I enjoyed Sarah Chamberlain's debut The Slowest Burn last fall, so I jumped right away when I saw the arc for this.

Mari and Leo's relationship didn't exactly start like a storybook meet-cute. Leo wasn't very welcoming of Mari. He was still mourning his grandfather's death, his family's bookstore is hanging by a thread and there's pressure in keeping their legacy, and he's feeling jaded after his divorce. While he wasn't happy of Mari's presence at his family's bookstore, her sunshine personality ignited something in him. Then there's Mari, the American, ray of sunshine excited to live in London and rescue a dying bookstore. She's independent, determined, and ready for her London adventure. As much as she loves reading romance, she doesn't do love because of her tough childhood. She doesn't let anyone get too close, doesn't do long-term relationships. So why was it Leo making her second-guess her fling-only rule?

I like how Mari and Leo's relationship progressed and watch them slowly fall for each other. Leo was a book boyfriend come to life for Mari; he showed her that she deserves to be love despite her past relationship experiences. Mari added color and sunshine to Leo's life and re-awakened his passions. They're opposites, but they just work and exactly what each other needed.

As much as Iike this story, there a few things that bothered me: 1) Leo's supposed close friend Vinay pressuring him to sell the building, and 2) Mari's father-daughter reunion towards the end-might just be me, but it was weird? I don't know if it was just the execution of the writing.

Overall though, I still really enjoyed this book. Sarah Chamberlain romances is slowly becoming a favorite.

>>> Opposites attract
>>> Forced proximity
>>> Set in London
>>> Bi-sexual representation
>>> Jewish representation
>>> A love letter to indie bookstores.

Thank you to @stmartinspress @youhadmeathea for the arc!

This is such a feel good book! Both MCs carry so much emotional weight (trauma), and watching them both learn and love and grow and forgive and come together made me feel so damn good. This is the authors sophomore novel and if she continues with this writing streak, I’ll happily read everything she writes. Thanks to St. Martin’s for the ARC.

3! Love Walked In is Sarah Chamberlain’s sophomore novel, out September 2025! It’s an opposites-attract romance between a book whisperer and a bookstore owner trying to save his store.

After reading the synopsis, I was hooked and so excited to dive in. Unfortunately, it ended up falling a bit flat for me. That said, I did really enjoy the banter and chemistry between the two main characters. I’m a complete sucker for an opposites-attract romance—there’s just something about two people who think they’re too different for each other, only to realize that’s exactly what makes them work. Leo is a brooding British man, and Mari is a bubbly burst of energy. At times, the British vs. American contrast felt a little overemphasized, but it didn’t totally take away from the experience. Watching them slowly move from strangers to friends to something more was sweet—it’s definitely a slow burn.

Where it didn’t quite work for me was in their individual character arcs. We're told they’re growing, but I didn’t really see that growth in their actions. The writing was okay, but the tone of the book felt a little off, which made this more of a decent-than-great read for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

While Love Walked In is crafted with care and carries a narrative that might resonate with many, it left me feeling somewhat indifferent. It's not that the book is poorly written or riddled with flaws—far from it. The writing is competent, the characters are decently developed, and the plot unfolds at a steady pace. However, it simply didn’t capture my interest or evoke any strong emotions. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with Love Walked In, it simply wasn’t my cup of tea. A decent read, perhaps, but not one that left a lasting impression. A library rental at best for me.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

I just finished a great book. Love Walked In by Sarah Chamberlain is out this summer. Pick it up! This is one you won’t want to miss!

I enjoy this authors writing. It gives me comfort. This is a cute workplace romance. There is the grumpy sunshine trope. The MMC quickly warms up there. This is a sweet story but there is spice in it.

if this was the version of love I walked into, I'd walk right out.

✰ DNF 20%, literally the most abrasive and disrespectful male love interest I have ever read. he grabs her. hard. (that's a direct quote). there is no good reason for rough housing someone without their consent. he tells her to "f*ck off" when she delivers a bit of tough love. he is completely resistant to all of her good advise and recommendations. the use of grumpy x sunshine and enemies to lovers as tropes in contemporary romances is out of control. authors: it is not a means of condoning disrespectful and problematic behavior.

thank you to st. martin's press for the ebook arc in exchange for an honest review, but unfortunately this wasn't for me

platform: netgalley ebook arc

This is a cute fall book! I liked the FMC, but she was a bit too whimsy. If you look a really true sunshine book, this is a good choice!

This book was amazing. I couldn’t put it down and am writing this at 5:30 in the morning because this book is worth the dark circles under my eyes. I loved the whole premise of the book, the characters were swoony, the subplot was intriguing, and the romance was perfect.

This one is cozy, sweet, and sexy! Leo is a dream and makes me want a British boyfriend asap. Absolutely adored this one.

ARC REVIEW:

3.5 stars for me, I enjoyed the story line and I liked all of the characters but I just wish there was a little bit *more* - of what? I don’t know but I felt like it was just missing that last little bit. It was giving You’ve Got Mail vibes for a half a second but idk, didn’t quite get any better for me. That all being said, solid story and I enjoyed reading it but just average for me in general.

