Here we have a nicely-balanced romance: light, but not shallow; smart, but not trying too hard to be clever; sensual, but not too naughty.
I was oh-so-happy that protagonist Nora Stephens was allowed what she wanted to be, a hard-driving literary agent who loves New York. Her descriptions of the city brought back fond memories of the wonder I found when I first visited there.
True to romance rules, she and the frosty editor Charlie Lastra don’t like each other when they first meet, but when fate throws them together in a small town in North Carolina, witty repartee over email and text turns to something better and deeper.
And while this book gives out the vibes of a frothy romance, it also goes better and deeper with a heartfelt exploration of the griefs that we carry and the bond of family.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a review copy of this book.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry: This should come as no surprise, but once again Emily Henry has knocked it out of the park with her latest release. What’s not to love about a book lover reading a book called Book Lover? I swear books about books are just in a category of their own.

I adore that the protagonist is the “villain.” She’s the high-strung career woman who keeps her emotions to herself–aka the woman who gets dumped in the rom-coms because her significant other moved to some quaint village then falls in love with a farmer’s daughter. Off the bat I loved that our main character wasn’t the lovable girl-next-door type that’s so common in romances. Nora may be a tough and rough cookie but she’s also just as lovable as every other heroine. She was the epitome of multi-faceted which made her completely relatable to the reader. The character development throughout the book was flawless and allowed me to connect with her throughout the book. Henry knows just how to get my attention and keep it.

This enemies-to-lovers trope is portrayed with snarky, clever banter that had me smiling while reading. Sometimes banter can come across as bickering, but Henry has mastered the art of keeping the conversations witty and sharp. Libby, Nora’s younger sister, was the perfect yin to Nora’s yang and helped move the plot along at a nice pace. Their relationship really made me think about the sacrifices and lengths we go to keep our loved ones happy.

One of my favorite parts about this book is that it focused on family just as much as the romance, making it equally part women’s fiction book and part rom-com. It may be a beach read but be sure to pack some tissues because it’s a tear-jerker, too. In my opinion this is her best yet.




LINKS TO COME CLOSER TO PUB DATE.

Such an amazing read. Emily Henry has never disappointed! The way Emily writes is so unique and just makes me feel like I am a part of the story every single time.

This is another raw, real story of romance, with family drama intertwined. I laughed, I cried, and I felt just about every emotion while reading Book Lovers! Grief plays a large part in this book, but she does it so well, and it almost provided comfort in those scenes.

I loved and saw myself in the character of Nora Stephens, and Charlie was just, so amazingly sweet, broken, but lovable. All of the other characters were so perfectly written and I connected with each and every one of them.

I can't wait to read this book over and over again, and I absolutely cannot wait for Book Lovers to be released into the world! Thank you so much Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Book Lovers was one of those books that you did not want to end. Emily Henry does not disappoint!!

The city to small town was so well done and I loved every minute of it! Nora's character was easy to relate to. She wasn't your typical love interest and knew her faults. Her protection over Libby, her younger sister, was so real. And can we talk about Charlie, the love interest, for a second! CAUSE WOW! Amazing, 10/10! You can't help but root for Nora and Charlie the whole time!

It was so enjoyable and has easily become one of my top reads for 2022!

Two book lovers who exchange snarky book-related banter and also end up falling in love over a book? Sold. This is my favorite of Emily Henry’s romances thus far, and I predict it will be my go-to recommendation for anyone looking for a smart, funny, steamy, yet heartwarming read this summer.

5 stars

LIKES:
📝 quick, witty, relatable writing!!
🏡 set in a small NC mountain town! (LOVE!)
✅ a fun bucket/check-list style plot!
📖 + majorly meta bookish vibes
🗽 New Yorker energy
👩🏼‍💼 a sharp, successful, driven literary agent
🧔🏻 + a grumpy, sarcastic book editor
🗣 classic EH witty banter + alll the tension!
❤️‍🩹 forbidden romance (coworkers!!)
🤺 + some enemies to lovers vibes!
🔥 an IMPECCABLE slow burn (3/5 steam level)
👯‍♀️ deeply explores sisterhood
🤰+ themes of motherhood
🖤 themes of grief, betrayal, & loss
🌱 themes of personal growth and change
•
DISCLAIMERS:
⚠️ dm me for tw!
•
VERDICT: a PERFECT witty yet deep & emotional enemies-to-lovers forbidden coworker romance set in small-town NC + a fun bucket list plot + EH’s signature profound look at family, love, & loss - A MUST READ!

Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYwi-xCrHGf/?utm_medium=copy_link

I admit that I struggled a bit through the bulk of this book and I couldn't figure out why. Partly, I found myself reading this quickly and at night and couldn't really keep track of what was going on. That is my fault, not the book's. That said, I was enjoying the characters, the mystery and the emotional journey so I was along for the ride. At the heart of the conflict with the protagonists is the idea that they are not worthy of love and happiness so it was difficult to believe that there could be a happy ending when they didn't believe themselves. I was so invested what was going to happen that I couldn't see a way out either and I think that was at the true root of my sense of dissatisfaction. As in her previous books however, Emily Henry has written a satisfying emotional journey that really delivers by the end. It is that emotional payoff that really sold it for me and I think other fans of her books will like this too.

While Beach Read still holds the top spot for my favorite Emily Henry book, Book Lovers has come extremely close to knocking it down a peg. I absolutely adored Nora and Charlie. Their banter and snarky comments back and forth constantly had me cracking up. My favorite part about this book though is probably how it doesn't seem to take itself seriously. Sure there are some serious topics brought up but as a whole this book is packed full of heart and laughs. It is basically poking fun your typical Hallmark movie (big city girl visits small town, finds romance) while actually being one at it's core. I found I couldn't put this book down. Emily Henry has quickly become one of my favorite contemporary romance authors and I will eagerly sit here waiting for her next release.

A big thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me to get my hands on this book early. I look forward to giving it another go when the physical copy arrives at my door later this year (because you can bet I already preordered it).

Nora Stephens aka The Shark is a literary agent in Manhattan. Charlie Lastra aka Thundercloud is an editor in Manhattan. Their first meeting appears uneventful. Fast forward two years later and they meet again in Sunshine Falls, the town the fictional book they last met about, is based on. Nora is there due to her pregnant sister's need to fulfill a wish list of rom-com tropes before her third baby arrives. But why is Charlie there? And does their meeting go any better the 2nd time around?

I was first introduced to Emily Henry by her book People We Meet on Vacation. I instantly fell in love with the book and its main characters. The exact same is true for her newest book Book Lovers. I was connected to the characters from the start and even though I had a pretty good idea of where the story was going (Okay, I suffer from the same affliction about books as Nora.) I enjoyed every step of the way. I both wanted to finish the book right away and didn't want the story to end.

Emily Henry is at her best with Book Lovers. The main character is fabulous and unique. I love how Henry makes fun of romance tropes. I also laughed out loud multiple times reading this book. Perfection!

Harlequin Junkie Top Pick!

Emily Henry made me laugh as well as swoon repeatedly with her latest knockout novel, Book Lovers. Delicious enemies-to-lovers, small town vs. big city, family drama–this had the tropes we love all in one memorable place.

I'm honestly not sure what I loved more about Book Lovers. The stunning relationship that grew between Nora and Charlie after starting off on the wrong foot? Nora's awesome sister Libby and their comical, heartfelt conversations? How this is about multiple characters who live and breathe books–with the added bonus of snippets from Nora's long-time client Dusty's newest novel? Nora's love-letter-type-thoughts on New York City which made me want to book a trip there asap? Or the beautiful and utterly charming town of Sunshine Falls itself? Yep. All of it added up to a stellar story that captured my heart from the start.

I had my doubts at first that Nora "The Shark" would be able to relax and enjoy her vacation with her sister. But what fun it was to watch as pieces of her protective walls crumbled, while she found her niche in the town that was the polar opposite of NYC. It felt genuine, the changes that slowly took place for Nora. As did the way she fell for her colleague Charlie. They were so similarly matched in their careers and devotion to their family that it was easy to see why they would butt heads at first. But I think Charlie brought out the best parts of Nora and vice versa. It was sexy. It was sweet. And it seemed written in the stars. Although their incredible sigh-worthy HEA took some doing.

The dialogue Emily Henry created for *all* of the characters was fast-paced, hilarious and witty, and fit the scenes. Some of my favorite back-and-forths were between Nora and Libby. It seemed real and showcased their differing personalities to a T. It also revealed the thin cracks that marred Libby and Nora's strong sisterly bond. Something that was patched up during their time together, thankfully, but in a way that didn't seem forced. They still had some healing to do after past trauma, some words to get off their chests and out of their heads, and Sunshine Falls was the right place to do so.

It’s official…Emily Henry is a new auto buy author for me. Somehow she is able to keep me turning pages in a character driven romance. 🙌🏽

Nora Stephens is known in the publishing world as a shark. She is a Type A girl boss who gets things done including caring for her younger sister, Libby. When Libby plans a girls month long retreat to a small town, Nora must adjust her big city lifestyle. Little does she know a fellow publishing colleague, Charlie, is also adjusting to small town life.

