Book Lover Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.

Nora is in her thirties, giving up on romance, focusing on her career as a literary agent and doing the most to support her sister, Libby. Complex and emotional, she hides behind a thick front to avoid getting hurt which often has her dubbed as cold and withdrawn. But, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Nora may be one of my favourite characters Henry has written to date, having found so many similar qualities when Nora begins to let us in.

Enter Charlie. Immediately, I was rooting for Nora and Charlie. While they don’t get off on the right start in New York, when Nora ends up in a small town⁠—which happens to be where he grew up, things develop quickly. They’re snarky, full of banter and also flirtatious as hell. But, Nora has a list to complete set out by her sister Libby, who wishes to get away and do something fun with her sister before baby number three comes along. This list involves many tropes which needed to be ticked off, something any romance reader will love.

While it’s clear who the romantic relationship will be between, the way it unfolds made me grin. Neither Charlie nor Nora really wishes to really investigate the emotions they’re feeling, even when both of them can’t stop thinking of the other. They find themselves in mini trope situations or anti-trope situations, while the heat, passion and affection are bubbling away. You feel it all between them, even without physically seeing it—that’s how good Henry’s writing is.

In Book Lovers, one of my favourite things about them is that they’re their own people, but they’re also two halves who make a hole. While neither of them ever needs the other, they want them. Both of them are flawed, with sharp edges than are softened when they’re around one another.

In many of the lines Henry wrote, you fall both in love with her and her characters. Plus, the beautiful and layered relationships she crafts. Especially when these characters have really been put through the wringer, as well as never feeling they quite fit in where people expect them to. Nora and Charlie are my favourites of Emily's she has brought to life.

The pacing was well executed, never lingering in one place too long. The relationships were all well-executed, and the ending was the perfect way to wrap up the story. I was especially impressed with Henry’s layering of the characters, especially Libby and Nora, because their bond is so much more than we first understand on the first page.

While the ending may be predictable, I was here for it. It brought tears to my eyes and had me wanting to wiggle my legs in happiness. All of the characters find a special place each for themselves, with a cute, fluffy and joyful ending. So, before I even finished, I knew this was going to be up there as my book of the year. There was no other rating than 5 out of 5 for me.

A huge thanks, once again, to NetGalley and Penguin for allowing me to delve into Henry’s words earlier. I’m in love. And, I can’t wait to get my hands on my physical copy in 11 days.

It feels amazing when a book fits every criteria you have to be excellent. I didn't know how much I needed a reverse small town romance until i read this book. Great writing? check. A story that keeps you hooked and waiting for more? check. Laughter and tears, check and check. This book makes you feel seen. I love how it shows the human side to the ''corporate'' and ''city people.'' Nora just wants to be there and take care of her sister but in doing so she has neglected herself for years. Charlie wants to be perfect for someone and both feel like they don't belong. Add some Emily Henry sugar and spice and you have an incredible experience.

Oh I loved this.

WHAT A BOOK. I love love love the enemies to lovers trope, and what better storyline for a book lover than a mutual bonding over books.

I thought all of the characters had really strong character development, it was really easy to really relate and feel what the characters were feeling. I loved the bond between sisters, and the little twists and turns along the way..

and THAT ENDING... absolute perfection. I expected it to go one way and it totally went another.

I'd absolutely recommend this to all romance lovers. 4.5 for me purely because I wanted a little more SPICE.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book Lovers might just take the top spot as my favourite Emily Henry book and I was *so* excited to read an advance copy of it!

Emily Henry has this immense skill for creating beautifully real characters and fully formed relationships. She doesn’t shy away from having her characters work through difficult, nuanced situations like loss, delicate family relationships, mental health and career changes. Book Lovers combines her ability to craft a desperately romantic relationship full of yearning and the slow meander into love and the reality of modern day life and all the issues real couples face.

Book Lovers follows the story of work rivals turned hesitant friends into lovers, following our main characters from their busy lives in New York working in publishing to the small southern town of Sunshine Falls. I loved the small town setting and thought the intimate setting was a great space to see their story play out.

Nora was not at all what I expected. At the start, I got a very “girl boss” type vibe from her, from the rigid schedule to the tight ponytail, I thought I had her all figured out. But the more I got to know her and the further she moved out of her comfort zone, the more she became someone I deeply related to. From her handle on her emotions, her world altering care for her little sister and how so truly strives to be as selfless as possible, I fell in love with her voice and her story. Older sisters everywhere will see themselves in Nora’s relationship with her little sister Libby. That fierce protectiveness and responsibility she feels for Libby was so genuine and beautifully done.

Charlie fast became one of my favourite love interests ever. From the brooding, prickly exterior we meet at the start of the book to the soft, caring and observant man that was slowly revealed to both the reader and Nora, he was truly so, so well done. Sometimes all the LI’s start to blend together, but Charlie really convinced me as both a well fleshed out character and as Nora’s match. Their relationship was founded on emotional connection and their shared loyalty towards what they feel is important. For both of them, it’s their families and their careers. They’re so similar and so different, convincing me that they really made such a genuine couple.

