London is the Best City in America

by Laura Dave

The first novel from the acclaimed author of Eight Hundred Grapes

Emmy Everett is reluctantly heading home to New York for her brother Josh’s wedding. She has spent the last three years in a fishing town in Rhode Island and, having little to show for it, she doesn’t particularly want to answer the questions she is sure to face about her (ex)-fiance, her (questionable) career choices, her (unknown) future. But she is still shocked when her typically resolute brother Josh confesses he is having doubts about his imminent marriage – and he asks Emmy the hardest question of all: what do I do now?

With seventy-two hours until the wedding, Emmy embarks with Josh on a road trip to help him find a mystery woman, and to answer some long overdue questions about who he wants to spend his life with. It isn’t only Josh who has some lessons to learn. Along the way, Emmy discovers some undeniable truths about what she wants from her own life; and she begins to realize that perhaps her own happy ending is not as far away as it seems.

From the Trade Paperback edition.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Adult, Family

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 18, 2006

About the author

Laura Dave is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several novels including The Last Thing He Told Me and Eight Hundred Grapes. Her novels have sold more than six million copies and have been translated into thirty-eight languages. She resides in Santa Monica, California.

Her new novel, The First Time I Saw Him, will be released in January 2026

Website:www.lauradave.com

Instagram:www.instagram.com/lauradaveauthor

Reviews

[Catalina · Rating 1 out of 5]

"London Is the Best City in America" failed to engage me on any level. The characters were underdeveloped and despite a cloying repetition of "great truths" about love and relationships and "moving on" I never managed to find the "A Ha" moment with any character's life choices. The couples that got together were completely predictable and the Rhode Island references seemed random and bizarre. I felt the urge to play the teacher handing back a report with the words "What happened to these characters? What purpose to they play in the plot development?" and "Cheesy dialogue--please rework". Not a satisfying read, unfortunately.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey look I read a totally chicklitty book and liked it. Actually I don't really know what chick lit is but I am worried this might be it. I mean it is clearly a book for women... but lets pretend I'm not embarrassed to have read it.

100... Yay 100... I can calm down I am not a failure.

Okay I liked this book. I as a general rule like any book about relationships in which the resolution is fuzzy at best and everyone is constantly making the wrong decision.

I think that this really comes down to the fact that I really experience those types of books that I really battle with those issues on a day to day basis. I wrote once in another review: "a relationship of love can never be quite as perfect as a relationship of compromise." I'm sure at the time I was talking about the book and it was relevant, but I think it is also a statement about myself.

These days we all grow up in a world where people are constantly getting divorced and changing their minds and falling out of love. I mean did our great grandparents go around falling out of love? it doesn't seem like it. The entire foundation of relationships it just seems shakey. and there isn't much that's worse than standing on shakey ground.

There is a quote I have remembered since high school although I forgot the author long ago that goes something like "tread lightly the crust is thin." For years the world has really felt this way for me. Like If I tried to hard, if I really wanted the world was going to break. So I stayed quiet and I waited and I hoped that everything would turn out on its own.

This book is about that. It is about not wanting to make decisions. Wanting to be in love, wanting to end up in the right, wanting everything to work out, but not being willing to shake the boat to make that happen. It's about how you get what you want without stepping on someone else to get it.

I have this guy, who for years I've had some kind of a thing with. And in reality that thing is nothing. I've dated over the top of it, he's considered dating although I don't think it's worked out. We've gone through long periods of not speaking. There is a funny point in this book where Laura says 75% of relationships are ended by women, it might be the man's fault but he waits for the woman to actually end it. This book is really about that waiting. It's about how nothing will ever be over till you say it's over. It's about the fact that sooner or later someone has to say "put up or shut up" and without that, the thing, that background of I'll always love you it kinda haunts you.

I like this book because I relate to that. I know what it's like to try to move on with your life while you are dealing with a ghost like that. I know that it's impossible. For me a book like this isn't about me wanting what's best for the character it's about the book being a lens to see myself. I don't cheer for the guy proposing at the... okay that movie it was some sports game... I wonder what would I do? It's a book that for me at least I think made me think. It didn't make me change, I won't leave this review and go tell him to "put up or shut up". But I'll have a better idea what is happening for me, and maybe for him to.

