Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
DNF, I had a hard time with one of the storylines. I just didn't see how I'd ever be able to like that character based on her decisions so I stopped reading about 30-40% through.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was feeling frustrated about this book through the first 200 or so pages. The storyline goes back and forth between present day - a young woman arriving in London to deal with her deceased mother's estate. And 1968 through to the early 1990s - the deceased mother's story. What frustrated me was the mother moved back to London when her daughter was 12 and was never in contact again. And in the present day when the daughter expressed her anger and sadness about this abandonment to her mother's friends in London they all vaguely and cryptically would say there was more to the story. It was not until the last 100 pages that things made sense. I should have believed there was more to the story. But I had a hard time getting past this radio silence from the mother and thus had a hard time enjoying the book.
Overall it's a good story. Has a mostly happily ever after which is also bittersweet because, of course, the mother is dead. There's definitely some trauma that I think the daughter has to work through but they don't show that part of the story. As much as I enjoyed the book, that traumatic turn of events made it hard to believe how it all resolved so neatly.
Overall it's a good story. Has a mostly happily ever after which is also bittersweet because, of course, the mother is dead. There's definitely some trauma that I think the daughter has to work through but they don't show that part of the story. As much as I enjoyed the book, that traumatic turn of events made it hard to believe how it all resolved so neatly.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I found this to be a cozy read. It was beautifully written and I love how I, as a reader, got to know the characters more and more as I continued to read!
One thing I did note and did not enjoy was that there were a few ”pick-me” moments where the maincharacter would talk down to other women for having other interests. This particular woman did not like to read and was instead very interested in interior design, which is fine as we all do have different interests but the maincharacter just kept thinking of her in a very negative way.
The lovestory was a bit predictable but I still enjoyed it! But I was saddened by the ending, you know at the beginning how the story ends but it was still heartbreaking to read that part.
One thing I did note and did not enjoy was that there were a few ”pick-me” moments where the maincharacter would talk down to other women for having other interests. This particular woman did not like to read and was instead very interested in interior design, which is fine as we all do have different interests but the maincharacter just kept thinking of her in a very negative way.
The lovestory was a bit predictable but I still enjoyed it! But I was saddened by the ending, you know at the beginning how the story ends but it was still heartbreaking to read that part.
This book was solidly mediocre. The plot was fairly compelling but there were too many irritating things that just didn’t make sense and really bugged me.
For instance - Eloise didn’t have access to the internet at all when Valentina was 18-35? Once her daughter was an adult, the family court stuff didn’t apply - and meanwhile, what kind of turncoat was Bonnie to not smuggle one letter to Valentina?! Eloise or Bonnie or even Millie couldn’t have gone through Frank’s sister to try and talk to Eloise’s own daughter? Frank’s extreme paranoia that led to this insane reaction also felt like it came out of nowhere. But to be fair, this turn of events is coming on the heels of the 9 years where she and Frank don’t speak, sleep in separate bedrooms, and then one night conceive a child like magic. I just found it all so unrealistic and frustrating. Maybe the timeline was wrong? But those 10 years were weird. And the love story with Edward was also weird - you have a one day infatuation that lasts your whole life? Ugh. Grow up!
Anyway I was loving Valentina’s half of the story until the tenses got super sloppy and then the same quick plot fixes started coming in - need to get rid of Daniel? He’s conveniently moving to India out of nowhere! Need Eric to be single for Valentina? His girlfriend who everyone thinks he’s good with, except Valentina, breaks up with him out of nowhere!
Finally, justice for Millie. Okay, she’s “tall” which makes her awkward? This woman devoted her entire life to her best friend, and the one crush she had was on a man who was “obsessed” with Eloise. Smh.
For instance - Eloise didn’t have access to the internet at all when Valentina was 18-35? Once her daughter was an adult, the family court stuff didn’t apply - and meanwhile, what kind of turncoat was Bonnie to not smuggle one letter to Valentina?! Eloise or Bonnie or even Millie couldn’t have gone through Frank’s sister to try and talk to Eloise’s own daughter? Frank’s extreme paranoia that led to this insane reaction also felt like it came out of nowhere. But to be fair, this turn of events is coming on the heels of the 9 years where she and Frank don’t speak, sleep in separate bedrooms, and then one night conceive a child like magic. I just found it all so unrealistic and frustrating. Maybe the timeline was wrong? But those 10 years were weird. And the love story with Edward was also weird - you have a one day infatuation that lasts your whole life? Ugh. Grow up!
