Ah what a refreshing book! This book was sweet and charming. Gracie and Sebastian have the best banter. I laughed, I cried and I smiled! Love the strong female friendships and the sweet sibling relationships. If you like You’ve Got Mail, you’ll like this one!
Thank you Netgalley and publishing house for the early copy to review.

To Sir, with Love updates the dial-up connection of You've Got Mail with DM alerts of a dating app; however, the romance doesn't quite hit the mark. Of course, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks's chemistry is a tough one to recreate. The book closely mirrors the plot of You've Got Mail, which mirrors the plots of those it was adapted from. A woman has a connection with a man whom she has regular correspondence with but they have never met, except that they have and just don't realize it. In person, they mostly despise each other, but there's a bit of a spark that's the complete opposite of hate. Of course, there's enough to differentiate To Sir, With Love and appreciate it on its own merit. Gracie's backstory is compelling. She is an artist who gave up her dreams to fulfill her dad's dreams. Faced with the impending close of the store, she has to figure out what she wants to do--continue daydreaming or live her dreams. The side characters fill out Gracie's life and help to enhance the plot. I especially liked neighbor and friend Keva's potential love line with her boss Grady. There's just enough information about it for me to want a book about it from Layne in the future.

I wanted to like the romance but was disappointed with the development of Gracie's relationships with both Sir and Sebastian. Sir is introduced through messages to Gracie on the dating app. Their interactions appear quite formal and sometimes a bit detached. With Sebastian, Gracie shares a magical moment, and it becomes what she harkens back to. They meet again and talk, but it never feels like they move beyond that first spark they experienced. There lacked a book equivalent of a montage of them becoming friends or having an actual relationship before Gracie was already saying she was in love. Both relationships felt one-sided. The addition of Sebastian's point of view might have helped remedy this, helping to establish a connection on his part. Despite my disappointment, my heart still managed to flutter as the book neared its conclusions. I liked the book but had expected a bit more.

This book hit the spot. It was sweet and charming and gave off those fairy tale-butterflies in your stomach vibes.

Gracie is a hopeless romantic working hard to fulfill dreams that are not her own with little help from her siblings. A chance encounter on a dating app where you can’t see the person you meet sends her Cinderella dreams into full motion. But what if he doesn’t live up to her expectations? Then there’s Sebastian. The handsome man who may just be ruining her life. Oh, and who knew a gyro could be so romantic.

This was a fast, happy, romantic read. I would recommend it to anyone who needs a little love and a smile.

Thank you NetGalley, Lauren Layne, and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read this.

I had high hopes for this Lauren Layne. The cover is adorable, You've Got Mail is one of my favorite rom-coms, and it just sounded so cute. Unfortunately I don't think I was in the right mood when I tried to read it. Its a DNF for now but I may try it again in the future.

First of all, Thank you to Gallery Books and Netgalley for the ARC of To Sir, With Love in exchange for an honest review.

Publishing Date: June 29, 2021.

To Sir, With Love is an adorable and cute story that is a modern twist on You Got Mail. The book has an almost enemies-to-lovers vibe with a very slow burn.

The main character works at the cutest champagne store that I truly wish was a real thing, and she has some issues with her landlord. However, life is good because she has a mysterious suitor she’s been messaging on an online dating site.

I enjoyed this quick romantic comedy read, and would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a good romantic comedy.

I loved this! A lighthearted book to whisk the reader into a fairytale. I found myself smiling and laughing out.loud as I read the tale about Gracie’s life. A must have for your summer vacation beach bag!

CW: Death of a parent (in the past, referenced), cancer (side character, in the past, referenced), infertility

I devoured this book all in one sitting, and definitely did the cliche stayed up way past my bedtime (I literally one more chaptered myself until oops, it was midnight and I'd finished the book). It has some of my FAVORITE tropes! Online romance, enemies to lover, mistaken identities, and the one I can never get enough of - a love triangle that's actually two people. *giddy glee*

I ALMOST didn't pick this book up, because the blurb makes it sound a little more high angst than I like, what with the description of Gracie's father dying of lung cancer. However, the book picks up several years after the passing of her father, so while it's mentioned as part of her story it's not something we really experience on page.

I'd have liked a little more from the interchapter interactions between Lady and Sir - I didn't really feel the chemistry and connection there, and it seemed more "telling" than "showing." But then - THEN! The sparks between Gracie and Sebastian are just *chef's kiss*. I really love Gracie and her head full of fairy tales. And then Sebastian... As ever with this first person single POV books, I wish we'd gotten a peek into his head! Still, the LOOKS he gives Gracie - I cried. Um, a couple of times. My heart, I love it! I also really loved the moments where a soundtrack of old crooners plays in Gracie's head.

