I had high hopes for this book and it didnt disappoint.

Victoria works in a wine bar, lives above the wine bar and in her spare time teaches children sewing skills. She once had her dream but having her heart broken put an end to that.

She meets Oliver Russell who is heading up the opening of a new department store at the end of her road. His family have high hopes for both his career and his personal life. 

Oliver has a business opportunity to Victoria, pose as his fiancee in return for the chance to showcase both her own and her students masterpieces in a fashion show.

As the pair get to know each other they try and keep their relationship purely business. 

The book was slow in the first couple of chapters but then picked up and I couldn't put it down.

It is laced with happiness, romance, plenty of 'awww' moments and some sadness but it is simply stunning.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I did enjoy this but I did find it a bit slow I was not sure i was going to like but I glad I carry on the story a slow burn er but then it start to pull me in a good read stick with it the characters were ok it good book

Ahhh what a lovely book, pulled at the heart strings. Poor Victoria has been though the mill and has been left doubting herself, She takes on a journey of self discovery, with the help from a gorgeous tall dark and handsome stranger when he offers her a fantastic deal that could change her life.  A great story of love, trust and fantastic friendship,

A beautiful, descriptive novel. 
Tells the tale of a strap cashed designer who works in a London bar which she also lives above, she is absolutely not looking for mr right or even the one 
So when an unknown guy proposes to her the first time she meets him she thinks he is joking she doesn’t even know him 
But she is too find out he is part of the family who are building the huge new department store right across from the bar and overlooking all her friends business and she and them are worried about their own business
But as she meets this mysterious man he doesn’t want to take away their business he wants to give them space in his shop to do pop up tasters and then they can go to the business and everyone will be happy 
But there are hidden secrets and when is the right time to spill these secrets ?.
Will anyone have a happy ending ? Read it and see I guarantee you will enjoy it

As a massive fan of Made in Chelsea I was so looking forward to reading this one! ❤ Cant beat a light hearted romance!

Aspiring designer Victoria quite literally bumps into Oliver Russell, the co-owner of a family owned department store. The store is due to open soon and may threaten the local surrounding businesses. 

Their lives are set to change when a mutual agreement is settled between  them to fake a relationship to please Olivers family and give Victoria an opportunity of her dreams. 

Victoria is struggling to move on from the past and Oliver is struggling  with the future preplanned for him, particularly as his dads health is deteriorating. Together they must find a way to overcome the hurdles thrown in their path, keep the locals content and their families happy. 

As much as I tried I could not relate to Victoria. Seems like she was supposed to be an underdog but to own a London apartment independantly is out of most of our reach and quite privileged! To then fall in love with someone who has even more money is almost ludicrous and disappointing- the rich supporting the rich! For me I felt the book really lacked depth as a result.

Certain events were unoriginal - Oliver organising a helicopter trip for them because he can and he was going that way anyway seemed a little copied from 50 shades. It left me wondering if this was supposed to appeal to readers because they would  link it to a popular novel? I became more detached with the characters and the underlying plot as a result. 

I expected more conflict between certain characters, ex partners, stirring family members but it didn't seem to go anywhere. There was very little tension and you knew exactly where the story was going with no surprises along the way. 

Although some points in this book are  negative I really did enjoy it! Meet me in London is a romantic light hearted novel and a nice quick read! If you enjoy chick-lit you may find yourself swept in from the start! 3 stars from us!

Mills and Boon have improved in recent years, removing the more hysterical aspects of romance from their authors, less bodice ripping and fluttering hearts, but all that was back with this one and I couldn't finish it.

I wasn't aware, either, that although Georgia Toffolo has her name on the cover, it was to an extent ghost written, the ghost writer managing to get some credit on a fly leaf. Seems rather disingenuous to promote Georgia as the author when she wasn't entirely responsible for the novel.

Description

What do you do when your fake engagement starts to feel too real…

Aspiring clothes designer Victoria Scott spends her days working in a bar in Chelsea, and her evenings designing vintage clothes, dreaming of one day opening her own boutique. But these aspirations are under threat from the new department store opening at the end of her road. She needs a Christmas miracle, but one is not forthcoming.

