I'd only read one other book by the author, People We Meet on Vacation, and it was fantastic, so I had high hopes for this one as well. Surprisingly, Book Lovers gave me so much more than I expected and I was pleasantly surprised on how it turned out. I assumed it was a cutesy romance between two bookworms based on the title and cover but damn it was so good and I just love everything about this book. It was an absolutely beautiful and heartwarming story of love, family and, of course, books. It's also a hate to love story between two publishing industry professionals, Nora as an agent and Charlie as an editor.

The book started with Nora getting dumped by her boyfriend for the same reason as the previous ones, her being overly focused on her job while she was on her way to meet Charlie to talk about editing a book written by one of her clients. Charlie turned down the offer and they didn't see each other again for another two years. Nora was suddenly convinced by her little sister, Libby, to take a vacation to Sunshine Falls, the setting of one of their favorite books, in order to relax, and she even created a bucket list based on romcom tropes to help Nora find new love. It just so happens that the place is Charlie's hometown. And that’s where all the magic happens. The chemistry between the two is off the charts, and the banter is chef's kiss! I couldn't stop swooning the whole time. Both MCs are highly relatable as well especially Nora and there were a bunch of delightful side characters too. I just love Nora's ever-supportive sister, their bond is amazing. And Charlie’s mom was so adorable. Overall, it was a fun and very touching story and I'm looking forward to read more of Emily Henry's books!

Thank you so so much Penguin Random House for giving me an advance reader’s copy of this book.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Nora is an ice queen except for her sister, Libby. She dominates at work as an agent and in every aspect of her beloved NYC life. So when editor Charlie Lastra tries to make things difficult? No problem. She can handle it. Until Libby drags her to idyllic Sunshine Falls -- well, it's meant to be idyllic -- and what was meant to be a vacation of sisterly bonding becomes something much more. And Charlie Lastra is around every corner. Literally. Will Nora finally crack?

Listen. I think I'd give Emily Henry's grocery list 5 stars. But I'm serious when I say this is just as worth it as "Beach Read" and "People We Meet on Vacation." If the former was about grief and the latter about finding yourself, I'd say "Book Lovers" is about what happens when your ship is sinking but you've been patching up the holes for so long you don't remember life before. It's funny and sexy and charming and raw all at once. Nora is delightful -- she's so straitlaced I wanted to give her my therapist's number. And Charlie! The banter between them was so good I kept laughing in disbelief.

The side characters really worked for me, too. Libby was great and that older sister baggage that Nora has will be really relatable to lots of people. I loved the pieces of Nora's work life and all of the residents in Sunshine Falls. The prose was spotless and the pace was good and I did not want it to end. I loved the space held for Libby and Nora's plot but also Charlie's plot with his family and then of COURSE Charlie and Nora together. Ok! You caught me! I loved all of it! All of it! Emily Henry can do no wrong!

This one is definitely for the older sisters of the world and those of us who are neurotic with anxious attachment styles. :)

5 stars.

I thoroughly enjoyed both of Henry's previous novels, but this one is now my favorite. Main characters both working in the book industry, a sister bonding trip with a fun checklist, small town destination, a used bookstore, enemies to lovers angst and romance, humorous banter, and all sorts of bookish trope references. This story filled me with so much joy, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did. All the stars for this one!!

OH. MY. GOD. I hate . . . that this book had to end. I just loved it so much--I think it's my favorite Emily Henry book yet!

Author agent Nora's life is like a Hallmark movie. Except she's the icy blonde New York career woman who gets dumped by her SO to be with the small town baker. So when her pregnant sister whisks her away to the small-town location of the last best selling book she worked on, how can she say no? Her sister comes up with a list of romance novel items Nora must check-off--including going on a date with a local. But when her nemesis book editor from New York, Charlie, shows up, and the keep running into each other, it becomes more difficult to look at anyone else.

I just LOVE to see a heroine like Nora. I LOVE that it takes the classic trope and spins it on its head. The chemistry between Nora and Charlie was electric and I was rooting for them the whole time. There's so much depth and detail in this book, with a great overarching story. There's nothing I didn't love. I already want to read it again.

