Book Lovers by Emily Henry: Book Review

Emily Henry’s latest release, Book Lovers, is a great rom-com set in a small town in North Carolina over August. Released May 3, 2022, by Berkley, Book Lovers introduces readers to Nora Stevens, a tough-as-nails literary agent, and Charlie Lastra, a dedicated book editor. After a disastrous meeting, Nora declares Charlie to be her nemesis. So what could go wrong when they run into each other in a tiny North Carolina town?

Synopsis from Goodreads

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 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.

Positives

Sunshine Falls sounds like a wonderful place to visit, though I’d rather visit the mountains of North Carolina in the fall. Henry has written Sunshine Falls so it’s easy to picture the town.

This book is as much about Nora and Charlie as it is about Nora and Libby. I love seeing the sister relationship as it continues to grow and develop.

Negatives

This may be a bit of nit-picking, but the only issue I truly have with this book is that Libby’s nickname for Nora is Sissy. I get they are sisters and that Libby is the younger of the pair. But at their ages (late 20s-early 30s), that nickname is a little off-putting.

My Opinions

Book Lovers is the first Emily Henry book I’ve read, and I don’t think it will be the last! It is a quick and easy read that is perfect for reading while on vacation.

When Libby talks Nora into the trip to Sunshine Falls, she has a checklist of things they need to complete on this trip. These tasks are from Libby’s love of small-town romances and honestly made me laugh out loud when I read them. Why? Because the list is full of tropes from small-town romances. Items on the list include wearing flannel, sleeping under the stars, and saving a small family business.

Another part that made me laugh was some town business names. I will let you discover the wonderful and quirky names for yourself! Trust me; they will bring a smile to your face.

Do you like reading rom-coms? What about books with atypical heroines? You know the one I mean, the one who knows she isn’t “perfect” and is willing to sacrifice her happiness for those she loves. Do you enjoy reading books about people who love books? Then I think you will enjoy reading Book Lovers!

Looking for some more books to read? Check out my other book reviews and my monthly reading wrap-ups.