What a great book I just read!
Honestly, I can already imagine all the hype this book is going to create, it's so freaking good!
The dialogue, OMG the dialogue, Emily nailed it with the banter; the story is so clever, so well crafted.
Nora is a great character, and I could relate to her so much, that I even cried once or twice, not because the book is sad, but Emily's writing will do that to you.
But I am at a loss for words; I really enjoyed this book, and I would gladly sell a fragment of my soul to read it for the first time again.

I felt so connected to Nora that I cried a few times, not because the book is sad, but because Emily's writing does that to you. And Charlie was an excellent MC, one of the best I have read in quite a while.
There is no other way to describe it - it's a fantastic contemporary romance that I can't recommend enough. Most of my bookish friends will surely enjoy it, and I can't wait to discuss it with them.

You all need to read it!
Book Lovers will likely become one of my favorite comfort reads, and I look forward to returning to it many times.

Can I still say that this isn't my usual fare when this is the second Emily Henry book in less than a year that has captivated me? Well, I'm still going to say it. While STILL not my usual fare, this book is exactly what one looks for when they want something sweet and easily digestible, with a side of poignancy.

Henry knows how to craft a romcom, chick-lit, women's lit, romance novel, whatever you want to call it. Because this book is about people in the book industry (another reason why I was so drawn to it, probably) it talks about tropes. It feels a bit tongue in cheek because Henry then goes on to hit every single one of those tropes in the book. But she hits them in ways that feel newer and less tired, less... tropey. From the moment this book starts, you know where its going, at least in the broad strokes. I suppose there's something comforting in that, though, at least in this case. I don't always love when the path is clearly set before me, but Henry offers enough nuance that the obvious still feels rewarded.

Set in a small town in South Carolina, Nora Stephens is the hard working woman trope basically to a T. Even on vacation she cannot (or will not) put her work aside, not even for her sister, whom she repeatedly says she feels a distance with. I have no problem with the portrayal of Nora as "a shark" though we're really never given a glimpse at that side of her, and I don't really count the allusions to her editorial work or her generous use of red pen or note giving. The closest we get to seeing "the shark" comes from a third party and its only a small glimpse, and its more of a caricature of her personality than the real thing.

Henry spends a bit too much time dwelling on the issues Nora perceives to have with her sister, Libby, without actually addressing them until the end of the story. When the "confrontation" happens is a natural conclusion, but I could have done without the multiple references to the distance and how Nora believes her sister is hiding things from her, which always dovetailed back into memories of their childhood and, for me, interrupted the flow of the narrative one too many time. We get it, Nora gave up everything to raise her sister, enough already!

The conclusion of this book was sweet. Henry manages to fulfill her tropes while also providing all characters with the conclusions that they need. I felt teary as this came to an end and fully satisfied that my happy ending was earned, not simply dropped into my lap.

Perhaps "these books" aren't my usual fare, but perhaps Emily Henry is.

This is one of those authors that are just natural-born storytellers. This book was captivating.. Characters are Complex and inviting. I really loved this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Cw: death of a parent (past), grief, sick parent (stroke), pregnancy induced anemia (side character), anxiety, panic attacks

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f rivals to lovers
-small town setting
-amazing banter
-a love for books
-workplace yet also vacation romance
-this is just a hookup

Emily Henry is wildly talented. We're all thinking it, it deserves to be said. Book Lovers is a women's fiction with a beautiful story about sisters, learning to live for yourself, and a soft romance story.

I adored Nora. Brusk, driven, needing control. She sees herself as the opposite of what people expect herself to be and leans into that. Obsessed with books in the best way, loving them, appreciating them, needing them a part of her life. The book stayed true to her love of city living and it was so refreshing to see a book where people wanted to live in the city.

Charlie was a soft cinnamon roll, coming off as gruff at first. I enjoyed how alike Nora and Charlie were, their excellent banter. Bonding over books, family obligations, and appreciating in the other things that people had made them feel about. They loved each other enough to want the best for each other even if that meant they couldn't be together (SPOILER they're a HEA don't worry).

But the relationship that was the primary focus and stood out the most to me was Nora's relationship with her sister Libby. Opposites on the outside, they both felt so loyal to each other. This book spoke so much to being an older sibling, wanting to take care of your younger sibling. My heart ache for the two of them, the grief, the shared experiences, how much they loved each other. Libby's list to get Nora to break out and have some fun, her meddling and trying to set her sister up not so subtly. I adored these sisters and what this book says about family in its many forms.

Steam: 3 (one brief open door scene)

Emily Henry has done it again! This book is an ode to book lovers and a peek inside the world of book editing and publishing as the main characters navigate their feelings for each other and their obligations to careers and family. It was charming, flirty and fun.

BOOK LOVERS is a delightful twist on small-town romance tropes, in Emily Henry's trademark page-turning prose.

