By: Emily Henry
THIS BOOK.
Emily Henry cemented herself as one of my favorite authors for contemporary women’s fiction/romance with her newest novel, Book Lovers. I love her clean, descriptive writing style. She also always finds a way to subvert typical romance tropes to make them appear fresh and new. Henry’s two previous novels, Beach Read and People We Meet On Vacation were two of my favorite recent releases. I have seen a lot of hype on social media for Book Lovers, so, I admit, I was a little hesitant that I might end up disappointed, but I am thrilled to report that is not the case and I cannot recommend this novel enough. I would say it is the perfect vacation read (because it is) but it is also perfect at any time, so GO GET IT!
Nora Stephens is your stereotypical tall, blonde workaholic with a peloton addiction and a deep love for her hometown of New York City and her younger sister, Libby. She is a literary agent who negotiates cutthroat deals for her clients. Charlie Lastra is an executive book editor, known for being punctual and forgoing social niceties in favor of brutal honesty. Their uncomfortable initial meeting ensures the two would never work together in the future.
Two years after that fateful meeting, Libby convinces Nora to accompany her on a sister’s vacation to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina, the setting from a novel of one of Nora’s clients. Libby drafts a small town must-do list, which includes wearing flannel, possibly going on a hike and saving a small business. While Nora can appreciate Sunshine Falls, she prefers the noise and bustle of the city. Nora and Libby’s mother died when the girls were in their late teens so Nora has taken on the role of both older sister and mother to Libby. She agrees to humor Libby and participate in her light-hearted schemes. While in Sunshine Falls, Nora runs into Charlie and she learns that Charlie grew up there. He is back at home helping out his parents as his father had a recent stroke and his mother needed assistance in running the town’s bookstore, Goode Books. As small towns are wont to do, Nora and Charlie keep bumping into each other and things get complicated.
While the timeframe of Nora and Charlie’s relationship is relatively short– about a month, I almost felt as if this was a bit of a slow burn romance. The two are clearly attracted to each other from the beginning, but they reveal themselves to each other in subsequent conversations and it is clear that the two of them are perfect for each other.
I really loved the communication between Nora and Charlie. They really expressed their feelings, wants and desires with each other, so, as the Reader, we were able to really understand and appreciate their connection. I thought their discussion of a potential long distance relationship was particularly well done, and, how they knew from previous experiences that it just would not work. I especially loved Nora’s comment that “[a] week ago, I liked you so much that I would have wanted to try to make this work…[b]ut now I think I love you too much for that.”
As with Henry’s other novels, the characters are fully formed people, and there is always a little dark to balance the light of the romance. Nora’s relationship with her sister felt extremely realistic, knowing the girls lost their mother unexpectedly very young. It was clear how such a traumatic experience would shape Nora and why she would do so much for her younger sister, including her choice of job, and participate in Libby’s strange small town checklist.
And, just because, I LOVED the easter eggs in Book Lovers about one of the leads in Beach Read, January Andrews. It was such a fun treat for her fans.
My first 5 star rating book! I DID IT!
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0593334833/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1656527435&sr=8-1
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book-lovers-emily-henry/1139966179?ean=9780593334836
Or an independent bookstore, like Joseph-Beth Booksellers, where I was able to snag a signed copy of this book! https://www.josephbeth.com/book/9780593334836