With Love from London

A Novel

By: Sarah Jio

Narrated by: Gabrielle Glaister, Brittany Pressley

When a woman inherits her estranged mother’s bookstore in London’s Primrose Hill, she finds herself thrust into the pages of a new story—hers—filled with long-held family secrets, the possibility of new love, and, perhaps, the single greatest challenge of her life.

When Valentina Baker was only eleven years old, her mother, Eloise, unexpectedly fled to her native London, leaving Val and her father on their own in California. Now a librarian in her thirties, fresh out of a failed marriage and still at odds with her mother’s abandonment, Val feels disenchanted with her life.

In a bittersweet twist of fate, she receives word that Eloise has died, leaving Val the deed to her mother’s Primrose Hill apartment and the Book Garden, the storied bookshop she opened almost two decades prior. Though the news is devastating, Val jumps at the chance for a new beginning and jets across the Atlantic, hoping to learn who her mother truly was while mourning the relationship they never had.

As Val begins to piece together Eloise’s life in the U.K., she finds herself falling in love with the pastel-colored third-floor flat and the cozy, treasure-filled bookshop, soon realizing that her mother’s life was much more complicated than she ever imagined. When Val stumbles across a series of intriguing notes left in a beloved old novel, she sets out to locate the book’s mysterious former owner, though her efforts are challenged from the start, as is the Book Garden’s future. In order to save the store from financial ruin and preserve her mother’s legacy, she must rally its eccentric staff and journey deep into her mother’s secrets. With Love from London is a story about healing and loss, revealing the emotional, relatable truths about love, family, and forgiveness.

Critic reviews

“A cozy bit of escapism that will leave many readers dreaming of true love and the bookstores they might one day open.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Jio (All the Flowers in Paris) unfurls an extraordinary and heartfelt tale that will stay with readers long after the final page is turned. . . . Her masterful plotting will keep readers guessing until the end. This is sure to tug on readers’ heartstrings.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The bonds of a mother and daughter despite time, distance and circumstance

The narration alternating between mother and daughter was brilliant as were the voice actors
It was will of endearing surprises

Super cute story

Loved this Sarah Jio story. There is one thing that I’d like to mention though: as much as the narrator’s voice for Valentine was simply perfect, the narrator chosen for Eloise felt off … they made Eloise feel cold and old. Emotionless.
The voice that was used for the men also get quite strange. Overdone. A bit too much.

Charming and tasteful

The storyline kept me intrigued throughout! A good, clean novel I could recommend to a girlfriend or my mother. I want to read more from this author!

Weekend house cleaning escape

Had a weekend of house cleaning and this lovely book kept me company two days straight. Enjoyable listening ❤️

Pleasant, lovely listen

A pleasant and lovely listen to pass the time. Very charming and cozy. It won’t stay with me forever but it was a sweet companion in the moment.