A review by emeejt
Book Lovers by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

  ⋆.˚ 4.5 stars! ⭐


“Maybe it’s possible to belong in a hundred different ways to a hundred different people and places.” 

i've finally finished the five Emily Henry novels i wanted to read (Beach Read, PWMOV, Book Lovers, Happy Place, Funny Story) and all i'm thinking is why did i put off this book for so long???

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⭒ likes:


- (not so) compromising: one thing that bugged me in People We Meet on Vacation was how Alex and Poppy had to
compromise big parts of themselves to be together.
was it sweet? sure. was it ideal? not really.
but here? both main characters love each other without losing themselves and their deep desires, and it is everything to me.

- two peas in a pod: this didn't follow the usual opposites attract trope. instead, it's about two similar people falling in love because they understand each other. and they're what the other needs in a romantic partner. i adore them can u tell

- storytelling: i love that the romance doesn't overshadow other important aspects of the story. everything shines, in a way; Charlie and Nora's relationship, Nora and Libby's relationship, Nora's relationship to her job, i could go on. it's really well balanced, in my opinion.

- the dialogue: for me, Book Lovers is EH's peak when it comes to dialogue. Charlie and Nora's banter? the way i was eating it up? my compliments to the chef, honestly. it felt so natural, funny, and full of chemisty!!! i'm living

- twisting tropes: taking the 'big city girl moves to a small town' trope and putting ur own cute lil twist on it? sign me UP.

- the ending: the epilogue was cute, yeah. but the library scene in the last chapter? i am screaming. i am crying. i am throwing up (in, like, the best way possible).


⭒ neutral points:

 
- i can fix it: it's not so much Nora's "i can fix it" mentality (though it was frustrating at times), but more so how helpless it made the people around her seem. i found myself disliking Dusty at some point in the book because of how much reassurance and help she needed, which i think came from my frustration at Nora's constant selflessness. (i ended up feeling fine about Dusty later in the book, though!).

 

⭒ dislikes:


- pacing: i felt the book a tad bit too long at times. the conflict between Nora and Libby could've been shorter. in general, the story felt dragged out at times, and i found myself a bit bored here and there.


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“Even if it hurts, when he shimmers across my mind, it’s like remembering a favorite book. One that left you gutted, sure, but also one that changed you forever.” 

i love Nora, i love Charlie, i love this book.

i finished the five books i wanted to read. i am a complete person now. and i dare to say, this might be my new favorite Emily Henry novel.


- mj 📖