To Sir, with Love

By Lauren Layne

Love Is Blind meets You’ve Got Mail in this laugh-out-loud romantic comedy following two thirty-somethings who meet on a blind dating app—only to realize that their online chemistry is nothing compared to their offline rivalry.

Perpetually cheerful and eager to please, Gracie Cooper strives to make the best out of every situation. So when her father dies just months after a lung cancer diagnosis, she sets aside her dreams of pursuing her passion for art to take over his Midtown Manhattan champagne shop. She soon finds out that the store’s profit margins are being squeezed perilously tight, and complicating matters further, a giant corporation headed by the impossibly handsome, but irritatingly arrogant Sebastian Andrews is proposing a buyout. But Gracie can’t bear the thought of throwing away her father’s dream like she did her own.

Overwhelmed and not wanting to admit to her friends or family that she’s having second thoughts about the shop, Gracie seeks advice and solace from someone she’s never met—the faceless “Sir”, with whom she connected on a blind dating app where matches get to know each other through messages and common interests before exchanging real names or photos.

But although Gracie finds herself slowly falling for Sir online, she has no idea she’s already met him in real life…and they can’t stand each other.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Release date: Jun 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9781982152826

Lauren Layne

Lauren Layne is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than three dozen romantic comedies. Her books have sold over a million copies worldwide. Lauren’s work has been featured in Publishers Weekly, Glamour, The Wall Street Journal, and Inside Edition. She is based in New York City.

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Cover: To Sir, With Love, by Lauren Layne

New York Times bestselling author

Lauren Layne

To Sir, with Love

"As light and refreshing as a glass of champagne, To Sir, with Love will have you smiling from the first swoon-worthy page to the last."

—Jill Shalvis, New York Times bestselling author

She’s the queen of witty dialogue!

—Rachel Van Dyken, New York Times bestselling author

"The word charm is pretty much synonymous with Lauren Layne."

—Hypable

Lauren Layne’s books are as effervescent and delicious as a brunch mimosa. As soon as you read one, you’re going to want another—IMMEDIATELY!

—Karen Hawkins, New York Times bestselling author of The Book Charmer

PRAISE FOR THE CENTRAL PARK PACT SERIES

"A great example of women supporting women through ups and downs and feels very reminiscent of Sex and the City."

—BookPage

Passion on Park Avenue

I couldn’t put it down! Not only is the friendship between Naomi, Claire, and Audrey refreshing and inspirational, the chemistry between Naomi and Oliver is off the charts! I love a sassy heroine and a funny hero, and Layne delivers both. Witty banter and an electric connection between Naomi and Oliver kept me turning the pages late into the night. Lauren Layne knocks this one right out of Park Avenue!

—Samantha Young, New York Times bestselling author of Fight or Flight

Chic and clever!… Like a sexy, comedic movie on the page.

—Tessa Bailey, New York Times bestselling author of Fix Her Up

Strong characters and relatable situations elevate Layne’s bighearted contemporary.… This vivid enemies-to-lovers romance digs into class differences, emotional baggage, and the reality of dealing with aging parents.

—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Perfect for readers who love the dishy women’s fiction of Candace Bushnell.

—Booklist

Serves up plenty of Lauren Layne’s trademark wit.

—Hypable

A Big Apple romance brimming with sophisticated fun… the perfect summer escape.

—BookPage

A cute and easy story perfect for summer reading… a flirty fling of a novel.

—Fresh Fiction

Saucy and fun, this series is off to a promising start.

—BookTrib

Love on Lexington Avenue

"Fans of The Devil Wears Prada will flip over Love on Lexington Avenue."

—Karen Hawkins, New York Times bestselling author of The Book Charmer

Simply stunning. Layne’s new series is fresh and addictive, and I can’t wait for more!

—Jennifer Probst, New York Times bestselling author

Marriage on Madison Avenue

[A] breezy and satisfying contemporary romance… Sparkling dialogue, hilarious wedding planning scenes, and deeply emotional moments see the series end on a high note.

