I was so excited about reading this book, and of course, Emily Henry did not disappoint once again. The way she writes is so relatable and honest. Her characters are funny and charming. I loved every second of this book. I literally spent all night reading it and let me tell you I regret nothing!

Nora Stephens loves her job as an agent in the publishing world. She works hard for her clients and is always in their corner when they need her. While Nora is happy in her professional career, she feels like the bond between her sister is not as strong as it used to be. With two little children and a third on the way, Nora's sister Libby decides that they need some alone time together before the newest baby arrives. Libby suggest a month (!) away and Nora isn't quite sure she can be away from work for so long. But in the end she decides to take the time off to get some girl time in with her younger sister. They decide to journey out to Sunshine Falls - an idyllic small town that one of Nora's authors centered a previous book on.

Libby has a list of items she wants them to do together. A few including Nora going on a date with someone in the small town and helping to reform a failing business. Nora isn't quite sure of all the things on the list, but she goes along with it anyway. This is where Nora runs into Charlie Lastra. The editor whom Nora met once and turned down a book because he didn't think it was good enough. Every checklist that Nora tries to complete ends up with Charlie running into her. Soon they find themselves working together on a book. The more time they spend together the stronger their feelings grow. Will they be able to stay away from one another? With both of them not looking for a relationship, their convictions start to waver the longer they are in each others orbit.

Book Lovers is a story about love, family, the bonds of sisterhood and grief. I will admit that this book started off slowly for me. I wasn't quite sure what the point of going to Sunshine Falls was and how the relationship between Nora and Libby felt so off. But the more I read the book the more I realized, that's the way I was supposed to feel. Because when you love someone and they hide things from you - it feels stilted and you feel that hurt deep.

I loved loved loved Charlie Lastra so much! He was funny (so funny), sarcastic, a little bit jaded - but always so sweet. The chemistry between him and Nora was always so evident from the very first time they met and I was always looking forward to when these two were on the page together. I loved Charlie's background and what made him him. In a lot of ways his grief was also similar to Nora's and they shared the same love for publishing and big city living in New York. While their families tried to push them to the charming small town life - deep down these two knew that they'd never be happy living a life just to make their families happy.

Emily Henry has a way with words and there's no denying that she did it again in Book Lovers. I have so many passages highlighted that either made me laugh or brought tears to my eyes. While Book Lovers started off slowly for me it picked up momentum and I couldn't stop reading the book when I got more invested in the characters. Overall I'd give Book Lovers 4.5, but round to 5 stars because these characters will stay with me for a long time to come.

Another home run for Emily Henry! I laughed, I cried, I gasped, and cried some more. This story will have you falling in love right along with the main characters. This is a fast and fun read that will leave you smiling and satisfied.

Oh my god Emily Henry does it again! I devoured this book in under 24 hours. I love that it’s single POV so the reader really gets a sense for the main character and her struggles and fears. This book was a perfect blend of romance but also inward growth for the main character. It was funny, sad, and poignant. Best romance I’ve read all year!

Do you love books, romance, & all things bookish? Then you need to read this! This is like the ultimate romance read for all book lovers. I was instantly hooked and laughing from the very beginning. Emily’s style of writing is so unique & very poetic. The way that the words flow made it very easy for me to binge read in one sitting. There is a lot of depth to this read, & not only did it make me laugh, but it also made me cry. I loved all of the characters including the side characters. Side characters are usually just that, but in Book Lovers, even the side characters had a lot of depth & complimented the storyline very well.

Nora (who is named after Nora Ephron), loves all things bookish and works as a literary agent. She lives a fast paced life in the city, and is not your typical heroine. Her sister Libby gets her to agree to taking a break, & take a trip with her to Sunshine Falls, a small town in NC. With the small town being your typical Hallmark movie setting, Nora is decided to be the heroine she always reads about. Yet, instead of having some type of meet cute with a small town hero, she keeps running into her work rival, Charlie. Their run-ins are nothing cute, but the tension between them & the banter is just *chef’s kiss*. I loved seeing how an unexpected romance bloomed, with a perfect slow burn. I also loved the chemistry & build up between them. There is also a big focus on Libby & Nora’s relationship as sisters & you get quite a nice insight on Libby’s life. With that being said, all of the characters were very relatable, & I felt a connection with each of them. This was such an unforgettable amazing read, & I absolutely recommend it!