Thanks to Berkley for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 10/10

What can I say about this book and Emily Henry? You need both in your life. Emily Henry made it to my Favorite Authors list when she published Beach Read and stayed on it after The People You Meet On Vacation. Book Lovers is my second favorite book from her as of yet. This book has already secured its spot in my Best Books of 2022 list. I cannot wait for more books from her and will gladly stay up way too late reading her books.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for providing me access to the ARC.

First of all, many thanks to Net Galley and Berkley Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my objective review. I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read this book early as I've totally loved Emily Henry's previous stories.

This story is pure Henry magic! You know you're in for a good time when the Prologue goes through a discussion all the different romance tropes and then turns them upside down in such an entertaining way. It has awesome snarky dialogue that made me break into laughter over and over again. I just loved the chemistry between the two main characters. There's also a wonderful dynamic between the two sisters and an intriguing storyline about their relationship.

Similar to her other books, Henry handles tough subjects with grace so that the reader is moved without wanting to curl up into a fetal position.

I loved this book and highly recommend it.

Profanity and some steamy love scenes.

Like Henry’s two previous runaway bestsellers, People We Meet on Vacation (2021) and Beach Read (2020), Book Lovers is poised to capture readers’ hearts and minds.

Full Starred Review: https://www.booklistonline.com/Book-Lovers-/pid=9759551

This book made me fall in love with Emily Henry all over again. I loved “Beach Read” and did not care for “The People You Meet On Vacation” but ”Book Lovers”? Chef kiss. It is a beautiful romantic story that made me fall a little more in love with my husband and smile for days after. I could not put it down. Henry’s characters are deeply flawed, realistic and likeable. How does she do it? It feels like magic. Just like in “Beach Read”, the book being edited (instead of written) by the main characters is interesting and not just some throw away fluff. I was invested in it too. Read if you love love and books about books.

I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley, thank you to them. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Emily Henry is truly the best of the best at creating the perfect modern rom com. I always feel like I understand her characters so well by the end and there is so much depth to her stories. I loved the small town vibes of this book and the love of books that was weaved throughout. The banter between Charlie and Nora was A+. I hardly laugh out loud and books but I did so many times. Emily writes dialogue that flows so quick and is so funny. I loved Charlie so much, I wish we got more from him (or even his POV) and I wish the ending hadn't been so rushed.

I will read anything Emily writes!

I am in love with love and in love with this book! I think that Nora and Charlie are a couple of my favorite characters that Emily Henry has ever written. In fact, this is my favorite book that she has written. I love how it revolves around books but also around family and ourselves. Nora has always done everything for her sister even if it meant halting her hopes and dreams. When Libby begs her to stay a month in Sunshine Falls, North Carolina (home of one of their favorite books), she agrees because she feels there is a distance between them. She is a literary agent so works it so that she can still do her job while away. What she doesn't count on is coming across Charlie, a book editor that she didn't exactly love to be around, being there. They are thrown together to edit a book and yes, the literal sparks fly! And you will love it!

I reiterate that this is my absolute favorite of Emily Henry's books and that is saying a lot because I loved her other books too. This one just hit all the right notes for me. The banter was topnotch. I laughed so much and yes, I was in tears at the end. Bravo, Emily Henry!

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for an advance copy of this wonderful book.

I am a fan of Emily Henry books. This is another hit, in my opinion. I love a book about people who love books! This is a love story but not just about romance. There is family love, a love for a place to call home, and, of course, a good looking man. There are scenes in a bookstore and scenes in a coffee shop. It's pretty much the perfect book for me! I love that the different tropes of romance books are discussed and treated just like most readers think of them.

This book felt like the next great return of the romcom movie. If someone doesn't make this a film it will be a great loss to the romantic world.

It was witty, adventurous, and had all of the values needed to make the funniest and sweetest romance on the market

Some books feel like they’re made for you. This one feels like it was made for me, and I know without a doubt so many of you will feel the same. With sharp dialogue, a swoon worthy romance, an emotional sister relationship, and an exploration of life choices and where they take us, Book Lovers will grab onto your tender reader’s heart and not let go even after finishing it.