—Publishers Weekly

A charming, witty, and lively narrative that reads like a ’90s rom-com.

—BookBub

Warm and heartfelt, this story conveys author Lauren Layne’s real affection for her characters as they overcome the past and build a beautifully messy, perfectly imperfect future.

—BookPage

Irresistibly sweet and funny… the heartfelt closure to Lauren Layne’s Central Park Pact trilogy that fans have been hoping for.

—Harlequin Junkie

A sweet romance filled with friendship, laughs, and two best friends who can’t seem to get out of their own way.

—Shelf Awareness

This light read will keep readers engaged as they follow Audrey as she tries to keep her feelings under wraps while being in the internet spotlight.

—Booklist

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To Sir, With Love, by Lauren Layne, Gallery Books

My dear Lady,

I’m not sure how to say this politely, so I’ll just say it. You’re incorrect in every sense of the word. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried a lemon sorbet on a hot summer day in the city. Ice cream, by comparison, is so very pedestrian. I thought I knew you.

Yours in gentle contempt,

Sir

---

To Sir, with equal contempt, less gentle:

I stand by my assertion that sorbet is an affront to frozen treats everywhere. I’ll see your lemon sorbet and raise you a pistachio gelato any day of the year.

Lady

One

What am I looking at here? What is that smile?

I drop my cell phone back into my bag and turn my full attention to the baby settled on my thighs, my hand resting protectively over his warm tummy. I wipe a tiny bit of drool from his adorable mouth. That smile is me plotting to steal this baby. And maybe the baby’s beautiful daddy.

My best friend is unfazed by my threats to steal her child and husband. Never going to work. Felix assures me he’s partial to Jewish women. Oh, and he likes big boobs.

I can convert. I make a cooing noise at the baby. And get a boob job.

I hope those fake boobs produce milk. Because Matteo here’s still breastfeeding.

You’re a boob man already, hmm? I ask the baby, who wraps tiny fingers around my own and shakes, grinning at me.

Not for long, Rachel says. I’m trying to wean the little bastard, but bottles make this one gassy.

Farts from bottles? I look over. That’s a thing?

Oh, trust me, Rachel says in a dark tone. It’s a thing. Too bad there’s not a return or exchange policy for children.

No need. I make smooching noises at the baby. I’m stealing him, remember?

"So you said in your attempt to distract me, but back to your Disney princess smile over whatever you were looking at on your phone. I’ve known you for over twenty years, and I know that smile. You’re in your Cinderella mode."

I do not have a Cinderella mode.

You totally do, Rachel says. "I just watched you feed half your sandwich to the pigeons. Who you named."

Are you even a real New Yorker if you don’t befriend pigeons in Central Park?

And then you sang to them, Rachel continues.

I hummed. A slight but crucial distinction.

"Mmm-hmm, and what song did you hum?"

I purse my lips and refrain from answering the question. I’d been humming It Had to Be You, Frank Sinatra style. To the pigeons. Which, when not in my so-called Cinderella mode, I know are basically sky-rats.

This isn’t looking good for me, and we both know it.

Rachel very slowly shakes her head. "Gracie Madeleine Cooper, you are in love and you didn’t tell me."

I snort. "That’d be a hell of a feat, considering I haven’t been on a second date in almost six months and waaaaay too many first ones."

She holds out her palm. Phone.

What?

That dreamy smile comes on your face every time you check your phone. She reaches over me to grab my purse in the confident, overbearing way of a best friend of twenty years. Let me see it.

What? No! Here, I say, trying to maneuver Matteo into her arms. Let’s trade. Your baby for my privacy.

Her jaw drops. "You never want privacy! You have a secret!"

I do not have a secret!

I do. I totally have a secret, and it’s delicious and also a tiny bit embarrassing to admit, even to someone who’s held my hair back over the toilet of a Coney Island bathroom after too much blue cotton candy.

