The grumpy x sunshine slow burn of all grumpy x sunshine slow burns. I mean Em really lived the dream in this. Work in a small town bookstore under the employment of your favorite author and be forced into close proximity with her insanely hot son... color me jealous.

While there's initial attraction, we weren't subjected to any "insta-love" which was great. It's important to witness the main characters warm up to each other and open up slowly, the same way we as readers slowly get to know and love them.

While the cover gives rom-com, the writing and story give EMOTIONAL. Bring your tissues because this book really tugs at your heart.

Love at First Book had all of the best:
- Enemies-to-Lovers
- Slow Burn
- Found Family
- Small Town
- Workplace Romance
- Forced Proximity
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- A 3rd Act Break Up the ACTUALLY makes sense
- First Person POV

I really like the writing style, the story, and the characters in this one. It was everything I wanted from the story and more! Love love love it.

Thank you to Berkley for the eARC as part of their influencer program! This book felt like a warm hug that transported me to Ireland and then made me cry. Absolutely divine! This harkens back to some 2000s romcoms and had me delighted. Slow burn?! Sign me up! this was great and I'll for sure be reading mroe Jenn McKinlay!

This book is a new favorite.

Emily uproots her life to work in a bookstore in Ireland and has the opportunity to be her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan's personal assistant. Siobhan is the author of the popular Tig McMorrow series which carried Emily through her difficult childhood. While working there, she encounters Kieran Murphy, bookshop owner and Siobhan's son. He instantly dislikes her. How can she win him over?

I love the characters, the story, the setting and the relationships. This book has all the elements I truly need.

Fans of Abby Jimenez and those who grew with fond memories of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson will live this book.

Love at First Book is a warm, charming, and ultimately heartwarming romance that will appeal to anyone who's ever dreamed of living among the pages of their favorite books. Set in a quaint Irish village, it’s a love letter to the transformative power of stories, bookselling, and—of course—unexpected love.

Emily Allen, a librarian from Martha’s Vineyard, has always had a deep connection to Siobhan Riordan’s novels, which helped her through some of her darkest days. So, when Siobhan offers Emily a job in Ireland to help write the final book of her best-selling series, Emily jumps at the opportunity. What Emily doesn't expect, however, is the cold reception from Siobhan's son, Kieran Murphy. The brooding, prickly bookstore manager wants nothing to do with Emily and makes it clear from the start. But as she settles into her new life, filled with bookish adventures and quiet village charm, the chemistry between Emily and Kieran is undeniable—if only he weren’t so resistant.

McKinlay does a fantastic job of creating a setting that practically leaps off the page. The picturesque Irish village, with its cobbled streets and cozy bookshop, is a backdrop that feels like a dream for book lovers. It’s clear the author knows how to capture the magic of small-town life, and it adds an extra layer of warmth and comfort to the story. Whether it’s Emily’s visits to the bookstore or her walks along the emerald green hills, the location is more than just a setting—it becomes a character in its own right.

The romance between Emily and Kieran is a classic slow-burn, filled with snappy banter and plenty of tension. Kieran is a bit of a grumpy bookworm, but McKinlay crafts his character in a way that makes him both frustrating and endearing. His resistance to Emily’s charm is initially off-putting, but as the layers of his character slowly unravel, we understand why he’s so guarded. Emily, for her part, is a likable and relatable heroine, full of determination and heart. Her own personal growth throughout the book is just as important as her romantic journey, and I appreciated that McKinlay gave her room to shine outside of her relationship with Kieran.

The dynamic between Emily and Kieran is classic enemies-to-lovers, but with a refreshing focus on communication and understanding. The moments of vulnerability that surface as Emily gets to know Kieran’s backstory are touching and add emotional depth to their romance. The tension between their personal and professional lives (with Siobhan’s series being a major subplot) keeps things interesting, though I’ll admit that at times the pace slows down when the plot turns more heavily toward the writer’s block storyline.

Siobhan Riordan’s character also adds a unique layer to the plot. While her own story is somewhat secondary, her connection to both Emily and Kieran provides emotional stakes and helps drive the central conflict. I enjoyed the themes of healing, forgiveness, and closure that play out both within Siobhan’s own narrative arc and in Emily’s evolving relationship with Kieran.

What holds the book back from being a perfect 5-star read is its predictability in some areas. The romance is charming, but there are a few familiar tropes—misunderstandings, moments of tension that feel a bit contrived—that might feel formulaic for readers who’ve devoured their fair share of contemporary romances. However, McKinlay’s writing is so cozy and inviting that the predictability doesn’t feel like a deterrent, but more of a gentle comfort.

Ultimately, Love at First Book is a feel-good romance that will resonate deeply with bibliophiles and fans of small-town love stories. The chemistry between Emily and Kieran is undeniable, the setting is a dream, and the emotional beats land just right. McKinlay crafts a delightful escape into a world where books—and love—are always worth fighting for.

If I could give this book 10 stars I would.

