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kaziaroo's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.0
I think this book suffers from its own marketing. The blurb calls Charlie Nora's "work nemesis" but in reality their "rivalry" consisted of him saying he didn't like her client's book which later did well, and her muttering "I told you so" at his office door for three years.
The interesting part of the book was how the author took on the admirable task of exposing the misogyny inherent in the "city-slick ex-girlfriend" trope in small-town romance stories and exploring that character trope in its fullness. Unfortunately, the actual romance in Book Lovers was dull in its inevitability. Despite their so-called rivalry, Charlie and Nora get on like a house on fire every time they talk (even at that disastrous first lunch) and there was no "will they–won't they" so much as "when will they" the whole way through. I'm not even sure why Nora's colleagues even call her "the Shark" – she seems lovely to everyone (apart from Charlie) the whole way through, which kind of breaks that trope apart.
The last hundred pages were much more interesting as the real meat of the characters' troubles came to light, and we finally escaped the endless banter and descriptions of Nora's body reacting every time Charlie opens his mouth to speak. This book isn't really a romance; the story's main focus is Nora's relationship with her sister (whom I sadly found very annoying as a character, so it was hard to care about this relationship) and Nora's grief for her mother. Overall, it was an easy and relaxing read, and if you have the patience to get through the first half the second half is quite good.
If you can understand the US-centric culture references used to describe everything and want to read about two according-to-the-cover rivals sharing banter while the author bludgeons you with the sexual tension in case you missed it, this might be the book for you. Just, don't go in expecting a rivals-to-lovers romance and be prepared for family drama and grief.
The interesting part of the book was how the author took on the admirable task of exposing the misogyny inherent in the "city-slick ex-girlfriend" trope in small-town romance stories and exploring that character trope in its fullness. Unfortunately, the actual romance in Book Lovers was dull in its inevitability. Despite their so-called rivalry, Charlie and Nora get on like a house on fire every time they talk (even at that disastrous first lunch) and there was no "will they–won't they" so much as "when will they" the whole way through. I'm not even sure why Nora's colleagues even call her "the Shark" – she seems lovely to everyone (apart from Charlie) the whole way through, which kind of breaks that trope apart.
The last hundred pages were much more interesting as the real meat of the characters' troubles came to light, and we finally escaped the endless banter and descriptions of Nora's body reacting every time Charlie opens his mouth to speak. This book isn't really a romance; the story's main focus is Nora's relationship with her sister (whom I sadly found very annoying as a character, so it was hard to care about this relationship) and Nora's grief for her mother. Overall, it was an easy and relaxing read, and if you have the patience to get through the first half the second half is quite good.
If you can understand the US-centric culture references used to describe everything and want to read about two according-to-the-cover rivals sharing banter while the author bludgeons you with the sexual tension in case you missed it, this might be the book for you. Just, don't go in expecting a rivals-to-lovers romance and be prepared for family drama and grief.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit, Miscarriage, and Drug use
alina5556's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Sexual content, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment and Bullying
Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
noceur's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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: Grief, Pregnancy, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Vomit
lily_kruse's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Cursing and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy and Vomit
theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
This book had me laughing right out of the gate. Emily Henry is a talented author who makes me smile and cry while falling in love with her characters. I adored the back and forth banter between the protagonist and her nemesis. I was also drawn to the focus on the big sister = caretaker. It was a witty and lovable book from start to finish.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit
bethanycrowepowell's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit
jackieyvette's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Maybe I’m not the person to rate this book since I’m VERY picky about contemporary romance, but this book was not what everyone made it out to be. For it to be recommended to me numerous times I thought I was going to be reading a modern day Wuthering Heights or Emma, but no. Maybe it was over-hyped by friends and booktok, but I found that this book fell way flat. I think the main character and the love interest were unlikeable. For a couple we’re supposed to root for from their first meet I couldn’t help but wish they never saw each other again. They had no chemistry and felt very forced. I also think the reasoning for the main character to be so broken over a past relationship that she felt unable to love again was going to end up with this crazy story but it fell so flat it’s somewhere circling the Earth’s core.
Also, the ‘spicy’ aspect of this book was about as spicy as a slice of wonder bread. I could get better spice reading free content on ArchiveOfOurOwn.
Crying Score: Maybe when hell freezes over.
Also, the ‘spicy’ aspect of this book was about as spicy as a slice of wonder bread. I could get better spice reading free content on ArchiveOfOurOwn.
Crying Score: Maybe when hell freezes over.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Grief, Vomit, Cursing, and Sexual content
avkay3's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
5.0
I really enjoyed the book. I found that it met a lot of criteria‘s and I really it was thought was really funny. It’s the first Emily Henry book I read I really enjoyed it.
