I've just had the luxury of reading this lovely book in one sitting, and I highly recommend it! It's my favorite of Emily Henry's books so far. Great character development, brought me to both tears and laughter numerous times, and as you could guess from the title, books and bookstores feature prominently! I look forward to recommending this one to our patrons

This was a refreshing new take on the contemporary romance genre. The main character, Nora, is not your typical rom-com character. Instead of being your usual sweet girl heroine, Nora is more like the nemesis in a rom-com trope.

Nora is a literary agent "shark" who doesn't have time for silly Hallmark romantic relationships. She focuses all of her time on her author clients and on her younger sister, Libby.
When Nora and Libby's mother passed away, Nora spent her time caring for Libby. Years later, Nora is still making sacrifices in her own personal life to protect Libby from any hardships.

Libby is pregnant and begs Nora to go with her to Sumshine Falls, which incidently is the same setting as one of Nora's client's books. Libby has aspirations of turning off Nora's workaholic nature with a cozy, small town setting. But Libby's plans don't go according to plan when Nora runs into Charlie, a New York editor, who is a grumpy workaholic and the exact opposite of a small town farmer Libby envisions for Nora. Nora can't wait to go back home to New York but she is determined to complete Libby's Hallmarky list and grow closer with her sister. Things get complicated when Nora and Charlie have to team up together to edit the next hopeful bookseller together.
Charlie and Nora had the best banter and I was cracking up at their dry sense of humor. While there was romance, Libby and Nora's relationship was a key part of the story and how their relationship developed and grew. I enjoyed this book and I will be recommending it to friends and on social media.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC of Book Lovers!

I absolutely devoured this book. This is the second book I’ve read from Emily Henry and I have just fallen in love with her writing. It’s emotional, but still light hearted. I couldn’t put it down!

4.5 stars
Oh, Emily Henry! You just keep getting better. Book Lovers (pub date May 3rd, 2022) is about to become your new favorite rom-com.

This book features all the delightful things you love about Emily Henry. . . .loveable characters, SNAPPY dialogue, laugh out loud situations, worlds you just want to crawl into, and two mains characters you are absolutely rooting to FINALLY GET TOGETHER. In this one, we get Nora and Charlie to fall in love with.

I've read Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation was in my top 10 for 2021. However, Book Lovers tops them both.

So grab with as soon as it comes out in May, get your favorite coffee, your favorite snuggly blanket, and just melt into this world, these characters, this dialogue, and this love story. Even if you're a Nora and don't believe in rom-coms.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I am constantly in awe of Emily Henry’s writing and this book blew me away. She never misses and proves it once again with this masterpiece.

I am an avid Emily Henry reader and one of my favorite things about Book Lovers is that it is nothing like her previous books yet still feels so distinctly Emily Henry. You could tell reading it that this was an Emily Henry book to its core even if you never looked at the cover because her voice is so unique and distinct throughout all of her works. Book Lovers has everything you’d expect from an Emily Henry book (witty banter, immaculate chemistry, a grumpy but lovable hero, a strong-willed heroine, well-thought-out and engaging characters beautifully navigating through struggle and grief) but this book has something else that I am having trouble finding the words to describe.

On a scale of Beach Read (angst) to People We Meet On Vacation (rom-com), Book Lovers falls somewhere in-between with both extremely Hallmark movie-ish elements and immense grief. But it seems unfair to try to compare Book Lovers to her previous adult fiction works because it reminds me of neither. It is truly in a league of its own.

Nora Stephans is single-handedly one of my favorite characters ever written (literally the love of my life). And Charlie Lastra is so grumpy (my favorite trope ever) but so immensely lovable, I so badly wanted to wrap him in my arms and tell him that everything was going to be okay. These two together changed something in me. Very few times have I read a book and felt so immensely seen by two characters like I felt reading Book Lovers and Nora and Charlie's stories. It was so validating to feel like I wasn’t alone for these 384 pages. This book altered my soul a little bit and I don’t think I will ever be the same again (in the best way).

For anyone who struggles to know where or whether you belong; whether you’re worthy of love or capable of being loved… this book hurts (I sobbed quite a lot) but it also heals. There is a place for you here.

Thank you so SO much for Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of Book Lovers!

