Over the years I’ve come to love many authors. Authors whose books resonate and whose characters hold a special place in my heart. Emily Henry is one of those authors, and BOOK LOVERS is one of those books.

There are so many things I loved about this story, from Nora and Charlie’s love for all things books, to Nora and Libby’s “small town vacation transformation checklist”, and every time we learn a little more about why Nora and Charlie are the way they are. Nora's desperately holding on to pieces of the life she remembers and is determined to keep her nicely curated bubble intact. She lives in the fear that it will all slip through her fingers, so she hangs on to what she has with everything in her. Charlie, underneath his own shell, is looking for the place where he truly belongs, where his own happiness is. These two seemingly opposites keep attracting each other, until they realize they aren't so different after all.

Do you ever connect with characters so much that when they hurt, you hurt a little bit alongside them? That’s how I felt pretty much the entire time with these two. (But let me tell you, when they finally get their happy, it’s more than worth it).

Nora’s relationship with her little sister, Libby, is also a big part of the book and it’s one of things I loved reading about the most. Maybe it’s because I also have a sister who’s four years older than me, but their connection and their “us against the world” dynamic made me think of my sister, who is—like Libby is to Nora—one of my favorite people in the world. I love that their relationship isn't perfect, that they have their communication problems, but their love for each other really shines through, in their own ways.

BOOK LOVERS is a testament to all the love we’re capable of: for our families, our jobs, our significant others, our hometowns and all their quirks, (and books, of course), and that we aren’t and shouldn’t be defined by one or the other. You all know I’m a sucker for a happy ending, and this one was so, so satisfying for me. I can’t wait to see what you all think! This is Emily Henry at her best.

I may be a *tad* bit biased here… but ANY book with a female character named Dusty (not Dusti, unfortunately, but close enough) has to be great! I think this is only the 2nd time I have encountered this phenomenon. And this Dusty is a WRITER (my dream job)!

But seriously - Is there anything better than the witty banter between love interests in an Emily Henry novel?? No, really. Is there?

This is the fun story of an uptight literary agent and a smug book editor finding each other in the most unlikely place possible.

This story is like many others - where the couple changes because of love and all that good stuff, but it’s done in a sarcastic and interesting way that doesn’t make it too cheesy.

I think this book is a bit more steamy than her previous books, and the build up is great!

Overall, it’s a sweet and sexy rom-com about how we write our own stories - our own endings. What’s not to like?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 - the half star is for actually making me laugh out loud several times. That never happens!!

“Some books you don’t read so much as live…”

This is Emily Henry’s best book yet!

I adored the characters, the setting, the banter, everyone was just so perfect. And the best part: it’s enemies to lovers with NO miscommunication trope!

I was so excited when I saw the setting was a fictional little town near my real city of Asheville! (Petition for Emily Henry to make an appearance at one of our bookstores please 🙋🏼‍♀️).

This was a sweet story about finding yourself and letting go. It’s a romance but also features a strong relationship between sisters and the bonds that hold them together. Libby and Nora saw their childhood in completely different ways and it affected both of their future relationships. While Libby clung to the security of her husband and children, Nora cut herself off from close relationships and refused to put herself in vulnerable situations.

I love the way the story played out in the end. Emily Henry has a way of writing enemies to lovers with the most hilarious banter and I was cheering these characters on every step of the way.

My ONLY gripe was that Libby called Nora “sissy” and she sounded like a 3 year old every time she said it in the audiobook. Speaking of the audiobook, Julia Whelan narrates and I 100% recommend that format!

I will buy anything Emily Henry writes and I can’t wait to see what’s next from her.

Thank you Libro.fm for the gifted ALC!

Emily Henry’s best work yet! Get ready to ignore all your responsibilities because you won’t be able to put this one down!

Why are you still here? 🏃🏻‍♀️ Click buy now! I checked it’s on Prime, you can get it by tomorrow 😂😂

Yes this is my review! What more do you need?

But I must warn you, if you aren’t into Bigfoot erotica then this one might not be for you.

Thank you to @berkerlyromance for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for my very honest review!

🎉 Happy pub day to to @emilyhenrywrites's latest brainchild! 🎉 When I was approved for this book, I was absolutely shocked. I still believe Berkley approved the wrong Emily, but hey, I am NOT complaining.

