I could not get into this one, no matter how much I tried. I ended up DNFing at 38%. I found myself dreading going back to it. I’m not even sure why, I enjoyed her other books. I know others loved this one, so be sure to check their thoughts on it! I think it just wasn’t for me.

Oooh. I’m thinking this is a case of wrong audience for me, because I didn’t get along too well with this book.

I’m not one to shy away from writing style, but this one threw me off. I felt like it was old English trying to be hip (I don’t know how to explain) and it made a lot of the dialogue a little awkward. Chemistry wise, I just didn’t see an adequate enough build up, and I felt like some of the plot points were there just for convenience—not so much because they made sense. I also think so many of the two leads’ issues were brought up only in passing at the start, only for any discussion to fall off the face of the earth.

Just didn’t work for me, and that’s okay!

Book Review
Love at First Book by Jenn McKinlay

Tropes
Small town
Book lover, bookstore, librarian AND an author
Ireland
HEA
Abuse
Mental Health rep
Toxic family
Cancer

Characters
Siobhan- le sigh, a bittersweet storyline for this immensely creative presence
Em And Kieran- They stole my heart from the first “Red” and “Murphy”
Sam- BFF
Dog -Shackleton (cause every village needs a dog)
Brigid- Reading this book made me want a scone soo bad
Niamh- saw a bit of my childhood self in her
Oisin and Eunji- work wives and the best of colleagues- they felt familiar and welcoming

Quote
"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?"

Thoughts
I adored the inclusion of book quotes, the literary references, “romance book handsome” and the predictable but absolutely required third act break up followed by a grand gesture. This book is a book lovers dream, from the plot , the characters, the narrative, Hell even the setting includes a bookstore.
I am easily head over heels in love with book. Each blush, every swoon worthy moment, the chemistry, the gallivanting around the countryside, the game of literary consequences- all of it- its like McKinlay reached into my head and took all my favourite things about romance and eloquently put it between two covers so I could read it again and again.

Thanks to @netgalley and @Berkeley
Romance for my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own

By far my new favorite book by Jenn McKinlay!! I fell hard for grumpy Irishman, Kiernan Murphy and shy but secretly quite feisty librarian, Emily (Em). This grumpy/sunshine romance set in a small Irish village bookshop was perfection for me.

Full of heart, lots of book quotes and a great cast of secondary characters, including Kiernan's mother, a famous writer struggling to finish the last book in a best-selling series. When Emily writes to her about when the last book might be coming, Siobhan, asks her to come and be her assistant.

What follows is a lovely story about found family, love, and letting go of the ones you love. It also had great mental health rep (Emily has an illness anxiety disorder). Be prepared to cry reading this one friends! It will break you but the ending is worth the journey for the fantastic grand gesture not to mention all sorts of my favorite Ireland tourist spots.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

CW: mentally abusive and absentee parents, death of a loved one from cancer

Emily Allen (Em for short) needs a restart to her life. With an absent father, emotionally abusive mother and a job that just lacks the spark she yearns for, Em writes a letter to the world-renowned author who inspires her. What she never anticipates, however, is an invitation to visit the author in Ireland with the possibility of helping as an assistant while working at a local bookstore. For the first time in life, Emily takes a chance, flies to Ireland and shows up at that small bookstore.What follows is an absolutely delightful, cozy story filled with the love of all things Ireland, books, friendship, and romance - lost and found.

The focus of the story is as much on Ireland as it is on the overall story-line, as the author deftly and lovingly imbues the beauty and spirit of the emerald isles, both of it's people and with its lifestyle. The romance develops at a very believable pace and the characters are realistic and likable. Although the story is obviously formulaic and one can pretty much guess what happens next throughout the book, the rich emotion and depth that Ms. McKinlay so eloquently infuses keeps the reader loving every minute! There are giggles and tears, sighs and, ultimately, happy smiles when that final page turns.

oo, quite disappointed coming off the high of the first book ([book:Summer Reading|62339069]). 2.5 stars. :(

The FMC is the best friend from book 1. She gets some nice development in this story, working through her neglectful/abusive relationship with her mother as well as her anxiety and hypochondria. There's a lot more telling rather than showing, a lot of narration that's mostly reporting. Characters' responses are often summarized rather than quoted. It definitely affects the pacing and pull of the story.

The book gets off to a not-great start with the MMC. He's abrasive, purposefully rude, and calls the FMC (his employee!) by a non-preferred name. The reader is supposed to understand that he's distant and stand-offish out of fear and a desire to protect. However, it comes across more as the trained-misogyny of girls being told that having their pigtails pulled means a boy likes them.

Big fans of the author can enjoy this as an airplane-read, but it's not required reading. Readers looking to try this author for the first time should start elsewhere.

eARC from NetGalley.

Gahh...thisbookissocute!!!!. 

I was a big fan of Summer Reading by Jenn McKinley and knew this one would be just as good, if not better, and it was!  
I was pulled in from the very beginning - I mean...a book about a book..yes, please!!  

I laughed, I cried then laughed and cried some more.  The relationships in this book were so special.  Not only in human form but within Siobhan's book series.  How helpful it was for Emily during some difficult years.  This is what books and special characters are for many of us.  A special friend or a therapist, if you will.  

The setting in Ireland was also super fun to read about.  The bookstore and cafe.  Ahh, it's like a dream.  

