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saiw's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
This is my first foray into Emily Henry's work, and I can truly see what the hype is all about. Loved it! Both Nora and Charlie were very well developed, and Henry did a great job of revealing character details gradually but not in a "plot twisty" way so you feel you're getting to know them like you would with a new friend.
It was fun how the characters knew about the romance novel tropes and played into some but subverted others. It kept me on my toes how Nora might find her happy ending, and I really enjoyed the way it turned out.
It was fun how the characters knew about the romance novel tropes and played into some but subverted others. It kept me on my toes how Nora might find her happy ending, and I really enjoyed the way it turned out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Medical content, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
ohtoasty's review against another edition
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? Yes
4.0
I am consistently a sucker for enemies to lovers, so I knew I was going to like this book from the jump because that is it's entire premise. I don't usually read heterosexual enemies to lovers though, so this book had a higher bar than most to keep my interest and wow me. It didn't disappoint, there are things that could have been better, but the writing was an upgrade for what I normally read. I like Henry's use of one point of view, I think that adds a lot more uncertainity because we only know how one character is feeling for the entire time. I found the ending satifsying, although a little bit slow to a really obvious solution.
Nora is our main character here, and you read everything from her perspective. She is smart, driven, witty and we get it, she likes the city. I was very convinced of that early on, and mentioning it as a plot point to ensure she would never leave the city occasionally is fine, but it was definitely shoved down the readers throat more than it needed to be. I am glad it did not end with Nora wanting to leave the city and completely abandon her values, that would have been frustrating, so we avoided that one nicely done. I like that overall Nora doesn't change too much about her personality. She grows quite a bit in terms of letting room for others around her to care about her, instead of trying to be a one woman show for everyone she cares about. She finally goes for her dream job and doesn't do the safe thing once in her life, this was very good growth I really enjoyed reading. Her as a main character was satisfying enough. She tries not to mess with Libby's life and choices too much, letting her find her way, even though she is incredibly worried. She still tries to make things happen for Libby more than she needs to though, which at times is frustrating, she figures it out though.
Libby as a sister was an important character, I wish we got more conversations from her overall. The reveal at the end of the book was really surprising about her move. I did not catch on to that at all and everything clicking in and making sense at the end was nice. I like being surprised in the book. I was convinced alongside Nora that maybe she was divorcing her husband, I was really confused about all the personal time she demanded, and happy to have everything make sense in the end. I understood her frustrating about Nora worrying all the time, so not wanting to tell Nora everything for her to worry. But a big health issue for someone who is pregnant that then needs to be on a specific diet is an absolutely wild and unbelievable thing for Libby to do. I understand all characters have flaws, but that one felt too far. We didn't really hear enough from Libby consistently for me to be convinced of that. I liked Libby's ending overall, choosing something different for her family and having to make that tough choice.
Charlie was interesting enough. I'm glad we didn't get his perspective throughout the book, it was really clear how he felt for Nora and I don't think I could have taken more pages of him pining for her but not being able to have her in that kind of way. It was sweet that he was trying to step in for his parents, struggling that he wasn't the kind of son they needed but still trying to be there for them. He was very patience with Nora in the will they won't they situations, but I think should have been more clear from the jump as to why he was interested but from a mental distance almost. I loved his banter, he was funny and I really saw the chemistry between the two of them and what they were both all about.
Overall very satisfied with the book, sans a few decisions here and there. Surprised overall how much I liked it.
Libby as a sister was an important character, I wish we got more conversations from her overall. The reveal at the end of the book was really surprising about her move. I did not catch on to that at all and everything clicking in and making sense at the end was nice. I like being surprised in the book. I was convinced alongside Nora that maybe she was divorcing her husband, I was really confused about all the personal time she demanded, and happy to have everything make sense in the end. I understood her frustrating about Nora worrying all the time, so not wanting to tell Nora everything for her to worry. But a big health issue for someone who is pregnant that then needs to be on a specific diet is an absolutely wild and unbelievable thing for Libby to do. I understand all characters have flaws, but that one felt too far. We didn't really hear enough from Libby consistently for me to be convinced of that. I liked Libby's ending overall, choosing something different for her family and having to make that tough choice.
