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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
2.5 rounded down. Was cute but bland. Slightly too 'Hallmark Movie' for my tastes.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
With Love, From London by Sarah Jio
Thank you to @netgalley and @ballantinebooks for this ARC that published on 2/8!
Valentina is a recently divorced 35 year old librarian from Seattle who has just learned that she inherited a bookstore across the world from her estranged mother. From Valentina’s view, her mother, Eloise, left California to move back to London when she was 10 years old and never made contact again. Arriving in London, Valentina’s mother sends her on a post mortal literary scavenger hunt where she begins to learn the truth of what happened and gains friendship and support from those who loved Eloise the most. Valentina helps save the bookstore, begins to heal from her mother’s abandonment, and becomes enchanted with her life once more.
This was pretty lovely all around! Books, love, London, what’s not to love? There was also a lot of depth to this story- the truth of Eloise’s abandonment is heartbreaking and hard to get through. Valentina must reconcile her view of both of her now dead parents without being able to have a conversation with either of them. Overall, this was a cozy and enchanting book that was a perfect read for a cold week in Chicago.
With Love, From London by Sarah Jio
Thank you to @netgalley and @ballantinebooks for this ARC that published on 2/8!
Valentina is a recently divorced 35 year old librarian from Seattle who has just learned that she inherited a bookstore across the world from her estranged mother. From Valentina’s view, her mother, Eloise, left California to move back to London when she was 10 years old and never made contact again. Arriving in London, Valentina’s mother sends her on a post mortal literary scavenger hunt where she begins to learn the truth of what happened and gains friendship and support from those who loved Eloise the most. Valentina helps save the bookstore, begins to heal from her mother’s abandonment, and becomes enchanted with her life once more.
This was pretty lovely all around! Books, love, London, what’s not to love? There was also a lot of depth to this story- the truth of Eloise’s abandonment is heartbreaking and hard to get through. Valentina must reconcile her view of both of her now dead parents without being able to have a conversation with either of them. Overall, this was a cozy and enchanting book that was a perfect read for a cold week in Chicago.
I have lots of thoughts about this book. It was well written and a quick read, it had a great setting and really did a great job bringing London to life, and it had a wonderful found family aspect...but, ultimately, I only enjoyed half of it and didn't care for the other half (plot wise) at all. I feel a bit like a heartless creature saying that, but I'll break down my thoughts. This review will contain spoilers.
First the good half...Valentina. I loved her as a character. She was searching for answers about her past, while not letting bitterness overtake her. She was full of determination to make the bookstore work. Her story arc was wonderful for me. I loved the openness and forgiveness she exuded. The tiny romantic plot was also very sweet and appropriately done.
There's an entire other half of this book that I didn't care for at all...Eloise. Wow. Spoilers will abound here... I'm coming to this book as a mother, and I honestly couldn't imagine hell or high water keeping me away from my children. Maybe these things still happen, but in 1990? In America and Great Britain? First, Millie must have hired her the worst lawyer ever. Second, even if the legal stuff went down as written, Eloise could have still reached out when her child turned 18. Do I believe she loved Valentina? Yes, I do. But I don't believe she fought for her like she should have. The second part of Eloise's story that didn't work for me was the love triangle/"true love" aspect of it. Insta-love is not for me. It felt sooo immature on both of their parts. I was so annoyed that the guy said at the end that he never truly loved his wife and family because he was still so in love with Eloise. Just no.
I realize I was very hard on Eloise's portion of this book. I think I just had such high hopes for this book to be an emotional gut punch. Instead it left me in the anger zone. I enjoyed Valentina's portion with found family, the bookstore, and Val's little romantic journey. This book has great ratings so far so it may just be me and my personal pet peeves coming into play.
First the good half...Valentina. I loved her as a character. She was searching for answers about her past, while not letting bitterness overtake her. She was full of determination to make the bookstore work. Her story arc was wonderful for me. I loved the openness and forgiveness she exuded. The tiny romantic plot was also very sweet and appropriately done.
There's an entire other half of this book that I didn't care for at all...Eloise. Wow. Spoilers will abound here... I'm coming to this book as a mother, and I honestly couldn't imagine hell or high water keeping me away from my children. Maybe these things still happen, but in 1990? In America and Great Britain? First, Millie must have hired her the worst lawyer ever. Second, even if the legal stuff went down as written, Eloise could have still reached out when her child turned 18. Do I believe she loved Valentina? Yes, I do. But I don't believe she fought for her like she should have. The second part of Eloise's story that didn't work for me was the love triangle/"true love" aspect of it. Insta-love is not for me. It felt sooo immature on both of their parts. I was so annoyed that the guy said at the end that he never truly loved his wife and family because he was still so in love with Eloise. Just no.
