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Love Walked In
A sunshiny American bookstore whisperer clashes with the grumpy British owner of the shop she’s trying to save in this winning opposites-attract romance for book lovers.
He has a struggling bookshop. She has a knack for bringing bookstores back to life. As soon as she walks into his store, all bets are off…
Mari Cole’s whole life is her dream job: rescuing and revitalizing indie bookstores. Friendship? Love? No thanks. After a hard childhood, she doesn’t want to get too close to anyone. Besides, books have never let Mari down the way people have. Then she gets the offer of a lifetime: rescuing Ross & Co. Once the most prestigious independent booksellers in London, the store is a shadow of its former self and needs an expert outsider to turn things around. But the offer turns out to be a double-edged sword: Leo Ross, the store's new owner, is as cold and hostile as the British winter.
For as long as he can remember, Leo Ross has known his future is becoming the next generation to run Ross and Co. He’s sacrificed almost everything he cares about, but the bookshop is still failing on his watch, and now there's an obnoxiously cheerful American woman convinced that she's going to magically make everything better. Leo’s life is difficult and messy enough as it is, and he doesn’t want her help.
When Mari and Leo are forced to work closely together to bring the store back to life, Leo's icy surface thaws to reveal the passionate man underneath. As winter gives way to the possibility of new beginnings, Mari begins to see that true love could be even better in real life than in the pages of a book. Can they put their pasts aside and learn to let love in?
He has a struggling bookshop. She has a knack for bringing bookstores back to life. As soon as she walks into his store, all bets are off…
Mari Cole’s whole life is her dream job: rescuing and revitalizing indie bookstores. Friendship? Love? No thanks. After a hard childhood, she doesn’t want to get too close to anyone. Besides, books have never let Mari down the way people have. Then she gets the offer of a lifetime: rescuing Ross & Co. Once the most prestigious independent booksellers in London, the store is a shadow of its former self and needs an expert outsider to turn things around. But the offer turns out to be a double-edged sword: Leo Ross, the store's new owner, is as cold and hostile as the British winter.
For as long as he can remember, Leo Ross has known his future is becoming the next generation to run Ross and Co. He’s sacrificed almost everything he cares about, but the bookshop is still failing on his watch, and now there's an obnoxiously cheerful American woman convinced that she's going to magically make everything better. Leo’s life is difficult and messy enough as it is, and he doesn’t want her help.
When Mari and Leo are forced to work closely together to bring the store back to life, Leo's icy surface thaws to reveal the passionate man underneath. As winter gives way to the possibility of new beginnings, Mari begins to see that true love could be even better in real life than in the pages of a book. Can they put their pasts aside and learn to let love in?
352 pages, Paperback
First published September 2, 2025
36 people are currently reading
18039 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 301 reviews
June 22, 2025
This was a good whimsically contemporary novel. It made me feel lighthearted, hopeful, emotional and reflective. I also found parts of this book to be very cozy. One of my favorite things in this book is that the setting was in a bookshop. The setting came with vivid imagery, which I absolutely loved. This is a medium paced read that comes with a grumpy and sunshine trope. It had lovable characters and a clear thesis. I did feel a connection with the character Mari. What surprised me about the book is that it contained strong emotional depth. It’s not just about love and happiness, it is also about trust and healing. I love that this came with dual points of views, it gave me more insight into what the characters were thinking and feeling. However, I did want to feel more chemistry between them. I did in fact enjoy the entire storyline and ending. Overall, I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars rating!
“Love Walked In” centers around two main characters, whose names are Mari and Leo. Leo is a male British owner of a bookshop, that is ultimately going downhill. Mari is an American woman who has a dream job of bringing indie bookshops back to life. Leo and Mari end up working closely together and feelings between them begins to develop. As the story unravels, we learn more about Mari and Leo and if there really is a happily ever after ending.
I think fans of enemies to lovers who are forced to work in a bookshop together, would really enjoy reading this! Content warnings include death of a parent, abandonment, an eating disorder, infidelity and emotional abuse.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Sarah Chamberlain and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for this electronic arc of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on September 2, 2025!
“Love Walked In” centers around two main characters, whose names are Mari and Leo. Leo is a male British owner of a bookshop, that is ultimately going downhill. Mari is an American woman who has a dream job of bringing indie bookshops back to life. Leo and Mari end up working closely together and feelings between them begins to develop. As the story unravels, we learn more about Mari and Leo and if there really is a happily ever after ending.
I think fans of enemies to lovers who are forced to work in a bookshop together, would really enjoy reading this! Content warnings include death of a parent, abandonment, an eating disorder, infidelity and emotional abuse.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Sarah Chamberlain and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for this electronic arc of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on September 2, 2025!
September 4, 2025
3 Stars
One Liner: Has its moments
Mari Cole’s life ambition is to revive indie bookstores. After having a hard childhood, she doesn’t want to get too close to anyone. When she gets an offer to help the once-famous Ross & Co bookstores in London, Mari is happy to take up the offer.
Leo Ross doesn’t want anyone to mess with his bookstore. Running the family shop had been his dream forever, and he wasn’t going to let an American tell him what to do, even if the store was failing.
Can Leo and Mari put their differences aside to save the bookstores? Maybe this could give them more than what they wanted!
The story comes in the first-person POVs of Mari and Leo.
My Thoughts:
Looks like I’m not having much luck with bookstore-based books, though this was quite better than the previous one I read.
The London setting, the bookstore, and related details were well done. I think the bits about the differences between American living and London living (language, food, weather, people, etc.) are quite well done. Don’t take my word for it, though. I’m neither, so mine is a third-party experience.
The MMC was a proper grump and very rude (annoyed me in one scene) until he wasn’t. His vulnerabilities made me endearing, even if the inner monologue got a bit too much. The same for the FMC. She was supposed to be sunshine, and in some instances, she was. However, I think it had more to do with her colourful clothes than her personality. She wasn’t a sunshine from inside. This aligns with her backstory, so I can’t complain. It’s a façade.
There’s a sort of subplot which I guessed right away (I read in some reviews that it came as a surprise and was unexpected, but it wasn’t, at least not to me. There were enough hints for it). Still, I wish the track was better integrated into the plot.
The romance went from enemies to insta-lust. There were a few sweet scenes, but I couldn’t fully root for them. Maybe coz the scenes that needed space were sped up, while a few other scenes were a bit too detailed.
But… there’s an epilogue, so okay! I like it when the story rounds up nicely.
To summarize, Love Walked In is a cozy read, with some heavy themes like parental abandonment, death of loved ones, etc. It has some lovely moments and should make a decent read.
Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
One Liner: Has its moments
Mari Cole’s life ambition is to revive indie bookstores. After having a hard childhood, she doesn’t want to get too close to anyone. When she gets an offer to help the once-famous Ross & Co bookstores in London, Mari is happy to take up the offer.
Leo Ross doesn’t want anyone to mess with his bookstore. Running the family shop had been his dream forever, and he wasn’t going to let an American tell him what to do, even if the store was failing.
Can Leo and Mari put their differences aside to save the bookstores? Maybe this could give them more than what they wanted!
The story comes in the first-person POVs of Mari and Leo.
My Thoughts:
Looks like I’m not having much luck with bookstore-based books, though this was quite better than the previous one I read.
The London setting, the bookstore, and related details were well done. I think the bits about the differences between American living and London living (language, food, weather, people, etc.) are quite well done. Don’t take my word for it, though. I’m neither, so mine is a third-party experience.
The MMC was a proper grump and very rude (annoyed me in one scene) until he wasn’t. His vulnerabilities made me endearing, even if the inner monologue got a bit too much. The same for the FMC. She was supposed to be sunshine, and in some instances, she was. However, I think it had more to do with her colourful clothes than her personality. She wasn’t a sunshine from inside. This aligns with her backstory, so I can’t complain. It’s a façade.
There’s a sort of subplot which I guessed right away (I read in some reviews that it came as a surprise and was unexpected, but it wasn’t, at least not to me. There were enough hints for it). Still, I wish the track was better integrated into the plot.
The romance went from enemies to insta-lust. There were a few sweet scenes, but I couldn’t fully root for them. Maybe coz the scenes that needed space were sped up, while a few other scenes were a bit too detailed.
But… there’s an epilogue, so okay! I like it when the story rounds up nicely.
To summarize, Love Walked In is a cozy read, with some heavy themes like parental abandonment, death of loved ones, etc. It has some lovely moments and should make a decent read.
Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
November 26, 2025
This book was everything I hoped it would be and more. It’s not only a love story between two people but also a beautiful love letter to indie bookstores.
