Wow this book is a delight! It’s equally cozy, swoon worthy, and heartwarming. I fell in love with the whole crew of charming characters and their sweet Irish village! I grinned ear to ear through just about every page but it also made me get misty eyed a couple of times. Of course any book set in the UK is going to get extra love from me and now I NEED to book a flight to Finn’s Hollow to visit The Last Chapter and the tea shop and have Irish whiskey shortbread and go to the Top of the Hill pub and stay in Em’s cottage! If only these places were real, lol. 🥲 Thank goodness Jenn McKinlay blessed us an Irish whiskey shortbread recipe at the end! *sigh* This was just my perfect type of book. It felt like a hug, perusing a quaint and cozy bookshop on a rainy day, a steaming cup of tea. I couldn’t have loved it more!

✨ PUB DAY: May 14th! ✨

<i> Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review. </i>

I hate to say it, but I actually DNF'd this. It already wasn't for me, and then I saw that the author stated that DNF'ing books doesn't mean you're allowed to have an opinion/give a rating. Sorry, but if I'm DNF'ing something there's a reason! I was intrigued by the premise and majorly let down by the writing style and characterizations. This all put a sour taste in my mouth, so I most likely won't pick up another one of her books.

I hope that others are able to enjoy it like I wasn't able to!

In this sweet romantic comedy, a woman named Emily accepts a job offer to be an assistant to her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan, and work part-time in a bookshop, and moves to a small town in Ireland to escape her overbearing, narcissistic mother. Siobhan’s son is the owner of the bookshop, and resents everything about Emily being there - he hates change, and he’s worried for his mother… and, of course, he’s extremely good looking (this is a rom-com, after all.)

If you took Emily Henry’s Book Lovers, transplanted it to an adorable small town in Ireland, and added a generous dash of Travis Baldree’s Bookshops and Bonedust, you’d end up with something like Love at First Book. You’ll fall in love with the people of Finn’s Hollow, find hope in Siobhan’s journey back to writing, and encounter heartbreak and betrayal as Emily finds family and belonging in Ireland. And you’re really, really going to want to try Brigid’s baking (I love that there’s a recipe for her Irish Whiskey Shortbread included at the end of the book!) Overall I quite enjoyed the story, and I’m already adding more of Jenn McKinlay’s books to my TBR!

DNF
I really wanted to like this book. Especially because it was getting such great early reviews. But I just couldn’t. I just couldn’t mesh with the writing style of this book. It felt not only too self inserty, but I felt like the author was holding my hand throughout the 20% of the book I did read. And by that I mean that there was a lot of telling. Even when there was great showing, it would be immediately followed up by telling the reader instead of letting us think and theorize what someone’s actions could mean for ourselves. Plus it wasn’t helped with the amount of internal monologues. I also didn’t love how it felt like the love interests initial interactions with the FMC did a complete 180 within the course of one chapter.
I know this book is definitely going to be beloved by others, as you can probably see from all the other reviews. However, for me, I just couldn’t get invested because of this particular writing style, and it became more obvious it’s you not me when I immediately picked up a different romance book and read that in one sitting. So yeah, this is definitely a not for me book, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a not for everyone book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

This one slayed me a bit - it was everything I wanted and love in a good Contemporary Fiction / Romance read. I’m a big fan of those books that tilt more contemporary/ women’s fiction with a strong romance arc and this one fell right into that sweet spot.

I went into the story expecting more of a light hearted, fun romcom type vibe - and don’t get me wrong there is certainly some of that present as well. Our main MC, Emily, is an American librarian who decided to take a chance on herself and takes a once in a lifetime opportunity to work in Ireland as an assistant to her favorite childhood author for a year. Enter our other primary characters, Siobhan, said author and her slightly curmudgeonly and overprotective son, Kieran.

The story was beautifully written and I really felt like I was there in Finn’s Hollow experiencing the small Irish town and getting to know its residents. Emily, Kieran and Siobhan all felt so real to me - I connected with each and by the end they felt like old friends. I loved the depth of each character and the connections they shared with one another.

