Who wouldn’t want to inherit a bookstore in London.

With the death of Valentina’s estranged mother she finds that she has inherited a London bookstore. After deciding to stay in London, Through her mother’s friends and clues her mom has left her, she gets to now the mother she thought abandoned her all those years ago.

A fun light novel of love, loss and books, a quick and entertaining read.

Valentina is in the middle of a divorce when she learns that her estranged mother has died, leaving her and apartment and bookstore in London. With nothing to keep her is Seattle, she sets off for London hoping that perhaps she can figure out why her mother left her so many years ago.

A librarian by trade, Valentina falls in love with the bookstore, the Primrose Hill neighborhood and all the people there. A scavenger hunt arranged by her late mother helps Valentina to get to know her mothers friends and start to understand her a little more.. Along the way, she must try to find a way to keep the bookstore and decide if she is ready to love again.

Predicable in parts, it is a good read for anyone who loves books and people who love books.

this was cute and i enjoyed it a lot and i loved the london setting. can definitely see this getting attention

What reader wouldn't love a book where the main character inherits a bookstore in a charming neighborhood in another country? I know I did! And the story arc kept it from being formulaic. Great read!

When I read this was a mother/daughter book I knew I would cry at this book! And boy did I.

The writing was SO good. It’s told from two POV’s at two different times, but I wasn’t confused at all. I loved both Val and Eloise and their stories. And how they connected.

This isn’t a super romantic book, but some of the men were definitely swoon worthy.

I don’t want to give too much away, but the twists and turns of the book will definitely keep you on your toes. And be prepared to laugh and cry and wonder.

This was such a cozy warm book to read, perfect for the cold January we’re having here in Minnesota.

This story alternates between present time with Valentina and a history of what her mother Eloise went through before she passed. I loved that it focused on their relationships, the book community and the connections between the two. Sometimes I find myself in alternating timeline stories wanting to skip through chapters back to the “main” story, but this one wasn’t that way. Both voices were unique and warm and both had their own interesting story lines.

If you need a wonderful book full of bookish charm and good friend relationships, check this one out!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a story of love, loss, and everything in between. As many say, timing is everything and this story showcased just that. Both for romantic and family relationships included in this story.

Beautifully written from two different perspectives (mother and daughter) and jumping from present to back in time.
The way the author developed the plot and made the connections throughout the story was very insightful and the timing was perfect.

Beautiful characters and relationships, from romance, to friendship and family dynamics.

Maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood, but I found this romance to be unconvincing and rather bland. I was also, judging by the cover, anticipating a romcom and there wasn't any com.

Valentina’s estranged mother, Eloise, has just died and bequeathed her bookstore and apartments in the posh London of neighborhood of Primrose Hill to her American daughter. The story switches between Valentina’s story in the present as she copes with the grief of her divorce and losing her mother and Eloise’s story in the past, starting in 1968 London.

This is an ode to the power of books to bring people together and to the warmth of family, both biological and found. Val meets a whole cast of characters in Primrose Hill (all white, all heterosexual) and this cozy and charming community support her as she gets to know her mother who she hasn’t seen since she was a young girl and fights to keep her bookstore afloat.

In the Letter from the Author at the beginning, Ms Jio talks about creating a cozy world for readers to escape into and it’s here that I have my problems with the novel. I was reading it while on vacation and just wanted to sink into such a cozy world but I kept being wrenched out of it by anachronisms and Americanisms. In the 1968 London world there are clangers like getting takeaway coffees. In the present day Primrose Hill sections, English characters call each other “Honey” and refer to “eggplant.” I appreciate that these are small details but they jarred for me in the same way that a stereotypical American tourist in plaid shorts and a Hawaiian shirt would stand out in Primrose Hill.

Anyway, for those who are less picky about their escapism, I’m sure this is a fine romance - just read any of the other reviews here to see how bah humbuggy I've been.

Thanks to Ballantine and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

I was absolutely enthralled by this book. I loved how the story is told in two parts via alternating chapters between Eloise and Val - I felt like this enhanced the story and kept me turning the pages to see what happened!

What a beautiful mother daughter story and how their bookstore came to life with all their individual stories. Perfect, curl up with a blanket and a cup of tea. Highly recommend.

Summary:

On the heels of finding out her husband wants a divorce, Valentina learns her Mother has died and left her daughter her estate. The same mother who left when Valentina was 12. Armed with a broken heart and more questions than answers, Valentina arrives in London only to discover what she never knew and find what she never knew she needed.



I feel like a broken record, but Sarah Jio has done it again! She has crafted a story that devours you as you take in every word. She has designed a world you want to be a part of- and feel you are as you're reading her words. I didn't want to the book to end. In fact, I prolonged finishing this book because I didn't want to leave Primrose Hill or all the characters.

Valentina has memories of her mother that center around books and love. However, she also remembers coming home when she was 12 to find her mother gone. No goodbye, no contact to be had again, and no clue as to why. Still, she goes on to make a life for herself in marrying Nick. But, the happy ending she thought she had was not to be. Her dearly beloved informs her that he's leaving her for the younger woman he'd been cheating on her with. And if that isn't enough, a phone call informs her that the mother she hasn't seen since she was 12 has died and left her everything she had: a building in Primrose Hill, London with a bookstore on the bottom floor and apartments on the two upper floors. Sounds like the perfect time to move to London. However, upon arriving, it doesn't take long to learn Valentina must pay a hefty inheritance tax- with money she doesn't have. It also doesn't take long for her to learn that the business isn't doing well and it'll take a miracle to save it.

