It took me a while to get used to reading about Cornelia before the events in Belong to Me, but after I did I really enjoyed the story of How Cornelia and Clare got to know one another. It was a really sweet story of a special kind of love, tinged with uncertainty and hope. ( )

Initially, I was really "into" this book but by the middle I was dragging myself through. All the old hollywood movie references were a bit much for me. They made it seem like the author was trying too hard.

I must say I fell in love with the main character Cornelia. I could never really picture her in my mind but I could relate to her in so many ways. I want a friend like Linny. I would love for Ms. De Los Santos to develop the character of Linny for a novel.

The themes of finding love in the most perculiar places and family were very enjoyable. I know that Cornelia rescuing Clare was noble and all but it was so out of place for me. I won't give any spoilers but the death (the first one) that occurred was certainly a twist that could have been left out. I had to really work my way through this one but the ending was worth it. ( )

I'll remember details about these characters long after I've forgotten everything about the plot. And in the end, it's those little pieces of detail that make the characters real and loveable. ( )

I'll remember details about these characters long after I've forgotten everything about the plot. And in the end, it's those little pieces of detail that make the characters real and loveable. ( )

I'll remember details about these characters long after I've forgotten everything about the plot. And in the end, it's those little pieces of detail that make the characters real and loveable. ( )

Review: September 29, 2009
Edition: 2006 printing (0-452-28789-8)
Pages: 307
Overall Rating: 4/5 [Good]
Synopsis: Cornelia is falling in love with Martin Grace, a man who seems straight from a classic 40s romance film: he's elegant, charming, handsome, and witty. But his emotional distance worries her, and as she sets about figuring him out, in comes eleven year old Clare---his daughter, whom he rarely sees and who has just been abandoned by her beautiful but flighty mother. While Cornelia's relationship with Martin struggles, she warms up to Clare and takes her into her life.
Strengths: Beautiful writing, well-written main characters.
Weaknesses: Sometimes odd pacing, occasionally repetitive, minor plot problems.
Further Review: My favorite part of this book is the poetic and readable way in which it's written. There are plenty of little paragraphs in the book that are really very pretty, and it's my belief that if another author had written this I wouldn't have enjoyed it at all. The beauty of the style is that it's simple and stylish by its greatest parts, and then it's spotted with occasional descriptions or particular wordings that just ring out beautifully or have some nicely unique flavor to them, so that they stay with the reader for a long time---this is so much more interesting than books that are overdone, because it highlights the beauty of certain passages.
We talked and talked and talked. Maybe love comes in at the eyes, but not nearly as much as it comes in at the ears, at least in my experience. As we talked, lights flicked on inside my head; by the end of the night, I was a planetarium.
Clare and Cornelia, the two main characters, are well-nuanced and have a reasonable depth to them; they aren't blindly lifted out of stereotypes, but have believable quirks. I really enjoyed reading about them and watching their relationship take shape. Unfortunately, other characters aren't as well-developed and often seem flat; Martin Grace, for instance, feels like a cop-out and his whole story feels like a cop-out designed to aid the relationship between Clare and Cornelia. Teo also feels generic, as does Cornelia's friend Linny. Although they're one-dimensional, the characters are still pleasant and likable enough (except for Martin), and Cornelia's mother Ellie is actually my favorite character from the book.

The plot, while interesting, does not quite live up to its potential; late into the book, it begins to feel unnatural and it becomes solely a vehicle for the characters. This creates a lot of scenes where what happens to side characters feels forced or unreal, existing only to get the characters somewhere. I suppose what I'm trying to express it that it can be a little deus ex machina---it feels more like things are randomly put in there to move the story along, rather than characters behaving in a reactionary manner to what's happening to them. That said, it picks up again in the last few chapters, and the ending is satisfying. I'll admit that, like the girl I am, I was crying by the last pages.

As a side note, Marisa de los Santos also has a reading guide up on her website (available here) in which she answers a few questions on the book. ( )

An enjoyable story of two souls who find one another: a single woman and the young girl she befriends. Although I had a few believability issues with the plot, I decided to let go and accept the fairytale nature of the story. I very much liked the character of Clare, the resourceful eleven-year-old with a fondness for the same classic novels I loved growing up. Cornelia took longer to grow on me; her know-it-all voice in the first several chapters was intensely irritating. By the end, though, I no longer felt the irritation. Whether that was due to a change in Cornelia or a change in me, I'm not sure.

The Philadelphia setting was a bonus, too. I love recognizing locations in the books I read. ( )

I don't think this was a good book. It started out a bit more promising, actually, than it ended. It's a light, easy read about the relationship that forms between a childless woman & her boyfriend's daughter. Its written from 2 points of view: the woman's and the girl's. The woman, in particular, talks in quite an interesting, funny, sarcastic way, so as I said at the beginning this seems like it's going to be a good read.

However, about halfway through the book becomes soppy as hell, predictable & almost saccharine-sweet. It falls into cliches all the time, and is almost embarrassing to read towards the end. Also, after a certain point the plot is absolutely predictable. Shame, because the characterization (especially of the girl & the woman) is quite well done, and the characters do stay with you for a few days after finishing the book.

