Despite having two Emily Henry books on my shelf for the last couple of years, Book Lovers is the first of hers that I have read. I love reading stories that revolve around the bookish world, and Book Lovers is one that definitely meets that criteria. Nora Stephens and Charlie Lastra both work in the book world. They begin working on a book together that takes place in a little town called Sunshine Falls. I loved that Charlie ended up being from there and that Nora went there with her sister. So many of us book lovers have dreamed about visiting the place where our book takes place, only to be disappointed that its not real when we Google it. Not only was there the romantic relationship between Charlie and Nora, but there was also the familial relationship between Nora and her sister, Libby. I liked that both Charlie and Nora were kind of hard and had it all together on the outside, but on the inside, they were really just putting on a front to try to take care of their family. You could tell that their families both meant a lot to each other. I also think Charlie and Nora's relationship was more realistic of what would really happen in a situation where two people would have to be in a long distance relationship. It kind of reminded me of the movie The Holiday. I enjoyed this read; it was quick and entertaining. I am excited to go back and read her other two! Thank you Berkley for giving me the chance to read a digital ARC of this book.

Emily Henry earned a spot on my auto buy author list after Beach Read! I absolutely fell in love with her! She is charing witty and her story telling style is second to none. I love how her rom-com characters interact and have so much chemistry together. People We Meet on Vacation was equally as charming a follow up to Beach Read and absolutely put me in the mood to travel! ‘

When I saw this book was coming out—one I needed NO convincing to read this not with a title like Book Lovers! For me personally I love an enemies to lovers trope over the friends to lovers troupe which is why I liked Beach Read a little better than People We Meet on Vacation. I personally felt like the chemistry and tension was better in Beach Read and that is generally the case for me when I pick up an enemies to lovers troupe. So when I saw that this latest novel featured an enemies to lovers plot I was all for it!

This book has me written all over it. I was absolutely primed to fall in love with this book before even picking it up. Emily Henry is simply a fantastic writer and I cannot say enough good things about this latest book! I knew I would enjoy this one but I was not fully prepared for just HOW much I was going to love it. If you don’t read anything else this spring—read this one!

Summary
One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn’t see coming…

Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves. (summary from Goodreads)

Review
This is a book about book lovers for book lovers and my bookish heart is so happy right now. I had been looking forward to this one for quite some time, I mean hello BOOKS as the catalyst for love just screams read me! I feel like every book that Henry writes I can absolutely see myself in—-the characters, the romance, the plot just everything she does such a great job making readers of her novels feel seen and connected to the story. I think that’s what makes her books so fantastic is I can absolutely see myself! When I started reading this one, I kept telling myself to savor it and slow down but I just couldn’t! It was too good.

From the get go, I loved Nora. As a long standing book reviews, I felt so invested in her character simply because she was a book editor and over the years I have gotten to know quite a few book editors and agents so I felt a special connection to her and her character. I loved how smart and plucky she was. I could see myself in her so easily and I could absolutely relate to her love of reading (dah!). I admired the close relationship she has with her sister. I have a sister but we are not close like Libby and Nora in the book but it was so nice to see their relationship evolve and change in the story. While I enjoyed the sister plot, it was absolutely the romance that swept me away—I mean it is a romance novel after-all so naturally the strongest part of the story.

Charlie is absolutely swoon worthy! Basically he starts off as this kind of grumpy asshole but yet he breaks down your defenses and nestles in your heart. I loved his character and I felt like him and Nora were so completely suited. I was 100% invested in their romance and eager to keep reading to see how they eventually came together. I really feel like Emily Henry is at her strongest writing enemies to lovers or grumpy/grump romances. I literally cannot say enough good things about this book and the characters with our spoiling anything. Just know that I loved this one and it rivals Beach Read in my opinion! This is a book about book lovers for book lovers and I can’t wait for more books by this wonderful author. Read this one you will not be disappointed!