This is very British romance so I think you have to be prepared for that piece (or know if that's not your thing). I love a bookstore setting and basically home makeover meets failing bookstore with a grumpy/sunshine romance.

I liked the romance between the main characters and he managed to be grumpy without being "rude" which is typically my gripe with grumpy/sunshine stories. There was good banter throughout the opposites attract storyline.

Every bookstore setting gives me super cozy vibes and this was no exception!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was surprisingly heavy, moreso than the blurb and CW indicated, given how challenging Leo and Mari's backgrounds had been. I thought the ensemble was interesting and I appreciated the dynamic between the love interests.

The plot and characters propelled the story in equal measures.

The tenderness that Graham, Leo, and others showed Mari was so lovely.

If you’re a sucker for grumpy/sunshine tropes, indie bookstores, and slow-burn British romance with major sparks, this one’s going to be your new favorite comfort read.

Mari Cole is basically the fairy godmother of failing bookstores. She’s bubbly, brilliant, and knows how to breathe life into a shop with nothing but charm, hustle, and maybe a handwritten staff rec or two. Enter: Leo Ross—grumpy, brooding, emotionally constipated British man™️ who just so happens to own the crumbling bookstore Mari’s been hired to save. And he wants nothing to do with her (or her sunshine energy, thank you very much).

What follows is a delicious mix of banter, bookshop makeovers, emotional healing, and watching two total opposites slowly, reluctantly fall in love. It’s cozy, witty, and swoony in all the best ways—with a side of emotional depth that hits you right in the feels.

Mari’s journey from guarded to vulnerable is so relatable, and Leo? Once he starts to thaw, he gives serious book boyfriend energy. Add in an old bookstore that becomes a character in its own right, and you've got a romance that feels like a warm hug on a rainy day.

Rating: 5/5 cozy bookshop vibes.
It’s You’ve Got Mail meets The Hating Game, but in London—with tea, tension, and a happily ever after you’ll cheer for.

Mein Leseerlebnis

Die Liebesgeseschichte von Sarah Chamberlain wirkte auf mich frisch und angenehm geschrieben. Es fiel mir leicht mich auf die Geschehnisse einzulassen und mir die Szenen im Roman im Detail vorzustellen.

In Bezug auf die Hauptcharaktere fand ich beide interessant und angenehm vielschichtig. Mit dem Helden habe ich mich in genersten Kapiteln allerdings schwer getan. Sein Verhalten der Heldin gegenüber – er schreit sie an und packt sie fest am Arm – fand ich unmöglich. Im Verlauf des Liebesromans fand ich ihn nach und nach glücklicherweise sympathischer und am Ende des Buches habe ich der Heldin und ihm ihr Happy End wirklich gegönnt.

Überraschenderweise konnte mich die eigentliche Beziehung zwischen den beiden Hauptcharakteren weniger berühren und mitreißen, als erwartet. Ich kann leider nicht sagen, woran das lag, denn wie erwähnt fand ich die Charaktere komplex, sympathisch und auch interessant.

Erst direkt am Ende des Buches konnte mich das schöne Happy End wirklich berühren. Ich fand es super, dass man sich ein gutes Bild von der Zukunft der beiden Protagonisten machen kann. Es berührte mich zudem zu sehen, dass Leo im Verlauf des Romans endlich angefangen hat, für sich zu leben und nicht für seinen verstorbenen Großvater.

Auch wenn mich die Liebesgeschichte in "Love walked in" weniger berühren konnte als gedacht, bin ich doch froh, dass Buch gelesen zu haben und ich kann mir gut vorstellen, dass der Roman andere Leser:innen bezaubern können wird.

🖤🖤🖤 1/2

Für wen?

Wer vielschichtige Liebesromane mag, die teils in einem Buchladen spielen, und in denen man auf komplexe Charaktere stößt, für den könnte “Love walked in” eine schöne Sache sein.

I enjoyed this book but i found myself a little bored by the end. I loved the setting of it being about a bookstore though. I found they made a cute couple but again, i was just a tad bored with them and the store line.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

Boy did I love this book. The setting was so cute and cozy. I love a good bookstore romance! It’s a new favorite for me. The romance between the characters was cute and very happy ending. Both side plots were very well done. I highly recommend this cozy read!

This book was so cozy! It takes place in a bookstore in London. Mari comes from California to help the new owner Leo turn business around and help save the store. They start of on the wrong foot put slowly starting working together and becoming friends. Leo is dealing with so much personally that Mari really helps him navigate. They eventually start falling in love. I loved all the side characters in this book and the subplots. I was literally rooting for everyone. I can’t recommend this book enough!

I love this story! Mari & Leo have each dealt with difficult things in the past. They learn that sometimes we all need a helping hand to move forward. Watching them fall in love was beautiful 💕

Mari comes to England to help jumpstart an old bookstore of her friend. Meeting the grumpy grandson was not what she expected, nor to fall in love. A sweet story and one I would recommend.