Gracie Cooper takes over the family business, Bubbles & More—a Manhattan champagne shop. A financially struggling champagne shop that is. When the corporation that Sebastian Andrews heads wants to take over the location, Gracie fights tooth and nail to keep it afloat. Her confidant through this and her love life is an anonymous Sir in a dating app that she grows feelings for, at the same time she grows an attraction toward Sebastian. Obsessed with fairytales and romance, which guy does Gracie think is her Prince Charming?

My first Lauren Layne book, and safe to say, I enjoyed it! I loved the You’ve Got Mail vibes, the predictable premise, and all the characters’ personalities. Gracie’s support network was a total hoot, and Sebastian was the typical smoldering big shot who had a tender side. It was a quick read, perfect for by the pool this summer!

This was one of the cutest stories I have ever read and I loved every single second of it. It definitely had fairy tale vibes, but for me it was just the perfect story with the right amount of everything. The perfect modern twist of You've Got Mail! I loved that Gracie was able to start living her life how she wanted and to follow her dreams before finding her happily ever after. This was a clean romance with no steam, but I wasn't even wanting it because the story was just that good. LOVED LOVED LOVED IT!
Everyone needs to go read this! It was just the happiest, most heart warming love story I have read in a long time!

To Sir with Love is a sweet romantic tale of two people surrounded by serendipity. Gracie is a small business owner struggling to keep her parent’s dream alive. Sebastian is a big corporate VP intent on gaining the location where Gracie’s “Bubbles and More” shop occupies. So immediately we get Gracie’s ire towards Sebastian. Is he really the villain or is he a means to kick Gracie into following her daydreams?

The story starts out with Gracie on a dating app that is only a means of communication with potential mates – no pics! As she converses with this “Sir” they gain an emotional connection but he delays setting up a meet-cute. Gracie is a Disney princess aficionado and won’t settle for anyone less than her ultimate Prince Charming. AND as she tussles with the gorgeous Sebastian with aqua blue eyes, she begins to pine for time with him. So, what to do when you are in love with two guys both sticking her with unrequited love vibes?

All the supporting characters are just as wonderful! My fave must be good girlfriend and catering chef Keva. Every scene she is in is hilarious! Our author also provides us with a deeply close family dynamic of Gracie’s with her siblings. Pop open a bottle of Veuve Clicquot and soak up all the feels with this sweet and bubbly story. Cheers!

ARC provided by Gallery Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was just such a sweet and feel good, fairy tale type read! I enjoyed every single second of it. Was it predictable, yes, but it was exactly the happy ending that I needed and the story deserved. I loved Gracie's personality and Sebastian was just oh so dreamy. I really loved the "You've Got Mail" aspect to it also. Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for the ARC!

When I sat down to read To Sir, with Love, I was hoping it would be an enjoyable book to pass the time with. I knew it had a You've Got Mail feel to it and was interested to see what unique twist Lauren Layne would use. What I definitely didn't know was just how much I would fall in love with this book. I"m not even kidding....I adore this book!

The banter between Gracie and Sebastian was top notch. They are instantly placed at odds when he is the "big bad corporation" trying to buy out the building where her little family run business is struggling to survive. It might be a familiar storyline, but it is given some updated, modern twists that make it relevant in many ways. For one, adding in the online friendship (which is more like flirting) between Sir and Lady, there is much needed irony for the p[ot...it just has to simmer for a while. It also shows how the current generation often defers to technology for everything and often forgets to just "experience life.". To enrich the story even further is the wonderful cast of characters that includes Grace's friends and family. They add so much to her life and thus the book. It was an absolute pleasure to read this little gem.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

This was a wonderful novel by Lauren Layne. I enjoyed the characters and this held my interest through the entire book.
This was my first book by this author and I am excited for future books.

I was given a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for fair and honest review.

A nod to the well-known romance classics The Shop Around the Corner, In the Good Old Summertime and You’ve Got Mail, Lauren Layne’s modern adaptation of this classic tale is fun, fresh and entertaining. Regardless of whether readers are familiar with the storyline, or whether they are experiencing the story for the first time, Layne’s adaptation will surely bring delight to many.

To Sir, with Love is filled with visual writing that easily captures the reader’s attention; and the quick, witty dialogue readily engages one’s interest. Besides the frequent sparing sessions between Gracie and Sebastian, Gracie’s friends, co-workers and family also add unique character and depth to this story.

