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Big city devotees find romance in a small town in emily henry's 'book lovers'.

Carole V. Bell

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Small-town love stories are a popular staple of romance novels and television, and many of them follow a certain pattern. These stories often convey a certain implied hierarchy of lifestyle choices: It's all about rejecting big city values and returning to life on a smaller and slower scale.

In the strictest versions of this fiction, small towns are lifesaving havens for burned out and jaded city refugees. Real estate development should always be scrapped in favor of historic preservation and charm. And career-minded, type-A women often have two choices: Let their hair down and let go of some of their ambitions or get left behind for earthier partners.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry is both a tribute to and takedown of this cultural form by a star of the summer beach read. Her playful and clever contemporary romance — her third — pokes holes in many of the assumptions that surround small towns in popular culture.

'The No-Show' is an adventure in romantic storytelling

'The No-Show' is an adventure in romantic storytelling

To start, both of its leads are ride-or-die New York City devotees. Nora Stephens, the heroine and narrator of Book Lovers , is the kind of driven woman usually left behind when a leading man leaves for greener pastures, which has happened to her more than once.

Late for a meeting with Charlie Lastra, a fastidious book acquisition editor with the Midas touch, "uptight" Nora — the "manicured literary agent, reading manuscripts from atop her Peloton" — is reeling from being dumped yet again by a man who's moving to a small town, and thinking hard about this cliched plot turn:

[T]hat's why I'm running late to this lunch meeting. Because that's my life. The trope that governs my days. The archetype over which my details are superimposed. I'm the city person. Not the one who meets the hot farmer. The other one.

The lunch starts badly and gets worse. Since Nora processes life in terms of fiction, in her view, "If I'm the archetypical City Person, he is the Dour, Unappeasable Stick-in-the-Mud. He's the Growly Misanthrope, Oscar the Grouch, second-act Heathcliff, the worst parts of Mr. Knightley."

Two years later, that resentment remains. Grumpy, exacting Charlie is Nora's literary nemesis, the man who insulted and turned down Once in a Lifetime, one of her client's greatest hits. But when both Nora and Charlie land in the same small town at the same time, irritation yields to attraction.

The first sighting is a shock and an accident. Nora is checking about the cute guy in line for coffee. He turns around, and there's her grumpy Mr. Knightley. She tries to run off.

A few meetings later, it's clear that their surface rivalry masks similarities and chemistry. Nora and Charlie share the same ambitions and priorities, feel like outsiders, and most of all, are both very loyal to family. Though her favorite writer likens her to a shark (much to her horror), Nora mostly bares those sharp teeth in service of loved ones and clients.

Hard-edged in the workplace, Nora (named after the late romantic comedy luminary Nora Ephron ) has a deep dedication to being her younger sister's keeper — since their mother's death when Nora was in college. And that lands both women in the small town of Sunshine Falls, just outside Asheville, N.C., for a month.

Heavily pregnant Libby craves rest and time away from responsibility – and her cramped New York City apartment — before the birth of her third child, and she's excited to immerse herself in the storybook small-town life that Once in a Lifetime made famous, even if the town has seen better days.

Libby devises a list of experiences that she and Nora have to complete to attain the maximum "small-town romance novel" effect: Wearing flannel, going on at least two dates with locals, and saving a local business will transform them into more relaxed versions of themselves. A supportive and loyal Nora plays along without protest.

But instead of salt of the earth locals, Charlie and Nora only have eyes for each other. Of course, there's a catch. While Nora and Libby are in Sunshine Falls for downtime and adventure, Charlie is there out of necessity.

Though born and raised in the picturesque North Carolina town, Charlie never felt accepted there for reasons revealed later in the novel. He's returned only to support the family bookstore while his mother cares for his father, who's suffered a stroke.

That potential long-term responsibility threatens to derail their future as a couple — or leave Nora behind yet again. So while things heat up quickly, the "will they or won't they" energy persists.

That's one aspect of the novel that seemed a bit of a stretch. Given how in sync and smart Charlie and Nora are, I had a hard time believing they couldn't figure out a way to be together while still supporting their family.

Nonetheless, the story is multilayered and the characters' familial challenges are complex. By both playing to and overtly subverting romance tropes and archetypes like the high-powered big city woman who neglects her family and the life-affirming power of small-town life, this novel delivers an insightful comedic meditation on love, family and going your own way.

A slow runner and fast reader, Carole V. Bell is a cultural critic and communication scholar focusing on media, politics and identity. You can find her on Twitter @BellCV .

  • romance novels

Bestselling rom-com author Emily Henry has a new novel called 'Book Lovers' that might just be the best beach read of 2022

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  • Emily Henry is the author of " Beach Read " and " People We Meet on Vacation ."
  • Her latest book, " Book Lovers, " is already a favorite on Goodreads.
  • Here's why Henry's latest release is my favorite so far (and a perfect beach read).

Insider Today

I used to avoid the romance genre entirely, opting instead for heart-racing thrillers or gut-punching literary fiction. Part of me thought of romance novels as just erotica or the mass-produced books you grab from the grocery store on the way to the DMV. I finally fell head-over-heels for contemporary romance novels and rom-coms a couple of years ago,  appreciating how easily I can get lost in a well-written romance and how it can remind me that I truly love to read. 

Emily Henry has authored and co-authored seven books, but her last two — " Beach Read " and " People We Meet on Vacation " — were New York Times bestsellers. "Book Lovers," her most recent novel, will likely make the list as well, based on its popularity on preorder lists and among Goodreads reviewers. 

While "Beach Read" and "People We Meet on Vacation" were easy and enjoyable reads, I found myself more invested in her latest novel than the others. Here's why "Book Lovers" is my favorite Emily Henry novel so far.

1. "Book Lovers" amusingly leans into all the stereotypical small-town romance tropes.

In "Book Lovers," Nora is a literary agent whose love life has always taken a back burner to her career, her personal time, and most importantly, her sister, Libby. When Libby proposes a trip for the two of them to escape New York City for the storybook town of Sunshine Falls, North Carolina, Nora agrees just to spend more time with her sister, who has a third baby on the way. 

As the town seems to be one out of a romance novel, the sisters create a checklist to live out every stereotypical "small town" trope, from riding a horse to saving a small business. 

There are still several stereotypes in the story that make it kind of predictable (high-strung NYC corporate woman who is apprehensive about the adorable small town will probably see the charm and maybe fall for a patient, hunky local). But by leaning into the romance trope cliches, Henry is able to sidestep a lot of the cheesy romance novel moments that normally make me roll my eyes. 

That said, there's a reason "chick flick" movies and romance novels sell so well — we enjoy a little bit of the cheesy moments and predictability. Love stories can be complicated and thunderous, but they can also end with a long monologue and happily ever after.

2. The love story isn't the main plot of the book.

While in Sunshine Falls, Nora runs into Charlie Lastra, an unflinchingly straightforward book editor from the city with whom Nora has had plenty of prior run-ins. As it turns out, he's from the small town and his mom runs the local bookstore (yes, another cliche). Though Nora and Charlie historically haven't gotten along, they're working together to prepare a new manuscript for publication and spend a lot of time in close proximity where the sexual tension continually builds. 