Oliver Russell’s Christmas is not looking very festive right now. His family’s new London department store opening is behind schedule, and on top of that his interfering, if well meaning, mother is pressing him to introduce his girlfriend to her. A girlfriend who does not exist. He needs a diversion. Something to keep his mother from interfering while he focuses on the business.

When Oliver meets Victoria, he offers a proposition: pretend to be his girlfriend at the opening of his store and he will provide an opportunity for Victoria to showcase her designs. But what starts as a business arrangement soon becomes something more tempting, as the fake relationship starts to feel very real. But when secrets in Victoria’s past are exposed will Oliver walk away, or will they both follow their hearts and find what neither knew they were looking for…

My thoughts

I don’t usually read fiction books by celebrities, and I’ve definitely never read a Mills & Boon book, but this was an interesting one – for sure.

It felt weird reading a book set during the build up to Christmas, for sure, but what ensued was not an over-the-top-tinsel-fest..in fact, and possibly to my surprise, this was a fun, heartfelt book with an insight into serious topics like infertility, sustainability, disability and grief.

Admittedly, though no fault of Toffolo, it took me a while to get into – though this was probably in part down to the fact that, with all the madness of working from home and getting my head around living day to day in this crazy time – but (when I eventually did get into the rhythm) I liked it. It was a bit fluffy and mushy at times but it was also sensitive and mature – which will silence any critics of celebrities branching out into literature writing, for sure.

Oliver and Victoria come together several times in the book, the first time through a drunken proposal at the bar where Victoria works. Though I love the fake romance trope, which the first chance encounter leads to, I did find the fact that he proposes to her on first meeting very cringey. Saying that, I’m glad the relationship developed at a speed that felt natural, not contrived.

I liked how the two characters genuinely wanted to help each other with their goals, though the whole my-parents-want-to-see-me-married-so-I’m-not-a-disappointment feels a bit outdated, and I think the romance that blossomed with them made for a sweet read.

My only complaint where Meet Me in London was concerned was the fact that – no fault of Toffolo – I just couldn’t visualise the London setting. I’ve been to London before, once on a school trip, but (aside from most places we planned on going being closed, and the tube being off for the day) I don’t remember much of it. I just didn’t feel the sense of familiarity that the characters felt.

Even so, Meet Me in London is a festive, flirty and fun novel that might even put the Scrooges amongst us (me) in a festive/romantic mood (lockdown has reminded me I might just have been single for too long 😂).

I've loved Toff since I watched her on Made in Chelsea, so I really wanted to love this book. I'm not sure if I just wasn't in the right mood for this kind of book but I wasn't rushing to pick up my kindle.

This story follows Victoria, a struggling fashion designer, who was cheated on by her ex, and Oliver, heir to a billion dollar department store company. Oliver's dad is unwell, his parents are very keen to see him settle down and so he makes an agreement with Victoria; pretend to be his fiancee and he will help support the local community in the area where his new department store is being built.

It wasn't quite as much of a fluffy and easy read as I had been expecting (and in the mood for!) however, it's a really modern take on the 'romcom' literacy genre and I could easily imagine it being made into a film.

It covers sensitive and real subjects such as sustainability, fast fashion, disability and infertility (which I really liked as too many of this genre focus on the 'end goal' of marriage and babies, when for many this isn't so easily attainable.)

The story includes 3 of Victoria's best friends and I assume (and hope) the author has introduced these characters in order to write further books.

⭐⭐⭐ and a half ⭐ (rounded to 4)

Oliver and Victoria's story is a delightful and enjoyable read.

It's set in London in winter/Christmas and yes being a fake fiancee themed book it's no surprise how the story goes, but it's still a good read.

Oliver is a rich man, but comes across as very grounded. Victoria is a touch too perfect/nice if I'm honest, maybe both of them are thinking about it but it's escapism so who cares. They were great together.

A good book to escape into, it's a warm winter romance.

