I really liked this book and all the characters, and the contrasts in parenting styles amongst the two leads

DNF - 25%

I think this book would suit fans of contemporary romance very well - I went out of my comfort zone a bit with this one and found myself not enjoying it very much. That's on me.

I was fighting to get into this book from the very beginning, hoping I would come to love the characters, the writing style, the setting. It just never happened, as I found the writing and banter a bit juvenile and never connected to any of the main characters. I will say, the setting is described wonderfully, making the reader want to hop the next flight to Ireland without a second thought.

As I said, I would recommend this book to regular readers of contemporary romances; however, if that's not you, this isn't the one I'd recommend branching out on.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for access to this ARC.

Emily arrives in Finn Hollow, Ireland to escape her overbearing and toxic mother and to work with the author of her favorite book series, Siobhan. Siobhan's son, Kieran, isn't exactly thrilled about Emily's arrival and is hoping to drive her away with menial tasks in his bookstore where Emily will work. Cue the tension that is a cover for their mutual attraction. Emily is also hoping Siobhan will complete the final book to her famous book series with her help. It's been 10 years, and the series helped Emily get through her childhood. As Emily learns why Siobhan didn't write the final book, she creates a life in the town, developing friendships with those in and out of the bookstore, and turning Siobhan and Kieran into the family she always wanted.

This novel for those who understand how a book can have a lifelong impact on your world and for those who want to find their place in the world surrounded by friendship and love.

As a fan of Jenn McKinlay's Hat Shop Mysteries, I've been enjoying reading her contemporary romance. This one is the second I've read (the first was "Paris is Always a Good Idea") and I definitely think fans of "Paris" will enjoy this one as well. Both books are set in a beautiful location I would love to visit and their storylines are a satisfying mix of an enemies-to-lovers romance with deeper themes about family and grief. I would recommend to readers looking for a contemporary summer romance with some emotional weight.

Books set in Ireland?! And a romance?! Automatic five stars! But really, there are many reasons why I'd give this book 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 was adorable from the beginning.I absolutely ate up their witty banter. Their palpable, fiery chemistry will make you sizzle!

Emily Allen appears to be an introverted librarian who has been psychologically abused by her narcissistic mother for years… She's suffocating, and the only thing that has helped her is her favorite book series.

Now 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 son who is reminiscent of Mr. Darcy.

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 Berkley for my ARC copy in exchange for my review!

This was such a charming read. It’s a book about adventure, self-discovery and finding love. I loved that the female MC was a book lover/librarian who left her life in the states to follow her dreams, and I adored the small Irish setting. It’s a not a cutesy rom-com. There was tragedy and family tension, but there was a HEA.

Thank you to Netgalley & Berkley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review!

I adored this book. It was so cozy, tension filled, and full of everything I need in a romance book. From the neighborhood dog to the pub where everyone would meet up, I fell in love with the little Irish town this is set in.

I think the chemistry between the two characters was so so good as well. I immediately wanted them to get together as soon and Kier started being mean to Emily. Angst to lovers is my favorite!!! & he had a good reason for having angst too which I appreciated so much, instead of just hating her for no reason.

Solid 4 stars. I def recommend this to the cozy romance lovers & book lovers bc it takes place in a book store w an author as an important plot point ✨

Okay y’all, I’d never bought a trophy physical book after finishing an ARC (or any ebook for that matter). Yet.

This book has changed that for me. It’s SO good that halfway through this, I knew I HAD to support the author more and just buy the actual book.

The banter. The setting. The plot. The side characters. The romance. The pacing. The writing style. All. Chefs. Kiss. 💯. No notes.

Highly highly recommend.

This author is going on the top of my auto-buy author list.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5

You can look forward to
💖 Enemies to lovers
🇮🇪 Set in the Irish countryside
☕️ Cozy Bookshop
🧘‍♀️ Anxiety Rep
🗣️ The Banter

Audience: Adult
Plot: 4.5 out of 5
Characters 4.5 out of 5
Spice 1.5 out of 5

Keywords: Enemies to lovers, Slow burn romance, Grumpy/Sunshine, Librarians, Ireland, Books and reading, Book stores, Authors and writing
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley through Berkley Romance, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Thank you!