I manage to safely get the baby back into her arms, and Matteo takes my side and starts to fuss, granting me a brief reprieve from my best friend’s prying. As though reading my mind about the hair thing, Rachel shifts Matteo to her shoulder and hands me a hair band. Tail me, she orders, turning her back to me.

Obediently, I gather her thick hair and attempt to wind the elastic around her mass of gorgeous curls. I smile as a childhood memory bubbles up. Me, on the first day of third grade at a new school, my ponytail a lumpy mess, courtesy of my widowed father who did his best but didn’t know the first thing about little girls’ hair.

Rachel, the definitive alpha of Jefferson Elementary’s third-grade class, had taken one look at my stricken face, marched over, and announced that she needed to practice her French braiding and that I was her muse.

We’ve been styling each other’s hair ever since.

You have the best hair, I say, tucking an errant curl into the band and studying my handiwork.

Attempt to distract from the matter at hand rejected, she says, turning back around.

You’re such a weirdo. But I sigh and relent. Okay, if I tell you what’s going on, you have to promise not to lecture.

She makes a mock-wounded face. If you care about me at all, you wouldn’t ask me to deny my true nature.

Fine, I relent. "But as you lecture, at least try to remember that I already have an older sister who has yet to grasp that I’m thirty-three and not ten."

I will take it into consideration. Proceed.

I take my time, leaning back on the green park bench, studying the cheerful energy of Central Park at lunchtime on a late summer’s day.

I exhale. So there’s this dating app.

Tinder?

No.

Hinge?

No.

eHarmony?

Okay, you rattled those off way too quickly for someone who’s been married for seven years, I say. And it’s called MysteryMate.

Rachel makes a face. "Oh, I don’t like the sound of this at all. There is no good use for the word mate outside of the Discovery Channel."

Yeah, the name’s not great, I say.

Their tagline’s even worse: Love at no sight. And that’s not even the embarrassing part of my secret.

So how does it work? she asks.

I reach over and rip off a piece of her unfinished sandwich and toss it to my pigeon friends, Spencer and Katharine, as in Tracy and Hepburn.

So, you know how Tinder is all about first impressions based on someone’s photo? I say. "Well, this is sort of the opposite. There are no photos. No names, even. Instead you choose from these little cartoon avatar things and a screen name, and the app matches you with potential mates."

I emphasize the word deliberately with a grin, and she rolls her eyes. "Okay, I get it. The app is all ‘beauty is on the inside.’ What happens after you’re matched?"

I shrug. You message each other. If you click, you set up a meeting in person.

"But what if the other person’s hideous?"

I give her a gently chiding look, and she shrugs as she rubs the baby’s back. "It’s a fair question. A meeting of the minds is nice, but physical attraction is hot."

"Well, so far, none of the guys I’ve decided to meet in person have been hideous."

"But one of them was hot, huh? Oh wait, no. You said you hadn’t been on any second dates."

I haven’t, I say a little glumly. "All of the men have been perfectly nice, all pleasant looking in their own way. But no chemistry. None."

Rachel tilts her head. Then why the Cinderella mode? You only ever revert to that when you’ve got a crush.

I take a deep breath. Okay. Here’s the part where you’re going to want to dust off your best lecturing voice.

Rachel taps her throat and hums like a singer warming up her voice. Okay, ready. Hit me.

There’s this guy on the app I really like talking to. But… we haven’t met.

Hmm. She purses her lips. "No lecture yet. But why not just meet him and see if you have chemistry?"

I bite my lip. He’s not really available.

Then what’s he doing on a dating app?

He didn’t actually sign up for the app. He was at a friend’s bachelor party, and I guess one of them got drunk and thought it would be hilarious to steal his phone and set up a profile on his behalf.

Okay, but if you guys hit it off—

He has a girlfriend, I interrupt.

Ohhhhhhhh, Rachel says, eyes widening. That’s tricky. Wait. You’re having a cyber affair! With a cheater!