However, Nora and Charlie's sparking romance is not the main plot of the book. Nora's concern lies far more with Libby, who seems to be keeping a secret from her and spending a lot of time alone. Nora is hurt that Libby won't talk to her and determinedly tries to get Libby to open up. 

The love story is absolutely present, but I felt far more invested in Nora and Libby's sisterhood and the tangled dynamics that unfolded.

3. Despite the use of rom-com tropes, Emily Henry's books are written incredibly well.

In the last few years, the romance genre has seen an upheaval that has led to an amazing swell of diverse stories, from non-white or queer main characters to subplots that feature serious topics . 

All to say: there's a lot of competition, and what makes Emily Henry's work stand out is the writing itself. She is a fantastic writer with a clear voice, who easily weaves together relatable characters, heartfelt stories, and tender quotes . 

 I keep buying Henry's books for the same reason I rewatch "The Proposal" or "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" whenever I want to be comforted by a feel-good, deeply entertaining story.

The bottom line

Though "Book Lovers" follows a pretty quintessential romance novel plot, it's still a really good book. It's the perfect kind of story that allows readers to get lost for a few hundred pages and forget about real-world stressors, and I'd recommend it to any reader searching for the perfect beach read .

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IndieBound Bestseller

BOOK LOVERS

by Emily Henry ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 3, 2022

A heartfelt and hilarious read about books, sisters, and writing your own love story.

A cutthroat literary agent finds herself stuck in a small town with the grumpy editor she despises.

Nora Stephens knows she isn’t anything like the heroines in small-town love stories. She’s not sweet or unassuming, and she definitely doesn’t own a Christmas tree farm or a quaint B&B. With her Peloton obsession, high-powered job at a literary agency, and expensive shoes, she’s the villainous girlfriend who gets dumped when the hero realizes he really wants to leave New York City and embrace the simple life in a small town. But Nora has no interest in slowing down—she embraces the hustle of her life, enjoying the city and spending her time either negotiating for her clients or helping her pregnant sister, Libby. When Libby suggests they take a girls’ trip to Sunshine Falls, a picture-perfect North Carolina town, Nora agrees. Trying to make her sister happy, Nora throws herself into Libby’s checklist of classic small-town experiences. But there’s one brooding, annoying wrench in her plans: editor Charlie Lastra. He and Nora met years before when he brusquely rejected one of her books, and now he’s here in Sunshine Falls for some reason, terrorizing her by having the nerve to be both good-looking and funny. As Nora and Charlie get to know each other, she learns that there may be more to him than she suspected. But Nora’s also concerned about her relationship with Libby—they’ve been close all their lives, but now something seems off. Can Nora get her happily-ever-after even if she doesn’t want to ride off into the small-town sunset with a lumberjack? As in People We Meet on Vacation (2021), Henry creates a warm, sparkling romance brimming with laugh-out-loud banter, lovable characters, and tons of sexual tension. High-maintenance, high-strung Nora shows that uptight, goal-oriented women deserve romance, too, and Charlie is a perfect grumpy hero with a secret soft side. What’s more, Henry never falls into the easy trap of vilifying either small towns or big cities, allowing her characters the room to follow their dreams, wherever they lead. And while the romance between Nora and Charlie is swoonworthy and steam-filled, it’s Nora’s relationship with Libby that really brings the tears.

Pub Date: May 3, 2022

ISBN: 978-0-593-44087-2

Page Count: 384

Publisher: Berkley

Review Posted Online: Feb. 4, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022

ROMANCE | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE | GENERAL ROMANCE

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HAPPY PLACE

BOOK REVIEW

by Emily Henry

PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION

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SEEN & HEARD

FANGIRL DOWN

FANGIRL DOWN

by Tessa Bailey ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 13, 2024

This golf romance is a winner.

A professional golfer trying to make a comeback hires his biggest fan to be his caddy.

Despondent and demoralized at his terrible season, professional golfer Wells Whitaker decides to quit the pro circuit. He’s already been dumped by his mentor, his sponsors, and his agent—why not throw in the towel himself? The only person left on his side is Josephine Doyle, his most devoted fan, a woman so dedicated to his career that she’s given herself the moniker “Wells’s Belle.” Josephine has been following the golfer’s career for years, and she can’t help but feel betrayed when he abandons the game. After a hurricane destroys her family’s Palm Beach pro shop, Josephine is surprised to find Wells at her door. He’s had a change of heart and is determined to give himself one last chance on the pro circuit. Wells has secured a spot at an upcoming tournament in San Antonio and wants Josephine to be his caddy. She can’t say no. The money she earns will allow her to rebuild the shop and afford health insurance, which is crucial for managing her diabetes. Once they’re at the tournament, their obvious camaraderie and their chemistry make them the target of gossip and speculation in the press. Wells feels intensely possessive and protective of Josephine while still respecting her autonomy, and Josephine learns that her faith in him was not misplaced. Although several of the initial plot pieces feel manufactured, the emotional connection between Josephine and Wells is vibrant and alive. They fit together perfectly, with each growing and benefiting from their professional and romantic partnership. Bailey delivers her trademark high-heat, spicy romance, but it’s the emotional connection between Wells and Josephine that makes the book a winner.

Pub Date: Feb. 13, 2024

ISBN: 9780063308367

Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2023

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WRECK THE HALLS

by Tessa Bailey

UNFORTUNATELY YOURS

New York Times Bestseller

IT ENDS WITH US

by Colleen Hoover ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 2, 2016

Packed with riveting drama and painful truths, this book powerfully illustrates the devastation of abuse—and the strength of...

Hoover’s ( November 9 , 2015, etc.) latest tackles the difficult subject of domestic violence with romantic tenderness and emotional heft.

At first glance, the couple is edgy but cute: Lily Bloom runs a flower shop for people who hate flowers; Ryle Kincaid is a surgeon who says he never wants to get married or have kids. They meet on a rooftop in Boston on the night Ryle loses a patient and Lily attends her abusive father’s funeral. The provocative opening takes a dark turn when Lily receives a warning about Ryle’s intentions from his sister, who becomes Lily’s employee and close friend. Lily swears she’ll never end up in another abusive home, but when Ryle starts to show all the same warning signs that her mother ignored, Lily learns just how hard it is to say goodbye. When Ryle is not in the throes of a jealous rage, his redeeming qualities return, and Lily can justify his behavior: “I think we needed what happened on the stairwell to happen so that I would know his past and we’d be able to work on it together,” she tells herself. Lily marries Ryle hoping the good will outweigh the bad, and the mother-daughter dynamics evolve beautifully as Lily reflects on her childhood with fresh eyes. Diary entries fancifully addressed to TV host Ellen DeGeneres serve as flashbacks to Lily’s teenage years, when she met her first love, Atlas Corrigan, a homeless boy she found squatting in a neighbor’s house. When Atlas turns up in Boston, now a successful chef, he begs Lily to leave Ryle. Despite the better option right in front of her, an unexpected complication forces Lily to cut ties with Atlas, confront Ryle, and try to end the cycle of abuse before it’s too late. The relationships are portrayed with compassion and honesty, and the author’s note at the end that explains Hoover’s personal connection to the subject matter is a must-read.

Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-5011-1036-8

Page Count: 320

Publisher: Atria

Review Posted Online: May 30, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016

GENERAL ROMANCE | ROMANCE | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

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HEART BONES

by Colleen Hoover

IT STARTS WITH US

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#ReadWithMC Reviews 'Book Lovers'

"I can’t tell you how excited but also nervous I was that this would not live up to my expectations."

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Last summer, Emily Henry wrote the romcom so many of us packed away in our beach bags, tucked into our suitcases, and dog-earred by the pool. People We Meet on Vacation was a Number One New York Times best-seller in 2021, and it has racked up nearly half a million ratings on GoodReads. To say Henry's newest romcom was highly anticipated—and had huge shoes to fill—is an understatement. 

But Book Lovers , our May #ReadWithMC pick , met the high expectations of our readers. Each month, we gather up the reviews of our virtual book club members so anyone else looking for their next great read has a collection of recommendations. Our readers were split on the romance between the two main characters in Book Lovers —but everyone loved the relationship between the protagonist, an ambitious literary agent, and her sister. 

"I love that the relationship between the two sisters Nora and Libby also takes a main stage here, the story being about sisterly love, as well as romantic love," wrote @dessiereads. 

Here's what else #ReadWithMC readers had to say about Book Lovers :

"I can’t tell you how excited but also nervous I was that this would not live up to my expectations. I absolutely loved Beach Read and I just didn’t think anything could compare to it. I was wrong, I devoured this book and didn’t want it to end but I loved every minute of it!   I LOVE books about books! In this case the book editing process and what it is like to be a literary agent. I loved all the troupe references and the book references. Charlie and Nora are amazing characters. Nora is so relatable and not the typical MC which we normally get in romance books. Charlie and Nora’s playful banter was honestly just perfection. The chemistry and steam between these two was honestly everything. Charlie Lastra is added to the list of book boyfriends." 

— @readsbydani

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"I love Emily Henry with all of my heart. I sobbed reading this book. I will say, most of the things I loved about this book had to do with the main character Nora, and not as much with the romantic aspect. I did really enjoy the romance and I thought the chemistry and banter between Nora and Charlie was fun and cute. However, Nora's backstory and the struggles she faces in this book hit a little too close to home. I was a crying mess towards the end. Some of the details of her childhood and her current situation felt personally relatable to me, and it wrecked me. I loved this book so much. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 solely because I think that the romantic aspect wasn't as strong as in People We Meet on Vacation , but it is still such a lovely book. I highly recommend it."

—@jordanlamagna

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"Emily Henry never disappoints! Her books have always worked for me. You always get more out of the story than just the relationship between two people. You get the backstory of the characters, why they are the way they are, what makes them tick. You also get the exploration of some serious topics, like in this case, dealing with grief and trauma. And the banter in this book is really good! Emily Henry knows how to write humor in conversations without it being too contrived. I love that the relationship between the two sisters Nora and Libby also takes a main stage here, the story being about sisterly love, as well as romantic love. Even though if you ask me, I needed a bit more of Nora and Libby ticking off silly challenges from the checklist to enjoy more of their dynamic while doing care-free things. What is a book about book lovers without any book references? This one has plenty sprinkled here and there, which I loved. I mean, Charlie mentioning an Octavia Butler book that changed his life or Nora referencing 11/22/63 by Stephen King (my favorite book ever btw)—my heart did a lil happy dance. Overall, I really liked this book and highly recommend to anyone looking for a good romcom."

—@dessiereads

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"This was the first Emily Henry book I’ve read and omg I am obsessed! I started reading it online but I loved it so much I had to buy it in paperback along with Beach Read , so now I have all three of hers! 

I love all the characters in this book, especially Charlie Lastra. Nora Stephens is such an amazing and strong character; I love how she is portrayed. Being the eldest sibling, I felt really connected to Nora and it made me felt really seen. Small town romance is one of my favourite tropes, and this book made me love it even more. If I'm being honest, the romance wasn’t my favorite part and that’s simply just because I loved the plot so much. Definitely read this—it quite literally makes my top 3 books I've read this year!"

—@judecqrdan

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"Victoria’s thoughts: OBSESSED! If a perfect book existed, it would be this one. This book is officially my new comfort read. Book Lovers had me feeling all the emotions. I laughed so hard, I swooned, I cried. Honestly, the love story in this book made my heart so happy and full, because there really is that perfect person that exists for everyone out there, ya know?

Emily Henry is the definition of an auto-buy author for me.

August’s thoughts: I absolutely loved this book. Emily Henry can do no wrong (easily one of my fav authors). I hate when her books end. I really enjoyed the character development, and the witty dialogue gets me every time. The ending felt like the final piece of puzzle snapping into place. This was just a very satisfying read, and I highly recommend it."

—@allthebookishvibes

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Book Lovers (Review, Synopsis & Summary)

By emily henry.

Book review and synopsis for Book Lovers by Emily Henry, a will-they-or-won't-they romance between a cutthroat literary agent and brooding book editor.

In Book Lovers , Nora Stephens is a workaholic, cutthroat literary agent living in New York who is dragged into a monthlong trip to the picturesque small town of Sunshine Falls, North Carolina by her younger sister. Nora is very familiar with all the tropes about small town transformations and rom-coms featuring protagonists giving it all up for a simpler life, but Nora likes her life and job in New York.

But when Nora runs into Charlie Lastra -- a handsome, no-nonsense book editor she knows from New York -- in Sunshine Falls, she finds herself questioning many aspects of her life and realizing that she doesn't know where this story is headed...

(The Detailed Plot Summary is also available, below)

Detailed Plot Summary

Nora Stephens is a cutthroat literary agent in New York whose younger sister, Libby, convinces her to spend the entirety of August on a vacation to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina. Nora and Libby were raised by a single mother, who passed away when Libby was in high school. Nora has spent her whole adulthood making sacrifices for Libby's sake to help provide for Libby.

Sunshine Falls turns out to be the hometown of Charlie Lastra, a handsome book editor that she knows, who happens to be in town. He's also running the local bookstore, which his parents own, in order to help them out.

Together, Nora and Charlie end up editing a book written by one of Nora's clients, Dusty Fielding, while they're there. As they work together, Charlie helps Nora to be considered for an editor position, which is the job Nora originally wanted to pursue in publishing. Nora and Charlie fall for each other, but it turns out the Charlie is planning on staying in Sunshine Falls to help out with his family since his father is in poor health. Nora thinks a long-distance relationship would be too hard.

Meanwhile, Libby reveals to Nora that she's actually planning on moving to Sunshine Falls, and the trip was initially meant to try to convince Nora to move there as well. However, Libby ends up encouraging Nora to pursue her dreams of being a book editor in New York instead, not wanting Nora to make any more sacrifices for her.

The trip ends and Nora returns to New York. However, a few months later Charlie reveals that Libby has offered to take over running the bookstore and his father is doing better. He moves to New York and the book ends with him about to propose to Nora.

For more detail, see the full Section-by-Section Summary .

If this summary was useful to you, please consider supporting this site by leaving a tip ( $2 , $3 , or $5 ) or joining the Patreon !