Won't recommend it & won't buy a copy, but wouldn't say it was an absolutely unpleasant experience to read it. ( )

Love walked in and I should have walked out.

For the first 50 to 100 pages this book entertained me, but I found some of the writing bothersome and distracting. In four instances that I found glaringly obvious the author used a descriptive word twice in once sentence. Aren't you taught not to do that at a very early stage in the game? "...drearily gave her dreary answer..." and "...hangdog dog of a question..." - UGH!

Other than that the entire story was predictable and pretty unrealistic. I'm not saying that I believe that none of these things would ever happen, but all to the same two people? I doubt it.

I had high high hopes for this novel but I only struggled through the last 100 pages, and now I don't plan on picking up de los Santos' sequel, Belong to Me which is another phrase that was written throughout this one over and over and over and over again. ( )

Cornelia was working in the cafe one day when Martin Grace walked in, suave and sexy and the image of a modern day Cary Grant. Amazingly, he asks Cornelia to go to London with him, that day. She refuses, but he still calls. And sends her flowers. Martin Grace, however, is not the love that comes into Cornelia’s life. That comes later, in the shape of a little girl named Claire Hobbes, whose mother is not herself and whose father is not very interested in her. With the help of her brother-in-law, Teo, and her friends and family, Cornelia learns what love is.

This book promised me a modern day fairy tale, and in a way, it delivered just that, but in a very contemporary setting and tone of voice. I loved both Claire and Cornelia. I love their separate voices and the love that developed between them. I adored Claire’s stubborness and Cornelia’s dreams and the way that they meshed. From the minute Cornelia played with a baby in the first few pages, I knew what was going to happen for her in this book, but I loved the way it unfolded.

Actually, I didn’t predict all of it; some things I did not foresee immediately. In that sense, this isn’t a typical romance; Martin isn’t really the love that’s walking in, although the book makes it sound that way at first. Rather, he is the change that allows Cornelia to embrace love in her life. I liked that. Cornelia says this at the beginning, so I’m not giving anything away.

I also really liked the writing in this book. Unfortunately I have already had to return it to the library, so I don’t have any quotes, but you can certainly see the result of the author’s degrees! The prose is simultaneously beautiful and personable; it’s as if the characters are talking to you, but they’ve put a great deal of thought into their words. I loved that she threw in so many movie references while citing Cornelia’s addiction to classic movies. I haven’t watched a ton of old movies, but I have seen enough of the classics to get who she was talking about and it really enhanced my ability to visualize the characters, something that I generally struggle with.

Overall, this was a charming, enchanting read. This is another one of my finds through book blogging and I’m so grateful to have discovered so many fantastic titles lately! I have Belong to Me, the sequel, waiting for me at home, and I can’t wait to read it. Love Walked In has my enthusiastic recommendation.

http://chikune.com/blog/?p=1102 ( )

A really good love story. In some parts predictable (aren't all love stories?) and in other parts not at all. ( )

Cornelia manages a coffee shop in Philadelphia. She is happy with her life, but when a handsome stranger named Martin walks in one day she thinks it's fate and desperately hopes to fall in love with him.

Clare is an eleven year old girl being raised by her mother. Her mother has been acting strange lately and leaves Clare by the side of the road one day. Desperate, Clare seeks out her mostly absentee father, Martin.

Not knowing what else to do, Martin brings Clare into the coffee shop that Cornelia manages, for breakfast. Clare is so upset, she begins to cry and Cornelia comforts her without thinking. At about the same time, Cornelia's brother-in-law, Teo, walks in and Cornelia, Clare and Teo form an unlikely bond.

Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos is a wonderful story of love. Chapters alternate between Cornelia's point of view and Clare's point of view. Cornelia's chapters are told from the first person and Clare's are told from the third person, which I found a little confusing at first, but quickly adjusted to. It didn't take me long to become attached to Cornelia and Clare since the character development in this book is top notch. The story line is fantastic too. I found Love Walked In to be a delightful reminder that love is precious and comes in many different forms. ( )

I've had my eye on this book for quite a while and finally bought and read it. Reading it was almost as good as watching the movies referenced in the book. I thought the writing was beautiful - in the same way those Cary Grant movies were beautiful. There are witty conversations, beautiful and cozy homes, and attractive people who really care about each other - all in a story about "the unpredictable currents of love and life". My kind of movie and my kind of book. If I sound carried away, I guess I was! Sometimes that's what I want a book to do. I'm really looking forward to the next book by Marisa de los Santos: Belong to Me. I'll wait a bit, though, because right now I want to savor Love Walked In. I'm so glad I finally made time to read this lovely book. ( )

At first, I didn't think I would like this book. The chapters alternate -- one in Cornelia's voice and one in observation of Claire. The Cornelia chapters seemed to ramble, almost like she had adult ADD. Don't get me wrong, I love the old movie and Shakespearean references, but they just seemed very randomly placed. However, as the book progressed, Cornelia's chapters began to settle down with the introduction of Claire and Tao. Marisa de los Santos developed really interesting relationships between the characters and gave each their own distinct voice. A light read that makes the reader think of love in unconventional ways. ( )

I read this book after Belong to Me, so I was understandably confused about some of the goings-on. That said, it really wasn't a problem as I knew all would eventually be revealed. A great read about love, loss and relationships, written almost as someone would talk to you - although not in an annoying way.

