With Love from London, by Sarah Jio, is a thoroughly enjoyable, heartwarming love story. Not the romantic kind, although there are plenty of romantic entanglements. The passions that propel this wonderful story are family, friendship, and books. Especially, books. I've thought a lot about the books that diverted, calmed, or motivated me. Of course, there was that one book I read that changed the trajectory of my life...

Except for one or two plot twists that struck me as inconceivable, I liked everything about this story. The characters were engaging. It is set in London in a neighborhood that provided shelter for characters in emotional need. Offering purpose is a bookstore, the quaint kind that offers ambiance and conviviality as well as books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for allowing me to read a digital ARC. It was a pleasure.

This book is absolutely magical. The friendships, the love stories, the idyllic London setting, the sense of adventure, the overcoming of loss, and the what if’s of the paths not taken in life all came together to create such an incredibly profound reading experience.. This beautiful story reads as a love letter to readers and the impact of a book to change one’s life. Every character will leave a lasting impression on me and this book will be forever imprinted on my heart. I absolutely loved With Love From London and will be recommending it to anyone who will listen, as there’s something in this incredible and masterfully crafted story for everyone.

My first read from Sara Jio and it did not disappoint! This is a heart-warming story told from dual timelines about mother and daughter, friendships, love and loss and finding your place in the world. Valentina’s mom left for London when Valentina was twelve and never returned. When her mom dies and left her a bookshop, she travels to London to settle the estate. In the process, she met her mom’s friends and got to know her on a deeper level.

I experienced every emotion while reading this book. The story was engaging and the cast of characters were interesting and nuanced. I think Jio did a wonderful job painting a picture of London’s Primrose Hill neighborhood – so much so that I wanted to visit STAT! The only complaint I have is that I would’ve liked to hear more about Valentina’s father but perhaps we’re in for a sequel?

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a story told in two points of view. One is Val who travels to London after her estranged mother Eloise passes away. The other is from Eloise's POV as a young woman. I loved this book so much. It was gorgeously written. I loved the story from both POVs. The characters in this book leaped off the pages and I adored them. The bookstore was so delightful and is definitely a place I would love to visit. There was so much emotion and heart in this book. And the coincidences struck me as delightful and not forced.

3.5 stars*

This book took a little time to get used to. I was immediately hooked to Valentina's story, but not so much to Eloise's in the beginning. However, soon enough it got interesting, and that was when I really started to enjoy the book. The writing style was especially pleasant, and it made it easy for me to simply pick up the book to read a chapter or two. The story was a bit too predictable for me, though, and at times I found the conversations and the characters lacking. However, overall I really enjoyed it and can surely recommend it!

This story is tragic story of a mother and daughter. The love in this story wraps around your heart and the emotion comes off the pages. Told in the past and present from both Eloise (the mother) and Valentina (the daughters) perspective's, the story weaves through the years. Friendship, love and sorrow is found in this story. I highly recommend this story to all readers.

With Love From London by Sarah Jio is a mesmerizing read. Is it a romance, a time slip, or a woman’s drama? Yes to all of these, but it is so much more. There were moments in this book that made me uncomfortable and I almost stopped reading because the protagonist’s pain was too great from abandonment by a parent and then later from her own divorce. But I kept reading and I am so glad that I did. There is no easy happy ever after here. Instead, the author weaves together a story so beautifully, one both broken and whole at the same time. Read this book. You’ll be so glad that you did. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

I enjoyed this book so much! It was very well written, and pulled at the heart strings just right. I loved the dual timelines as they flowed so well with each other. If you love a good romance that also brings so tears this is a must read.

Thank you to Ballantine Books/Random House and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book for my honest review.

Sarah Jio is the queen of double POV, past and present narrative and I am here for it! I really loved the London setting and want to go visit this book shop!

A quaint story about the complicated relationship between mothers and daughters. Of course some romance and the bond of friendships. Heartbreaking and lovely.

At the start of this novel, Valentina finds out that the mother she hasn’t seen since she left when Valentina was 12 years old has died and left her a bookstore in London. The book then alternates between Valentina’s time in London as she starts following a treasure hunt of sorts of clues her mom left her and begins to create her own life there, and flashbacks to the 60s and beyond to the perspective of Eloise, Valentina’s mother, as we see what led up to the present day.