Emily Henry is unreal. She knows how to create an unputdownable book! I was hooked from the first chapter and I really appreciated how the story evolved—and in ways I couldn’t predict. This really might be her best work yet.

I want to put a spotlight on the sisterly bond in Book Lovers because it is incredible. It makes me weepy even thinking about Nora and Libby! I loved them. They have both funny and heartbreaking moments and it’s just fantastic. This is very much a sibling story as much as it is a love story. And also, if you’re an eldest sister, this book might hit extra hard.

The romance is to die for. It kind of subverts some romance tropes in the best way, and in a wonderful Emily Henry fashion. I am such a sucker for a rivals-to-lovers romance. As soon as I saw that the MC, Nora, is similar to Amanda in the movie The Holiday (one of my all-time favorites), I was all in for a romance with a character you don’t as often see in romance novels—a woman more prickly, more guarded, and fiercely loyal to her family all the while. Nora is career-driven and has an appreciation for the finer things in life like a ten-step skincare routine, which, same on that front! She thinks she isn’t the right type of person for a love story, and I love that Henry said no, you absolutely are. And she is. Plus Charlie is a wonderful love interest and his connection with Nora is dynamite. Henry understands her characters to their core, so the banter as well as the emotional moments stun you. This happily ever after is *earned,* which in my opinion makes the very best kind of endings.

“Maybe love shouldn’t be built on a foundation of compromises, but maybe it can’t exist without them either. Not the kind that forces two people into shapes they don’t fit in, but the kind that loosens their grips, always leaves room to grow. Compromises that say, there will be a you-shaped space in my heart, and if your shape changes, I will adapt.”

This book deserves no less than 5 stars. Any book that makes me cry happy tears to the point where I want to hug it is one that is immediately going on my favorites shelf. I say this every time and I’ll never get tired of it: Emily Henry has done it again.

*Thank you so much to Berkeley Books for the ARC*

This book is pure perfection. Probably one of the best books I have ever read. Book Lovers features Nora, a literary agent living in NYC. Nicknamed “the shark”, Nora is all about her job. She loves books and loves helping her clients get their books published…no matter what it takes or the hours the job requires. What she doesn’t love is that she has grown apart from her sister Libby in the past few months. So when Libby invites her to do a three week girls trip, Nora jumps on the opportunity. She could never deny Libby. Even if it was to go live in a small town in North Carolina for said trip.

This is a book about sisterhood, romance, family, love and loss. It's about finding out what is important to oneself and doing everything you can to fight for that. I highlighted constantly as I read. Henry’s ability with the written word is breathtaking. I wanted to take it all in over and over and over. There is so much wit in the book but also so much depth. I really and truly felt Nora’s pain and joy as she felt them. I laughed and cried several times while reading. Nora ends up working on the same project with Charlie, an editor she once had a terrible meeting with. I could read about these two conversing all day every day. Their conversations are smart and insightful and made me think so much.

Of course, as the title suggests, there is a secondary romance…between reader and books. Having that peek into bookstores, publishing, editing, writing, etc was so much fun. I loved seeing my own feelings about books and reading put into words. Despite the sad points within the books, reading this just made me happy. It filled my heart. This will be a book that will live on my shelves for me to revisit time and again. Henry’s best work by far. I just can’t wait to see what is next.

Possibly the perfect rom com? This is the one I've been waiting for!

I have read and enjoyed, but not been blown away by, Emily Henry's previous two books. I liked the writing and mostly the plots but was very distracted by their titles that were disconnects from the books. Strong books and I could recommend them but not all-time favorites.

But this time, Ms. Henry has done everything right. Rom Com with two interesting, smart, independent people- check. Distinct secondary characters/foils who I care about- check. Tons of witty banter and sexual tension (spicy but without there being too many actual sex scenes to dwell on)- check. Distinct setting that is a character itself with lots of Gilmore Girls' Stars Hollow vibes- check. Interesting careers that we get a glimpse of- check. Love of said careers and NYC- check. Love of lists- check (was this written just for me?)

This book checks all the boxes and is also so enjoyable. Even the little throw away lines were exactly right. Touching and memorable and fun and lovely- this is a book that will keep you loving reading. Thank you, Miss Henry; you've hit your stride.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the advance copy for review. I can happily recommend this book.