Book Review

Book Lovers is Emily Henry’s newest bookish summer beach read, and it delivers on everything it promises to be. Summery, romantic, fun, and with endearingly bookish characters — there’s a lot to like about Henry’s latest release.

Our protagonist, Nora, describes herself as the type of woman that decidedly does not get the guy in romantic comedies — a steely-eyed, bleached blonde, workaholic literary agent who’s referred to as a “Shark” by others in the industry. Thanks to her younger sister Libby, she gets talked into taking a month-long trip to the small town of Sunshine Falls, North Carolina. There, she repeatedly has run-ins with Charlie Lastra, a book editor she knows from New York, who is also in town. As their chemistry starts to grow, Nora gets a taste of small town romance and begins to question various aspects of her life.

This book is easy to read and easy to recommend. It’s exactly what you’d expect from reading the description of it, and it doesn’t disappoint. I think the worst thing you could say about Book Lovers is that it is somewhat of a safe and unchallenging story, but I imagine if you’re looking for a cheery rom-com type story, that’s probably not a deal-breaker for you.

Read it or Skip it?

If you’re looking for a fun, summer read with book-loving characters in it, Book Lovers is a pretty sure bet. I had a good time reading it, and it was the perfect fit for getting into those summer vibes.

See Book Lovers on Amazon.

Book Lovers Audiobook Review

Narrator : Julia Whelan Length : 11 hours 23 minutes

Hear a sample of the Book Lovers audiobook on Libro.fm.

Book Excerpt

Read the first pages of Book Lovers

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In Book Lovers , A by-the-book literary agent must decide if happily ever after is worth changing her whole life for.

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.

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I loved this book! Big Emily Henry fan. Ps your blog is one of my favourites and I check it often :-) thanks for the incredibly thorough summaries!!!

Loved it! And love your blog as well, I kind of miss it!

What is the smut scale like in this book?

there’s a decent amount of fairly explicit scenes

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Review: ‘Book Lovers’ is a romance fueled by quick banter

This cover image released by Berkley shows "Book Lovers" by Emily Henry. (Berkley via AP)

This cover image released by Berkley shows “Book Lovers” by Emily Henry. (Berkley via AP)

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NEW YORK (AP) — “Book Lovers” by Emily Henry (Berkley)

If Emily Henry makes herself laugh at the character’s dialogue in her own books, it’s understandable. She is a master at witty repartee.

In her latest novel, “Book Lovers,” Henry introduces Nora Stephens and Charlie Lafra. Nora is a literary agent and Charlie is a book editor. The two meet once about a prospective book Charlie could edit and both make a poor impression. Minutes prior, Nora was dumped by her boyfriend over the phone. She arrives late and Charlie is grumpy. He’s also not a fan of the book that Nora is pitching, calling it “unreadable.” The two debate the book and go their separate ways. Is this the last of Nora and Charlie? Of course not, but you have to read to find out what happens next.

“Book Lovers” isn’t just a romantic love story but also a love story about two sisters, Nora and her younger sister, Libby, whom she puts before all else. Their mother died years prior and Nora has felt over-protective of Libby ever since, and wants to solve all her problems (to Libby’s annoyance). When a very pregnant Libby declares she wants to get away for a few weeks and visit Sunshine Falls, North Carolina, a quaint small town she’s read about, Nora naturally says yes.

Just about every Hallmark movie — and plenty of romance novels — feature a protagonist from a big city who find themselves in a small town where they learn about themselves, what they want in life, and of course, find love. While “Book Lovers” has that scenario, it also deconstructs it. Nora is unapologetic about working hard and not wanting children of her own. She’s not looking to change her ways or her lifestyle.

The only confusing thing about Henry’s books isn’t really about Henry’s writing at all, but about Hollywood. Why hasn’t anyone snapped up one of her stories for an adaptation? Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy made nine films together, fueled by their chemistry and banter. It’s a safe bet that viewers would enjoy seeing Henry’s characters come to life on screen.

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Book Lovers

By emily henry, by emily henry read by julia whelan, category: women's fiction | contemporary romance, category: women's fiction | contemporary romance | audiobooks.

May 03, 2022 | ISBN 9780593334836 | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 --> | ISBN 9780593334836 --> Buy

May 03, 2022 | ISBN 9780593440872 | 6 x 9 --> | ISBN 9780593440872 --> Buy

May 03, 2022 | ISBN 9780593334843 | ISBN 9780593334843 --> Buy

May 03, 2022 | 684 Minutes | ISBN 9780593553770 --> Buy

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Book Lovers by Emily Henry

May 03, 2022 | ISBN 9780593334836

May 03, 2022 | ISBN 9780593440872

May 03, 2022 | ISBN 9780593334843

May 03, 2022 | ISBN 9780593553770

684 Minutes

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About Book Lovers

“One of my favorite authors.”—Colleen Hoover 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.

Listen to a sample from Book Lovers

Also by emily henry.

Funny Story

About Emily Henry

Emily Henry is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of People We Meet on Vacation and Beach Read. She studied creative writing at Hope College, and now spends most of her time in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the part of Kentucky… More about Emily Henry

