I love Katie Fforde books, but I'm not so keen on those set in 1960s London, like this one.
This is the story of Felicity and Violet. From very different backgrounds, they are thrown together by living in different parts of the same house.
A nice read, but not one of Fforde's best books in my opinion.

I loved this book, I read it in two days but wanted to let the book settle for a few days before I wrote the review.

Felicite (you met her before in a Wedding in Provence) has left her family chateau and headed for swinging London to do a short hand secretairl course and to live with the mother that abandoned her many years ago, Felicite is finding life in London a bit challenging until she met Violet who lives in an upstairs flat.

Violet was whisked out to London by her godmother when a woman moves into the family home with designs on her father, she has a job in a bookshop but noone really knows what she is supposed to be doing.

Jenny is a keen horticulturist, the best friend of Violet, when she suddenly ups and leaves and goes to work for some horticulturist is France Violet is worried.

When Felicite meets Oliver he tells her he is very good at parents, but would her parents be so delighted in her having a relationship with a mudlark.

As I said I loved the book, Katie's characters are very engaging and it was lovely to met some of the old characters again, David is still very much to fore sorting out problems for everyone.

You dont have to have read the trilogy before to read this story, although I would recommend them too, but this story in itself is very engaging and I was so sad to leave at the end of the book, I really cant' say enough good things about this book.

From London with Love follows Violet and Felicity both new to London , Violet having left home as her fathers lady friend made her feel unwelcome and Felicity has left Provence to live with her mother while she studies shorthand and typing. They soon become firm friends helping with each other’s problems.

Katie Fforde knows how to weave a story lovely seeing some familiar characters like David and Felicity and her family in Provence. Her books are cosy heartwarming reads.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

We meet Felicity in London, Felicity, she’s come to stay with her mother from France to undertake a secretarial course before going Paris to study art at college.

She makes friends with Violet, staying in the flat which belongs to her Godmother in the same building. The friendship these two have grows as they both get used to working, studying and romance in London,

I highly recommend this book.

Ah a Katie Fforde book is like meeting up with an old friend and this one is no different. We are transported back to 1960s London where Felicity has come to live with her Mother. This book follows her adventure for the year she has come to stay, whilst also visiting Provence where her Father and Step Mum stay. A hug of a book, definitely leaves you with a feelgood feeling.

This is a beautiful story about two young ladies, from very different backgrounds. They are thrown together due to living in separate parts of the same house and soon become fast friends.

This is a really well written story with likeable characters. There are several different romances and also some heartbreak. Thankfully, everything turns out fothe best in the end.

From London With Love has some characters we have met before but this time follows Felicity and Violet. It was an enjoyable story but not one of my favourites.

I love Katie Fforde’s books, but this one wasn’t my favourite. I found it slow to start, it did get better though. Felicity has arrived in London to live with her mother and to study, there is a lovely lady Violet that loved in the flat upstairs and they hit it off. It takes you through the romance of Felicity and Daniel, the book was written in 1968, but it felt the romance was dated much earlier. The plot was too slow for me. 3 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

Katie Fforde is one of my favourite authors but I didn’t enjoy her last novel, Island in the Sun, and this latest book also fell flat for me. Set in 1968 when London was swinging it feels like a missed opportunity not to inject more of the extraordinary social changes that were happening particularly for young women who are the main characters. Well written as always but less interesting and compelling than usual.

Another enjoyable read from Katie Fforde. Set in the London in the 1960s, this story follows the lives of two young women both taking a step into city life with new jobs and experiences. Both are determined to remain independent young ladies, but somewhat unsurprisingly they both fall in love. The path of true love does not however run smooth, as they both experience problems along the way. I enjoyed the story and liked the characters, wanting things to come good for them in the end. This is a easy but thoroughly enjoyable read.

Another great Katie Fforde book. I found this book gentle with no great romance dialogue. This seemed to be more of how women were changing in the 1960’s becoming more independent and not relying on men as much. The friendship between the two main characters was good to see develop and the story line interesting. The ending seemed predictable and rushed but i liked it none the less. A good read that i would recommend to fellow readers.

I really enjoyed this third book in the series. I love Katie’s books her characters draw you into their stories and feel like friends. I couldn’t put this down and thoroughly recommend you read it.

I felt this book was a little different from her normal writing but nevertheless I enjoyed it very much. Great characters and storyline which kept me hooked from start to finish.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I’m normally a big fan of Katie Fforde’s, but this book didn’t grip me. The writing was fantastic as always, but unfortunately the story just didn’t capture my imagination. It was focused on a group of friends in 1968 and the stories behind how they found their happy ever afters. Maybe it was the time period – Katie’s books that I have enjoyed the most were her older ones which were set in the present day, all with a similar storyline. Still worth a read, but if you haven’t read her earlier ones, I’d suggest starting with those.

Thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone, NetGalley and Katie Fforde for this advance reader copy, in return for an honest review.

Book Review: From London with Love by Katie Fforde

Katie Fforde’s From London with Love is a delightful, heartwarming romance set in 1968 that effortlessly combines the charm of London with a heroine pursuing her dreams and discovering love along the way. Fforde, known for her uplifting and feel-good tales, delivers yet another page-turner filled with warmth, romance, and a touch of adventure.

