With Love from London by Sarah Jio Genres: Contemporary Women, Family & Relationships
Published by Ballantine Books Publication Date: February 8, 2022
Pages: 381
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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.
I love when a book surprises me. With Love from London did just that. Told in alternating POVs between present-day Valentina and past Eloise, we see how this mother/daughter duo deal with life-altering changes in their lives, ultimately discovering they are not so different after all.
When I started this book, I was so very envious of Valentina. Not the horrible circumstances that brought her to London, but having the opportunity to start over in a city that I personally love. But as Sarah Jio’s story unfolded, I fell in love with all the characters and this beautiful story about family and forgiveness. I could relate to Valentina and was sheering for her to grow roots in her mother’s old neighborhood. She seemed like a lonely sort and Millie, Liz, Eric and the rest of the neighborhood were quick to embrace Valentina and give her the family she needed. For Valentina, I didn’t need her to get a HEA with a new romance, I needed her to find happiness with people who would always support her. She found that at the Book Garden and grasped onto it tightly.
On the flip side, her mother’s story broke my heart. Eloise had dreams and she settled when she thought she couldn’t have what she wanted. Before Valentina, she was lonely and longed to belong to someone more than just a trophy wife. She found that for a while with Valentina, but then that was ripped away and Eloise was forced to find her family somewhere else. The Book Garden and Millie brought that to her, but there was two very big parts of her heart missing.
The only question that remained for me is why Frank did what he did. It didn’t make a lot of sense at the time, other than he was a bit paranoid, but then he left LA which was even more curious. Did he purposefully push Eloise away? If so, why (because it didn’t seem like he was doing it for Eloise’s benefit).
This was a delightful book that is a perfect weekend read. It’s definitely a re-read type of book and I suspect I’ll read this several more times.
Shannon
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