ARC Review: Book Lovers – Emily Henry

An insightful, delightful new novel from the number-one New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation.

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.

TW: This book contains mentions of loss of parent, grief, anxiety, PTSD-related symptoms, etc.

Emily Henry is firmly cementing her herself as a comfort read author for me. This is the second book of hers I’ve read and the second time I’ve given her work five stars. Book Lovers is a wonderful story filled with beautiful complex and flawed characters, and so much emotional and personal growth.

Charlie and Nora are two characters, who at first glance, appear to have nothing in common except professions in the literary industry. However, these two people suddenly find themselves in the same small town at the exact same time, for completely different reasons. It’s here they discover that they actually have more in common than initially thought.

What I adored about this book was how easy it was to delve into and feel a part of their (fictional) world. From the first page to the last, I was hooked. Their wins and their losses felt like my wins and my losses; and I was eagerly invested in their well-deserved happily-ever-after.

I loved that the romance between Charlie and Nora felt easy and comfortable as it made for the change of focus to other areas in their lives more simple. There were so many individual aspects to unpack in this story (e.g. family, friends, exes, their history) but it never felt rushed or unnecessary which is exactly what I need in a book that touches on heavier subjects.

Overall, another great book by Emily Henry and one that I’m already considering how soon I can begin my re-read!

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from Penguin General UK via Netgalley.

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