Gah! I was a blubbering mess by the end of this book in the best way! This is loosely based on “you’ve got mail” and “the shoppe around the corner”, with a modern twist. Now, “you’ve got mail” is one of my all time favorite movies, and Lauren Layne is one of my all time favorite authors. This was so nicely done! The descriptions of NYC, sir and lady, and Sebastian and Gracie... sigh. It was the best love story. I definitely shed a few tears even though I knew where it was heading. It was just lovely. Thank you so much to netgalley for the ARC. Lauren, 5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the digital arc!

I throughly enjoyed this read, as I've come to with many of Layne's books-- the set-up in the champagne shop is delicious! I liked the cast of characters as well... but there was an element that felt a little (excuse the pun) flat-- maybe it was the reliance on an old plot for inspiration (You've Got Mail) or the very obvious mystery (we know long before the heroine who the hero is, which made me rush towards the end), or the fact that the details of the characters themselves don't seem as fresh or expected as I've come to expect from the portraits of Layne's other characters (her Central Park series, in particular). I enjoyed this read, but was expecting a little more from this author! I did enjoy her depiction of this part of NYC, though. Overall, I enjoyed my time spent in this world.

I fell for LL's books back when she produced New Adult, like the Redemption series. Since then, her books have fallen into very 'meh' collections -- Oxford, Stiletto, Wall Street, Wedding Belles -- there wasn't anything new to these romance in NY books that I haven't read from any other contemporary romance author.

This, however, brings in that classic, old time yarn, but with some good heat. As an AMC and TCM movie buff, I was raised on all her previous references. Since this was set in NYC, I kept thinking Sir & Lady may even meet at the Empire State Building and tragedy would strike a la An Affair to Remember! So, yes, the reader sees exactly where this is going and we are enjoying the ride as we get to the HEA.

LL did a great job organizing this story, demonstrated the art of "want" in very brief text-like exchanges and now has me wanting my own well-suited Tiffany-eyed hunk (I'm envisioning Matthew Goode in my head) for gelato and sorbet in Central Park. Alas, during Covid, I'll have to settle for the NetGalley book boyfriend.

This was a pretty unique read. I would have liked to see the romance heightened a little, but otherwise it was very swoonworthy!!!

A fun, swoony update to the You've Got Mail/Shop Around the Corner story. Romcom fans will enjoy Gracie and Sebastian's chemistry and tension.