This novel is a contemporary romance about a librarian, Emily (“Em” / “Red”) Allen, who travels to Ireland to work for a year as an assistant to her favorite childhood author, Siobhan Riordan. Em’s year-long stay in Ireland is full of romance, laughs, and tragedy, and I loved every minute of it.
When Emily first arrives in Ireland, she meets a grumpy book shop owner, Kieran Murphy (“Kier” / “Murphy”). Em finds out that he will also be her boss, as she splits her time working for Siobhan and the book store, The Last Chapter.

This novel reminds me of a Hallmark romance movie – the story is wholesome, and there is just a little bit of spice. One of my favorite things throughout the novel is the way that Em and Kier try to stump each other with various book quotes. But they are both so well-versed in literature that they always got the references. Also, I like how the author handled the difficult relationship between Em and her mother. I thought the author really captured just how vicious and brutal those relationships can be. But as Em stays in Ireland, readers see the affectionate maternal relationship blossom between Em and Siobhan, which makes the novel so much more emotional.

Overall, I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys Hallmark-movie-esque romances, Ireland, and all things books and reading. For me this was a very fun read, and there were times when I burst out laughing, but also times when I cried. In the back of the novel, there is a name pronunciation guide, as well as a recipe for Irish Whiskey Shortbread – as tea, scones, and whiskey play a role throughout the novel. I also listened to the audiobook, and I thought the narrator, Brittany Pressley, did a fabulous job – especially with all the names and Irish accents. I will definitely be looking to pick up more of Jenn McKinlay’s novels!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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.

📍 Read if you like:
• Workplace Romance
• Rivals to Friends to Lovers
• Irish Villages
• Books About Books

I went into this book not expecting much out of it, but I absolutely loved it much more than I could’ve imagined… this book was phenomenal!

While this can be read as a standalone, there are a few glimpses of the characters from Summer Reading (which I also enjoyed). It was so fun seeing more of them!

I absolutely loved the Irish setting in this book, it reminded me so much of a previous five star book I read… am I just a huge fan of Ireland?! Could be… but ahh the setting was amazing.

Emily and Kieran have my whole hurt, I loved every second of them and the chemistry between the two! I loved the character growth in this book and seeing them develop as a relationship.

The small town setting and swoony romance had me so invested. I’m shocked I loved this book as much as I did, but I’m glad I did.

Charming, entertaining, and heartwarming, this story is perfect for bookworms and romance fans!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Berkley for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!

I fell in love with Emily in Summer Reading and I couldn't wait to get her story in Love at First Book. Jenn Mckinlay has truly created a book lover's dream with this story. Emily travels to Ireland to escape her narcissistic mother and broaden her horizons. She gets a job at The Last Chapter bookstore where she will spend her mornings as an assistant to her favorite author and her afternoons staffing the bookshop. What she didn't plan on was the herculean task of helping write a book that doesn't want to be written or the bookshops grumpy, glowering owner. In a tale packed with romance, family, and Irish charm, Mckinlay weaves a story sure to warm your heart and make you cry a little. I loved this book.

"Love at First Book" by Jenn McKinlay is an absolute delight! This charming romance strikes the perfect balance—neither too syrupy sweet nor too formulaic—making it a pleasure for many romance readers.

The characters are wonderfully crafted, with the quirky, well-written personas I always adore. Even the side characters have depth and interest, adding to the richness of the story. The setting is equally captivating, painting a vivid and intriguing world that draws you in from the very first page.

The story of Emily Allen, a librarian from Martha’s Vineyard, who moves to a quaint Irish village to help her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan, write the final book in her series, is heartwarming and engaging. Emily’s interactions with Siobhan’s prickly yet endearing son, Kieran Murphy, are filled with chemistry and tension that keep you eagerly turning pages.

