This story is bookish and delightful. I had a great time reading it. A different kind of coming-of-age story.

Valentina Baker receives a call from her estranged mother's lawyer during the worst days of her life. Her husband has just left her for a young paralegal and now the mother she has not seen for a quarter of a century is dead. Val has just inherited a building with a bookstore in the Primrose Hill neighborhood of London. As part of her inheritance she gains the neighbors that loved her mother, Eloise, via a treasure hunt. Eloise has left letters throughout the neighborhood for Val in order for her to meet the people important to Eloise and learn more about why they were estranged.

With Love from London is a lovely story about two women who experienced extreme heartache but through the support of a community and dear friends they have each found a path forward. This is a quick enjoyable read that any lover of women's lit would enjoy. This is one of those books that inspires you to look for the things and people in life that make it better.

I received this as a free kindle book from the publisher. The title grabbed me right away.

Valentina Baker has learned that her mother, Eloise, who she hasn't seen since Eloise abandoned her when she was 12, has passed away and has left Valentina her bookshop and flat in London. When Valentina heads to London, she meets Millie, her mom's best friend and they strike up a friendship even though it was a bit rocky to start. Eloise planned a scavenger hunt for Valentina and as she finds the clues, she befriends the people of Primrose Hill who were important to her mom and the bookshop. The story is told in two time periods, one for Eloise and one for Valentina, and as it unfolds, so does Eloise's story. I really enjoyed the characters and the setting of the bookshop. A great read with a little romance and self-discovery as well.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Ballentine for allowing me to read this book and give my honest opinion. At first glance, I wasn't sure how'd I like this book? Especially as a mother. I ended up LOVING this book. This book goes between the late 60s and today. The flashbacks are told by Eloise, Valentina's mother, who fell in love with two men. She moved to the United States and had Valentina. Present day is Valentina in London at her mother's book store following Eloise's death. I adored this book so much. I didn't want it to end.

With Love from London was a fantastically sweet romance perfect for Anglophiles, hopeless romantics, and book lovers everywhere. Sarah Jio proves herself once again to be a master of romance with this book, seamlessly blending a love story with a tale of a complicated mother daughter relationship and literary touches. The perfect beach read!

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book as I usually read British cozy mysteries but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I read anything with “London” in the title and the descriptions of Primrose Hill neighborhood did not disappoint. The characters are interesting, unique and entertaining.

“I loved him in my mortal days and I will also love him in eternity.”


A heartwarming story that goes back to the past telling Eloise's story and present telling Valentina’s story (Eloise’s daughter). Sad things happens all throughout the book but as Valentina searches and finds each clue in a scavenger hunt made by Eloise you will feel all the love and read Eloise’s story unfold. I love how Valentina’s discovery made her see beyond the past, open up her heart and move forward. I love how the community that welcomed her mother embraced her and showed her how Eloise loved her. This book also reminds you that the best books choose you and there will be books in your lifetime that will always bring back great memories. I also like how Val posts about books and reflections in her IG account @booksbyval. I love the bookstagrammer feels. In the end I am glad Eloise was able to shine bright as a star in his sky and Valentina found the owner of The Last Winter book.

OMG, such a great book. Sarah the author has such a lovely way with words and feelings. Not a lot of books make me cry, but this one did. The story is told from two different voices, Eloise and her daughter Valentina. Each chapter is dedicated to one of these remarkable women, that just draws you into the book. Of their love loss, their joys and sadness. If I could I would give this book ten stars, but alas can only do five.
I am grateful to Netgalley to give me this chance to read an advance readers copy.

"With Love from London" is any book lover's dream read. With a librarian inheriting a bookshop, the overarching literary themes dig into the soul of a bibliophile. It's a beautiful story of reckoning with love and loss

I wanted to love this book. I was hooked immediately based on the synopsis. Unfortunately the pacing overall was too slow for my taste. As such the book did not hold my attention. I have opted to not review this title outside of NetGalley.

I have read all of her books and they are wonderful stories

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher. This is my honest and personal review.

This book was just what I needed.

A book about a librarian that INHERITS A BOOKSHOP!

While I have never been a divorcee or estranged from my mother, there is something so familiar about Val. This story is delightfully charming and and I was emotionally invested by the end of the first chapter. The portrayal of grief is beautifully written.

This was my first Sarah Jio book, and it certainly won't be my last.

Sarah Jio is one of the first authors whom I've read who introduced me to the dual storyline within a book concept. I've always loved this concept when it is well written because it is like getting two stories in one book. Ms. Jio is one of the finest writers I've encountered who write this way. Her previous books have dealt with a current day story and one in the past and are usually more of a historic nature. This book is a much more personal story because the past and current time feature a mother and daughter.

The current day story centers on the daughter Valentina whose mother, Eloise, left her when she was a young girl. Valentina goes to London after her mother's death and learns about her mother's life through her friend Millie and a wonderful scavenger hunt that her mother invented for her. I truly enjoyed all the characters in this story, and I thought that even though Valentina doesn't meet her mother in the flesh, she truly gets to know her.

I also enjoyed Eloise's story of how she came from London to California and became a wife and a mother. My only with problem with her story is how she came to be separated from her daughter. This part of the plot was a little flimsy for me.

All in all, an enjoyable read about relationships and also the power of books to heal.

This checked off everything I look for in a book. Was not disappointed. Really enjoyed this book. I will read more from this author. Thanks Netgalley for letting me read this.

Give me all the London! I loved this book. Not just because of the London setting but just because it was one of those books that wraps you up in a blanket and makes you feel all fuzzy and warm. This was a delightful read and I really appreciated the way it got me out of my head and into someone else's! Thank you Netgalley!

A heartbreaking book that our mc learns to navigate grief, loss, and having to rebuild herself again after the loss of her mother and recently divorced her husband. The ending did feel like a hallmark movie which is ok. I think it's a good read revolving around love and the mc rekindling her meaning of home.

As an international educator, I'm always looking for books that explore different countries. In With Love from London, Eloise has to go to London and find herself. She connects with locals and discovers tidbits about the local culture, so it's definitely a book I can recommend to my students, especially with London being the top study abroad location for US students. Beyond the educational value, this book is beautiful and heartwarming.

Seattle-based librarian/bookstagrammer Valentina Baker’s marriage falls apart when her husband leaves her for a younger woman. Amid a painful divorce, she is notified of her estranged mother’s death and her inheritance of her mother's bookstore in London.

This story alternates between two timelines and is weaved beautifully together. Any book lover will appreciate the journey of Valentina as she tries to keep the bookshop going and her journey through family, friendship, and second chances.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for this early copy in exchange for a honest review.

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

I really liked this book. I felt a strong connection with the main character that made me so excited to see what was going to happen next!

As a librarian who dreams of owning a bookstore and a person who use to have a bookstagram account, I connected so deeply with this Valentina! She was charming, kind, and had so much growth as a character; is was endearing! This story was well written with the dual plots from mother and daughter, and I enjoyed getting to know them alongside each other which was something they weren't able to accomplish in their stories. The characters were wonderful, and the story was beautifully told! I only gave it 3 stars because it was a bit predictable, and I didn't quite miss the story once I put it down. With that being said, I would still recommend this book!