Product Details

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[ Book Lovers ] is multilayered and the characters’ familial challenges are complex. By both playing to and overtly subverting romance tropes and archetypes like the high-powered big city woman who neglects her family and the life-affirming power of small-town life, this novel delivers an insightful comedic meditation on love, family and going your own way.”— NPR “If Emily Henry makes herself laugh at the character’s dialogue in her own books, it’s understandable. She is a master at witty repartee….It’s a safe bet that viewers would enjoy seeing Henry’s characters come to life on screen.” —Associated Press “It is humanly impossible for Emily Henry to write a bad book. Her particular blend of grief and messy relationships is a heady cocktail of intoxicating yearning…Whatever Henry decides to spear, be it literary posturing or vacation rom-com, she subverts her subjects in the most delicious ways.” —Entertainment Weekly “ Book Lovers is a treat from start to finish, flipping the conventional small-town love story trope on its head…This enemies-to-lovers novel is a quick and satisfying binge-read.” — USA Today “One of my favorite authors.” — Colleen Hoover , #1 New York Times bestselling author “ Book Lovers is a rom-com lover’s dream of a book. It is razor-sharp and modern, featuring a fierce heroine who does not apologize for her ambition and heartfelt discussions of grief. Readers know that Emily Henry never fails to deliver great banter and a romance to swoon over but this may just be her best yet. A breath of fresh air.”  — Taylor Jenkins Reid , New York Times bestselling author of Malibu Rising “I would follow Emily Henry anywhere. A small town, a literary enterprise, a bookstore to rescue, and sex in moonlit streams? Yes, please! Book Lovers is sexy, funny, and smart. Another perfectly satisfying read from the unstoppable Emily Henry.”  — Emma Straub , New York Times bestselling author of All Adults Here “Emily Henry’s books are a gift, the perfect balance between steamy and sweet. The prose is effortless, the characters charming. The only downside is reaching the end.”  — V.E. Schwab , New York Times bestselling author The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue “Charming, earnest, and clever, Book Lovers is Schitt’s Creek for book nerds. A total delight for anyone who’s ever secretly rooted for the career girl in a Hallmark movie. Nobody does it quite like Emily Henry.”   — Casey McQuiston , New York Times bestselling author of One Last Stop “You KNOW I love a book—and a writer—when I bust out my trusty ballpoint and absolutely maul the pages…and that’s exactly what I just did to the divine Emily Henry. I could not devour Book Lovers fast enough. Emily Henry is pure delight. I’m utterly enchanted by her wry, self-aware sense of humor, the relish that she brings to every cleverly crafted sentence, and her irrepressible love for love.” — Katherine Center, New York Times bestselling author of Things You Save in a Fire and How to Walk Away “Emily Henry writes romantic comedy with such sass and humour, she has that gift for making you laugh and cry within the space of a few sentences. Not to mention the sizzling chemistry! Her characters fizz like good champagne, they leap off the page and into your heart.” — Josie Silver, New York Times bestselling author of One Night on the Island “Magical, delightful, and utterly one of a kind: Emily Henry’s writing is a gift to the world. I’ve loved every single one of her books more than the previous, to the point that I cannot wait to see what her next title will do to me!” — Ali Hazelwood , New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis “ Book Lovers is the perfect title for this utterly romantic read featuring two book industry insiders with crackling chemistry. Heartfelt, funny, and full of joy, Emily Henry’s latest is packed with surprising twists and turns that keep you rooting for Nora and Charlie, every step of the way. (Also, three cheers for Nora’s super-relatable bangs journey!)” —Tia Williams, New York Times bestselling author of Seven Days in June “When I read an Emily Henry novel I always feel a particularly undignified kind of jealousy, because I wish I’d written it. Book Lovers is no different: I loved every page, every line. It’s so smart, so funny and so sexy. Nora and Charlie have sizzling chemistry—they even make discussing a contract hot. Readers are going to fall head over heels for these two.” — Beth O’Leary, International bestselling author of The No-Show “[P]erfect-for-summer rom com.” —Parade “Brimming with swoon-worthy moments, hilarious banter, and lovable characters…” — Women’s World “[A] fun and flirty romance” — Cosmo “Book Lovers uses classic romance tropes with purpose and intention, offering readers a satisfying romance unto itself, while also reflecting on why romance novels are so enticing to begin with…a smart, charming and dazzling book.” —Shelf Awareness

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Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

reviews book lovers

Book Lovers by Emily Henry is full of humor, heart and plenty of sass.

There’s something about the warmer, summer months that make me want to read more rom-coms. Prior to Book Lovers , I’ve been in a book funk. I’ve read many heavy topics this year and while those stories are so impactful, the intense and just plain sad subject matter is tough at times.

So it’s good to bring a rom-com into the mix to lighten things up a bit. Now that doesn’t mean these stories don’t have depth because they do and quite often, they also cover heavy topics but the mix with the lighter and the romance really helps balance some of those more intense scenes.

Emily Henry is one of my favorite romance writers. I really enjoyed her previous novels Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation . But I think Book Lovers is my favorite of hers. I loved the different perspective on the small town setting, the romance is done well and the protagonist’s family dynamic was compelling and interesting.

What’s the Story About

If you’ve watched Hallmark Christmas movies, you know there is often times some type of villain-lite significant other. This is the person who lives in the city and is aghast that their partner is having the time of their lives in the small town and could think of staying instead of shutting down the toy business, etc. Usually, they’re dressed well and very direct. And that character never gets the happy ending.

Emily Henry decided to turn the narrative around and focus Book Lovers on that type of character and wonder if there is much more than meets the eye. What’s behind their strong career aspirations and their success at all costs mentality? Why do they seem cold and somewhat detached?

That’s where our main character, Nora Stephens comes in. She’s a successful and cutthroat literary agent who is never without her phone and ignores the word vacation. The only time she truly softens is when it comes to her beloved little sister, Libby. And Libby, pregnant with her third child, is in need of a break.

Libby convinces Nora to take a vacation with her to the town of Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August. And as Libby is a lover of those Hallmark movies and romance novels, she puts together a list for Nora to achieve during this month—including a romance with a local and saving a small business, which Nora is not about any of that.

And to make matters more complex, Nora keeps running 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.

However, the two develop a bond and the ice begins to thaw a bit, which makes Nora question what she really wants out of life.

Small Town Life

I really enjoyed how Emily Henry approached the small town obsession in the novel. She painted a reality—several storefronts closed but also pinpointed the unique characteristics that make those towns special. And even Nora can’t resist some of the charms, although part of her is always thinking about the city and work.

Prior to this trip, several of Nora’s exes have broke up with her in the Hallmark movie-type scenario—meaning they left her for a small town woman. So Emily explores what that does to the person who is broken up with. In Nora’s case, it just continues to close her off.

Until she meets Charlie. He’s not about the small town life at all and feels stuck and out of place. But there are deeper reasons for his discomfort and I thought that was an interesting part of the novel as well.

The Romance

These books make-or-break on the romance and I quite liked it in this novel! The sexual tension starts at the moment they meet, even if they are not fans of each other at first. And that continues to grow as their relationship deepens. They make sense together but also the reasons keeping them apart are realistic too.

Yes, there is steam. So if you’re a fan of it, there’s definitely a couple scenes in there for you! If that’s not your preference, it’s not overwhelming—I think it has the right amount for this type of book. You typically know what you’re getting with these novels so it shouldn’t be too much of a shock but I always want to give a heads up just in case.

I think out of all the Emily Henry romances, this is the strongest one both in terms of chemistry and also the fact that their struggles make sense. Again, I sometimes feel the obstacles are a bit reaching but not in the case.

I see why Book Lovers is already so popular! It’s fresh, modern and just flat-out entertaining. An ideal novel to read during the summer. For book clubs, check out my discussion questions here .

StarTribune

Review: 'book lovers,' by emily henry.

Hallmark meets Harlequin in "Book Lovers," a fun, witty (and occasionally quite steamy) rom-com of a novel by Emily Henry, the author of "People We Meet on Vacation" and "Beach Read."

Platinum blonde "shark" Nora Stephens has a demanding career as a literary agent in her native Manhattan, and a beloved younger sister, Libby, who is a married mother of two. Four times, Nora has lived through the "small-town love story," in which she's dumped when her boyfriend decides to leave the big city (and her) for a sweet gal in the hinterlands.

She meets handsome, scowling, black-clad editor Charlie Lastra at a business lunch to pitch her client Dusty's novel "Once in a Lifetime." He doesn't like Nora, or the book, saying the setting is unrealistic, but at another publisher "Once in a Lifetime" becomes a huge hit.

Two years later, pregnant Libby asks Nora to take a long vacation to the book's bucolic setting, Sunshine Falls, N.C. While lovely, it isn't quite like the novel's depiction. Libby makes a list of 12 things for Nora to do, including go on at least two dates with locals, skinny-dip and save a local business. While trying to entertain her exhausted sister and deal with frequent communication from neurotic Dusty about her latest novel, Nora keeps running into the scowling Charlie, who's actually from Sunshine Falls.