I realize I was very hard on Eloise's portion of this book. I think I just had such high hopes for this book to be an emotional gut punch. Instead it left me in the anger zone. I enjoyed Valentina's portion with found family, the bookstore, and Val's little romantic journey. This book has great ratings so far so it may just be me and my personal pet peeves coming into play.
Rating 5
This story hit close to home. My mom left when I was 7 years old and I didn’t truly understand why she abandoned me until I was 24. I used to hold the same resentment and bitterness as Valentia did and I would ask the same questions. It’s not something you understand as a child but are more likely to understand as an adult. I’m not saying that makes it okay but people do have their reasons and it's important to hear their side of the story. The whole time I was reading I kept wondering if the reasons behind Eloise leaving her daughter would be justified. Due to spoilers I cannot say but I will say I understand why she did what she did.
This book was so emotional I cried when it ended. I absolutely loved both Eloise and Valentina’s characters. I definitely connected with them both and I love how their characters were written and how the story switched between both of their perspectives. Honestly, this was just a beautiful story filled with heart. A love story between a mom and a daughter finding their way back to one another. I recommend this book to everyone.
*Thank you so much @randomhouse for a ARC on #Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own*
This story hit close to home. My mom left when I was 7 years old and I didn’t truly understand why she abandoned me until I was 24. I used to hold the same resentment and bitterness as Valentia did and I would ask the same questions. It’s not something you understand as a child but are more likely to understand as an adult. I’m not saying that makes it okay but people do have their reasons and it's important to hear their side of the story. The whole time I was reading I kept wondering if the reasons behind Eloise leaving her daughter would be justified. Due to spoilers I cannot say but I will say I understand why she did what she did.
This book was so emotional I cried when it ended. I absolutely loved both Eloise and Valentina’s characters. I definitely connected with them both and I love how their characters were written and how the story switched between both of their perspectives. Honestly, this was just a beautiful story filled with heart. A love story between a mom and a daughter finding their way back to one another. I recommend this book to everyone.
*Thank you so much @randomhouse for a ARC on #Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own*
I loved all the references to books! The book started off slow for me but loved the second half.
2,5: it was a decent read, but the story building wasn't great.
I always find stories that (partially) rely on misunderstandings and people just not talking about something major going on so lazy.
Also,
I always find stories that (partially) rely on misunderstandings and people just not talking about something major going on so lazy.
Spoiler
Why does she never ask Daniel about the book annotations?Also,
Spoiler
the mother gets a redemption arch but I really think she could have gone through way more effort to get in touch with Valentina, even if it was only after she turned 18.
SO GOOD!!
Recently divorced Valentina heads to London after she finds out that she inherited a bookstore from her mother, Eloise, who abandoned her in LA when she was only 12. When Valentina gets to her mother's store in Primrose Hill, she finds a note from her mother in one of her favorite books. This note starts the beginning of a scavenger hunt, opening Valentina up to the important people from her mom's life and slowly revealing the real reason why she left all those years ago. With time, Valentina learns how much her mom really loved her and how this trip to London was just the beginning.
This book is told in two timelines from two point of views- Valentina in the present and Eloise in the past. The writing is clear, concise and easy to follow. I felt SO touched when reading this story and LOVE how everything came full circle in the end. Honestly, if you are looking for a fiction book, with a bit of romance, that will draw you in with a beautiful setting, well defined- characters, a perfectly constructed ending, I highly recommend this.
Read if you like:
-London setting
-Bookstores
-Scavenger hunts
-Love triangles
-Supportive communities
-Alternating timelines
*If you are looking for a book club read, I think this book would be perfect
Recently divorced Valentina heads to London after she finds out that she inherited a bookstore from her mother, Eloise, who abandoned her in LA when she was only 12. When Valentina gets to her mother's store in Primrose Hill, she finds a note from her mother in one of her favorite books. This note starts the beginning of a scavenger hunt, opening Valentina up to the important people from her mom's life and slowly revealing the real reason why she left all those years ago. With time, Valentina learns how much her mom really loved her and how this trip to London was just the beginning.
This book is told in two timelines from two point of views- Valentina in the present and Eloise in the past. The writing is clear, concise and easy to follow. I felt SO touched when reading this story and LOVE how everything came full circle in the end. Honestly, if you are looking for a fiction book, with a bit of romance, that will draw you in with a beautiful setting, well defined- characters, a perfectly constructed ending, I highly recommend this.
Read if you like:
-London setting
-Bookstores
-Scavenger hunts
-Love triangles
-Supportive communities
-Alternating timelines
*If you are looking for a book club read, I think this book would be perfect
Woman inherits a bookstore in London. So of course I picked it up and it.was lighthearted, mostly cheesy fluff.