I loved Book Read and once again sit in awe of the characters Emily Henry creates. Is highly recommend this book to anyone, even if you’ve never read any of her books (or romance books in general). 5/5 stars!

Book Lovers centres cutthroat literary agent, Nora Stephens. Nora isn’t your typical book story heroine; she is no sweat heart or laidback dream girl. The only person Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous book deals. When her sister Libby suggests they visit Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for a relaxing self care August she is expecting small town country vibes with picnics in meadows and handsome country doctors - not constantly bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. They have met before and it has never been cute. When they are thrown together in a series of coincidences, they might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.

I have been anticipating this 2022 release and so I was thrilled to be approved for the ARC on #netgalley.
If there is anything better than reading, it has to be reading about books. This is a wonderful heartfelt romance, full of wit and sparks. I loved Nora, she was ambitious and fierce. I find romances with soppy females to be irritating and unrealistic. Nora and Charlie’s enemies to lovers’ relationship was exciting to read, a real page turner.

This is a romance for your 2022 reading list! This made me laugh out loud but also felt very genuine and emotional at times.

It’s not very often that you find romance books that are perfectly imperfect. There are many aspects of this book that you wouldn’t find in the average romance book and I think that’s what made me love it so much. This book is for the reader, the one reading the story instead of living in it, the “other girl”, the one who doesn’t get the ending. I didn’t know how much I needed this story till i got it, this might be my favourite Emily Henry book yet.
One thing I loved about this book was how much Nora’s character resonated with me. always putting everyone else first, believing that these epic romance stories will happen to everyone but you, it definitely struck me hard. This story really gives you hope that one day you will find the Charlie to complete your story in the way every romance reader dreams of.
The way Emily Henry writes is just so all consuming and comforting, she could write a to-do list and I would take out a bank loan just to be able to read it. This is one of my favourite reads yet just because it was so relatable.
The way these two main characters fit together so effortlessly made my heart skip a beat. Please read this as soon as it comes out of romance is your thing, even just giving this book 5 stars feels like daylight robbery!! I don’t want to say anything more about these book because I want to leave you all intrigued in the best possible way. This book was EXQUISITE!

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an arc of this excellent book in exchange for my honest review!

Emily's Henry's best yet. I can't stop thinking about these characters. Perfect. Just perfect.

Henry manages to create a nostalgic and wholesome world, with realistic and loveable characters, whilst also adding tension and real risk. I had no idea what was going to happen next but it was also incredibly comforting.

emily henry simply doesn't miss. she's the master of this type of thoughtful romance sub genre. and i'll read literally anything she puts out. prepare to love charlie and nora.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I liked a lot of this book. The premise was sound and well executed. The book/writing/editing references were spot on and so well delivered that I felt invited into a private world. The relationship between the sisters was complex and fascinating although I became very irritated at Libby's attitude towards her sister and Nora annoyed me with her sacrificial martyrdom and absurdly, over-controlling behaviour.

The romance was well done, and I enjoyed how it developed and ultimately concluded.

BUT, what I disliked intensely and found very irritating was the continuous 'snark' between the h/H for what felt like the first half of the book. A few lines of witty, sarcastic banter are fine - but when it becomes the only way in which two people communicate, I find it beyond annoying.

An entertaining book, giving insights to Nora's world. She is a book agent and is highly professional. Everything in her life she has carefully planned though she is always worried in case anything goes wrong. Her sister Libby is the opposite. Family orientated with two kids and one on the way. She has a more relaxed attitude to life. When the two sisters go away for a few weeks secrets unravel. Nora meets Charlie, a hard nosed editor that she sees as an enemy. However over time they realise that they actually compliment each other. Yes this is a romance but a refreshing viewpoint gives it an unexpected depth.

From this book lover to Book Lovers: to me, you are perfect. It is full of feeling and side splitting humour. It has loveable characters and a cosy small town vibe; all the better to get emotionally attached to. With every chapter flowing flawlessly into the next, and no shortage of themes, Book Lovers was exceptionally difficult to put down.

Henry writes beautifully about how life changes, never to be the same again; accepting the pain of that and embracing the hope of new memories and exciting adventures. At the heart of it all, is the bonds of family and what makes home, home.

Furthermore, the characterisation of Nora was impeccable. She’s a workaholic, struggles to become emotionally attached (in all of her ex-boyfriends opinions) and cares more for pragmatism instead of whimsical romance. Henry takes character traits typically reserved for a villain in the romance genre, and gives them the limelight in a very refreshing and satisfying spin.

As for the romance… Charlie and Nora’s chemistry sizzled off the page. They illustrated a very believable portrayal of an initial liking filled with banter and flirtation, into kindred spirits and love. They intellectually challenged each other and emotionally unravelled and supported the other, all of which provided fluffy feels, so many laughs and made me smile like the Cheshire Cat lord knows how many times. You know a romance delivers everything it ought to when the reader is left thinking: where’s MY Charlie Lastra????

All in all, Book Lovers delivers a perfect contemporary romance. It’s a humorous and emotional warm hug of a book. I thoroughly loved it.

Thank you kindly to Penguin UK for an eARC in exchange for this honest review.