I’m not. I’m really not! I repeat at her look. And he’s not a cheater. After we matched, I messaged him, and he explained right away what had happened and that he wasn’t looking for a relationship. If he were looking for some sort of weird Internet affair, would he have told me about his girlfriend right away?

No, she admits. But then why are you two still talking?

We’re just friends, I say, shrugging. "After he replied to my message, I replied saying no problem, and then he replied, and then I replied. Somewhere along the line we discovered both of our first crushes are from Empire Records—"

"I’d forgotten about that! You loved A.J."

Still do, I say with a nod. He had a thing for Corey. We both live in Manhattan, we’re both highly suspicious of oatmeal, we both lost our dads to lung cancer four years ago, we both put mustard on our scrambled eggs—

So gross.

We don’t, however, like the same ice cream, apparently.

You’re smiling that smile again, Rachel says. "Sweetie. I’m not buying this just friends thing. You’re in love with this guy."

I’ve never met him!

Rachel’s lips purse as she shifts Matteo to her other shoulder. Does Lily know about this?

That I sometimes message a male friend? Why would I bring it up?

I don’t add that I might have mentioned it, if the last time we had dinner Lily had not been going on and on about a documentary she’d just watched about online predators.

Caleb?

Yes, I say sarcastically. My younger brother loves to hear all about his sister’s love life.

"Ah-ha! So it is a love life."

Whoops. I definitely walked right into that one.

Did I tell you Caleb moved to New Hampshire? I ask in an admittedly lame attempt to change the subject.

"Yes, and I still don’t fully comprehend moving out of a rent-controlled loft in SoHo to a barn in New Hampshire, but quit trying to distract me. Does anyone know about this? I need backup that this is nuts."

Keva knows, I say, referring to my friend and upstairs neighbor.

Rachel looks away with just the slightest flinch, and I feel instant regret. She and Keva have met a couple of times and get along, but I sense she’s sometimes jealous of the friendship.

Hey, I say gently, pushing my finger into her forearm. You’re still First Bestie.

I know, Rachel says with a sigh. It’s just another reminder that living out in freaking Queens means I don’t get to see you as often or get to know the daily details of your life anymore.

"But you have a yard," I point out.

It’s more like a patch of dirt, but… Rachel grins. Yeah, I have a yard. My mother is scandalized. I swear, half the reason she wanted me to bring the kids into Manhattan today was because she’s worried they’re not getting enough concrete.

Amy and Sammy, Rachel’s other two kids, are spending the day with her mom in Morningside Heights, which is the only reason I’m not fussing more that I don’t get to see my de facto niece and nephew. Grandma trumps best friend, and though I’m careful not to mention it, Rachel’s fears about Astoria being too far away from her old life aren’t totally unfounded. It’s at least an hour by train, which means I don’t get to see her or her family as much as I’d like.

Rachel gives me a sly look. What do you think he looks like?

Medium height. Wiry build. Longish brown hair, warm brown eyes. Big smile.

I haven’t thought about it, I say casually.

Uh-huh. Liar. In these fantasies of yours, is he by any chance a musician and a Sagittarius?

Okay, that’s impressive, I admit.

I know, she says, looking mollified to have best-friend status restored. But you forget that we spent all of middle school and most of high school discussing our future husbands in very specific detail. She pauses. "Damn, I was far off."

You mean your hot Puerto Rican husband isn’t a blond surfer named Dustin? Get out.

Oh, Dusty. What might have been, she says dreamily before turning back to me. "Aren’t you worried your mystery guy could be, like, a hundred? With gout and gingivitis? What if his girlfriend is a caretaker at his nursing home, and the most action he gets is a sponge bath?"

That would be fine, I say primly. I can be friends with someone of a different generation.

I send out a silent plea to SirNYC. Please don’t get sponge baths.

Rachel takes a last bite of her sandwich, then scrunches the paper wrapping into a ball with a sigh. I want to warn you about catfishing, but honestly this is too adorable, assuming you don’t do anything dumb. Like agree to meet him in a back alley.