Amongst all this news, Valentina begins meeting the people who became her mother's world. Starting with a tenant in the 2nd floor apartment, Liza. This spunky woman is about Valentina's age and helps introduce her to the area. Valentina meets Millie, her mother's best friend and business partner. The bookstore, itself, is another entity that captures Valentina's heart. She quickly decides she wants to fight for the store.

As you are meeting the new world Valentina finds herself in, you follow Eloise's (Valentina's mother) story. You meet the men who shape her life and the paths she takes with them. You see her meet Valentina's father and the life they build. You also see how it falls apart and, ultimately, how Eloise and Valentina end up on opposite sides of the world. Your heart breaks as the story unfolds. You cheer Eloise on as she rebuilds her life and how prevalent Valentina always was.

It took me no time at all to be glued to all the dynamics within this book! The mother/daughter relationship that forcibly changed. The daughter rebuilding her life after it fell apart. Both women learning to move forward when you don't think you can. Sarah Jio has written another favorite in With Love From London. It was well worth waiting for. This book will find a cherished spot on my bookshelves the day it comes out.

What a lovely book! This is the first of Sarah Jim's books that I've read, and now I look forward to reading her others. The story takes place in both London and California, in two different time periods. It's well written, with good character development.

A perfect cozy Christmas read...love, loss, a little bit of mystery, a lovely London setting--a delightful read! I love how the story pops back and forth between Eloise's story and Valentina's story, and how the two tales crisscross each other throughout to create a lovely, interwoven tapestry of mother and daughter and their complex history.

At thirty five, Valentina Baker never dreamed she would be completely reinventing herself. Finding out that Nick is having an affair sent their marriage into an irreparable spiral. As the divorce and separation proceedings move forward Valentina receives the unexpected news that her long lost mother has passed away and she is the heir to her estate. This quiet Seattle librarian never expected to find herself alone, on a plane to London. She is equally surprised to find her mothers quaint apartment is located above The Book Garden, the most perfect bookstore she has ever encountered. And now, when it seems she has lost everything, a new beginning appears on the horizon. Primrose Hill is a lovely storybook neighborhood and Valentina quickly falls in love with the various shopkeepers and her mother’s best friend Millie who may hold the answers to her past. With the small notes she finds scribbled in her favorite novel Valentina begins to unravel this literary mystery which is the story of her life. Absolutely dreamy read for any book lover.

With Love from London is a rare find. Serious issues of lost, love, and betrayal are all present; yet, somehow, it remains a book that never gets too heavy. Normally, I find books that switch back and forth between timelines to be a bit confusing. However, Sarah Jio did an amazing job of telling two very different stories and having them come together perfectly at the end.

Granted, it is only January 2nd, but so far this is my favorite read of the year!

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

This is a cozy setting with lovable characters and fun dynamics between them. There's a lot to like! It tells the story of an adult daughter moving to her estranged and deceased mother's flat in London and thereby gaining an understanding of her mother and their separation that she previously lacked. Interwoven in the present day chapters are chapters in the mother's perspective set beginning in the 1960s.

For me, it's 3 stars (instead of 4 or 5) because of some foundational plot points that I could not suspend disbelief enough to accept. The two major plot points (one having to do with tax bill, and the other having to do with a 20-year separation between mother and child) were both critical to accepting the narrative of the book and also really difficult for me to go along with. My inability to fully accept the premise of the story kept me out of it.

Despite that, though, there were many lovely moments, some nice human connection, and a lot of love. For readers more willing to suspend disbelief and get swept up for the purposes of plot advancement and synchronicity, it's an enjoyable read.

Valentina finds out she has inherited a bookstore in London from the mother that left when she was a girl. She decides to go to London to try and learn more about the mother she never really knew. A story of love and family and making a life that makes you happy.

With Love from London by Sarah Jio is a book that is hard to lay down. The reader wants to know what caused Eloise to leave her home, husband and daughter, The mystery reveals itself in the pages when Valentina inherits her mother's bookstore in London. Valentina learns of her mother's love and about her life there.I wish to thank #NetGalley and the publisher for an early read of #WithLovefromLondon.

Absolutely brilliant writing. Amazing from chapter 1 and instantly sucks you in. I was definitely more of a fan of Val’s story and preferred her timeline but it was pretty cool to have those alternating stories coinciding with one another.

This is the first book that I have completed in 2022. I hope that I will enjoy many others as much as I enjoyed this one.

To begin, I did not (at first) love the cover. However, by the time a reader finishes the novel, it is clear that everything there has meaning. This is true for the title of the book as well.

This is a dual timeline story. One focus is on Eloise. She is a British woman who makes relationship choices that reverberate across both time and the plot. Readers watch as she chooses between Edward, a wealthy Brit, and Frank, an American. What will happen to her and how will she cope?

Eloise’s daughter is Valentina. She lost her mother’s presence in her life when she was twelve. This has left her wounded. What happened? Why?

Plot lines cross when Val travels to London to take over a bookshop. What will she learn about herself over the course of this endeavor? One spoiler…she will find love.

I don’t want to give anything away so no more on plot. I will just say that this is a novel with heart.

The bookshop is really a character in the book. I would want to spend so much time there were it a real place. Because of this, the novel is an anthem to books and their role in reader’s lives.

I very much enjoyed this novel. It is a lovely read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.