You can expect:

* Enemies to Lovers Vibes
* Sisterhood Relationship
* Witty Banter/ Sexual Tension
* Based in NYC & North Carolina
* Family Dynamics/Drama
* Laugh Out Loud Romcom
* Lots of Bookish References
* Unexpected/Forbidden Love Between Coworkers
* Small Town Vibes Romance

I'm sorry to anyone who has to wait to read this book, but I promise you it's going to be so, so worth the wait.

From the jump, "Book Lovers" acknowledges the tropes in contemporary fiction, and while they play a part in the characters' motivations, it doesn't shape itself around them. Yes, there's a small town and yes there is love IN that small town, but there is so much more to this novel.

Nora and Charlie start off as two people from two separate stories. Yet somehow, the slow burn of their relationship turns them into something else. It's your typical grumpy guy meets cynical, hardworking woman. While I normally don't gravitate towards romance novels, I found myself wanting to read this book whenever I could. And while some of it is predictable, there are a lot of moments that aren't. For me, it was those bits and pieces that really drove the story forward and made me want to find out what happens.

I also loved that the characters felt real. They had real hurt and struggles; the family dynamics felt natural. What Emily Henry did is create not characters in a book, but honest people. Because of her ability to do so, you can't help but fall in love with them, and cry with them -- of which I did a lot.

So that is my warning to you. If you get weepy reading books, have some tissues ready. I was not prepared to sob for the last half-hour of reading I did.

Overall, I thought this book was truly beautiful. I laughed, I scowled, I cried. And I will recommend it to anyone who loves a mildly spicy and extremely charming, heartwarming romance novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for providing me this arc for an honest review.

Emily Henry has swiftly become a top author for many rom-com readers and I'm no exception. Henry's stories are heartfelt, her heroines self-assured, and her romances just the right combination of sweet and steamy. BOOK LOVERS carries on in a similar vein from her first two books, this time tackling the Hallmark rom-com trope of "ambitious big city woman gets broken up with by her boyfriend after he falls in love with small town girl." I'd never seen a story from that character's perspective, and I loved that unique take on the storyline. There is also a very central plot about sisterhood that was so well done and very emotional. The love interest here is Ted Lasso's Roy Kent is he were a New York publishing guy and not a British footballer and I was not at all mad at it! My only slight criticisms are that this book was incredibly predictable. I saw every single twist and turn from a mile away. Now, considering this is playing off Hallmark movies, it was totally understandable and didn't knock my enjoyment down too much, but I do like to find a couple of surprises in my narratives. Also, this book was just a smidge too long. I have found this about each of Henry's books so I guess it's just her style but I think shaving a few pages off would have benefited! Otherwise I highly recommend for fans of Henry's, Hallmark, and rom-coms in general. The perfect summer read.

This was a cute book. I had just previously read some really heavy, hard topics so I was so thankful for this fun little break! I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for my honest review.

Some books grab you from the start, and others like this one, sneak up on you and grab your heart by the end! ❤️

Nora (named after Ephron) Stephens is a book agent who goes to bat ruthlessly for her authors, to get them the best deal. She represents Dusty Fielding, a popular romance novelist, who has just wrote a “small town romance” book called, “Once In A Lifetime “ about Sunshine Falls, N.C.

You know the trope…the hero or heroine goes to a small town, saves a beloved establishment with the help of the quirky residents and of course finds an attractive and available love interest while there.

But, hotshot editor, Charlie Lastra isn’t interested in buying the book. Such sweet revenge, when two years later, the book-purchased elsewhere-is a bestseller and is being made into a movie.

Nora is also a “fixer”.

She practically raised her younger sister, Libby, and has always put Libby’s needs before her own.

So when Libby, exhausted mother of two, with a third on the way, needs a girl’s trip-she cannot say NO.
Not even when Libby, a voracious reader of romances, wants the trip to be to none other than, Sunshine Falls, and comes up with a ridiculous checklist of things they must do while they are visiting.

