Not going to lie, after Happy Place I wasn’t sure about this one. But I’ve heard so many good things about Book Lovers I was ready. And this has to be my favorite Emily Henry ever. Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.
Summary
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.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the Libro.fm. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Book Lovers is, predictably so, good for book lovers. It’s a fun glimpse into the publishing industry of agents and editors. Of writing which needs tweaking and egos which needs soothing. Nora is me to a T. She’s ambitious, a Shark, dedicated to her career, fiercely loyal, and used to having to hold the responsibility of her family on her shoulders. And Charlie is this grumpy editor who’s brusque and direct. We love a love interest who plays with open cards. But where Book Lovers caught me is the sister relationship between Nora and Libby.
There’s this fierce love, but also these secrets. The ones we can keep from the ones we love, the ones that could hurt them, the words we are afraid to speak aloud. All the burdens and strings of love, missed connections, and implicit glances. If you have a sister, this one is for you. It’s for all the older sisters with backaches from holding the weight of families. Experiences which age you and never leave. But Nora and Charlie are precious. I love two characters who feel so out of place and who can find someone who sees, and loves them, for exactly who they are.
Overall,
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The kind of love where you would never want to hold on to someone if it wouldn’t make them happy. To have them never compromise who they are. To pierce through the illusions, the dreams of denial, and the layers of bullshit. Book Lovers is definitely my favorite Emily Henry, she knows when to reel me back in. I haven’t been in love with her books since Beach Read, but I’m back baby. I adored Nora and Charlie’s banter, their wry writ, sarcasm and rivalry. I do wish we got a few more scenes of Charlie, but this is fiercely Nora’s story and I respect that! Julia Whelan’s narration was the icing on the cake and I can see why Julia would be the choice for Henry’s audiobooks.
Find Book Lovers on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, Blackwells, Libro.fm, and Google Play.