Love at First Sight

by Laura Jane Williams

Brought to you by Penguin.

She’s found the one . He’s just not the one for her .

Jessie doesn’t believe in love at first sight. Until one sunny Saturday in London, a fire alarm in Whole Foods throws her into a stranger's arms. Cal is charming and their chemistry is instant.

Quick-fire flirting turns into the most romantic day of Jessie’s life. But that evening they're forced apart before swapping numbers. Jessie is devastated – has she just lost the one?

After weeks of searching, Cal turns up on her doorstop holding two dozen red roses. It feels like fate.

The only thing is, they’re not for her…

'Fresh, smart, funny.' Beth O'Leary

'An absolute delight!' Emily Henry

'Joyful, romantic and life-affirming.' Red

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Adult, Contemporary Romance, Rom Com

Audible Audio

Published June 19, 2025

About the author

Laura Jane Williams (she/her) is known as the queen of the meet-cute. She is the author of six rom-coms, as well as the forthcoming Lovestruck (June 2023). She is also the author of three works of non-fiction.

The rights to Laura's international bestseller Our Stop have been sold for television, and her books have been translated into languages all over the world. She loves romance, being a parent, and lifting very heavy weights.

Find out more about Laura on www.laurajaneauthor.com

Reviews

[mackenzie (hiatus) · Rating 1 out of 5]

shoutout to the assistive reader thing on kindle because i listened to basically this entire book while i was driving back to college so... go robot voice!

as for the story itself, this was not good i'm so sorry. i wanted to love this so bad, like it is literally set up to be the cutest cheesiest romcom ever but it's so terribly done while simultaneously being overdone. the characters are next to impossible to root for. especially the fmc, who reminds me of me when i was 13 years old. not a compliment. none of the side characters gave anything, the plot was flat, and the writing was fun at first but got old eventually. so yeah, this is a no for me. cover's kinda cute tho.

thank you to netgalley & penguin group for the arc! all opinions are my own <3

[Maddalena ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

ೀ Love at First Sight review ೀ
3/5 stars
I was super excited for this arc due to how magical and charming the premise seemed, it seemed to be unique from other romance books, in the way that from the synopsis I couldn't tell how the story would go, which was definitely an aspect of this book I loved, but I ran into major issues with this book, mainly with the characters.
ೀ What I liked ೀ
♥ The writing- The writing of this story, especially the ways places are described was so enchanting, I love the way the author transported me to Jessie's part of London.

♥ I adored the descriptions of Jessie's job and Stray Kids, Henry was so adorable and I loved his character <33

♥ This book was fascinating, I think it took me like only one day to read, and the plot was pretty gripping.

ೀ What I disliked ೀ
♥ THE LOVE TRIANGLE!!!!!!! I think having a bit of a love triangle in this story at the beginning would have made it interesting and I didn't mind it, but why did it have to drag out so long? The romance between Jessie and Leo wasn't developed at all and there was no chemistry between them because Jessie was still struggling to choose between them, 75% into the book! Ugh, and one side of the love triangle was so clearly bad, if Jessie had any brains she would have made her choice 25% into the book

♥ The characters- The only characters I liked were Henry, Leo, and I'm gonna be honest Ali, even though she was meant to be a villain. The main charcter, Jessie really frustarded me through out this. And her best friend India started out really promising but then baisically turned into just a prop there to enthusically support everything Jessie does.

♥ All the plot lines- This book just seemed like it was trying to juggle too much, between the romance, Jessie's issues with her boss Ali, Jessie starting a new business, Jessie's love triangle, Ali's love triangle, Jessie's issues with her father and his fiancee, India's love life, it seemed too much for just one book.



ೀ Pre-Read ೀ
This book's premise is really interesting so I'm super excited to read it! Thank you so much to the publisher and the author for the arc <3

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a huge miss for me. Marketed as a romance, it read more like classic British chick lit, and while that’s fine, it should’ve been billed honestly. The one bright spot was Jessie’s sweet relationship with Henry, the boy she nannies for, but the rest was a muddled mess. The love triangle was frustrating and poorly executed, and Jessie’s rushed choice in the final quarter felt unearned. Too many plot threads, not enough depth. The only thing that kept me listening was Rebecca Norfolk’s solid narration. Meh.