Charlie was interesting enough. I'm glad we didn't get his perspective throughout the book, it was really clear how he felt for Nora and I don't think I could have taken more pages of him pining for her but not being able to have her in that kind of way. It was sweet that he was trying to step in for his parents, struggling that he wasn't the kind of son they needed but still trying to be there for them. He was very patience with Nora in the will they won't they situations, but I think should have been more clear from the jump as to why he was interested but from a mental distance almost. I loved his banter, he was funny and I really saw the chemistry between the two of them and what they were both all about.
Overall very satisfied with the book, sans a few decisions here and there. Surprised overall how much I liked it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Pregnancy
Minor: Death of parent
julells's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-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
5.0
The perfect book for a fun summer read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Medical content and Pregnancy
pikkumarja's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Oi, miten ihana kirja! Oon lukenut Henrylta aikaisemmin "Lomalla kaikki on toisin", joka ei ollut ihan oma juttuni, eikä romanttinen kirjallisuus yleensäkään ole, mutta tässä suurin osa jutuista meni oikein nappiin ja oikeasti nautin tästä kevyestä hömppäkirjasta, joka on taitavasti kirjoitettu.
Ehkä tällaisella kirjasomekielellä tämä kirja on rivals to lovers ja pikkukaupunkiromanssi. Tavallaan myös työpaikkaromanssi, vaikka tässä työpaikalla viittaan vaan kirjabisnesmaailmaan. Kemiaa päähenkilöiden välillä todella on ja välillä se saa potkimaan jalkoja.
Ja tietenkin ihana sisaruussuhde, josta tuli lisää syvyyttä kirjaan. Surun eri muodot ja toisesta huolehtiminen ovat sisarusjuonen kantavia teemoja.
Ehkä tällaisella kirjasomekielellä tämä kirja on rivals to lovers ja pikkukaupunkiromanssi. Tavallaan myös työpaikkaromanssi, vaikka tässä työpaikalla viittaan vaan kirjabisnesmaailmaan. Kemiaa päähenkilöiden välillä todella on ja välillä se saa potkimaan jalkoja.
Ja tietenkin ihana sisaruussuhde, josta tuli lisää syvyyttä kirjaan. Surun eri muodot ja toisesta huolehtiminen ovat sisarusjuonen kantavia teemoja.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy and Medical content
emadisonc's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
3.0
Sometimes, even when you start with the last page and you think you know everything, a book finds a way to surprise you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy
gracescanlon's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Review to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol and Pregnancy
Minor: Misogyny and Panic attacks/disorders
ananamauvais's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy and Medical content
kirstym25's review against another edition
funny
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy
lauraelovesbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.25
Reread in 2024. A wonderful book with all the wit and banter you can expect from an Emily Henry book!
Nora and Charlie were so great and I loved the bookish plot and small town setting. The excerpts of Frigid (the book within the book) were a nice touch and offered an interesting angle to Nora’s character growth.
I laughed out loud many times but especially at the prologue. It really nailed those big city/ small town romance books.
I also loved the family centeredness of the book (though I’ll admit Libby got on my nerves a bit, likely because we were seeing her only through Nora’s eyes, painting the picture of the quintessential little sister)
Book Lovers is in my top three Emily Henry books so far and I highly recommend it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Abandonment
Moderate: Pregnancy
missmarshey's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.75
I absolutely loved this book. I couldn’t put it down. I do have one niggle however, the blurb says Nora and Charlie are ‘work nemesis’. I would have to disagree, they had met each other once and came across badly to each other, then didn’t see each other again until the main part of the story… hardly a backstory/reason to be called each others nemesis. If I hadn’t read the blurb I would have said they weren’t particularly fond of each other. But the story itself was fantastic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual content