I believe another review was accurate when describing this book at its heart was more general fiction than romance. While I appreciate the fast pace of the book, that's where the majority of my positive feelings stop. I would say besides characters India and Leo, most of the characters in this book are incredibly toxic and I did not connect with it. The story seems determined to surprise you to a point where it loses its way.

Read this one in less than a day! It has been so long since I've read something with a new plot. It was a refreshing read with great character development. It's safe to say that Williams had me hooked from the very beginning.

In an adorable setting in London, the fmc is a full-time nanny with aspirations of owning her own business. She has a day full of fun with every girl's dream man, but never gets his information. The story follows Jessie's journey of finding him again and following her dream.

Because of the amazing character growth, I felt a little frustrated at the end of the book when there were so few conclusions for so many of them. It was like I got strung on but never found out the motive and ending for these people! Besides that, I really really enjoyed reading this!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

I really liked the description of this book and thought it would be a cute rom com but I just didn’t enjoy it. The story felt all over the place and was trying to do too many things at once and the twist with just didn’t do it for me.

3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC

I had a hard time getting through this one. It was cheesy but also cute in some places. I just couldn’t relate to Jessie and there was no chemistry between her and the MMC.

All in all it was cute but not my favorite

From the beginning, this was so ridiculously cheesy and improbable, but the writing is witty so I enjoyed it…or, I did until miscommunication entered every relationship in the storyline. Disaster ensues.

There’s a lot of pontificating about good ideas and boundaries and such between characters, but very little of the advice is taken practically. I couldn’t cheer for a single character in this story (besides maybe the pizza shop owners?).

I’m so annoyed that the main character is so incredibly dumb. The FMC has the emotional maturity of a 17-year old, and the whole book hinges on her ability (or inability) to make wise decisions.

I think the wishy-washy perspective of the FMC made for a difficult narrative to write; it’s hard to keep each character’s intentions clear when the main character can’t sort out her emotions. Unfortunately, that doesn’t help the reader understand anyone better, and it’s simply confusing. Cute cover, but I’m disappointed.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the eARC.

This was a cute story about Jesse meeting the man of her dreams at a supermarket and they spend the whole afternoon together enjoying their time together. Suddenly, this mystery man is rushed off to an emergency and Jesse has no way of contacting him again. Suddenly, as life goes, she meets this mystery man again just not the way one would like. Mystery man is her boss' boyfriend!

This book was hard to get into at first and as you got through the chapters, it seemed to pick up. However, there were parts in the book that made it feel rushed and I kept wishing for something more if possible. While the author did a good job with writing Jesse as the main character trying to find herself, her passions for life...there was just something frustrating about her character that I just did not like. I did enjoy the banter that was happening between Jesse and Cal that was one of the reasons why I kept reading the book. Overall, the plot of the book was okay, a bit confusing at times and felt rushed as you progressed through the book.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Laura Jane Williams for the eARC book. This was my honest opinion

I found this book to be very sweet! It was a great story about a woman finding herself and her passions. The author has a way of throwing humor in during tense situations and was able to perfectly illustrate the dynamic between Ali and Jessie that I think a lot of us can relate to. Though I enjoyed it, I can’t see myself reaching for a book by this author again. I was happy to see it through to the end and didn’t want to DNF but I was looking forward to moving on to something a little more exciting.

Love At First Sight
By Laura Jane Williams

This was my first Laura Jane Williams book and it didn’t disappoint.
This book was fast paced and such a great read. Writing was engaging and had me wanting more.

The characters were easy to know, their backstories gave just enough info.
Jessie was a strong and likable FMC

I love a good meet cute and this had my heart swooning.
Out of places Whole Foods during a Fire Alarm!!
Jessie spends time trying to track him down, but had no luck.
And when fate plays its role to get these two back together… this story had everything. The twist and turns, the ups and downs.

I was lucky to have read this as an arc, and as I said before this might be my first Laura Jane Williams book but it will NOT be my last.

I adored this book and it was such a quick read. Laura Jane Williams had me invested after the first chapter. I loved the different character arcs and really seeing Jessie take fate into her own hands. Such a great take on a meet cute and the ending was perfect!

Jesse meets Cal at the super market and instantly falls head over heels. They have a whirlwind of an evening together but get separated. Cal turns up at her door weeks later, but not looking for Jesse… Awkward!

I just couldn’t get into this one. The books started off leaving a bad taste in my mouth. The FMC is just too desperately lonely and hates her life because she’s single? It just felt so cliche. And Cal just came off like a jerk to be honest. Idk the writing is sooo captivating though the author has true talent. I just don’t like her characters unfortunately.

Thanks Putnam’s Sons NY and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars Super easy cute book. I liked Jessie but the connection to the male main characters was very superficial. I didn’t feel this great draw between her and one of the guys. I think more deep interactions between the two could have happened.
If you are looking for a simply cute romance this is a good book.
Arc from NetGalley.

Well done, Laura Jane Williams, for starting us off with a charming meet-cute at the very beginning of chapter 1. The scenes were fun, the main character’s inner monologue was entertaining and relatable, and all in all this was a great quick read.