Enemies to lovers is my absolute WEAKNESS and this book had it all! Slow-burn tension, fiery chemistry, hilarious and adorable characters -- this was a delight to read!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This story was so sweet, so heart-breaking, so everything. I loved the bookstore and the town and the grumpy son and all of it. All of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to be able to read and review this book!

This is a great romance novel for all literature lovers out there.

This was such a cute book. I loved the slow burn relationship between Kier and Em and their banter. Kier kept saying he wanted her to go back home to the states and she was adamant that she would not. Watching their attraction grow was a lot of fun and I liked how they supported each other the best they could. Of course there was conflict that resulted in them breaking up and putting them into grand gesture category, which, the book poked fun at. Overall this was a fun, quick read that I was able to finish in a day. I look forward to reading more by this author.

This is lighthearted romance that brings a bit of charm to the workplace romance genre. The characters are likable, and the storyline is engaging, but it doesn’t quite reach its full potential. The chemistry between the protagonists is enjoyable, but there are moments when the pacing feels uneven, which affects the flow of the story.

While there are several funny and heartwarming scenes, some of the plot points feel predictable, and the character development could have been deeper. Despite these minor issues, Its still enjoyable read for anyone looking for a feel-good romance with a few laughs along the way.

Rating: 3/5

What a cute romance that packed an emotional punch! I just loved the small town setting in Ireland that felt so dreamy and quaint, and the witty banter between Emily and Kieran was so good! I just couldn’t put this book down, and quickly fell in love with the writing and characters, and even shed a few tears while reading.

🎧As soon as I saw that Brittany Pressley narrated the audiobook, I knew I wanted to pair the book while reading. I just love her voice, and thought she did a great job at capturing the emotions so well.

*many thanks to Berkley Romance, PRH audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Cute love story. This was an easy and enjoyable read for me. This was the first book I've read by Jenn McKinlay (I need to go back and read book 1 in the series now) and I will definitely be reading more by her. The start was a bit slow, but still interesting and picked up as the book progressed. And I absolutely fell in the love with "The Last Chapter" the bookstore in the book. The personalities of the employees were charming and I felt like I could spend all day there.

I did enjoy Love at First Book and all its beautiful atmospheres, witty dialogue, and spicy stolen kisses– but I feel like it could have been something more. The book was slow at the start, and I devoured the ending and its feelgood resolution, but there were too many subplots that kinda went nowhere, like Em’s hypchonrida, her mother, her friendship with Sam– I just found it hard to focus on the romance among these and the Siobhan plot (which, I did like the Siobhan plot, and think this should have been mainly that with a romance with Kier).

There are some amazing lines in the book, but I couldn’t get into the romance. I did like the characters, but they didn’t have chemistry, I felt like. Again, if this book had focused mainly on Em helping Siobhan with a side of romance, I’d be happy– but the premise was romance! And I feel like Kier did a complete 180 in terms of how he spoke to and treated Em.

Despite these critiques, I liked this book a lot. It inspired me to get back to writing and makes me definitely want to travel to Ireland to explore the beautifully described settings. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a quick and cozy read with some higher than usual stakes for a contemporary romance.

I was really hoping to love this book but unfortunately it kind of fell flat for me! It was okay and i liked the writing style but i felt quite disconnected from the characters which made it hard for me to feel invested in the story

I really enjoyed the setting of this book and the banter of the characters! I love the journey Em goes on and how much she meant to her favourite author! I liked knowing the background characters, but I found myself more invested in this love story!

Librarian Emily Allen is hand-selected by author Siohban to travel to Ireland to run her bookstore--and assist with writing the final volume in her acclaimed fantasy series. Siohban's surly son Kieran Murphy--Emily's new boss--is the only thing ruining her perfect escape abroad. A broody, clandestine writer, he's not convinced she's the best thing for his mother, his store, or Finn's Hollow. The bookstore is charming, nearly magical; the people are warm and welcoming; and the small town is akin to Emily's native Martha's Vineyard. It's a haven for Emily to come into her own, away from the reach of her toxic mother. Kieran brings out the fiesty in Emily (and the lusty), helping her to embrace her alter-ego, Red.

This is a book for readers who will love the literary allusions, appreciate the escapism of that perfect series, enjoy the writing about writing, and squeal of the bookstore bits. It's also truly a tearjerker; Emily is coping with hypochondria, finds solace in her friends and the advice of her therapist, and is distressed to learn of the reason for her favorite writer's long hiatus. The writing is lovely and descriptive, and the spicy scenes safe, communicative, and consensual.

I received a free advance reader's review copy of #LoveAtFirstBook via #NetGalley courtesy of #Berkley.

Another great read from this author. Loved the heartwarming story and the cozy small town. Highly recommend

This book was not for me, but I appreciated the writing and the storyline. I like this author a lot and look forward to her next. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher.

A lovely tale blending the cranky man/perky girl trope with a bit of mystery and true affection amongst the characters. Highly recommend.