My only complaint is the constant film references in the first half of the book make it a little hard to get some of the points the author is trying to make, as I haven't seen many of those movies yet, but that's a minor grumble about a really good story. ( )

"Love Walked In" has a blurb on the cover from Lolly Winston, who wrote "Good Grief." This made me laugh, because "Good Grief" is exactly the book I would compare "Love Walked In" to in a review. It's that sort of chick-lit that you really shouldn't call chick-lit. Romantic fiction, I guess? A smart heroine, complicated relationships, decent writing.

It didn't overwhelm me with greatness, but Marisa de los Santos has a pretty writing style, and the plot of this book (girl-meets-boy intertwined with a sort of coming-of-age story) is intriguing enough, and there were a few lines I definitely enjoyed rereading. The ending is predictable but satisfactory, and left me with a pleasant afterglow.

It's a good book to read if you're in the mood for smart chick-lit. I won't reread it, most likely, but I don't regret the time spent on it. ( )

I just finished this lovely book. It took me a few chapters to get used to Santos' style of writing but once I did it flowed. I loved the references to Gable, Stewart, Kelly, etc. They really gave me a connection to the story. ( )

About two years ago, my sister told me that I would really like this book and even sent me a copy and I was disdainful of it because of its girly cover. But, I've been carrying it with me for a while, through two moves, so I picked it up off my shelf (in search of something silly after the brilliant Divisadero) and realized that this girl can write! True the book is about relationships, but I think it is really smart and well-written. I will definitely read her second one. ( )

Cornelia, a thirty-something cafe manager, and Clare, an eleven-year-old child of divorced parents, cross paths. Told in alternating chapters, Cornelia and Clare share their lives with one another.

With my heart full of hopes, I am sad to say that I was not pleased with this book. I thought for sure I was going to enjoy it. As the story began, the chapters about Cornelia were okay, but soon after, the book began to coast downhill. The two major components that brought it down were: the character, Clare, the undeniably out-of-character character, and the story line, too predictable and contrived.

This was not a good read for me and I'm very concerned that I will not enjoy the sequel Belong to Me, which has been raved about. Maybe next year I'll attempt it, but for now - not a chance. (2/5)

Originally posted on: "Thoughts of Joy..." ( )

I cried like a baby and anyone that knows me would know just how big of a deal that is. ( )

Magical... ( )

Comment: This was a well-written book. Clare's story truly tugged at my heart. ( )

made me dream about love ( )

Love Walked In is the story of Cordelia, a café manager who has a habit of turning moments of her life into movie moments; Martin, the man who walked into her café and changed her life (and who just happens to bear an uncanny resemblance to Cary Grant); and 11-year-old Clare. The novel is told from the alternating points of view of Cordelia and Clare. Cordelia’s segments are written in the first person and she occasionally addresses the reader directly, a device I generally find annoying but which only serves to create a feeling of intimacy here, as if one were having a conversation with a close friend.

I find it hard to articulate exactly why I loved this book so much—it’s the writing of course, which is fresh, original, marvellous. I want to quote reams of it in this review (but you'll have to read the review on my blog if you want to read the quotes).

Sure, some of the story is wildly improbable but I didn’t care. In this way, Love Walked In reminded me of The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd and Before Women Had Wings by Connie May Fowler. All three are about girls in difficult family situations and all three contain plot elements that are unbelievable, yet as a reader I accept these stories because I wish they were true. They are fables of sorts, or, as Jennifer Weiner said about Love Walked In, “grown-up fairy tale[s].” They are stories about love in all its permutations and, despite the improbable aspects of these books, the characters are flesh and blood, human, complex. In the case of Love Walked In, the best part (once I was done reading it) is that there’s a sequel to look forward to: Belong to Me.

A slightly different version of this review can be found on my blog, she reads and reads. ( )

I'll admit that I started this book before my two previous manga reviews. But for some reasons I just couldn't keep going at it. But I'm glad that I have this thing where I hate to leave a book unfinished, and after reading it by force.... I ended up loving. This book just really speaks to me. It's about love. And not your usual boy-meets-girl kind of love. It's a love between a woman and a girl. A love between a woman and her friends. A love between a woman and her family. A love between a woman and man who grew up together. It was just a book filled with second chances and the reasons we hold on to life. Told in two points of views - Cornelia and Clare - this book takes you into the characters as they both struggle to love and be loved, and find it in one another to create new chances to love again.
Highly recommended to those wanting to read about substantial love that goes beyond your normal romances. ( )