Five + Stars, Novels like this are the reason I love reading and experiencing new authors. Bravo.

The sheer emotional rollercoaster this novel put me through is beyond words. I experienced love, laughter, betrayal, pain, loneliness, friendship, happiness, fear, heartbreak and so so much more. The writing and story was exceptional, I read this in one sitting as I quite literally could not put it down.

We are taken on a journey from two perspectives of mother and daughter separated by time and an ocean. Nothing is as it seems from the beginning but it all comes to a heartwarming conclusion.

Thank you Netgalley and Randomhouse for allowing me the pleasure to read and review the ARC for this book.

With Love, from London...

This book was beautiful and devastating at the same time. The reader gets to experience Eloise’s difficult journey play out in the past while viewing the effects of that past in the present day experiences of her estranged daughter after Eloise’s death when her daughter, Val, comes to London for the first time after being separated from her mother for over 20 years.

The reader gets to experience the journey of Eloise falling in love with her soulmate, Edward, at the wrong time, which then led Eloise down the path of her loveless marriage to Frank which produces a daughter, Val, Eloise’s great true love whom she is separated from when Val turns 12 after a dispute with her husband. Frank sends Eloise back to her true home in England after living in America for 20 years in a fit of rage leading to the lost relationship between a mother and daughter as Frank ensured they would not have contact.

In present day, we start the book with Val’s husband leaving her to pursue his extramarital affair further and then receiving a call that her estranged mother who she thought had abandoned her over 20 years prior had died.

Val then moves to England to sort the affairs of her mother and determining what to do with the bookstore and flat that has been left to her. As she does this, she begins to learn the truth of her mothers disappearance from her life all those years ago and that it wasn’t what she had been led to believe.

I shed a few tears with the ending as fate finally got it right for both Eloise in her final days, and for Val, who after years of suffering and longing for her mother finally understood the truth and had a new family and support system that was meant to be all along… it just took her finding out that she had always been loved deeply from London.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC of this book! I am so thankful to obtain a copy to read in advance of its release!

I absolutely loved everything about this book - the setting, the cross-generational story, the magic, and the backdrop of books. Highly recommend.

I adored every minute of reason this book! The characters are wonderful, the story is intriguing, and the writing is beautiful. I can’t wait for more from this author! Thanks, NetGalley!

Review also posted on goodreads under misssara1361/Sara E

This was a cute read. It pretty much had my attention from the start. I was more a fan of Eloise than Valentina but both POVs were easy to read and enjoyable. I liked that the storyline felt realistic and both character had plausible struggles in their lives. I liked seeing Valentina find her strength and I liked that the side characters were fleshed out with their own arcs. The ending was a bit predictable but it was still a nice read. I’d recommend it to others who like tales about family, heartache and learning to heal.

CW: Death, divorce

Thank you #NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, for the advance reader copy, all opinions are my own.
With Love from London was a beautiful and heartfelt read. Throughout the book, I was constantly emotional. I felt anger, sadness and ultimately joy as we unravel Eloise's story along with Valentina.

"My life is no longer the tragic novel I'd assumed it was, but something entirely different-a great adventure, a thriller even, and maybe just maybe, a brilliant love story."

Valentina, after losing her father and recently divorced, decides to leave her life in America and start fresh in London, where she inherits her estranged mother’s flat and bookstore in London’s Primrose Hill. There, she tries to come to terms with her non-relationship with her decreased mother, who she last saw when she was twelve years old. Valentina meets the people that were constant in her mother's, Eloise, life for the last 20 years and follows along a scavenger hunt left for her to finally get to know her mother.

I loved this story. We flip between Valentina's and Elosie's point of view throughout the book. It is important for this story as you can see how Eloise actually lived her life, how she fell in love and what lead to her to leave Valentina. I loved seeing how alike Eloise and Valentina are, and the parallels between their lives. Such an emotional read. I felt such anger in the beginning of the story, not understanding how Eloise could just never talk to Valentina again. But then as the story progressed, I felt such sadness in the lost love she experiences, and the unexpected paths she follows. I loved how Valentina falls in love with the Book Garden and creates such sweet relationships with the people there, who also knew Eloise in so many ways. Valentina in following the scavenger hunt left by her mother, not only does she find forgiveness, but also a path to healing and love.

"When your own world feels bleak, a book is a portal to anywhere. You can hide within the pages, linger there for comfort or protection. The best part whether you're seven or sixty-seven, a favorite book is like an old friend, waiting for you with open arms".

#WithLovefromLondon

I actually really enjoyed this book! It took a few chapters to really get hooked. I thought the plot was incredibly unique and and story was great. Just wait for the ending!

