Wow, I was beyond excited to be given the chance to read Book Lovers by the incredible Emily Henry, and it was even better than I expected! The main characters were endearing each in their own way and I couldn’t wait for them to find their happy ending.

NetGalley Advanced Review Copy | Coming May 3, 2022 - 5 stars - Guys, a book set in North Carolina with multiple mentions of Asheville! You think our airport is dinky, Henry? Haha, it really is…

And, you know that Cuban rooftop bar is Hemingway's Cuba…

This was one of my most-anticipated books of 2022, and it did not disappoint.

It's also no secret that I loved Beach Read and was a bit lukewarm about People We Meet On Vacation.

However, I demolished Book Lovers about an editor and publisher hiding out in small-town NC.

There's romance, introspection, steamy moments, literary tourism, and tons of witty humor. I needed this devour-worthy read right about now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for a free advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Read our full review on our Asheville website, Uncorked Asheville:

https://www.uncorkedasheville.com/books-set-in-asheville/

Or on our media blog, The Uncorked Librarian:

https://www.theuncorkedlibrarian.com/upcoming-new-book-releases-2022/

Books about books are like the main character of a movie saying “my life is so not a movie” — they’re oddly self-aware and reassuring. You meet characters who also love the musty smell of libraries and appreciate the rush of purchasing a new book. Emily Henry’s newest contemporary romance “Book Lovers” is exactly what its title suggests — it’s a book about book lovers talking about books like it’s their job (hint: it is).

At the beginning of the story, Nora Stephens meets Charlie Lastra, and the two don’t exactly hit it off. She’s a no-nonsense literary agent and he’s a brooding book editor, but their potential working relationship immediately turns sour the moment Charlie says he isn’t interested in editing Nora’s favorite client’s book, “Once in a Lifetime.” Much to Charlie’s dismay, the book becomes a bestseller two years later.

When Nora’s younger and very pregnant sister, Libby, convinces her to take a much-needed girls’ trip, the two travel to the small town of Sunshine Falls, the setting of “Once in a Lifetime,” for a month. Inspired by the book, Libby comes up with a vacation bucket list to ensure the two have their own life-changing small-town adventure. Nora’s plan to lie low and enjoy her vacation is ruined when she bumps into Charlie — again and again. As if Sunshine Falls wasn’t small enough, they are thrown together to work on her client’s new book, but Nora can’t ignore the biggest plot twist yet: she and Charlie actually work well together. Just as Nora and Charlie grapple with their connection in a new setting, they begin to wonder if their relationship will survive back home in New York. Does what happens in a small town stay in a small town?

It should come to the surprise of no one that “Book Lovers” was considered one of the most anticipated books of 2022 by pretty much everybody, myself included. As the New York Times bestselling author of young adult and adult romance novels, Emily Henry is the queen of fun and emotional summer reads, and “Book Lovers” is no exception.

“Book Lovers” is an ode to the Miranda Priestlys and Meredith Blakes of the world. You know, the Ice Queens and career-driven women we love to hate in pop culture. Nora fits this archetype: At work, she’s known as the Shark, and she hasn’t cried in 10 years. However, instead of villainizing her, Henry gives us a well-crafted and sympathetic character. Nora is incredibly sarcastic, which makes her first-person narrative enjoyable and her millennial-esque quirks (a.k.a. being obsessed with her Peloton) not that annoying. Nora knows she’s not the heroine of her own story — she’s successful but overly committed to her job, and she puts the needs of others, specifically Libby and her clients, before her own. She usually dates workaholic guys just like her, until it inevitably doesn’t work out and those exes go on to marry Nora’s complete opposites. But that all changes when Nora gets to know Charlie. Nora and Charlie understand each other because they’re both competitive within the literary world and they’re both New York City people until they die.

The trickiest part about incorporating the “rivals-to-lovers” trope is the transition from the characters hating each other’s guts to enjoying the other’s presence, but Henry’s execution is seamless. The animosity between Nora and Charlie quickly fades, but the chemistry and impeccable banter is constant throughout the story. You can’t help but say “Oh my god” after every single scene involving Nora and Charlie. From the start, their connection is obvious; but as the story progresses, their romance flourishes. Filled with scenes of intimacy (in every sense of the word), their romance is inspired. Charlie is always quick to remind Nora that he wants her to have everything she’s ever dreamed of. It’s such a simple-sounding notion, yet I can’t help but wonder if that is what we can only hope for in our romantic pursuits.