I am 3 for 3 on Henry's last 3 books. I don't typically read romance but Henry does such a fantastic job of mixing the romance with snarkly/witter banner and has enough of subplots to keep me engaged and reading. She has become an instant read for me each summer and is perfect for those looking for a great fun summer read.

This one takes the typical romcom of big city man meets small town girl and stays in small town leaving the scorned uptight ex and spins it from the view of the scorned uptight cold hearted big city woman. I appreciated the lead character change up and enjoyed following Nora, a literary agent who's pregnant sister gets her to agree to come to a small town with her for a month to relax before baby #3 comes along. During the trip her sister has doing a checklist of small town stuff, trying to get her to have a small town romance but instead she runs into Charlie a big city editor.

I loved the plot, loved the characters, loved the banter. Another win for me. Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the fantastic arc of Book Lovers.

This book was perfection.

The enemies to lovers romance was perfection.

The sister story line was perfection. The setting was amazing. The prologue hooked me right from the beginning. All the literary references were fabulous. This is one of the best romances I’ve read in a while.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

WOW! Book Lovers is the most entertaining and engrossing book I’ve read this year! It is laugh out loud funny, and poignant, and who of us doesn’t love a book about books with incredible characters and witty repartee? And it is beautiful, too. It’s like the author is saying, Book Lovers, I offer you this. That’s really all you need to know. Just Go. Buy. This. Book!!!

Nora is a checklist-making, totally driven, work focused literary agent. Charlie is a scowl-y but brilliant editor. They disliked each other from their first meet. Until, that is, they run into one another in Sunshine Falls, NC. He is on a trip home - quite a surprise for Nora because how can an S.F. native transform himself into the quintessential New Yorker? Nora is there on a trip with her pregnant sister Libby who might just need some time to regroup. Nora has felt like their bond has been slipping so she really wants this trip to help.

Maybe Nora isn’t such a shark and maybe Charlie isn’t so emotionally closed off? And maybe there might be some romance… and witty repartee. Poignant, funny, emotional, redemptive.

Book Lovers, I offer you this.

If you loved Beach Read I dare say you might enjoy this one even more.
Emily Henry has such a wonderful knack for sharp and funny dialogue. Do the character's hesitations about their love lives make perfect sense? No, but they make enough sense to work within the genre. And Henry is well aware of all the tropes and leans into them, while also making a smart decision to start our leading lady in the self-described role of villainous girlfriend.
There is also a running bit about Big Foot erotica that made me belly laugh. This is a perfect gem of a book for summer.

My third book by Emily Henry in 3 years and this is by far my favorite one!

Remember Sandra Bullocks character in The Proposal? Yea that’s Nora. Uber successful and cutthroat literary agent. Her favorite things include her beloved Peloton and getting the best deals for her clients. Known as The Shark, Libby hasn’t taken a vacation in years. That is until her sister Libby convinces her to spend a month in Sunshine Falls, North Carolina. Not only is it the setting of one of Nora’s most successful author’s books, but it’s also the picturesque small town Hallmark producers lover. In an attempt to get her to love the town, Libby has made Nora the ultimate rom-com checklist. But instead of falling in love with the local farmer, she runs into fellow New Yorker, notorious editor, and her nemesis Charlie Lastra. And let the rom-com tropes commence.

What a fun read! I loved getting a behind the scenes look into getting a book edited. But I loved the way Henry sorta makes fun of all the rom-com tropes while simultaneously introducing all of them into this book the most! All of the characters were well developed, relatable, and loveable. The romance between our main characters felt well balanced and natural. I really just loved every single one of our characters, even Nora’s almost love interest is just the nicest person.

I mean seriously, this book left me with all the warm fuzzies!

Filled with plenty of witty banter, Henry has taken all the tropes of your typical Hallmark movie and turned it into a truly fun read. Recommend reading this one on vacation with a gin martini! I will most certainly be getting a physical copy for my bookshelf and will be recommending it to everyone this summer!


Book Lovers comes out May 3, 2022! Huge thank you to Berkley for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof_books.