[Ashley G. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to spend the majority of the book watching the fmc fall in love with the mmc. Instead the mmc turns out to be an a-hole and then all of the sudden the side character becomes attractive to her. This is at near 90% into the book. I've read this trope before and just didn't enjoy this particular execution of it

[D. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oooh, how I HATED this. 1 star for the excellent narration but otherwise sub-zero stars. A major disappointment after the excellent Our Stop that I enjoyed so much (how is this the same author...?). Having said all that, this is absolutely the book for you if you love rom-coms that are about (1) children and parenting tips and tons of dialogues with children (major parenting book vibes, uber weird in a romcom), (2) really lame male protagonist who borderline cheats on his girlfriend and farts for jokes when the female protagonist is being vulnerable and talking about a sensitive hurtful topic, (3) male protagonist who says "extreme feminism" makes men feel emasculated and these women are the reason incels exist only for the woman protagonist to say "you're right, consider me schooled" (note: this is where I DNFed) and (4) women being pitted against each other (cue: the tale as old as time of a young new wife who is OBVS a bitch and evil to the female protagonist) as if the year is not 2025.
What a letdown.

[Elexis Zapata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley for an ARC
Such a fun read. It felt like Jessie was one of my best friends. I was frustrated with her, proud of her, cried with her… all of the feelings.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure why the negative reviews, this was short and cute and I loved it. Definitely not as good as all her other books though

[Kara · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was a train wreck from start to finish.

[Jessica Worne · Rating 2 out of 5]

A flop.

[Kayleigh | Welsh Book Fairy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately this book did not quite hit the spot for me. I found the main character really two dimensional. Obsessed with love and being loved in a way that was more desperate than romantic. The love interest was a convenient side character so obviously placed it was a hard eye-rolling cliche.

Honestly I felt that every character in this book was a prop to support the frustrating main character on her emotional arc and I was left disappointed.

[Sarah Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out somewhat slow for me, but I'm glad I kept going because I ended up really enjoying it.

Jessie, a professional nanny, finds herself in a meet cute at a Whole Foods with Cal - they are shopping when a fire alarm goes off and they must evacuate. They spend a wonderful glorious day together that comes to an end in an odd way, and they part ways without exchanging info.

After posting photos in the store to see if he will see them and call her, Jessie finds herself face to face with Cal when she answers the door at her job to greet her boss's boyfriend. Stunned, she and Cal pretend they are strangers so as not to let Ali know their secret.

Along with the Ali/Cal story, Jessie is also struggling in her relationship with her father. He's engaged to a young woman close to Jessie's age who is not fond of Jessie. Throughout the book, we see the turmoil Jessie faces in her relationship with her dad.

As Cal and Jessie ignore feelings, Jessie also begins spending time with Leo, the local butcher. She likes Leo but believes he is a playboy so she is skeptical about his sincerity.

Jessie has always dreamed of having a program for children & Cal encourages her to apply for a grant. She gets the grant and begins putting plans into place.

Throughout the story, Jessie faces resistance from Ali on multiple things, fights with her dad, confusion of her relationships with Cal & Leo. But at the end, Jessie ultimately chooses herself. It was a good coming of age story about realigning goals and choosing peace. I really liked Jessie's growth throughout the story and loved how she finally stood up for herself!

Thank you Net Galley and publisher for the chance to read this eARC!

[Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the story. It has everything—humor, romance, empowerment, and personal growth. It keeps you on edge, wondering what might happen next. I loved the main character: a very determined woman with a great sense of humor and a big heart. I loved the ending—it really took me by surprise.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

During the first ten percent or so of this book, I kept wondering to myself okay, this is a sweet little meet cute BUT what diabolical twist is Laura going to throw at us?

And luckily she threw quite a few! I was halfway through before I came up for air. Laura has done it again with a fun sweet romcom that’s not just A to Z, but a roller coaster along the way. I continue to adore her writing style and am a fan for life.

And thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Katie Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for this ARC. This was my first Laura Jane Williams’s book, but I’d definitely consider reading more of her work in the future. It was light, fun, and had a happy ending.

I don’t think I would re-read it, but I would recommend to anyone looking for a quick, beach kind of read. It was a good time, and I give it a solid 3.5 stars.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is definitely for those secret romanticists who search for love at every corner. Except, real life is not a rom-com, and if it seems too good to be true, it most likely is.

