A charming step back into recent past, a world without mobile phones and Uber. Simply wonderful to meet up with known characters and to meet new ones. A heart warming read that captures you and draws you in. A really enjoyable read.

Thank you Netgalley.

I found that this book just fell a bit flat for me. The first half really dragged and only picked up when it came to mudlarking discoveries and uncovering secrets but this was glossed over in favour of the romance. I liked the character of Violet but really couldn’t warm to the others and found that I wasn’t really bothered what happened, I usually really liked Katie Fforde books but this one did not capture me.

This is the latest in a series of connected novels about friends and family living in France and England. Félicité is the oldest daughter of Antoine (chateau owner now married to former nanny Alexandra) and has travelled to London to spend time with her mother Lucinda, and take a typing and shorthand course. Living in the same house, in her godmother’s flat, is slightly older woman Violet, who befriends Félicité. This is the story of their friendships and romances during Félicité’s stay in London.

This is a gentle tale of life amongst the well-to-do in 1960’s (mostly) London. Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a pleasant read. I couldn’t really warm to the characters and the story wasn’t as strong as others I have read by her but overall not a bad read.

Set mainly in London in the swinging sixties my favourite decade. I felt invested in the future of the two main characters. Some very enjoyable and interesting things happen (no spoilers here) with the usual ups and down along the way. Not my favourite Katie Fford book a bit slow but I did enjoy it. I would recommend it as a relaxing read. Katie Fford fans will not be disappointed.

I was on the fence with this one unfortunately.

It was an easy, light and heart-warming story set in the late 60's, but the characters and plot fell slightly flat and I came away feeling a little disappointed as I have loved Katie Fforde's previous novels.

Felicity and Violet both arrive in London, in adjoining flats in 1968. Felicity has come from France to stay with her English mother and do a secretarial course and Violet has moved from the country to stay in her Godmother's flat whilst she is in America. Will they find the men of their dreams?
An enjoyable read.

A delightful story about friendship, first loves, and navigating societal expectations. I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic between the two strong female protagonists, Felicity and Violet. Both women, despite their differing family situations, support and understand each other in meaningful ways. Felicity is exploring the excitement of first love, while Violet, a 30-year-old single woman, is learning to embrace independence. The 1960s London setting is vividly described, adding an extra layer of charm to the story. The men—Oliver and Henry—are interesting and well-developed, reflecting the era's traits while bringing their own unique energy to the narrative. I was invested in the characters journeys and thrilled with the heartwarming, satisfying conclusion.. This is a book full of warmth, friendship, and love.

Thank you to Net Galley, Random House UK and Cornerstone for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Another great story from Kate Fforde. Very true to life with enjoyable characters and a story that you hoped would have a happy ending as all the characters worked to hard to succeed.

From London with Love by Katie Fforde is a charming and heartwarming tale set in 1968, brimming with romance, adventure, and self-discovery. Felicity arrives in London from Provence intending to improve her English, completing a secretarial course, and meeting a suitable man. However, she is immediately captivated by Oliver, a free-spirited mudlarker who makes his living by searching for hidden treasures along the River Thames.

Felicity’s world soon expands as she becomes involved in Oliver's quirky life, taking up mudlarking herself and painting scenery for his actor friends. As she pursues her passion for art, she grapples with the expectations of her mother, who does not approve of Oliver as a potential suitor.

Fforde captures the essence of 1960s London with delightful attention to detail, from the cultural nuances to the intricacies of class. The novel is a refreshing mix of romance, adventure, and personal growth, brimming with kindness and love. Felicity’s journey of self-discovery, as she learns to follow her heart and embrace her dreams, makes this a thoroughly enjoyable and uplifting read.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

From London with Love - Katie Fforde due for publication 13/2/2025

Felicity moves from France to stay with her mother for a while in London and meets up with Violet who lives upstairs. Felicity meets Oliver and Violet meets Henry. As usual love does not run smooth with misunderstandings along the way.

