Sue's Reviews > The Look of Love

I was fortunate to win a copy of "The Look of Love" by Sarah Jio, through the Goodreads Giveaway Contest, in exchange for an honest review. For someone who normally reads mystery thrillers, this was a welcome change. Sarah Jio's writing is magical, with intriguing prose, drawing you into this beautiful and captivating story of love, a special treat for the holidays.Sarah Jio brings us a magical novel, filled with love and tears.

The story opens in Paris in 1893 with a flower seller named Elodie, a woman with a gift for love. And, it's that gift that will change the lives of a long line of other green-eyed women. For her Christmas birthday, florist Jane Williams, single, living in an apartment in Seattle with her golden retriever, "Sam", receives a letter, that will change her life! This letter tells her she has a gift, but one that could turn into a curse! "The gift of being able to see love...in all of its truth and beauty." The recipient must identify the six types of love, and write the accounts of them, before her thirtieth birthday, or she will never experience love herself.

Totally enchanting, the story takes readers on a journey, into the homes and lives of Jane's friends and acquaintances; young and old, married, single, her parents, a stranger, and a woman who started this rare gift in Paris many years ago.

Can she find love and learn to trust?

"The Look of Love" is a contemporary story of love, and loss, and the sacrifices in between. In this story, a small community of friends goes through a challenging year of romance while Jane Williams tries to observe with a critical eye, one blurred by the vision of love. The characters are appealing, and readers will want to know what happens to Jane and her friends. It's easy to fall into this book with its likable characters and variety of romantic scenarios. A very satisfying story to read...and a good start to the New Year!