Anyway I was loving Valentina’s half of the story until the tenses got super sloppy and then the same quick plot fixes started coming in - need to get rid of Daniel? He’s conveniently moving to India out of nowhere! Need Eric to be single for Valentina? His girlfriend who everyone thinks he’s good with, except Valentina, breaks up with him out of nowhere!
Finally, justice for Millie. Okay, she’s “tall” which makes her awkward? This woman devoted her entire life to her best friend, and the one crush she had was on a man who was “obsessed” with Eloise. Smh.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine for the chance to read With Love from London and share my review voluntarily.
Valentina a is recently divorced librarian and book-instagrammer living in Seattle when she learns that her estranged mother has passed and left her a bookstore and flat in London. Valentina travels to London and begins to learn the truth about her mother’s move that felt like abandonment. Valentina meets friends and finds her calling in this heartfelt tale of missed opportunities and lost loves.
I loved this story. It took me 3 chapters to feel fully needed engrossed in what had happened and why. As I read I developed a sense of foreboding for both Valentina and Eloise. I loved the dual pov of Mother and Daughter told decades apart. I also loved the similarities and points of empathy build through the use of story telling.
I thought that the romances seemed a bit far fetched and it relied heavily on the love at first site trope for Eloise and Edward. I also wished we could have had more insight into Frank’s wide swing.
I loved the way the friendship and eventual epiphany with Valentina was covered. The theme of identity was strong and well examined.
Pick this up if you’re looking for a love story between mother and daughter and to build a deeper appreciation for the strength and sacrifices motherhood demands.
Valentina a is recently divorced librarian and book-instagrammer living in Seattle when she learns that her estranged mother has passed and left her a bookstore and flat in London. Valentina travels to London and begins to learn the truth about her mother’s move that felt like abandonment. Valentina meets friends and finds her calling in this heartfelt tale of missed opportunities and lost loves.
I loved this story. It took me 3 chapters to feel fully needed engrossed in what had happened and why. As I read I developed a sense of foreboding for both Valentina and Eloise. I loved the dual pov of Mother and Daughter told decades apart. I also loved the similarities and points of empathy build through the use of story telling.
I thought that the romances seemed a bit far fetched and it relied heavily on the love at first site trope for Eloise and Edward. I also wished we could have had more insight into Frank’s wide swing.
I loved the way the friendship and eventual epiphany with Valentina was covered. The theme of identity was strong and well examined.
Pick this up if you’re looking for a love story between mother and daughter and to build a deeper appreciation for the strength and sacrifices motherhood demands.
Valentina finds herself newly divorced and learns that her estranged mother has passed away. She travels to London to follow up on her inheritance from her mother, a bookstore in the Primrose Hill neighborhood of London. As she embarks in the scavenger hunt that her mother, Eloise, has set up for her, she meets important people from her mother’s life in London. In 2 timelines, Eloise’s past and Valentina’s present are revealed. This was another excellent book by Sarah Jio. Especially perfect for the book lover and London loving reader .
I received an ARC via NetGalley.
I received an ARC via NetGalley.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Val is a librarian in Seattle who hasn't heard from her mother since she was 12 years old. When her mother passes away and leaves her bookstore to Val, she heads to London to settle her mother's affairs. While there she meets her mom's best friend Millie, and falls in love with her mom's bookstore. Sadly, she also finds out that the inheritance tax is going to force her to sell the building. As Val works to discover who Eloise really was and why she left, she must also work to save the bookshop.
Told in two different timelines, Eloise beginning in 1968 and her daughter, Valentina, in present day, this story is entertaining and interesting and so much deeper than what I expected. Highly recommended!
Told in two different timelines, Eloise beginning in 1968 and her daughter, Valentina, in present day, this story is entertaining and interesting and so much deeper than what I expected. Highly recommended!