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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. I have every book written by Sarah Jio. I have loved them all. Her creative way of taking difficult situations and making them relatable and thought provoking is so incredible. The magical settings of London are on full display. Great read.
What a fantastic book! Thanks to NetGalley, I got to read this early, in exchange for an honest opinion.
I have been waiting for a new Sarah Jio book for awhile, and I couldn’t get through this one fast enough. Love the characters, the story, everything! Can’t wait for her next one.
I have been waiting for a new Sarah Jio book for awhile, and I couldn’t get through this one fast enough. Love the characters, the story, everything! Can’t wait for her next one.
3.5 stars
The only thing I really have against this book is it's overwhelming similarity to [b:Goodnight June|18667906|Goodnight June|Sarah Jio|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1383853074l/18667906._SY75_.jpg|26493569] by the same author. I think Goodnight June is the better book.
The only thing I really have against this book is it's overwhelming similarity to [b:Goodnight June|18667906|Goodnight June|Sarah Jio|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1383853074l/18667906._SY75_.jpg|26493569] by the same author. I think Goodnight June is the better book.
I’d give this book a 4.5 star rating. It’s a beautiful story about love and lost. I love that you get the perspective of different characters in each chapter. This story really shows that the choices you make will not define you unless you let them.
emotional
hopeful
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:
No
This novel drew me in with rich imagery and intrigue and it kept me here with emotional depth and beauty. A cosy escape that makes emotions feel tangible. One of my favourite reads of 2021.
A charming dual timeline story... Valentina is hit nearly simultaneously with the death of her marriage and the death of her estranged mother. When she arrives in London to look after the bookstore bequeathed to her by her mother, she discovers that Eloise's life was more vibrant and complex than she had realized. While there is plenty of loss in this book, it's mostly glossed over in favor of daffodils and happy endings, and I didn't mind that at all.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an arc of this book. #WithLoveFromLondon
My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an arc of this book. #WithLoveFromLondon
A wonderful escape into Eloise and Valentina’s world. I adored the way the chapters were authored. The story was structured wonderful to highlight the comparisons and differences between this mother/daughter duo. Truly a great love story.
Devastated from a divorce and the news that her estranged mother has died, librarian and bookstagrammer Valentina Baker seeks answers and refuge in London's Primrose Hill. This charming locale was where her mother, Eloise, went to after leaving Val and her father. Eloise has bequeathed Val an apartment and bookstore and Val hopes that by going there, she can find out why her mother left and explore their mutual love for books.
The hallmarks of this popular romance trope are here: an emotionally fraught heroine, a delightful location perfect for spiritual rejuvenation, endearing supporting characters, and the tease of a new love healing a broken heart. Yet Jio's take on the common narrative shines by underscoring it with the emotional pathos of a woman who believes she was abandoned and her yearning to make sense of that abandonment. In short, there's complex, emotional weight threading through the romantic charm.
Val's search for the reason her mother left is not merely told through her experiences (which include a scavenger hunt prepared by her late mother). It's also explored through a dual storyline that harks back to the past to share Eloise's story. Her personality and emotional core are revealed, as is why she left her family and ended up in London. The revelation of the "reason" she left does a good job of tempering the idea that a mother would leave without taking her beloved daughter.
Two minor complaints: At times, the story gets a little too syrupy sweet and Val's search for love ends on a surprising and, to me, unfulfilling note. Still, the emotional search for answers through a fun (and, at times, book-themed!) scavenger hunt, and Eloise's vivid story mix to create a lovely addition to the romance genre.
The hallmarks of this popular romance trope are here: an emotionally fraught heroine, a delightful location perfect for spiritual rejuvenation, endearing supporting characters, and the tease of a new love healing a broken heart. Yet Jio's take on the common narrative shines by underscoring it with the emotional pathos of a woman who believes she was abandoned and her yearning to make sense of that abandonment. In short, there's complex, emotional weight threading through the romantic charm.
Val's search for the reason her mother left is not merely told through her experiences (which include a scavenger hunt prepared by her late mother). It's also explored through a dual storyline that harks back to the past to share Eloise's story. Her personality and emotional core are revealed, as is why she left her family and ended up in London. The revelation of the "reason" she left does a good job of tempering the idea that a mother would leave without taking her beloved daughter.
Two minor complaints: At times, the story gets a little too syrupy sweet and Val's search for love ends on a surprising and, to me, unfulfilling note. Still, the emotional search for answers through a fun (and, at times, book-themed!) scavenger hunt, and Eloise's vivid story mix to create a lovely addition to the romance genre.
I loved this book! It was a delightful, easy read that just flew by - a perfect summer read.