Book Info and Rating
Format: 384 pages hardcover

Publication: May 3rd, 2022 by Berkley Books

ISBN: 9780593440872

Free review copy provided by publisher, Berkley Books, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating: 5 stars

Genre: contempo romance

Wow! And I used to think no contemporary romance book would ever outdo Beach Read. Emily Henry proved me wrong with Book Lovers. This book has everything a romance reader could wish for in a story and more, much more.

Without going anywhere near the plot, I am just going to list a few things that make Book Lovers the incredible, amazing read that it is -
- A book about books
- Flawlessly executed enemies to lovers
- Forget grumpy sunshine, this one is grumpy grumpy and perfect
- Small town romance but city love, specifically NYC love
- Profusion of banter and book talk, snark and sarcasm along with razor sharp dialogues
- CHEMISTRY 🔥🥵
- Sisterly love, if you have a sister(s) and you're close this might get you to tear up multiple times

All in all, an absolute must read for book lovers and romance readers. Will be eagerly awaiting Emily Henry's next book with sky high expectations, which I am pretty positive she'll easily fulfill!

Where do I even begin? I absolutely LOVED this novel! Emily Henry has been on a roll in the past 2 years, but I think this one is my favorite novel of hers by far. Sometimes I think books can be overhyped, and boy has this gained a lot of attention, but it totally deserves every amazing word said about it!

As someone from NC, I instantly loved this book for the setting. It is always fun to read about places that you are familiar with. However, once I started actually diving deeper into the novel and the characters, I fell in love with everything else as well. Nora is amazing. Her boss bitch attitude combined with her wit and soft side for her sister and nieces made her one of the most likeable characters I have read in a while. In short, I want to be Nora lol. And then there is Charlie, aka the dream guy that every good romance fan would love to meet in real life. Let's not forget beautiful Libby, who I would 100% love to have as a sister in real life. Can you tell that I love these characters?

The novel had the perfect amount of romance, family bonding, and witty remarks to make me finish it in the span of two days. If you are looking for a romance novel that also deals with some heavy topics (but not in the "now I am really sad" way), then this is the book for you! I will most definitely be recommending it to all of my friends and patrons!

I enjoyed the reference to all the different romance troupes that are referenced in this book dealing with her love life. The story was enjoyable and I love that her author wrote a book based off her book agent and showed her what she was doing and that she could fix it. It was a basic romance that you could figure out from the beginning but I still loved every minute of it.

Another amazing book by Emily Henry. Honestly, everything about this book was amazing. The characters, their relationships, the connection to books - I never wanted it to end. Sometimes the enemies to lovers trope can bother me, but in this case I think it was perfectly done and realistic. The connection to family, family relationships and how the past can frame the future just added to the story. I enjoyed all of the characters, their flaws and their interactions. An amazing read for the summer!

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Nora Stephens is a literary agent that is ruthless, in the publishing world she’s known as a shark, always striving to get her authors the best deal possible. Nora is a heroine to her clients and her little sister Libby. She’ll do anything for her sister, so when Libby asks her to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for all of August, Nora agrees. Libby has plans to put Nora through all the small-town romance tropes to help her find love. But instead of carpenters or a hot doctor, Nora runs into Charlie Lastra, a book editor from the city. As Nora and Charlie keep running into each other, after all, small towns are, well small, they realize that they might have a lot in common and that their stories might intertwine.

Book Lovers is a beautiful story about sisters and being the main character in your own life. Emily Henry writes well-developed complex characters and I think that she wrote one of my favorites here, with Nora. Nora was incredibly relatable, funny, and caring. Emily Henry explored how far someone might be willing to go to help their younger sister find happiness in a raw and relatable way. I appreciated how Emily Henry addressed the ways in which sisterly dynamics can be unhealthy and how different perspectives of childhood can be. As I was reading this, it made me want to call up my sister and check in with her. I know there was romance in this, but the relationship I adored the most was Nora and Libby’s. My heart was full as they waded through their grief, childhood experiences, and how much they loved each other.

