Happy Release Day!!
Congrats Sarah
on the release today of
With Love from London!!
With Love from London by Sarah Jio
Contemporary, Women's Saga, 240 pages
Published February 8, 2022 by Ballantine Books
A librarian inherits a bookshop from her estranged mother, leading her halfway across the world on a journey of self-discovery that transcends time and honors the unbreakable bonds of love and family.
When librarian Valentina Baker was a teenager, her mother, Eloise, unexpectedly fled to her native London, leaving Val and her father on their own. Now in her thirties and fresh out of a failed marriage, Val feels a nagging disenchantment with her life--and knows she is still heartbroken over her mother's abandonment.
In a bittersweet twist of fate, Val receives word that Eloise has passed away, leaving Val her Primrose Hill apartment and the deed to a bookshop Val never knew she'd owned. Though the news is devastating, Val finds herself more determined than ever to discover who her mother truly was. She jets across the Atlantic, departing Seattle for a new life in charming London.
Slowly but surely, Val begins to piece together Eloise's life in the UK, falling in love with her pastel-colored flat, cozy neighborhood, and tucked-away storefront. But when she discovers that The Book Garden is in danger of going under, Val must work with its eccentric staff to get it in working order. In the process, she learns more about Eloise than she ever thought possible. And as Val races to save the shop, Eloise's own story unfolds, leading both mother and daughter to unearth revelatory truths.
My thoughts about With Love from London ~~
(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)
First lines—"'There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.' says the stranger sitting next to me on the airplane—a sixty-something woman with feathered bangs and a hair tie clinging so tightly on her left wrist that I've spent most of the flight worried it might turn into a medical emergency."
I have read and loved every single one of Sarah Jio's books. I have been a huge fan ever since her very first book and am always so excited when she has a new one out. Each and every one of them is a form of escape for me, with her wonderful settings and characters that I come to love.
Well, With Love from London has now captured a special place in my book-loving heart, with a librarian as the main character and the setting, a bookstore in London. Sigh!
I loved experiencing a new life right along with Valentina, as she learns about her mom's past and why she abandoned her daughter all those years ago. The route to her discoveries was all part of the fun, as Val comes to know and love all of her mom's somewhat eccentric friends.
I'm not usually a re-reader of books, but this one just may be one that I savor again. There is just so much to love about it and I can't wait to enjoy it again. I highly recommend With Love from London, especially if you are a book-lover like me.
I received a copy of With Love from London via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion of the book.
About the author
Sarah Jio is the New York Times bestselling author of WITH LOVE FROM LONDON, coming from Random House (Ballantine) 2/22, as well as seven other novels from Random House and Penguin Books, including, ALWAYS, ALL THE FLOWERS IN PARIS, THE VIOLETS OF MARCH, THE BUNGALOW, BLACKBERRY WINTER, THE LAST CAMELLIA, MORNING GLORY, GOODNIGHT JUNE, and THE LOOK OF LOVE.
Sarah is a journalist who has contributed to The New York Times, Glamour, O, The Oprah Magazine, Glamour, SELF, Real Simple, Fitness, Marie Claire, and many others. She has appeared as a commentator on NPR’s Morning Edition. Her novels are translated into more than 25 languages.
Sarah lives in Seattle with her husband, three boys, three step-children and two puppies. ~ Goodreads
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