A contemporary retelling of the You’ve Got Mail/The Shop Around the Corner/Parfumerie story, To Sir, with Love does what the best Lauren Layne books do: paints vivid characters and shows you why the main characters (here, Gracie and Sebastian) are made for each other. A cozy hug of a book, it never takes itself too seriously or tries to be other than what it is. A fast, thoroughly delightful, read.

The ARC was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this! Such a cute, upbeat rom com. I’ve read a lot of serious books lately, and I’m so glad I chose this one when I did. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy!

This was a cute update of You’ve Got Mail/In the Good Old Summertime/Shop Around the Corner/etc. it was very predictable and had the typical rom-com main characters- petite blonde woman and actor handsome man. I enjoyed the interaction between the main characters, but would have liked even more to explain the resulting feelings. There were some things I just don’t identify with in the book- the love of New York, the setting being a champagne shop, the strong desire for children, etc, but it didn’t really take away from the story. I liked that Sebastian’s company wasn’t actually trying to shut down Gracie’s store, just buy out her lease (as opposed to the situation in You’ve Got Mail) as it doesn’t really makes him a villain. One thing that struck me as odd was the description of Gracie’s art. I’m no expert, but her artwork really sounds like tacky junk art, not the kind of thing an art school hopeful would be doing. The last thing I found a bit frustrating was the resolution of Lily and her husband’s “situation” at the end. It seemed a little too easy and could be triggering for people who’ve gone through similar situations with fertility.

I've been a fan of Lauren's for awhile but this book absolutely amazed me! It was so cute and charming much like the feeling of the You've got Mail movie. I loved the New York setting and the secret identity trope. I would definitely re-read this book!

To Sir, With Love by Lauren Layne

Rating: 4/5 stars

Read this if you liked: The Dating Plan, One Day in December
**warning: mentions death and IVF

Gracie Cooper’s father passed away and left their family Champagne shop in her hands. She has met a man that goes by Sir on her online blind dating app, and she can’t seem to get her mind off him. The Champagne shop has gone through many financial hardships and Sebastian Andrews offers to buy out the company. Gracie asks for advice from Sir, but she has no idea that he is much closer than she may think…

This book was such a fun read! This book is such a cute romantic comedy that also involves a lot of self-development. Gracie has many tough decisions to make, but she ends up following her gut and choses the parts of her life that will allow her to fulfill her ultimate dream. I liked that Gracie didn’t automatically give in and allow Sebastian to buy out the company for a profit. Instead, she stayed true to her family and did what she felt was best for her father. Family is everything to me, so I can relate to what Gracie was going through!

Something I didn’t like within this book was how I felt I knew who Sir the entire time was. Maybe that was how it was meant to be, but I would’ve liked to somehow keep him more of a secret and less of an obvious giveaway.

Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone searching for a funny, lighthearted romantic comedy! You won’t be disappointed!

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ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Romance Galore: If Only Fairy Tales Like this Existed!

Gracie Cooper runs her family's Champagne store in Midtown Manhattan. After losing her father, Gracie took over the store, even though she originally had bigger dreams. Now, her days are spent constantly trying to drum up more business and conversing with a guy on a dating app, who she only knows through the words they’ve exchanged. The app is known for its anonymity. People don’t exchange their real names or photos of themselves unless the two decide to meet.

Once Gracie starts exchanging messages with “Sir” feelings develop.

Cue the sparks and the possibilities!

Then Gracie meets her archenemy: Sebastian Andrews, the man who is trying to buy her business out from under her. Gracie despises everything he stands for and yet, she can’t help but be drawn to him. First, it’s those blue eyes, then as time goes on, it’s his kind caring personality. Is it possible that she misjudged him?

The next thing Gracie knows, she’s torn between two men (one of whom she’s never met!).

Sweet, smart, and full of chemistry, “To Sir, With Love” had me smiling from ear to ear. A light-hearted rom-com complete with lots of witty banter that stole this girl’s heart, I can’t recommend this book highly enough!

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the arc.

Published on Goodreads, Twitter, and Instagram.

4.25/5⭐️

If you’re a fan of “You’ve Got Mail” (as am I), this one’s for you. 😊 I must admit I was not aware of how many reincarnations there have been of this story, but thanks to the author’s note, I am now.

