So, this is a 1 star or a 5 star book for me… the storyline is great and I really enjoyed that. What I hated was the American language which was used to describe things set in London - ordering a Cobb salad as an example. It just seemed careless in what was otherwise a really good read

I love books about bookstores, books, romance and changes in the past and present. I've come to love Eloise and Valentina, hate Frank and what he did to Eloise and Valentina. The London atmosphere and the bookshop made it complete. What a great book.

A lovely book told through the eyes of Eloise meeting the love of her life in the 1960s her dream of owing her own bookshop. How life sometimes gets changed alone the way, not always for the better as she is taken to the not so wonderful world of America and then her return to her beloved London. To her daughter Val who visits the bookshop after her mothers death and the finding of a mystery treasure hunt left by her mum. Through the clues and finds, Val begins to know the person her mum was, her loves, the man who held her heart and the people who meant the world to her.

I quite enjoyed this book. I say quite because it didn't have me hooked, didn't have me wanting to read one extra chapter before turning the light out at night to go to sleep.
There was something a bit unbelievable about the whole thing really - I felt like I was reading about fictional characters rather than real characters and that's always a barrier for me when it comes to really loving a book. The story was okay but it isn't going to have me running to seek out the author's other titles.
I'd probably give it 3.5 out of 5 but since half a star isn't an option, I'll be generous and give it a four.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily.
The story is related across dual timelines, Eloise's story starting in the late 1960s, and Valentina's, her daughter, around 2013. Eloise is English and moves to America to marry and Valentina is American and moves to London after her mother's death. The love story, bookshop and scavenger hunt (known as a treasure hunt in the UK) were interesting, but the constant use of American words, phrases and spellings (such as blowout, eggplant, airplane and candy) were irritating and tiresome, especially when attributed to the English characters. There were some particular mistakes that grated: the name Advil is not used for a drug in this country, and as Prince William married Kate in 2011 and she became HRH the Duchess of Cambridge it was incorrect to refer to her as 'Kate Middleton' when the date in the book was 2013. I am approximately 10 years younger than Eloise was meant to be but I do not recall that women still wore gloves to go out to expensive restaurants in 1968, although I confirm that kettles to be heated on a hob rather than electric kettles are still available today, unlike another reviewer believes! I enjoyed the book generally but the Americanisms spoilt it for me so I have reduced my rating from 4 stars to 3.

This is an engaging story told by dual timelines which is something I always really enjoy. We follow Valentina at the end of 2013 who has flown from America to London following the death of her estranged mother where she has been left a bookshop and the flats above it. The shop is not only important to the community but also becomes a place where Valentina connects again to the mother she thought didn’t love her.
We meet Valentina’s mother, Eloise, in London 1968 where she lives with her best friend Millie and as she tells us her story we begin to learn how the decisions she makes, her regrets and love lead to her leaving Valentina when she was a child.
The novel has all the elements I love, it’s a book about books, it’s dual time line, it has romance and there is a bookshop cat! There was some distraction for me in that the British characters just didn’t feel British to me and used words we just wouldn’t use here, other than that I enjoyed this book and it has introduced me to an author I haven’t read before.
Thank you NetGalley and Orion Dash for letting me read The Bookshop on Primrose Hill.

This book is told in alternating chapters with two main characters.

We begin the story with Valentina in 2013, travelling to London after the death of her estranged mother. Her divorce is soon to be finalised and she is very much alone in the world.

In the next chapter, we’ve travelled back to 1968 and meet Eloise, Valentina’s mother and her best friend Millie.

The book continues in the way with each chapter advancing the story in their own timeline. It’s a sweet idea but bits of it really grated on me. Firstly, (and forgive me if I’ve missed this- I was skimming at the end!) WHERE were the letters going? If Eloise knew where Valentina was to send her letters then why didn’t she go over and get her? Or see her? And why tell Edward to ‘Find her’ at the end? We know Eloise sent the letters as they were returned by Frank’s sister. It seems a rather big plot hole to me. I just can’t conceive of a devoted mother like Eloise just walking away from her daughter. It didn’t ring true and therefore I struggled with the whole book. I also didn’t like the obvious ending regarding the writing in the book. They found each other naturally- they didn’t need the book too!