I let my eyes go wide. Wait, so I shouldn’t have wired my life’s savings to his overseas account and then given him my home address when he asked to see my panty drawer?

Aren’t you funny. Here, want to give my arms another break?

Absolutely, I say, taking the baby and kissing his head. How’d you manage to escape with this one? Grandma Becca would have snatched him right up.

Oh, she tried. But though she’d die for her grandkids, she’s not big on diapers, so all it took was a casual mention of eruptive poops to secure some Auntie Gracie time. She gives a slight sniff. Joke’s on me though. I think he’s just backed up my lie with a very real diaper situation that needs to be addressed.

You want to change him at the shop? I ask, gathering up the remnants of our lunch as she straps Matteo to her chest in some fancy-looking sling thing.

One of the best things about the champagne shop I own and run is that it’s just across the street from Central Park.

Rachel gives me an apologetic look, and I shake my head before she can speak. "You need to get back. Don’t worry about it.

"I do. Ugh. I’ve become one of those moms, huh? Can’t be apart from her Littles for more than two hours."

"Those are the good kind of moms," I reassure her as we begin making our way toward the west side of the park.

Rachel tosses our garbage into the green trash can and links her arm in mine, careful not to jostle Matteo. You don’t have to walk this way with me, she says, checking her watch. Doesn’t the shop open at noon?

Josh and May are there. Plus, I need to get flowers for the counter, and Carlos on Seventy-Fourth and Broadway always has the best ones.

Damn, I miss those pop-up Manhattan flower carts. Almost as much as I miss May. Give her a squeeze for me, it’s been way too long. And wait, who’s Josh?

Newish hire. Mostly helps with inventory and stocking, but it’s sweet to watch him overcome his shyness customer by customer.

I’m surprised you even know what shyness looks like. Have you ever met a human being who didn’t instantly adore you?

Blake Hansel, fifth grade.

"No, he just really adored you, in the pull-her-pigtail kind of way," Rachel says as we exit the park and step onto the bustling Central Park West sidewalk. We embrace, careful not to smoosh the baby between us.

I pull back and give Matteo a proper goodbye, unapologetically inhaling his sweet baby smell, mingled with—yep, there’s the eruptive poop. Goodbye, handsome. You sure you don’t want to run away with me?

You, young lady, will text me more often, Rachel orders with a pointing finger as she begins

Reviews for To Sir, with Love

[Sally · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Omg this book is the best! Sebastian and Gracie are such a cute couple

[Andra Sovar · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a lovely read...I cried, I laughed, I envied the friendships and love stories, I longed for what these characters have...I adored our main couple!?...please read this book!?

[Ruth · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is a modern retelling of The Shop Next Door/You've Got Mail. If you know the basic premise of those, you essentially know what's going to happen in this book. It's quite predictable, but then we don't read romcoms for their originality ?

The book follows Gracie, owner of a small, struggling champagne shop that she took over when her father died. It was his dearest wish that his children continue on the shop. Gracie's siblings leave her to do that alone and abandon her dreams of being an artist.

Her attempt to save her father's struggling shop is made more difficult by the Big Bad Corporation trying to buy out the space to made a big city building. And what's worse, the person who comes after repeated attempts at contacting and offers is none other than Sebastian Andrews, heir of the Big Bad.

While this is all happening, Gracie has been keeping up correspondence over a blind dating app with "Sir", who is in a relationship, so what they have isn't quite friendship, but it's also not dating.

And ofc, Gracie gets to know Sebastian and starts to realize that not only was her initial assessment of him brash, but that she is rather growing to like him as well.

I liked this book. I didn't quite like it as much as other romcoms I've read, but it was a good, heartwarming read. If you like romcoms and you like You've Got Mail, you'll like this book.

[Carol Minotti · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If you're a fan of You've Got Mail or Shop Around the Corner, you'll love this. The author explains her desire to create a romance based on these stories at the end, giving credit to previous works. Fun, light romance. Just re-watched You've Got Mail after reading the book!