Astute readers will be able to figure out when the moment of “recognition” occurs. However, this moment arguably enhances the reader’s attentiveness, i.e., wanting to see how the added drama of this sudden realization will be incorporated and used to help arrive at the outcome that readers want. The plays may be subtle, but they are well designed to support the relationship developing between these two main characters.

The book is truly well done, and potentially like other readers, would love to see it played out in film.

3.5 stars

I thought this was a cute twist on the classic romcom You've Got Mail. I struggled a bit with the pacing of the first half, but once things got going, I ended up enjoying the second half a lot more. My favorite part of the story was the banter and messages between Sir and Lady. The anonymity of the app allowed them to be open in a way that they couldn't in their real lives. I did wish that the enemies aspect had been played up more between Sebastian and Gracie though. The anger felt very one sided and though I liked Gracie and Sebastian, I didn't love them. I unfortunately didn't feel that spark that fairy tale loving Gracie was so desperate for and that coupled with Sebastian's initial relationship status* made me not fully invested in their romance. Honestly, that aspect about Sebastian didn't feel necessary to the story and I felt there was enough conflict without adding that (however briefly) to the mix.

I did love Gracie's family though and her neighbor/friend Keva. They were wonderful comic relief and I would love a book for Keva in the future. The ending felt a bit rushed and it annoyed me that even though Sebastian clearly knew that Gracie was Lady, he still made her take all the risks. That epilogue had me smiling ear to ear though and was a very sweet way to end the book.

CW: death of parent (cancer, automobile accident), discussions of infertility/IVF, emotional cheating (*main character is involved with OW for part of the book, but the history and explanation for that relationship felt reasonable even if I don't personally agree)

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Updated version of You Got Mail. Grace Cooper was all set to start art school in Italy when her dad died. She was the only sibling who could take over the family business. She didn't hate it but she didn't love it. In the mix is the Andrews Corp tying to buy them out of their lease. So starts this contentious relationship. In the background is this dialogue between Sir and Lady.. Both are content to stay in the background. Each afraid that if they meet, everything will change. Life is not lived in a vacuum, it is constantly changing. As the dreams of her parents die, her paintings take off. It is at the art gallery, with family and friends that all is revealed. The ending was perfect.

This book is now at the top of my favorite rom com list. To Sir, With Love gives off so many You’ve Got Mail vibes and it’s laugh out loud funny. This book made me laugh so much and I fell in love with every character. Gracie took over her late father’s champagne shop, Bubbles and More. However, it was never her dream. Her dream was always to be an artist. She does everything she can to save the shop to make her father proud. Then in walls Sebastian Andrew’s - the handsome man with teal eyes who wants to buy out the building and effectively end the business. They become enemies, but Gracie starts to feel something more. To make matters more complicated, there’s Sir - a man she met on an app where you get to know someone without knowing what they look like. He’s her dream guy but is unavailable. Torn between Sebastian and Sir, we watch Gracie grow, follow her dreams and re-connect with her family. If you like rom coms, feel good books and laughter, pick this one up!

First of all, thank you for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I unfortunately struggled to get into this one. It felt a bit like a fairy tale. Between the MC having lost a family, literally feeding and singing to animals, love at first sight, and the cliche New York attitude, I just couldn't get behind it.

I'm sure this book is perfect for someone, just not up my alley!

Hands down the cutest book I’ve read this year!

I love You’ve Got Mail and this book is such a great modern take of the enemies to lovers theme. Get this for all your friends who LOVE romcoms!!

This book is listed as "'Love is Blind' meets 'You've Got Mail'" so I wasn't sure if it would be my thing. I'm not a fan of reality t.v. or that movie but I'm so glad I read this because I loved it!

I loved all the dating app interactions so much especially as they pop up in the book after in person interactions. It was just perfect. Of course I might be biased since I met my husband on a dating website!

I'll admit Gracie isn't my favorite character ever. I was frustrated at times that she wasn't living her life. But I adored Sebastian even when he was kind of a jerk. I tend to like my heroes that way.

What I really loved though was the SLOW burn. Lauren Layne really put these two through it and I loved every second. I also adored the ending and the epilogue.

Since the back cover description tells you everything this book isn't really about the secret but about the relationship building and Gracie learning who she is.

I also loved the setting of this book. I've never been to NYC, but I felt like I was there amidst the hustle and bustle and it was wonderful.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.