3.5 stars, rounded up

Emily, needing a break from her work and life on Martha’s Vineyard, is astounded when her favorite author accepts her application to work as her personal assistant – in Ireland. Siobhan has been dealing with a monster case of writer’s block, and it’s been ten years since her last book. The work with Siobhan is a dream come true, but part of Emily’s job also involves working at the bookstore managed by Sioban’s son, Kieran. Kieran has made it clear that he doesn’t want Emily there, in any capacity, but Emily won’t give up and go home.

I really like this author’s Cupcake Bakery, Hat Shop and Library Lover’s mystery series, and I’ve read most of her rom-com stand alone books as well. While I like the rom-coms, I prefer the mysteries, probably because I’m more a mystery reader than a romance reader.

I love the name of the bookstore – The Last Chapter – and would love to browse its contents for a day or two...or three :)
I like the characters in this book, especially Siobhan. Despite her age and personal issues, she knows what she wants and rarely wavers from that position. Yes, her status as a best-selling author gives her more clout than most, but that doesn’t account for all of it.

Emily and Kieran are almost as stubborn as Siobhan, so of course they run into several roadblocks on their way to the predictable romantic relationship. It was equally predictable that they would work through those roadblocks and find their happy ending – and that they would both help Siobhan finish the last book of her series.

I look forward to reading the next books Ms. McKinlay releases.

This was a fun grumpy/sunshine read while also dealing with some serious issues - especially about parent/child relationships. Em has spent the bulk of her life taking care of her mother while sacrificing her own interests and even her health. I loved her friend Sam and she was such a good friend and I also really liked that Em talked so openly and honestly about seeing a therapist.

Kieran (or Kier or Murphy) has a challenging family life as well though his issues aren't quite so obvious at first. While I connected with Em almost immediately it took a bit longer to warm up to Kieran. He's a bit sharp and reserved and isn't always the most sensitive in dealing with people. I really enjoyed how he gravitates towards Em and how they bring out different sides of each other. Their banter was fun without feeling over the top. I was dreading a misunderstanding situation but it ended up not being too much of an issue thankfully.

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I really loved the side characters and the food mentions and frienships really added to the book. I especially enjoyed that Em doesn't say she's a reader but she talks knowledgely about books that she has read and it is clear just how much she loves Siobhan's books. This is the first romance I've read from this author but it definitely won't be the last.

The perfect way to get into the Irish spirit (besides throwing back some green beer, of course!) was sitting down to read Jenn McKinley's new book, set in a quaint Irish town, with a swoony MMC (gah the accent!), and a fiery red-headed librarian!
To say that I got lost in this bookish romance is an understatement. I wanted to be in this small town- enjoying tea and biscuits, devouring sweets in the bakery, perusing the
love with the grumpy MMC, Kieran Murphy!
Highly recommend adding to your TBR!

Emily leaves her home in MA to work with her favorite author in Ireland. She falls in love with the bookshop, new friends and handsome shop owner. If you enjoy books, a bit of craic and Irish stories, snuggle up with this warm book.
Thank you Net Galley for the ARC!

A librarian embarks on an adventure in Ireland, escaping an overbearing mother. This wholesome love story finds her aiding her favorite author with her next novel, and dealing with the women's grumpy son. This story gets off to an incredibly slow beginning, finally finding its footing mid-way through the story. I wish there was more of Emily and Kier.

Love at First Book is a coming of age, finding your voice then a romance.

Thank you, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley

(4.5 stars) Many thanks to @berkleyromance and @prhaudio for the gifted digital and audio copies of this follow-up to 2023’s Summer Reading. Below is my honest review!

Emily Allen left her job as a librarian on Martha's Vineyard to live out a book lover's dream. She'll spend the next year in Ireland as the assistant to her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan. Siobhan hasn't written in 10 years, and her fans worldwide are clamoring for the final novel in her wildly popular series. When not assisting Siobhan, she will be working in the bookshop owned by Siobhan's son. That son, Kieran Murphy, absolutely does not want Emily working with his mom or in the bookshop. As they challenge each other with obscure book quotes, Kieran's gruffness softens, and he realizes that Emily is a like-minded book lover, not just a rabid fan of his mom's work. But when Siobhan's health begins to decline, Emily is caught between her growing attraction to Kier and her loyalty to the author she deeply admires.

