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rmcdermott27's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
3.75
irishinkandpages's review against another edition
5.0
Nora, a determined literary agent who identifies more with the villains in romance stories than the heroines, reluctantly agrees to spend the summer in a charming small town at her sister's insistence. The last person she expects to encounter is Charlie—the grumpy editor she's been avoiding since their disastrous first meeting. I absolutely loved this book; it had all the elements I look for in a romance, including the enemies-to-lovers trope and the witty exchanges between the main characters. With its contemporary vibe, it's a must-read for anyone who enjoys romantic comedies. Plus, its exploration of the book industry adds an extra layer of fascination.
tessanadinee's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kethiew's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
readbylauren's review against another edition
3.0
I reaaaalllllly wanted to love this book , I really did!
sunnylady303's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
princessrobotiv's review against another edition
3.0
3.5, lowered to the 3 side after consideration.
There's a lot to like about Book Lovers. This was my first Emily Henry, and one that I've often seen lauded as her best work (or somewhere up there).
I wasn't at all sure that I'd vibe with Henry's writing style, and I feel a bit mixed having finished. Henry's prose is quick, snappy, and it could be pretty at times, though the main draw is the banter and the dialogue in general, in my opinion. There were moments where we leaned too heavily into the melodrama, though. It happened frequently where Nora's feelings about Libby came into play, and while the whole dysfunctional Nora/Libby relationship DID get addressed in text, I still felt annoyed by the framing and tone until that happened.
I saw a Booktuber say that the text was aware of itself in a way that drew you out of the story, and I agree. The commentary of Nora being the "girl who gets left for the smalltown female lead" was a great, amusing hook, but again, we leaned into those tropes a bit too heavily and for way too long. I found myself really, really struggling through the middle section of the book for this and other reasons, and almost considered not finishing it.
Luckily, it picked up in the end. I was really glad the Libby situation was addressed, and I was especially pleased with the romantic arc. I love seeing two similar people who want similar things from life (or don't want similar things, like children) fall in love. The opposites attract dynamic has dominated romance for long enough!
Oh, and the spicy scenes...maybe I read too much straight-up erotica, but I was honestly taken aback by the vaguely "fade to black" nature of the sex scenes here. It's been a long time since I read any romance that danced around the terminology and action like this. It wasn't a deal breaker or anything, I'm just surprised.
Will I read more Emily Henry? Probably, but I'm not sure when or which ones.
There's a lot to like about Book Lovers. This was my first Emily Henry, and one that I've often seen lauded as her best work (or somewhere up there).
I wasn't at all sure that I'd vibe with Henry's writing style, and I feel a bit mixed having finished. Henry's prose is quick, snappy, and it could be pretty at times, though the main draw is the banter and the dialogue in general, in my opinion. There were moments where we leaned too heavily into the melodrama, though. It happened frequently where Nora's feelings about Libby came into play, and while the whole dysfunctional Nora/Libby relationship DID get addressed in text, I still felt annoyed by the framing and tone until that happened.
I saw a Booktuber say that the text was aware of itself in a way that drew you out of the story, and I agree. The commentary of Nora being the "girl who gets left for the smalltown female lead" was a great, amusing hook, but again, we leaned into those tropes a bit too heavily and for way too long. I found myself really, really struggling through the middle section of the book for this and other reasons, and almost considered not finishing it.
Luckily, it picked up in the end. I was really glad the Libby situation was addressed, and I was especially pleased with the romantic arc. I love seeing two similar people who want similar things from life (or don't want similar things, like children) fall in love. The opposites attract dynamic has dominated romance for long enough!
Oh, and the spicy scenes...maybe I read too much straight-up erotica, but I was honestly taken aback by the vaguely "fade to black" nature of the sex scenes here. It's been a long time since I read any romance that danced around the terminology and action like this. It wasn't a deal breaker or anything, I'm just surprised.
Will I read more Emily Henry? Probably, but I'm not sure when or which ones.
lisa_cakes2567'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? Yes
4.25
kirkcarp's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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