Mari, the “book whisperer,” absolutely stole my heart. I adored her passion for rescuing and restoring independent bookstores, breathing fresh life into them when the world of online giants like Amazon has made them feel unnecessary. The way this book emphasized how indie stores serve as a refuge—a place where communities come together, share stories, and truly connect—was one of my favorite parts of the story.
Then there’s Leo, the grumpy, closed-off British bookstore owner who’s been carrying the weight of grief since his grandfather’s death. At first, he’s stubborn, bitter, and resistant to Mari’s sunshine energy, but watching her slowly chip away at his walls was perfection. The slow-burn tension between them was immaculate. I felt every spark, every stolen glance, and every moment of vulnerability as they slowly realized their feelings for one another. And when the spice finally arrived? Wow. It was way spicier than I expected, but in the best way. It never took over the plot, but added just the right amount of heat to their already electric connection.
What really made this story shine, though, was the healing woven into it. Both Mari and Leo had their own walls to tear down, and the way they helped each other grow felt so genuine and tender. I loved how it showed that even as adults, it’s okay to not have everything figured out yet. Sometimes we need to take a step back, let go of what no longer serves us, and give ourselves permission to pursue the things that truly bring us joy. Leo’s journey, especially, was incredibly moving—learning to stop living for others’ expectations and finally choose happiness for himself.
The family themes also hit hard. The book showed how apologies don’t always erase old wounds right away, and that healing family relationships takes time, patience, and love. It was raw, emotional, and beautifully written.
And let me just say, the plot twist near the end? I thought I had it figured out early on, but I was so wrapped up in the story that I completely forgot about it. When it came back around, I was floored. Such a well-executed surprise.
Overall, this story was heartfelt, healing, swoony, and surprisingly spicy. It captured the beauty of second chances, the strength it takes to tear down walls, and the joy of finding someone who sees you for who you truly are. And that sometimes life changes in the most unexpected ways, and everything feels brighter the moment love walks in.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
”You know what it's like when you see a rainbow?"
“Yeah?”
“Like everyone stops to look at it, to appreciate it, because you can't help but take in all those colors? That's what it's been like, having you at the shop. You walk into a room and everything gets more vivid, and people can't help but feel…. joyful."
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
📚 grumpy x sunshine
📚 slow burn
📚 second chance
📚 bookstore/bookish romance
📚 enemies-to-friends-to-lovers (mild)
📚 family & forgiveness
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
A huge thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sarah Chamberlain for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
This book will be published on September 1st, 2025!
Mari, the “book whisperer,” absolutely stole my heart. I adored her passion for rescuing and restoring independent bookstores, breathing fresh life into them when the world of online giants like Amazon has made them feel unnecessary. The way this book emphasized how indie stores serve as a refuge—a place where communities come together, share stories, and truly connect—was one of my favorite parts of the story.
Then there’s Leo, the grumpy, closed-off British bookstore owner who’s been carrying the weight of grief since his grandfather’s death. At first, he’s stubborn, bitter, and resistant to Mari’s sunshine energy, but watching her slowly chip away at his walls was perfection. The slow-burn tension between them was immaculate. I felt every spark, every stolen glance, and every moment of vulnerability as they slowly realized their feelings for one another. And when the spice finally arrived? Wow. It was way spicier than I expected, but in the best way. It never took over the plot, but added just the right amount of heat to their already electric connection.
What really made this story shine, though, was the healing woven into it. Both Mari and Leo had their own walls to tear down, and the way they helped each other grow felt so genuine and tender. I loved how it showed that even as adults, it’s okay to not have everything figured out yet. Sometimes we need to take a step back, let go of what no longer serves us, and give ourselves permission to pursue the things that truly bring us joy. Leo’s journey, especially, was incredibly moving—learning to stop living for others’ expectations and finally choose happiness for himself.
The family themes also hit hard. The book showed how apologies don’t always erase old wounds right away, and that healing family relationships takes time, patience, and love. It was raw, emotional, and beautifully written.
And let me just say, the plot twist near the end? I thought I had it figured out early on, but I was so wrapped up in the story that I completely forgot about it. When it came back around, I was floored. Such a well-executed surprise.
Overall, this story was heartfelt, healing, swoony, and surprisingly spicy. It captured the beauty of second chances, the strength it takes to tear down walls, and the joy of finding someone who sees you for who you truly are. And that sometimes life changes in the most unexpected ways, and everything feels brighter the moment love walks in.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
”You know what it's like when you see a rainbow?"
“Yeah?”
“Like everyone stops to look at it, to appreciate it, because you can't help but take in all those colors? That's what it's been like, having you at the shop. You walk into a room and everything gets more vivid, and people can't help but feel…. joyful."
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
📚 grumpy x sunshine
📚 slow burn
📚 second chance
📚 bookstore/bookish romance
📚 enemies-to-friends-to-lovers (mild)
📚 family & forgiveness
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
A huge thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sarah Chamberlain for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
This book will be published on September 1st, 2025!
August 30, 2025
3.75 / 5 Stars
I think this book had a ton of great elements and a few that were a harder sell for me but all around, it was a good read! In “Love Walked In,” Mari is a bookstore fixer upper – she takes failing bookstores and gets them back into the green with some TLC. And she is great at her job because she is all business, no relationships ever since she was made to feel like a burden by her step father after her mother passed and had a girlfriend who cheated on her, lied to her, and gaslit her (the holy trinity of bad behavior). Leo feels like failure with his divorce, grandfather’s recent death, and their failing family-owned bookstore, but asking for help would be admitting he’s failing. When Mari walks into Leo’s bookstore in London trying to help, they butt heads immediately and intensely. But as they work together and start to see each other’s wounds, they realize that maybe they could be something more for each other.
You will probably like this book if you like:
💛 Grumpy British MMC x Sunshine American FMC
💙 Dislike to love
💛 He takes care of her when she’s sick
💙 Culture clash
💛 Bisexual FMC
💙 She walks him through it
💛 Complicated family dynamics
💙 Found family
💛 Discussions of grief
I thought that Mari and Leo’s backstories were really well-written. They both felt that they were not enough but ended up being two puzzle pieces that fit together really well. Mari is a sensitive soul who has been hardened by life and uses cheery, confident armor to hide her pain. Leo is a people pleaser who has never had to figure out what he wants because it has always been decided for him and being grumpy means he can avoid having to form relationships and potentially disappoint people. They were complex and nuanced with big and small traumas making them who they are.
The side characters were also really great. Graham and Catriona were fun additions to the bookstore. Judith, Leo’s grandma, was wise and fun. Leo’s teenage sisters were great. I loved the discussion of Leo’s Jewish heritage. The storyline of Mari discovering her biological dad felt a little bit like too much of a coincidence but I am glad that she got a great found family through it.
Parts of this book did require you to get past some bad first impressions. For example, in the first 20% of the book, Mari and Leo really disliked each other in a particularly intense way. He aggressively told her not to talk to customers (because apparently British people don’t like American customer service?), she retaliated by packing up all of the old books that need to be returned, which would be okay but those were his recently deceased grandfather’s old books, so he told her to “fuck off.” It’s not great all around. If any more of the book had been them emotionally and spiritually incinerating each other, I would have had to DNF it. BUT, they came to their senses and started to become friends and that was so much more fun to read. Same with the first spicy scene - it was super awkward, but if you keep reading, you find out why it’s awkward and how they fix that. Not everything is as it appears so don’t let first impressions fool you in this book.
I just struggle, almost on a philosophical level, with characters who are commitment phobes. It 100% made sense that Mari would keep everyone at arm’s length because of her background, but I find that it is a hard sell, both story wise and pacing wise, to believe realistic change can happen with this type of character within the span of the book. Mari has avoided relationships for many, many years (decades even) and I am supposed to buy that she can change just because of Leo? And if she can, how long would it take? Luckily, this book made it clear that it wouldn’t be an easy change, that she was in therapy, and there would be regressions with her pushing him away, but much of that growth happened off page. Am I glad that I didn’t have to read more back and forth of her avoidant attachment style? Yes. But did it feel slightly like a cop out to have it happen off page? Also yes. Do I now feel like someone in a group project who keeps pointing out issues without offering solutions? Even more yes, but it is just a tough trope to do well on page, I think. If this trope is not something you struggle buying into, then you will love this book. There is a lot of good here (minus them calling each other “lover” which made me want to crawl into a hole).
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: September 2, 2025
__________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I don't know what was in the water when I was requesting ARCs but apparently I said, "give me all of the romances set in crumbling bookstores in the UK, please!" What a truly insane coincidence. 😂
All of that being said, I have heard great things about Sarah Chamberlain so I have some high hopes for this one.