The begrudging mutual attraction and witty book banter are top-notch, but this book is much more complex than the cover portrays. It is a sweet love story but also a powerful, emotional story about adult children and their mothers. I loved Emily's journey with both her mother and Siobhan. I recommend reading Summer Reading first, as that book lays the groundwork for Emily's relationship with her mother and her anxiety issues. It is also just a great book, and Sam & Ben make multiple cameos here.

The audiobook was narrated by Brittany Pressley, who must be a magician because I could have sworn that this was a dual narration with an Irish man voicing Kieran. 

Content Warning: without giving away spoilers, if you are tender in any way about your relationship with your mom, there are a lot of hard mom themes here.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

The premise of this book seemed so promising, a romance set in Ireland in a bookstore, sounded like the perfect cozy read. Well it took less than 10 pages for my hackles to be raised at a casual reference to a certain children’s fantasy series attached to a certain heinous TERF and then the red flags just kept coming.

Emily (Em) arrives in Ireland to work as an assistant to her favorite author (whose unfinished series continues to be more and more clearly emulated on the aforementioned title), and while there were potentially interesting aspects to her character including being the child of a narcissistic parent working through challenges of individuation and drawing boundaries, the author didn’t seem interested in developing these themes with any real depth instead focusing on a lot of perfunctory “tell not show” passages. There are also a lot of inconsistencies in her character that the author just asks us to accept, like on she’s been a total doormat people pleaser her whole life before the first page of this book but the minute she meets this man her entire personality shifts.

There were also several more moments that made me go “hmmm” not in a good way, including moments describing the FMC’s body type that gave me the ick in a major way (she eats so much but just can’t gain weight etc etc), her response to the behavior of her father engaging in a relationship with a woman his daughter’s age was…. Strange and offputting, a passing reference to cancel culture etc. A good example is one scene the two main characters spend a whole evening in deep conversation cementing their romantic chemistry discussing such topics as whether Hemingway was a misogynist or just misunderstood (newsflash: he was definitely a misogynist).

I will say there were some cute moments and fun tension in Em and Kieran’s banter, but it was all overshadowed by the underdeveloped characters, cheesy dialogue, and unlikeable main character.

What a fun book and a dream job!! A librarian in a quaint Irish Village where one of her favorite authors offers her a job. Siobhan Riordan needs Emily to work at her bookstore and help her finish her series that she has taken a 10 year hiatus from. This is where she meets her grouchy son Kieran who manages the store. He is not happy with her presence.
When Siobhan becomes sick, she needs Emily's help to finish it but not without a fight from Kieran who wants his mother to rest....understandable. When she sees through his demeanor, she falls for him.
I love a book with a hate/love relationship. This one has the perfect setting in the Emerald Isle. An author, a bookstore, a love story...more please!!!
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publication for this incredible Arc in exchange for my honest review!

This story is an absolutely heartwarming and heartbreaking delight. Full disclosure? I’ll always love a book about books set in a small Irish village. Add a steamy, slow-burn romance between a handsome, black-haired, blue-eyed Irishman with a sexy accent and a ginger-haired librarian from America on a year-long, working holiday in his Last Chapter bookshop, and all my fantasies are fulfilled.

However, this book is so much more than an enemies-to-lovers, small town romance. Kier (aka Kieran Murphy) and Red (aka Emily Allen) both carry baggage from difficult, abusive childhoods that have left her with anxiety attacks and hypochondria and him with a strong aversion to change and a sense of abandonment. Yet, it’s their devotion to famous author Siobhan Reardon that binds them together. Siobhan’s Tig McMorrow fantasy series provided comfort and support through Em’s adolescent years, so she’s thrilled when asked to be her assistant as she writes the conclusion to the series after a ten-year hiatus. It’s also an escape from her stifling life and opportunity to break out of her shell. On the other hand, Kier is fiercely protective of his mother, and is resentful of and worried about how she blocks out the world when she’s fully-engrossed in the writing process. So, they almost immediately butt heads, not just over how to handle Siobhan, but also with the changes Em proposes to bring the bookstore into the 21st century. As Siobhan’s deadline fast approaches and the chemistry between Kier and Em heats up, will the last chapter have a happy ending? You’ll have to read it to find out.