Like Nora dating a gorgeous, ethical, gluten-free lumberjack who wears flannel. Sleeping under the stars. Riding a horse-Oh, and save a small town business while they are there!!

Nora has to read the end of books first-she needs to know there is a HEA. But, Libby won’t even read the book synopsis before starting a book-she has to go in blind. So, Libby’s plans are going to be a bit of a challenge for Nora.

Especially when she discovers that Charlie Lastra is also in Sunshine Falls.

What in the heck is he doing there?

Turns out, Sunshine Falls isn’t always as far away as it seems…

AND-“Sometimes, even when you start with the last page, and you think you know everything, a book finds a way to surprise you” (FAVORITE QUOTE FROM THIS STORY)

You can say the same thing about life if you leave yourself open to it!

Emily Henry delivers with this third novel, a book about sisterly love 🥰, book love 😍 and yes, the small town trope-just in time for our 2022 beach bags! Just remember to pack a tissue along with the sunscreen-or a big floppy hat that hides your eyes in case you get a bit choked up! 😉

AVAILABLE MAY 3, 2022

Thank You to Berkley for the gifted copy! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

Everything about this book was lovely. The characters were so multifaceted and I feel like the author did an excellent job of showing how each character’s personality affected their choices and actions without making it too obvious or outright stating it. I appreciate that the romance built fairly slowly because I think it helped with understanding how and why Nora and Charlie ended up drawn together. The town also felt vivid, I could picture it really clearly in my head. I also liked the story within a story of the book that Dusty was working on, and the amount of detail given to their discussions about her pages. It made me want to read her book and be able to compare Nora and Nadine too. Definitely a great read!

I loved this book. A very delightful story of two sisters. I especially enjoyed the monologues between the sister as well as between Nora & Charlie. Great writing; definitely recommend!

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have yet to read Emily Henry's other novels but after finishing Book Lovers I want to read them immediately. If her other books are anything like this one the hype is definitely deserved.
Book Lovers had everything I want in a good romance novel. Cute moments that make you smile, emotional moments that make you get misty eyed, and steamy moments that make you blush. The romance was excellent but the relationship between the two sisters, Nora and Libby, was even better.
I found myself constantly thinking about and missing my sister as I read this story. It gave me a sense of comfort which is something I always crave when sitting down to read.
Emily Henry fans will devour this book. And if they're not a fan already, they will become one.

Nora Stephens is not the romantic heroine of the story; she's the work obsessed, focused literary agent who the boyfriend dumps to save a local inn. Or family farm. Or shop. It’s happened enough times for Nora to know her role as the work obsessed, highly successful literary agent is firm. Her pregnant sister Libby however is determined to change this and plans a three week vacation for the two of them in Sunshine Falls, North Carolina, setting of Nora’s client’s bestselling romance novel. Worried about her sister and wanting to reconnect, Nora goes along and even reluctantly agrees to work on Libby’s checklist of romance tropes.

Nora’s focus and Libby’s checklist gets thwarted though when the hot but prickly New York editor Charlie Lastra shows up; turns out Sunshine Falls is his hometown and he’s helping out with his parents’ local bookstore. Helping to save the bookstore: checkmark off Libby’s list. Possibly falling for the New Yorker and not a local: not so much on the list. Each has their reasons why starting any type of relationship is a bad idea but Nora and Charlie are constantly finding themselves drawn to each other.

Nora knows they’re not going to be the happily ever after; that’s not how her stories end. But can her story change?

Emily Henry's novels are clever romances that wink at the genre while also delivering solid love stories. The romance genre is not one I tend to read but I always leap at reading Henry's latest, having loved Beach Read, People We Meet on Vacation, and A Million Junes. Book Lovers is a solid ode to storytelling as well as a satisfying love story that offers just enough tension between Nora and Charlie.