This book begins with the quote:
If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life. -oscar wilde

I think that contradiction really catches the problem the book is grappling with, the problem so many of us are grappling with. Do we? can we? wait.

[Catherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

The prologue seemed promising, along with these moments in Part One: - "Here's the thing about going home again. You don't always know what you'll remember." (13)
- "And suddenly I felt oddly aware of how clear the sky was... how everything was bright and fluid even while it was happening--already existing closer to memory than reality." (13)

Then some pages later I realized we were moving downhill. Dave attempts to add dimension to the story with repetition, an integration of the history of wedding traditions and superstitions, and failed metaphors and symbolism. Instead we have a wordy surface-level account of an irritating protagonist who thinks she's more insightful than she is. Because the entire book is a verbal regurgitation of what confusion and growing up feels like, the discerning reader never connects with any real emotion. Dave chose to separate the book into five parts which made no sense other than underlining her inability to delve deeper.

The narrator incriminates herself (and sums up my sentiment toward the book) in this line:
"And I wish--I really wish--that I could begin to describe what it was like seeing her being seen that way by him." (196)

I want to note that this was a book club pick... the only reason I decided to finish.

[April Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kept reading this book expecting it to get better. It had potential to be better. Felt it was rather predictable and was slow moving. It tried to be deeper, but stayed rather superficial instead.

[Jill Logan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I was about five years too old for this book. It's cute. I can see why it sold for movie rights. But it didn't really move me, and it was one of those frustrating books where I didn't really care about what happened to anyone in it. PLUS, it revolved around a wedding, which is my least favorite thing to read about. If you're 25 or under, though, give it a shot.

[jen walter-ballantyne · Rating 2 out of 5]

reading this book was like watching a romantic comedy. the novel is entertaining, sure, and i found that i really wanted to finish it, but it isn't actually good. most of the chapters felt more self-contained than i would have liked, almost as though they were blog posts that had been strung together to form a novel.

[Abril Camino · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ni la he entendido del todo ni la he disfrutado apenas. La única buena noticia es que se lee en un par de sentadas, pero en todo momento me ha parecido que los personajes actuaban como marcianos.

[Donna Rehel-Giordano · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. Expected more

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

This book has been on my shelf for an embarrassingly long time and I'm SO HAPPY I finally picked this up. This is the kind of book I used to devour - contemporary, somewhat love story and mostly a protagonist who is feeling lost is life and is finding herself.

I don't have enough words for how much I enjoyed the writing and how many pages I dogeared. I will say I think a huge piece of the connection is because this book is set in a town close to where I grew up so I know it intimately and loved all of the reference points.

Emmy is returning home for her brother Josh's wedding. Emmy walked away from her fiancee a few years ago and that's still something she's coping with. And clearly being at someone else's wedding isn't high on her list of things she wants to do. To add to the complications when she gets home Josh drops a bomb on Emmy - he thinks he might be making a huge mistake. It's 3 days until the wedding and Josh and Emmy go on quite the trip - both internally and a literal road trip - to figure out what choices to make that will ultimately make them happy.

I totally enjoyed this book and loved Emmy and Josh's relationship. I loved the characters in this and am excited to pick up more from Laura Dave soon!

[Eric Klee · Rating 4 out of 5]

LONDON was a great, quick read about the choices we make in life. My favorite insightful line was: "You need to choose among the choices that are there, and not the ones that aren't anymore. At least now how you need them to be. You're still stuck on some imaginary idea you have of how it could have been. You need to think about how it is now. And how you want it to be."

Emmy makes her first choice when she abandons her fiance in a hotel room because she just can't imagine being with him for the rest of her life. From there, she moves to a small fishing town in Rhode Island to just catch her breath and get away from everyone, something we've all wanted to do at some point or another.

The novel's characters were all likeable, despite any hurt they caused others. They were just trying to find their way through life and find someone to spend that life with.

For a first-time novelist, Laura Dave cranked out a good, light story about the intricacies of relationships and family bonds.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I really enjoyed this book. Far more than I expected to. After reading so many just ok books this one really stood out for me. I enjoy books that I feel like I can relate to and this one I could. The book is about family, relationships, and figuring out who you are and where you want to be with your life. I recommend reading this one.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kinda like Shiva Baby but more boring and also now that I think about it not like Shiva Baby at all

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very mid, but a good brainless read

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was funny and really well-written for a light read (aka, realistic, yet not depressing). I really loved the anecdote about the offshore fisherman's girlfriend who would watch for her boyfriend as he came back into port, and then run away after she caught his eye. That way, she could leave him for a change. I should mention that I listened to this one on my commute, instead of reading it. My only beef is that while the person reading the book made an attempt to differentiate between the characters, the character from Georgia sounded just like the character from Arkansas, who sounded just like the character from Texas, who sounded just like Rosalynn Carter.