I do want to note that I appreciated how accepting Charlie was of Nora. Their relationship progression just made sense, with how well they clicked and understood each other. Their banter is everything I aspire for mine to be in real life, witty and cutthroat.

Get ready to laugh, cry, and swoon as you meet Nora, Libby, and Charlie and the crazy town of Sunshine Falls, North Carolina.

Perfect for anyone looking for a predictable, sweet romance read. This one at least seems to be tongue in cheek laughing at itself and the usual tropes and the characters are very likable.

Can I just day, I'm LIVING for all of these books being published that feature editors, writers, and other people in the publishing industry? I feel so seen to read a character who is comfortable surrounded by books and loving their job.

Book Lovers might actually be my favorite Emily Henry yet.

Thanks for the free book PRH International <3

Lots of people think that contemporary romances are a sort of second class literature. I don’t think so. In my opinion, this is a restricted way of thinking. You cannot enjoy a genre, you can dislike the dynamics or the general storylines and that’s absolutely okay. It’s a personal opinion and, for that, something to be respected. Nonetheless, it’s wrong to generalize, declassifying an entire category without even reading a book. That said, I think Emily Henry is the demonstration that kind of assumption about contemporary romances is absolutely erroneous.
One of the things I love the most about this author is her ability to create something that is always so powerful in its own special way.
She has an ironical and sarcastic writing style, not excessively cheerful, that always fascinates me. In this particular case, the first pages killed me! THAT was an amazing introduction to Nora, and I’ve LOVED how Emily worked with the stereotype as “the other woman”, the obnoxious one that always ends dumped at the end of a typical romance story. Nora is that woman and she doesn’t keep it secret. She’s proud of who she is, even if others see her just as a workaholic person, maybe snob too. I usually dislike a character like that, but Henry gave her shape, depth, and a background that explains a lot of her.
She’s not a villain. Nora is a person with her virtues and flaws, and even if the latter are maybe the first that stand out, it doesn’t mean she’s not more than that! She’s passionate about her work, she really cares about her authors and she defends them fiercely when necessary (poor Charlie, sorry Dusty, I love you too). She loves her sister, because if that wasn’t true, she wouldn’t accept to indulge her going in this three weeks’ vacation with such a terrible list of things to do (but it was so fun to “see them on stage”!). Plus, she adores books and stories, and that is reflected in the way she handles her job as a literary agent. The story itself isn’t a sort of “redemption”, because she doesn’t need it, but it’s the chance for Nora to discover more aspects about herself, reconnect with her sister (and maybe understand each other better) and open herself to love, despite everything.
At the end of the book, maybe a little bit surprisingly, I’ve adored Nora. Her stubbornness, her passion, her commitment to her work, her suffering for being considered only a heartless person, her pain for the loss of her mother, her traumas… She’s complex, she makes decisions I didn’t always agree with, but she’s so human you can see her by your side.
And then there’s Charlie. I fall in love with every Emily’s male characters. It’s impossible not to, and he’s not an exception. If I compare him with the other two main figures of Beach Reads and People We Meet on Vacation, I think Charlie is the most direct one. He’s outspoken, he doesn’t say things compromising between what he thinks and what people desire to hear, and he knows what he wants. He has a steadiness that enchants me, together with a longing for being accepted for who he is and what he loves to do for living. But that doesn’t matter because when it comes to family, Charlie (as much as Nora) puts it in first place. In Game of Thrones there’s a famous phrase that Jamie Lannister says: “The things I do for love”. I think that describes appropriately many things that happen in the book, both past and present ones. Love is frequently the engine of good or bad choices, and often people don’t realize how much others do thing for them just for real affection, even if it’s something that costs them a lot. All becomes a little granted or unseen, and that’s unfair. This book made me think about that a lot. It’s not “just a romance”, it’s a book about family and how it affects our growth and life choices. It remembers us that we have to take into consideration other things different from our wishes and the sacrifices that others made for us. At the same time, it stresses that it’s okay if the person we love takes a path different from ours; we have to accept it will make them happier. Being different doesn’t mean that affection is gone. We can’t make them like us, we have to let them free. This is love, even if it breaks us.
And, since we’re talking about love: the romance. I’ve loved Nora and Charlie from the start. Their first encounter (which I was also lucky enough to hear read by Emily herself in a live on Instagram) has been so full of sparks and underlying misunderstandings I found myself giggling all the time and looking forward to their next meeting with even more expectation. Their chemistry is undeniable and it was so sweet seeing how Charlie manifested his interest in Nora and, most of all, his admiration for her job – even if she didn’t get it. They don’t change during the book for no one – as I said above, they didn’t need to. However, spending time together and discussing between them (and not only about books), make them understand some aspects of themselves better, allowing Nora and Charlie to comprehend and be more open with each other and the rest of the people they love. I think this is a wonderful change of perspective in comparison with what we usually find in a story. And speaking about that, another peculiar thing is that sort of bittersweet atmosphere that follows the reader during the whole “journey”. And it destroyed me inside, because I was craving for a happy ending with tooth and claw, but you don’t really know how it ends until the very last pages (and that’s why I ended up crying like a baby in the penultimate chapter). I won’t make any spoiler, but keep your handkerchiefs close.
Last but not least, this is a novel about books. If in Beach Read we have the creation of them, in Book Lovers we focus on what happens during and after an author writes a novel. In my little way, it was cool to see something similar to my job in those pages. Not to mention the fact that for me it’s awesome to read about someone that shares my same passion for books and stories without being a caricature. Making things believable and real for the readers is not something easy to do, but I think Emily has this precious gift (as much as Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, the authors of The Roughest Draft), that is probably one of the many reasons of all the success she has – and deserves – and I’m sure she’ll reach with this new book of hers.
So, how can I describe Book Lovers other than “remarkable” and “inspiring” as always?
Thank you Emily for another beautiful contemporary romance and for all the laughs (and tears!!) you gifted me.

