I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sweet novel about forgiveness and second chances. I had the story line figured out and was delighted to be incorrect.

"A Literary Work of Art!"

Master storyteller Sarah Jio's latest enchanting masterpiece, WITH LOVE FROM LONDON, is exquisite!

If you are a lover of books, handwritten letters, literature, quaint bookshops, vintage, and the charm of London, this magical treasure is a "must-read" for Valentines.

5 Stars +++ and my favorite of the year. An ideal book club pick from a journey of love, loss, hope, and forgiveness! This novel would make a fabulous movie or TV series.

Told from POV: We meet Valentina (daughter-2013) and Eloise (mother-1968) with dual timelines from California/Seattle to London, England.

Eloise is living in London in the sixties. A dreamer, a lover of literature and life. She and Millie are best friends living in London, and both dream of opening a bookstore one day.

Valentine, a librarian, and lover of books (like her mom), is currently getting a divorce from her attorney husband in Seattle (his affair). She experiences two sudden tragedies: Her marriage is over, and the mother who abandoned her has died.

She receives the news her mother has passed away and left her property in the charming Primrose Hill, London (who doesn't love this area)? Two flats and a quaint bookstore, The Book Garden. New beginnings sometimes come with facing the past.

When Val was twelve years old, Eloise left California. Valentine has not seen her since. However, Valentine has no idea how much her mother loved her and what happened.

She decides she will move to London for a new start; however, she has no idea how this will change her life in so many ways. From getting to know her real mom, what happened, new friendships, and a new love interest.

Eloise takes Val on a creative, fun, and mysterious scavenger (handwritten letters and cards) hunt to London's favorite spots. Along the way, she shares her story hoping that Val will understand her better.

There is also another scavenger hunt trying to locate a mystery book lover with two separate journeys and the importance of each for Val.

Her mother had met a wonderful man Edward in the past and immediately is smitten and he will ultimately change her life. However, it was not their time due to circumstances you will discover later in the book.

Instead, she marries a man she does not love and leaves London for California. She longs for London and her friends and life. She finds joy in estate sales and finding rare book collections and beautiful vintage jewelry and imagines the lives of its former owners.

When she gets pregnant with Valentine, a baby girl, she decides she will make sure her little girl is loved and teaches her about the love of books. Eloise still dreams of that book store, and Frank refuses.

Frank is a wealthy man, very controlling, and does not have anything in common with sweet Eloise. Later, he forces her to leave and go back to London, gives her nothing, and does not allow her to see her daughter again. The letters she writes daily have been intercepted.

There is mystery and intrigue as the author keeps you glued to the pages to see what will happen on this adventure of life. I read this one in two sittings and was glued to this story. I could not wait to return.

I have told so many people about this book. Bittersweet, words cannot adequately express my sincere love for this book. Heartfelt and thought-provoking WITH LOVE FROM LONDON is one which you will bookmark many pages and refer to often. This gem is one you will repeatedly read when you need a smile and a little hope.

MESMERIZING AND SPELLBINDING.

It is a love letter to the literary world, booksellers, mothers/daughters, friendships, and lost loves just in time for Valentine's. If you love London, quaint villages, bookshops, flower shops, vintage shops, and rare collections and believe in dreams and second chances, it has it all.

What a great cast of fully developed characters! My favorite guys are Edward and Eric!

Since her first book, I have been an avid Sarah Jio fan and have read all her books. This is my absolute favorite. Highly recommend it to anyone no matter the genre. Thank me later.

A special thank you to #randomhouse for an ARC. I also purchased the beautiful paperback copy and the audiobook narrated by my (favorite-Brittany Pressley) and Gabrielle Glaister.

Blog Review posted:
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
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My Rating: 5 hearts 💙💙💙💙💙
Pub Date: Feb 8, 2022

Sarah Jio wrote a book that is as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking. Every book lover should pick this one up.