With Love From London is a beautiful, emotional tale of Valentina as she inherits her estranged mother’s bookshop in London, but it is also told in parallel with the story of her mom’s past. Val and her mom Eloise are both such beautiful characters. Both are so similar and stunning. Eloise is so wistful and hopeful in her youth, and I just adored her romantic tale. And Val is is so bright—she’s coming off a recent divorce and is confused why her mom left her this store after she hadn’t seen her since she was 12. But her mother’s scavenger hunt when she arrives at the quaint bookstore is so cute though, and the characters in this book—Millie, Eloise’s best friend and co-owner of the Book Garden, Liza, the tenant who lives in one of the flats, and every character in between. Plus there’s the literary scavenger hunt that Valentina finds on the shelf too. Everything in this book is heartwarming and endearing. This is a story about finding yourself, community, and following your dreams and your heart. I loved the romance in this—Valentina and Eloise believe so strongly in signs and love and the power of books too. The writing is lyrical, and I couldn’t put this book down. I was so invested in both storylines—I love how they enhanced each other but still had such distinct voices behind them. The community in this book too was stunning. I loved the quirks of the small town in Primrose Hill and I loved how the people just supported each other. This book truly has a little of everything. My heart both hurt and warmed by the ending and I just loved every bit of the journey this book took me on.

“The thing is, once you get lost in a story, you want to get lost in another. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.” (Chapter 9, Eric). Sarah Jio has created a beautiful story told by Eloise and her daughter, Valentina in alternating chapters. Eloise’s story starts in 1968 and moves forward to 2013. Valentina’s is told in 2013. “With Love from London” is the perfect story to read on a snowy weekend or on a quiet beach. Eloise’s husband, Frank, accuses her of something she did not do and is given a ticket and some money to go back to London. Her best friend Millie takes her in and together they buy a property and open a neighborhood book store, The Book Garden is in Primrose Hill. The love of books is shown from the beginning along with some delightful characters who help Eloise cope with having to leave her daughter in California. Valentina, recently divorced and her mother has recently passed away, flies to London to take care of her inheritance. Sarah Jio is a master of feelings. I laughed, got angry, and cried while reading this story. There were also some twists I did not see. I loved some of the quirky side characters in the book store. I loved getting lost in this story! My thanks to Random House Ballantine for an ARC of this book. the opinions in this review are my own.

While I appreciated the sentiment and the various loves stories (heterosexual, love for a child, love of books, love of friendships), this one fell flat for me. The trope of bookstore and letters left and discovering a parent’s past has been done to death and I didn’t think this one stood out from the others. The American references and words coming out of a British character jarred me a bit. The book felt too “been there done that”. For some that will feel comfortable and like a well-worn shoe, just where you want to be for an afternoon of reading. I’m grateful to Ballantine for the advanced copy.

In all, I really enjoyed this book! I quite liked the way this book surprises then reader, subverting expectations with a few key plot points. The romance, I found predictable, but in a bad way, as it isn’t really the story’s core. Even though it’s set in London, we stay pretty close to the Primrose Hill neighborhood, which gives the book a cozy small town vibe that goes nicely with the quest to save the bookstore.

I recommend this to fans of a scavenger hunt, to book lovers, and to those who enjoy a good mother/daughter story.

I went into this book thinking it would be at typical, predictable love story. It was so much different. There were some happy and sad moments in Eloise and Valentina’s lives. At first, I was angry that Eloise left her daughter, but you slowly realize what happened. I’m usually a reader of thrillers so this was a nice change for me. I found myself wanted to know more and more about Eloise’s story and got excited when it was her turn in the storyline. A great read overall.

I have enjoyed numerous Sarah Jio books, and this was no exception! She's the master of alternating voices, featuring characters from two different time periods.
Eloise is a young woman in London in the 1960s who marries the wrong man, and follows him to America. Years later she is forced to leave the child she adores and return to London when her husband demands a divorce.
Valentina is Eloise's daughter, who moves to London to try to save the bookstore she inherited when her mother died. Valentina never understood why her mother abandoned her when she was 12, But as the stories of mother and daughter intersect, Valentina begins to understand that she only saw a small portion of the picture. How much do children really understand about their parents' lives?

Valentina is a librarian who is running from a recent divorce into her inheritance from her estranged mother, which leads her to Primrose Hill, London. At Primrose Hill, Val discovers her mother's dream bookstore, best friend, and love. Through a enchanting scavenger hunt, Val also discovers how to love and grieve. With Love from London was a love story...no THE love story... for anyone who loves discovering that the path to true love often takes one down a different path than they'd planned. The setting of the bookstore, and Primrose Hill itself, with all of the wonderful characters and character, just made this story all the more delightful!