While the story started off in a lighter note, and had plenty of moments of levity, it definitely did not shy away from some heavier topics. These added extra depth and meaning to the story, but also left me emotionally gripped and a bit heartbroken.

I honestly loved this book - it was in turns charming, heartwarming and gutting. I haven’t cried like that while reading a book in a while. I hate crying and I tend to avoid sad books, but this one managed the right balance to keep me locked in and managed to maintain that hopeful note.

One I’ll certainly recommend and surely my favorite of the authors books I’ve tried to date. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for the opportunity to read an early copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered freely.

When I started Love at First Book I expected a fun rom-com about an American librarian running away from life in the states right into the arms of the grumpy Irish bookstore owner. What I was not expecting was to be crying in my bathtub at midnight.

I devoured this book, it had everything I could want in a contemporary romance. The main characters were so real. Em and Kier had such emotional depth they could've been some of my closest friends. They both went through growth in the book, with each other, themselves, and the side characters. The relationship between Kier and his mother was especially touching, While Em moved across the world to learn how to set boundaries with her mother. I found my self laughing at their wicked banter and Quote competition.
The small Irish town of Finn's Hollow was filled with so much beautiful imagery. The side characters are so funny and welcoming, you'll want to book a flight to Ireland to find such wonderful hospitality. You'll want to spend days at the bookshop eating pastries and drinking lots of tea just to widen your smile.
I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a heartwarming, inspiring, and genuine romance story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this wonderful book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions

I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK. it was so cute, so heartwarming, and so heartwrenching at the same time. I loved Em, Kieran, Siobhan. All the characters in this little village were so sweet and caring of Em. The ending was perfect and bittersweet. I would love some interconnected standalones or spin offs. it was just that good for me. (I'm a sucker for these types of stories). (I would also love to hear this as an audiobook).

Thank you so much to Berkeley and NetGalley for this advanced copy! I am a sucker for a few things: romance, a broody love interest, and an Irish backdrop. This book had all of that and more. I loved the setting and I loved the plot around finishing a novel with a famous author. Such a good background for a romance.

Sadly, the story felt a tiny unfinished to me at the end. There’s an entire plot about conflict with the MC’s mother that never feels like it gets a full resolution. The MC also deals with an anxiety disorder that I really loved seeing represented on the page but also just seems to fade away into the background.

Overall, this was a sweet romance to read in the spring and the descriptions of this tiny little Irish town were marvelous. I just wished everything was wrapped up in a more cohesive bow.

Love at First Book is the newest romcom by Jenn McKinlay. This fun romance set in an Irish bookstore continues the story of librarian Emily Allen from Summer Reading. Discover what happens when Em leaves her friends and mom in Martha’s Vineyard for a year in Ireland as a bookstore clerk and personal assistant to Siobhan Riordan, her favorite author. I was immediately drawn into this entertaining story that includes romantic tension and a childhood passion for reading a specific series.
McKinlay weaves together humor, family, and bookish fun in this rollercoaster romance. If you have enjoyed Summer Reading and other romcoms by McKinlay, you will like Emily and Kieran’s story too. Love At First Book is perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez, Emily Henry, and Katherine Center. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Love at First Book had a lot of potential, but I think for me it fell flat in a few areas....BUT - if you would like a cozy, rom-com that has you craving a nice cup of tea, this quick-read would be a good one!

thank you netgalley and berkely publishing for the arc!!

i made it 50% in, and unfortunately i had to dnf this. i really tried to push through, however i was just very bored the whole time. it was to the point where i was just skimming the pages. i wanted to like this seeing how it’s a cozy small town romance but that wasn’t the case. i didn’t feel any sort of connection to this story nor the characters. the writing style felt bland and was just very rough to read and get into. also the banter between the main characters felt very immature and childish seeing as they’re pushing 30 lol.

this just may not be the book for me and that’s okay!

i truly enjoyed the first 20%! i thought the transition to ireland was neat, the work she was going to do, and loved all the book references. salley rooney and shadow and bone and more! like yes!! but then i got bored :/ there wasn’t much tension between the two and i almost dnf but i pushed through. i felt like some parts were immature and just too cheesey even for a romcom. idk maybe i wasn’t in the right mood or it wasn’t for me, but if i had to recommend to someone it would be to those who want a light no think type of read

I love Jenn McKinlay's mystery books. So when I saw this book I was very excited. Unfortunately after trying several times I just could not get into it. It's well written as always but it's very slow and boring to me. The characters seem to fall flat. I will go back to reading her mystery books because they are some of my favorites. But I think I'll stay away from her romances.