McKinlay paints a vivid picture of this quaint Irish village and its colorful and kind inhabitants, builds great tension between Kier and Em, and sensitively portrays the damage done by narcissistic, neglectful, and abusive parents, while still maintaining the fine balance between witty, lighthearted scenes and heartbreaking moments. Don’t be surprised if, like Em, you find yourself daydreaming about epic romance and grand gestures as you read this wonderful story. Highly recommended!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Berkley Romance through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Omg I’m melting 🤭 Tehehe thank you NetGalley and Jenn McKinlay for letting me read Love at First Book before its official release! This was a rideeeee. While this wasn’t necessarily a slow burn by any means, it kind of took me a second to buy the relationship between the two mcs. But once I bought it, I was a GONERRR!! Where is my hot, brooding, protective, Irish man? I also loved that the fmc had to deal with anxiety throughout the story. It really brought a nice humility to her character. As for the mmc, he was so sweet once we got into the meat of the story. He’s my babygirl now. I’d say that you should definitely read this story if you want something low stakes and comforting. Also, get ready to hate the mom. She is a grade A biotch! Not even an A+, just A.

A delightful grumpy/sunshine romance with all the great destination vibes. Small village Irish charm, complete with bookstore, a pub, and warm characters (apart from the cantankerous leading man as is right and good), it's everything that I crave in a captivating book-y romance. Then it gets even better when the characters discover deeper and ongoing issues to battle, overcome, or just simply come to terms with. There is a serious tone that plays well against the sizzle of the MCs connection.

Even though the location is small/fixed they don't live in a romance bubble. I love when there are incredibly realized and integrated secondary characters, as there is here. Great banter and friendships across the board. I do think a couple characters could, and should, have been featured more, though. They seemed to have interesting introductions but then fell by the wayside.

I did have a couple small quibbles at the end but they were mostly dismissed by the heightened emotions of the secondary plotline reaching it's climatic moments... which then fed the larger narrative and romance. The characters all get their moment and time to shine and/or make a stand. It's peak rom-com dramedy.

CW: cancer

I was the kid who read (shocker!). I was Rory Gilmore, bringing 3 books with me just in case, and I would read anything I could get my hands on. And for probably 8 years, I was obsessed with fantasy series, to the point of continually re-reading my catalog of entire series. Love at First Book is about Emily Allen, who had a similar attachment to books as a child, specifically a series about a boy named Tig McMorrow, who could travel through portals.
Through a little bit of luck, Emily finds herself working with the author of the series to write the final book. There is a lovely romance between Emily and bookshop owner Kier, but her relationship with Siobhan, the author, is what made this book so special to me. Seeing how much of her stories were impacted by her son was equally heart-warming and heart-breaking, and I loved how she handled it.
This has a good romance plot and a great plot about a mother and son. The main characters are well-developed, and the cast of secondary characters bring in every ounce of small town charm possible. The first few chapters of this book were light and fun, and exactly what I expected out of a romance novel. But as the plot deepend, I could feel this book starting to latch on to my heart. I cried as much as I laughed, and felt like I was sitting inside Kier’s bookshop, watching it all play out in front of me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Jenn McKinlay delivers again.This books takes us to a local book shop in Ireland, with Em(ily) who we me in the author's last book. She writes to her favourite author asking about her uncompleted series from 10 years ago. The author invites Em to Ireland to help her write the final book and to work in her son's book shop. Keir, the author's son, is the cranky but lovable proprietor of this shop.

What follows is a sweet and romantic story about two people who find love while dealing with an incredibly heartbreaking situation. I loved all of the characters that you meet in the book shop. I loved Em and Keir's story from beginning to end.

4.5 stars

Emily, a librarian, moves to a small town in Ireland to work at a bookstore and become her lifelong favorite author's assistant! (Can you imagine!?) Turns out her boss at the bookshop is the author's son. . .and he's super surly, doesn't like change, and doesn't seem to like that Emily is there to help his mom start writing again. What more do you need to know?! It's cuteness overload and way more emotional depth than I expected!

• I relate big time to the FMCs illness anxiety disorder and appreciated seeing this rep!
• I love the idea of our bookish FMC helping her favorite author finish a book series that was left on a cliffhanger for years and years! This was the book series that was there for her through it all. I absolutely loved this plot.
• The mother-son arc was sooo heartwarming! This book had me in my feels!

Really enjoyed this!!

This was a great cozy and emotional destination romance set in an idyllic Irish town perfect for book lovers!

Emily is a librarian with illness anxiety disorder who is attempting to escape from her toxic mother when she is offered an opportunity to relocate to Ireland for a year-long sabbatical to work with her favorite author, Siobhan, as her personal assistant. When she arrives in the charming town, she collides with the mercurial bookshop owner (and Siobhan's son), Kieran, who is not thrilled at Emily's arrival. His attempts at running Emily out of town are thwarted as she is determined to help Siobhan beat her writer's block and write the final installment of her beloved book series.

