I really enjoyed this more modern You've Got Mail! Gracie is trying to save her father's champagne store, Bubbles that she's renamed Bubbles and More. She's been talking to an unknown Sir via a dating app, but they've never met. She is trying to ignore Sebastian Andrews and his company's attempts to buy Bubbles and More. She's determined to hate him, but finds herself being drawn to him.

This book was just so sweet and charming! When I finished it, I had the biggest smile on my face. I'd heard this describe as You've Got Mail so I had an idea where the story line was going, but I still really enjoyed it. I liked the chemistry between Gracie and Sebastian. I really liked Gracie and her determination to keep her father's store afloat even though it wasn't her passion. I love how she moved on eventually and was able to pursue her artwork. I loved how Sebastian helped her to achieve this dream. Their friendship was so sweet and I love how he surprised her at the end when she finally got Sir to meet up.

I definitely need to check out more books from Lauren Layne's backlist and I can't wait to see what she writes next.

I will update with the link when I share to my bookstagram account.

This You've Got Mail inspired romance was quick and fun. Gracie Cooper is a hopeless romantic, running her family's Champagne shop. Sebastian Andrews represents the company that wants to buy out the lease and therefore, her nemesis. As she sorts out her feelings for him, she is also engaged in a messaging exchange with a mystery man that she met on a dating app. Fans of the author's previous works will enjoy! Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Best described as a modern day You Got Mail,

It's heartwarming and funny. I was caught up instantly in the room-com fun of this book.

Is it cheesy at times? Yes. Is it a tad predictable? Yes. Did that stop me from tearing through it with a smile on my face? Nope, not at all!

Only issue I had was the steam level. I am a full on the door doesn't even exist, type of reader. This was a no steam type of romance. So if that is your thing, go forth. Read, enjoy every moment.

*Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for this advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion

This was such a great, fast, adorable read. You've Got Mail is one of my favorite movies and this book did such a great job of using that plot but being its own story with cute banter and likeable, relatable characters.

Brief synopsis: Gracie Cooper runs her family-owned champagne shop and longs for a fairy tale life, complete with her very specific idea of the perfect man. Sebastian Andrews works in the corporate world and is on a mission to buy out her champagne shop in order to take over that real estate space. They are enemies. But are they? Because meanwhile they are communicating with each other through a dating app unaware of each other’s identities.

What I liked about this book: I really liked the main character, Gracie. She was so relateable. The banter in this book was written so well. It flowed, it was funny, and I could easily hear the conversations taking place.

What didn't work for me: The messages between the characters did get a bit cheesy at times, but it didn't make me like the book any less.

Overall, I'd recommend this one for anyone needing a light romcom read. Perfect for summer.

4.5 Stars

This is the kind of romance that makes you cry happy tears because of the joy it brings to your heart. Gracie and Sebastian’s story is a combination of You’ve Got Mail meets 21st century. It is sweet and romantic and I absolutely adored the story. Even though the story is predictable, the romance and witty dialogue in between Grace and Sebastian kept me enthralled and I couldn’t put the book down. I highly recommend this book and author.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

I LOVE You’ve Got Mail, and more often than not I love what Lauren Layne writes. This felt like a match made in heaven and I was so excited to read it! I’m happy to say it was as good as I expected! It was fun, sweet and the characters had great chemistry! One of my favorites by the author for sure!

*4.5 stars*

This was absolutely PRECIOUS!!! It's the type of book that literally feels like it's giving you a little hug with it's adorableness! I couldn't put this down and found myself grinning so many times!

If you like 90's romcoms or You've got Mail, then this book is a MUST! I want to go rewatch that movie so bad now. I loved the email conversations but also I totally related to Gracie. As a fellow hopeless romantic who also loves Disney and over romanticizes everything I loved her! This felt very movie-isc! Her champagne shop sounded amazing and I want to go! Sebastian was SO SWOONY!

Was this predictable? 100% Did it make me super happy? ABSOLUTELY!! This was just the type of book I needed! I only wish it hadn't been quite so much of a slowburn/PG-13 or we got more at the end. But that didn't take away from it's preciousness tho! Highly recommend it you need a quick, heart happy book that makes you feel all the butterflies!

