In Book Lovers by Emily Henry, Nora Stephens is a New Yorker, through and through. She is as devoted to her 
city as she is to her career as a literary agent–and to her younger sister Libby. Which is why, when Libby claims she needs to get away and the only place that will do is teensy town Sunshine Falls, North Carolina, Nora begrudgingly agrees to the vacation. She knows something is going on in her sister’s life that she’s not sharing, so this should be the perfect opportunity to figure it out.
“Would you like to have dinner with me, Nora?” He heads off my response with, “As colleagues. Ones who can’t fulfill each other’s checklists.”
“I wasn’t aware you had a checklist,” I say.
“Of course I have a checklist.” His eyes glint in the dark. “What am I, an animal?”
With her to-do checklists (yes, multiple) in place and a plan to not only keep on top of her work, but time scheduled in to relax as well, Nora is ready to go. Or so she thinks, until she and Libby arrive in Sunshine Falls. While lacking in reliable wi-fi and restaurants, the town holds a certain appeal even to her. But Nora finds herself face to face with a colleague from NYC, Charlie Lastra. Let’s just say they’ve never gotten along well. Maybe it’s the small town vibe or the fact that she’s on vacation, but somehow Nora’s view of Charlie changes drastically–to the point that she has new found respect for him. And while he doesn’t necessarily check off all the boxes on her list for a potential boyfriend, Nora might end up scrapping that list to listen to her instincts for the first time in years.
He tips my jaw up, whispers almost against my lips. “If anyone can negotiate a happy ending, it’s Nora Stephens.”
Emily Henry made me laugh as well as swoon repeatedly with her latest knockout novel, Book Lovers. Delicious enemies-to-lovers, small town vs. big city, family drama–this had the tropes we love all in one memorable place.
“She said I have no life.”
“Nora.” He just barely smiles. “You’re in books. Of course you don’t have a life. None of us do. There’s always something too good to read.”
I’m honestly not sure what I loved more about Book Lovers. The stunning relationship that grew between Nora and Charlie after starting off on the wrong foot? Nora’s awesome sister Libby and their comical, heartfelt conversations? How this is about multiple characters who live and breathe books–with the added bonus of snippets from Nora’s long-time client Dusty’s newest novel? Nora’s love-letter-type-thoughts on New York City which made me want to book a trip there asap? Or the beautiful and utterly charming town of Sunshine Falls itself? Yep. All of it added up to a stellar story that captured my heart from the start.
I had my doubts at first that Nora “The Shark” would be able to relax and enjoy her vacation with her sister. But what fun it was to watch as pieces of her protective walls crumbled, while she found her niche in the town that was the polar opposite of NYC. It felt genuine, the changes that slowly took place for Nora. As did the way she fell for her colleague Charlie. They were so similarly matched in their careers and devotion to their family that it was easy to see why they would butt heads at first. But I think Charlie brought out the best parts of Nora and vice versa. It was sexy. It was sweet. And it seemed written in the stars. Although their incredible sigh-worthy HEA took some doing.
The dialogue Emily Henry created for *all* of the characters was fast-paced, hilarious and witty, and fit the scenes. Some of my favorite back-and-forths were between Nora and Libby. It seemed real and showcased their differing personalities to a T. It also revealed the thin cracks that marred Libby and Nora’s strong sisterly bond. Something that was patched up during their time together, thankfully, but in a way that didn’t seem forced. They still had some healing to do after past trauma, some words to get off their chests and out of their heads, and Sunshine Falls was the right place to do so.
QOTD: This was told from Nora’s POV but had several threads to the story: Libby, Charlie, and Sunshine Falls residents. Do you think it enhances a story or makes it too complicated when it has multiple parts to the storyline?
Book Info:
Publication: Expected publication: May 3rd 2022 | Berkley |
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.