The book is part family story, part love story, part an ode to the love of books, all told through the lens of dual time period semi-historical fiction. I must nitpick and say I didn’t find the explanation of why Valentina and Eloise had had zero contact for all those years fully convincing. However, it was a super cute book, and what avid reader doesn’t find the notion of inheriting a charming bookshop to be a bit of a fantasy? Also loved that Valentina was a bookstagrammer (though I also didn’t buy that she had 40K followers 😂).

I have been a huge fan of Sarah Jio ever since her first book Violets of March many years ago, and have read all but one of her books since which I plan to finally get to this year. My most favorite of her books remains The Last Camellia, but this one was a fun read too.

I love Sarah Jio books. The first one I read was
Always and it captured my heart. I was so thrilled
when @netgalley granted my wish to read With
Love from London and we are celebrating its Pub
Day today!
Valentina Baker is newly divorced when she
receives notice that her mother, who abandoned
her, has died and left her a book shop in London.
Having no reason not to go- she heads off to
London to see what is there. She discovers a
charming bookstore in financial trouble plus
colorful characters that are in on a scavenger
hunt set up for her by her mom. "With Love from
London is a story about healing and loss,
revealing the emotional, relatable truths about
love, family, and forgiveness.

With Love From London by @sarahjio was released last week and I loved it.
Dual timelines
London
A Bookstore
A bookstagrammer
A cat named Percy
A scavenger hunt
Learning the truth about a parent
Friendships
Finding your place
.
This story centers on Eloise - the mum, and her timeline takes us through time to explain her story.
Valentina is her daughter and her timeline is current.
This was such a unique story and I might even say one of Sarah’s best books. The story is beautiful and I loved every minute of it.
If you haven’t read anything by her yet - this is a great one!
.
Massive thanks to @randomhouse and @netgalley for the ecopy.

4 1/2 stars

The main draw of With Love from London for me, and I suspect loads of other readers, is that it's a story about the love of books. How they transport you, how they comfort you and how magical they can be. As a librarian, Valentina knows all about this, having a love for books she inherited from her mother at a young age. Even after her mother disappeared from her life, Val continued to find solace in books, both old and new discoveries. Soon after her divorce, she receives word that her mother has passed away and that she is the beneficiary of her mother's treasured bookshop and flat. It fills Val with conflicting emotions. On the one hand, she's still traumatized by her mother walking out on her. On the other, she's curious to learn what drew her mother back to her homeland and kept her there. And since she's divorced and has nothing at the moment to tie her down, she could use the the change of scenery.

With Love from London is charming from the get go. I could easily understand Val's apprehension about what lies ahead, just as easily as I could sense the wounded child within. She's looking for answers and doesn't realize how much she wants to understand her mother's motives until she arrives in London. I appreciated that the story was told in two POVs - Eloise's and Val's first person voice. In a way, both storylines are tragic. Both women in different ways experience perfect timing and bad timing, the paths taken and not taken, new opportunities that are born out of disappointments. It's also a joy to see how similar they are like when they have the same visceral reaction to the same book but decades apart. Val's journey to discover her mother's story is laid out through several riddles Eloise had set out for her before she passed.

I did cry a little at the end. I couldn't help it, it was just so darn sweet and poignant. Even with some predictable elements I thought the story was engaging and lovely. I looked forward to it every time I picked it up because I knew that after the heartbreaks and grieving would come second chances. If anything, With Love from London is an ode to any passionate booklover out there of any age or genre, who appreciates how a good book is good for the soul!

~ Bel



Content warning:

- divorce, illness (Eloise - ovarian cancer; brief mention of the diagnosis but no graphic details)

If there ever was a love letter to books and book lovers everywhere it is With Love from London by Sarah Jio. This novel of which I’m currently half way through has got to be one of the sweetest books I’ve read to date.

When Valentina — a woman going through a grueling divorce— learns that her mother who she hadn’t seen since she walked out on her and her father dies and has left her her estate she leaves for London where her mother went back to all those years ago. Upon arriving in London she learns so many things about her mom and who she was when she left her. Not only do we get to hear the current happenings of Valentina’s life but we also hear from Eloise (Valentina’s mother) and we learn about she was not only from Valentina’s current perspective but from Eloise herself.

This was such a five star read for me and I cannot recommend it enough!

Run don't walk to get your hands (and eyes) on this book!

Valentina (Val) Baker's husband has left her. She is no stranger to the loss of a relationship. When she was a teenager, her mother, Eloise, suddenly left and moved back to her native, London leaving Val behind. Val has never recovered from it. When she receives word that her mother has passed away, and left Val her Primrose Hill apartment and the deed to a bookshop! A bookshop! Val is a librarian who never knew her mother owned a bookstore.