Don’t get me wrong, the romance in “Book Lovers” is exceptional, but it doesn’t compare to Henry’s dedication to developing the relationship between Nora and her sister, Libby. Although the sisters couldn’t be any different — Libby is the hopeless romantic and Nora is the unemotional realist who reads the last page of a book first — their love for each other is evident. Nora wants to use the trip as a way to restore their sisterhood to its former glory because she feels her sister slipping away. Now that Libby has her own family with her husband and two kids, it’s difficult for Nora to accept that Libby doesn’t need her as much. But both women are still dealing with the trauma of losing their mother at a young age, and the responsibility Nora feels for her grown-up sister still weighs heavily on her. It’s painful to read about the internal struggle Nora faces throughout the story. She’s stuck between taking care of Libby like she’s always done, and taking a step back and allowing herself to just be Libby’s sister, not her caretaker — something I’m sure many older sisters can relate to.

Reading Emily Henry’s work is unlike anything else. It’s an experience that makes you feel everything all at once: exhilaration, heartache and contentment. Readers can’t help but become immersed in the characters and the storylines Henry so graciously reveals within her books. Her writing is wholly unique and overwhelmingly beautiful, and the way she weaves humor into her romances is impressive. Although her novels are fun, there’s usually an unforgettable emotional aspect to the story which keeps readers invested.

“Book Lovers” is filled with romance, sisterhood and small-town quirks — what more could you ask for? Emily Henry’s quality of content remains consistent throughout all her books and it’s easy to fall in love with the characters she constructs. Keep in mind, this is the same author who brought us Augustus “When I watch you sleep, I feel overwhelmed that you exist” Everett in her romance debut “Beach Read.” Henry always manages to write incredible love interests; Charlie and even Alex from “People We Meet on Vacation” simultaneously raise the bar for all men. Henry must know her audience well because she incorporates just the right amount of romance that could make any reader swoon. Still, her books are much deeper than other contemporary romances. In a way, it is that depth that helps her books to remain timeless, and I, for one, can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Last year I read my first Emily Henry book and I am a forever fan.  Her writing is so easy to read and she brings you into her characters' lives with such ease. 

Nora, a cut-throat agent just wants what's best for everyone else..that's her priority in life.  Be it her clients, her mother, or her sister Libby (and her family).  Nora is the best.  She's so giving and understanding but it takes spending time with someone she believes is her enemy to find out who exactly she is. 

Charlie is a dream, he took a bit to make me fall in love, but he did it without remorse on my part, at all. 

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book.  Watching the characters transform was brilliant.  this is one of those books that you need to just read and trust the process, Emily Henry is someone I will be watching for more new releases as her books are delightful to read!

I ABSOLUTELY ADORED THIS BOOK! Both main characters, the setting, and even the secondary characters absolutely stole my heart.

This is your quintessential, enemies to friends to lovers, but unlike most stories with this trope, we get a quick yet smooth transition into the lovers portion without having to spend most of the story fighting for it. Plenty of steam and authentic conflict that doesn’t seem contrived or absurd.

This is definitely one of my favorite romances of the year and it’s perfect for the summer months! It will give you the small town hallmark vibes we crave with all the substance those usually lack. I didn’t want to leave this story and I’m sad it’s over!

This was amazing! It is truly laugh out loud funny, which is not an easy feat. The relationships are so well-written. I loved everything about this.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I understand the hype around Emily Henry now. Not only did she create lush characters but she threw in real life problems and mental health issues and a steamy, flirty bite my nails, will they won't they romance.

I don’t know how to fall any more in love with Emily Henry’s stories. They are top-tier, beautiful reads and I already can’t wait for the next one. This one’s got the beauty of romance, of sisterhood, of a cliche-filled small town, of being a book lover, and it’s just incredible. Nora is such a relatable protagonist; she's driven and determined, but can get lost in the day-to-day and forget to really live. Her relationship with Charlie is beautifully written and grows wonderfully over the course of the book. Nora's sister, Libby, accompanies her on their trip away, and their relationship was sweet; Libby annoyed me at times, but I think that their relationship is so realistically written. I'm a sucker for a small-town setting, and this is definitely proof of that; I love that the community is always present, the fun shop names, and having a cast of unique characters that makes it feel so much more real. Like I said, this book couldn't be any better and I can't wait for it to come out!

“Probably, he goes everywhere in a shiny black limo, or a Gothic carriage pulled by a team of Clydesdales.” - Emily Henry Book Lovers

I was obviously always going to want to read the new Emily Henry release, especially when you throw in a book related plot. Emily Henry is writing the heck out of the kind of rom coms we used to get in the theaters.

Follow Nora and Charlie, book publishing rivals, as they live out Hallmark movie tropes in a small town against their will. Drawn together by a shared sense of humor, it’s hard to read their interactions without smiling. I shed a tear or two by the end of their story.

Releasing on May 3rd just in time for prime outdoor reading season
Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC

I finished Book Lovers last night right before going to sleep. I was so close to the end that I stayed up a few minutes after my bedtime to finish it. And it was completely worth it.

