I didn’t expect this book to have me in my feelings! It was pretty heavy and emotional at times but it was cathartic in a way, as there is death of a parent which I can relate to.

I always enjoy books that are about reading because it is like breaking the fourth wall and the characters usually seem to be relatable. This book was no different!

This book is a such perfect love letter to all the romance readers out there. It was unique, unexpected, gripping, addictive, a lot of fun, but angsty at times, and also totally swoon-filled and irresistibly beautiful.

This novel is perfect for any book lover that has imagined meeting their favorite author! Emily Allen seems to escape her overbearing mother by acquiring a work visa and moving to Ireland to work in a small bookshop and act a the assistant to her favorite author of all time. The only problem is that the son of Siobhan Riordan is the owner of the bookshop, and he does not want Emily assisting his mother. Love blossoms as the final installment of Siobhan’s series is written with Emily and Kieran’s help. These characters were wonderful and sweet and it made me want to read the Tig McMorrow series!

Em is traveling to Ireland to work on the opportunity of a lifetime- the chance to help her favorite author finish the last book in her series. Everything is going so well until she meets the author’s grumpy son, who takes an immediate dislike to Em. Will they be able to work together to finish the series?

This was such a touching, heartfelt read. Em is a main character that you really want to root for. I enjoyed the tropes of enemies to lovers and grumpy/sunshine. The Irish setting was perfection! The book deals with difficult topics and isn’t necessarily a light read, but it’s done in a way that tugs at your heartstrings and adds to the beauty of the story. I also appreciated the main character’s anxiety representation.

Thank you to Jenn McKinley, Berkley Romance, and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Romance goddesses might have sent me this book to mend my broken heart, and let me tell you, it's amazing! Anyone who reads "Love at First Book" might find themselves wishing to be transported to the fictional town of Finn’s Hollow, with its picturesque views, genuine and caring folks, fairy-tale atmosphere surrounded by historical castles, and did somebody say Irish Whisky Short Bread? I can almost taste the buttery crumbles slowly diminishing in my mouth! Yes, I need this town to be real, and I'm thankful to Jenn McKinlay for creating a portal in my mind and bringing this place to life.

There are numerous reasons why I'd give this book more than five stars, and it's not just because I fell in love with the main location where the events take place. The slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance between Emily "Em-Red" Allen and Kieran "Kier" Murphy was adorable from the beginning. It was pure lust at first sight. I found myself guffawing loudly at their witty banter. Their palpable, fiery chemistry captures you, and, of course, the perfect supporting characters of the townies steal your heart. You'll want to spend days at the bookshop, taste pastries, and drink gallons of tea (even though I hate tea) just to widen your smile while flipping pages.

Emily Allen appears to be an introverted librarian who has been psychologically abused by her narcissistic mother for years, trapped on a small-town island, and suffering from hypochondria due to dysfunctional family issues. She's suffocating, and the only thing that has helped her is Siobhan Riordan’s Tig McMorrow series. She was only nine when she started the first book of the series, and the books healed her broken soul until she reached 18. She still wonders why the author didn't publish a book for ten years and left her favorite character in purgatory. But now she's lucky enough to ask in person, as she has landed a job as an assistant to her favorite author, which is a dream come true. However, she didn't count on also working with the author's brooding, grumpy, and reminiscent-of-Fitzwilliam-Darcy son, Kieran Murphy, who treats her like the bane of his existence, calling her "Red" and doing everything in his power to make her leave without looking back.

Kieran absolutely brings out the feisty, impulsive parts of Emily because she has no intention of giving up, even though Kieran gives her the impossible task of working on the inventory of the store with the most ancient stocking system and a computer that may have been transported from the early ages. But what if there is a good reason for Kieran to be so protective around his mother? Even he cannot resist the charm of Emily. Could they have more common ground instead of hurling insults at each other? What if they are meant to be against all odds?

This book is a charming love song to my soul that deserves more than five stars! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a heartwarming, inspiring, and genuine romance story. This might be my favorite book by the author!

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

My thanks to the publisher for the early copy, but I'm going to do the mature thing and DNF at 50%. While well written and easy to read, there's just no spark or chemistry for me to have any interest in continuing so I'm cutting my losses.