💖What I loved:
•90s romcom movie-isc, You Got Mail Vibes
•the champagne shop 🍾 Gracie owns (I was craving some BIG TIME)
• Gracie and her hopeless romantic, Disney loving self *cue the Cinderella mice singing or Frank Sinatra*
• Sebastian, the hot suit wearing businessman
•the sweet side characters
•ALL the happy feels
•the overdramatized ending 😂😍 (#imacheeseballandproudofit)

To Sir, With Love is a phenomenal contemporary romance by Lauren Layne. Ms. Layne has provided readers with a well-written book populated with an amazing cast of characters. Gracie loves art but sets it to the side when her father dies to run his champagne shop. Through a blind dating app she gets involved with a man she calls Sir. Sebastian is trying to convince the stubborn Gracie to let him buy out the shop lease, and not having any luck. At least he has his friend, Lady, to chat with. Sebastian and Gracie's story is a fun read filled with drama, humor and snappy dialog. I enjoyed this book from cover to cover and look forward to my next book by Lauren Layne. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Although this book was a little predictable, (in the best possible way) I really enjoyed it. It was funny, lighthearted, and had real characters that were all super likable. I definitely want to read more by this author!

I was looking for something light to read and this was a great option! To Sir, With Love, is yet another take on the classic theme which Nora Ephron used for You’ve Got Mail (and which popped up in earlier books and films too) and it works really well. Loved the Manhattan setting. I’m enough of a native New Yorker (grew up in Brooklyn) that I hate the new super-skinny skyscrapers going up in Manhattan, so I was all set to sympathize with the main female character, Gracie, in her dislike of Sebastian, the real estate developer who wants to buy her out of the long-term lease of her family’s wine store (specifically a champagne store!). Along with the main story, the author included some wonderful secondary characters with their own side stories, from her brother and sister, to her upstairs neighbor, to her childhood best friend. This was my first book by Lauren Layne but I’m sure it won’t be my last.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Description

Gracie Cooper is overwhelmed. Her father died a few months ago leaving his small champagne shop in the hands of his children. Her brother and sister are not interested in managing the store, so Gracie has put her life and plans to become an artist on hold to save her family's legacy. But things are not going great, and now, a corporation is trying to buy her out of her rental agreement contract so they demolish the building.

The only bright spot in her life is the man she has met in a dating app, Sir. Their chemistry is off the charts, and Sir has become her confidant as they spend hours messaging each other. There's only one small problem. Gracie has never met Sir. They met in a blind dating app, so no photos or even names are exchanged. Gracie doesn't know Sir's real name much less what he looks like. But that's not it. When they first met, Sir confided in Gracie that he was in an on-and-off relationship, and he only ended up in the app after his friends created a profile for him without him knowing. But Gracie appreciates their friendship, and they both have kept talking to each other despite all the roadblocks.

As Gracie deals with the financial and emotional hardships of keeping the business afloat, she meets the man behind the corporation trying to buy the building, Sebastian Andrews. They meet one day by chance, and Gracie doesn't realize who he is until he visits her shop and tries to convince her to accept the buyout. Gracie is enraged, and a war between the two ensues. But not everything is what it looks like, and Gracie and Sebastian find themselves intrigued by the other. Gracie is mesmerized by Sebastian, but she can't forgive his intentions. Sebastian finds Gracie's efforts to save the shop admirable, and he is fascinated with her artistic skills and softer side. Gracie is torn between two men, but she knows neither of them can be part of her life... or can they?

“My dear Lady, you stole my heart twice. If you think I’m letting another second of my life pass without you in it, I’ll have to kiss you again to set you straight.”

Review

What a wonderful and sweet book!

I completely adored this book and finished it so fast because I was fully engaged in the story. This book is everything I expect from a romance book, and I just couldn't put it down.

 I knew what the plot would be about since it is spelled in the description, yet I fell in love with the characters and the contemporary aspects of the book. As someone who loved You Got Mail, this book was something I'd have read regardless of the similarities with the movie. Yes, it is predictable but also there are enough secondary storylines and details to keep the story flowing engagingly. I loved how we get to read the messages between Gracie and Sir, and there are bits of information in those exchanges that reveal Sir's identity. It was fun to find these easter eggs in the messages and then match them with other scenes in the book. The pace of the book is simply amazing. The book flows so well and there's hardly any filler text. The story is so captivating from the beginning and it just gets better after Gracie meets Sebastians.

The other thing I truly loved was how the author explained why Gracie didn't know what Sir looked like. At first, I was skeptical about a "blind dating app" scenario, but the way it was explained made sense. I found the present-day aspect of the story believable because so many people meet on dating apps nowadays that it's not implausible as it was when You Got Mail came out. I did question why Gracie wouldn't try to message or facetime Sir outside the app, but once she explained the girlfriend situation, it made a lot of sense.

As the plot advanced, I was glad that we truly get to know the characters in meaningful ways. We learn little by little about Gracie's plan before her dad died and all the steps she has taken to make the shop profitable. We learn about her dreams to become an artist and how she puts everything on hold because her father's legacy is in danger. She is both optimistic and selfless, and her family and friends are constantly highlighting her upbeat personality. Sebastian goes from an uppity business shark to a charming and truly appealing guy with a heart of gold. And even though Gracie tries to convince us they are archenemies, their chemistry is hard to miss even when they both try to be neutral and in some cases dismissive of each other. They both are great people, and as they fall in love with each other, I was falling in love with their characters.

