A review by kaitisbooknook
Book Lovers by Emily Henry

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

5.0

Nora, a literary agent from NYC nicknamed “The Shark” by her peers, finds herself in small-town Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for a month because her younger sister Libby (the one person she never says no to) has insisted they need a vacation. Libby has concocted a checklist for them to complete while in town, heavily inspired by small town romantic comedies. However, the checklist is in danger of being thrown off by none other than Charlie Lastra, a professional rival of Nora’s from the city who also happens to be in the very same small town at the same time.
Book Lovers is a love letter to romantic comedies, specifically You’ve Got Mail from the queen of the rom com herself, Nora Ephron. Emily Henry writes all of the most beloved rom com tropes in a self-aware, almost meta way that is incredibly fresh and charming , giving the reader everything you crave from the genre while also having a light-hearted laugh about it. 
What sets Henry apart from other writers is that aside from the romance itself, both the protagonist and love interest have rich inner and outer lives. Nora is career-focused, an involved aunt, a loving sister trying to figure out how to be an older sister to another adult, and is also deeply grieving the loss of her mother and well as a past relationship. Charlie is also dealing with scars from a past partner, caring for a sick parent, trauma from being bullied as a child, and a career that is currently up in the air. Rather than being a blank slate for the protagonist to place her feelings into, he is just as developed and vital to the plot as she is. 
If you are a fan of Henry’s previous work or of rom coms from the ‘90s and early 2000’s, this is the perfect summer read. Prepare to feel all the feelings from absolutely giddy joy to running to grab a box of tissues. 
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