Henry offers an enjoyable and often humorous read, with sparkling dialogue, poignant back stories for the characters and enough twists to keep things interesting. Even if, like Nora, readers have a pretty good guess how a book is going to end, they'll likely be charmed along the way.

Marci Schmitt is a Star Tribune editor.

Book Lovers

By: Emily Henry.

Publisher: Berkley, 384 pages, $27.

Marci Schmitt is an editor on the Audience team who curates startribune.com and newsletters including Evening Update, Sunday Best and Floored. She's a Wisconsin native and graduate of the University of Minnesota. 

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Submitting a book for review, write the editor, you are here:, book lovers.

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When books are your life—­or in my case, your job— ­you get pretty good at guessing where a story is going. The tropes, the archetypes, the common plot twists all start to organize themselves into a catalogue inside your brain, divided by category and genre.

The husband is the killer.

The nerd gets a makeover, and without her glasses, she’s smoking hot.

The guy gets the girl—­or the other girl does.

Someone explains a complicated scientific concept, and someone else says, “Um, in English, please?”

The details may change from book to book, but there’s nothing truly new under the sun.

Take, for example, the small-­town love story.

The kind where a cynical hotshot from New York or Los Angeles gets shipped off to Smalltown, USA—­to, like, run a family-­owned Christmas tree farm out of business to make room for a soulless corporation.

But while said City Person is in town, things don’t go to plan. Because, of course, the Christmas tree farm—­or bakery, or whatever the hero’s been sent to destroy—­is owned and operated by someone ridiculously attractive and suitably available for wooing.

Back in the city, the lead has a romantic partner. Someone ruthless who encourages him to do what he’s set out to do and ruin some lives in exchange for that big promotion. He fields calls from her, during which she interrupts him, barking heartless advice from the seat of her Peloton bike.

You can tell she’s evil because her hair is an unnatural blond, slicked back à la Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct, and also, she hates Christmas decorations.

As the hero spends more time with the charming baker/seamstress/tree farm . . . person, things change for him. He learns the true meaning of life!

He returns home, transformed by the love of a good woman. There he asks his ice-­queen girlfriend to take a walk with him. She gapes, says something like, In these Manolos?

It will be fun, he tells her. On the walk, he might ask her to look up at the stars.

She snaps, You know I can’t look up right now! I just got Botox!

And then he realizes: he can’t go back to his old life. He doesn’t want to! He ends his cold, unsatisfying relationship and proposes to his new sweetheart. (Who needs dating?)

At this point, you find yourself screaming at the book, You don’t even know her! What’s her middle name, bitch? From across the room, your sister, Libby, hushes you, throws popcorn at your head without lifting her gaze from her own crinkly-­covered library book.

And that’s why I’m running late to this lunch meeting.

Because that’s my life. The trope that governs my days. The archetype over which my details are superimposed.

I’m the city person. Not the one who meets the hot farmer. The other one.

The uptight, manicured literary agent, reading manuscripts from atop her Peloton while a serene beach scene screen saver drifts, unnoticed, across her computer screen.

I’m the one who gets dumped.

I’ve read this story, and lived it, enough to know it’s happening again right now, as I’m weaving through late-­afternoon foot traffic in Midtown, my phone clutched to my ear.

He hasn’t said it yet, but the hairs on the back of my neck are rising, the pit opening in my stomach as he maneuvers the conversation toward a cartoon-­style drop off a cliff.

Grant was only supposed to be in Texas for two weeks, just long enough to help close a deal between his company and the boutique hotel they were trying to acquire outside San Antonio. Having already experienced two post–­work trip breakups, I reacted to the news of his trip as if he’d announced he’d joined the navy and was shipping out in the morning.

Libby tried to convince me I was overreacting, but I wasn’t surprised when Grant missed our nightly phone call three times in a row, or when he cut two others short. I knew how this ended.

And then, three days ago, hours before his return flight, it happened.

A force majeure intervened to keep him in San Antonio longer than planned. His appendix burst.

Theoretically, I could’ve booked a flight right then, met him at the hospital. But I was in the middle of a huge sale and needed to be glued to my phone with stable Wi-­Fi access. My client was counting on me. This was a life-­changing chance for her. And besides, Grant pointed out that an appendectomy was a routine procedure. His exact words were “no big deal.”

So I stayed, and deep down, I knew I was releasing Grant to the small-­town-­romance-­novel gods to do with what they do best.

Now, three days later, as I’m practically sprinting to lunch in my Good Luck heels, my knuckles white against my phone, the reverberation of the nail in my relationship’s coffin rattles through me in the form of Grant’s voice.

“Say that again.” I mean to say it as a question. It comes out as an order.

Grant sighs. “I’m not coming back, Nora. Things have changed for me this past week.” He chuckles. “I’ve changed.”

A thud goes through my cold, city-­person heart. “Is she a baker?” I ask.

He’s silent for a beat. “What?”

“Is she a baker?” I say, like that’s a perfectly reasonable first question to ask when your boyfriend dumps you over the phone. “The woman you’re leaving me for.”

After a brief silence, he gives in: “She’s the daughter of the couple who own the hotel. They’ve decided not to sell. I’m going to stay on, help them run it.”

I can’t help it: I laugh. That’s always been my reaction to bad news. It’s probably how I won the role of Evil Villainess in my own life, but what else am I supposed to do? Melt into a crying puddle on this packed sidewalk? What good would that do?

I stop outside the restaurant and gently knead at my eyes. “So, to be clear,” I say, “you’re giving up your amazing job, your amazing apartment, and me, and you’re moving to Texas. To be with someone whose career can best be described as the daughter of the couple who own the hotel?”

“There’s more important things in life than money and a fancy career, Nora,” he spits.

I laugh again. “I can’t tell if you think you’re being serious.”

Grant is the son of a billionaire hotel mogul. “Raised with a silver spoon” doesn’t even begin to cover it. He probably had gold-­leaf toilet paper.

For Grant, college was a formality. Internships were a formality. Hell, wearing pants was a formality! He got his job through sheer nepotism.

Which is precisely what makes his last comment so rich, both figuratively and literally.

I must say this last part aloud, because he demands, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

I peer through the window of the restaurant, then check the time on my phone. I’m late—­I’m never late. Not the first impression I was aiming for.

“Grant, you’re a thirty-­four-­year-­old heir. For most of us, our jobs are tied directly to our ability to eat.”

“See?” he says. “This is the kind of worldview I’m done with. You can be so cold sometimes, Nora. Chastity and I want to—­”

It’s not intentional—­I’m not trying to be cutting—­when I cackle out her name. It’s just that, when hilariously bad things happen, I leave my body. I watch them happen from outside myself and think, Really? This is what the universe has chosen to do? A bit on the nose, isn’t it?

In this case, it’s chosen to guide my boyfriend into the arms of a woman named after the ability to keep a hymen intact. I mean, it is funny.

He huffs on the other end of the line. “These people are good people, Nora. They’re salt of the earth. That’s the kind of person I want to be. Look, Nora, don’t act upset—­”

“Who’s acting?”

“You’ve never needed me—­”

“Of course I don’t!” I’ve worked hard to build a life that’s my own, that no one else could pull a plug on to send me swirling down a cosmic drain.