3.75

This is a beautiful love story that will grip you from the very first page.
It is a real chic flic read sensual and beautifully written.
It is the first in a trio of books and can’t wait for the next one which is published in January

A lot is going on in the world this autumn, so I was in dire need of a heartwarming Chritmassy read. So as soon as I read about Meet Me in London, I had to get my hands on it.

Meet Me in London is a fake relationship rom-com between an aspiring fashion designer and a new department store owner in London. Victoria needs a miracle to survive in a demanding London market while Oliver needs to introduce a girlfriend (he does not have) to his family during the new department store's opening ceremony. What I really liked about this book in particular is the skillful character development of both main characters; I have really grown to love them and root for them. Luckily, the ending was as wonderful as I had hoped, making this novel a full package for the ultimate romantic comfort listen.

This escapist holiday read was exactly what I needed during this difficult time, and I would highly recommend it during the chilly seasons. 

In addition, I simultaneously read the ebook and listened to the audiobook version for the ultimate comfort book experience. Turns out it was a huge hit for me because not only is the novel an absolute delight, but the narrator totally hit it out of the park with conveying all the romantic feels to the listener.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'll admit it was curiosity about the author that first drew me to this book. My experiences with 'celebrity authors' have been a bit hit and miss in the past, but I really enjoyed this! Meet Me In London is a wonderfully cosy, romantic, feel-good story - exactly what I need at the moment. It's festive, but not overly so, which makes it the perfect read for this time of year. It has a lovely cast of characters that I grew to really like, so I was pleased to discover that this was the first in a series (don't worry though - there's no cliffhangers!). Whilst love and romance of course take centre stage, at the heart of this novel is female friendship. Victoria, Zoe, Malie and Lily, four best friends forever bound by a life changing incident, are each making their own way in the world, and have chosen very different paths. Each book in the series follows one of the girls as she chases her dreams, and hopefully finds her happily ever after.

In Meet Me in London we meet Victoria and Oliver. Victoria dreams of running her own fashion business, working in a bar to make ends meet whilst running classes for underprivileged kids who want to get into the fashion industry. Oliver is the heir to the department store chain Russell and Co, a giant of the industry with stores all over the world. He has never had time for love, has never met 'the one', and his parents are piling on the pressure. So when he meets Victoria, he has an idea that might get them off his back... Victoria was a character that I really rooted for. She is so considerate and caring, scarred by her past both mentally and physically. Oliver sees past the scars like no one else ever has, and what starts as a fake relationship very quickly escalates into something neither of them can walk away from. Their chemistry was off the chart, and I loved that the narrative alternated perspective between them, allowing us to see both sides of the story. Their lack of communication did frustrate me though - seriously, if characters just talked to each other so many problems and story lines would be resolved in an instant! London of course is a character in itself. Toff has written about what she knows best with the majority of the action set in Chelsea, and her local knowledge shines through. 

Meet Me in London is a heartwarming read, perfect for a cold winter's night. I'm already looking forward to the next installment in the series, Meet Me in Hawaii! Thanks to Mills & Boon and NetGalley for the for providing an e-copy of this book in exchange for a review!

Great Debut Romance.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Great female friendships, hidden tragedy, interesting career, fake relationship that morphs into love and likeable characters. I will be looking to read more by this author.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

For a debut novel this was wonderfully surprising. Fantastically entertaining, warm and with beautiful characters. Lovely book

A brilliant debut novel by Georgia Toffolo

Victoria works in a bar, while designing dresses in her spare time. She also helps disadvantaged teenagers with their designs. Teaching them in her flat. 

Victoria has 3 best friends, Zoe, Mallie, and Lily. They are always there for each other. 
On the night of their prom, they have a car accident, each suffering catastrophic injuries. They have learned to live with their injuries but have a code, for when they need to talk. 

One night in her bar, a man proposes to Victoria, but she just thinks he’s had too much to drink. Then one winters night, they literally bump into each other. So starts Victoria’s friendship with Oliver, and an attraction, that they both try to ignore. 

On the street where Victoria works, a new big department store is being built. The manager has managed to upset all the local shop owners. 

Oliver has a proposition for Victoria. He needs her to be his fake fiancée until the store opens. His mother is desperate to see him married. Oliver is a nice guy, so Victoria agrees. 
So starts a very interesting friendship. 

