I loved this book! It’s such a fun homage to You’ve Got Mail and The Shop Around the Corner. Gracie and Sebastian were easy to root for and like. There’s nothing better than a big smile on my face when a book ends and this one leaves a big one.

What a delightful and heartwarming rom com! Gracie, an aspiring artist, put her dreams on hold to take over the family's champagne specialty store in NYC after her dad passes. With the store struggling and her love life not where she envisioned it, she starts messaging Sir through a dating app where you match based on descriptions instead of a name and picture. She finds herself falling in love with Sir (a man she's never seen or met!) when she meets Sebastian, her corporate landlord who wants to buy her out. She knows she should hate Sebastian but finds herself inexplicably drawn to him. With her heart torn between Sir and Sebastian, she's in for a big surprise...no spoilers - you'll have to read to find out! ☺ While a bit predictable, I still loved every page of this book. It has witty banter, likeable characters, and is such a fun contemporary take on You Got Mail!
Thanks to Netgalley, Gallery Books, and the author for an ARC 😊 This hits shelves June 29!

(More like 3.5/5 stars)
No book blurb will grab my attention faster than the words “You’ve Got Mail”, so of course I leaped at the chance to review To Sir, With Love by Lauren Layne. This is my first experience with one of Layne’s books, and it was definitely enjoyable. I read to escape, and I had a difficult time putting To Sir, With Love aside when I was supposed to be working, or cooking dinner, or even getting dressed in the morning. This is a cute adaptation, and I liked the dating app substation for written letter or email penpals. The only reason I didn’t rate this book higher is because the characters felt a little too flat for me. I would have preferred more banter or additional conflict so that the story wasn’t so neat and tidy, but this book has a re-readability factor for me, so cheers!

Literally my only criticism of the book is in the blurb - "she has no idea she’s already met him in real life…and they can’t stand each other." Obviously with the You've Got Mail comparison it's obvious what's coming, but why give it away in the very beginning? When it's said in the book flap, I assume that it means that this realization will happen earlier in the story and actually be a part of the conflict (in the way that in the movie, Tom Hanks' character actually wrestles with the knowledge, but here we only get Gracie's point of view). Still, I read the entire thing in a matter of hours and was just the spring pick-me-up I needed.

To Sir, with Love ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 I was so excited to receive an advanced copy of Lauren Layne’s upcoming release. Her Passion on Park Avenue series and stand-alone novel The Prenup were such fun reads for me last year and her latest did not disappoint!

Gracie Cooper knows her family’s Manhattan champagne shop isn’t exactly a cash cow, but her desire to maintain her family’s legacy makes her adamant that she will not give in in to her landlord that wants to buy out the lease. To distract from her business troubles, Gracie turns to her “mystery man”...an anonymous match from a dating app. They’ve never met in person, but she can’t help falling a little deeper each time they chat. Little does she know he’s already walked into her life and made quite the impression...

Be sure to add this one to your list...out 06/29/2021!

Full review post on Instagram: @north_of_dixie

This is not my first Lauren Layne read, I enjoy her work. I was instantly drawn in to the You’ve Got Mail feel of this book. That is one of my all time FAVORITE movies!!! This book was absolutely delightful!!! I loved Gracie, Sebastian, Lady and Sir. I especially loved all the side characters, from May and Keva….to Gracie’s siblings and the drama between her sister and BIL. It all came together so lovely, and they all had their spot in the book. Nothing was forced or out of place. I really loved Gracie as she tried to keep her father’s store alive, but also realizing that she had been living her whole life to please others and their dreams. There was a lot of growth and bravery in her that I very much admired. This is such a sweet, fun book. Definitely read it!

HJ Top Pick!

You can’t fall in love with someone that you have never meet right? That is definitely not the case for romantic Gracie Cooper, for weeks now she has been messaging her MysteryMate match Sir. What was supposed to just be trying a new style of dating app soon turns into Gracie feeling that she might have found her prince charming. However things take an interesting turn when Gracie gets ‘the feeling' while out picking up fresh flowers and she stumbles upon a real life prince charming, Sebastian Andrews.

Thinking it is fate bringing them together again when Sebastian walks into Bubbles and More – Gracie’s family Champagne store – you can just imagine Gracie’s surprise to learn the guy she just felt an instant draw to in non other than the same man trying to shut down her family business. Determined to save her father’s dream Gracie tries to pull out all the stops to bring Bubbles back to life but it would seem that Sebastian is just as determined as her to get the building, soon the two find themselves spending more time together, leaving Gracie torn between two men one that she doesn’t even know and the other right in front of her.