[Zilpha Owens · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. Both Emmy and Josh were frustrating characters and on the immature side. The book itself could use some editing. I finished it, so I guess that something.

[Nancy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have no idea why I found this book so annoying. It just was annoying!

[Ashlee Bree · Rating 2 out of 5]

Awesome premise, mediocre execution. I had hoped for more character development, more carefully drawn parallels between Emmy and Josh and the difficult life choices they avoided or were forced to make about love. It's a short read, with the entire plot revolving around a wedding, counting down from 72 hours, however, the pacing doesn't reflect that. It's slow and rambling where one would expect it to be quick, suspenseful, and crunched for time.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid three stars. I liked it. I liked some characters more than others, I liked the story okay - taking place for the most part over a short period of time.

I realize it's a bit of a stretch, but I'm going to count this for the 2018 PopSugar Reading Challenge as a book set on Halloween. The actual book isn't but key characters have key relationships that started on Halloween. So . . . there. It's my reading challenge and I'll do what I want. ;)

[Molly Gordon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although there are moments of interesting insights into relationships, the book is pretty predictable. It was a relatively enjoyable read that kept me somewhat interested, but it certainly wasn't the next great literary novel. In short, if you are looking for a light, breezy read with some interesting thoughts on getting out of relationships, then this is the book for you.

[Heather Ekola · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was my book clubs most recent pick that came highly recommended. It was a complete and utter waste of time. Written by a novice author, the characters are underdeveloped, flakey, and totally unrelatable to me. There are holes in the story the author fails to fill. But you don't walk away wondering, you simply walk away.

[Janelle Blain · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book description - “London is the Best City in America, is the story of two siblings who have found themselves at a crossroads. In mapping their struggles over one mild and somewhat apathetic wedding weekend, Laura Dave gives us a subtle look at relationships when we have to make choices.” There I fixed it. 1.5 stars.

[Lauren Ducote · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible writing style, weak characters, too many useless bits not relating to the story, amature descriptions of people and places

[Tiffany · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was looking for a light read and got suckered in by the RI connection, but this book was about as well-written as Sweet Valley High.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore Laura Dave's books so was excited to read this one! Dave writes so easily about complicated relationships, flawed characters, and real people who are swayed by emotion but usually do the right thing! And this is her debut; clear to see why she has become so popular! Emmy leaves Matt in the middle of the night with no warning. Later we see her going "home" to her brother Josh's wedding to Meryl...but things are complicated. Josh has other things going on, an old boyfriend of Emmy's appears, and she must wrestle with many decisions that have influenced her life. Dave always shows us many sides to a character so we appreciate motivations and difficult dilemmas. I will continue to be a fan!

[Jeff Rice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Such an original idea. Woman dumps guy due to poor communication, moves away, thinks about him for 3 years non stop, returns home, bumps into him randomly, initially wants him again, then decides she doesn't because of a sign from the universe, then realizes she's had a crush on her brother's best friend.
I'm only giving 2 stars because the author forgot to include a family member that died for some reason or is insanely wealthy.

[Kristie Casanova · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 - It was a quick read (which I need with a newborn at home because I can't seem to make time for reading at all this year!) and something different from books I usually read. I felt like the final two scenes were a bit sappy and dragged, but it was otherwise enjoyable.

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - cute, easy read

[Regina Oechsle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted so badly to like this book more. Only one thing resonated. “You’re still stuck on some imaginary idea you have of how it could have been. You need to think about how it is now. And how you want it to be.”
May we all focus on how we want things to be. 😊

[Donna Elmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satisfying read about relationships and the choices we make. I enjoyed the characters. The book is bring made into a movie so I’ll enjoy seeing the movie ending.

[Michele Goguen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was Laura Dave's first book & I really liked it. Her characters are complicated & deep, but relatable. Very good book. Quick read.