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marioosa517's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Cursing
Moderate: Medical content, Alcohol, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Minor: Excrement, Sexism, Misogyny, Drug use, and Vomit
kaziaroo's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I think this book suffers from its own marketing. The blurb calls Charlie Nora's "work nemesis" but in reality their "rivalry" consisted of him saying he didn't like her client's book which later did well, and her muttering "I told you so" at his office door for three years.
The interesting part of the book was how the author took on the admirable task of exposing the misogyny inherent in the "city-slick ex-girlfriend" trope in small-town romance stories and exploring that character trope in its fullness. Unfortunately, the actual romance in Book Lovers was dull in its inevitability. Despite their so-called rivalry, Charlie and Nora get on like a house on fire every time they talk (even at that disastrous first lunch) and there was no "will they–won't they" so much as "when will they" the whole way through. I'm not even sure why Nora's colleagues even call her "the Shark" – she seems lovely to everyone (apart from Charlie) the whole way through, which kind of breaks that trope apart.
The last hundred pages were much more interesting as the real meat of the characters' troubles came to light, and we finally escaped the endless banter and descriptions of Nora's body reacting every time Charlie opens his mouth to speak. This book isn't really a romance; the story's main focus is Nora's relationship with her sister (whom I sadly found very annoying as a character, so it was hard to care about this relationship) and Nora's grief for her mother. Overall, it was an easy and relaxing read, and if you have the patience to get through the first half the second half is quite good.
If you can understand the US-centric culture references used to describe everything and want to read about two according-to-the-cover rivals sharing banter while the author bludgeons you with the sexual tension in case you missed it, this might be the book for you. Just, don't go in expecting a rivals-to-lovers romance and be prepared for family drama and grief.
The interesting part of the book was how the author took on the admirable task of exposing the misogyny inherent in the "city-slick ex-girlfriend" trope in small-town romance stories and exploring that character trope in its fullness. Unfortunately, the actual romance in Book Lovers was dull in its inevitability. Despite their so-called rivalry, Charlie and Nora get on like a house on fire every time they talk (even at that disastrous first lunch) and there was no "will they–won't they" so much as "when will they" the whole way through. I'm not even sure why Nora's colleagues even call her "the Shark" – she seems lovely to everyone (apart from Charlie) the whole way through, which kind of breaks that trope apart.
The last hundred pages were much more interesting as the real meat of the characters' troubles came to light, and we finally escaped the endless banter and descriptions of Nora's body reacting every time Charlie opens his mouth to speak. This book isn't really a romance; the story's main focus is Nora's relationship with her sister (whom I sadly found very annoying as a character, so it was hard to care about this relationship) and Nora's grief for her mother. Overall, it was an easy and relaxing read, and if you have the patience to get through the first half the second half is quite good.
If you can understand the US-centric culture references used to describe everything and want to read about two according-to-the-cover rivals sharing banter while the author bludgeons you with the sexual tension in case you missed it, this might be the book for you. Just, don't go in expecting a rivals-to-lovers romance and be prepared for family drama and grief.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit, Miscarriage, and Drug use
alina5556's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Sexual content, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment and Bullying
Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
tiredtori's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Grief
Minor: Alcohol, Body shaming, Death of parent, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
bedtimesandbooks's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Abandonment
readwithkel's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I loved every page of this book. The character development felt so organic and true throughout.
(And it was just as good on the reread)
I am SO glad that this book took a twist on the small town romance trope. I loved that Nora’s ending felt so true to who she was. I can’t wait to reread this.
(And it was just as good on the reread)
I am SO glad that this book took a twist on the small town romance trope. I loved that Nora’s ending felt so true to who she was. I can’t wait to reread this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Minor: Alcohol and Drug use
kb_sherman's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Minor: Drug use and Vomit
lazybooklover's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I adored this book! It was emotional, funny, steamy, and heartwarming. I loved the main characters, and I'm sad that it's over. This is my favorite Emily Henry book so far! It's definitely on my re-read list!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol
whatjasread's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
this did have a rough start but let me tell you... once it got going it got GOING. I adored the characters in this so much. Do I wish there was more of the enemies to lovers? yes. Am I mad about how things actually ended up? not one bit. the relationship between sisters? phenomenal. and i just loved loved loved the ending. i knew it was happening but emily henry's writing is just so insanely beautiful that i couldn't help but feel so many emotions throughout it all. i love this book, i really do. whether i love it more than YAMOV or not, I don't currently know. but it gets 5 stars from me.
TWs: absent father, death of mother (before book), alcohol consumption, ref to recreational drug use, nightmares, anemia, hospitalisation, pregnancy
Tropes/rep/themes: light enemies to lovers, small town romance, found family
TWs: absent father, death of mother (before book), alcohol consumption, ref to recreational drug use, nightmares, anemia, hospitalisation, pregnancy
Tropes/rep/themes: light enemies to lovers, small town romance, found family
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Minor: Drug use and Abandonment
sirissacgluten's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Emily Henry has done it again!! Book Lovers is a sweet, funny, emotional romance about two people learning to prioritize themselves after years of self-sacrifice.
Nora, an intense, no-nonsense literary agent from NYC, finds herself in a sleepy small town in North Carolina with her beloved (and very pregnant) sister for a sibling getaway. While in the town’s sole coffee shop, she runs into Charlie, a successful, stern editor who left a lackluster impression on her back in the big city. Thrown together over her client’s latest manuscript, the two begin to thaw each other’s emotional walls as they discuss duty, grief, regret, belonging, and loneliness.
I genuinely laughed out loud multiple times throughout this; Emily Henry has a way of writing snappy dialogue that feels authentic rather than contrived, and the characters’ inside jokes include the reader, drawing us into their world right alongside them. The scene of place is also very strong, with the odes to New York particularly poignant. And the core romance is both simple and complicated, a testament to the realistic ties that bind and break us.
4.5/5: Another strong romance by Emily Henry with compelling characters, great writing, and an honest heart.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Nora, an intense, no-nonsense literary agent from NYC, finds herself in a sleepy small town in North Carolina with her beloved (and very pregnant) sister for a sibling getaway. While in the town’s sole coffee shop, she runs into Charlie, a successful, stern editor who left a lackluster impression on her back in the big city. Thrown together over her client’s latest manuscript, the two begin to thaw each other’s emotional walls as they discuss duty, grief, regret, belonging, and loneliness.
I genuinely laughed out loud multiple times throughout this; Emily Henry has a way of writing snappy dialogue that feels authentic rather than contrived, and the characters’ inside jokes include the reader, drawing us into their world right alongside them. The scene of place is also very strong, with the odes to New York particularly poignant. And the core romance is both simple and complicated, a testament to the realistic ties that bind and break us.
4.5/5: Another strong romance by Emily Henry with compelling characters, great writing, and an honest heart.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy
Minor: Drug use, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, and Vomit
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