With Love from London focuses on the estranged relationship between Valentina and her late mother Eloise in the most unique way. When Valentina finds out that her mother left her the most beautiful bookshop underneath an apartment, she is confused and overwhelmed to say the least. However , with the help of a revealing scavenger hunt her mother created for her before passing way and the support of her new found family, she discovers that happiness can be found in the most unusual of places.

I loved seeing Valentina mold into an independent and vivacious woman throughout this book. I adored all the friendships especially of course with Liza and Millie. There was so many twists and turns in this book, Sarah Jio truly made everything go into a full circle. This will definitely be a book that I reread in the future. I absolutely LOVED every part of it.

There are two timelines, one which is Valentinas present day and the other which is Eloise from the 60s until her death. I promise you, this is such a reward and fulfilling book that will although leave you emotional, will also give you so much closure.

PLEASE. read this!

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

WIth Love from London felt like a vacation in a book! It was a special treat given travel is not prevalent due to the pandemic. The more I read this book, the more I enjoyed it. Sarah Jio did a great job of creating multi-dimensional characters and a moving story that had me laughing at times and crying at others. It felt very real and I think this is a book many will enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love anything by Sarah Jio! With Love from London is so good! I loved the story line. Sarah's writing is amazing. Her story telling drags you in and you can't stop reading

Are there words to describe how this book made me feel? Not really, but I'll try. When I opened this book, I found a letter that Sarah Jio wrote to the reader about writing books that feel cozy, and that's exactly what this book is. A heart-twisting story about a mother's love and following your heart no matter how painful it can be, With Love from London had me captivated from the first page. I was enraptured with the dual perspectives of Valentina in current day, and her mother, Eloise, in the 1960s, and how both her intrinsically intertwined with each other. This book quickly became a comfort read of mine, and one that I will want to have on my shelf!

Thank-you to Netgalley and Ballantine/Penguin Random House for the chance to review this arc.

With Love from London was such a cozy read.
I was hooked from the start.
This was an emotional read for me, and although heartbreaking it was also inspirational.
Valentina is such a wonderful character.
The setting for the book was also great and I fell in love with the little town.
This was my first book by Sarah Jio but it won't be my last she has a gift!

4.5/5

There is something about this book that makes it very special, something I wish I had the skill with words to convey in this review. What I can say is that With Love from London is my new favorite comfort book. It says something that I was hooked from the author's note itself.

I LOVED the dual POV between Valentina and Eloise and appreciated that Eloise's story reached back in time to when she was the same age as present day Valentina. This book tells a story about mother/daughter relationships, self-discovery, grief, friendship, and so much more in a very intentional manner. I don't annotate my books, but I want to reread this and annotate it because of all the connections I saw while reading. I loved all of the main characters, and I am now booking the next flight out to London immediately. I know The Book Garden wouldn't be there for me to visit, but at least I could wander on cobblestone streets, have picnics at the park, and have all the English desserts while reading this book again.

Some things that kept me from rating it five stars was that I wish some parts of the book were explored more and there was one (albeit smaller) part that was in direct contradiction with something that was said previously that took away from the reveal at the end for me. Aside from these things, this book was amazing. I look forward to rereading this book in the years to come. Another reviewer (whatstephreads) said that this is a love letter to books and a love letter to reading, and that is the perfect way to put it.

<i>ARC kindly provided by the publisher (Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC!*

I enjoyed this story of a mother and daughter, reaching out to one another through books and a scavenger hunt and connecting with the community around them. In alternating chapters and moving between the past and present day, we hear from Eloise and her daughter Valentina, estranged unwillingly when Valentina was a child. In the present day Valentina has moved back to her mother’s hometown of London, taking over her bookstore on the brink of closing following Eloise’s death. As the book progresses, we uncover more of what happened to separate the two, and how both women healed their hearts.

There was certainly an undercurrent of sadness throughout, but it was a warm, comforting kind of sadness if that makes sense? Regrets over what could have been, while also knowing that love prevails. Valentina’s London friendships were lovely, and while the romantic subplot could be spotted a mile away, it was handled nicely. This is the first I’ve read by Sarah Jio, and I’ll plan to check out her other stuff, because this was a lovely cozy read for the wintertime.