Love at First Book by Jenn Mckinlay is a sweet contemporary -Sunshine/Grumpy romance.

Emily is a librarian who has always dreamed of a life filled with travel and adventure. Therefore, when her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan, offers her a job in Ireland, Emily is excited and accepts the opportunity. However, she never expected to fall in love with the author's bookstore owner's grumpy son, and What follows is a delightful, cozy story filled with the love of all things Ireland, books, friendship, and romance. Loved books' covers and stories about books.

The story is heartwarming, with great banter, humor, silliness, and lots of emotions.

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher for the eARC.

3⭐️

Love at First Book was such a wholesome story. After Emily moves to Ireland to help her favorite author who has suffered from writers block for nearly a decade to finish one of Emily’s favorite childhood series, she is faced with experiences beyond what she could have expected. From friendships, to romance, and even maternal love, Emily is able to grow exponentially as a character within this story.

I adored all of the characters within this book, but I absolutely loved Em and Kier. Their romance was so sweet. I only wish we could have seen more from them.

Although this book had a slow start, the second half was so bittersweet, and I didn’t want it to end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for an arc of Love at First Book!

Oh my goodness, where do I begin? This was a wonderful book. I loved every minute of it, even when I knew what was coming. A bookstore, a librarian, and authors with a fabulous cast all set in a cute Irish village - perfection! Emily and Kieran were so fun together and the slow burn romance was also sheer perfection. I can't wait to purchase this one.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a fast read, set in Ireland with a bookstore owner, his author mother, and a superfan turned employee as the characters. I feel like we entered halfway through Emily's life with not a lot of backstory. Her relationships with her parents are talked about more in the second part of the book but kinda meh. Also, I think the turnaround from anger to can't live without went entirely too quick at the end. Couldn't get my head around Sam's character except to help the relationship with the mom seem more annoying? Either way, it was fine but nothing real special.

"Love at First Book" is a charming romance novel set in a small town in Ireland. Emily, a devoted fan of a beloved author, gets the chance to help finish a series she loves. The story's charm lies in its endearing characters, picturesque setting, and heartfelt romance. It's a delightful read for anyone who enjoys stories filled with warmth, humor, and the magic of unexpected love.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

This romance is set in a small fictional Irish town and I have never desired to visit Ireland until now! The author did a fantastic job is building this village and the characters. This is a small town romance, but also a book about grief and found family and had me in tears at the end.

The banter between Em and Kier is witty and fun. The author leans into them being book lovers but they also have other things we learn about them.

Normally when a MMC repeatedly calls the MFC by a nickname I can’t stand it, but when Kier calls Em “Red” it just works for me!

There is one fairly descriptive (but quick) intimate scene. And the pronunciation of names is at the end of the book but it really should have been at the beginning.

But overall, this was a lovely cozy read!

3.5 stars

The "new" romances, with their mixture of love, humor and usually a serious issue or two, are quite readable. Love at First Book features Emma, who has escaped from being a caregiver for her toxic mother, to take a job in Ireland helping out at a bookstore and assisting a writer with their work.

The bookshop owner and writer's son Kieran doesn't want her around. Everyone else soon falls for her mixture of competence and compassion. And the novelist turns out to be the author of Em's favorite life-changing series who inexplicably quit writing before finishing the story. Em is there to help close it out. Em and the author bond immediately, helping to make up for pretty much a lifetime of no-nurturing for Emma.

Medical issues and misunderstandings combine to try and derail the strong attraction between Em and Kieran. There are a few quibbles -- Em's mother is a strong plot thread to begin with and then just sort of evaporates -- but this is an enjoyable read with sympathetic characters and a wonderful Irish setting. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.