[Quincy Mincey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

4.5/⭐️ sooo cute and cheesy!! just my type of book ?

[Heather Smith · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

OMG this was such an amazing read! It was so hard to put down. Highly recommend!

[thewestwing-864351 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There’s nothing wrong with this book but for me it’s too much of a copy of You’ve Got Mail. And I know it says that on the blurb but it’s such a knockoff of Mail that I just couldn’t enjoy it.

[geauxgetlit · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cute Romcom for the happily early after

[gpangel_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

To Sir, With Love by Lauren Layne is a 2021 Gallery Books publication. Gracie Cooper gave up her dream of being a professional artist to run the champagne shop, per her father’s wishes. Gracie’s siblings have left her holding the bag, so Gracie is determined to make the best of the situation by adopting a ‘Pollyanna’ approach, working hard to convince herself she is happy. Sadly, though, the champagne shop is going through a rough patch.Enter Sebastian Andrews…Sebastian wants to by the champagne shop and is pressuring Gracie non-stop, merely because he needs the space the shop in sitting on. His approach could use some work, as he is oh so arrogant. Gracie is determined to fight for her store, despite her doubts and the odds against her. The one bright spot in all this an accidental messaging relationship Gracie has developed with ‘Sir’ via a ‘faceless’ dating app. She’s loving the light and easy banter she has stuck up with ‘Sir’, and soon finds he is an excellent confidant, and despite her protest, she might be falling in love with him…What a cute, sweet story with a nice updated – ‘enemies-lovers’ vibes, Ala “You’ve Got Mail”. The dialogue is snappy, flirty and fun, with just the right amount of tension and emotion, to compliment the plot and the characters.Layne has become a ‘go-to’ author for me when I want a light contemporary or romantic comedy. Her stories are light, but have depth and feeling, and always, always leave a big smile on my face! 4 stars

[samnreader · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

If one hates mistaken/hidden identity in general (I never fully hate a type of romance-execution, I say!) and finds it hard to pull of, why does one love Shop Around the Corner/You've Got Mail above all else?Is it the epistolary aspect? Probably a little. After all, being fully vulnerable in writing is something I can understand. Is it the dream vs reality? The kinda-sorta falling in love twice? The animosity at first? Yes, probably all of that. I do love the idea that you dream up a person then, in a way, they don't compare to the reality of the human in front of you. You are in love with an ideal made real.Anyway, I'm back from that detour. But anyway, yes, I'm trash for Shop Around the Corner. I haven't read a Lauren Layne, and I have all but broken up with her, at least in a couple years. But this was one I couldn't resist. And there were many moving scenes-including one that for personal reasons really did feel heartbreaking.But it's that thing, maybe, that Jes characterized before: that weird sex-in-the-city vibe that is kind of outdated period piece that belongs in the aughts. I feel she nailed the defining characteristic of Layne's oeuvre,and why I can't quite get along with it, and while this is a toned down version, it did still have that NYC-wish feel.But it's shop-around-the-corner with a dating app so of course I read it straight through, because even when they are bad they are good. (Feel free to offer up recs on these!) And this one wasn't even bad.

