The Fabled Realms

Review of

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Book Lovers
Author:
Publisher:
Published: 2022-05-03
An insightful, delightful, instant #1 New York Times bestseller from the author of Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation. Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2022 by Oprah Daily ∙ Today ∙ Parade ∙ Marie Claire ∙ Bustle ∙ PopSugar ∙ Katie Couric Media ∙ Book Bub ∙ SheReads ∙ Medium ∙ The Washington Post ∙ and more! 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.

As a bookworm who usually shies away from romance-centric reads, I was pleasantly charmed by Book Lovers! Emily Henry’s enemies-to-lovers story earns 4 stars from me for blending literary cheer with that cozy Hallmark movie warmth.

Between the book publisher backdrop and main characters bonded by their love of reading, this book seemed perfectly up my alley. And I was hooked from their irresistibly combative meet-cute!

The sparks between staunchly independent Nora and brooding editor Charlie leapt off the page. Watching their tension play out during a months’ long family vacation kept the pages turning with that feel-good Hallmark channel energy.

While the premise sticks to classic romance beats, the characters feel fresh and distinct, with careers and passions that break the mold. Identity themes also add thoughtful depth.

The central slow burn could use a tad more originality. But vibrant settings and bookish humor help pave an enjoyable path to happily ever after.

For a steamy yet heartfelt enemies-to-lovers tale wrapped in literary joy, Book Lovers is a cute comfort read with brains, books, and Hallmark movie charm!


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PJ Flip

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