I loved Nora so much (she may have reminded me of myself at times 😆). Seeing her sacrifice herself for her family was heartbreakingly sweet. As always Emily Henry is the queen of snarky banter and could not get enough between Nora & Charlie. Highly recommend this one if you loved Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation.

Emily Henry is the top modern romance/women's fiction writer right now and I will read anything she writes. "Book Lovers" drew me in immediately with Nora's story and reads more akin to "Beach Read" than "PWMOV" in terms of how Henry connects the reader with her characters. I appreciated that there was more of a focus on the main character's relationship with her sister and the emotional struggle of losing a parent. Henry also nails the moments of humor and lightness that help break up the more serious plot points. My favorite of all of her books so far!

Nora and her sister leave New York for a vacation in small town North Carolina. There, Nora runs into her publishing nemesis, Charlie.

I am now an all-in Emily Henry fan! The People We Meet on Vacation was one of my top reads of 2021. I was squealing inside when I was approved for this ARC and it did not disappoint! I loved how their relationship developed as well as the time she spent bonding with her sister, who she didn't get to spend as much time with due to work and family obligations. This will definitely be a big summer beach read hit.

Nora Stephens has been through some stuff. And she goes through it caring more for the people around her than she does for herself. This book is about messy family dynamics and a woman who struggles with what she wants versus what she thinks she should do for those she loves. Will she put herself first or will everyone win? Well, as you know, it wouldn't be a romance if it didn't have a HEA. Emily Henry does NOT disappoint and this one is her best yet. Loved it!

Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks NetGalley & Berkley for the ARC.
This is a fun and different enemies to lovers romantic comedy. Charlie and Noras relationship is playful but also steamy.

Ps. Charlie’s the reason they had to change the green M&M to be less sexy. (Don’t know how Emily Henry saw that coming haha).

***Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for provided an e-arc***

We follow Nora and her sister Libby. Nora is a publishing agent in New York City and Libby is a free spirit about to have her third child. Nora being the big sister who helped raise Libby is worried about the rift growing between the two of them. So when Libby ask to take a vacation to sunshine falls the town in the story her sister helped publish. She can’t help but say yes, hoping that her sister will open up about what has been bugging her, they create a list of all the typical small town tropes that happen in small town romances. When they arrive who does Libby find but they rude editor who turned down her best clients book! Charlie is there helping his family’s bookstore after his father had a stroke. Even though they can’t seem to be around each other without fighting Nora and Charlie can’t seem to stay away. But as the drama with Libby comes to a tipping point, Nora must deal with her past and her present.

I loved this book. The banter between Charlie and Nora was everything I love to read in romance novels. Bonding over Bigfoot erotica, and love for the city. I especially love that Nora reads the end of books, as someone who does that as well. This is a definitely must read, perfect for summer.

thank you berkely and netgalley for this arc!! wow emily henry has done it again! i really really REALLY enjoyed this book. i loved that NYC played such a big part in this book as well it was almost like it was its own character. while the book is a romance between charlie and nora (amazing banter btw) there is also the love story between the two sisters and having that as a major plot point was refreshing but also accurate on how consuming and frustrating sibling relationships can be.

In the romance novel of life, Nora Stephens is the villain. She is the buttoned up, organized, super-successful business woman. She is the one that the hero always seems to leave in favor of the sweet, small town girl. Nora has accepted this as her role and she's satisfied with her life, even though she feels like things with her sister are starting to change and she's still not over the death of her beloved mother. When her younger sister Libby suggests a girls' trip to the small town featured in her favorite romance novel, Nora agrees, willing to do anything to try and reconnect with her sister. But the trip is filled with surprises, including the unexpected appearance of Charlie Lastra, Nora's work nemesis from New York.
Book Lovers was a cute and charming romance although for me it lacked the magic of The People We Meet on Vacation, I liked Nora, and the exploration of who she truly was underneath the buttoned-up, ambitious career woman facade. The build up of the sexual tension between Charlie and Nora was excellent at first, although I did reach a point where I thought, "just get on with it already!" Emily Henry's writing is always entertaining and engaging and overall this was a sweet story but a bit predictable in my opinion. Bottom line, Book Lovers is a good story but not quite a great one.

This book is a love letter to books and booksellers. It has all the things people have come to love in Emily Henry's books. I laughed, cried, and felt seen. This is her best book yet!