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group--Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC of “With Love from London” by Sarah Jio. All opinions are my own.

The end of this book had me in tears!! It took me a few chapters to get into it, but I promise its worth sticking around.

Fresh out of a marriage, Valentina Baker’s adventure begins as she moves to England to explore the home and community of her late mother who abandoned her when she was twelve. I love that the author switched back and forth between present day with Valentina and the past of her mother Eloise, so we got a more holistic view of their experience and intentions. This story was so beautiful and at often times unexpected.

It comes out February 8th, 2022, so make sure to grab yourself a copy and you too can fall in love with the people of Primrose Hill.

An absolutely beautiful story about Valentina, a woman who inherits a bookstore in the suburbs of London from her mother, despite the fact that her mother left the country and left her more than 20 years prior. She heads to England with plans to sell the bookstore, but instead she finds that her mother had left her clues for a scavenger hunt which causes her to fall in love with the little town and the adorable bookstore she left her.
The story is told in chapters of her mother’s story and POV in the past as well as Valentina’s present day.
This story was lovely, heartbreaking and like a warm cup of tea on a cold day.
Thanks to Ballentine Books and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my review.

. The author wrote a letter to the readers in which she said it was the book she needed to write in Covid lockdown, and I felt like it was the book I needed to read. Dual timelines, love and loss, mother daughter connection. But what I really loved is the scavenger hunt and the neighborhood bookshop.

I received a copy of this book from
NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Valentina was abandoned by her mother at 12 years old. Now in her 30s, she is shocked to be willed her mother’s flat and bookstore in London. Valentina embarks on a life-changing trip and in the process, learns a lot about herself, her mother, and love.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a perfect, light escape right when I needed one. I’ve always been a fan of Sarah Jio, and her dual timeline stories. This one didn’t disappoint, although I wish it was longer!

I did have to suspend a little disbelief with the historical love story. I didn’t feel like it was very realistic, but I always feel that way about instalove. I was devastated by the story of Eloise and her return to London. But I loves the characters, the scavenger hunt, the London setting. I definitely recommend this for fans of dual timelines, women’s fiction, bookstores, and mother-daughter drama.

Thirty-five year old Valentina Baker’s husband has just left her. Abandonment is a subject she knows all too well as her beloved mother Eloise left her and her father in California one day and returned to London where she was originally from. Having never seen or heard from her mother since she was twelve, Valentina is saddened to learn that her mother has died and shocked when she is told that she has inherited a building in Primrose Hill, complete with two apartments and the area's beloved bookstore. Valentina, a librarian and bookstagrammer, heads to London to sort out her inheritance and her feelings about her mother. It is the perfect getaway as she mends her broken heart.

Author Sarah Jio has a true talent for creating heartfelt stories. With Love from London captured my heart. In present day, we see Valentina adapting to life in London and finding her way among an endearing group of friends and neighbors of her mother, who are only too happy to embrace their departed friend’s daughter. And in flashbacks, Eloise’s story is told. From her days as an enchanting, young single woman from the East End of London to her “second act” as a bookstore owner. Valentina discovers that Eloise left behind a scavenger hunt which is to lead her to a better understanding of her mother and her true history.

There are many books that take place in bookstores and serve as settings for healing, friendship and love. Sign me up any day for one that works as well as With Love from London. Get ready to swoon, to weep and dream about a trip to London.

What a lovely book! Just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Thank you PRH International for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was absolutely heartwarming and touching, and the fact that we get to read the perspective of Valentina from the present time and the perspective of her mother, Eloise, from the past made this book 100x more captivating and more emotional.

From Valentina's POV, I had a feeling of hatred for her mother because once she moved to London you'll see everyone singing praises about how wonderful and lovely Eloise was BUT it made me wonder how could a person be that if Eloise was someone who was capable of abandoning her daughter. But as I got to read Eloise's POV, I got to understand where she was coming from and saw what she went through. Halfway through the book and I was in love with both Val and Eloise and their mother-daughter relationship is what really made me obsessed with this book.

I adored the side characters, they definitely made the book more hilarious and entertaining. Also, the way they were there for Val to adjust and grieve her mother touched my heart. They were there for Val for everything, for every good and bad days and making sure she knows that there were still people that love and care for her.

This was a different kind of romance for me, it really broke my heart yet mended it, taught me a lot of lessons, and inspired me. It was truly such a meaningful story with a lot of life lessons. Sarah Jio's writing style was truly beautiful and magical that it made me empathize with Val and Eloise.