I’m a sucker for realistic, flawed, well-developed characters, and we get this not only with our main characters, but the supporting ones as well. People are generally good but make mistakes, and miscommunication doesn’t have to be over-exaggerated to be impactful. I enjoyed the twist(s), but would have appreciated more anchoring at the resolution, or an epilogue - it did seem to wrap up rather quickly.

I would recommend this book, and as this was my first read from this author, I plan to pick up another of her books as well.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was a struggle to get through for me. Jessie is trying to find her independence. I struggled with the chemistry with the different characters. There didn't feel like a lot of depth as well. It maybe just needed some more time to figure out the direction.

This one just didn’t grip me - super fun premise but I couldn’t manage to care about Jessie and Cal…at all. Bummer!

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book really kept me on my toes. Everything that happened I expected differently. This was definitely a book that you can’t predict what’s going to happen. I just kept wanting to shake Jessie for being so ridiculous and I really expected a different outcome than what happened. Very, very enjoyable. I would like to read more from this author.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars)

Laura Jane Williams has done something truly special with Love at First Sight—a romance novel that kept me completely engaged, had me guessing until the end, and ultimately felt like a breath of fresh air in a genre that too often romanticizes chaos over stability.

From the very first page, I was hooked by the story’s pacing, the multi-dimensional characters, and the way Williams effortlessly weaves humor, longing, and deep emotional introspection into her storytelling. Unlike many romance novels that rely on over-the-top dramatic twists or toxic dynamics disguised as “passion,” this book delivers a nuanced, mature love story that feels both real and deeply rewarding.

Atypical Ending That Felt Like a Healing Moment

One of my absolute favorite things about this book was the ending. So many romance novels glorify the “fiery, unpredictable, head-over-heels, can’t-live-without-you” dynamic that often veers into dysfunction. Instead, Love at First Sight takes a refreshingly grounded approach, showing that love built on stability, trust, and emotional security is just as—if not more—romantic than the whirlwind infatuations we so often see.

As someone who has experienced the emotional highs and lows of being drawn to chaotic relationships, this book felt like a healing experience. I saw parts of myself in the protagonist, especially in how she grapples with her own expectations of love, her personal growth, and the ultimate realization that sometimes, the best love isn’t the one that sets your world on fire—it’s the one that makes you feel safe, seen, and supported.

Engaging Plot with Great Character Development

The character development was phenomenal—not just for the main character but for the supporting cast as well. Williams crafts multi-layered, fully realized people whose choices and emotions feel authentic, rather than just existing as plot devices. Watching the protagonist evolve, untangle her past, and make choices rooted in self-awareness rather than impulse was incredibly satisfying.

And while I won’t spoil anything, I loved the journey of this book—the twists, the small moments of self-discovery, and the beautifully executed emotional payoff. Williams keeps you guessing, making it impossible to put the book down, while also ensuring that every moment feels earned and meaningful.

Final Thoughts

This book absolutely deserves 5 stars. It’s engaging, emotionally rich, and offers a fresh take on love that so many romance novels shy away from. If more books celebrated the steady, healthy, truly fulfilling relationships rather than the chemical, chaotic ones, I think a lot of readers would feel the same kind of healing and validation that I did while reading this.

If you’re a fan of romance, fiction, or character-driven stories with emotional depth, Love at First Sight is a must-read. I’d gladly recommend it to any friends looking for a story that’s both heartfelt and refreshingly different from the typical love story.

3.25⭐️
Love at First Sight was my first Laura Jane Williams book and it was honestly such a cute and lovely introduction to her books!

I thought the characters were interesting and unique. The plot was a little messy and convoluted at times but I did enjoy the love story/happy ending that wasn’t so straight forward.

The ending was a bit rushed for me. I wish we had an epilogue to tell us what happens with Stray Kids and Henry. The last chapter felt like an epilogue but without enough info.

Overall, it was a quick, easy, and pretty enjoyable read!

Thanks NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital advanced copy of this book!

I really liked the meetcute for this, but afterwards I didn’t understand why our fmc was still pinning after him after her interactions with Leo, especially when she found out he was willing to go on dates whilst in a relationship? I don’t think this is a book that I’d.be recommending.

A quick, lighthearted read

It was an alright story for the most part. Some of the characters were quite unlikeable (by design), with the exception of Jessie’s best friend, India, and local butcher Leo.

The story as a whole was not overly compelling and yet I kept wanting to read on to see how it went. The twists at the end were insane, the last one by FAR my favorite part.

I enjoyed most of Jessie’s internal dialogue and banter with the MMC. I also liked that despite what ultimately occurs between these characters, Jessie is encouraged to pursue her dream.

I think Jessie experiences personal growth through the story and that is always great to see.

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

This book was a cute and quick read.

I will say the FMC frustrated me. She got on my nerves. I understand she was trying to find herself, but I couldn’t stand how she let certain characters treat her and would never stand up for herself.

I did enjoy the little twist at the end though. It was so sweet.