This book is considered a grumpy x grump but at the same time I almost feel like they’re just a little bit misunderstood but they’re not actually grumpy but they’re just job focused but like their actual personalities are just a little bit misunderstood. They’re definite sunshine though, but they’re more like a realistic modern day grump and less like a typical boktok grump (like the mafia type). I felt like They had definitely had their key morally Grey or grumpy moment but it was very like modernize it didn’t seem so far fetch which I really liked
I would say this is more like a Frenemies to lovers than the actual enemies. Overall I really like the book I thought it was really funny and I thought it was like really intriguing. It was a little different from what I normally read. I also didn’t have the highest expectations going into it so I really intrigued when I got sucked in by the prologue.
the book in anyway self-aware. I never really cringe while reading. anytime they did cheesy they were really aware of it and they would almost talk about it because they were literally agent read books for living and talked about tropes and so when it would happen in my life she was very open about it. it add another level to the joke.
It’s very strong sister bond the book is about the older sister. We do a lot about the younger sister as well. for both of them families is talk about.
(Later on)
Ended up changing it to five star because it’s a book and I liked it and I think a lot of other people with you
And the fact that I even took the time to write a review which I never do I feel like proof that I really did like the book I really enjoyed it
I thought about rewriting this review so many different ways.
This book is considered a grumpy x grump but at the same time I almost feel like they’re just a little bit misunderstood but they’re not actually grumpy but they’re just job focused but like their actual personalities are just a little bit misunderstood. They’re definite sunshine though, but they’re more like a realistic modern day grump and less like a typical boktok grump (like the mafia type). I felt like They had definitely had their key morally Grey or grumpy moment but it was very like modernize it didn’t seem so far fetch which I really liked
I would say this is more like a Frenemies to lovers than the actual enemies. Overall I really like the book I thought it was really funny and I thought it was like really intriguing. It was a little different from what I normally read. I also didn’t have the highest expectations going into it so I really intrigued when I got sucked in by the prologue.
the book in anyway self-aware. I never really cringe while reading. anytime they did cheesy they were really aware of it and they would almost talk about it because they were literally agent read books for living and talked about tropes and so when it would happen in my life she was very open about it. it add another level to the joke.
It’s very strong sister bond the book is about the older sister. We do a lot about the younger sister as well. for both of them families is talk about.
(Later on)
Ended up changing it to five star because it’s a book and I liked it and I think a lot of other people with you
And the fact that I even took the time to write a review which I never do I feel like proof that I really did like the book I really enjoyed it
I thought about rewriting this review so many different ways.
Content Warnings
Minor: Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Death of parent, and Alcohol
bryelle's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
I loved this book. It made me ugly cry. I love that we get to see realistic problems of people, such as having to grow up too fast. I love the sister relationship between Nora and Libby. Also everyone has such funny banter.
This book is about a book publisher who works hard. She finally takes some time off with her sister and tries to check things off a list of to-dos her sister created. She bumps into her enemy from years ago who denied a book she was pitching for edit. Since it’s a small town they bump into each other quite a lot.
This book is about a book publisher who works hard. She finally takes some time off with her sister and tries to check things off a list of to-dos her sister created. She bumps into her enemy from years ago who denied a book she was pitching for edit. Since it’s a small town they bump into each other quite a lot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, Medical content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Vomit
hannahbailey's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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
When I tell you I cried MULTIPLE times?? At a romcom?? Goddamn
Knocked half a star off bc:
- didn’t get good vibes in the first 20%, MC seemed really annoying
- MC and love interest call each other by their surnames which i absolutely HATE in any book
- MC’s sister calls her “sissy”
Love love loved:
- the MC is TALL 🤩 not had the privilege of reading a tall MC since The Flatshare TWO years ago
- references to book tropes
- references to other books (Wuthering Heights especially)
- the small town setting (absolute sucker for it)
- their jobs in the publishing industry, super fun!
- subversion of “career woman” stereotype, really refreshing and energising to see a female character find happiness somewhere other than marriage and babies / giving up what she loves
Knocked half a star off bc:
- didn’t get good vibes in the first 20%, MC seemed really annoying
- MC and love interest call each other by their surnames which i absolutely HATE in any book
- MC’s sister calls her “sissy”
Love love loved:
- the MC is TALL 🤩 not had the privilege of reading a tall MC since The Flatshare TWO years ago
- references to book tropes
- references to other books (Wuthering Heights especially)
- the small town setting (absolute sucker for it)
- their jobs in the publishing industry, super fun!
- subversion of “career woman” stereotype, really refreshing and energising to see a female character find happiness somewhere other than marriage and babies / giving up what she loves
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Vomit