I think this book had a ton of great elements and a few that were a harder sell for me but all around, it was a good read! In “Love Walked In,” Mari is a bookstore fixer upper – she takes failing bookstores and gets them back into the green with some TLC. And she is great at her job because she is all business, no relationships ever since she was made to feel like a burden by her step father after her mother passed and had a girlfriend who cheated on her, lied to her, and gaslit her (the holy trinity of bad behavior). Leo feels like failure with his divorce, grandfather’s recent death, and their failing family-owned bookstore, but asking for help would be admitting he’s failing. When Mari walks into Leo’s bookstore in London trying to help, they butt heads immediately and intensely. But as they work together and start to see each other’s wounds, they realize that maybe they could be something more for each other.
You will probably like this book if you like:
💛 Grumpy British MMC x Sunshine American FMC
💙 Dislike to love
💛 He takes care of her when she’s sick
💙 Culture clash
💛 Bisexual FMC
💙 She walks him through it
💛 Complicated family dynamics
💙 Found family
💛 Discussions of grief
I thought that Mari and Leo’s backstories were really well-written. They both felt that they were not enough but ended up being two puzzle pieces that fit together really well. Mari is a sensitive soul who has been hardened by life and uses cheery, confident armor to hide her pain. Leo is a people pleaser who has never had to figure out what he wants because it has always been decided for him and being grumpy means he can avoid having to form relationships and potentially disappoint people. They were complex and nuanced with big and small traumas making them who they are.
The side characters were also really great. Graham and Catriona were fun additions to the bookstore. Judith, Leo’s grandma, was wise and fun. Leo’s teenage sisters were great. I loved the discussion of Leo’s Jewish heritage. The storyline of Mari discovering her biological dad felt a little bit like too much of a coincidence but I am glad that she got a great found family through it.
Parts of this book did require you to get past some bad first impressions. For example, in the first 20% of the book, Mari and Leo really disliked each other in a particularly intense way. He aggressively told her not to talk to customers (because apparently British people don’t like American customer service?), she retaliated by packing up all of the old books that need to be returned, which would be okay but those were his recently deceased grandfather’s old books, so he told her to “fuck off.” It’s not great all around. If any more of the book had been them emotionally and spiritually incinerating each other, I would have had to DNF it. BUT, they came to their senses and started to become friends and that was so much more fun to read. Same with the first spicy scene - it was super awkward, but if you keep reading, you find out why it’s awkward and how they fix that. Not everything is as it appears so don’t let first impressions fool you in this book.
I just struggle, almost on a philosophical level, with characters who are commitment phobes. It 100% made sense that Mari would keep everyone at arm’s length because of her background, but I find that it is a hard sell, both story wise and pacing wise, to believe realistic change can happen with this type of character within the span of the book. Mari has avoided relationships for many, many years (decades even) and I am supposed to buy that she can change just because of Leo? And if she can, how long would it take? Luckily, this book made it clear that it wouldn’t be an easy change, that she was in therapy, and there would be regressions with her pushing him away, but much of that growth happened off page. Am I glad that I didn’t have to read more back and forth of her avoidant attachment style? Yes. But did it feel slightly like a cop out to have it happen off page? Also yes. Do I now feel like someone in a group project who keeps pointing out issues without offering solutions? Even more yes, but it is just a tough trope to do well on page, I think. If this trope is not something you struggle buying into, then you will love this book. There is a lot of good here (minus them calling each other “lover” which made me want to crawl into a hole).
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: September 2, 2025
__________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I don't know what was in the water when I was requesting ARCs but apparently I said, "give me all of the romances set in crumbling bookstores in the UK, please!" What a truly insane coincidence. 😂
All of that being said, I have heard great things about Sarah Chamberlain so I have some high hopes for this one.
September 4, 2025
brb packing my bags and moving to london!!!
this book was so tender. mari relocated to london to help leo’s struggling bookstore and he is NOT happy about it. the tension between these two from the jump was delicious. and when he falls first??? the sick/caring scene had me so giddy. he was truly on his knees for her and I loved.
there’s also an element of abandonment and family drama that may have gotten me teary. this book was unexpectedly emotional and I loved the way everything played out.
Thank you so much you had me at HEA and SMP for the gifted copy! It’s out now.
this book was so tender. mari relocated to london to help leo’s struggling bookstore and he is NOT happy about it. the tension between these two from the jump was delicious. and when he falls first??? the sick/caring scene had me so giddy. he was truly on his knees for her and I loved.
there’s also an element of abandonment and family drama that may have gotten me teary. this book was unexpectedly emotional and I loved the way everything played out.
Thank you so much you had me at HEA and SMP for the gifted copy! It’s out now.
October 13, 2025
✰ 3 stars ✰
'In case you missed it, Love Walked In is a book-length love letter to indie bookstores.' So said the author... ... ... Are you serious? Did I miss something here?? 🙎🏻♀️ Why did I not get that impression? Oh I know. 💡 Maybe because only the first quarter of the book did Leo and Mari remotely spend any time discussing Ross and Co., let alone be in the store. 🤦🏻♀️
“... your past made you just as much as mine made me.”
It took a back seat entirely so that the the rest of the plot could devote itself to saving the ship to hashing out their only family drama llama and how it shaped them into who they were, despite how the attraction simmered intensely after their most unpleasant first meeting, and to let the past go and stop holding onto it. 😮💨 How many times did saving the bookstore even cross Mari's mind (Leo, I understand when he was already plotting otherwise), when love and family was piling on her at the most alarming rate!
And considering what actually happened to the Ross business, the secrets Judith divulged regarding Alexander, the grandfather Leo put on a pedestal, so that it could shatter the illusion of him, the way we breeze through the preparations of a book festival which we only ever hear in passing and then suddenly it's upon us, with no real descriptive details into it, does not strike much confidence as a strong example of a love letter to indie bookstores. 🙅🏻♀️ And oh, a few mentions of some authors here and there, does not classify it as a book about books.
*exhale*
I have a big bone to pick with the supporting cast. I can't believe the author had them behave the way that they did and it was all brushed under the rug, because the ends justify the means. in what world does one not allow to be petty or at least express their grievances over their actions. 🤨
“What were the keys that would unlock those doors?”
Leo's ex who actually cheated on him and still believed that it was okay, because they were not right for each other, and that they could still be friends, because they were always friends.
Vinny and his underhanded backstabbing approach that he was only thinking about himself and we don't even get to see how long that cold shoulder lasted. that one line of stiff heartbreak was not enough for me.
Graham's ebullient golden boy tactics does not give him the right to go behind Mari's back and do his own private digging?? Did anyone ask him to?? Without her consent??? to someone you just met, regardless of your own theories???
Mari's parents, her atrocious, maybe slightly over the top step-family, Judith's preferred silence, the disconcerting fact that David was eighteen when Alexander married twenty-four-year-old Judith, which makes me surmise that he was eighteen, at closest when he had David, something I can't quite wrap my head around the math. 😒 I can't believe Leo and Mari even survived to be some semblance of normal, compared to what they've had to grow up with.
*double exhale*
“You’ve made me so happy. I’ll never forget it. Long after you’re gone, I’ll still remember.”
The cover is cute. 🥰 I never thought that there could be such notable differences between how Americans and British people browse bookstores, but hey, you learn something new every day. The enemies to lovers lasted less than a quarter of the book, but it's cool, there are worse things. 🙄 Leo was so relatable in how world-weary he was and less than impressed by this book whisperer hired to save his family legacy. I felt his tiredness in my bones. Mari's own chipper colorful self was actually her own self-preservation tactic of protecting herself from getting hurt. And that was relatable, too. And maybe that's why I did not particularly mind their romance. 👩❤️👨
I know it had those predictable cliché moments for allowing their relationship to blossom from not wanting you here to only wanting you here, and had their own trope-y personality traits, but even with how their past has shaped them, it felt good to see them overcome those shadows and difficulties. ❤️🩹❤️🩹 By falling for each other, regardless of the warnings not to, they learn that their past does not have to define them nor shape their futures.
It's hurtful and stressful, but Leo was committed and Mari was scared, clinging to the feelings of being unloved - a scrappy orphan, making my way in the world with only my wits. But, somehow, it felt believable for how they could still be so comfortable and at ease with the physical intimacy and still feel hesitant to admit that their love was the real deal. 🥺
“I’m no princess.”
He gave me a slow, wicked smile. “Then why do I want to kneel for you?”
[image error]
Sir, the mouth you had on you when you wished to be an unprofessional horny bugger. ❤️🔥❤️🔥 That show and tell scene. *fans self* As much as it was weird for Mari to call Leo a silver fox at thirty-one, I liked the spice. it wasn't too spicy, but it was still tasty. *laughs forever* Such a corny line!!!!! 🙈🙈 But no, fr, just hearing the wicked ways in which Leo wanted to please Mari, To make her feel revered and treated with all the love and respect she deserved and had never experienced. It was sweet of him. He wanted to love and she needed love and the trust they shared in the most intimate and passionate moments felt honest and real. 🥹
And it made me happy to see them not have so much drama with each other, but rather find a way to be together, burdens and all, that made it a pleasant enough read, despite my annoyances. 😊 And a part of me did feel something for book stores that don't have their books not getting the love they deserve. If I could I'd take them all, because nothing makes one happier than seeing books find a home with someone who'll love them for the stories they have to share. 📚
“If you never face the past, it’s just going to keep coming after you. And I’m trying to tell you that I can be beside you when you face it.”
'In case you missed it, Love Walked In is a book-length love letter to indie bookstores.' So said the author... ... ... Are you serious? Did I miss something here?? 🙎🏻♀️ Why did I not get that impression? Oh I know. 💡 Maybe because only the first quarter of the book did Leo and Mari remotely spend any time discussing Ross and Co., let alone be in the store. 🤦🏻♀️
“... your past made you just as much as mine made me.”
It took a back seat entirely so that the the rest of the plot could devote itself to saving the ship to hashing out their only family drama llama and how it shaped them into who they were, despite how the attraction simmered intensely after their most unpleasant first meeting, and to let the past go and stop holding onto it. 😮💨 How many times did saving the bookstore even cross Mari's mind (Leo, I understand when he was already plotting otherwise), when love and family was piling on her at the most alarming rate!
And considering what actually happened to the Ross business, the secrets Judith divulged regarding Alexander, the grandfather Leo put on a pedestal, so that it could shatter the illusion of him, the way we breeze through the preparations of a book festival which we only ever hear in passing and then suddenly it's upon us, with no real descriptive details into it, does not strike much confidence as a strong example of a love letter to indie bookstores. 🙅🏻♀️ And oh, a few mentions of some authors here and there, does not classify it as a book about books.
*exhale*
I have a big bone to pick with the supporting cast. I can't believe the author had them behave the way that they did and it was all brushed under the rug, because the ends justify the means. in what world does one not allow to be petty or at least express their grievances over their actions. 🤨
“What were the keys that would unlock those doors?”
Leo's ex who actually cheated on him and still believed that it was okay, because they were not right for each other, and that they could still be friends, because they were always friends.
Vinny and his underhanded backstabbing approach that he was only thinking about himself and we don't even get to see how long that cold shoulder lasted. that one line of stiff heartbreak was not enough for me.
Graham's ebullient golden boy tactics does not give him the right to go behind Mari's back and do his own private digging?? Did anyone ask him to?? Without her consent??? to someone you just met, regardless of your own theories???
Mari's parents, her atrocious, maybe slightly over the top step-family, Judith's preferred silence, the disconcerting fact that David was eighteen when Alexander married twenty-four-year-old Judith, which makes me surmise that he was eighteen, at closest when he had David, something I can't quite wrap my head around the math. 😒 I can't believe Leo and Mari even survived to be some semblance of normal, compared to what they've had to grow up with.
*double exhale*
“You’ve made me so happy. I’ll never forget it. Long after you’re gone, I’ll still remember.”
The cover is cute. 🥰 I never thought that there could be such notable differences between how Americans and British people browse bookstores, but hey, you learn something new every day. The enemies to lovers lasted less than a quarter of the book, but it's cool, there are worse things. 🙄 Leo was so relatable in how world-weary he was and less than impressed by this book whisperer hired to save his family legacy. I felt his tiredness in my bones. Mari's own chipper colorful self was actually her own self-preservation tactic of protecting herself from getting hurt. And that was relatable, too. And maybe that's why I did not particularly mind their romance. 👩❤️👨
I know it had those predictable cliché moments for allowing their relationship to blossom from not wanting you here to only wanting you here, and had their own trope-y personality traits, but even with how their past has shaped them, it felt good to see them overcome those shadows and difficulties. ❤️🩹❤️🩹 By falling for each other, regardless of the warnings not to, they learn that their past does not have to define them nor shape their futures.
It's hurtful and stressful, but Leo was committed and Mari was scared, clinging to the feelings of being unloved - a scrappy orphan, making my way in the world with only my wits. But, somehow, it felt believable for how they could still be so comfortable and at ease with the physical intimacy and still feel hesitant to admit that their love was the real deal. 🥺
“I’m no princess.”
He gave me a slow, wicked smile. “Then why do I want to kneel for you?”
[image error]
Sir, the mouth you had on you when you wished to be an unprofessional horny bugger. ❤️🔥❤️🔥 That show and tell scene. *fans self* As much as it was weird for Mari to call Leo a silver fox at thirty-one, I liked the spice. it wasn't too spicy, but it was still tasty. *laughs forever* Such a corny line!!!!! 🙈🙈 But no, fr, just hearing the wicked ways in which Leo wanted to please Mari, To make her feel revered and treated with all the love and respect she deserved and had never experienced. It was sweet of him. He wanted to love and she needed love and the trust they shared in the most intimate and passionate moments felt honest and real. 🥹
And it made me happy to see them not have so much drama with each other, but rather find a way to be together, burdens and all, that made it a pleasant enough read, despite my annoyances. 😊 And a part of me did feel something for book stores that don't have their books not getting the love they deserve. If I could I'd take them all, because nothing makes one happier than seeing books find a home with someone who'll love them for the stories they have to share. 📚
April 26, 2025
The best thing about having tropes that you enjoy reading is the spin that the author can place on the story. This particular one captured the struggles of Indie bookstores that don’t have a niche or don’t change with the times.
I love the English vibe, and the detailed descriptions became so real. You can almost feel the ice and cold. You can visualize the bookstore as it once was. You can feel the sadness and apathy. The reader has an urge to curl up and absorb the atmosphere with a warm blanket and soft music.
Chamberlin crafted a cozy story that is strong on character development and a blossoming love. Her characters are unique and have their struggles. But they also have a light in their eye when thinking about the future, even if you have to dig a little deeply.
The two lead characters bonded early and developed a great connection that was fostered and steadily grew throughout the book. The ending was an unexpected but brings a wonderful twist, allowing you the chance to find oneself, love life, and the person you’re with.
An enveloping story for those who love this trope. Love Walked In is definitely one to enjoy as you sink into the depths of these two lost souls who found themselves
~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/love-walked-...
I love the English vibe, and the detailed descriptions became so real. You can almost feel the ice and cold. You can visualize the bookstore as it once was. You can feel the sadness and apathy. The reader has an urge to curl up and absorb the atmosphere with a warm blanket and soft music.
Chamberlin crafted a cozy story that is strong on character development and a blossoming love. Her characters are unique and have their struggles. But they also have a light in their eye when thinking about the future, even if you have to dig a little deeply.
The two lead characters bonded early and developed a great connection that was fostered and steadily grew throughout the book. The ending was an unexpected but brings a wonderful twist, allowing you the chance to find oneself, love life, and the person you’re with.
An enveloping story for those who love this trope. Love Walked In is definitely one to enjoy as you sink into the depths of these two lost souls who found themselves
~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/love-walked-...
September 8, 2025
Love Walked in by Sarah Chamberlain
Contemporary romance.
Mari Cole has loved books as long as she can remember. She’s been successful in keeping up with trends and helping bookstores update their marketing to attract returning customers. She travels from the States to a prestigious British Ross & Co. in London. But upon arrival she’s disappointed in their unwillingness to listen to her suggestions or make any changes. The store has a significant history but if they can’t encourage more purchases, their future may be limited.
Leo Ross has always known he will be the next owner of the London bookstore and responsible for its future. His father’s latest attempt to win sales caused debt and doubt for the family’s future. Leo isn’t sure why Mari thinks she has all the answers but watching her with customers, he has to admit she can sell.
As Mari and Leo work together to save his heritage, they let down their guard and realize they have more in common than the bookstore.
It’s about a bookstore, so of course I was going to read this story. And the store didn’t carry any romance! What a loss! Fortunately Mari was good at her job. Plus she got to help Leo who needed her too, outside the bookstore.
Neither wanted a relationship, much less romance. Ha.
Engaging and clever.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
Contemporary romance.