Emily Henry knocks it out of the park again with her latest book, Book Lovers.

I went into this title with expectations of enjoying the book, and the characters because Henry has always done a great job with that. These characters though. There was something so honest and vulnerable and cutting as you got to know each of them.

The relationship between Charlie and Nora starts off on the wrong foot, and is full of humor and sweetness. The relationship between Nora and Libby was just as sweet. I cried multiple times through their scenes, and related hard about being the big sister who needs to protect her little sister.

The whole book from start to finish felt like a perfect love letter to people who love to read, to those who never felt like they fit anywhere except between the pages of a book, and who learn that being soft doesn't equate to being weak.

Emily Henry is back at it with another romance perfect for summertime reading! For me, this was on par with her book Beach Read; it was fun and romantic while also heartbreaking and moving. She pokes fun at romance tropes and at the same time brings depth to the main characters. The setting is a lot of fun, and it's not just a romantic love story, but a touching story about the complicated love between sisters as well. I'd recommend to fans of Beth O'Leary and Christina Lauren.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Favorite Emily Henry romance novel so far.

I like this better than PWMOV bc pf the attachment I had with the characters.

I have yet to read Beach Read but this is my favorite (so far!)

Miss Emily Henry does it again!!!! There’s something about her romances that are so comforting to me - maybe it’s because I always read them in the spring/summertime, but I can’t get enough of them. ⁣
⁣
Her characters are witty, sometimes a little spiky, but always full of heart. Her books remind me that it’s okay to be a sap, to enjoy the little things & the big things and everything in between!!!⁣
⁣
And on that note, NORA & CHARLIE FOREVER 🫶🏼

Nora Stephens has been dumped not once, not twice, but FOUR times by men who leave New York City for a Hallmark-movie-ending in the country. If her life were a romance novel trope, she'd be the "Evil City Girlfriend." Nora adores NYC, though, and has zero desire to live anywhere else. She is a classic workaholic, devoted to her clients and dedicated to securing the best publishing deals she can in her role as a fierce literary agent. She is also devoted to her younger sister, nieces, and brother-in-law, so when Libby begs her to take a month-long sisters' vacation to the very small town that's the setting of a client's best-selling novel, she acquiesces. Little does she know her sister has ulterior motives for the trip and is on a mission to give Nora her very own Hallmark movie experience. Not long after the women arrive, it's not a handsome stranger they run into, though, but the very editor who once turned down the book that put this town on the map, so to speak, and Nora begins to learn that everyone has a backstory, and sometimes first impressions are dead wrong.