This was one of my most anticipated books of 2022 (ever since it got accidentally leaked about on Instagram) and I am so so so happy that it didn't disappoint. Actually, it exceeded all of my high expectations.

Emily Henry is getting consistently better as a writer with each book, all of which I have loved.

I am a huge fan of Hallmark movies, there is something so nice about the sameness to them, even if they are cheesier than the dairy aisle at the grocery store. But, that being said, I think one of my favorite parts about Book Lovers is how Emily turns the surplus of common romance tropes onto their heads, while still being sweet and gentle and funny about it.

Nora and Charlie were both insanely phenomenal characters. I adored their interactions and their growth and everything about these two. They will forever be a top favorite romance couple going forward.

Emily knows how to bring out all of the emotions in me. This book had me laughing, crying, gasping, and making noises out loud that had my husband asking me, "Are you alright over there?" more than once. The answer was, yes, I was perfectly alright in an emotional rampage kind of way.

This is a book to put on your TBR if it isn't already. I'll be purchasing the physical and audiobook versions of this so I can come back to it always. Also, it makes me want to go pull Beach Read off my bookshelf to reread this summer. Emily Henry's books are ones you will want to come back to.

I'm already sad I can't enjoy Book Lovers for the first time again. It was such a great experience.

Book Lovers is the third Emily Henry's book I've read and in all honesty, I don't enjoy the story as much as I initially expected. Her previous works, Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation, are both incredibly amazing and can easily be two of my most favorite reads of all time. Hence, I have very high hopes for Book Lovers and it's also one of my most, if not THE most, anticipated books this year. To my slight disappointment, this book turns out to be quite plain and doesn't have any plot twists or ups and downs that own the ability to take the readers' breath away.

Don't get me wrong, the synopsis and blurb of this book are still captivating, and that's mainly why I pick this book up in the first place. However, the protagonists, Nora and Charlie, lack the natural chemistry and coveted sexual tension so I find it hard to fully resonate with them, resulting in me not enjoying the whole story as much as I'd like.

That being said, I would still recommend this book to anyone who'd like to know more about the daily life of a literary agent and an editor, or who'd love to meet more characters created by the one and only Emily Henry, because c'mon, Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation are THAT phenomenal. Thus, if you haven't read anything by this author yet, I'd highly recommend you start with Beach Read and please feel free to give her other works a shot. Besides, I'd still read her future books as well so just because this book isn't my cup of tea, doesn't mean her books aren't worthy of reading. ;)

***Thanks to Penguin Random House International Sales and the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***

Brilliant as always! Emily Henry knows how to write thought provoking and quirky contemporary romances. The level of self awareness that she has as a writer blends beautifully with her character development and original storylines. If you liked her other books or if you enjoy books about books with some good romance, then this is for you.

BOOK LOVE FOR BOOK LOVERS 💙

Can I give this book 6 stars? This is one of those books that makes me wish I was more discerning with my 5 stars to truly do justice to how much I loved this one (definitely my favorite Emily Henry book to date) but I’ll never be that person 😂. An enemies to lovers, fish out of water romance set in the book world?! Nora and Charlie are utter perfection, as is this book. And I apologize for teasing you endlessly because this doesn’t release until May 3 🙃.

I liked this book in general, the chemistry between Nora and Charlie was great, and the banter in general was fantastic. I love the subversions of and interactions with small-town romance plots. It was a fun book. But I think the balance between the romance plot between Nora and Charlie and the sister relationship plot was a little off. It felt at times like the sister plot was the main focus, which made the book feel less like a romance novel. I would have liked to have had maybe 25% less sister plots. I also wanted there to be more conflict to do with the novel Dusty was writing about Nora. Like a lot of things in this book, it was a plotline that ended up being a non-issue and the outcome/resolution left me feeling wanting.

Nora and her sister Libby escape New York City to go to a small town to have an adventure like they have read in many romance novels. I do like the characters themselves, and Nora clearly identifies herself as the frigid character who does not fall in love, and very into her career. What it lacked was the relationship between Nora and Charlie. I felt it was overshadowed by the relationship between her and Libby, and Nora and Charlie's relationship did not come into full bloom until reading 75% of the book. Overall it did lack relationship between Nora and Charlie

Nora is a literary agent in NYC. She’s very close with her little sister, Libby, who is married with her third child on the way during the heart of the novel. After their mother died, Nora took care of Libby, and in some ways behaves more like a parental figure than a sister to her, though the two are best of friends. One day, Nora meets Charlie, an editor to whom she is trying to sell a book. The two get off on the wrong foot, and Nora thinks of him as an enemy of sorts.