Mari Cole has loved books as long as she can remember. She’s been successful in keeping up with trends and helping bookstores update their marketing to attract returning customers. She travels from the States to a prestigious British Ross & Co. in London. But upon arrival she’s disappointed in their unwillingness to listen to her suggestions or make any changes. The store has a significant history but if they can’t encourage more purchases, their future may be limited.
Leo Ross has always known he will be the next owner of the London bookstore and responsible for its future. His father’s latest attempt to win sales caused debt and doubt for the family’s future. Leo isn’t sure why Mari thinks she has all the answers but watching her with customers, he has to admit she can sell.
As Mari and Leo work together to save his heritage, they let down their guard and realize they have more in common than the bookstore.
It’s about a bookstore, so of course I was going to read this story. And the store didn’t carry any romance! What a loss! Fortunately Mari was good at her job. Plus she got to help Leo who needed her too, outside the bookstore.
Neither wanted a relationship, much less romance. Ha.
Engaging and clever.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
September 13, 2025
“You’ve changed everything for me. When I’m with you, it’s like I’ve been suffocating my entire life and now I can breathe.”
3.25 stars
This had great potential, everything that I was looking forward to in a bookstore-working-main-characters-from-different-countries-fall-in-love-while-trying-to-save-the-shop. However, it fell quite flat for me. Mari and Leo were kinda unlikable, the plot and twists were beyond predictable, and the romance was extremely rushed.
I felt absolutely nothing between Mari and Leo. They didn’t like each other for like 5 seconds, and then they liked each other a bunch?? I dunno. Lmao I wasn’t attracted to Leo either, so it didn’t help. He’s just not at all my ideal MMC - which was a first for me, I don’t usually have that problem.
The blatantly obvious plot twist/reveal that appeared - nah. Either hide it better or make the twist better, but I didn’t really care for it or the way Mari reacted to it.
Also, Leo’s best friend?? What a dick. And no one questioned it!! He just kept pushing Leo to sell the bookstore so HE could get a bonus at work. Like, why did no one see how dick-ish that was?? Ugh.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Netgalley, and the author for this ARC!
______________________
A book about books 🤭
3.25 stars
This had great potential, everything that I was looking forward to in a bookstore-working-main-characters-from-different-countries-fall-in-love-while-trying-to-save-the-shop. However, it fell quite flat for me. Mari and Leo were kinda unlikable, the plot and twists were beyond predictable, and the romance was extremely rushed.
I felt absolutely nothing between Mari and Leo. They didn’t like each other for like 5 seconds, and then they liked each other a bunch?? I dunno. Lmao I wasn’t attracted to Leo either, so it didn’t help. He’s just not at all my ideal MMC - which was a first for me, I don’t usually have that problem.
The blatantly obvious plot twist/reveal that appeared - nah. Either hide it better or make the twist better, but I didn’t really care for it or the way Mari reacted to it.
Also, Leo’s best friend?? What a dick. And no one questioned it!! He just kept pushing Leo to sell the bookstore so HE could get a bonus at work. Like, why did no one see how dick-ish that was?? Ugh.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Netgalley, and the author for this ARC!
______________________
A book about books 🤭
March 23, 2025
Cozy, sexy, swoony! Sarah’s sophomore novel is a warm blanket and a cup of tea on a chilly autumn day. Sarah always writes such emotionally intelligent books, and this one is no different. Leo is a dream (British! Calls you “darling”! Cat dad!) but he also is very REAL. Same goes for Mari, who undergoes so much character growth and is very hot, too (the mouths on BOTH of these people, y’all - Sarah’s spice never misses). Come for the bookish, British vibes, and stay for the tearjerking grand gesture, layered character arcs, and alllll the little touches and glances that had me squirming. An utter delight and a wonderful ode to bookstores!
Thank you to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review 🙂
Thank you to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review 🙂
August 5, 2025
a love letter to indie bookstores & the sweetest bookstore romance 🥹 I LOVED THIS BOOK!! the fact that they're booksellers trying to save an indie bookstore??? it's been way too long since i read a bookstore romance & i needed this one!!! everything about it was just what i wanted !!! sizzling tension, hiding in the bookshelves, pushing each other's buttons, A CARETAKING MOMENT that had me swooning so hard... hello???? soooooo good 🤭
sarah chamberlain has this magical way of writing books that flow so effortlessly you feel as if you're there. i always find myself flying through chapters, aching with the characters, swooning, laughing. & let me tell you !!! it's magic!!
i love leo SO SO much!! he is precious & deserves the biggest hug. but also so incredibly hot!!! the tension between him & mari was delicious. i love a grumpy x sunshine moment & these two were perfect!!! as someone who loves to travel & wishes she would have studied abroad at least one semester, i adore reading books where the main character lives in another country for a few months. & mari's story was even sweeter than i could have expected!! talk about finding yourself 🥹
i'm going to be thinking about this book for a long time💞
thank you St. Martins Press for the arc! this is my honest review.
sarah chamberlain has this magical way of writing books that flow so effortlessly you feel as if you're there. i always find myself flying through chapters, aching with the characters, swooning, laughing. & let me tell you !!! it's magic!!
i love leo SO SO much!! he is precious & deserves the biggest hug. but also so incredibly hot!!! the tension between him & mari was delicious. i love a grumpy x sunshine moment & these two were perfect!!! as someone who loves to travel & wishes she would have studied abroad at least one semester, i adore reading books where the main character lives in another country for a few months. & mari's story was even sweeter than i could have expected!! talk about finding yourself 🥹
i'm going to be thinking about this book for a long time💞
thank you St. Martins Press for the arc! this is my honest review.
July 6, 2025
Love Walked In by Sarah Chamberlin is a sweet opposites-attract romance set against the cozy, book-lined backdrop of a struggling London bookstore. Mari, an energetic American who specializes in saving indie shops, brings warmth and chaotic charm to the frosty halls of Ross & Co.—and to its broody new owner, Leo. I really liked Leo; he’s gruff and guarded, but thoughtful and quietly vulnerable in a way that sneaks up on you.
Their dynamic had plenty of slow-burn tension and heart, but the pacing of the story often worked against them. Some scenes dragged, while others—particularly emotional turning points—felt rushed or underdeveloped. And then there was the sudden subplot about Mari finding her long-lost father and extended family, which truly came out of nowhere. It felt jarringly out of place in a story that was otherwise about restoring a bookshop and building trust between two damaged people.
Despite its flaws, this is a charming read for book lovers who enjoy a cozy setting, grumpy-sunshine romance, and second chances. I just wish the plot had been a little more focused—and that Mari's emotional arc had felt as believable and earned as Leo’s.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Their dynamic had plenty of slow-burn tension and heart, but the pacing of the story often worked against them. Some scenes dragged, while others—particularly emotional turning points—felt rushed or underdeveloped. And then there was the sudden subplot about Mari finding her long-lost father and extended family, which truly came out of nowhere. It felt jarringly out of place in a story that was otherwise about restoring a bookshop and building trust between two damaged people.
Despite its flaws, this is a charming read for book lovers who enjoy a cozy setting, grumpy-sunshine romance, and second chances. I just wish the plot had been a little more focused—and that Mari's emotional arc had felt as believable and earned as Leo’s.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2025
If you love romance, if you love book stores, if you love characters who have put walls around their heart only to have them come crashing down, if you love books about family…then this is the book for you. I read this book obsessively and compulsively, barely able to put it down. I was deeply involved in the lives of Leo and Mari, the way they took care of each other, the way they teased, the way they fought for a love that seemed to have an end date, the way they came together to save the legacy of his book store. For Mari, loving someone was hard, because love for her had only led to pain and disappointment. For Leo, he’d lived a life intent on pleasing others, and somehow with Mari at his side, he started to live for himself. My favorite moments, the ones I’ll remember when I think of this book, are the moments when Leo showed Mari what it felt to be desired, to be cherished, to be taken care of—all the ways it was right to love and be loved, letting her see past the times that love had hurt her. This is truly a beautiful book. I received an advance early copy of this book from the publisher.
July 2, 2025
Love Walked In by Sarah Chamberlain was a truly lovely and warm bookish contemporary romance. And I really, really enjoyed it!
Mari is a bookstore whisperer who goes to London to try to breathe new life into Ross and Co. bookstore. The store is frozen after losing the owner, Alexander, and is at risk of failing if something doesn't change.
Leo is the now owner of Ross and Co. and is fighting any type of change in his grandfather Alexander's bookstore. He knows that without change, Ross and Co. will ultimately fail, and the doors will be closed forever, but he resents the fact that Mari is there to help and fights her on everything.