McKinlay’s narrative beautifully captures Emily’s journey of self-discovery and romance amidst the picturesque backdrop of Ireland. The book is a testament to the power of love, literature, and finding one’s place in the world. "Love at First Book" is a must-read for anyone looking for a romance that is as thoughtful as it is delightful. Loved it!

If you are looking for a cute slow burn book to take you away on a journey of self exploration and personal discovery than this is a book you will want to pick up. The concept behind this book was intriguing Emily is chosen to be the assistant to the YA author that helped her get though her youth. This position is part time working with Siobhan, who is suffering a long running writing dry spell that has left her characters in limbo, and Siobhan.'s son Kieran, who runs a bookstore. This sets into play a wonderful dynamic that leads both Emily and Kieran to deal with not only their own personal issues but also their attraction to each other and connect with Siobhan and her books. This had a great balance of drama and humor, but at times the drama was a little more weighted than the humor. This book had a lot of potential that drew me to it from the blurb, but I found this was missing the pop and sizzle that the early chapters indicated.

Thank you to Jen McKinlay, Berkley Romance and NetGalley for this ARC

Love at First Book is a sweet quick cozy romantic read. The love story takes place in a quaint Irish village filled with enchanting characters. I really liked Emily and Kieran. While romance is at the center of the story, there is plenty depth with themes of grief, mental illness, and family relations. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and characters. I think our library’s cozy romance readers will really enjoy this title. I know I did.

2 Stars

Love at First Book is a light and quick read, but it fails to stand out in the crowded romance genre. While the concept of a romance blossoming in a bookstore is appealing, the execution does not live up to its potential. The story's predictability, shallow character development, and lackluster writing make it a forgettable read. The characters in Love at First Book are disappointingly one-dimensional. The protagonist, though likable, lacks depth and growth throughout the story. Her love interest comes across as a typical romantic hero without any distinctive traits that make him memorable. The supporting characters, who could have added richness to the story, are underutilized and clichéd, failing to leave a lasting impression. Readers looking for a heartwarming and engaging romance might be disappointed by the lack of depth and originality in McKinlay’s novel.

the definition of a cozy romance!!! I will definitely reread this in the fall/winter time, and I think that’s when everyone should read this one.

emily and keir were such a lovely couple to read about. there is so much that happens in this book, but I feel like it’s truly a tale of growing up and what comes with adulthood—the good and the bad. love, change, grief… everything. it was lighthearted, heavy, fun, and sad all at the same time.

With the Irish bookshop setting and broody male hero, this book was a guaranteed hit for me. 

There were some hilarious moments in this book that still stand out to me--they added levity to a story that could, surprisingly, be a tad bit sad. Those moments typically revolved around the mishaps or silliness of Emily, the main character. As she moves across the world to Ireland to work under her favorite author of all time (think J.K. Rowling) and to help this favorite author in finishing up her beloved book series (think Harry Potter) much to the chagrin of the author's son--and bookshop owner--Kieran.

Kieran and Emily have immediate chemistry but there's more to them than that. There's a push and pull that was quite entertaining to read. 

Again, there were more serious topics in this one--the least of which was the rebuilding and understanding between Kieran and his famous-author mother. 

I really didn't want to put this one down once I started.

I just finished reading this book and had high hopes for it. I was not disappointed. The setting was great, and the characters were likable. I do wish there were more moments between the main characters and less focus on other things. The ending was unexpected, not as light-hearted as I had hoped, but well-written and emotional. If the book had more banter and less focus on minor details, it would have been perfect. Still, it was an enjoyable read! I will recommend it.

A bookstore in Ireland?! Say less.

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times; I love when romance books go beyond the romance. We learn about our characters through the struggles with family, mental illness, etc.

I also love a slow burn romance that’s extra sweet!

“I took a quick loop around the garden, stuffing my feelings back inside like the innards of a child’s well-loved stuffed animal.”

Working in a quaint bookshop called Last Chapter in IRELAND?! Yes, please. And the banter between Kier and Em was perfection. The wit and humor of Siobhan was delightful as well.

This book encapsulated all emotions. I laughed and cried and cheered all of the characters on. What a sweet ending to a heartbreaking plot.