[nbmars · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This adorable story is derivative of “You’ve Got Mail,” as the author acknowledges in her Afterword. She stated that she wanted to bring that story into the 21st Century by updating the premise a bit: the two protagonists fall in love, sight unseen and anonymously, not via email but via a dating app called “MysteryMate,” and by texting.MysteryMate isn’t like other dating apps in that there are no photos, or even names. The app matches you with potential mates and you communicate under pseudonyms. Gracie Cooper, 33, using the name “Lady” got matched with “Sir,” and they seem to have a lot in common. As Gracie explains to her best friend: “We both live in Manhattan, we’re both highly suspicious of oatmeal, we both lost our dads to lung cancer four years ago, we both put mustard on our scrambled eggs. . . ."Gracie owns the champagne shop “Bubbles & More” opened by her late father, but it is struggling to survive in a world increasingly characterized by online sales. She has an offer to buy her out from her lease-holder, the disturbingly handsome Sebastian Andrews. But Gracie is resisting: it’s not about the numbers, she feels, it’s about family, her family, and her father’s dream. Gracie’s own dream was to be an artist, but then her father died and she has made his dream her own. She only resents and regrets it sometimes. . . . Gracie increasingly turns to “Sir” for advice and emotional support, all the while having additional encounters with Sebastian, whom she likes more and more in spite of her determination to hate him.Of course we know how this will end, but the path to get there will keep you entertained and interested in spite of an overall arc of predictability.The story ends with an Epilogue that takes place one year later, and it is absolutely delightful. Evaluation: The author writes in the Afterward that this is a story about the folly of first impressions, about optimism, and about forgiveness and growth. But it’s also just a darn good romcom that's a lot of fun.

[cats57_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was an excellent update of the movies"You've Got Mail (1998)", "The Shop Around the Corner(1940) ", and the original Hungarian play "Parfumerie/Illatszertár; 1937".I can't say enough how much I enjoyed this read. An author who can write a book like this that makes me feel like I'm the star of the novel is impressive. I couldn't put it down. Everything about this story, including the secondary characters, kept me engaged.I thought the update from AOL email with the classic sounds to this version of texts would be annoying. Gladly I was wrong. I also loved the idea of them meeting on a dating app that doesn't have pictures of who you are chatting with quite cute. The sparks when Gracie and Sebastian first meet on neutral ground...ah, what can I say!This book is definitely the perfect beach read book for those who love a clean romance and characters who learn about themselves and grow.My thanks to the publisher Gallery Books, the author Lauren Layne, and ATTL/Edelweiss for this ARC.

[twink_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lauren Layne's new novel - To Sir, With Love - is the perfect audiobook to download for the beach.Thirty-something Gracie Cooper has been running her family's champagne store since her father's death. She loves it, but it is a struggle at times to turn a profit. And Gracie wonders if she'll ever find a romantic partner. So, she decides to join a "blind dating app where matches get to know each other through messages and common interests before exchanging real names or photos." I think a blind dating app is a great premise to start with - there's lots of places that the plot could go from there. (And I think the app's premise is a good one!) Grace ends up paired with someone she address as Sir and she becomes Lady. And they seem to really, really click.But on the flip side....back at the shop, Sebastian Andrews, the landlord, is looking to buy out the champagne shop's lease. Gracie simply can't stand the man....although he does have the most beautiful eyes.... And I think you might be able to predict where things might go from there! Layne has penned a light-hearted romance with lots of yes, no, maybe so woven in. And that's the fun of this type of storytelling. The listener knows more than the players. It's just a matter of time before they figure it out themselves and the fun is in the journey to the inevitable (fairy tale) ending.I liked Gracie as a lead character - she is outspoken and sassy, but kind and caring as well. The supporting cast of Gracie's family and coworkers is just as engaging. And Sebastian Andrews? Yummy!I listened to To Sir, With Love. There were two readers - Rachanee Lumayno and Shaun Taylor-Corbett. Lumayno's voice was perfect for Gracie and matched the mental image I had created for this character. Her voice is strong without being loud. It's pleasant to listen to, easy to understand, with crisp enunciation. She captures the emotion of the character and the action. Taylor-Corbett has a very rich and full tone to his voice and it absolutely suited the character. And his voice was perfect for Sir. While Gracie is the voice we hear the most, I enjoyed having another reader for the male characters of Sir and Sebastian. It was more realistic that way. A good performance from both readers. Overall? Light and fun with a lovely dose of romance, perfect for summertime listening or reading.