My favorite romance trope of all time is the busy career woman 😤 with no time for romance ⛔ but falls in love with someone who brings out the best in her and shows her she can have both her career and love 👩‍💼🌹, and boy, did Emily Henry deliver on this trope, but with so much more hearts and laughs than ever before.

Nora and Charlie had the banter, chemistry and competition that I need in a book like this. Dare I say Charlie Lastra is the best romantic male protagonist Emily has ever written? Because I adore him. And when this is made into a movie one day, I DEMAND Oscar Isaac play him. The relationship arc between Nora and Charlie (hello, enemies to lovers) was just delicious and I loved every moment.

I loved how meta this book was; it gave me the same giddy feeling I have when reality stars break the 4th wall. I loved this sneak peek into what the publishing industry is like.

My only qualm is I wasn't a fan of Nora's sister. If I had to read "Sissy!" one more time... I just found her flighty and immature, but that was a great contrast between her and Nora.

If you're even THINKING about reading this book, do it. I will read anything Emily Henry writes. She could write about rain and I'll read it. But I'm so glad she writes romances.
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Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Nora.

Charlie.

There are truly no words that will suffice when it comes to Nora Stephens and Charlie Lastra. No words that could ever encapsulate their very essence - the beauty within themselves, and the beauty within the magic they create together.

Emily Henry is truly a literary genius, and I will read everything and anything she writes.

Book Lovers is for the eldest sisters; the readers; the writers. The selfless folks who always put others before themselves. The ones who hold absolutely nothing back.

The sharks.

While Poppy and Alex live forever in my heart and soul, they had to make some room for Nora and Charlie.

This story will make you roll your eyes, laugh, smile, cry, and chase after your dreams.

Don’t miss out on the chance to change your life.

5-stars for Book Lovers! It’s out today and I can’t wait for everyone to read it!!!

It’s sweet, serious, and hilarious in all the right places. The author’s love of words and stories drips from every page. It’s full of tropes but in the freshest way possible. It’s a love letter to all things literary. It will make you fall in love with NYC and rural North Carolina at the same time. It’s an absolute delight and I can’t recommend it enough!

I mostly read Book Lovers on my kindle, but also received the audiobook from LibroFM and listened occasionally. The audio is narrated by Julia Whelan (our queen!) and she is phenomenal as usual!

Thanks to Berkley, NetGalley, and LibroFm for the gifted copies.

Happy Publication Day! Book Lovers is classic Emily Henry and I loved it. This was a great way to start off my summer reading where I tend to lighter books. Just like her other books Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation, there are fun characters and witty banter. Are there times I want to yell “what are you thinking” at a character or roll my eyes at the obvious romance tropes? Yes! But, her book are still a lot of fun and his one is not different. It might be a little more steamy than her others but still PG (or at least PG-13😚).

Nora is a 30 year old literary agent who carries a lot of baggage with her. She became a guardian for her younger sister when their mother died when she was 20 and her sister was 16. Ever since then she has focused on always being able to take care of her sister. Even to to detriment of other relationships and even though her sister is happily married with 2 kids and a third on the way. Nora would d anything for her sister so when Libby asks for a month away with her in North Carolina as a last getaway before baby #3, Nora says yes. Libby thinks this is her chance to get Nora to relax and take time for herself. Will Nora be able to focus on anything other than her job and Libby? She doesn’t think so, until she meets back up with a colleague Charlie, who matches her work ethic, wit, and her definition of very attractive! But he’s in North Carolina now helping his parents and Nora in a NYC person if there ever was one. Can they make it work??? Add this to your summer reading list to find out!

I did thoroughly enjoy this book, however I do believe it’s wrongly categorized as romance. There is a love story element, but Nora’s emotional and mental health journey are the star of the show. Expecting a romance, it was a bit disappointing, but I did love it regardless.

Y'all this book is good. Like really good. Get ready for allllll of the emotions. If you loved Beach Read, you're going to like this, guaranteed.

Nora and Libby are the best but Charlie is a fantastic book boyfriend. Add in an adorable small town and I couldn't be more charmed.

This book is absolutely perfect. I loved every thing about it. It’s set in a small town but it’s also a love letter to New York City. It’s the story of two sisters who love each other but have grown apart. Libby begs her sister Nora to spend a month in Sunshine Falls, NC, the setting of a book written by one of Nora’s clients. Before she leaves for the small town, she meets Charlie, an editor. It does not go well. When she arrives in Sunshine Falls, Charlie happens to be there as well. We follow them through all the twists and turns as we head to that HEA.

