, it's definitely cute, I'll give it that, but it's also quite expected and all in all just fine, but you know, sometimes that predicably sweet rom-com is just what's needed. Except for that epilogue, I need more like right now.

A You’ve Got Mail inspired rom-com? Yes, please! Having loved Layne’s Central Pact series, this novel was one of my most anticipated in 2021. This book follows Gracie, a thirty something living in NYC, as she chases her own fairytale, no matter how unconventional. It was adorable. I enjoyed it and it was a quick read. I look forward to sharing this novel with our audience closer to publication date. Thank you for an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

I couldn't get interested . I didn't care for dialogue, descriptions and characters. I didn't feel connected. The pacing was slow

Another lost night of sleep because I got a sneak peek at To Sir, With Love from Lauren Layne!
An unabashed rehash of YOU'VE GOT MAIL, updated for the digital generation, Ms. Layne gives the enemies to friends to lovers trope a welcome boost in today's romance book selections. This is a sweet romance that's heavily character driven and filled with Layne's typical willy banter, detailed subtext, and emotional family drama all wrapped up in a rom com. Reading the book plays like a movie in your head - and I love that.

Instead of a bookshop, TO SIR, WITH LOVE, centers around a failing, family owned and operated champagne/spirits shop on the upper west side of Manhattan. Our plucky heroine and her family refuse to have their lease bought out by a big, bad developer. This story practically writes itself when the hero and heroine meet. But wait - the subplot concerning these two has already begun, off page, when we first meet them.

I hate spoilers, so none will be given here. Just know this is typical and vintage Layne - well written, believable characters you could know in your real life, and delivered in a style even thos most jaded of romance readers can adore.

Bravo, once again.

Lauren Layne’s writing has evolved in an amazing way over the years. From the sexy Stiletto/Oxford series to this delightful, modern take on ‘You’ve Got Mail.’ Although there are similarities, To Sir, With Love is original with Gracie and Sebastian knowing each other before they actually meet. As their ‘romances’ progress, I began to wonder who would ‘figure’ it out first. Another interesting change to Ms. Layne’s writing is the heat without the sex. The missing sex did not take away from the book at all – I guess you could term this a ‘clean’ HEA.

Layne included just the right amount of angst to the book to keep me from putting it down – I wanted desperately to know how it would end. I loved Gracie’s self-journey as she began to look at what she really wants in life. She is independent, yet dependent on the shop for her identity. Gracie gave up her desire for art school to keep her family’s champagne shop going. At times, she is strong, at others, a people pleaser.

Sebastian, at times, seems to be a bit stiff, but I realized fairly quickly he has his own ‘self-defense’ protectors. He, too is living with family expectations, including whom his family wants him to date and, eventually, marry. He does come across as a little insecure, but at the same time, that is what gives him his endearing quality. Sebastian did a bit of self-reflection to find out what he wants of life, too. I loved how he found Gracie to be kind, and told her so. Most of the time he holds his feelings ‘close to vest’ when in person.

The Cinderella ‘shoe’ and underlying fairy tale aspect added to the mystic of the building relationship through the dating app; such a cute idea. I loved Sebastian’s desire to fulfill Gracie’s fairy tale. These two are perfect together. They are supported by an interesting and engaging group of secondary characters, family, friends and employees.

I wanted to love this so much more than I did. The description sounds like a combination of things I love to read in romance novels - the enemies-to-lovers trope & an epistolary novel! Honestly, I thought it would be a win-win… except within 10 pages, it’s revealed that the male main character has a girlfriend.

I’m hoping because that’s revealed almost immediately, that that’s not considered a spoiler, because honestly if I had known that in advance, I don’t think I would have picked up this book. It was said multiple times that they were just friends, he told her upfront that he had a girlfriend when they met, but to me, it just seemed like it very quickly had become an emotional affair that was dismissed because it was online only.

I do want to mention a few things that I did like. I really liked the side characters in this book. They all seemed well developed, and I enjoyed seeing their interactions with each other and Gracie. I also found this book to be a very quick, easy read and the NYC setting was definitely fun. The epistolary aspect was done in a fun way, although I wish there were more online interactions, just because I personally enjoy reading them. There was also a lot of really cute in-person banter.

I didn’t feel a strong connection between Gracie and Sebastian, and I’m wondering if it’s because there was a connection trying to be built between them online & a separate connection being built in person, but they just didn’t come together in a strong way for me.

Spoilers ahead: One of the reasons I think that I didn’t feel their connection the way I wanted to was because when Gracie messaged online to ask to meet, he said no. And he didn’t tell her he was single until she specifically asked! All before he figured out who he was actually talking to. Lastly, I found the timeline confusing. Sebastian tells Gracie that he hasn’t been ‘on’ with Genevieve in a few months. But it didn’t seem like their online chats had been going on for that long. And when she first meets him on the street, Genevieve calls him ‘babe.’ Throughout the book, it seems a bit confusing if things are happening days apart or weeks. And at one point, Gracie mentions that both her and Sir were in relationships when they met - this is only mentioned once, not questioned, and didn’t seem to fit the story.

Thank you to Gallery Books & NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!