After her mother passed away, Nora took on the role of mothering her younger sister, Libby. Years later, even though Libby is married with a family of her own, Nora still seeks to protect her sister from any anguish and hardship. So, when her sister suggest they take a month-long trip to Sunshine Springs, the town where one of their favorite authors idealistic settings tool place, for sisterly bonding. Nora cannot say no – even if she is a workaholic with no life and relies on her Peloton to get her through. Fear of her sister finding the sleepy town nothing like the book, running into the attractive, editor curmudgeon Charlie, not sleeping in her own bed, and trying to fulfill the list her sister created, leaves Nora wondering who she is… and when can she return “home.”

Emily Henry has done it, again. Another great novel, filled with witty banter, engaging characters, in the perfect location(s). Although this one took me a little longer to connect with, once I did, I couldn’t put it down. I always love the little winks and nods at characters from her other novels – I still would love to read January Andrews circus book.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for this ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to suggesting it for book clubs and recommending it for friends and co-workers. Well done Emily Henry and another great novel!

5/5 stars

This is my first Emily Henry, and won’t be my last. The wit and charm of the main characters jumps off the page and I was enraptured instantly. I feel like it’s a trend these days to make fun of the Hallmark-type romances, but what I felt from this book was poking fun while still appreciating their special place; Henry was laughing WITH us, not AT us. I loved this book from the first word to the last. It felt visceral and real while balancing the humor and hijinks. I laughed, and cried, a lot more than I thought I would. I know this book will stick with me for a while yet.

ive been a fan of emily henry since she released her first book, the love that split the world. she has an enormous talent and this book showcases that. i cannot wait for everyone to read.

Have I been avoiding Emily's books because I have a hard time with over hyped books? Sure have. They never live up to the hype for me. But let me tell you, I get it now. This books was cute and so wholesome (even when it was not so wholesome 😉). Loved it so much.

Emily Henry continues to amaze me! I loved Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation, but I think this may be her best yet. I loved the play of all of the romance tropes within the book, and the way it wasn't hidden, but out there in the open for Nora to acknowledge. The relationship between Nora and Charlie is so well written, from the initial hate to the blossoming chemistry.

I’ve enjoyed every one of Emily Henry’s books, but this has to be my favourite. The interactions between Nora, Libby, Charlie, and all the characters are witty, funny, yet real and heartfelt. I can’t say enough good things about this book. I’m so glad I got a chance to read this!

Emily Henry is nothing short of amazing. Her novel beach read was everything to me. People we meet on vacation has done nothing but spin in my head since it’s release. I appreciate Henry’s work every time she publishes something new and it almost feels like I’ve found a new found love for her works. I don’t want to say too much, as going into book lovers as blind as possible is exactly what’s needed for the best experience. Everything about this book heightened my love for this genre. Nora and Charlie were soulmates, two unlikely souls who come together and emotionally connect unbeknown to who the other is. I had so much fun reading this book and cannot wait for Henry’s best works.

This was a good book and well written. I couldn't get into it because it was a little too much like romances that I don't like and I was concerned that there would be scenes that I wouldn't want to read. It was well written and I'm sure that people who like this genre will enjoy it a lot. I thought it would be more about books than it was.

There's so much I want to say about this book and I don't know where to begin. Let me just say, I absolutely loved it. My favorite Emily Henry book and one of my favorite reads of this year by far.

Let's start with our leading lady, Nora Stephens. I love that Emily Henry immediately combats the classic romance heroine trope, and her characters acknowledge and combat it as well. Nora Stephens knows she's not the sunshine-y, spontaneous leading lady of romance novels. She's driven, she's regimented, she's type A. She knows what she wants. She knows what she likes. She likes routines and lists and contracts. She describes this feeling of thinking in words and not understanding how people just think abstractly. Everything is concrete for her. I absolutely adore Nora Stephens. Why? I am Nora Stephens. Don't get me wrong, I fall for the grumpy/sunshine trope everytime. I love when the sunshine girlfriend manages to elicit a laugh from the grumpy boyfriend. However, I will never be the sunshine girl. I am the Nora Stephens. Although I love so many other novels, I always find myself feeling disconnected from the heroine. I like them, most of the time the heroines are funny and independent, but they're just not me. They don't think like me. I find it hard to understand them and get frustrated with their emotions-driven decisions. I have never loved a leading lady as much as I love Nora.

