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.

A classic cute fluffy read. Flirty, fun, enemies to lovers goodness! Especially loved how immersive the setting was.

September feels like a perfect release time for the tone/overall vibe of Love Walked In. I think it'll do well in store!

Sarah Chamberlain will have you falling in love with your favorite indie bookstore all over again! ‘Love Walked In’ has left me with a greater appreciation for those behind the shelves, those helping put our favorite books in our hands and meet such inspiring authors.

With their family-owned bookstore on the verge of going under, the Ross family turns to bookstore extraordinaire, Mari Cole. Flying over from America, Mari’s one goal is to help Ross and Co. turn a new leaf and bring customers through the door…falling in love was not part of the plan!

Love at first sight? Far from it! It’s safe to say Mari and Leo began as “enemies at first sight”. I love a good slow burn and was hoping for some electric-chemistry from the pair; this was one of things I loved about Sarah Chamberlains debut novel, The Slowest Burn. Mari and Leo hit it off with lots of angst and banter, but the transition to “love” felt like something was missing. Regardless, the spark ignited and was definitely blazing through the rest of the novel.

Although they were side characters, I simply adored Judith, Graham, and Suzanne. The “miscommunication” trope almost reared its ugly head with a possible love triangle. I was incredible thankful Chamberlain squashed that concept and didn’t draw it out through the rest of the book.

As an avid reader, I loved all the references of book careers, indie bookstores, author events, and books in general!
Thank you Sarah Chamberlain, St. Martin Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy and review ‘Love Walked In”.

What do you get when you drop a sunshiney American bookshop savior into a grumpy Brit’s failing London bookstore? Apparently chaotic flirting, slow-burn tension, and enough literary references to make my nerdy little heart swoooooonnnnn🤌✨

Mari and Leo was the absolute cutest. This is probably one of the coziest most adorable reads I’ve read in forever. It felt like a love letter.

Do Mari and Leo get off on the wrong foot? Absolutely. Did I yell "Just kiss already!" period drama because of the agonizing slow burn? Also yes. This is a classic opposites-attract romance, complete with forced proximity, emotional walls, and healing through the power of shared book recommendations. And the bookstore itself? Basically the best part and every book nerds dream. Also…yall the mmc has GLASSES. I don’t about yall but that’s enough to say that this man already had my heart for that very reason.

Why 4 stars? A smidge slow in the middle, and I wanted for them to honestly just kiss,,more scene of Leo fully losing his emotionally-repressed British mind. But it’s still a charming, cute and absolutely worth the read✨✨

I loved it, I loved it, I loved it!!

This book was SO cozy!! I also may have fallen in love a bit with Leo, because oh my goodness he is the most precious thing ever!

Both Mari and Leo have had some pretty big things happen throughout their life that have brought them to who we meet at the beginning of the story. Both of them realizing their flaws and working on their healing is absolutely beautiful.

"Darling" is my new favorite pet name and no one is going to be able to change my mind on this. Especially when Leo says it.

Picture this book is the written version of sitting by the fire with a cup of coffee, with fuzzy socks on. I felt like the book was giving me a hug the entire time I was reading it, even when we were going through tough times.

I wish I could read this book again for the first time.

overall: highly recommend
spice: open door

Bookshop romance done right!

Lately, there's been an overabundance of romance novels set in bookstores or featuring fictional characters in the book industry. The joy of reading is little more than a backdrop. There's a number of authors that come to mind that the public blindly gravitates to simply attracted by the author's name rather than the quality of the story.

That's not the case here. The FMC's love of books shines thru from the keepsake of a tattered childhood book that accompanies her across the ocean. For the lifelong reader, this action resonates.

Then there's the FMC tackling the reality of bookselling ie. from making tough decisions as to what will be on coveted shelf space to creating safe spaces for local communities through outreach of authors and readers, alike.

This is my second read by this author and, candidly, did not make the connection as chose this due to the cover art and description. Just like her other book, stumbled upon it by chance. Her debut was wonderful and this novel clearly shows that the first book was no anomaly. She is definitely an ATF "author to follow".


This ARC was provided by the publisher, St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This gave me all the cozy vibes! I loved the British atmosphere and dialect. The build up of tension and longing was very swoon worthy and kept me on my toes! Such a sweet fluffy read and the perfect cozy read to add to your collection.

Cozy and heartwarming read.

This is the perfect book to cozy up with on a rainy day. Leo and Mari will steal readers' hearts. Both feel very real and are well developed characters. They both have a good amount of growth throughout the story. I also enjoyed their romance too. Definitely for fans of opposites attract.

The setting is perfect for booklovers since most of it is a indie bookstore. Chamberlain does a great job of writing an atmosphere that feels lived in and comforting. Also it's British vibes, you doesn't enjoy a British accent am I right? haha.

A heartwarming and delightfully cozy romance. Would recommend.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advance reader copy of Love Walked In by Sarah Chamberlain.

Mari travels to London for an assignment to assist a bookstore, Ross and Co. in reviving their business. Mari’s first contact is with Leo Ross, one of the owners of the family bookstore, and it is not a good first impression. Mari and Leo must work together in order to revive the once prestigious independent bookstore.

I adored this book!! I loved the premise of the book and I was enchanted by the story from the beginning. I enjoyed reading as Mari and Leo grow closer through forced proximity. Some of favorite moments are when these two start to spend more voluntary time together. I thought Mari and Leo’s pasts, and their journeys for what’s next in life were done so well. Their relationship is so well developed and I was drawn into how well these two fit together. The ending of this book was the sweetest!!

I really enjoyed this next book by Sarah Chamberlain. If you like a forced proximity, opposites attract romance, this is one to check out!

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC! all thoughts and opinions are my own ✨

this was cute! love walked in follows mari and leo, two booksellers who are forced to work together in order to save leo's family-owned shop. though the pair get off to a rocky start, they soon realise that there's a lot more to the other person than meets the eye. cue the endless yearning, mutual pining, stolen glances, flushed cheeks, etc.

the best thing about this novel is that it's essentially a love letter to indie bookstores. at one point in the story, mari calls these bookstores a "refuge", and i think that's a perfect description for it. there's nothing quite like walking into a shop and seeing rows upon rows of books lining the walls, knowing you're free to browse until your knees give out. i can't help it—i love reading about characters who love books just as much as i do.

unfortunately, i wasn't totally buying the romance between leo and mari. it felt like they shifted from animosity to friendship far too quickly—i would have liked to see a more gradual progression of their relationship in that regard. also, there was a dash of insta-lust thrown in there if you squint, and that's never been my cup of tea.

another aspect i didn't like was how the characters' inner monologues left absolutely nothing to the imagination. what i mean by that is: there was a lot of telling, and very little showing. they kept analyzing and dissecting every single one of their own emotions, and it didn't allow any room for me as the reader to interpret these feelings on my own. i don't know, i'm just tired of authors overexplaining everything and writing as if their readers are stupid. i know we're in the middle of a media literacy drought right now, but i promise that we don't need every little detail spelled out for us.

aside from those critiques, this book was fine. it was kind of forgettable, and i doubt i'll remember much about it in a few months' time, but it was satisfying enough to get the job done.

Books and a love story? Yes, please! I enjoyed this cozy story that was well written and entertaining. It flowed well, and it was easy to get lost in the banter between the main characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.