[sdbookhound · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Gracie has been conversing with "Sir" through an online dating app. On this app, you learn about the other person by messaging without any photos. Sir was signed up for the app without his knowledge by some friends and is already dating someone, but he and Gracie continue to message each other and the banter is fun and flirty. While this is going on Gracie also finds her family business threatened by businessman Sebastian whose company wants to buy out the remainder of the lease on Bubbles and More, which is a champagne/wine store in New York City. While Gracie's first feelings toward Sebastian are not favorable, she finds that he is growing on her. Could it be possible that she is in love with two men at the same time? I really loved this new take on "You've Got Mail" which I also loved. The book read so smoothly and I was truly taken in by the messages between "Sir" and "Lady". Gracie was a character to root for and I couldn't wait until she found out the true identity of her "Sir". The supporting characters were also interesting and believable. I have never been a real fan of stories taking place in large cities like New York, but the author really made New York attractive to me through Gracie's love for it. I enthusiastically recommend To Sir, with Love and sincerely thank Gallery Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read it and give my unbiased opinion of it. I am looking forward to exploring Lauren Layne's backlist.

[narshkite · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Blech. A heroine who is a grown woman loves Disney princesses, talks to her cat, paints animal print martini glasses against the NYC skyline, and listens to Michael Buble? No. I will say a 1.5. I literally feel a little nauseated after finishing. For those who enjoy chastity, this is 100% sex free.

[dilowrosas · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

4.75 out of 5 stars!After giving up her dreams to run the family business after her father died, the heroine has a momentous meeting with the hero. After learning who the hero is, she tries to deny the instant connection she has with him by focusing on her crush with her online friend. As her relationship deepens with both persons, she struggles with professional and personal situations as time passed by.I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The main couple is adorable together and individually. I liked the heroine's family and friends, flaws and all. The author's writing style is easily readable and the book vibe is enjoyable. I would have liked if a detail would have been omitted but it didn't detract from the whole story. Also, I would have liked to get more of the hero's view, but that's a personal opinion of mine. Overall, this is a Lauren Layne book I highly recommend as a feel-good romantic story.**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own.**

[amym3317 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Gracie Cooper has always had dreams. Dreams of being an artist, dreams of the perfect man and family. But since her father's death, she's been running the family's flailing champagne shop, painting for fun on the side, and hasn't been on a date in too long to remember. She's too kind to say she's a tad resentful of her brother and sister who get to pursue their dreams without worry of what's to become of their family's legacy. But Gracie's not entirely alone. She has Sir. Gracie met Sir through a dating app months ago and they've been conversing regularly ever since. The problem: They have never met, and he has a girlfriend. Regardless, Gracie lights up whenever they trade back-and-forths. Then, Gracie literally runs into Sebastian Andrews and she feels that undeniable zing. That lasts until she finds out he's the person behind the company that wants to shut down her business to buy the building. To Sir, With Love has been one of my favorite Lauren Layne books so far. With obvious hints of You've Got Mail, the story of these two people on seemingly opposite sides and a mysterious dream man on the other just checked all the boxes for me. I would have happily read 100 more pages of this book, once it started I didn't want it to end. If anything I kind of wish the mystery of Sir was able to be maintained a little better, anyone who reads the official synopsis of the book, and generally anyone who has any knowledge of You've Got Mail will know immediately what's happening. In that regard I was very aware of tells and just in general kind of had my guard up, so to speak, at every interaction just waiting for the piece that would tip the scales. I think it would have been excellent had we gotten Sebastian's point of view. Not necessarily an alternating point of view from that of Gracie's but every few chapters maybe. But truly this is Gracie's story. And it's about so much more than the romance. It's about Gracie finally living life for herself and getting past the fears of taking those steps to pursue her dreams even though nothing is guaranteed. About honoring legacy and family, but also knowing that it's ok to move outside of that legacy. Of course I love the kind of push and pull between Sebastian and Gracie. Those early moments when they are obviously attracted to each other, but they still get on each other's nerves makes for some charged chemistry between them. As things unfold I loved how they kind of evolve into each other's "person". Overall, if your looking for a light and enjoyable read you can do no better than To Sir, With Love. Lauren Layne has never let me down.