This bookish romance is the enemies to lovers trope, and I think that the author does an excellent job with the story. Mari and Leo are definitely at odds when the book begins, but they quickly move past their differences and work together to try and give new life to Ross and Co.
Leo and Mari's growth in Love Walked In and awesome to see and their romance is sizzling. I think the author did a great job at making both main characters feel real and easy to find lovable. I also really enjoyed the side characters and what they added to the story as well.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to romance lovers!
Expected Publication Date: September 2nd 2025.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Griffin and the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Mari is a bookstore whisperer who goes to London to try to breathe new life into Ross and Co. bookstore. The store is frozen after losing the owner, Alexander, and is at risk of failing if something doesn't change.
Leo is the now owner of Ross and Co. and is fighting any type of change in his grandfather Alexander's bookstore. He knows that without change, Ross and Co. will ultimately fail, and the doors will be closed forever, but he resents the fact that Mari is there to help and fights her on everything.
This bookish romance is the enemies to lovers trope, and I think that the author does an excellent job with the story. Mari and Leo are definitely at odds when the book begins, but they quickly move past their differences and work together to try and give new life to Ross and Co.
Leo and Mari's growth in Love Walked In and awesome to see and their romance is sizzling. I think the author did a great job at making both main characters feel real and easy to find lovable. I also really enjoyed the side characters and what they added to the story as well.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to romance lovers!
Expected Publication Date: September 2nd 2025.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Griffin and the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
August 25, 2025
2.5 stars. Unfortunately this was a mixed bag for me. Things I liked and things I struggled with.
While I loved the setting, which was cozy and lovely… I struggled to connect with the characters. The main characters were complex, each dealing with their own issues. But I was often frustrated rather than rooting for them.
And when it came to the romance, I kept hoping for more chemistry and connection that never came until the final pages.
I enjoy the author’s writing style, and adored her debut, so I’m definitely keeping an eye out for whatever she does next. Thank you to the publishers for the chance to read an advance copy.
While I loved the setting, which was cozy and lovely… I struggled to connect with the characters. The main characters were complex, each dealing with their own issues. But I was often frustrated rather than rooting for them.
And when it came to the romance, I kept hoping for more chemistry and connection that never came until the final pages.
I enjoy the author’s writing style, and adored her debut, so I’m definitely keeping an eye out for whatever she does next. Thank you to the publishers for the chance to read an advance copy.
April 13, 2025
This was just okayish for me. I felt the pacing was too slow to keep my interest and found myself wanting it to pick up, so I could hurry up and get to the ending.
September 9, 2025
the premise of the story is cute. the banter between the main characters had me chucking. i truly need to know now if people in London see Americans the way they were portrayed in this book. Grumpy and sad Leo slowly healing and falling for Mari was cute to read. Taking care of a sick “coworker” will always turn into something more.
grumpy x sunshine tropes is one of my favorites and reading about books/book stores within a book always is so much fun.
ty St. Martin Press and netgally an arc ✨
September 2, 2025
This was super cute! I am a sucker for a book about bookstores/books. Was it perfect? No. Did it make me happy and giddy? Yes 💗
September 7, 2025
(3.5 Stars) I loved Sarah’s 2024 release, The Slowest Burn, and so I was anxiously awaiting this one!
Mari Cole’s life is singularly focused on bookstores. She is uniquely skilled at reviving struggling indie shops and getting them back on track. Does she have friends? No. Does she date? No. She works on bookshops. And her newest puzzle is the iconic Ross and Co. bookshop in London. The multi-generational bookshop has a storied past but is struggling. Particularly since the grumpy new shop owner Leo Ross is reluctant to change any of what his grandfather did. Leo has known his entire life that his future was the bookshop and he’s sacrificed all of his personal interests for it. So how dare some overly sunshiny American come here and try to make him change things. But as they work together on a festival to celebrate the store’s history, Leo begins to see Mari’s tenacity in a new light while Mari begins to see the spark beneath Leo’s icy exterior.
I loved the setup of Ross & Co. - a multi-generational, iconic shop struggling to find its place in the modern world. Mari’s journey toward friendship added warmth, and Leo’s growth in defining his own future felt authentic and heartfelt. That said, while The Slowest Burn was beautifully delicate in how it explored its characters’ vulnerabilities, I sometimes wished this story had slowed down in places to give those same emotional beats more room to breathe in lieu of some of the subplots that felt like they didn’t drive the primary plot forward.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: At 11 hours and 15 minutes, the narration by Kate Handford and Stewart Crank was a treat. Their performances perfectly captured Mari’s sunshine energy and Leo’s restrained grumpiness, making the push-and-pull between them even more enjoyable.
Mari Cole’s life is singularly focused on bookstores. She is uniquely skilled at reviving struggling indie shops and getting them back on track. Does she have friends? No. Does she date? No. She works on bookshops. And her newest puzzle is the iconic Ross and Co. bookshop in London. The multi-generational bookshop has a storied past but is struggling. Particularly since the grumpy new shop owner Leo Ross is reluctant to change any of what his grandfather did. Leo has known his entire life that his future was the bookshop and he’s sacrificed all of his personal interests for it. So how dare some overly sunshiny American come here and try to make him change things. But as they work together on a festival to celebrate the store’s history, Leo begins to see Mari’s tenacity in a new light while Mari begins to see the spark beneath Leo’s icy exterior.
I loved the setup of Ross & Co. - a multi-generational, iconic shop struggling to find its place in the modern world. Mari’s journey toward friendship added warmth, and Leo’s growth in defining his own future felt authentic and heartfelt. That said, while The Slowest Burn was beautifully delicate in how it explored its characters’ vulnerabilities, I sometimes wished this story had slowed down in places to give those same emotional beats more room to breathe in lieu of some of the subplots that felt like they didn’t drive the primary plot forward.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: At 11 hours and 15 minutes, the narration by Kate Handford and Stewart Crank was a treat. Their performances perfectly captured Mari’s sunshine energy and Leo’s restrained grumpiness, making the push-and-pull between them even more enjoyable.
September 12, 2025
Actual Rating 3.5
Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin for this Early Copy
I wasn't expecting much from it, but it turned out to be a cozy read, perfect for a rainy day. I loved the vivid world-building of London and Ross & Co., a vintage bookstore with a history. Mari is an American, and her job is rescuing struggling indie bookstores. Work brought her to London, a place that she had only visited in books. Leo, on the other hand, is the broody British heir to Ross & Co., a bookstore that’s been struggling after his grandfather's death, which left him also in a spiral of sadness. He’s sacrificed a lot for the shop and family, and is planning to do that for the entity until Mari showed up with her sunny and energetic approach, which is exactly opposite of grumpy Leo.
I liked the general concept of the story and characters. Although the pace felt uneven at points. Mari's family background subplot seemed a bit of an afterthought. Still, I appreciated the family elements, history, and the book's story. I was definitely rooting for Leo and Mari, and I am all about slow-burning romance, which was there for a while. But their relationship felt rushed and a bit more explicit than I usually enjoy. Overall, it wasn't a perfect read, but it was still enjoyable for romance fans.
Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin for this Early Copy
I wasn't expecting much from it, but it turned out to be a cozy read, perfect for a rainy day. I loved the vivid world-building of London and Ross & Co., a vintage bookstore with a history. Mari is an American, and her job is rescuing struggling indie bookstores. Work brought her to London, a place that she had only visited in books. Leo, on the other hand, is the broody British heir to Ross & Co., a bookstore that’s been struggling after his grandfather's death, which left him also in a spiral of sadness. He’s sacrificed a lot for the shop and family, and is planning to do that for the entity until Mari showed up with her sunny and energetic approach, which is exactly opposite of grumpy Leo.
I liked the general concept of the story and characters. Although the pace felt uneven at points. Mari's family background subplot seemed a bit of an afterthought. Still, I appreciated the family elements, history, and the book's story. I was definitely rooting for Leo and Mari, and I am all about slow-burning romance, which was there for a while. But their relationship felt rushed and a bit more explicit than I usually enjoy. Overall, it wasn't a perfect read, but it was still enjoyable for romance fans.
September 1, 2025
This was a nice seasonal, cozy read! You could really picture that you were in a bookstore in London. I appreciate that this author writes about a lot of heavier subjects, but I think I read this one at maybe the wrong time for me. It was a little heavier than I wanted. I really liked that there was a whole cast of characters and the found family vibe. The romance fell a bit flat for me. Mari and Leo seemed more focused on the physical aspect of their relationship and then all of a sudden they were in love? I did like this one, I just wanted a bit more from it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.