I think I have too much knowledge of publishing from a past life to be the right target audience for this book, but I still like an Emily Henry romance enough that I was able to get past that to some extent by trying to pretend they were lawyers or something else whenever possible. :) Definitely an enjoyable read overall and I know lots of readers will love this one!

Does Emily Henry have a fan club because I would like to be president! This book gives you a glimpse into the publishing world with a romance between a hard working publicist and book editor. So swoony and on point banter. The swimming hole scene was 🔥. There is a strong focus on sisterhood. So many funny, clever little things in this book. If you enjoyed Beach Read, you will enjoy this one too.

😍top 10 + loved || 💋some steam
🤟enemies to lovers, banter, bookish

I've been hooked since Beach Read, so I had high expectations for her new novel and it did not disappoint. A fun story and engaging characters pulled me in. I can't wait to get my copy when it comes out!

This is such an amazing story! I enjoyed it more than any of Henry's other works, and found this romance her best yet.
The love story was engaging, well developed, and interesting to read. Nora, an inversion of the "cold, calculating businesswoman" was a delight.
Overall, I hope Emily Henry never stops writing!

my first Emily Henry novel and it did not disappoint. While the story is a little racier and more of a romance novel than I expected, I thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn't stop turning the pages. With engaging characters and nice setting this was a breezy, fun read.

When Nora meets Charlie, she thinks he’s a jerk. He turns down the chance to edit the next book by the up and coming author Nora agents for. A couple years later, he’s working for the same publishing company as Nora, although they don’t have much of a relationship. Then Nora and her sister take a month long vacation in Sunshine Falls where Nora’s bestselling author set her last hit book. In true rom com fashion and coincidence, Nora bumps into Charlie and they pretty close to immediately fall for each. Their banter is fun and it is fun seeing them fall harder and harder fir each other despite the complications surrounding their relationship. And, of course, all the tropes and bookish reference are icing on the cake.

Thank you netgalley for providing a free ARC of the book in return for an honest review.

This book took me a little bit to really get into, but once Nora and Charlie started interacting, I loved it. Their banter in conversations and messages is just perfect, even as it changes with their relationship changing.

What made this book stand out for me was the discussions on the person they show to others. How the opinions loved ones have mean more and how just because you say something, it doesn't mean it is the truth. Charlie was able to see through some of Nora's walls and it made their story all the better and perfect because of it.

I honestly wasn't much of a fan of Libby. I mean, I guess she's okay, but gets a meh from me.

Overall, this is another very enjoyable book to add to Emily Henry's bibliography.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don't read much romance, and this is my first Emily Henry book. I liked it more than I thought I would; it was a fun read overall. I enjoyed the setting, most of the characters were pretty great, and the plot wasn't annoyingly predictable. Additionally, because of the small-town setting, I was frequently reminded of Schitt's Creek (in a good way!)

This has to be my new favorite Emily Henry. Everything in this felt so deserved, especially the ending, which reminded me of Josie Silver's One Day in December simply because that was the last book I read where I cried because I wanted the happily ever after just as badly as the characters, and getting it was like.. finally! What a treat.

What can I say about this book that has not already been said? Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular!

Emily Henry gleefully explores the enemies to lovers trope by writing a romance focused on what’s normally the side characters in a Hallmark movie: the big-city agent who is dumped for the small-town heroine. In addition to the push and pull (and heck, flirting with the threat of Bigfoot erotica), I really enjoyed how Henry draws the reader into Nora’s world, from exploring her relationship with her sister, to really getting in deep with Nora’s guilt and grief from not being there the night their mother died. This was a fully three-dimensional novel that I could step in and out of with ease - and I got choked up at the end.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry is an absolutely wonderful book! I was endeared by Nora, Libby, and Charlie from the very beginning, despite the characters' flaws. The wittiness, the emotion, the relatability of the joys and sorrows of these characters... man, I just didn't want to put this book down! The romance (and its ebbs and flows) was just delightful to read, though I could have personally done with a little less description/steaminess at times. A great read - I can't wait for my friends to be able to pick this one up!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced ebook copy. All opinions are my own.

Emily Henry delights yet again with this wonderful examination of love, family ties, and finding your own path in life.

Literary editor Nora Stephens agrees to a month away with her little sister Libby, an attempt to tighten their bond and have a last hurrah before Libby’s second child arrives. Destination: Sunshine Falls, the beloved setting of one of Nora’s authors bestselling books. The unexpected arrival of brooding editor Charlie Lastra throws Nora off, but under the seemingly cold exterior, perhaps Charlie isn’t quite who Nora thought.

Book Lovers was a heart warming look into family relationships and the realistic motivations behind our sometimes confusing decisions. The sisterly bond between Nora and Libby is so relatable and allows a look into the ways we care for people sometimes more than we do ourselves.

I truly loved every moment of this book! I couldn’t put it down and recommend it for any contemporary romance lover!

Another amazing book from Emily Henry! Loved the writing and the characters so much and already can’t wait for the next.