Book Lovers by Emily Henry

This book has gotten some delightful reviews and there is a good reason why. Henry has created a book that I think regular romance readers and newbies alike can enjoy. The book touches on so many of them and then upends them in a way that feels right for these characters.

The book opens with first person narrator, Nora Stephens, book agent, opining on the types of romantic tropes. She herself has been a part of no fewer than four instances where a big city-type goes away to the country and falls for some woman there, leaving behind theuptight ex in New York. Unfortunately, Nora is the uptight ex. But she is good at her job so why would she need to change? Especially when one of her clients is just about to hit the best seller lists. No matter what editor Charlie Lastra says about the book.

After that book does turn into a mega-hit, Nora's sister, Libby, asks Nora to go to the small town outside of Asheville where the book was based. Libby is pregnant with her third child and just wants to get away. For an entire month. Nora makes the arrangements to telework for that time and heads out. She and her sister, usually so in sync, have been out of a good rhythm lately and maybe this is a way to solve it. While there, Libby insists that they create a list of things to do while they are there. Nora reluctantly agrees because, really, most of the things on that list are things that only Nora can do. Like go out on at least two dates. What makes it even worse is that somehow, the town that the book was based on, is Charlie Lastra's home town. And he's back there, working in his parent's bookstore (apparently the only place in town with working Wi-Fi). He's all smolder-y and handsome and gets Nora's snarky sense of humor. He even admires that she's a shark. 

Of course, there are a few miscommunications that derail the Happy Ending but it does all work out. And even if I would've liked getting to know Charlie just a little better, this was a fabulous read and I look forward to more books from this author.

Five stars

This book came out May 3, 2022

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own