I absolutely adored this book! Yes, the solution the characters struggle to see was obvious to me from the moment we learn what Libby's secret is--and it crossed my mind even before that--but the journey they took to get there was necessary, heartwarming, and sometimes even heart wrenching. Plus the witty banter was perfect, like an R-rated Gilmore Girls, and had me laughing out loud or at least grinning 'til my face hurt though most of the story.

What I don't understand is why the official synopsis of this book says Nora and Charlie are rivals. They barely know each other until Nora & Libby arrive in Sunshine Falls. The only time they've ever interacted was 2 years prior at the meeting where Nora pitched Charlie the manuscript for Once in a Lifetime, and he turned it down because he hated the setting. In fact, when Nora does spot Charlie in the coffee shop, she isn't sure it's him and has to look up his address to send an email as a test to see if the man ahead of her in line responds. Which he does, because apparently they both have email notifications turned on--something I would never do because the constant pinging would make me insane, but I suppose it makes sense for their business email accounts. At any rate, they aren't rivals; they are acquaintances who become colleagues and friends with enough electricity sparking between them to start a wildfire.

For readers' advisors: character doorway is primary, language secondary (for the banter). There is no violence, but there are a few steamy sex scenes and some profanity sprinkled throughout.

Many many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the free eGalley copy in exchange for my honest review!

I really loved Nora and Charlie separately and together, though their relationship didn’t feel as central to the story as I expect from a romance. I also really liked Nora’s relationship with Libby. Their conflict felt a bit goofy even though the emotions around it or genuine and I thought well done.

The beginning of the book felt very slow, though I’m not sure if the pacing picked up or if I just began to feel more comfortable with it.

Overall I really enjoyed this one. Definitely more so than PWMOV.

I could not put this book down! I read through it so fast because I just had to devour it! Although now, I'm wishing I had savored it because I do miss it. I will definitely be re-reading soon! These characters were all so complex and I loved all of them. Sunshine Falls is the cutest little town and definitely reminds me of Stars Hollow--- right down to the town meetings!

Another really solid romance from Emily Henry. While I didn't love this quite as much as People We Meet on Vacation, the strength of this one for me was in the characters. I really liked both the protagonist and the love interest and the reasons they had for liking each other. It felt different to have two people both kicking ass in their careers and not apologizing for it; their careers were important to them, and so they were important to the other as well. Overall, a really great romance, and it made me realize that I still really need to pick up Beach Read.

This book still gives me a warm hug type of vibe every time I think about it!

What I loved about this book:
✨ There’s so much banter! Charlie and Nora both have the wit and enough sarcasm to have such entertaining banter.

✨ Nora is the career-driven, highly-focused type of person. Charlie is kind of the same which is why he could “read her like a book.” Love finding out about their upbringing & experiences that made them the way they are.

✨ all the sibling moments with Nora and Libby! as an older sister, I resonated a lot with how Nora wants to do all she can for her younger sibling.

✨ It’s set in a small-town which was quite charming. There were also lots of vivid descriptions about New York since it’s where the characters grew up. I love seeing the differences of both but also how EH sheds good light on both settings 😌

This was really nice! Kind of a reverse-Hallmark movie. Definitely felt like the personal story of the heroine and her relationship with her sister were more of a focus than the romance. Well done with the slow burn, though. Emily Henry is a reliable writer and I am looking forward to her next release!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.