The story centers around Felicity, a young woman from Provence who arrives in London to stay with her mother and improve her English. She plans to spend the year learning secretarial skills, but the world has other plans for her. While her mother dreams of finding her a suitable husband, Felicity is secretly determined to return to France and pursue her true passion—painting.

Her life takes a delightful turn when she meets Oliver, a free-spirited and fascinating young man who lives on a barge and is a mudlarker. Oliver’s passion for searching the Thames for hidden treasures intrigues Felicity, and soon she finds herself swept into his world, uncovering forgotten bits of history while following her artistic dreams. As Felicity grows closer to Oliver, she is torn between her mother’s expectations and her own desires, especially when it becomes clear that Oliver may not be the “suitable man” her mother envisioned.

Fforde’s storytelling shines in her portrayal of Felicity’s journey of self-discovery, love, and following her passion. The romance between Felicity and Oliver is charming and tender, and their adventures along the Thames add a unique and refreshing layer to the story. The setting of 1968 London feels alive, with its vibrant culture and evolving social norms, making it a perfect backdrop for Felicity’s personal growth.

Felicity’s conflicting emotions—loyalty to her mother, the pull of her dreams, and her growing love for Oliver—are relatable, and readers will find themselves rooting for her every step of the way. The novel is a beautiful exploration of love, family, and pursuing what truly matters, making it an ideal read for fans of romantic escapism.

From London with Love is the kind of book that wraps you in a warm hug, making you want to linger in its world long after you turn the last page. Whether you're in the mood for romance, a bit of adventure, or a heartfelt story about following your dreams, this novel offers all of that and more.

Rating: 4.5/5

Katie Fforde has done it again with this charming and inspiring tale. Fans of her previous work and those looking for an uplifting romantic escape will find From London with Love to be a truly enjoyable read.

In a book that has characters from previous books that Fforde has written, we find Felicite in the 1960s, just moving to London to live with her mother. She is half French and half English but has lived most of her life in Provence. She finds adapting to London life, living with her well-to-do mother and her secretarial course challenging. But she finds a friend in Violet, the lodger in the flat upstairs and also nearly literally bumps into Oliver, a fan of mudlarking and soon a fan of Felicite too. Meanwhile, Violet has also recently moved to London from the countryside and has started a new job even though she’s never met her boss and doesn’t know what she should be doing. She has a Father back home who has just inherited a lordship and is attracting women because of his newfound wealth. And what made Violet’s best friend suddenly rush off to France? As with all of Fforde’s books, the course of true love never runs smoothly but you will have to read it to find out if there is a happy ending.

I have read a few of Fforde’s books including “A Wedding in Provence” (which included some of the same characters and I enjoyed) and more recently “Island in the Sun” (which I have to be honest and say I didn’t enjoy). While I feel this one is better than the latter, it still had some of the same issues. Parts of the behaviour, thoughts and conversations between the characters just didn’t seem realistic (even when you suspend a certain amount of disbelief!). But also it feels like there are really unnecessary explanations and information is often repeated when most readers don’t need to be reminded of it.

But it’s a very easy, cosy read and one that will appeal to anyone who wants to find out what happens next to some of Fforde’s previous characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

An interesting story set in the 1960s London about two women from affluent backgrounds finding romance .
Amidst many ups and downs Felicity and Violet finally find their respective paths through tricky relationships and family friction.
I enjoyed reading about mudlarking, its dangers and the possibilities of the treasures to be found.
I would have liked to learn more about the lost palace, but perhaps that is another story?

It was a good book but not quite up to the usual books from this author.

Felicity has moved to London as her Mother has paid for her secretarial course from France. She meets Violet who lives in the flat above and also Oliver who she seems to have a connection with. Violet meets Henry through her Father and would like to get to know him better. Through a lot of miscommunication and mishaps things don’t go to plan.

I thought it was a nice cosy book and the characters were nice but it didn’t really feel there was much to this book.

The book was ok.

I loved being back in the 1960’s with Katie Fford’s characters. It’s so interesting to see that love, friendship and romance is timeless.

Felicity was an interesting character and it was nice to see her take the next steps on her journey into womanhood, having met her in a previous book. I really felt for her being unsure how to behave around her estranged mother and how to fit in with proper English society. It was cleverly written and at times I really felt for her. Her friendship with Violet who is staying in the upstairs flat is crucial to Felicity enjoying her stay and the many adventures she goes on.

However, Violet is a character not to be over looked, she may not be the main star but I think her storyline really brings that extra oomf to the book. Having her meet Henry on neutral grounds was great as she got a true feeling for him, then the twist that he is the bookshop owner and then how she strives to help him with his historical discovery, employing all her friends to help him achieve and in doing so she wins his heart. I really enjoyed that whole sub plot.

I really can’t wait to see what 1960’s delights that Fford is going to give us next.

1968, the London scene, and Felicity comes to stay with her forbidding mother whilst she undertakes a secretarial course. This book is another spin with familar names of characters popping up (her step mother is in Provence - Alexandria from previous novels)

Here she meets Violet, who lives at the top of the big house and proves to be a good friend. She also literally bumps into Oliver, a muddy and eccentric mudlarker, with an eclectic group of friends.

This is a cosy and fun novel about finding love in unusual places, with all the perfectly happy endings you are hoping for when you pick it up. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.