Read If You Like:
Books about Books
Hot Irishmen 
Mother/Son Relationships
Witty Book Banter/Literary Quotes

I was excited for the MFC to get away to Ireland. She had never been outside of Massachusetts, and she was more than ready for an adventure. She would be getting away from her narcissist mother whom she still lived with. Once in Ireland everyone was welcoming except for Kieran, the handsome grump.
With plans to stay in Ireland for a year, things had to change between Kieran and herself since she would be working in his shop and for his famous author mother.
The gradual flow from enemies to friendship to lovers was beautifully written. The book also takes place mostly in a bookstore. There are trips to a castle, tea shops, and friends’ homes.
Emily’s life in Martha’s Vineyard mostly revolved around her and her mother. In Ireland, her circle of friends grows bigger, and she grows stronger, learns about setting boundaries, taking chances, and maybe lands exactly where she is meant to be.

A bookshop/bakery in Ireland, a beloved author with writer's block, and her handsome, brooding son -- what's not to like about this book? I think many readers will be very happy to be introduced to these characters and the charming town where their story takes place -- and the subplots that give it real texture and depth.

I was happy to have read this one, and I'll be recommending it widely.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the chance to read an electronic version in advance of publication.

Such a cute romance! I love that it was set in a small town in Ireland and that the Emily, who is from the US, was starting over there because of an opportunity with her favorite author. I would do the same!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

This book was so good and an emotional Rollercoaster. I love books about books and you just fall for both characters so fast

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC! Librarian Emily Allen decides to start over, taking a job in a small town in Ireland assisting the author of her favorite childhood series, Siobhan Riordan to write the final book of the series. Emily will also be working at the local bookshop, which just so happens to be run by Siobhan's curmudgeonly (but very attractive) son, Keiran. Though the two clash at first, with Keiran being very protective of his mother, and Emily doing anything and everything she can to challenge him, their attraction to one another cannot be denied. When a shocking development shakes their budding relationship, will love win out? With a small, endearing cast, cozy Irish setting, and heartwarming grand gestures, Love at First Book is a grand piece of literary romance from Jenn McKinlay.

4.5/5
The novel is an emotional rollercoaster that will make your heartache, but at the same time, it's uplifting and endearing. It's hard not to fall for both Em, the main character, and Kier, a bookshop owner. As an avid reader, I love books about a book!

Em, a librarian, decides to leave Martha's Vineyard and her self-absorbed mother behind to travel to Ireland and work as an assistant to her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan. While not assisting Siobhan, Em works in a bookshop called The Last Chapter, owned by Kieran Murphy, Siobhan's son.

Kier and Em have an undeniable chemistry that will leave you wanting more. The supporting cast of characters is straight out of your favorite rom-com movie and will keep you engaged throughout the story. The plot gets complicated quickly, and without giving away any spoilers, some moments in the story will bring you tears, but there are also joyful moments that make you smile. Although it's easy to see where the book is heading, it delivers the happy ending we all wanted.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkely Publishing for providing me with an ARC.

This was a super cozy, wholesome romance set in an idyllic Irish town. I loved Kier’s character — as jokingly referenced in the book, I imagined him as an Irish Jamie Fraser. The setting/bookshop vibes of the book made it an enticing read, and I enjoyed Kier and Em’s relationship. I felt like the book really picked up 40% through and I started reading much faster at that point.

Unfortunately, I was left wanting a bit as far as the writing went. And although Kier and Em’s characters were pretty well-developed, I felt like I barely knew any of the other characters. Also, there was an entire plot line regarding Em’s mother that played a large role at the beginning of the book and then was barely mentioned again with no resolution…

Looking past these issues, it was a cute read.

I tried so hard to get into this book. I picked it up so many times to get through it but I just couldn’t get past the cringy dialogue. These characters are supposed to be in their late twenties/early thirties and acting like children. My apologies, I really tried!

I just had to DNF it unfortunately.

Thank you so much to Berkley and Netgalley for the eARC though!!

You had me at Ireland. I love reading books set in another countries. Especially bookish ones. I didn’t like that she kept calling herself a former librarian. I feel like if you have a library degree that you are a librarian with or without a library job. It made me want to start having a daily Elevenses. There was a back story that made me have to put the book down and take a breather. It hit too close to home. I had to prepare myself for what I knew would be coming. I did enjoy how the story wrapped up.

This story is a romance book about books. It's characters leap off the pages and right into your heart. It's enemies to lovers story is set in Ireland in a bookshop, and it continuously references scones and tea. What is not to like here? I was not expecting the gut punch ending that left me crying into my own tea. Get it on your must read list. It's the perfect book for book lovers.

I loved this book. The whole storyline was unique and fun. I loved that it was set in Ireland and the author actually used Irish slang and historical Ireland landmarks. What I thought was going to be a cute fluffy romcom actually brought me to tears a few times. The writing was impeccable and I loved all of the literary quotes and references. And I very much appreciate the recipe at the and for the Irish whiskey biscuits! My only "complaints" would be that the book was a little long and drawn out in some places and could have been shortened for pacing purposes and our FMC was described as a meek introvert but her demeanor switched so drastically and so quickly that it was a tad rushed in my opinion. I also wish we had gotten a resolution between our FMC and her mother. That was a major plot point for our FMC but was never resolved in the end.

Great book, and great use of the Irish dialect; I could hear the voices in my head! Looking forward to reading more by this author.

This atmospheric romance was adorable! McKinlay’s writing transported me to Ireland and I loved all of the vivid descriptions of the small village where the story takes place. The slow-burn romance between Emily and Kieran was written beautifully, giving me enough that I did not get bored as I sometimes do with this trope. This title is a must-read for romance lovers due to its extremely loveable cast and charming setting.