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A review by lkristin2018
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
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? No
4.0
Two sisters from NYC embark on a laid back vacation in small town North Carolina, with a list of experiences to try. After arriving, one of the sisters ends up in a romance with a man she had met briefly and not liked in NYC.
It was fun to watch all the rom com tropes being openly both mocked a bit, later work with the romance in the book. And the romance itself involved both consent and sexual safety, which I appreciated. The greatest strength of this book in my mind though, was the relationship of the sisters, and how their shared grief of their mother affected them differently. Losing their mother at ages 16 and 20, quite different stages of development, allowed the author to explore the effects of grief on each of them individually, as well as how it affected their relationship as sisters. The love, frustration, and then understanding brought a great deal of genuine emotion to what could have been a simple rom com.
It was fun to watch all the rom com tropes being openly both mocked a bit, later work with the romance in the book. And the romance itself involved both consent and sexual safety, which I appreciated. The greatest strength of this book in my mind though, was the relationship of the sisters, and how their shared grief of their mother affected them differently. Losing their mother at ages 16 and 20, quite different stages of development, allowed the author to explore the effects of grief on each of them individually, as well as how it affected their relationship as sisters. The love, frustration, and then understanding brought a great deal of genuine emotion to what could have been a simple rom com.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Minor: Ableism, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
The women’s grief for their mother is a big theme. The result of the grief gives the older sister panic and a sleep disorder, though never explicitly stated. Their is ableism is using suicidal comments as hyperbole for someone simply wanting better WiFi. (Ie, using suicidal expressions to convey minor annoyance) There was one reference to a suicide attempt, and one reference to suicidal thoughts/feelings.