Love at First Sight follows Jessie, a career nanny for the child of a famous actress. But Jessie has her own hopes and dreams, one of which does not involve falling for a stranger during a meet-cute you would only ever find in books.

It’s slow to start, but when Jessie bumps into the mysterious Cal during a fire alarm at a Whole Foods, followed by the most romantic date, Cal returns back to a stranger, with no way of contacting him. But it’s impossible for Jessie to forget their day together. So what does she do? SHE MAKES POSTERS AND PUTS THEM IN THE STORE THAT THEY MET. Unbelievably cringe-worthy, but I loved it.

“Send your ex to date me, and he shall come crawling back! Terms and conditions apply.”

The writing is witty and hilarious at times. Jessie is a relatable character. She’s lived her life as the buffer, the woman that men find their happily-ever-after with AFTER dating her. Also, she has a boatload of daddy issues. Go figure.

Although predictably, while searching for her mystery man, the perfect guy was right under her nose the entire time. However, the twists and turns throughout this book were unexpected. Especially when she meets the man that her boss has been dating.

“I’ve been through so much, and what’s the famous quote about insanity? Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. I can’t keep falling for these men who specialise in emotional infidelity. I have to be better.”

As a main character, I loved her. Shame about her boss though – I always surprise myself with how much I can despise a fictional character.

Love at First Sight is a slow-burn that represents the realistic outcome of those cheesy rom-com movies and books we all love so much. How when you set unrealistic expectations for yourself, you become blind to what you already have.

It’s about a journey of learning self-worth, confidence, and working for what you truly deserve. I recommend to those who need a little reality check – those who’s expectations have been heightened by the typical romance genre.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK (Penguin) for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Janae McGinnis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love at First Sight takes readers on an emotional journey with Jesse, a young woman navigating the complexities of self-discovery and the pursuit of passion. Throughout her journey, she learns that making choices can often upset those around her, but ultimately, it’s about her personal growth and happiness.

Jesse becomes infatuated with Cal after a brief but unforgettable encounter. She’s determined to find him again, even going so far as to post flyers in hopes he’ll reach out. Despite her efforts, there’s no response. Just when she’s beginning to lose hope, Cal reenters her life—but in an unexpected way: as the boyfriend of the mom of the boy she babysits.

Adding to the emotional turmoil, Cal continues to show interest in her, showering her with the attentionwhen he is around her. He knows how to say all the right things, offering a glimmer of hope, but deep down, Jesse struggles with feelings of unworthiness and questions if she truly deserves happiness. This self-doubt stems from her upbringing, leaving her hesitant to embrace love when it seems within reach.

Fortunately, Jesse isn’t alone on her journey. She has a solid support system, including her loyal friend India, and Leo, who consistently looks out for her. Leo’s unwavering care sparks the possibility of romance, though the chemistry between him and Jesse feels stretched at times. As much as I believe Leo genuinely wants to be with her, her feelings come across as uncertain, adding complexity to their relationship.

While this story captures Jesse’s path to self-worth, I found certain parts of the story drawn out, leaving me longing for more dynamic interactions between characters. It would have been refreshing to see deeper connections explored in the romantic relationships as they developed. Nonetheless, this book shines for readers seeking a strong female protagonist on a journey of self-discovery, proving that she is indeed worthy of love and happiness.

[Penny Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. Halfway in I did love this book and then everything shifted for me. I assumed going in that this would be a cutesy rom-com type story and I was ok with that, but now that I’ve just completed this book I’m sitting here asking myself how it all went so horribly wrong. The story starts out with Jessie who I liked just fine initially and she meets someone in such a meet cute kind of way that I got sucked into their one almost seemingly perfect night together until it all went horribly wrong. I understood her need to find him after failing to exchange numbers and I was rooting for her to find her perfect Cal. Cal is an absolute charmer and I immediately liked him so much. I liked these two together. After a predictable twist I kept reading anxiously to see how this one was going to work out only to find out it didn’t work out and in a rush Cal went from being swoon worthy to someone you’re supposed to suddenly dislike and root against and I just didn’t like that twist at all. Having this story steer the reader in the direction of wanting Cal and Jessie to get their happy ever after to then suddenly rooting for the boring butcher Leo who I felt no attachment to at all felt so forced and I hated it. Everything turned so quickly and Cal was just gone, no explanation really, just gone. I felt so disappointed when I finished this one, to the point that I find myself wishing I hadn’t bothered with it at all after the ending. I wanted to love this book so much, it had such initial potential.