The characters are somewhat predictable and stereotyped- Nora, the workaholic who is hesitant to be vulnerable after a broken heart. Charlie, the gruff hot guy who is secretly caring and sensitive. They banter. They argue. They banter some more. As the novel continues though Henry fleshes out the characters and gives them a backstory that fully forms the characters beyond these archetypes, allowing the reader to get more invested in them as people. Both Nora and Charlie have had upbringings that have shaped them into these roles. Henry also makes it clear that their relationship will allow both to continue being themselves and understand each other, rather than the love story totally altering their world view.

The setting of Sunshine Falls is at first a dose of reality, as the charming small town of the novel is really a falling apart main street with struggling businesss and a Walmart a few minutes away. Small moments though felt more like a Gilmore Girls fantasy, in particular the town meeting where everyone becomes very small town quirky in a way you only see on TV or the movies.

Book Lovers certainly plays into some of the romance novel narratives that it is also teasing but as a whole this is a fun romantic book that is perfect for the pool or beach.

I have not read one of Emily Henry's books before. Since I am a librarian, the title hooked me in. It was a cute story about sisters with a love story slipped in. I enjoyed the characters and the true devotion Nora has for her sister Libby is heart warming. How many times have we given up what we wanted to take care of those in our keep.

Emily Henry's writing feels effortless and it shows how talented a writer she is. Book Lovers is *chef's kiss*. It's a love letter to those who feel like they have to be the capable ones, to hold everything together, and are often told they're too much, but also not enough.

It's a brilliant enemies to lovers story, Nora and Charlie have such an intense chemistry, and watching them reveal themselves one witty conversation at a time is so satisfying. It's not just how they see each other, but also how they begin to see themselves. I loved Nora and Libby's relationship, how important they were to one another, and how supportive as well.

Adequately describing how amazing Book Lovers is a difficult task. I didn't know I'd be getting a beautiful story about love, family, relationships with this amazing depth and insight. It's so subtle and smoothly done. I wasn't expecting that sort of finesse, but probably should have known comes with reading an Emily Henry book.

I highly recommend going into this story blind, and if you're an emotional reader like I am, keeping tissues handy- just in case you need them. I know I will be thinking about Nora and Charlie for a while, marinating in my thoughts and feelings. I have a feeling you will too once you're finished reading.

Loved, Loved, Loved this. I feel like in 'Book Lovers' Emily Henry has really hit her stride. This book was a sweet combination of romance between two book-lovers/people-who-work-with-manuscripts, MCs who were ball-busting at work but dedicated to their families to the point of sacrifice (AKA sibs and parents, no children from previous relationships). In each other they find someone they can relate to and understanding/happiness. Also, the banter is AMAZING, but the characters also had moments of communication with each other, which is exactly what I need from a romance,

Emily Henry delivers again. Anyone who loves the enemies to lovers trope (like me!) will delight in this book. The dialogue is great, humorous without layering it on too much (believable, like chatting with friends). I would definitely recommend this to fans of her other books, and those looking to become new Emily Henry devotees, too. Her characters are smart and enjoyable to spend time with.

Absolutely phenomenal -- this is easily my new favorite Emily Henry book.

This story had absolutely everything: Humor, depth, wit, and as always, the most perfectly well-crafted characters that you can't help but fall in love with. The sarcastic banter and chemistry between Nora & Charlie had me smiling, laughing, and in full-on tears. Seriously, this book has some of the best dialogue I have read in a LONG time.

There is just something so charming and relatable about each and every one of these characters and I don't know what it is, but Emily Henry writing characters that work in the publishing industry (whether they are writers, agents, editors, etc.) is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE THING.

To me, this was definitely her funniest book, while also being the most complex. It dealt with topics of grief, love, and family, but under the surface, this is a story is about women being unapologetically ambitious. It empowers career-oriented women and reminds us that not everyone wants the same HEA, but regardless, we are all deserving of one.

I'm calling it: This is going to be Emily Henry's most successful book. Henry is known for her dreamy writing, absurdly precious romances, and perfectly tied together storylines — and Book lovers delivered, and more. If you love an enemies to lovers trope that also fulfills on family drama, complex character development, and purely funny banter, this is your book.

What a fun romcom! I loved the witty repartee and how it turned the trope of moving to a small town on it's head. Another amazing read from Emily Henry.