December 25, 2025
Love Walked In by Sarah Chamberlain is a cozy, heartfelt contemporary romance about Mari Cole, an American “bookstore whisperer” with a tender spot for indie bookstores who finds herself in chilly London to help revive Ross & Co., a struggling multi-generational bookshop, and unexpectedly tangled up with its guarded owner Leo Ross as they both learn what it means to trust, heal, and open their hearts. This celebration of books, London charm, and slow-blooming love leans into the grumpy-sunshine trope with a thoughtful, emotional core.
What struck me most about this story is how warmly Chamberlain wraps heavy themes in light, comforting prose: Mari’s fear of closeness rooted in a difficult childhood and Leo’s grief over his grandfather’s death are handled with sensitivity that made me genuinely care about their journeys. Their early clashes over how to save the bookstore felt both funny and real, and I felt the emotional tug when they each had to face what they were running from, not just in each other but within themselves. The London bookstore setting is vivid and cozy and made me ache a little for rainy afternoons browsing dusty shelves, and the found family elements added layers of warmth around the central romance. Some subplots, like the one around Mari’s family history, appeared a bit suddenly for me, and there were moments when the pacing felt uneven, but overall I was swept up in how these two complicated, lovable people found softness in each other’s company.
Rating: 4 out of 5. I’m giving it this score because Love Walked In made me feel genuinely uplifted and invested in both Mari and Leo’s healing, and left me with that snug, satisfied feeling of a romance that feels like a warm cup of tea on a rainy afternoon, even if a few narrative bumps kept it from feeling absolutely seamless.
What struck me most about this story is how warmly Chamberlain wraps heavy themes in light, comforting prose: Mari’s fear of closeness rooted in a difficult childhood and Leo’s grief over his grandfather’s death are handled with sensitivity that made me genuinely care about their journeys. Their early clashes over how to save the bookstore felt both funny and real, and I felt the emotional tug when they each had to face what they were running from, not just in each other but within themselves. The London bookstore setting is vivid and cozy and made me ache a little for rainy afternoons browsing dusty shelves, and the found family elements added layers of warmth around the central romance. Some subplots, like the one around Mari’s family history, appeared a bit suddenly for me, and there were moments when the pacing felt uneven, but overall I was swept up in how these two complicated, lovable people found softness in each other’s company.
Rating: 4 out of 5. I’m giving it this score because Love Walked In made me feel genuinely uplifted and invested in both Mari and Leo’s healing, and left me with that snug, satisfied feeling of a romance that feels like a warm cup of tea on a rainy afternoon, even if a few narrative bumps kept it from feeling absolutely seamless.
August 5, 2025
This was SUCH an engaging story! I started reading it at around 10 at night, thinking I would just read a few chapters before I dropped off. Guess what? Didn't happen - I stayed up until 2 AM to finish the book. 😂 I am old. I never stay up until the middle of the night to finish a book, but I did it with this one. I think Chamberlain's "voice" just does it for me. The characters are somehow so relatable and precious. And can we talk about Leo (the MMC) for a minute? I have no problem with male-presenting characters who are jacked, have abs for days, and a statistically improbable length and girth (👀), but Leo was just a normal person: tall-ish, lanky, kind of skinny, and self-conscious about himself. Loved it. I adored this book, and I am really looking forward to what this author does next.💖
4.75⭐
4.75⭐
May 29, 2025
ARC Review- A cute contemporary romance! An American bookstore saver comes to England to save a struggling bookstore. Opposites eventually attract as little miss sunshine from California, Mari, works with stereotypical standoffish British, Leo. He needs help with his bookstore- but doesn’t want his grandfather’s store to change. Along the way, he discovers maybe all of her ideas aren’t so bad and he falls for her first. She’s been on her own for so long, she’s afraid to open up- but he might be the one to bring down her walls.
dnf
June 6, 2025I realize I got pretty far but kept waiting for some part of the story or the writing to grab me and it just isn’t and I’m not giving it anymore pages.
September 16, 2025
Sarah Chamberlain’s second book, 'Love Walked In', is a tender and layered romance with a mental-health focus. It follows 2024’s 'The Slowest Burn' and has a similar feel of honest people doing their best in a sometimes difficult world.
The novels opens with Californian Mari Cole arriving at Ross & Co Booksellers in London. She has three months to turn the failing bookshop around, but manager Leo Ross is so antagonistic that they get off to a hostile start. Mari is all colour and sparkle, she’s outgoing and full of American twang – exactly not what Leo wants. He’s closed off, struggling with the business, overburdened by grief for his grandfather, and for the end of his marriage. The push-and-pull between these two is delicious!Mari’s visit has been organised by her mentor Suzanne and Leo’s step-grandmother Judith. Cue family meddling and tangled relationships which gradually unfold. When Mari starts to rationalise the stock and befriend the staff, Leo goes off the deep end – while he had agreed to Mari coming in, he hadn’t anticipated what that would actually look like for himself or the shop. While these two battle, I loved seeing more of Leo’s family and feeling the tension between staff members Graham and Catriona, who are so important to Mari’s journey.
The English bookshop setting is gorgeous. It’s a family-owned building in Bloomsbury with a rambling Gothic façade, and is spread over several floors, with offices and a tiny garret for Mari. Sarah Chamberlain knows her London, from the tube stations to the weather and the bustle and grey of the streetscape, and it’s all so vivid.
Mari is carrying the scars of childhood abandonment and she’s open to sex, but not intimacy. Leo probably has some (undiagnosed) depression as he struggles with change, grief, and disordered eating. Leo has, if anything, too much family, while Mari has none. This is key to the plot along with Mari’s plans for the shop. She sets up a centenary festival, cleans out the stock, motivates the staff and charms Leo’s family. I loved the bookshop shenanigans which lighten the tone and made me feel such affection for everyone at Ross & Co. Leo unfurls in Mari’s warmth, even though they both have emotional work to do. Then there’s even more family and revelations (and a twist or two) as the clock ticks down to Mari’s return to California.
The plot overly relies on happenstance and coincidence, which detracted from my enjoyment, but didn’t spoil everything. 'Love Walked In' is a nostalgic love letter to bookshops everywhere and to healing, with emotional depth and a lovely gentle romance – I recommend it as an easy afternoon’s read.
This review first appeared on All About Romance.
The novels opens with Californian Mari Cole arriving at Ross & Co Booksellers in London. She has three months to turn the failing bookshop around, but manager Leo Ross is so antagonistic that they get off to a hostile start. Mari is all colour and sparkle, she’s outgoing and full of American twang – exactly not what Leo wants. He’s closed off, struggling with the business, overburdened by grief for his grandfather, and for the end of his marriage. The push-and-pull between these two is delicious!Mari’s visit has been organised by her mentor Suzanne and Leo’s step-grandmother Judith. Cue family meddling and tangled relationships which gradually unfold. When Mari starts to rationalise the stock and befriend the staff, Leo goes off the deep end – while he had agreed to Mari coming in, he hadn’t anticipated what that would actually look like for himself or the shop. While these two battle, I loved seeing more of Leo’s family and feeling the tension between staff members Graham and Catriona, who are so important to Mari’s journey.
The English bookshop setting is gorgeous. It’s a family-owned building in Bloomsbury with a rambling Gothic façade, and is spread over several floors, with offices and a tiny garret for Mari. Sarah Chamberlain knows her London, from the tube stations to the weather and the bustle and grey of the streetscape, and it’s all so vivid.
Mari is carrying the scars of childhood abandonment and she’s open to sex, but not intimacy. Leo probably has some (undiagnosed) depression as he struggles with change, grief, and disordered eating. Leo has, if anything, too much family, while Mari has none. This is key to the plot along with Mari’s plans for the shop. She sets up a centenary festival, cleans out the stock, motivates the staff and charms Leo’s family. I loved the bookshop shenanigans which lighten the tone and made me feel such affection for everyone at Ross & Co. Leo unfurls in Mari’s warmth, even though they both have emotional work to do. Then there’s even more family and revelations (and a twist or two) as the clock ticks down to Mari’s return to California.
The plot overly relies on happenstance and coincidence, which detracted from my enjoyment, but didn’t spoil everything. 'Love Walked In' is a nostalgic love letter to bookshops everywhere and to healing, with emotional depth and a lovely gentle romance – I recommend it as an easy afternoon’s read.
This review first appeared on All About Romance.
August 31, 2025
Love Walked In, right into my heart! This is a sweet, endearing, and massively heartfelt romance that tenderly embraces positive change.