“You’ve never even stayed over at my place—­” he says.

“My mattress is objectively better!” I researched it for nine and a half months before buying it. Of course, that’s also pretty much how I date, and still, I end up here.

“—­so don’t pretend you’re heartbroken,” Grant says. “I’m not sure you’re even capable of being heartbroken.”

Again, I have to laugh.

Because on this, he’s wrong. It’s just that once you’ve had your heart truly shattered, a phone call like this is nothing. A heart-­twinge, maybe a murmur. Certainly not a break.

Grant’s on a roll now: “I’ve never even seen you cry.”

You’re welcome, I consider saying. How many times had Mom told us, laughing through her tears, that her latest beau had told her she was too emotional?

That’s the thing about women. There’s no good way to be one. Wear your emotions on your sleeve and you’re hysterical. Keep them tucked away where your boyfriend doesn’t have to tend to them and you’re a heartless bitch.

“I’ve got to go, Grant,” I say.

“Of course you do,” he replies.

Apparently my following through with prior commitments is just more proof that I am a frigid, evil robot who sleeps in a bed of hundred-­dollar bills and raw diamonds. (If only.)

I hang up without a goodbye and tuck myself beneath the restaurant’s awning. As I take a steadying breath, I wait to see if the tears will come. They don’t. They never do. I’m okay with that.

I have a job to do, and unlike Grant, I’m going to do it, for myself and everyone else at Nguyen Literary Agency.

I smooth my hair, square my shoulders, and head inside, the blast of air-­conditioning scrubbing goose bumps over my arms.

It’s late in the day for lunch, so the crowd is thin, and I spot Charlie Lastra near the back, dressed in all black like publishing’s own metropolitan vampire.

We’ve never met in person, but I double-­checked the Publishers Weekly announcement about his promotion to executive editor at Wharton House Books and committed his photograph to memory: the stern, dark brows; the light brown eyes; the slight crease in his chin beneath his full lips. He has the kind of dark mole on one cheek that, if he were a woman, would definitely be considered a beauty mark.

He can’t be much past his midthirties, with the kind of face you might describe as boyish, if not for how tired he looks and the gray that thoroughly peppers his black hair.

Also, he’s scowling. Or pouting. His mouth is pouting. His forehead is scowling. Powling.

He glances at his watch.

Not a good sign. Right before I left the office, my boss, Amy, warned me Charlie is famously testy, but I wasn’t worried. I’m always punctual.

Except when I’m getting dumped over the phone. Then I’m six and a half minutes late, apparently.

“Hi!” I stick out my hand to shake his as I approach. “Nora Stephens. So nice to meet you in person, finally.”

He stands, his chair scraping over the floor. His black clothes, dark features, and general demeanor have the approximate effect on the room of a black hole, sucking all the light out of it and swallowing it entirely.

Most people wear black as a form of lazy professionalism, but he makes it look like a capital-­c Choice, the pairing of his relaxed merino sweater, trousers, and brogues giving him the air of a celebrity caught on the street by a paparazzo. I catch myself calculating how many American dollars he’s wearing. Libby calls it my “disturbing middle-­class party trick,” but really it’s just that I love pretty things and often online window-­shop to self-­soothe after a stressful day.

I’d put Charlie’s outfit at somewhere between eight hundred and a thousand. Right in the range of mine, frankly, though everything I’m wearing except my shoes was purchased secondhand.

He examines my outstretched hand for two long seconds before shaking it. “You’re late.” He sits without bothering to meet my gaze.

Is there anything worse than a man who thinks he’s above the laws of the social contract just because he was born with a decent face and a fat wallet? Grant has burned through my daily tolerance for self-­important asshats. Still, I have to play this game, for my authors’ sakes.

“I know,” I say, beaming apologetically but not actually apologizing. “Thank you for waiting for me. My train got stopped on the tracks. You know how it is.”

His eyes lift to mine. They look darker now, so dark I’m not sure there are irises around those pupils. His expression says he does not know how it is, re: trains stopping on the tracks for reasons both grisly and mundane.

Probably, he doesn’t take the subway.

Probably, he goes everywhere in a shiny black limo, or a Gothic carriage pulled by a team of Clydesdales.

I shuck off my blazer (herringbone, Isabel Marant) and take the seat across from him. “Have you ordered?”

“No,” he says. Nothing else.

My hopes sink lower.

We’d scheduled this get-­to-­know-­you lunch weeks ago. But last Friday, I’d sent him a new manuscript from one of my oldest clients, Dusty Fielding. Now I’m second-­guessing whether I could subject one of my authors to this man.

I pick up my menu. “They have a goat cheese salad that’s phenomenal.”

Charlie closes his menu and regards me. “Before we go any further,” he says, thick black brows furrowing, his voice low and innately hoarse, “I should just tell you, I found Fielding’s new book unreadable.”

My jaw drops. I’m not sure what to say. For one thing, I hadn’t planned on bringing the book up. If Charlie wanted to reject it, he could’ve just done so in an email. And without using the word unreadable.

But even aside from that, any decent person would at least wait until there was some bread on the table before throwing out insults.

I close my own menu and fold my hands on the table. “I think it’s her best yet.”

Dusty’s already published three others, each of them fantastic, though none sold well. Her last publisher wasn’t willing to take another chance on her, so she’s back in the water, looking for a new home for her next novel.

And okay, maybe it’s not my favorite of hers, but it has immense commercial appeal. With the right editor, I know what this book can be.

Charlie sits back, the heavy, discerning quality of his gaze sending a shock wave through me. It feels like he’s looking right through me, past the shiny politeness to the jagged edges underneath. His look says, Wipe that frozen smile off your face. You’re not that nice.

He turns his water glass in place. “Her best is The Glory of Small Things,” he says, like three seconds of eye contact was enough to read my innermost thoughts and he knows he’s speaking for both of us.

Frankly, Glory was one of my favorite books in the last decade, but that doesn’t make this one chopped liver.

I say, “This book is every bit as good. It’s just different—­less subdued, maybe, but that gives it a cinematic edge.”

“Less subdued?” Charlie squints. At least the golden brown has seeped back into his eyes so I feel less like they’re going to burn holes in me. “That’s like saying Charles Manson was a lifestyle guru. It might be true, but it’s hardly the point. This book feels like someone watched that Sarah McLachlan commercial for animal cruelty prevention and thought, But what if all the puppies died on camera?”

An irritable laugh lurches out of me. “Fine. It’s not your cup of tea. But maybe it would be helpful,” I fume, “if you told me what you liked about the book. Then I know what to send you in the future.”

Liar, my brain says. You’re not sending him more books.

Liar, Charlie’s unsettling, owlish eyes say. You’re not sending him more books.

This lunch—­this potential working relationship—­is dead in the water.

Charlie doesn’t want to work with me, and I don’t want to work with him, but I guess he hasn’t entirely abandoned the social contract, because he considers my question.

“It’s overly sentimental for my taste,” he says eventually. “And the cast is caricatured—­”

“Quirky,” I disagree. “We could scale them back, but it’s a large cast—­their quirks help distinguish them.”

