Book Lovers
In Emily Henry’s Book Lovers, Nora, a literary agent, unexpectedly crosses paths with Charlie, the big city editor she previously met, when Nora and her sister Libby go on a small town summer vacation together. This book is filled with all the familiar small town romance tropes from the anti-heroine’s perspective, as a cynical and cutthroat Nora navigates her own Hallmark-movie-come-to-life with the last person that she saw herself doing it with.
In my mind, one narrative star can’t exist without the other, so I can’t pick a favorite character. Without the familiar banter between Nora and Charlie, the story loses half of its overall charm. The duo creates a balanced dynamic that offers laughs with your head thrown back and even tears you didn’t expect. The characters always feel genuine to me because Henry never fails to tie some real world emotions and even trauma into her narratives, which is always such a treat to explore and discover from beginning to end.
Though I’m familiar with the ins and outs of the rom-com style plotlines, the one thing that always keeps me guessing in Henry’s books is how the protagonist overcomes their emotional roadblocks, and how they end up with the obvious love interest. Charlie and Nora’s story and its resolution was surprising and heartwarming in ways I didn’t expect. I could say that this was one of the first books I’ve read by this author where I honestly had no clue how the overarching issue would be solved, and I was eagerly turning the pages until the very end.
I enjoyed the sister dynamic between Nora and Libby, and how ironically the events unfold as Nora spends her summer in a small town and all the small town tropes just sort of happen to her. I enjoy the usual banter between Nora and Charlie, and the emails about Bigfoot erotica they send back and forth throughout the story. Nora’s inability to sit in silence and her protectiveness over her sister are relatable human emotions, and Charlie’s guilt and sense of obligation to his family are respectable - albeit hindering - traits. I love that everything is a dare and a challenge between Charlie and Nora as they get to know each other, and one of my favorite parts is “history’s strangest and least productive argument” according to Nora (Henry, 107).
I love the witty and punny names of all the shops and restaurants in Sunshine Falls, and I also love the picture Nora paints of the magic that is living in New York, how everyone there is trying to make it as if they are part of a single organism, and how a stranger will hand you a tissue and not miss a step as they continue to walk by. I love the insufferable blind date Nora goes on, the bucket list Nora and Libby make for their small town vacation, as well as Libby’s selfless gift to Nora. As always, the romantic parts are highly anticipated and satisfying as the tension builds between Nora and Charlie, always leaving you wanting more.
One of my favorite quotes from Charlie is when he’s telling Nora about his childhood and he is consoling her:
“Just because not everyone gets you doesn’t mean you’re wrong” (Henry 231).
My heart goes out to Nora when the world finally comes crashing down around her, and when she learns to be open to growth and change. Charlie’s fears and desires to be what others want or need him to be at the expense of his happiness are painfully real. Seeing the main characters navigate these very human things together is a fulfilling journey, and I love how Nora and Charlie help one another realize dreams they didn’t even know they were allowed to have, and how they allow themselves to actually believe they can have it all, even if it doesn’t happen in the most expected or ideal way.
I was misty eyed during the story’s conclusion, and I can’t find a single reason why the main characters wouldn’t be relatable or wouldn’t grow on me. Book Lovers is well written and a breeze to read. The narrative, the characters, the dialogue, the humor and the serious notes all combine to make an unforgettable story that delivers on all counts. If you love a reliable rom-com with an original and satisfying twist, I recommend this book.
Reference
Henry, Emily. Book Lovers. Berkley Romance, 2022.