[Meddings_Musings: Erin Meddings · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw the Goodreads rating and reviews after I was several chapters into the book. I was really enjoying it and thought some readers must have been reviewing a different book!

And then….I got it. It was hard to root for any of the characters who all seemed very self absorbed. As another reviewer said, the only likable character was Henry, a little boy.

This THREE STAR read was sorely lacking elements of a story that I like and it was lacking elements of fiction I just taught my sixth graders:
characters and situations I can relate to,
any kind of interesting rising action,
a noticeable climax where I experience that heightened sense of emotion as I see things reach a peak,
falling action wherein readers can begin to anticipate how the story may wrap up,
and a resolution where everything is wrapped up and reminds you why you were engaged in the book (unless there is no resolution like books in a series 😊).

So this was actually 2.5 stars I’ve rounded up to 3 stars.

This is the first book I’ve read from the author and despite this swing and a miss, I would be willing to try out another book from her.

Thank you NetGalley, Laura Jane Williams, and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read this free in exchange for a review.

[Grace (alatteofliterature) · Rating 2 out of 5]

From the beginning, this was so ridiculously cheesy and improbable, but the writing is witty so I enjoyed it…or, I did until miscommunication entered every relationship in the storyline. Disaster ensues.

There’s a lot of pontificating about good ideas and boundaries and such between characters, but very little of the advice is taken practically. I couldn’t cheer for a single character in this story (besides maybe the pizza shop owners?).

I’m so annoyed that the main character is so incredibly dumb. The FMC has the emotional maturity of a 17-year old, and the whole book hinges on her ability (or inability) to make wise decisions.

I think the wishy-washy perspective of the FMC made for a difficult narrative to write; it’s hard to keep each character’s intentions clear when the main character can’t sort out her emotions. Unfortunately, that doesn’t help the reader understand anyone better, and it’s simply confusing. Cute cover, but I’m disappointed.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the eARC.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s hard to like a book when you don’t like the characters. I struggled to get through this because I felt no connection to Jessie and no chemistry between her and the MMCs. I did enjoy her monologue at times. It was very casual but funny.

Some characters are very intentionally portrayed as frustrating or mean, and while for the most part I disagreed with their actions, at certain points I thought to myself “yeah, no that makes sense” or “I might do the same”, which just muddled my feelings toward the characters more.

Another thing that struck me was the amount of modern language and brand placement (examples include Uber Eats, AirPods, Whole Foods, Netflix, TikTok, Gen Z, etc). I worry these things might date the book as time goes on.

Overall, I think this book has okay bones, but the execution fell flat for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Rivka · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group/Putman for this earc

Sadly, this book didn’t not work for me. All the relationships felt surface level. Jessie and Cal? Have one magical day. She wants to find him. Questionable but Understandable. But making with her phone number? That’s just stupid.
Actually the whole Cal storyline was just off. He’s dating her boss? That’s relationship was obviously not great but he still wouldn’t break up with Ali. And at the end, Cal disappearing and all of sudden being the worst guy ever??? Like he was so good an actor to full Jessie and Ali??? Made no sense.
Jessie and her father? Her father is picking his half of his age girlfriend over his daughter? Just wrong. And what was the point of him being sick storyline?

One hope I had was for Jessie and Leo but Jessie acted sooo immature the whole time, I almost wished Leo would be set free.

Overall, this was just not great. Too many storyline that didn’t make a good story. The one reason I’m giving it 2 stars is because one star is for Henry.

[Love_booksforlife Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you PRHaudio for the gifted copy!

Jessie has a perfect meet cute with Cal. But after a perfect night together, they separate without getting each other's information. Days later, he shows up at the house where she is a nanny. Only, he's not there for her.

This was so cute! Here's what I liked:

The British romcom of it all: This reads like a classic British romcom movie, something I adore. You have great romance with side stories and a lot of choices for the main character. I loved how all of this played out!