The secondary characters are equally engaging and lovable. I always find that, as a reader, some of the more meaningful insight I usually get is based on the interactions between primary and secondary characters, and in this case, it did not disappoint. Some of my favorite chapters were the ones when Gracie is interacting with her sister or friends because we get a better understanding of her personality and her feelings for both Sir and Sebastian. Her friends and family are also are the ones that constantly highlight the chemistry between Gracie and Sebastian, so they have prominent roles as the story advances.

Overall, I'd say this is one of the best romance books I've read in a while. I truly connected with the story and characters and loved the sweet love story between the main characters. 10/10 would read again.

To Sir, With Love ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a very cute read. Very very predictable. I continued to read to see how it would unfold. I thought the author did a good job with what little story she had..

In a retelling of You've Got Mail, this is a great summer romance to add to your shelves.

Gracie Cooper is an aspiring artist whose dreams were put on hold when her father passed away and she decided to take over their family's business, a champagne shop. But once she took over the shop, she realized it's a failing business that she's struggling to save. Enter a business tycoon who sees the failing business and an opportunity. Gracie has feelings for a man in a relationship who she met on a blind dating app to make matters even worse. So much drama!

This fast-paced romantic comedy hits every note and bubbles with charisma, chemistry, and swoon-worthy moments. This was one of the few romances where all the characters, the main characters, and all the side characters, were well-developed and I enjoyed them all. As far as retellings go, this was so well done. It kept the integrity of the story but also had additions and details that felt original and true to the moment.

Highly recommend!

I love Lauren Layne and knew this was going to be a great book. I couldn’t put it down, and the ending? OMG, I was swooning and - pray tell - smiling the whole damn time. Sebastian and Gracie were the cutest!!!!!!!

It felt kitchsy and predictable. I was excited about the concept but underwhelmed by the execution. The messages between the two characters were so short, it left me wondering how real their connection could have been, since it didn't seem as though they were discussing much of meaning.

Lauren Layne’s To Sir, with Love was such a cute and charming book that gives off as much fairytale vibes as she writes about.

Gracie Cooper is an endearing main character facing the challenges of deciding what to do with her life. Should she follow her dreams or live out her father’s “dying wish”? When Sebastian Andrews enters the picture, Gracie is forced to make decisions she didn’t know how to make.
Navigating her personal choices while falling in love with two men at once, Gracie comes to her own in with a fairytale ending.

To Sir, with Love is good escape from reality that will make you smile and wish for your own fairytale ending.

Thanks to NetGalley for an earl release copy of To Sir, with Love.

“To Sir, With Love” is a digital age retelling of You’ve Got Mail that follows Gracie as she manages her family legacy - a small champagne shop that is in danger of being bought out by a mega-company. While Gracie is navigating running this shop and navigating the possibility of selling the shop with the handsome exec, Sebastian, she is building an online relationship with Sir using an online dating app. Gracie begins to grow closer to Sebastian and Sir, she wonders if she’s already met her perfect man.

This was a sugary sweet romantic comedy. It was also relatively short so it provides a nice break between heavier books. It also has no steam, so if that’s your preference, I would recommend this to you.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC. “To Sir, With Love” is out now!

This was another cute story by Lauren Layne. Gracie and Sebastian don’t realize that they have been chatting for months on a dating app anonymously. She works in her family’s champagne shop but dreams of painting and he works in his family’s business in development. I loved the chats they had with one another through the app. Can’t wait to read more by this author. Thank you for the advanced reader copy.

This book is ridiculously adorable. Reimagining a famous book or movie is always a risky venture, but I feel this You've Got Mail reimagining for the 21st century worked for me.
It was very slow on the steam and at times, the chemistry ebbed enough that I wondered if this so-called clean romance would work for me but in the end. It was an enjoyable read.
I'll keep this one in my back pocket to recommend for those that love non-sexually explicit romances.

This book screams Hollywood romantic comedy. Grab a glass of bubbly and stretch out in your favorite reading location. If you are not familiar with Lauren Layne grab this book. If you are a fan and haven’t read the book. Get the book. I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. After the death of her dad, Gracie Cooper puts her dreams on hold to manage the family champagne store in Manhattan. When it appears that Prince Charming needs a helping hand, Gracie joins a dating site. There she begins a friendship with a man known only as “Sir.” Gracie has not met Sir in real life. Or at least that what she believes.” And the text messages are very different than the face to face interactions.