I loved Emily as a supporting character in Sam's book so am absolutely giddy that she got her own story now. The best advice I can give you as you prepare to read this book is to block off the day, stock up on snacks, your favorite beverage and ample tissues. Yes, you will cry. However, you will laugh, growl, be outraged, laugh some more and definitely cry, but never fear as you will also get a happily ever after.....but you will go through ample angst to get there and the happy ending may not look exactly as you expect, but it will leave you happy. Well-crafted characters that draw you in and make you care about them so much that you won't want to stop turning pages to see what will happen next. A plot that is heartwarming, poignant, heartbreaking and finally happy. I'd read it again just for the banter between the lead characters! This sweet angst-ridden romance is just the perfect romance to get lost in!

3.5 stars rounded up! A very cute romance set in Ireland between an American woman escaping her overbearing mother and her grumpy bookstore owning boss. Definitely falls under the cozy romance genre and could see myself reading this in the fall/winter! I’m shocked they released it in the summertime when the vibes are so autumnal. Loved the character development and quirky small town characters. This would make the cutest Netflix movie!

Another book I am reviewing months later. Is this fair? Well, I think so, as long as I keep it real. Which is to say, keep it vague.

Um? This book was? Just okay? I remember really NOT CARING. I was so excited for the Irish vibes, but really didn’t feel them. I also just didn’t like the main characters all that much. But let me say this: I really have to be IN THE MOOD for contemporary romance. And perhaps reading this while nine months pregnant wasn’t the move. Or maybe… it COULD have been better and SHOULD have distracted me from the fact that I was about to enter into a phase of life that I WAS NOT AT ALL PREPARED FOR, HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF A REAL LIFE BABY??

Anyway. I think I am just kind of over the mysterious, grumpy, hot guy vibe. You know? Because really? It’s just not that hot to me.

3.25/5 stars. I am feeling generous.

This book was so sweet and cute and just a great way to escape while reading. I loved it and I have not had a cry over a book in a minute but I definitely teared up.

Jenn McKinlay does it again and proves why she is an instant read for me! Love it all- setting, characters, the inclusion of librarians (always a fave) and this book just made me swoon seven different ways to Sunday!

This Book!!

I wasn't prepared for a good Irish cry, but here I am, teary eyed and so happy at the close of this book!

"When a librarian moves to a quaint Irish village where her favorite novelist lives, the last thing she expects is to fall for the author’s prickly son… until their story becomes one for the books!"

I went into this book expecting a cute romance, in Ireland, in a bookstore, and that's exactly what I got... but I also was met with the cutest most picturesque town of Finn's Hollow, a charming bookshop, a cozy atmosphere thanks to all the coffee and baked goods, mental health rep, emotional rollercoasters, healing, trauma, and a looming deadline. I loved every second of it!

The romance in this one stood equal measure with the actual storyline, both so intrinsically woven together it feels impossible to look at them separately. I adored the instant attraction in this "you-annoy-me-to-lovers" romance that was chalk full of book quotes, witty banter, deep confessions, soft landings, and languid kisses. subsequently I also loved our time spent outside of the romance, the quirky townies, the book writing, the food, the familial relationships, and the emotions portrayed were spot on!

With one open door scene, easily skippable, and not overly detailed this is a book I can recommend to just about anyone- and I love that!

All in all im so thankful to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this as well as PRH audio for the ALC! the narration was fantastically well done, with accents and everything! HIGHLY RECOMMEND in all formats!

I really wanted to love this one - it had small town Ireland! Authors! Librarians! All my favorite things. Unfortunately I just didn’t enjoy either of the main characters - Emily and Kieran. They frustrated me to no end and I just couldn’t root for them.
I honestly would’ve rather had the book focus on Siobhan, Kieran’s mom and the author of the book series Emily is obsessed with. I feel like a story coming from her POV would’ve been more compelling.