With Love From London by Sarah Jio ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I haven't ugly cried while finishing a book in so long. The way the plot wraps up is perfect. There are no plot points left unsettled and it's a truly satisfying end.

There are additional fun references to classic books throughout and you'll especially enjoy it because the main character is a Bookstagrammer.

This story is about Valentina and her mother, Eloise. Their point of views alternate and we see how both characters grow as they age.

The absolute heartbreak you'll feel as you read through this story is a great reminder about going after what makes our heart happy, even if there are great struggles and compromises.

I don't want to give away too much, but if you love reading books about bookstores, then you'll need to add this to your list.

Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the Advance Reader Copy. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did.

Through dual timelines and perspectives, we learned about the life of a beloved women and the daughter she left behind. One timeline follows present day Val—a librarian from Seattle who has been blindsided by a breakup and news of her estranged mother's death. As a child, her mother meant everything to her until one day she returns home from school to her mother gone, never to be heard from again. Val is summoned to London to care of her mother's bookshop, where she begins to uncover the life of the woman who willingly walked away from her only daughter, or so she thinks. The other timeline takes us to 1960's London where Val's mother Eloise meets the love of her life, Edward. Through a series of misunderstandings she believes he doesn't return the feelings. Only when she has moved on and accepts the proposal of an American businessman, does she learn that Edward truly did love her. However, it's too late and Eloise is off to Los Angeles to start a new life.

I don't know what it was about this book, but I absolutely love it. Val is constantly wrestling with these complicated feelings about her mother. As she goes on this scavenger hunt that her mother left for her, she is learning more about her mother through the people of the neighborhood. People keep talking about how great her mother was, but all Val has is her experience with having an absent mother who never called or answered her letters—how can she be such a great and wonderful person if she left her only kid? Val learns that everything is not what it seems when it comes to her mother and father's lives. Val and Eloise were victims of bad timing: with each other as well as Eloise and her love Edward.

In a story that could have felt extremely cliche and corny, this was very sweet. Beautifully written with so much feeling, this was a joy to read.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Happy publishing day!
4 ⭐️
This book is not your typical romance book and it was emotional emotional but not like heavy heavy emotional 😭
The timeline going back an forth of is usually a pet peeve of mine but Sarah honestly did a great job with this! The writing in this book was on point and did a fantastic job in weaving the different time line of Eloise and Val and forming into one towards the end. The complexity of the daughter and mother relationship was well portrayed and the grief that Val was going through really hit me. I could related to Val how books has helped her cope through life because as a bookstagrammar, books has helped me improve my mental state :) The characters were well written with a realistic sense and there are some tear jerking scenes so get a box of tissues ready.
This book has a mix of mystery, friendship, love, heart break, and family!

Want to read where the characters love books and the people around them like books? Then this book is for you!

Thank you so much for this ARC @randomhouse and #Netgalley

With Love from London takes on a journey of newly single 30 something year old, working her way through the passing of her estranged mother. Based on that description, I was expecting more oomph from the story, but it often times felt very fluffy and *too* picture perfect. There were definitely elements of this story that I enjoyed (MC is a bookstagrammer, cute little independent bookstore setting, dual POV timelines, all of the London references..)
However, this book was just okay for me. Most of the storyline was not fleshed out enough and *spoiler alert * I’m so over stories using the “you never received my letters??? via The Notebook” trope. It’s just such an overused gimmick and when it comes to a mother being separated from her child?? I couldn’t buy it.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've been a longtime fan of Sarah Jio's and With Love From London didn't disappoint! I love her writing.

With Love from London by Sarah Jio is a new family drama/romance novel releasing today. In this story, we follow a dual timeline. In present day, Valentina travels from Seattle to London after her estranged mother dies and leaves her house and bookstore to her. Not only is Valentina dealing with grief, unresolved resentment towards her mother and a looming sky high estate tax bill, she is also going through a painful divorce. The second timeline takes us to the 1960s London and 1970s Los Angeles, as we follow Valentina's mother Eloise and her troubled romantic and family life.