Funny, sweet, it was a fast read, and the entire cast of characters (both main and supporting) kept a smile on my face throughout. 😊 Gracie and Sebastian are heartwarming to watch as they make their way through the labyrinth to each other. It’s also refreshing to see them discover things about themselves and what they want from life along the way. And I’ll just add, the epilogue was especially lovely as well as being terrifically satisfying.

All-around good read. This was my 2nd from Layne and looking forward to more.

Many thanks to both NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing me the early ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

I’ve been thinking about doing a top 10 list of my favorite comfort-read authors. You know, those authors whose books you look forward to savoring and smiling over and getting all-the-feels. In the top five would be this author, Lauren Layne, who never fails me with her bright writing, the sometimes snarky, though always witty, dialogue, and her complete understanding of what a reader wants in a swoon-worthy romance.

Although the plot of To Sir, With Love has been revisited several times from The Shop Around the Corner to You’ve Got Mail, Layne gives it her own special touch that makes this book such a delight to read.

As To Sir, With Love opens, Gracie Cooper is smiling over exchanged personal messages on a dating app from a man (she presumes) called Sir. This particular dating app is one in which people get to know each other before ever seeing a picture. Personality over looks. So Gracie doesn’t know what Sir looks like, but she does know that he’s involved in a relationship. The only reason why he’s on the app is because a friend of his set up the account. Evenso, Gracie and Sir have continued to message each other.

Gracie runs a champagne shop that her parents started before she and her siblings were born, but now that both of her parents are dead, the running of the shop has been left to Gracie. It’s not what she wanted to do, which was become an artist and not just be an artist as a side thing. When she took over the shop, it was floundering, but she’s added to it and made it more thus Champagne & More. In comes Sebastian Andrews who wants to buy her out of her lease so that he can turn the building into something else. Gracie only sees that he wants to take away her livelihood and those of her employees, which she can’t allow. Yet, there’s something about aqua-eyed Sebastian . . . .

Layne has a knack for creating likable, relatable characters and in To Sir, With Love that is no different. Gracie and Sebastian are swoony soulmates. The very first moment they see each other, it’s electric. I loved their connection. One of the funniest scenes occurs as Gracie becomes Sebastian’s other half at a cooking/champagne tasting organized by the shop and they both discover that they can drink champagne better than they can cook. The humor and sparks between them are delicious, even if their creations aren’t.

Yes, yes, yes! I loved this book. It gave me all the feels and made me happy. The cherry on top of the pistachio gelato sundae comfort food!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This novel checks all the rom-com boxes—lovable characters, sizzling chemistry, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and sky-high stakes. But Layne takes a deeper dive with themes of family expectations and self-discovery, of taking chances and believing in our dreams. I don’t know what it was about the story but it’s seriously left a huge warm spot in my heart. Her characters are real people with real struggles and deserve the happiness that she beautifully encapsulates.

I'm 6 chapters in and, unfortunately, I'm going to call it.

I was initially excited by the idea of a rom-com inspired by You've Got Mail. But, already, the nods to that story fall way short and I'm just not invested in Gracie's story. I find it really hard to connect or sympathize with characters who had a plan for their life and then derail it because their dying parent wanted the family business to stay in the family. In Gracie's case, she had a really incredible opportunity to study art in Italy and she gave it up for her dad's champagne shop, which to me screams "swimming with an achor", considering that at the time of his death, the shop was already floundering. And she's definitely resentful of the sacrifice she made that her siblings (wisely) did not. I'm not into that pity story.

Thanks to Gallery for the opportunity to read this. Don't count my rating, please, as I wouldn't normally rate a book I don't finish.

Edit: In light of the recent announcement by Simon & Schuster (Gallery's parent co) that they would be distributing a book by one of the officers involved in Breonna Taylor's murder, I will definitely not be finishing this book.

This book was a nice treat. It has all the "You've Got Mail" vibes, but make it 2021.

I will say it's less of a rom-com and more of a lighthearted read on self-discovery and growth; more of a women's fiction novel. There isn't much romantic interaction between our hero and heroine until the very end, and when it does happen, it's quick and clean. I was slightly disappointed because this is touted as a contemporary romance so I expected a bit more.

I still enjoyed this one and would recommend it. It wasn't a life changing read for me. It was an easy, feel-good novel that would be a perfect companion at the pool or beach.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this lovely ARC!

Even though I've never see you've got mail and the fact that the heroine's father has died I'm not fond of books in which the heroine loses her father. As my own father is the only parent I have left it hits a little to close to home I did enjoy this one. I laughed, and I cried. I do have to say that this is one that I wouldn't reread. Not because of the book itself it simply hits to close to home.