This book was absolutely amazing. Layne has a special gift with bring to life Manhattan based romances, she knocked me over with the Park Avenue girls and now completely outdone herself with Gracie and Sebastian’s story. It was super easy to fall in love with these two characters and watch them dancing around each other. I do have to say I liked that we got to see bit of Lady and Sir's conversation but it was not overwhelming to the story.

Gracie was the perfect heroine, I loved that she was so selfless in giving up her dreams of going to art school to save the family business and without much help from her siblings. However the thing that I loved the most about her was hope for that fairytale love. As for our hero Sebastian, I felt that he was definitely misunderstood at first, he was definitely not the bad guy that Gracie initially thought him to be. I absolutely loved that he showed up to all of Gracie’s events especially the cooking class that was just hilarious. Watching these two fall in love was just precious, all while watching Gracie and Sir explore their relationship over text. It was really cute to see these two relationships play out along side one and other.

I am a huge fan of the role that secondary characters play and I found that To Sir, With Love had a brilliant supporting cast each with their own little quirks. I loved getting to see the Cooper siblings rebuild their relationship. However I do have to say that I loved May the most. She was just hilarious all on her own.

The best romance novel that I have read in months! Lauren Layne has a true gift in creating a brilliantly beautiful story that hits all the right spots.

I instantly feel in love with the Park Avenue series and am totally smitten with To Sir, With Love. I absolutely loved You Got Mail and Layne has taken it up a notch with this retelling of romance lovers favorite. This sweet bubbly enemies to lovers romance is absolute perfect read that had me feeling all warm and fuzzy at the end! A definite must read!

To Sir, with Love is everything great about Lauren Layne. This is a will they, won’t they figure it out kinda deal. Gracie runs her family’s struggling champagne shop and Sebastian is the man who wants to take it all away. Gracie’s character is sweet, relatable, and head strong. I’ll be waiting for a spin off boom of the supporting characters Keva and Grady! Sebastian and Gracie have great chemistry and their banter is top notch. This is a definite reread!!

One of the best books I’ve read this year! Fell in love with the characters, loved the story of how Sebastian and Gracie came about! Makes you believe in the fairytales of love! So happy how the dynamics of family worked out for Gracie ! First time reader of Lauren Layne. I will definitely seek others she’s written!

This uis a very cute romance story with greatcharacters. It is a very modern twist on fairy tales, but I really enjoyed it.

I loved this book! It was an updated version of You’ve Got Mail with the rivals to lovers trope (always great!)

The make lead, Sebastian, had Darcy vibes which made him incredibly lovable for me. I love a tempered, stoic guy.

The story is from Gracie’s pov and I loved her sense of humor and heart. She was so loyal to her families business and her late father’s dream.

I loved all the characters so much. Bubbles & More was such a fun place to read about and I loved Gracie and the employees chemistry. The family dynamics were great as well as the little dating app messages between Lady and Sir.

I read this in just a few hours because it was so engaging. This was such a fun yet poignant book that kept me interested from start to finish.

I have loved everything Lauren Layne has written so this book was no exception! This was a fun twist on the dating app met-cute, which seemed to turn into a really natural , not forced connection as the book went on! Overall, pretty quick read but very sweet!

I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love Lauren Layne so much. She is an auto-read author for me, so when I got approved for this book, I was beyond elated.

To Sir, With Love is a modern nod to You've Got Mail and much like Layne's novels, it didn't disappoint. The book follows eternal romantic Gracie Cooper, whose life at thirty-three doesn't look like the fairytale she thought it would. After the premature death of her parents, Gracie takes over their midtown champagne shop despite her dreams of being an artist. The only thing that makes Gracie smile is the messages with "Sir" on her Mystery Mate app. Too bad he's unavailable and is just a confidant and friend, despite them never meeting.

Gracie's world is turned upside down with the arrival of Sebastian Andrews, who is looking to buy out the lease on Bubbles & More. Living a beyond privileged life always getting what he wants, Sebastian isn't used to being told no. The two clash and tempers flair at every turn. But when Gracie starts to develop feelings for both Sebastian AND SirNYC, she is left at a crossroads.

I absolutely adored this book and devoured it in less than 24 hours! I loved the "letters" back and forth between Gracie and Sir, because it showed a different love story mixed with fairy tale expectations and fear. These letters showed amazing chemistry between the two and made me smile.

Sebastian's character really enticed me. I loved that in the beginning, he was depicted as this uptight synthesist, but as the book goes along, his softer, caring side is slowly revealed, both through the letters, but also through his small acts of kindness toward Gracie.