As other reviewers have noted, the Americanisms are also a major irritation. We don’t even have Advil here (we take ibuprofen, yes, but not that brand) so there’s no way Eloise would have a bottle (we don’t have bottles either!) behind the counter of her London shop. This book needs a lot of editing for the UK market but I’d imagine it would do well in the USA.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

I love books about bookshops & thought this book was a lovely, easy to read one. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was such a frustrating book. I loved the story but the complete lack of authenticy in language really annoyed me. The book was set in London, the characters were supposed to be English but their use of language was American. We do not have 'grade school', town cars, go for blow outs (well not to the hair dresser for one!). etc etc. This needs a really good edit! The story was lovely so the lack of attention to detail has really let this book down.

Val inherits a books shop from her estranged mother. She is left a scavenger hunt - what will she find at the end of it?

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for giving me this ebook in return for a review.

Unfortunately I really disliked this book and I ended up ‘hate reading’ it. I’m always caught by books that are set in bookshops or libraries as an obsessive bibliophile, but this one failed to charm.

The main reason it failed to grab me it was that although this book is set in London it was clear that the writer had no idea what it was like to be English and to speak British English. Why bother to set it in London at all?

The book is called “The bookshop on primrose hill” but not one of the characters call it that so it feels like false advertising! They call it a book “store” and it made me what to cry!

The Americanisms are overwhelming. Has the writer never watched a British tv programme or read a book by an English person?

Just a few examples: a person who went to ‘grade’ school; a Londoner who had ‘bangs’, walked on a ‘sidewalk’, for several ‘blocks’ and also had a ‘tea kettle’ which she used on the hob - I mean seriously? I’ve never seen a kettle that isn’t electric! The daughter complained she’d never received any communication from her mother only to be told by a British septuagenarian that her mother ‘wrote her’!! We also don’t use closets, entryways, slacks, cellphones, government assistance, or eat egg plants, candy or grilled cheese. We content ourselves with aubergines, chocolate and cheese on toast. It would be most unusual to see a FedEx man on a regular (meaning often) basis but a Parcelforce chap or your postman - yes!

I have no idea what a town car is? Is it different from a country one? Probably it’s only different in Fall, because that seems to be when the author thinks daffodils flower? We probably only have termites in zoos and definitely not in basements. And people never buy condos off real estate agents. Our estate agents are never pretend so we don’t feel the need to state their existence every time we reference them.

The thing about all of this is none of this is difficult. It is so well known that we have different words for things! And it is so careless the create a British character - or several (there’s only really one American for the majority of the book) who doesn’t speak correctly. The old adage of ‘write what you know’ seems to have bypassed this author.

There are a few massive plot holes too! The character in 1968 has to marry someone but the reason disappears yet she stays with him for another 30 years! All the while complaining how lonely she is. Her motivation is never clear. Although the author’s is pretty clear…!

Also I’m sorry but if a person gave me a large sum of money and told me to leave the country and my daughter, I’d go and collect her from school on the way to the airport and use the money to buy her a ticket!

The other thing that saddened me was the book they both went on and on about wasn’t even a real book. I get that it was a plot device but if you’re a book lover couldn’t you recommend a book you actually enjoyed?

So I’d say: if you’re British don’t bother, this book will just annoy you. If you’re American, please don’t assume you’re reading something authentic. Pick up a British book and if you’re a bit stuck on a few words or ideas, Google is a wonderful thing.

This was a lovely read. Really enjoyed the idea of hearing the mothers views and daughters! Well written and easy to follow and read.