This has to be hands down one of the cutest stories I’ve read in a long time!

To Sir, with Love follows the story of Sebastian and Gracie. Gracie would do anything for her family; even if it meant putting her own dreams on hold. After the loss of her father, Gracie steps up and takes over the family business. But, no matter how hard she tries, nothing can change the fact that her business is struggling. The last thing she needed in her life was Sebastian. On the outside, Sebastian seems like a ruthless businessman who just snatches up businesses without a second thought. However, there is so much more to Sebastian than meets the eye. Sebastian has a kind heart and is trying to do what he thinks is best. It’s not personal. It’s just good business, isn’t it??

To Sir, with Love grabbed me from the very first page. Gracie and Sebastian’s story rocked some serious You’ve Got Mail vibes and I absolutely LOVED it! Gracie and Sebastian had a series of serendipitous meetings. One might definitely think that fate wanted these two together! Their chemistry was instant and their banter was off the charts. Too bad, their last encounter makes them realize they are destined to be foes. Gracie can’t stand Sebastian and thinks the absolute worst of him, but I promise you, she couldn’t be more wrong. Sebastian proved himself over and over again and had this reader falling head over heels in love.

To Sir, with Love is one of my favorite reads from author Lauren Layne. It’s smartly written and entertaining. The characters are a lot of fun and are easy to connect with. I adored Gracie and her relationship with her siblings. Sebastian was truly genuine and gave you all the feels. I loved the enemies to lovers vibe with Gracie and Sebastian. It lead to some seriously delicious tension and will they/won’t they moments I just couldn’t get enough of.

In the end, this book was just the read I was looking for. It made me laugh. It made me smile. It made me swoon and fall head over heels for these characters. If you’re a fan of feel-good romances and enjoyed the movie You’ve Got Mail, you won’t want to miss To Sir, with Love. I hope you fall in love with these characters just as I have.

This book was adorable. Yes, it was totally obvious what was going to happen but halfway through the book, I was wondering HOW it was going to happen. And it was adorable. This is a perfect rom com summer read to just enjoy without overthinking.

Delightful, wholesome romance with a fairytale feel. This is a lovely reimagined version of You’ve Got Mail/She Loves Me/The Shop Around the Corner. Each are their own classics with a someone falling for a person they only know through writing letters. In this book Gracie joins a dating app that wants you to connect through texting so no photos. Lady (Gracie) starts writing to Sir when is in unavailable, but they continue on as friends. Sir, also know as Sebastian in real life, is a nemesis to Gracie and her business. In fact he wants to buy out her lease to put up a parking garage. She wants to hate Sebastian but she is insta attracted to him. As she likes him more it confuses her about her feelings for texting pal Sir.

The story plays out with a wonderful supporting cast of characters made of family and friends. They are richly developed and also help tell Gracie’s story of focusing on her dream man and not the reality of what is in front of her. It is told from Gracies POV but you know that moment that Sebastian figures things out. Then you wait on pins and needles for it to all come together. I love NYC as the setting and can easily imagine Gracie and Sebastian in the park, store, gallery etc. I was confused on the timeline. There were various references to weeks going by but I never understood the timeframe overall. Also there is one line where it mentions they were both in relationships when they started their emotional texting, but that didn’t make sense to me because she was looking for a romance. (His starting with the app is explained.)

This book is for anyone who enjoys a sweet, clean romance that will leave you feeling happy. I will happily look for other books by the author in hopes I enjoy them as much. Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review. (4.5 stars rounding up.)

To Sir, With Love by Lauren Layne is basically a retelling of You've Got Mail only instead of a bookstore, it's a champagne shop and they meet on a dating app where you get to know each other through messages rather than deciding based on a photo and a brief description. Although the story is cute, it's an old idea that's been done before (and much better) in the movies. The story does move quickly and would be an entertaining beach read.

Thanks to the author, Gallery Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This book was like eating frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity. Such a treat!!

"To Sir, with Love" is like You've got Mail meets 2021. Gracie Cooper has taken over her father's champagne shop after his death, two years prior. She has been struggling to make ends meet, bringing in new products, more staff and her paintings she is working on in her spare time. Enter Sebastian, head of a takeover company and Gracie's landlord. He has been making offers to take over Gracie's lease at the champagne store and their dealings are nothing short of acrimonious. Enter Sir. She meets Sir on a dating app where there are no pictures or any identifying information. Though Sir is in a relationship, she falls for him, even though he doesn't want to take it any further.

