Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Published by Berkley on 2022-05-03
Length: 398 pages
Reviewing Paperback from My Book Shelf
Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2022 New Release Challenge

One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn't see coming...

Nora Stephens' life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry is an anti-trope rom com about two people working in the publishing industry, their rivalry, and unlikely friendship when they find themselves spending time in the same small town. Nora Stephens is known as a cutthroat publicist who will do whatever she needs to do for her clients’ success. Having lost her mom at a young age and becoming responsible for her baby sister has hardened Nora to love. Her sole focus has been on making sure that she, her sister, and now her nieces never want for anything. When her sister suggests an extended vacation in a small town that one of her client’s books was based on, she reluctantly agrees and even puts on a smile for the bucket list her sister has declared they must complete. What she doesn’t expect is to find her nemesis working at the local bookstore.

I adored this book! Emily Henry has cemented herself as an auto-buy author for me. I have yet to be disappointed by anything she’s written. This one is no exception. I absolutely loved the opening and was hooked instantly. This story opens on Nora running late for a business luncheon with our soon-to-be nemesis and love interest. Why she is running late though is what made me laugh. She’s being dumped over the phone by yet another boyfriend who took a vacation or business trip to a small town and found his true love there. Sound familiar? It should because it’s what happens in every small town romance and almost all the holiday Hallmark romcoms. Nora has cast herself as the city girlfriend who all those guys dump in the movies.

This twist on your typical small town romcom makes for a hilarious and often heartfelt novel that feels more true to life than the ones that stick to the trope. I love Nora, her barely there tolerance of the small town, and how much she loves her sister. And then there’s our nemesis turned love interest, Charlie Lastra. Charlie is so great. We don’t really learn too much about him as the story focuses mostly on Nora and her owning up to her own issues. Charlie balances Nora out, he sees her and likes all of her, even the things that have driven her exes away.

Overall I loved Book Lovers. This book was written for those that love books, love romance, and love a good story. Nora and Charlie, Nora’s sister, the small town charm, all of it works together to create a a story that feels real, like I could go visit this town on any given day or run into Charlie or Nora on the street. Highly recommend this one!

*I buddy read this one with Stephanie @ Once Upon a Chapter. She rated it 5 stars as well.

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