Book Lovers
Ratings770
Average rating4.1
My first Emily Henry novel. As someone who is not typically a romance reader, I really enjoyed this one. Even though I didn't relate to these characters at all, I loved them and was rooting for them throughout the story.
Her characters remain absolutely insufferable as usual - they are largely one-dimensional (her heroines all have anxiety and complain a lot, her heroes have no personality but nice voices and nice eyes and many muscles). Look, I understand that the function of books like this is to let the reader project their own fantasies onto the minimally-developed characters, but having read good romance, I have a very low tolerance for bad romance. However, I have no one but myself to thank for subjecting myself to this, and cannot in all fairness, accuse her books of excessive whining (whinery?) if I am here whining about them too.
I do think that she did try to tackle the typical ‘city girl goes to small town, falls in love with local carpenter, abandons evil career, discovers love and babies' trope, but the problem is that she keeps telling you how she's about to subvert it, and then she barely manages to. It would be really interesting to see the trope actually subverted by an author who understood that you can show without telling.
4.5 stars. Grabbed this book without knowing knowing anything about it as a quick read on vacation. It was sweet and a easy read. I'm giving it 4.5 stars because I get annoyed at the black of communication trope. Just talk it out for crying out loud!
Both main characters were decent.
Contains spoilers
Fun romcom, likable main and side characters, nice pacing of the romance, with some background "drama" that added nicely to the story.
Was worried about the sisters happiness for a while, I do prefer romcoms that are just happy overall but luckily it all worked out :)
Emily Henry is just out here rolling 20s on emotional damage every dang time. This one didn't dehydrate me like Happy Place did, but it was still a moving and emotional story of two people with believable flaws and captivating personalities. I loved Charlie and I loved Nora. Now I need to take a break to recover before I pick up another...
I just finished Book Lovers by Emily Henry and here are my musings.
Nora Stephens is a workaholic and who can blame her? Well, everyone she meets thinks she has no work life balance but she is a literary agent and she is a shark at what she does. The only person she is soft for is her little sister Libby.
And when Libby wants to go to Sunshine Falls for a month. A sister bonding trip before Libby's third child arrives into the world. Libby has a bucket list of small town things they are both to do. Proving it is a small world, Nora keeps jumping into an editor from New york, a man she has contrasting viewpoints on with one of her authors. Charlie may be hot, but he isn't what she's there for.
The cosmos has other ideas and the two of them find themselves unexpectedly bumping into each other and each time the ice thaws a little more.
This book is CUTE CUTE CUTE CUTE..... Did I mention how cute this book is?
I was completely charmed by Nora from the get go. Kindred spirit and all that. She crushes her goals then makes new ones. Charlie is too cute. That frosty bookish man just needed to get in the water with the “shark” to figure out that there is more to life.
I love small town settings. If I could read one type of book for the rest of my life, it would be a small town book. I loved all the fun things Libby had them doing and the budding friendship between Nora and Charlie. I have fast become a fan of Emily Henry so maybe I am biased but I don't care. This book is well written, highly entertaining and I love falling in love with books like this.
4 stars!
Excellent read!
I enjoyed the book but not as much as I had hoped. I was looking forward to an interesting story with an unusual storyline but I got a typical Christmas romance, except that it was inverse of those typical Hallmark movies and it wasn't set on Christmas. That doesn't make it bad but it is not really my type of story.
The book draws parallels between the general storyline with typical Hallmark movies and does the exact opposite, which is just as predictable. It also draws parallels between Nora and a fictional character in this fictional world, Nadine Winters, but does not play much on that except a few fun references. All in all, there is not much depth here.
That said, it is a warm story and you might like it if you're into romance novels. I found myself skimming through pages of descriptions of how they felt as they dealt with their sexual chemistry and thinking of that scene from one Frasier episode where Frasier skips through multiple pages of a similar novel. What I did enjoy were the funny exchanges between the main characters which were filled with sarcastic tongue-in-cheek remarks. It was a fun read that way.
It's exactly what you'd want from a romcom. Just a sweet story with all the tropes, but again i have to wonder if any of the publishers read the book to end up with this book cover
This was reading like a 3 star for most of it but I must admit the ending did hit for me! I liked how it all tied up, after finding parts of it slightly annoying and worthy of an eye roll.
This was the first book I've read by her. It was so great. It had me laughing out loud but also sitting there with a lump in my throat. Can't wait to read more of her books.
Nora reminds me of Rebecca in Ted Lasso, and I really enjoyed it for that reason. And the banter was top tier. Small town checklist is a fun play on the small town romance.
this was fine, definitely the weakest one out of the 3 I've read so far but I still liked the couple and plot
All the Good Vibes
“Book Lovers” by Emily Henry is a celestial gift from the universe, delivering a resounding five-star experience that serves as a poignant reminder of the sheer joy and enchantment found within the world of books. As my recent reads leaned towards the three-star spectrum, this gem emerged to reignite my passion for literature and reaffirm books as one of my ultimate sources of happiness.