Emily and Kieran's witty banter, crackling chemistry, and exchange of famous book quotes was so fun! I love a good slow burn 'enemies' and 'opposites' attract romance, especially then both characters are mooning over one another. The bookshop setting was full of fun and charming secondary characters, and Siobhan takes Emily on a tour of some of Ireland's most famous destinations to help her beat her writer's block. The book had a lot of heart behind it, especially around motherhood as both Kieran and Emily have had challenges in their childhoods they are attempting to overcome. The use of Emily's favorite childhood book series (Ala Harry Potter world) as her escape and safe place is something many book lovers will connect with, and it was a joy to see Emily and Kieran support Siobhan's writing journey when her health began to decline.

Heartwarming, inspiring, with a realistic/vulnerable romance in a fairy-tale like setting, this book is guaranteed to charm readers. Be sure to check content warnings, as some readers may find the themes emotional or difficult.

Love at First Book
By Jenn McKinlay

Berkley Romance – May 2024

Contemporary Romance


Emily Allen had left her demanding mother, and career as a librarian, to work her dream job. She would be assistant to Siobhan Riordan, the author of the most amazing young adult series. The series that had been a major part of her formative years. The author who had written the last story with a cliffhanger, ten year ago.

But Siobhan wished to finish her series, and had invited Emily to come help her overcome her writer's block. Emily would also use her own expertise of the characters to assist. When not helping Siobhan, she was to work at Siobhan and her son's bookstore.

Kieran Murphy obviously did not agree with his mother and wanted Emily to leave. He kept trying to put obstacles in her way. Why exactly was she cataloguing books in an antiquated program while hidden away in the far corner of the bookstore? But Emily was determined. And the more she gets to know Kieran and his fierce protectiveness he has for his mother, the better she understands his hesitancy to her presence.

But that soon all gives way to the undeniable attraction they have for one another.

Love at First Book was an enjoyable read from beginning to end. I enjoyed the extensive cast of characters as well as the setting. Every book lover has that one author (or more) that they would be thrilled to brainstorm with on their next book. Emily is living all of our dreams. I was so fascinated by the world building of Siobhans' stories that I wish that we could have the opportunity to read these books. Emily and Kieran are complex characters who must navigate several issues to find their happily ever after. Emily's best friend was the heroine of Summer Reading, but it does stand along, and I didn't see any reference to this being part of a series. Love at First Book has about everything, a wonderful romance, laughter, and heartbreak. The only thing missing for this cat lover, was the cat on the cover.

Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

This was my first book by Jenn McKinlay and I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked this. While the plot was semi-predictable, I did enjoy the story and characters as well as the flow throughout the storyline moved really well. It was the perfect palette cleanser for me and I look forward to trying more of her books.

I loved this book. It is a cute rom-com with a librarian set in a book store. It has all of my favorite things wrapped up into one book. I loved the characters and the setting for the book too. I couldn't put the book down so I think it would make a great beach read this summer!

Spoiler/trigger warning: cancer, death of a parent

I have loved Jenn McKinlay's last two romance books so I was excited to receive an ARC. A woman goes to work at a book store and falls in love with the book store owner, oh and this is all in a quaint village in Ireland. Come on! Swoon worthy! So Emily goes to Ireland to work at a book store and also help her childhood favorite author finally write the last book in the series. She doesn't know the author has a son and he wants nothing to do with her. He makes her do inventory at the book store hoping she will hate it and leave. Of course it does not work. Kieran has a complicated relationship with his mother and he does not like when she is writing because her writing consumes her and she has already battled cancer. Kieran does not like change and Emily comes in with all sorts of suggestions. I loved that in this romance Kieran and Emily fall in love and they kiss and he cooks for her and they do not immediately sleep with each other after their first kiss. I love sexy times in my romances, don't get me wrong, but I like the romance part more. I smiled so much while reading. Their banter was great and all of the book quotes were great!

-Get it together, Allen! You're a librarian. There's nothing you can't answer.

-"Are you telling me that if I met you on top of the Empire State Building, holding an overly large radio above my head playing 'In Your Eyes,' whilst saying 'As You Wish,' you'd forgive me anything?"

-"Is it that women have too high an expectation or is it more that men can't deliver?"

Okay, I loved this. The heroine is relatable, the hero is extremely attractive, and the fantasy of getting to work with one's favorite author to finish the last book in a series that was your lifelong favorite is something that any reader will easily fall in love with. Also, the whole community around the little bookstore where they work is so colorful and charismatic - I want to visit that town!

I already know I'll be rereading this book.