Jessie: She's such a great character to follow. She has issues with her dad and is trying to figure out what path in life she really wants to take. All of this is woven perfectly with her romance journey. Jessie is strong and funny while also being vulnerable in all the right places. She truly cares about people which I loved.

The narration: Rebecca Norfolk does a perfect job in this one. She's a great voice for Jessie. I also appreciated how she changed her voice for the different characters.

All in all, this was a really cute British romcom!

[Nadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute story of Jesse finding her strength to be independent, stand up for herself and to find love. Jesse had a wonderful day with a handsome stranger that turned out to be dating someone else. What happened afterwards was fascinating and I couldn’t stop reading. I had to know what happened. I loved how she figured out what she wanted in her love life. Her boss Ali was not a great person and Ali’s ex was something else. Jesses best friend India was amazing! I was so happy she had such a great support system like India. Now, the ending was a sweet twist I wasn’t expecting. I loved it. Overall, it was a good and interesting story. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

[Jillian Wentworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, easy read! Love at First sight gives a glimpse into a woman transforming from a push over to finding her voice. She falls in love with a man in one afternoon not knowing his last name or number to reach him. The rest of the story is spent finding this man and herself with a twist at the end.
Cute
But it was so mild and parts were drawn out. I was not fully into any of the side characters either. Mild is just the best word for this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam NY for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lainy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 400

Publisher - Penguin

Source - ARC

Blurb from Goodreads

She’s found the one. He’s just not the one for her.

Jessie doesn’t believe in love at first sight. Until one sunny Saturday in London, a fire alarm in Whole Foods throws her into a stranger's arms. Cal is charming and funny: their chemistry is instant.

Quick-fire flirting turns into the most romantic day of Jessie’s life. But that evening they're forced apart before swapping numbers. Jessie is devastated – has she just lost the one?

After weeks of searching, Cal turns up on her doorstop holding two dozen red roses. It feels like fate.

The only thing is, they’re not for her…


My Review

Ah Jessie, shopping when she meets Cal, both are shopping, fire alarm goes off and they end up chatting and having a pretty magical date/evening. When Cal is a hero their night is cut short, they hadn't gotten each others details and the love that could have been is cut short Jessie can't believe it. So imagine her surprise, x amount of time later Cal appears with flowers but they aren't for her and Jessie can't say anything without upturning her life.

Ooft talk about nightmare, poor Jessie cannot catch a break, her dad is dating someone her age and she isn't the nicest at all. Her would be dream man disappeared and now she wishes he had stayed gone but she can't deny she is attracted to him still but actions and consequences. Her local butcher is a dish but he is a bit of a ladies man and she can't bring herself to take him seriously. Her boss is famous, high maintenance but also mostly friendly and Jessie dotes on her wee boy but even that aspect of her life isn't clear cut and issues are at every corner.

Jessie is nice but she also ripped my knitting a fair few times, some of her choices, behaviours, actions I was like really gurl come on! Her dad I wanted to slap more than a few times too, her employer, Cal, more than half the playing cast at times lol but I am also the first to admit I am beyond irritated the now so things that may have irked me now enrage lol.

Enjoyable poolside ride or just a wee wanting to dodge your own reality for 5 minutes, that being said it does have themes of infidelity, toxic behaviours, coercion, bitching, game play, emotional blackmail, a few doosies, 3/5 for us this time.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was delighted to receive an ARC of Love at First Sight by Laura Williams. I thoroughly enjoyed all her previous works. Yet this may be my new favourite. It had me gripped from the start and I couldn't put it down. The characters in this novel are well-developed, and the relationship between Jessie and Henry, the boy she cares for, will make your heart melt. "Love at first sight" is highly enjoyable and a easily engaging romantic read.

[Rachel Blades · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
I love a Brit Lit book and this hit the mark. I was rooting for our FMC and I was so happy with how this one ended. I enjoyed seeing our FMC grow throughout the book. Her friends added to the story as well.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cheesy rom com booked set in Stoke Newington in London. Reading this after just leaving London, felt nice to read a book where all the action was happening in Clissold Park of all places. Defiantly recommend for an easy read, especially for the London girlies.

[Sandie Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

[Jess Baker · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 - read for book club. Terribly cliche’d but easy enough to read in a day