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brianna_soto's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
not_another_ana's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
She wonders whether what comes next could ever live up to the expectations. She doesn’t know. You never can. She turns the page anyway.
Nora is the anti romcom protagonist. She's a cutthroat literary agent, dedicated to her career, loves wearing high heels, and would never ever leave New York City for the quiet of the countryside. But when her beloved, and very pregnant, little sister Libby invites her to a sibling getaway in the charming little town of Sunshine Falls, she can't say no, after all she would do anything for Libby even if her ideas of a good time include following a checklist of Hallmark movie clichés and trying to hook Nora up with local salt of the earth men. Not only is Nora not interested in any of this, she also keeps running into the familiar face of Charlie Lastra, book editor and someone she had a previous negative experience with back in NYC. But fate keeps bringing them together and maybe there's something there blooming between two unlikely romance protagonists.
I feel slightly bamboozled by this book, I started reading it thinking this was going to be more romance than anything else and was, thus, disappointed to find out that the core of the book is actually about family and trauma. Libby, the sister, seemed way more present than Charlie, the actual love interest, which I wouldn't mind if the book's summary and tags didn't make it seem like the plot was all about the romance. People keep saying how much they like Charlie, but I don't have a clear impression of him, not with everything else that was going on. It doesn't help that I don't particularly enjoy contemporary romance and had to hype myself up to read it only to find something entirely different than my expectations. Oh and in no way or shape was this an "enemies to lovers" which was also a let down. I expected more reasons for them to dislike each other (turns out it was one, ONE, slightly awkward meeting) and more development of their relationship. Instead, they immediately clicked and wanted to fuck.
I did like the writing, it was funny and had that freshness and lightness without being too much or crossing the line int cringe territory. There were some funny moments that had me laughing out loud. The chemistry between Charlie and Nora was electric, palpable, even if I didn't like the sex scenes. For a book called Book Lovers, it lacked books, would have been cool to see more of their work in that area, perhaps more of their lives in NYC as a contrast with the small town way of living to really show how unsuited they were to that environment.
The pacing could have used a little work, the ending stretched for too long. Some of the emotional bits didn't affect me, but the third act conflict made sense, wasn't a last minute thing, and didn't rely on some lame miscommunication between the leads which pleasantly surprised me.
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Grief
lara_trio's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
It definitely was that but also very heartfelt and spoke about slightly heavy topics in a really beautiful way.
It was super sweet and I really loved the ending.
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
eazurch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Death of parent
turidt's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit
sadhbhprice's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity
kristenreads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Pregnancy
livmoulick's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Grief and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual content and Alcohol
garlicbread247's review against another edition
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
farrahwho's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
maybe love shouldn't be built on a foundation of compromises, but maybe it can't exist without them either. not the kind that forces people into shapes they don't fit in, but the kind that loosens their grips, always leaves room to grow. compromises that say, there will always be a you-shaped space in my heart, and if your shape changes, i will adapt.
not a perfect book, but pretty damn close and my favorite emily henry romance to date. nora and charlie supremacy, baby!
and so the ranking goes: book lovers > beach read = happy place > funny story > PWMOV
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Pregnancy