A review by ladywestfall
Book Lovers by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Maybe it’s possible to belong in a hundred different ways to a hundred different people and places.

First, I wanna say that this book is officially my first 5-star read after 4 fucking years and it deserves it. Second, why it took me so long to pick this up is beyond me. Honestly, Emily Henry is almost always a miss to me that's why this book has been on the back burner for me for so long. I was afraid to pick it up, read it and find it mid again but GODDAMN...

Something about this book has truly undone me. I just found myself going through all these emotions; happy, giggling, sobbing, then also just wanting to crawl inside this book and give these characters a big hug. Oh sure, people might say, the story is not too deep. But the way Emily Henry wrote this as a fun, romantic book but also being able to insert a relatable and complicated family dynamic with such character depth, it was fucking perfect for me. At first, I was just over the moon about the main characters' chemistry. Theirs was top-notch my favorite banters ever. It wasn't just the flirting, it was the way they were able to throw each other the same energy every time. The same smart mouth and wit. Even the most mundane conversations they have had me giggling on my feet. I don't think I have ever enjoyed reading so much conversation between two people this much and they talk ALOT which I absolutely love. They connected on a very personal level. And when people connect, the whole thing is just sparks flying, without them even trying.

Apart from that, there was so much layers to peel back to these characters and the story telling in Nora's voice was so engaging. Probably one of the best thing here is being able to experience Nora's growth throughout this book. Nora has always seen herself as the villain in the story, the woman who was always left behind for a sweet, village girl on a small-town romance and I thought that was such an interesting take. So often, people find strong women intimidating and Nora is smart and independent (also tall). All the things men shy away from. This actually makes her more human to me while I was reading this book and with that reason too, I found myself rooting for her. Also, I can't count how much I cried over Nora and Libby's relationship as sisters. They deserve every beautiful thing in the world. For so long, they've held each other up and I was so glad that they ended up getting everything they wanted. Lastly, my heart goes to Nora and Charlie. They're basically two faces on the same penny. People who've been trying to find their place. People who have held themselves together for so long, for their family, for other people, that they've forgotten to really live for themselves. And for everything that's been difficult in their lives, them together was the easiest thing they've ever had after so long. How much of a relief it is to have found that person who can really see you, even underneath all the bravado. They were able to find the kind of love and safe space they've been longing for all their life in each other. Like finally, they were where they belong. Nora and Charlie are the perfect representation of a twin-flame. They just understand each other like no one else does and that just makes me so emotional because we see these two people trying to fit in to these lives; Charlie going back to his hometown. The place he never felt welcomed in, and we grieve for that boy he once was, and him trying to be the man he thinks this town and his family needs and then we have Nora whose sole priority is to take care of her sister. Be whatever she needs. Making sure she's happy and be always by her side when in truth, Nora also just needs the security of her mom. Together they found solace in between these darkness. 

Can I also say Charlie Lastra is peak boyfriend-ism??? Like if I can't pull a Charlie in this lifetime then I'd rather not. I just love how Charlie has never pressured Nora about anything and is very supportive of her. He roots for her happiness. The way he's willing to make amends to make things work between them, but also making sure he's not holding her back. He wants her to achieve everything she wanted, even if that's a life away from him. He wants her to be able to finally live the way she wanted, to be able to finally breathe on her own, the way she had also helped him breathe. He sees her. She sees him. It was just so beautiful. To see them grow together, be better together, it was so heartwarming. Their dynamic is one of the best I've seen in all of romance books.

Everything about this book is actually perfect, maybe not for everyone, but for me. I can't think of anything I didn't like about it. The way the author tackled every complication, it was very realistic. She didn't just find an easy way out. Even the relationship of Nora and Charlie, the impossibility of them working out, I appreciated that she really brought it out there because yes, love is a magical thing but it's also not always the answer to everything. Because with love, also comes work, dreams, priorities and real life all tangled in one. It's not all black and white. There needs to be revisions and amends to be taken for things to work out and sometimes, you don't get to have everything you wanted. It's not always going to be just a happily ever after, sometimes an apt ending is also a good ending.

This book will live in me for so long. I hope to never forget it.