Bittersweet and uplifting. The Bookshop on Primrose Hill will steal your heart. Everything about this story give me the shivers! READ THIS!!…

I loved the title of this book but when I started to read it I became a little unsure of it. I am so pleased that I continued to read as it was a great story line and I needed to see how it ended. This is the first time of reading this author but I will be looking for other titles that she has written. Well worth 5 stars and I recommend you read this.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

Valentina's mother Eloise walked out on her and her father and left Caledonia when Valentina was twelve years old and she never saw her again. Now with Val's marriage ending she receives word that her mother in London has passed away and left everything to Val. Everything includes two f,arts and a bookshop. Val is a librarian so anything to do with books attracts her attention and she sets off for London.
Val discovers through the tenant of one of the flats that her mum's old friend Millie rubs the bookshop.
What follows is Val's journey to find out about her mother and her life and what really happened when Val was twelve years old.
I really loved this book. I did get annoyed of what might have been if not for the selfishness of one man.
The story is not really about a bookshop but what books can mean to people and how they can bring strangers together on common ground.
Relationships feature highly in the story. Failed ones, missed ones and new ones. Val was such a lovely person even although she harbored a grudge against her mum she was also incredibly lonely having missed her for all those years.
Primrose hill was like a small village where everyone knew each other, it seemed a lovely place to live.
I think there could be another book with the same characters and the bookshop if the author feels that way too.
A great uplifting read. This is my first book by Sarah Jio but. I'll be looking up the others

This one was such a cozy and comforting story. Val is 35, freshly divorced, and gets word that her estranged mother has passed away. Her mom has left her her book store in London, so Val moves from Seattle to the UK to give a new life a go.

As she settles in and meets the people who knew her mother best, she starts to learn more about who her mom was and why she left her as a child. It takes place in the Primrose Hill neighborhood in London, which is very close to where I live, so it was really fun reading about different spots I’m familiar with here. Sarah does a great job describing the neighborhood and I loved the jumping back and forth from Val’s mother’s POV to current day. Recommend!

One thing to note: This is called ‘With Love from London’ in the US market and ‘The Bookshop on Primrose Hill’ in the UK market. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy and the chance to read this ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

I hadn't come across Sarah Jio before but was drawn in by the promise of a bookshop, intriguing mystery and a tale set in London. The book lived up to all expectations!

The story follows Valentina, recently bereaved of her estranged mother Eloise, who travels to London to not only decide on the fate of Eloise's bookshop but also to learn more about her mother and why she left so suddenly many years ago. It is a sweet story, gently told through the voices of Valentina and her mother Eloise across two time periods. Eventually we, and Valentina, can put together the pieces and resolve the mystery.

I really enjoyed meeting all of the characters, each with their own backstories, and loved the references to books, which did not feel at all contrived. There were a few times where you perhaps needed to suspend belief, which I was happy to do; it is a novel to relax into and simply enjoy the storytelling.

A lovely book which came at the right time for me, and I would recommend as an enjoyable and easy read. Will certainly look out for other books by Sarah Jio.

With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very wholesome read. Warm and tugging at the strings of your heart, this book is like the feeling of peace. Also, one of the elements used here are books and needless to say I was totally attracted to it. It is a woman's emotional journey and growth, I loved the concept of dual timelines and perspective. I'd absolutely recommend this book.

This book is really beautiful. If you love romantic books, and chicklit then this book is definitely for you. I really enjoyed it. I thought that it was really uplifting, with a wonderful storyline. The characters in the book are really wonderful and I just really loved it.

A book centred around a bookshop?! Full of characters who love books?! YES PLEASE!!! And it hasn't disappointed as I found myself swept along with all the feels in this wonderful new book that sees a woman gaining a connection to her late mother, through the world of books and community she had left behind. I Loved it!!

Valentina has been living in America for years, her mother walked out on her and her dad when she was 12, and had no contact with her since, but now she has passed and has left her daughter a property in Primrose Hill, which also contains a bookshop! Her initial thought is to go to England and put the property up for sale and move on with her life. But life has a funny way of throwing a spanner in the works, and a scavenger hunt left behind by her mother adds to the intrigue and Valentina finds herself wanting to know more about this woman who had left them so abruptly all those years ago.

The characters are so easy to connect with, and being set around a bookshop always helps! The scavenger hunt clues are a great little invention and allowed Valentina to really connect with her mother in a different way, allowing her to meet people who had become so special to her in the years before she passed. I was totally in love with the setting and the emotional journey you were taken on. Allowing her mother to share her story through the different characters in the community allowed Valentina to see the story from her mums' point of view and as the reader you also get to hear Eloise's story from her point of view, allowing us to travel back in time to see what she went through in finding love and becoming a mother. A wonderful read!!