Content warnings: emotionally abusive parent, anxiety disorder, cancer, past child abuse

Emily Allen is an American librarian who feels trapped by her manipulative, emotionally abusive mother. She finally decides to be "selfish" and takes a job in Ireland working for her favorite author. Siobhan Riordan wrote the popular Tig McMorrow in the early 2000s, but it's been a decade since the last book was published. Emily is hired to be Siobhan's writing assistant for her final entry in the series.

Emily is over the moon at meeting and working for her favorite author, but her first encounter in Ireland sets a bad tone for the beginning of her year abroad. Bookstore owner Kieran Murphy is a surly (but hot) Irishman who runs the bookstore Siobhan writes in. Emily also works part-time for Kieran, who banishes her to the third floor of the shop to do inventory on an ancient laptop she christens Slo-Mo.

Kieran will have to try harder than that if he thinks Emily will turn tail and run back to the USA. As Emily works with Kieran and Siobhan, she becomes closer to each of them in unique ways.

Recommended for armchair travelers, contemporary romance readers, and anyone who has fangirled over a book.

This book honestly surprised me a little. I was expecting a typical rom com book centered around a perfect little bookshop in Ireland while the MFL finds herself. But there were so many more themes to this story! McKinlay balances lighter romance scenes with some deeper/heavier scenes, particularly around family relationships, cancer, and death. I love when both main characters experience growth and development and both Emily and Kieran do. (side note: Kieran felt like such a stereotypical name for this setting). I also enjoyed seeing the relationship between Siobhan and Emily grow as well where Emily got to experience a more mother/daughter relationship when compared to her own personal situation. It was adorable that Emily and Kieran were able to fill voids in each other's lives on various levels. Their romance felt believable and like more a slow burn (which I appreciate). My main complaint comes from Emily feeling forced to keep Siobhans secret from Kieran. That trope is a pet peeve of mine but it was done in a less harsh way than I've read in other books and I felt like both characters'reactions were realistic.
As a librarian and book lover, I was definitely biased towards having the setting be a bookshop. Love! Add in the beautiful Irish scenery and it's such a lovely backdrop for the story.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this book and how heartfelt it was.

I’m currently reading The Summer Pact and their content warning included something that was hidden in the summary and that didn’t take away from the book. I think Love at First Book can do the same because I could see this hidden content warning being really triggering for some people. Read with caution if you’ve ever had someone in your family with a terminal illness

Regardless of that, I loved this book! The conflicts outside of the romance were ones I wouldn’t even know how to handle so it kept me turning the page to see how it would end. I never knew how some things would play out.

This is a slow burn, but with really fun chemistry that keeps you hooked on their early relationship.

Lots of book-talk since the FMC is a librarian and MMC is a bookstore owner and his mom in an author. Loved that!

The ending was a TEARJERKER so be prepared, but the book itself isn’t exactly sad.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this book in exchange for an honest review.

4 STARS

Thank you to the author, Jenn McKinlay, Netgalley, and Berkley for a #ARC in return for an honest review!

Lets first admire this cover because it is the first thing that caught my eye! This is not a rom-com, it is most defiantly a contemporary romance.

This was very much a Hallmark-type romance. A beautiful setting, IRELAND, and descriptive details of the location. You could imagine the green hills, the cobblestone paths, and the bookstore smells. A book within a book. It starts with the classic heroine fleeing her dull, messy life her and moving too a small Irish village. Her boss doesn't like her and tension begins...

This book was more than just romance and cutesy stuff. This truly had SO much emotion, charm, and rawness. This blended the lines of messy and romance and life and everything in between. I really enjoy books like that because life isn't all cute and insta-love. Quite cozy too! This had lots of tension and feeling out. It allowed the characters to feel more and connect and as the reader, I think that was really shown. Things happen in life. Feelings get hurt. We all have trauma. This is one that will tug at your heartstrings and make you think, but also swoon a bit ha!