Romance books are by far my favourite genre and this was perfect! If you’re an enemies to lovers fan then you’ll loveee it

Charlie and Nora are now one of my favourite book couples, there’s a slow build up to the romantic parts, but so much banter between them as well. It was definitely nice for it to be a slow burner though, it just makes you love them even more

Even Nora’s relationship with her younger sister is just completely relatable throughout and the book almost felt like it could be a true story at some points I’m ngl

I’ve only read You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry previously and this was definitely my favourite by far

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy of Book Lovers by Emily Henry

As a book lover who adores romance, this was perfect for me!
I love how so much of the story focuses on Nora’s journey and her relationship with her sister Libby, then suddenly … all I could see was Charlie.
I’m in love with him. It’s that simple! The steamy scenes are absolutely spot on.

I found this book very refreshing, a lot edgier than what I’ve read recently and the passion a little more intense.
Definitely recommend

Are you an Emily Henry fan?

Are you an enemies to lovers fan?

Do you love romance books with depth and multi-layered protagonist?

THEN PICK THIS BOOK UP! 😍😍

If you are reading this post, I know you are bookish. That’s even more a reason to read this new release because you get bookish dialogues as two protagonists work in publishing. Possibly the most bookish book I ever encountered in romance… even more than The Beach Read. For this reason, Book Lovers is my favourite by the author!

Nora is an talented editor for a publisher in NYC with a reputation for seeming cold-hearted and too tough. Her boyfriend leaves her for another girl because Nora doesn’t need anyone and she’d be fine on her own. Nora’s sister decides to take her on a trip to a small town hoping to bring positive changes into Nora’s views on life and romance. But who does Nora bump into in the small town? It’s Charlie, her nemesis editor from NYC…. At first, Nora is annoyed by his presence, but soon Charlie becomes the key to Nora’s journey to self-acceptance.

The romance is a great part of this book of course. Slow burn but with lots of entertaining banters and the steamy tension rising (the spice level is mild), it’s engaging and addictive from the beginning to the end. Their relationship grows not just physically but emotionally. They connect as human beings over kindness, empathy and understanding. I really loved that part of the book.

🗓 TO BE RELEASED ON 3 MAY IN THE UK!

Thank you @netgalley and @emilyhenrywrites @penguinbooksuk @vikingbooksUK for the digital copy in exchange of an honest review.

Nora Stephens in a cut throat literary agent living in New York City. The only thing she cares about is her job and protecting her little sister, Libby at all costs, despite the fact Libby is a full grown adult with two children of her own and another one on the way.
Since their mother died when the girls were young, Nora has made it her life goal to make sure Libby is always happy, so when Libby suggests a sister vacation to sunshine falls, North Carolina, Nora obliges. Here, in this sleepy little town she runs in to none other than her professional arch nemesis, Charlie Lastra, a book editor from the City. Sparks fly, but what kind of sparks?
Book lovers was your typical all American romance novel with a few modern twists. It was cute, it was fluffy, it does exactly what it says on the tin. An easy enjoyable read with likeable characters.

Emily Henry can do no wrong! This was just perfectly conceptualised, paced and written! The way different elements are revealed throughout the book is just masterful, until I was left thinking ‘how the hell are they doing to fix this?!’ right up until the end!

It’s enemies to lovers, but not that much enemies and the chemistry is off the charts. So many excellent one liners and clever, witty dialogue. Brilliant, well rounded characters and an epilogue that made me happy sigh and nearly cry. Perfect.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from NetGalley and Penguin Randomhouse Publishers.

This is my favorite book of Emily Henry. I read it in 2 days.. and i struggled to put it down.

This book follows Nora, she is a cut-throat, cold as a shark literary agent .. she lives and breaths books. Nora's love life always ends with her boyfriends finding love in small town type of tropes so she gave up on Love and focused on Her career.

Her sister, Libby is pregnant and has 2 toddlers at home and begs Nora for a month long vacation in a small town called Sunshine Falls in North Carolina thats exactly how the small towns are in romance books... They have a fun adventure in this little town and thats when she bumps into Charlie he is an editor that creates best-sellers and also happens to be Nora's work nemesis.

Please go read this book it is such a cute book and I really enjoyed this.

I absolutely loved this book, I’ve previously read Emily’s “You and me on Vacation” and even though I loved it, this book beats that!!

If you love books (which you 100% will as you’re reading this) it’s for you, and as an older sister I totally understand what Nora was going through.

I absolutely love Nora, she’s funny, complex but relatable. And how Charlie completely matches her omg… their chemistry is EVERYTHING.

Also the ending, wow had me squealing!!!!

Emily’s writing is underrated, it’s so refreshing. Definitely my new favourite author!! Everything about this book is perfect.

Loved everything about this book!

From the start I was fascinated with Nora as a character and was rooting for her all the way! I loved seeing her progress through the book and interactions with both Libby and Charlie and the ending was the perfect conclusion to everyone's stories.

10/10 !

I found this to be a light hearted read. It was very well written and I found the dialogue funny and realistic. The characters were also well drawn and interesting.