Sarah Jio does a great job ending almost every chapter on a bit of cliffhanger, and because the points of view change with every chapter, the reader can't help but continue compulsively reading. In the beginning, what intrigued me the most was why Eloise left her family and completely disappeared from Valentina's life when the teenage girl needed her most. As we unravel family secrets and delve into the past, we discover that everything is not as simple as it seems to be. In Valentina's timeline, we along with the main character discover the mother she did not know, go to Eloise's favorite places and meet the people she loved.

The story is heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. At the core of it all is the greatest love of all: that of a mother towards her daughter. There are of course plenty of romantic interests as well. So the release date just in time for Valentine's day is quite perfect. I really enjoyed this novel. 4 out of 5 stars.

An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com

Happy pub day to With Love from London by @sarahjio

This book, y’all! You need to read it. I love when a book lives up to the hype. The way the story of Eloise’s past unfolded was heartbreakingly beautiful. I was destroyed by all of the years Valentina and Eloise lost. As a mother, it’s just unfathomable.

My favorite aspect was Valentina learning who her mother was and reconnecting with her through everyone’s memories they shared. It was beautifully written. And even though the love stories were secondary for me, I still adored the ways both Eloise and Valentina’s love journeys played out.

And is there a better setting than a bookstore in London? I think not. I kept picturing myself curled up in a chair with a book and a coffee. What a dream!

I was so enraptured by every piece of this novel and will be picking up more of Sarah Jio’s novels for sure!

Thank you so much to @randomhouse and @netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed this contemporary fiction book! I was easily drawn in by the second or third chapter and especially loved the writing style. This story is about loss, love, and lots of grief. The story starts out with Valentina, who is newly divorced and finds out her estranged mother has recently passed away. Val quickly learns her mother left the estate for her to manage, which includes a bookstore. The book is written in alternate timelines from Valentina’s POV and her mother’s, Eloise. As Valentina travels to London and tends to the book store, we learn a lot about Eloise and the choices she was forced to make when she left Valentina as a child. This was a beautiful story which emphasized the importance of books and how they bring people together

This is a beautiful story written in dual pov of a mother and daughter, one from the past and the other from present day. Both women seeking a place to call home and seeking a real love. We get to see how their choices shaped them both and how a scavenger hunt brings them together. A great cast of side characters and a magical bookstore round out the story. Absolutely enjoyed every minute of this journey.

They say you can't judge a book by its cover but I was immediately intrigued by the setting, style and subject matter. From the first chapter, I was drawn into the story. Booklovers will find themselves both eagerly flipping through to discover the truth while at the same time, forcing themselves to slow down, not wanting the tale to end.

"With Love from London" affords armchair traveling along with Val to discover clues. Finding letters hidden in books reveal chapters in her mother's life penned a page at a time. A charming quote that Eloise tells a young bookshop patron captures the magic of Sarah Jio's writing "books have feelings and only you can unlock them."

Thank you to #NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this beautiful novel in exchange for an honest review. After living in London, this story holds a special place in my heart and allowed me to revisit fond memories from my years abroad. I rarely give books a 5-starred review but I would encourage anyone that's been missing a feeling of connectedness during the pandemic that #WithLovefromLondon serves a cup of cheer that's needed this year.

With Love From London by Sarah Jio. Around the same time as Valentina's marriage breaks up, she receives word that the mother who abandoned her when she was 12 has died and left her an apartment and a book shop in London. She moves there to settle her mother's affairs, and through a book-related scavenger hunt left by her mother, she meets the people that were a part of her mother's life and learns that there was much more to her mother than she ever knew. The use of alternating chapters gives the reader a deeper insight into her mother's life and keeps her a sympathetic character even before Valentina has completed her own journey of discovery. This is a book about grief and loss and about healing and moving forward. It is also, however, a book that truly celebrates the joy of reading. The characters don't just love books, they really cherish them. If you love books too, you will really enjoy this book.