There is so much about this book that drew me in. Gracie is a great character. She is trying to do the right thing by her father's memory while losing herself at the same time. She doesn't get any help from her sister or brother and everything falls into her lap. Sebastian has a soft side to him we see, and he seems to truly care what happens to Bubbles, the champagne store. I loved the backdrop of NYC and that Lauren Layne was accurate and not just guessing what happens there. All the relationships that Gracie has are multi dimensional and well layered.

It doesn't get a higher rating from me simply because I wanted more from Sir and that relationship. There is no depth to the email exchanges. It is simply Gracie asking a question and Sir answering it. There are very few that are longer than two or three sentences. I wondered throughout the book if their conversations would ever be more, but they seemed to taper off and yet, she was so conflicted.

This is a clean and quirky book that I really enjoyed reading. I can't wait to tackle Lauren Layne's other books!

Review is for Library Journal:
In this modern retelling of You’ve Got Mail, Gracie Cooper is torn between the mysterious Sir she met on a text-only dating app, and the posh Sebastian Andrews, who is trying to buy out the lease on her family business. As much as she wants to hate Sebastian, she can’t help but enjoy his company. He even shows up to the special events she’s planned to try and drum up more business for her little shop. But as frustrating as Sebastian makes her, at least she has Sir to talk her back down after a rough day. But at some point, Gracie realizes she needs to stop living in a fantasy world, and come to terms with how the shop isn’t doing as well as she hoped, that her life isn’t what she wanted it to be, and that she needs more than just the two half relationships she has with Sir and Sebastian. In Lauren Layne’s newest contemporary romance, readers will fall in love with the classic enemies-to-lovers trope, and especially the banter between Sebastian and Gracie. The cast of beloved side characters, such as Gracie’s siblings and employees, adds an extra spark to this already charming tale. VERDICT: A first tier purchase for libraries, especially those where romantic comedies are popular.

An absolute delight from start to finish. This is an wonderful retelling of the classic The shop Around the Corner / She Loves Me / You’ve Got Mail story. It’s an enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, and epistolary novel all in one. I don’t care how many times I’ve read or seen this story it’s a classic for a reason and is an absolute delight. I loved that Lauren updated the technology for the letters in a way that felt natural (messages through a dating app) but still kept the timeless feeling of the story.

The writing style reminded me a lot of The Hating Game. The book was entirely from Gracie’s perspective and like T.H.G. it occasionally breaks the third wall with Gracie providing information to the reader. A lot of books try to copy this writing style and fail, while this one works perfectly. This book would not worked with dual POVs as the fun of it is simultaneously knowing more than Gracie and seeing it all unfold through her eyes. If we had Sebastian’s POV the suspense would have complete disappeared. And the fact that there was still the suspense of ‘is Sebastian the Sir she’s messaging?’, is remarkable and the telltale sign of good wring because literally description tells you he is and yet to the very end I was stressed about is he or isn’t he.

I loved both Gracie and Sebastian as well as their alter egos Lady and Sir. They are the exact types of characters I am a huge sucker for. Each were perfectly plotted with hopes, dreams, flaws, etc. I also loved the very through out community that surrounds the pair. I feel like I know who each of the side characters are thanks to the wonderful little details peppered in like favorite lipstick colors or that Gracie’s bother opened his bottle of Dom because the Cubs won the World Series. There doesn’t need to be another book set in this world, but I would happily return should Lauren decide to write one.

Now need to go back and read everything Lauren has written. I can honestly seeing myself rereading this one over and over again.

Thank you to NetGalley and a Gallery Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is best described as a classic story with a modern twist.
Gracie Cooper owns a wine shop and Sebastian Andrews is the handsome landlord that wants to push her out. Their relationship is antagonistic from the start.

Her professional life is problematic, and her personal life is complicated. She’s fallen for a man she’s never met in real life or seen. They meet on MysteryMeet, a dating app where you don’t see who you are chatting with. The attraction is based on personality first, rather than physical appearance. Their banter is great and Gracie looks forward to the messages but there’s one big problem. Sir is already dating someone else.

Can Gracie save her shop and find the man of her dreams?

This was a fun read and the emails between Lady (Gracie) and Sir were flirty and cute and you could sense the attraction.