While you have a feeling of where the story is going, there were still sweet surprises along the way that kept me guessing and wanting to know what's going to happen next. I also loved how both Gracie and Sebastian had to grapple with the pull between living the life of their dreams and living the life is highly influenced by strong family expectations.

Much like every Lauren Layne novel I've read, I loved it. For those that have read her earlier books, this is a closed-door romance with very little steam. It successfully comes across as a nostalgic nod to Nora Ephron movies. If you like Kerry Winfey's books, this is along the same lines as those.

A HUGE thank you to Gallery Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to read this as soon as I read the synopsis. I loved the movie you've got mail and this book takes it one step further with adding even more romance and rivalry and twists and turns.

Wow! Is it sacrilegious to say I like To Sir, With Love better than You’ve Got Mail? As a hardcore romantic I LOVE me some Nora Ephron. But I do believe Lauren Layne has done an utterly fantastic and amazing job of not only modernizing this eternal love story, but also bringing it to the next level.
Lauren’s signature style shines bright as Gracie and Sebastian’s story effortlessly comes to life on the page. Full of laugh-out-loud banter, champagne, NYC and, of course, gorgeous men in suits!
While I’ve never read a Lauren Layne book I didn’t love - To Sir, With Love is definitely special. Who knows… perhaps this will be the next big Netflix book-to-movie success! :-)

I would give this 10 stars if I could! To Sir With Love is the perfect story about fairytale loving Gracie looking for her Prince Charming. The twist bringing in thoughts of famous love story movies, putting Kissmet at the center. I loved the family champagne store and how it brings the characters together. Lauren Layne has outdone herself. A cute story with great characters. Thank you Netgalley for this perfect ARC.

To Sir, With Love is the latest feel-good, rom-com by Lauren Layne, due out in late June of 2021. I suggest you go ahead and add it to your summertime TBR list because you won't want to miss this one. A cute fairytale of a story, To Sir, With Love follows two singles who meet under bad circumstances, rendering them work-place enemies. They meet again under totally different circumstances, and this time sparks fly, however their identities are concealed due to a dating app. What follows is each character's attempt at love, and finding that fairytale ending. Ms. Layne has built a strong cast of likable, supportive and endearing characters in this wonderful new book. I loved this story almost as much as Cinderella loved her glass slippers. Thank you NetGalley, Lauren Layne and Gallery Books for this advanced ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

Thoroughly enjoyed this light, breezy read! I devoured it in less than a day. The characters and their banter was so fun to read and perfect for the next time you decide to stay in and cuddle up with a book!

I really enjoyed this novel. Set in New York, with lovable characters, this novel is a fun read for your next stay-cation. Perfectly paired with a glass of champagne, this is a modern day You've Got Mail.

To Sir, With Love is such a cute story and I adored the read so much! I’ve read a bunch of Lauren Layne’s books in the past so when I saw this new one was coming out, I had to request the ARC. I started this read at the perfect time, when I was in the mood for a light-hearted, feel-good, romcom and this story was so sweet. This story is described as You’ve Got Mail meets Love is Blind, while I’ve never watched the latter I definitely know the former reference and this book was exactly those vibes. A couple falling in love twice...through email correspondence (that they send anonymously/don’t know one another’s real names) and then again when they meet in-person but have no idea they’re each other’s online pen-pals.

Gracie Cooper is 33-years-old and took over her parents champagne shop in NYC when her father passed away. She gave up her dreams of being an artist to fulfill her father’s dream by keeping the business going, but now the champagne shop is struggling and she kind of has to reassess. While all this is happening, Gracie also has been having an online correspondence via a dating app, called MysteryMate, where people match/chat anonymously without sharing photos. She and “Sir” (as she knows him on the app) first connected when his friend signed him up for the app, he was up front about that fact & that he was in a relationship at the time but he and Gracie continued chatting as friends. One day, Gracie meets Sebastian, the man who is trying to buyout her business to turn her store into a parking garage. While she’s so irritated with Sebastian upon first meeting, he keeps popping up in her life and the more she gets to know him, she finds herself more intrigued.

This was a really sweet story that made me smile. It’s just under 300 pages and I flew through the read. While there is only kissing for action in this read, I found I didn’t care about missing out on steam since this couple and their relationship was so cute! I loved the email communication shared throughout the chapters and just really had a fun time reading this.

Thank you to the publisher (Gallery) for an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts & review. This book publishes June 29, 2021.