Val, like her mother, flees to London, to learn more about her mother and hopefully get some answers. What she finds is a community. She meets those in her mother's life and even makes it as mission to save The Book Garden, her mother's bookstore.

Wowza! Such a wonderful and captivating book. I loved the scavenger hunt(s) in this book. I also loved learning about both Eloise and Val's lives. Both women's stories and timelines were equally compelling.

This was such a beautiful, heartfelt, heartbreaking, and endearing book about love, secrets, grief, decisions, missed opportunities and second chances. What happens when life gets in the way of true happiness? Boy, there was one scene where I wanted to yell "No, don't do it. Choose happiness"

This book is beautifully written and dripping with all the feels. Believe the hype! It is so well deserved. Plus, who doesn't love a book set in a bookshop?

Wow! Is all I can say. I have not read too many of her books but out of the ones I have read, this is my favorite! This book played out like a movie in my mind while reading it. I can see this being made into a movie.

I fell in love with this book. My favorite book thus far this year!

Who doesn't want to go on a scavenger hunt after reading this book? Sign me up please!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

WITH LOVE FROM LONDON is an easy to read, heartfelt story about love lost and found, family and friends, and a quaint book shop in London. I enjoyed the dual POVs and appreciated both Eloise and Valentina’s voices and stories. Sarah Jio’s writing is lovely and her characters enjoyable. I found a few aspects of this story a bit unrealistic and cliche, so it wasn’t overall my favorite recent read. But I would recommend it for those who love London, book stores, or anyone who enjoys women’s fiction surrounding mothers and daughters.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC I received in exchange for my honest review.

Opening the (virtual, in my case) pages of With Love from London felt like being transported fully into the narrative. Following her divorce, Valentina travels to Primrose Hill where her estranged mother, Eloise, has left her a bookstore. Valentina finds a fresh start for herself amidst the Primrose Hill community’s memories of her mother.

Valentina always felt abandoned by Eloise, but uncovering pieces of her mom’s life allows her to begin to understand that there was more to the story. The community that welcomes Valentina is wonderful and heartwarming. Although a bit cliched, I loved seeing them all come together to try to make the bookstore a success.

I was also enchanted with the second storyline, that of a young Eloise growing up in London. Her story intertwines both the glamor she experiences as she goes on dates, and also the intense sadness and pain she undergoes while trying to secure a better life for herself. Her story became much darker as the book went on, and I felt that this was glossed over and did not really do her character justice. The ending in general felt rather rushed to me, and I wished that the romance had been more well developed – I didn’t feel much chemistry from the characters and it struck me as odd that this book is classified as a romance.

This is such a beautifully written story., I was enthralled from the start. A Mom who left her teenage daughter and husband and went to London, has died, leaving her daughter, now in the process of getting a divorce, the opportunity to start over and take over her life in London. Her apartment and a charming book store. Secrets are revealed, emotions are finally out in the open. and need to be acted on. Loved this story.

Big big BIG love for this great book that weaved the main character's personal history with her recent divorce and new friends, love and business. This book was so sweet and I couldn't put it down.

Told in alternating timelines we have Valentina and Eloise’s stories. Valentina's life is falling apart - she’s in her 30s and going through a divorce when her estranged mother dies and leaves Valentina her apartment and bookshop in London. Valentina is shocked as she hasn’t heard from her mom since she left when Valentina was young, but she wants to learn more about her mom so she heads to London where she begins to piece together her mom’s life. In the other timeline, we learn Eloise’s story from her twenties, to marrying Valentina’s father, and eventually learning more about why she left.

London is one of my favorite cities in the world and is a place where I personally experienced one of the most transformative periods of my life…so a story where a woman in her 30s embarks on a life changing trip to London that leads to so much self-discovery was everything I didn’t know I needed. Let’s start with how this is a beautiful love letter to London. I adored reading about Primrose Hill and this book made me want to take a trip across the pond. Eloise and Valentina’s stories were beautiful. Heartbreaking at times, inspiring at others, this book had so much to say about finding yourself and giving yourself the opportunity to really be yourself and find your passions. I loved the bookstagram references, I loved the side characters, I loved everything about this book. What an emotional and heartwarming book, I will be recommending this one to everyone I know.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced copy.