Book Lovers by Emily Henry is a novel I’ve had on my to-read pile for a long time. I finally decided to give it a try, despite not being a huge fan of romance novels.
However, after a string of disappointing reads, I decided to give a new author a chance, someone who wasn’t overly hyped but still praised for their good writing and storytelling. While the engaging writing and superb storytelling in “Book Lovers” managed to hold my attention, overall, this book didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
Book Lover’s Blurb
One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn’t see coming…
Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.
Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.
If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.
Book Lovers Blurb
In Book Lovers, Emily Henry weaves a heartwarming story that goes beyond the typical boy-meets-girl romance. Nora, the protagonist, embarks on a journey that challenges her expectations and introduces her to a world of unexpected connections.
The opening of the book, which promised a unique perspective on the typical boy-meets-girl story, was quite intriguing. Also loved the spin on a meet cute, It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute. I appreciated that the narrative took a different approach. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with Nora, the main character, as much as I had hoped. Even Charlie, who I had high expectations for, didn’t quite live up to them.
Another aspect that caught me off guard was the small-town setting. The story unfolds in a small town, offering glimpses of its charming community and lively events, such as a captivating musical and intriguing town council meetings.
While the bits about the musical and the town council were enjoyable, I felt like there was untapped potential in exploring the intricacies of the small town.
Perhaps this is just a personal preference, as upon reflection, I realize there may have been more happening than I initially perceived. Those scenes where Nora was with someone who wasn’t Charlie I was like can we get on with the program, please?
Overall, Book Lovers was a pleasant read, but it didn’t live up to my initial expectations. Nevertheless, this being my first Emily Henry book, I am willing to give her other books a chance. While this particular story may not have suited my taste, I believe it had potential, and perhaps it simply wasn’t the right fit for me.
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