Now some "negatives": I did feel like this felt quite repetitive and slow at times. It did take a while for things to push and move forward. More heavy on the non-romance aspects of the plotline. I personally did not feel the chemistry between Emily and Kieran. It felt a bit more forced due to the nature of why Emily was there: help her favorite author write a book. It wasn't a huge deal as I did like everything else, it just wasn't what I was really expecting!

Please check trigger warnings!!! Loss of a parent, cancer, lying, abusive parent relationships + more.

Read if you like:
-destination romances
-emotional subplots
-closed door romance
- slow paced romance

If a quaint Irish town is your destination of choice then get ready for a story filled with lots of books, a found family, and a bit of grumpy sunshine.

When Emily Allen meets Kieran it will be an enemies to lovers situation as they discover what they are meant to do and where they are supposed to be.

It's time to dream big and take a bookcation across the pond.

Read this book if you’ve ever wanted to travel to Ireland! It was the perfect backdrop to this slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance between Emily and Kieran. Their banter was so refreshing and beyond hilarious to read! Also how lucky is Emily to be an assistant to her favorite author in such a dreamy little town 😍 I also don’t know what it is about books regarding books in general but I LOVE them every single time. This book was incredibly heartwarming and had me ugly crying at least once. I’m so grateful to Jenn McKinlay and Berkley Romance for my gifted e-ARC!

This is such a perfect book for book lovers! A librarian heads to Ireland to help her favorite author finish the last book in a series and work in her bookstore. It also doesn't hurt that the author's son is gorgeous and her boss at the bookstore. I absolutely loved this book and want to read more of Jenn McKinlay's books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley for the advanced digital copy of the book.

I can't believe how much I LOVED this book - I couldn't put it down. AND after I was done reading it, I made sure to buy the audiobook and listened to it again. I know this is the book review but the accents in the audio version were amazing. I loved that this romance was set in Ireland. I hadn't read Summer Reading” before reading this book, but it went back and read it right after. This was a quick fun read and can't wait for more romances from this author!

I thought this book was absolutely adorable and I could not put it down. Emily was a character after my own heart - I loved her fiery attitude towards Kieran and finally learning to stand up for herself. The slow burn romance between the two was amazing - I needed more and Jenn definitely kept you hanging on the edge of your seat for those two to get together. Definitely loved this one!

Kieran & Emily are the cutest ever!!!!

This book had the perfect balance of light and dark topics, while still keeping the romance central. The character development was also *chefs kiss*! I'm so glad I read this one and had the chance to get to know these characters! <3

Read if you like
- Slow Burn
- Enemies to Lovers
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Irish Setting

CW: Spoilers ahead but some big triggers for people so you should be aware Toxic relationship with parent, hypochondria , breast cancer relapse, death (off-page)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. Special Thanks to NetGalley, Berkley, and Jenn McKinlay, for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

This was cute and sweet. if you love cozy romances it's a must! I loved every minute of it. A total must read!

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

This was such a cute read! I really enjoyed the plot. The way they needed to collaborate to write and they got closer together in the process was so sweet. I liked that the setting was a bookstore. It was so cute and I wished I was there!

Emily and Kieran’s personalities were so different. It was interesting to watch them get to know each other and compliment each other.

My favorite part, though, was watching Emily get a mother figure that actually cared about her and believed in her. Her mom was so horrible!!!!! I was so happy we did not get too many scenes with her. It was nice that Emily went to therapy and set boundaries with her mother. It was a part of her character that I really appreciated. Siobhan was a huge driving force in the book and a part of why I enjoyed it. I liked that she just wanted nothing but to finish her life’s work and for them to be happy. I would recommend this book for someone who loves reading about authors in books and Irish men!!!

I absolutely loved this book! Em has left her hometown to follow the dream of meeting her favorite author, which also getting some space from her overbearing mother. Set in small-town Ireland, we meet a wonderful cast of characters who establish a fantastic found family. Weaved into the story, we watch Em fall in love with a handsome local, who helps her grow in confidence and find her voice. An absolutely lovely and heart warming story.