There are lots of ups and downs ahead for Victoria and Oliver, an ex partner, a jealous cousin and of course the problems caused Victoria’s injuries. 

I really enjoyed this book by Toff and look forward to reading many more of her books

I was slightly sceptical as this is a Mills and Boon book, but was really entertained reading this classic festive tale!
This is the story of Victoria, who wants to launch her clothing designs. She is independent, stylish, and hard working - and Oliver, who is trying to do the right thing for his family, to get their store open before Christmas. Can they work together?
Loved the twists and turns of this story. Great characters, but the story reminded me of a conglomeration of other books I have read, but in a romantic festive form.
Fun read and enjoyable!

I do watch reality tv so I knew of Georgia Toffolo when I requested this book. I was expecting it to be very “Toff” but it really wasn’t, I soon forgot about who the author was!
The book was a typical romcom where two people fake an engagement but yes, you guessed it, end up falling in love. 
The book didn’t feel rushed and I thought it flowed nicely and was well written for a first book (I think?!).
I only discovered after reading the book that it is a series which explained why you didn’t hear much about Vs friends. I am looking forward to reading the next book and I hope V and Ollie pop up again! 
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

Oh this book!!! As far as debut novels go this was an absolute dream 💕

The writing style is absolutely brilliant, and the characters are so beautifully written!!

I loved Victoria from the offset and and Ollie is fantastic!! The whole story was so believable and I instantly felt for Victoria.

I can’t wait to read the rest of the books that are coming in this series.....I just know they’re going to be

Firstly I'd like to thank NetGalley for sending me the ebook and the audiobook for an honest review!

I've followed Georgia's life through Made in Chelsea and I'm a Celeb and was thrilled when I saw that she had written her debut romance, Meet me in London and really wanted to read it. I ended up listening to the audiobook which was narrated by Toff herself. After I got used to her voice I really enjoyed it. 

As it is her debut book I tried to look past first time writer issues and focus on the story. It's about Victoria and Oliver who are attracted to each other straight away. They both have their problems and Victoria has a secret she doesn't want to tell. It's the fake relationship trope that I'm finding that I really enjoy. I think that Toff touched on some very important topics and wrote about them sensitively. She also explored how people can react to them in ignorant ways and how this can harm people. (Possible trigger warnings: infertility and seriously ill parents). Overall a very good message. It's definitely full of middle class characters, Oliver being a billionaire and everything. However, Toff showed how even the wealthiest people don't have perfect lives. 

The first time writer problems that I touched on earlier were things like overused words (how many times can a heart dance). Also, listening to the audiobook, at points I couldn't tell who was talking as there weren't many dialogue tags at all. Sometimes the characters would think something but I couldn't tell if they said it out loud or in their head until a few lines after. Something as simple as 'she thought' or 'he said' would have really helped. At points the dialogue didn't really seem realistic at all. There was also so much description at points that we didn't need that went on for so long. Things that needed more description, like the park that the characters visit could have used more. It seemed that the character was standing talking to someone and having a ten minute daydream about a memory and the other character would be just standing there frozen in time waiting for a response. Also, a personal problem was that it skipped over the only sex scene!

Having said all this, they are only minor problems and I did really enjoy the story and watching Victoria and Oliver's relationship blossom.

This is a love story set in Chelsea, London. The book's setting and characters are realistic and give the story a unique sense of place.

Victoria is recovering, from a relationship break up that damaged both career aspirations and her heart. Oliver is troubleshooting the opening of a flagship department store, for his family's business but he's doing it more out of loyalty than a vocation. Victoria is likeable and relatable. Oliver, although emotionally remote, has a kind heart. When they meet, in the bar the chemistry is quick to ignite although they keep their feelings hidden until fate brings them, together again. 

This is a gentle romance catalysed by a fake engagement. It is passionate but conflicted as the couple keep secrets that threaten their future.  The realisation that a fake engagement is not what the couple wants, leads to internal conflict and sadness, but thankfully all the angst is rewarded with a happy ending.

I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.