Nora Stephens is a workaholic literary agent called "the shark" by her colleagues. When Nora's pregnant sister Libby suggests that they take a month-long break and visit Sunshine Falls, Nora isn't sure of visiting a small town, but decides to go for it and spend time connecting with her sister. Sunshine Falls is where Nora's authors centered a previous book on and the biggest shock is when Nora runs into Charlie Lastra, her work nemesis. Charlie happens to be from Sunshine Falls and soon they start working together on a book for Nora's favorite author. As Nora and Charlie spend more time together they don't seem to think as differently as they thought they did. Nora and Charlie form a very beautiful relationship as they bond and connect with each other.

I loved reading Book Lovers. This book deals with some tough topics like personal loss and standing by your family. The bantering and the relationship arc of how Charlie and Nora found their love for each other was amazing. The relationship growth between the two sisters is so beautifully written that it warms your soul. The Big Foot Erotica bit was just simply too good and stole the cake.  If you enjoyed The Beach Read, this is a definite must read. Emily Henry is an auto buy author and will read anything she writes!

Thank you @berkleyromance for sending me an eARC of Book Lovers.

Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Small Town Romance, Literary Lovers, Forced Proximity
Rating: 4.5 stars

You know those cozy romance books and movies where the city guy goes off to a small town, falls in love with a girl, and leaves the mean city girl behind? Nora Stephens is that city girl. This is how she introduces herself at the beginning of Book Lovers by Emily Henry. After 4 breakups following the same pattern, Nora's sister, Libby, drags her off for a month long vacation to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina. With a check list in hand, they set forth to have that experience for Nora. Quickly things turn a bit sideways as she coincidently keeps running into her nemesis and book publisher Charlie Lastra.

From the beginning I was hooked. There is plenty of romantic tension between Charlie and Nora. Equally, I loved the interactions between Nora and her sister, Libby. Each of them taking a different approach to life despite their family history. Henry's writing is great as well. Her verbal exchanges between Charlie and Nora had me laughing while equally smiling at their flirtatious behavior. I may have even snort laughed at the mention of Bigfoot erotica in the story. If you know, you know.

Overall, a great read. The pages are filled with plenty of sexual tension, laughable moments, and thoughtful introspection on behalf of the main character to make this the book I needed to read at this moment. I highly recommend this romantic read.

Happy pub day to Book Lovers by @emilyhenrywrites!!! Y'all. This book. THIS BOOK. I picked it up on Sunday night and could not put it down. I've been trying to figure out what I love in a book, and it's everything this book is.

From the very first meet cute until the very end, I will in love with Nora and Charlie. I love rivals and a misunderstood hero. There was so much delicious tension in this book. I absolutely loved how their romance developed and how they unfolded to each other.

And then there's the side characters. Nora's sister Libby. Charlie's family. The town of Sunshine Falls. This book ripped my heart to pieces -- and then put it back together. Having a sister of my own that I lived with in adulthood, I connected in a deep way to Nora and Libby's relationship. I admit I sobbed a couple times at the tenderness and the things the navigated. Ugh. This book is so beautiful! Read it!

CW: Please do also note there are references to a previous parental death, grieving, depression, major life transitions, a brief reference to suicide ideation, and another parent with health issues. If you have more questions about content, don't hesitate to ask!

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.

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 what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.

I think this is my favorite Emily Henry book to date. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this book even though I binged it because it was so good I couldn't put it down.
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It's an enemies to lovers filled with witty banter and centered around books. You also get part of the book taking place in NYC and then the rest taking place in small town North Carolina. Honestly, it just a fantastic combination of tropes and settings. ⁣
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4.5/5

I loved Beach Read a few years ago, then last year I ADORED People We Meet On Vacation. Book Lovers was my favorite so far! I’m not sure how that’s even possible, but Emily Henry does it again! She is the queen of rom-com witty banter. Very rarely will I laugh out loud while reading a book, but Emily Henry always nails it. Book Lovers is like a Gilmore Girls/ Schitt’s Creek crossover. It’s set in a tiny, charming but extremely eccentric town and it’s from the point of view of literary agents working for a publishing house. I truly could not have loved this book more!!

Thank so, SO much to Berkley and Netgalley for providing me an advanced copy of this!! All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

I think I just read my favorite book of the year. This was absolutely everything I wanted out of another Emily Henry romance.

