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.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
My Thoughts:
Yes, you read that title right, it’s only May and I’m already declaring Book Lovers as my favorite book of 2022. I do admit that there are two upcoming books that could make their way to my #1 spot, but I’m really certain that there is no match for my love for this book. I really think this is the book from now on when a person asks me what my favorite book is, it’s Book Lovers.
I am currently writing this review on my phone with Book Lovers clutched to my chest. I devoured Book Lovers in less than 24 hours and did the thing that I do maybe once a year and starting rereading her other two books (and yes, a Book Lovers reread is definitely in the future). Also PSA that if you have not yet bought a copy of this book, I recommend getting the Target exclusive edition because it comes with the Beach Read meets People We Meet on Vacation epilogue that Emily Henry recently sent out in her newsletter. Another sidenote that I’m slightly disappointed that Book of the Month didn’t offer Book Lovers as a pick, but I LOVE this paperback & its cover – why am I about to go out and buy paperback copies of Beach Read and PWMOV?
This book is everything. Book Lovers follows Nora, a top literary agent, who has always put her youngest sister, Libby, especially since their mother died years ago. Libby is pregnant with her third child and needing a break from life in New York City, convinces Nora to take some time off and rent a cottage in the town based on Nora’s client’s bestselling book. The last person Nora expects to run into in this small North Carolina town is Charlie, the same broody book editor who wasn’t willing to take on Nora’s client’s book two years ago.
Book Lovers is a book lover’s dream book, between Nora & Charlie’s careers, Nora and Libby’s love & bond over reading, and the bookstores involved. I loved how it spun tropes – honestly it made it hard to predict what would happen, even though I did predict correctly about what Libby would do in the end to help out a certain two people. The Hallmark movie, career woman protagonist that is Nora was such a SMART choice and unique trope/character in contemporary romance, and it made her to be the perfect blend of contemporary romance character and realisticness?!
All of Emily Henry’s make love interests are phenomenal- while Alex from PWMOV is such a cinnamon roll, Charlie is just a reader/bookish person’s dream man. Everyone knows that I love a contemporary romance that also interweaves character development and focus on a relationship outside of the romance, which brings us to Nora & Libby. I think Book Lovers will automatically be categorized as a contemporary romance or ode to readers, but this book is truly also a sister story, as much of the plot and Nora’s personal growth comes from her relationship with Libby.
Emily Henry’s contemporary romances just keep upping their game. I really thought nothing could top People We Meet on Vacation, but Book Lovers was just a pure chef’s kiss to bookish protagonists, romance, a strong & unique female lead, & a sister story.
Have you read Book Lovers yet? What are your thoughts? Have you read Emily Henry’s other books? Share in the comments!
Fangirl Fury 
[…] Vacation, but having had the final push to do so before falling head over heels for Emily Henry’s Book Lovers – I was also inspired by the Beach Read epilogue sent in Emily Henry’s newsletter & in […]
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[…] FAVORITE 2022 READ: Book Lovers Review […]
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I read this book as well! It was amazing! Excellent review!
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Thank you!
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[…] really about to start rereading PWMOV and Book Lovers (I reread Beach Read right after Book Lovers last year) because I already feel a book hangover […]
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