Usually, with my reviews, I have so much more to say about the hero rather than the heroine. This book has elicited the opposite in me. Charlie Lastra is perfect. That's all I really need to say. He is Nora's twin flame, which is inevitably why they are so drawn to each other and get along so well. They just understand each other. He understands her drive. He understands her deep passion for her career. Not only does he understand her traits, but he absolutely adores her for them. Her type-A organization is not new to him, he gets it. These two understand each other on every level. Add in the fact that Charlie is described as having some gray in his dark hair, I'm sold. He knows just what to say to Nora to make her laugh or smile or flush or get splotchy. He is simply everything.

The banter between these two. They have this amazingly witty and dry humor. Their sarcasm and constant need to tease the other is absolutely engaging. It had me smiling and laughing and rolling my eyes right alongside them. It was exactly the kind of clever yet obscenely ridiculous type of humor that I love. The steam/spice is on par with the rest of Henry's novels, which is definitely not disappointing for me in any way. It works so well with her narrative style and the way her stories flow that it just works perfectly.

Henry's writing is best described as accessible, simple, yet immensely beautiful. If you read to fast or too quickly or you're hoping to get to the action a bit faster, you'll miss those subtle, signature Emily Henry lines that consume you. Every time I re-read her novels I find a new hidden gem of a line. I have a feeling that this novel is no exception to that. I already want to go back and meticulously comb every line.

I've rambled on but in short, this is by far Emily Henry's best novel. In addition, it takes on the romance genre in a unique way. It's not like anything else I've heard about or read. It's beautiful and it's well balanced. It's not just about Charlie and Nora, arguably the book is really about Nora and her sister Libby and Nora's growth. Henry once again manages to construct complex characters that grow and change throughout the novel in a way that makes you forget it's technically a romance novel. And I think that's the beauty of Henry's work. It makes me screech and flush and swoon the way romance does, but it also has me thinking and analyzing deeper themes of life and death and making yourself a place in this world.

This book is a masterpiece. I absolutely, positively love it.

My review will be publicly available on April 26th, 2022 on my blog, GiaReadsBooks. You will be able to find it with this link: www.giareadsbooks.com/book-reviews/book-lovers. On May 3rd, I'll be publishing my review on other retail/review websites like Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, etc.


Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Spice Rating: 1.5 Star*
**Only 1-2 explicit scenes, but they’re mature! I definitely wouldn’t consider this book “smutty”, but it’s not for the faint of heart.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, Emily Henry, and NetGalley for sending me a copy of Book Lovers in exchange for an honest review.

Review:

Book Lovers follows Nora Stephens – a strict, schedule-ridden, unlucky in the love department literary agent – as she tackles her job, her love life, and most importantly, her 5-month-pregnant sister, Libby. When Libby pressures Nora into spending an entire month away from her first love (aka New York City) in a place called Sunshine Falls, she’s horrified to think about dealing with the spotty Wi-Fi and “small town” vibes, but willing to do anything to reconnect with her sister. Upon arriving in Sunshine Falls, Nora realizes she’s in over her head when she runs into her literary rival, Charlie Lastra, at the only semi-cool place in town. Nora’s luck runs even drier when they’re tasked with editing the next supposed “bestseller” together. Nora knows she is not main character material, but after many long nights, lots of shared bad coffee, and too many awful salads (with mystery ham on top?), she might finally start to feel like the main character in her own life.

Emily Henry never ceases to amaze me. She is, by my definition, the queen of rom-com books. Book Lovers is no different. Nora is a fascinating main character and I loved being inside her head. She was naïve at times, frustrating at others, and entirely exhausting most of the time, but I loved her witty comebacks and sassy sense of humor. Nora also surprised me a lot with her decisions, which is something that rarely happens with me these days. I will say, though I probably wouldn’t have made all the same decisions as Nora, it was a pleasant surprise to see a main character that I loved but didn’t necessarily agree with all the time. (Also, I imagined Nora as Sandra Bullock’s character from The Proposal, and I have no idea why, but I felt like sharing that with someone.)