This love story pairs up a sunshiney American gal, Mari, ready to rescue a dying London bookstore against its grumpy British owner, Leo, who's not ready for the change Mari will bring. But it may turn out to be the very change they both need in their lives.
The entire dynamic between Mari and Leo worked perfectly for me. It's one of growth, where missteps leads to righted paths and satisfying finish lines.
Leo massively missteps early into their acquaintance. He lets hurtful words land on Mari, words that are hard to shake off. But when she falls a bit sick with a flu he jumps into action to nurse her back to health. This becomes a catalyst of positive change in their softly blossoming relationship. Sincere apologies lead to heartfelt forgiveness-- and eventual understanding. Mari eventually comes to see the deep hurt and grief Leo harbors, and how it translates to being resistant to the change she's wants to bring to his newly inherited shop. In turn, Leo comes to see the hidden vulnerabilities behind the mask of strength Mari cheerfully carries. He learns to spot signs of her anxiety and being overwhelm, and is quick to dive in to keep her head above water. They come to complement one another so exquisitely. But with Mari only in the UK for a short time, and both having differing goals, can the love growing between them last? Throw in some late game miscommunication leading to recurrent hurt, it makes their possibility of a happily ever after even more bumpy. But this is romance, and you know the terrain may be rough at times, but it will always be worth the travel.
Mari and Leo are absolutely worth the travel! I'll go to the ends of the earth for them.
Thank you to St. Martins and NetGalley for this complimentary advanced copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily. 4.5
This love story pairs up a sunshiney American gal, Mari, ready to rescue a dying London bookstore against its grumpy British owner, Leo, who's not ready for the change Mari will bring. But it may turn out to be the very change they both need in their lives.
The entire dynamic between Mari and Leo worked perfectly for me. It's one of growth, where missteps leads to righted paths and satisfying finish lines.
Leo massively missteps early into their acquaintance. He lets hurtful words land on Mari, words that are hard to shake off. But when she falls a bit sick with a flu he jumps into action to nurse her back to health. This becomes a catalyst of positive change in their softly blossoming relationship. Sincere apologies lead to heartfelt forgiveness-- and eventual understanding. Mari eventually comes to see the deep hurt and grief Leo harbors, and how it translates to being resistant to the change she's wants to bring to his newly inherited shop. In turn, Leo comes to see the hidden vulnerabilities behind the mask of strength Mari cheerfully carries. He learns to spot signs of her anxiety and being overwhelm, and is quick to dive in to keep her head above water. They come to complement one another so exquisitely. But with Mari only in the UK for a short time, and both having differing goals, can the love growing between them last? Throw in some late game miscommunication leading to recurrent hurt, it makes their possibility of a happily ever after even more bumpy. But this is romance, and you know the terrain may be rough at times, but it will always be worth the travel.
Mari and Leo are absolutely worth the travel! I'll go to the ends of the earth for them.
Thank you to St. Martins and NetGalley for this complimentary advanced copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily. 4.5
September 3, 2025
“We’ve ended up in this terrible alienated place where everyone’s an individual consumer, and we’re forgotten how to be with other people.”
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The premise of this book is exactly something I would normally love, but something felt off the entire way through. There’s so much potential, but it just feels like it falls flat at every turn.
It centers around Mari, who comes to London to help reinvigorate a hundred-year-old bookstore. She meets Leo, the grandson of the founder. He’s dead set on keeping everything the same, while Mari has ideas to make changes. They initially disagree on this, but soon Leo realizes she’s right and can really help.
There is just too much going on in this book where we don’t get to dive too deep into anything and it’s all resolved so neatly. Everything feels so surface level that it didn’t give me enough to feel at all connected to the characters. With Mari, she’s closed herself off to romance and has some familial trauma regarding not knowing her real father, by these things are hardly explored until the final third of the book. And one is handled in a way that feels so out of place for the story.
In trying to save the bookstore, they host a book festival which doesn’t have the stakes it should. It should be the most important thing happening, but it really feels like an afterthought. Mari and Leo also don’t have the chemistry the romance needs. It’s like it was supposed to be enemies-to-lovers, but it doesn’t last nearly long enough. I felt like this needed a tighter focus, as all of these things happening don’t feel cohesive to bring the story together.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The premise of this book is exactly something I would normally love, but something felt off the entire way through. There’s so much potential, but it just feels like it falls flat at every turn.
It centers around Mari, who comes to London to help reinvigorate a hundred-year-old bookstore. She meets Leo, the grandson of the founder. He’s dead set on keeping everything the same, while Mari has ideas to make changes. They initially disagree on this, but soon Leo realizes she’s right and can really help.
There is just too much going on in this book where we don’t get to dive too deep into anything and it’s all resolved so neatly. Everything feels so surface level that it didn’t give me enough to feel at all connected to the characters. With Mari, she’s closed herself off to romance and has some familial trauma regarding not knowing her real father, by these things are hardly explored until the final third of the book. And one is handled in a way that feels so out of place for the story.
In trying to save the bookstore, they host a book festival which doesn’t have the stakes it should. It should be the most important thing happening, but it really feels like an afterthought. Mari and Leo also don’t have the chemistry the romance needs. It’s like it was supposed to be enemies-to-lovers, but it doesn’t last nearly long enough. I felt like this needed a tighter focus, as all of these things happening don’t feel cohesive to bring the story together.
October 28, 2025
Mari Cole lives to revitalize indie bookstores. She sees them as havens after her local indie became her refuge from a horrendous home life. So when she gets the chance to go to London and rescue Ross & Co., a classic, once-prestigious old bookstore, she's happy to take on the challenge. Except that its current owner and boss, Leo Ross, wants to keep everything just as his grandfather had it. A battle of wills and forced cooperation will lead both of them to face their past and open their hearts.
It's a very sweet, bookish romance that has some very dark backgrounds for the characters, but doesn't drown in them. I loved how hopeful and reassuring the overall feeling of the book is, even in moments when the characters are at their lowest.
Mari's insistance that she doesn't need anyone and Leo's coldness are both very valid reactions to family trauma, with both of them taking very different approaches to how they deal with them. It makes the fact that they both work through their issues not simply by finding each other but thanks to the support of those around them an excellent point for the book. It's not just two people in a relationship vaccum, they have friends and loved ones willing to help them out.
A lovable fluff read that comes with depth and romance that heals.
Very happy thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the sweet bookish romance!
It's a very sweet, bookish romance that has some very dark backgrounds for the characters, but doesn't drown in them. I loved how hopeful and reassuring the overall feeling of the book is, even in moments when the characters are at their lowest.
Mari's insistance that she doesn't need anyone and Leo's coldness are both very valid reactions to family trauma, with both of them taking very different approaches to how they deal with them. It makes the fact that they both work through their issues not simply by finding each other but thanks to the support of those around them an excellent point for the book. It's not just two people in a relationship vaccum, they have friends and loved ones willing to help them out.
A lovable fluff read that comes with depth and romance that heals.
Very happy thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the sweet bookish romance!
August 17, 2025
4.5 stars.
Love Walked In by Sarah Chamberlain is a delightful romance.
Mari Cole is in London to help turn around a family-owned indie bookstore. She is bright and bubbly which is a stark contrast to Leo Ross who is grumpy and adverse to change. Their interactions are unlaid by a sizzling chemistry but with a departure date looming, will Mari and Leo act on their feelings?
Mari and Leo are lovely characters but both of them are struggling with issues from their respective pasts. Mari’s childhood was marred by loss and she found a safe haven in her local bookstore. Leo’s life has taken unexpected turns recently and he cannot move forward.
Love Walked In is a charming romance with realistic characters. Mari and Leo are complex, and multi-faceted characters dealing with true to life issues. The storyline is endearing with plenty of sass and heat. With unexpected conflict, Sarah Chamberlain brings this marvelous romance to a heart-melting conclusion.
Love Walked In by Sarah Chamberlain is a delightful romance.
Mari Cole is in London to help turn around a family-owned indie bookstore. She is bright and bubbly which is a stark contrast to Leo Ross who is grumpy and adverse to change. Their interactions are unlaid by a sizzling chemistry but with a departure date looming, will Mari and Leo act on their feelings?
Mari and Leo are lovely characters but both of them are struggling with issues from their respective pasts. Mari’s childhood was marred by loss and she found a safe haven in her local bookstore. Leo’s life has taken unexpected turns recently and he cannot move forward.
Love Walked In is a charming romance with realistic characters. Mari and Leo are complex, and multi-faceted characters dealing with true to life issues. The storyline is endearing with plenty of sass and heat. With unexpected conflict, Sarah Chamberlain brings this marvelous romance to a heart-melting conclusion.
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