Mila“Don’t let go.” Those were my first words to him, as I hung over the side of a London bridge. The words I would soon say again, in a moment that didn’t involve bridges, but something much more fragile: my heart.He held onto me for three weeks, in a time when I needed to be held. Needed to connect to someone who understood how loss tunneled unrepentantly through the fabric of your soul.… fabric of your soul.
Although he said he’d stay, we both knew he wouldn’t. I had already survived one loss—I didn’t know if I’d survive another.
Ames
She spun into my life like a tornado of smiles and chatter and everything else I’d long avoided, with a persistence that I admired, albeit begrudgingly. She broke down each neat wall I’d constructed without even trying. Her presence alone caused me to remember what it felt like to smile, to look forward to what the day would bring.
But it was only supposed to last three weeks.
“Don’t let go,” she’d pleaded.
I’d promised her I wouldn’t—but I would. I didn’t have a choice.
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The Weight of Life is the first standalone novel in the Love in London series. The second book, The Sounds of Secrets, features characters from this novel.
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4.75 STARS!!!!
This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I can tell you right now that it won’t be my last. I absolutely enjoyed this story and the characters. This story was definitely one of slow seduction, and I devoured it within a few hours while smiling, laughing and reading moments that touched my heart. The only thing that this story was missing for me was an epilogue; I really needed one. I wanted to read about Ames and Mila’s relationship a few months/years down the road and I didn’t get it. Don’t get me wrong the ending was sweet and I enjoyed it a lot but not having an epilogue disappointed me a little. This book however, does leave me wanting Lotte and Sam’s story and I definitely look forward to reading it. This story is a great read for all romance lovers; this book does not disappoint.
Yay!!! I can finally say I’ve read a Whitney Barbetti book. What a great book to start with. This author’s writing is wonderful.
Mila is used to not being in the #1 position. Whether it be growing up in a family where one child is sick and parents dote on that one, forgetting about the other child they have. Never doing the #1 thing her parents want her to do in life. Never living up to the #1 spot in anything.
Finding herself on ‘assignment’ in London, after losing her boyfriend, Mila is feeling a bit ‘lost’.
After a tragic almost deathly accident, she is faced with the eyes of a stranger that is there to rescue her.
Ames is struggling… He is a lost person. Living the life of a Bar manager…or should I say Pub manager that is owned by his father in law. He too has lost someone and is barely hanging on.
When fate put him in that spot where he chose to rescue the gal… He knew his life was about to change.
This story is one that has the feelings, makes you laugh, even makes you want to smack some sense at times into people. But the depth and the story being told is one that flowed perfectly. It comes with a heartful feeling that life is truly what you make of it. Even though you might not be with the person you truly loved, there is love out there for everyone.
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I’m a sap. If you read a bunch of reviews you will see the words tears, cried, and sobbed. It’s not often you hear me talk about the weight of the words in a book though. The title has a very intense meaning. It will both warm and squeeze your heart at the same time.
I don’t know if having kids or losing my brother makes me more susceptible to be the emotional mess I am today but I know that not every story can make a person cry. I know that this book will make a lot of people cry.
I think the absolute most emotional single line in the book was: “Because I didn’t want you to be alone.”
I couldn’t handle the absolute rawness- it’s actually making me tear up again.
Some people can write books. Some can write a story that means something to one person. Some people can move others through a story. Some have the ability to transport their reader into a world of their own making and leave them back outside their own front door after shaking their heads. Ms. Barbetti can do it all. It isn’t the first time she left me reeling and I know it won’t be the last.
reviewed for Sweet Spot Sisterhood
p.s. I totally cried
Once again, I have been completely moved by Whitney Barbetti. She just has a knack for storytelling that draws you in and makes you feel something. Mila & Ames’ story was extremely touching – they connected over their shared loss of a loved one, as the other could sympathize with the pain of losing someone close to them. But, more than that…..this story was about moving on with life, living once again. Ames brought that out in Mila…..and Mila brought that same feeling out in Ames. I love that the characters and stories that Whitney creates aren’t over the top – they are completely relatable as if Mila & Ames were real people. They weren’t scared to be themselves – flaws and all. And they didn’t apologize for still loving and thinking of Colin & Mal. Such a poignant story of love, loss, grief, and discovery……one of my top reads of the year!
I enjoyed reading this book good read
Great reading
Normally try to stay away from series type books, but was so well written I looked forward to the next in the series.
Absolutely loved this book! It completely stole my heart.
Slow Burn so Slow is my thoughts on this book . It was just an okay read for me Ames and his family Lotte, Sam , Asher kept me reading. The main idea of this was seeing how people grieve and how they hold on or move on in life. Ames is holding on and not moving forward, and Mila the heroine , she deals with lost by living everyday . Mila I wanted and tried so hard but I thought she was a brat, woe is me, my life is horrible, I have traveled all over the world and still seem so isolated. I thought everyone babied her too much especially her brother . I really like sweet Lotte and when she finally found her voice I was like YES girl, tell them. Ames you could almost see his mind turning it was really calculated about letting so one in, I liked the slow burn between him and Mila a lot of it was just looks and hand touches but you could feel the emotion.
The Weight of Life (Love in London Book 1) by Whitney Barbetti is a beautifully written, contemporary romance full of heart. Right from the beginning, the story captured me grabbing hold of my emotions and carrying them all the way through to the very end.
I fell in love with Mila and Ames, strangers with an unusual and strong instant connection. Complete opposites in personality and outlook, both dealing with grief in very different ways. I felt their chemistry, fear, sadness, vulnerability, excitement, joy, happiness – so many emotions – as they discovered each other and fell in love.
This is the first book that I’ve read by this author, and it certainly will not be the last. One of my favorite reads this year. I absolutely loved it!
My first Whitney Barbetti novel and I really, really liked it. She gives the reader multi-layered, likeable characters, an interesting and unique story line with a realistic mix of what life is really like: love, loss, anger, grief, guilt and humor. Her characters feel like real people to me and that for me is what makes or breaks a book. Highly recommend and will definitely read more by her.
too loing