“And the setting—­”

“What’s wrong with the setting?” The setting in Once in a Lifetime sells the whole book. “Sunshine Falls is charming.”

reviews book lovers

Book Lovers by by Emily Henry

  • Genres: Comedy , Fiction , Humor , Romance , Women's Fiction
  • paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Berkley
  • ISBN-10: 0593334833
  • ISBN-13: 9780593334836
  • About the Book
  • Discussion Questions
  • Reading Guide (PDF)

reviews book lovers

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COMMENTS

  1. Book Lovers by Emily Henry

    Book Lovers Emily Henry 4.15 1,004,299 ratings114,982 reviews Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Best Romance (2022) 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.

  2. Review: 'Book Lovers,' Emily Henry : NPR

    'The No-Show' is an adventure in romantic storytelling To start, both of its leads are ride-or-die New York City devotees. Nora Stephens, the heroine and narrator of Book Lovers, is the kind of...

  3. 'Book Lovers' by Emily Henry Review: the Beach Read of the Summer

    1. "Book Lovers" amusingly leans into all the stereotypical small-town romance tropes. In "Book Lovers," Nora is a literary agent whose love life has always taken a back burner to her...

  4. BOOK LOVERS

    BOOK LOVERS | Kirkus Reviews 322 Reviews ROMANCE shop now bookshelf Awards & Accolades Likes 196 Our Verdict GET IT Kirkus Reviews' Best Books Of 2022 IndieBound Bestseller BOOK LOVERS by Emily Henry ‧RELEASE DATE: May 3, 2022 A heartfelt and hilarious read about books, sisters, and writing your own love story. bookshelf shop now Awards & Accolades

  5. Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

    "I love Emily Henry with all of my heart. I sobbed reading this book. I will say, most of the things I loved about this book had to do with the main character Nora, and not as much with the...

  6. Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Book Lovers

    68,508 total ratings, 2,119 with reviews From the United States SB Mama A Five-Star Delight for Book Lovers Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2023 Verified Purchase Book Lovers by Emily Henry is an absolute gem that beautifully encapsulates the pure joy and magic of falling in love with books.

  7. Review: 'Book Lovers' by Emily Henry

    May 06, 2022 Book Lovers By Emily Henry Review by Amanda Diehl A delightful romance that both dismantles and celebrates the "career woman" archetype, Book Lovers cements Emily Henry's status as one of the best rom-com writers around.

  8. Summary and Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

    By Emily Henry Synopsis | Detailed Plot Summary | Book Review | Excerpt | Buy It Book review and synopsis for Book Lovers by Emily Henry, a will-they-or-won't-they romance between a cutthroat literary agent and brooding book editor. Synopsis

  9. Review: 'Book Lovers' is a romance fueled by quick banter

    In her latest novel, "Book Lovers," Henry introduces Nora Stephens and Charlie Lafra. Nora is a literary agent and Charlie is a book editor. The two meet once about a prospective book Charlie could edit and both make a poor impression. Minutes prior, Nora was dumped by her boyfriend over the phone. She arrives late and Charlie is grumpy.

  10. REVIEW: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

    Book Lovers is my favourite type of romantic comedy — smart, self-aware, hilarious and bursting with love. Emily Henry is a master of the genre, and manages to both gently mock and unapologetically celebrate what makes romance so great, and what keeps readers coming back again and again. Romance lovers, add this one to your TBR immediately!

  11. Book Lovers [Book Review]

    Book Lovers [Book Review] June 3, 2022 Book Lovers by Emily Henry Genre/Categories: Contemporary Women's Fiction, Romance, RomCom, Rural/Small Town North Carolina *This post contains Amazon affiliate links. My Summary: Nora (in a nod to Nora Ephron) is a competitive and aggressive literary agent and loves the big city.

  12. Book Lovers: Henry, Emily: 9780593334836: Amazon.com: Books

    Emily Henry. Emily Henry is the #1 New York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Happy Place, Book Lovers, People We Meet on Vacation, and Beach Read. She studied creative writing at Hope College, and now spends most of her time in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the part of Kentucky just beneath it. Find her on Instagram @EmilyHenryWrites.

  13. Book Review: 'Book Lovers' by Emily Henry

    Book Review: 'Book Lovers' by Emily Henry Book Reviews Romance May 17 Image Credit: Quinn Keaney Emily Henry, the patron saint of top-tier book boyfriends, has done it again, my friends: Book Lovers really is that good. I mean, 'sobbing-as-I-finish-it-at-2-AM-and-immediately-wake-up-my-husband-to-tell-him-how-good-it-was,' good.

  14. Book Lovers

    "One of my favorite authors."—Colleen Hoover 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!

  15. Book Lovers Review: Emily Henry's Charming Meta Romance for Hallmark Cynics

    Paste Magazine is your source for the best music, movies, TV, comedy, videogames, books, comics, craft beer, politics and more. Discover your favorite albums and films.

  16. Book Marks reviews of Book Lovers by Emily Henry

    Read Full Review >>. Positive Norah Piehl, Bookreporter. Emily Henry, whose first two books were absolutely wonderful fresh takes on the romantic comedy genre, continues her stellar track record here. There's so much to enjoy in this novel --- from the fantastically rich relationship between the two sisters, to the verbal barbs (and ...

  17. Book Lovers by Emily Henry: 9780593440872

    About Book Lovers "One of my favorite authors."—Colleen Hoover 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 ...

  18. Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

    Books Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry By Heather Caliendo Published: May 22, 2022 Book Lovers by Emily Henry is full of humor, heart and plenty of sass. There's something about the warmer, summer months that make me want to read more rom-coms. Prior to Book Lovers, I've been in a book funk.

  19. Book Lovers

    Book Lovers Emily Henry Penguin, May 3, 2022 - Fiction - 400 pages "One of my favorite authors."—Colleen Hoover An insightful, delightful, instant #1 New York Times bestseller from the author...

  20. Review: 'Book Lovers,' by Emily Henry

    Books in brief. "Book Lovers" by Emily Henry, Berkley, 384 pages, $27. Romance novels are rarely surprising.

  21. Review: 'Book Lovers,' by Emily Henry

    Book Lovers. By: Emily Henry. Publisher: Berkley, 384 pages, $27. Marci Schmitt is an editor on the Audience team who curates startribune.com and newsletters including Evening Update, Sunday Best ...

  22. Book Lovers by Emily Henry

    Book Lovers. by by Emily Henry. Genres: Comedy, Fiction, Humor, Romance, Women's Fiction. paperback: 400 pages. Publisher: Berkley. ISBN-10: 0593334833. ISBN-13: 9780593334836. Nora Stephens, a cutthroat literary agent, agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when her little sister, Libby, begs her for a sisters ...

  23. Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

    Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry Nathalie DeFelice · Books · October 7, 2022 · 4 min read Share Release Date May 3, 2022 Rating 10 / 10 Buy From Amazon Book Depository When I found myself in a reading slump this summer, I walked into a bookstore and picked this book off the shelf.

  24. A Secret for my Bossy Billionaire: An Enemies to Lovers Romance

    Read 2 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. I was paid to break the heart of a grumpy billionaire. ... An Enemies to Lovers Romance. ... I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. february-2024. Like. Comment. Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews. Join the discussion. Add.