Emily Henry's books are always laugh out loud funny, heart-wrenching, timely, and absolutely beyond swoony. And this one hit all of those notes while still managing to be one of my favorite twists on a classic romance tropes ever.

This takes the small town romance trope and completely turns it on its head. Nora might be one of my favorite heroines of all time - I definitely have a massive crush on her 😅

She is the epitome of a big city woman. She loves luxury, is married to her career, and is known for being a shark. And she loves everything about it. I love that throughout this book, she doesn't "change her ways" but instead learns to accept who she is. She doesn't give up her career or fancy apartment but instead embraces her love for her life.

That mixed with her relationship with her sister, the writing plot line, the hilarious small town, and more could have been overwhelming. But everything worked so well together. The plot lines were all so complementary and equally interesting and I never once grew bored or disconnected.

But as always, the chemistry between the character was the absolute best part. I had butterflies every single time these 2 interacted. Their chemistry was beyond palpable and I couldn't get enough of them.

In fact, I cried my way through the entire last 30 minutes of the audiobook because I was SO attached to these characters.

I don't know how Emily Henry continues to write such relatable yet standout romances. But I hope she continues to write them forever.

PS - if you're an audiobook listener, Julia Whelan narrates this and continues to be my favorite narrator of all time.

Well I loved this book, so the title is accurate

So to be honest, this is the first time I've wanted to re-read something. Scary thing is that I wanted to do it right after finishing it. I'm pretty sure not wanting it end was part to blame but it's a first for sure.
Simply put, I enjoyed the entire thing!! Characters are so fun, sarcastic and with a dash of broken that I couldn't love them more. Nora's character hit home for me while Charlie comes through like a surprising dark horse that made his first impression morph into a total and complete keeper. Their relationship evolves and spins while keeping a genuine story beating underneath. Emily has consistently and surprisingly hooked me to devour her last two books so it's no real surprise that I found this hit the sweet spot once again. She really has a way with words and characters that make you believe and hope they work out (with just enough resistance) as I can't imagine another outcome.
A sure thing.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley for my honest opinion.

Book Lovers was one of my most anticipated books of the year and I’m so happy to report it didn’t disappoint. I really enjoyed it!

If there is one thing I really love about Emily Henry’s writing, it’s the terrific banter. When I picked this book up, I was having quite a bad week, but reading Nora and Charlie’s back and forth made me so happy. They were so fun and I just never wanted to put the book down.

I liked the small-town setting and all the references to Romance, Hallmark-type tropes. I also liked the theme of the importance of family. That said, I wish there was a little more of their families. Nora and her sister, Libby, were supposed to have this incredibly great relationship – and they did also have some good banter - but most of the book shows Libby being kind of shady and keeping secrets. We also don’t see much at all of Charlie’s parents. However, they all did come through in the end. There was also a lot of talk about dealing with grief and anxiety that I wished was handled a little more productively.

Overall, I really enjoyed Book Lovers. I shipped the romance and absolutely loved the banter. While there were a few things here and there that I had some small issues with, they weren’t enough to hinder my enjoyment. I know this is a book I will read again and I will anxiously await whatever Henry writes next.

Every review I've written for Emily Henry has basically been a fangirl post equivalent to high school me at a Jonas Brother concert circa 2008. A slew of words screaming into the ether in case sweet Emily happens to read them, but she deserves more than my star-struck pandering. Emily Henry is a phenomenal writer; she pens stories with humor and depth that have me recommending her books to anyone I meet and this one is no exception.

The plot follows the idea of 'what if the Hallmark channel ex-girlfriend that was left in the big city got her romance story (and a more empathetic perspective)'. This centers Nora, a literary agent that lives her life according to plans, list, and routines. All that changes when she on a month long vacation to a small town with her sister in hopes of getting their relationship back on track and then happens to run into her rival with great eyebrows, Charlie.

Within the first few pages I was laughing out loud. After certain email exchanges between our leads, I'd stop reading, sigh dreamily, clutch my book (iPad) close to my chest, and text my best friend about Ms. Henry's ability to make me a simp. This book has the best of both worlds: a rivals-to-lovers romance strapped onto a meaningful look at family, love, and how happily-ever-after doesn't mean everything works out perfectly but finding happy through the imperfectness can be all the sweeter.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for making my dreams come true by granting me access early.