The novel is set in the swinging 60's and feels somewhat reminiscent of that period. Oliver is into mudlarking which was interesting to read about. Throw in Felicity's father and stepmother back in France and her annoying mother in London along with Violet's best friend Jenny and her love for Violet's father (the new Lord of the Manor) and you get a delightful feel good read. My only criticisim is that the encounter Violet had with Miss Wynter was so short. It felt like the old lady had a good back story that deserved more air time.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy.

Violet and Felicity, two very different women, find themselves living in the same house in late 1960s London. The book basically follows the women as they fall in love with two very different men - Felicity with mudlarker Oliver, and Violet with writer Henry. Unfortunately I felt the book was very long and quite disjointed, with little actually happening, it felt like the book could be drastically cut. That said, I liked the mudlarking stories, and the visit to Felicity's family in France.

A lovely, nicely paced book. Good characterisation and story lines. Mostly set in yesteryear London.
I Would recommend.

I really wanted to enjoy this because I have loved Katie’s books in the past. The last one I read by her ‘island in the sun’ was really disappointing and largely unlike her previous novels.

I liked the sound of this one though, set in 60s London with a mudlarking theme, it sounded intriguing and interesting.

My goodness though, it needs a prune! This story could have been half as long and still been too much. It rambled and rambled and rambled…

I kept waiting for something of note to happen but it was really hard to pick the bones of the story out of the flab around
it. It’s such a shame as Felicity and Violet are lovely and I really enjoyed their friendship. I liked Violet’s friendship with Jenny and Jenny and Aubrey but there just seemed to be endless characters and threads, most of which would have made interesting stories on their own but jumbled as they were with all of the other stories, it just got too much.

The love interests were engaging but instead of focussing on their own back stories, they were muddled with other stories and irrelevancies that made it hard to see what was happening.

I’m not sure what’s happening with Katie’s writing at the moment - perhaps she needs a better editor? This story is too rambling and too long, which is a shame as there are lovely characters and the setting and stories are so promising but overall it just misses the mark.

Read it if you’re happy to pick up a story and put it down again and find it didn’t really matter much what happened previously…

Not the best Katie Fforde book I’ve read.

You know what you’re getting with a Katie Fforde book - a story full of friendship and love. A cosy read to curl up with a hot drink.

This book focuses on Felicite, a young woman who has moved from Paris to live with her mother in London with a big dream of becoming an artist. We also follow Violet, the woman who lives in the upstairs apartment and becomes fast friends with Felicite.

This is an easy read, the romance is sweet with a few twists along the way. Sometimes you just need a sweet,easy read and this fits that bill perfectly

Thanks to NetGalley for sharing a copy of this book with me

Another lovely read by Katie fforde set in 1960s London
This book felt like a real step back in time pre mobile phones, computers etc and a totally different dating scene, it was interesting to compare and contrast how much things have changed within my own lifetime!
Violet and Felicity seemed so young and gauche with the dating scene but had a lovely friendship and seemed to live a very privileged existence in London with very little money!
Lovely insight into the world of barge dwellers and the activity of mudlarking which I found very interesting and enlightening
Overall a nice read
Thank you NetGalley for this early read

An engrossing and atmospheric 1960's story, full of the ups and downs,of life, I enjoyed the rich descriptions and lovely characters immensely. With travel adventures and romance. this is a real page turner.

A wonderful romance with two side by side stories . Set in London and France. Lots of interesting facts that will amuse and amaze you.
Enjoy I did.

This is probably the first Katie Fforde book that just didn't hit for me. I think the fact that it was set in the 60s is what ruined my enjoyment in it as her writing was as fabulous as always.

Katie takes us back to the swinging 60's, but this time we are in London not France. We join Felicity who is Alexandras (who we have met in previous books) stepdaughter, as she moves from France to stay with her mother Lucinda to complete a secretarial course before starting Art college in Paris.
Felicity makes friend with Violet who lives in her Godmothers flat in the same building, their flourishing friendship holds both their stories together as they navigate their new lives in London - new romances, new jobs and escapades in The Thames and draughty castles in a Scottish Winter.

The book is nicely joined together with the previous 60's storylines with David who keeps travelling between France and England with his antique business. but this is still a book you could read and enjoy without reading the others before.