Emily Henry's introduction to my reading journey feels like making a new friend. Her storytelling prowess immediately captivated me, drawing me into a world where the magic of falling in love with books takes center stage. In this heartfelt narrative, Henry masterfully weaves a tale that resonates with bookworms on a profound level, making it an absolute must-read.
The characters, particularly the relatable protagonist January and her charming love interest Gus, are brought to life with such authenticity that their witty banter and undeniable chemistry create a delightful, swoon-worthy romance. Their journey becomes a page-turning adventure, leaving me eagerly anticipating each unfolding chapter.
Henry's love and profound understanding of literature shine through every word, turning each book reference and allusion into a delightful nod to the shared passion of bibliophiles. Reading “Book Lovers” felt like a personal conversation with the author, as if she intimately understood the heart of every book lover.
The vivid and picturesque settings painted by Henry elevate the reading experience. From quaint bookstores nestled in small towns to the breathtaking landscapes of a seaside cottage, the imagery is so vivid that it invokes the scent of old pages and the feel of ocean breeze. Henry's ability to transport readers to these magical places is nothing short of remarkable.
The novel's brilliance lies in its seamless blend of romance, self-discovery, and personal growth. Beyond celebrating the power of literature, “Book Lovers” explores themes of friendship, family, and the resilience of the human spirit. The heartwarming love story intertwines with moments of reflection and transformation, leaving readers inspired and hopeful.
For anyone who has sought solace, companionship, or sheer delight within the pages of a book, “Book Lovers” is a must-read. It evokes laughter, tugs at heartstrings, and renews appreciation for the magic of storytelling. Emily Henry has crafted a masterpiece—a love letter to bookworms everywhere—that is an absolute pleasure to read.
In conclusion, “Book Lovers” deserves the highest recommendation. This five-star treasure is a celebration of heartfelt romance, captivating storytelling, and an unwavering love for the written word. It is a literary pilgrimage that readers should embark on immediately. Run, do not walk, to your favorite bookstore and immerse yourself in the magic of “Book Lovers.”
I have loved the sparks between Charlie and Nora, much because it reminds me the dynamics between my husband and I, two independent adults that love each other so much that wouldn't withhold the other from pursuing their own dreams. However I found the relationship between Nora and her sister a little troubled, Nora constantly mothering her and need to be up to date on everything that happens on her sister's life showed how immature she was, nonetheless she grew through the book (her relationship with Charlie being of much help on this).
There's nothing to say about this book expect that it's adorable. The only thing that is somewhat bothersome is the lack of diversity.
Sometimes a cheesy romcom books just hits all the right notes for you (and maybe hits a bit too close to home). Their chemistry was undeniable, but I think my favorite parts were about Nora and Libby's relationship. This is a book about love, but also identity, family, grief, and what the compromises life forces us to make in the pursuit of the happiness of those you love. This is definitely not a book everyone would deem worthy of five stars, but when a book hits you in a very specific way, you gotta give it to it. Also, I devoured this in 24 hours!
It's not bad, I did actually enjoy the story overall. However, the characters are so underdeveloped. It's kind of hard to get through. The only character that you really gets insight into is Nora who is in desperate need of therapy. I hate when authors will just use trauma for character building. Let's try to actually give them a personality, instead of just dumping all their childhood trauma and calling it a day.
I loved this book. I basically read it in every spare second I had over two and a half days, and it was delightful to sink into. I kept trying to - inexplicably! - talk myself out of five-starring it while I was reading, but then Henry would turn a phrase that made me laugh out loud, or Charlie and Nora would start emailing, and their banter was just chef's kiss. I thought about highlighting things on my Kindle and now I'm regretting the choice not to, but I was too busy tearing through the pages. I also loved the glimpse into the novel-writing-editing-publishing process, as that's something I'm interested in but am not cutthroat enough to ever succeed in that world.
I am not one to choose rom-com books. I prefer murder and chaos and a high body count. So imagine my astonishment at thoroughly enjoying this well developed enemies to lovers workplace story - dare I say ROMANCE- with a solidly layered backstory and characters I actually cared about. All the Hallmark Holiday Movie lovers out there will adore this book - as will the readers who love an obscure literary reference- plus shades of famous bookish bits and characters sprinkled throughout. Book lovers, thus the appropriate title, of all stripes will find something to smile about when reading this book. Bonus for the New York lovers- the writer does a lovely job of describing the city in small, authentic ways throughout the story, as described by the main character. As a Northern transplant to the South, I absolutely loved those treasures. This one is a perfect, light summer read- you will be invested and you will feel really good when you come to the satisfying end. Highly recommend.