I thoroughly loved Charlie (though I had a tough time imagining him in my head). Henry had me eating out of the palm of her hand with the dialogue between Nora and Charlie. When I tell you I was wrapped up in a blanket burrito (California style), laughing so hard I had tears streaming down my face at some points in this book, I’m not exaggerating. Henry is a master at writing well-developed, funny, and flawed, yet still loveable, main characters. I’ve never read a character (or a book) of hers that I disliked.

The only thing I think this book lacked, hence the missing ½ star, was a fully fleshed out romance. That sounds ridiculous, right? It’s a romance novel, so therefore romance is to be expected, but I felt like there was something missing from Nora and Charlie’s story. It could literally be that I wanted more than what was delivered, which is totally valid (and a personal qualm), but their relationship almost felt rushed towards the end. Literally just a few more interactions between the two of them that further developed their relationship would have bumped my rating up to a solid 5/5.

That being said, I loved this novel. I know that’s not shocking to anyone because I love Emily Henry and would read her to-do list if I could, but I feel like the way I feel about this book needs to be shouted from the rooftops. “Emily Henry has done it again!” “Charlie Lastra could hit me with a car, and I would thank him!” “Nora Stephens is my spirit animal and I love Sandra Bullock!” “Books about books are my favorite things ever!”

Once again Emily Henry has delivered a heartwarming romance that will have a squealing with delight while simultaneously bawling your eyes out. At this point she could publish her grocery list and id be trying to find out how to get an advanced copy. As a cold hearted bitch from NYC with a soft spot for romance, I related a little too closely to this protagonist. In a world full of hallmark romances, where people give up their big city lives to live on a Christmas farm in the middle of nowhere, it was so refreshing to have a romantic lead who wasn't willing to give up her life and career for a chance at insta-romance. Both leads are incredibly well developed, and the banter between them is funny and sexy. While the romantic aspect of this book is top-notch, the heart of the story is the love between sisters. I will be recommending this book to everyone I have ever meet no matter how annoying it makes me.

Get ready for another literary couple to fall in love with: Nora and Charlie.

Nora's life is like a Hallmark movie, only instead of being the one who falls in love in a small town while saving a local Christmas tree farm, she's the girlfriend back in the big city who gets dumped. She's obsessed and attached to her job as a literary agent, lives in high heels, and can't fall asleep without the soothing sound of sirens, car horns, and distant shouts. When her sister forces her to take a vacation to Sunshine Falls, a tiny town in North Carolina, Nora isn't sure she'll like it. And she's even less sure when her brooding editor colleague, Charlie, winds up being in the same place.

At this point, I'm convinced Emily Henry can do no wrong. The banter between Nora and Charlie is sweet and playful, the setting is charming (yet flawed enough to feel real), and even the supporting characters are well-rounded and lifelike. Everything about this book screamed Hallmark movie, and yet Henry used classic romance tropes in tongue-in-cheek ways to explore a unique story about family, grief, dreams, and responsibilities.

While this book is centered around a love story between Nora and Charlie, in some ways it's more of a love story between Nora and herself. I loved seeing a strong female lead who could admit she was still growing while also knowing exactly who she was and standing up for that. (Honestly, I'd love to be Nora. How do I sign up for that cool life?)

If you loved Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation, you're going to love this one. It's every reader's dream: a cute love story, just the right amount of steam, relatable characters, and a plot revolving completely around the magic of books.

WHY IS THIS BOOK SO GOOD‽ !‽ The banter! Gah! ❤️
I cannot remember the last time I laughed out loud so often, and yet I still got choked up from the poignancy a few times. Emily Henry is a genius.

It starts off slow and kind of dense, but once the action begins, it's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. It reads as a true epic, one that makes you feel the world really has been reshaped as you read it. Would recommend.

Nora Stephens is a shark of a literary agent, she has a true talent for smelling a bestseller and will fight ruthlessly for her clients. What Nora doesn’t have is much of a love life. In fact, in the classic trope of romantic fiction, Nora leans more towards emotionally-unavailable, career-driven current girlfriend than adorably-approachable future wife. Her younger sister Libby thinks they can switch the narrative if she can get Nora out of New York City and into the rural mountain town of Sunshine Falls, North Carolina (the real life setting of a recent bestseller by one of Nora’s clients). Emily Henry once again gives us relatable characters that we can root for and a unique narrative in which their idiosyncrasies can shine.