A few years later, Libby suggests to Nora that during the publishing “off season” they take a vacation in the small town of Sunshine Falls. It’s a fitting location as it was the setting of a popular book by Dusty, one of Nora’s clients. In fact, it was the book Charlie was uninterested in. Nora reluctantly agrees to the trip and all of the shenanigans Libby plans to get up to during their month vacation. While there, Nora spots Charlie. The two end up working together to edit Dusty’s next novel when Dusty’s regular editor gives birth earlier than expected. It turns out Charlie is from Sunshine Falls and is there to care for his family after his father had a stroke. Throughout the weeks, the two quickly realize they have chemistry, and that chemistry turns to a strong emotional bond.

I loved how much Charlie and Nora had in common and how he saw her for her and loved her for who she was. Nora and Libby’s relationship was also stunningly done. I’m an only child and I still felt the sisterly love to my bone. Nora always took care of Libby, and while Libby appreciates that and even can’t imagine life different, she wants to help her sister too and really does so in this book. I loved that through Nora’s relationship with Charlie and Libby’s actions, Nora was able to live the life she wanted instead of living to care for others - and received her own happily ever in the process.

Finally, I am so here for 30-something romances. I particularly appreciated the representation of a couple not wanting to have children. (I want kids of my own one day, but marriage-and-babies epilogues make me GAG.) Finally, while most of the book takes place in Sunshine Falls, Nora’s constant reflection on NYC, my place of residence, was a true love letter to the city - or at least Manhattan and Queens. This was a true 5 star read for me and I’ll be sure to check out more of Henry's work.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reading copy! I need to compose myself to write this review because wow, just thinking about this book makes me break out into a goofy grin. This book made me laugh and cry, in perfect harmony. If I was a writer, this is the book I wish I could write. I do not write this lightly, but this book is almost perfect - and I read a lot of books. Emily Henry is masterful at writing banter, romance, and the many complex feelings of love; love for books, stories, family, careers, and for an uncompromising life. Simply put, this book is about sisters and romantic love, but like other Henry books, it’s about so much more. Nora is a New York City book agent, who takes a trip with her sister Libby to a small town in North Carolina, where she keeps running into a nemesis colleague, book editor Charlie. But though Nora and Charlie clash, sparks fly as they edit a book together. Though this book has a cute cartoon cover, this book is complex and full of beautifully written feelings. This book blends and plays with so many tropes so perfectly: small town with big city, enemies to lovers, and romantic comedy. Like many of Henry’s other books, this book gently and empathetically deals with grief in many forms and ultimately gives the readers a perfect ending. This is a short review because I could truly write about and talk about this book forever, but if you’re a lover of romance and well written, beautiful, feeling stories, you should read this book. I will forever recommend this book for lovers of romance, women’s fiction, family, small town, enemies to lovers, and a great story and writing.

Hi everyone! I hope you are doing great, Book Lovers by Emily Henry was one of my expected books of all time, I couldn’t wait to read it and I would like to thank @prhinternational for the advanced copy and the free book ❤️ #partner .
I wish I could explain you how much I LOVED this book, if I could give it 3 million stars I WOULD, words can hardly describe how good this story is.
It was definitely one of the cutest things I’ve ever read, it made me feel so many things.
I LOVED the characters, they were so mature and realistic, I really felt like they were real people, they truly had problems and reasonable thoughts (which I love because lately every main character I read had ridiculous problems).
THE CHEMISTRY between the two main characters was unbelievable, I think that Emily Henry is an expert creating amazing relationships between characters.
One thing that had me fascinated was the fact that the two main characters loved books and were involved in the world of publishing. I felt like that made me connect much more with them, sharing the excitement of reading a good book and the happiness that it causes you.
This book made me laugh, cry, smile and scream. It definitely became one of my favourite romance books of all time.
Please read this as soon as possible because you will not regret reading it!

“Sometimes, even when you start with the last page and you think you know everything, a book finds a way to surprise you.”

I absolutely do not have the words to explain how much I loved this book. It was such a wonderfully written story.

I really really liked seeing Nora and Charlie’s relationship progress. And it was so nice to see that the problems were not from lack of communication but from situations that require a bit more work to overcome.

I also loved that this book was not just about the romantic relationship but was also very much about the sibling relationship. The love between Nora and Libby was just so strong and wonderful.

Long story short. I loved this book and definitely recommend.

With each new book, Emily Henry blows me away. In this book, a book agent and editor with a prickly relationship, find themselves spending the summer in small town North Carolina. They put aside their differences to work on editing a book a manuscript. Soon, they find themselves on agreeing on more and more. They embark on a fling that can only last the summer, right? I loved reading about the book industry and learning about the work that goes into editing and publishing. Nora and Charlie's chemistry was fantastic and I had such fun rooting for them!