Emily Henry has solidified herself as the queen of beach reads amongst the #BookTok community, and rightfully so. Her novel Beach Read is an unexpectedly poignant affair, and People We Meet on Vacation is a crowd-pleasing resort fling.
But where they are solid additions to the genre, Book Lovers is a love story on steroids.
There is little this ambitious read cannot do. It delivers a swoony-worthy, “burn your house down the tension is so hot” enemy-to-lovers romance, a small picturesque town with quirky locals, and heartbreaking family dynamics that transcend (if not scold) the shallow genre.
The premise is one I will never grow tired of because it is an instant hook. We all know the archetype: the cold, bitter businesswoman that never gets the man because she cares more about demolishing a Christmas tree farm than tending to her boyfriend’s needs. However, Nora Stephens is not the plucky hometown girl urging men to leave their cutthroat girlfriends; she is that cutthroat girlfriend. She’s a killer negotiator and a formidable book agent. Her career is her passion, and her icy exterior is her coping mechanism.
“Nora.” He just barely smiles. “You’re in books. Of course you don’t have a life. None of us do. There’s always something too good to read.”
― Emily Henry, Book Lovers
Book Lovers is not here to embrace the idea that women must abandon their big-city ambitions for the small-town lifestyle to find love. On the contrary, this romance novel manages to be both a fun tribute to and a ruthless takedown of the tropes that define Type-A personalities like Nora and Charlie, the book’s equally sadistic love interests. It views the small town’s late-night skinny dips and bookstore restorations as aids in healing Nora’s residual traumas while reaffirming her desire to return to the city’s work grind.
Nora’s journey transcends typical trappings that have become the downfall of many rom-coms. By acknowledging the flaws these tropes create, Book Lovers avoids predictable pitfalls and still gets to have fun in this playground of cliches.
The rival dynamic between Nora and Charlie is enemies-to-lovers at its finest. There’s no polarizing hatred that bonds these two. They are simply two headstrong people who want what is best for their careers, which means disagreements are inevitable. Their banter is as sleek and cutting as their professions, except for an ongoing joke about Big Foot smut that proves to be a charming disarming tool.
What readers will love most about Nora and Charlie is their ability to communicate — because talking through our feelings is hot.
No crossed communication or big secrets threaten to demolish the lingering touches and juicy character developments they cultivate. These two negotiate for a living and are happy to discuss the weaknesses of their romantic relationship with blunt honesty, proving intimacy is more than writing a good sex scene. It’s embracing the harsh realities of dating with vulnerability, not shock value.
“Those were the endings I found solace in. The ones that said, Yes, you have lost something, but maybe, someday, you’ll find something too.”
― Emily Henry, Book Lovers
The great love story of Book Lovers, however, is not romantic.
At the heart of this book is a sisterly bond worth prioritizing. So often in these rom-coms, the family relationships are superficial side-shows. This summer read is determined to make Nora and Libby’s relationship growth just as much a centerpiece of the plot as the romance.
It is also a startlingly accurate protrayal of the sister dynamic. There are times when Nora’s oldest-sibling traumas hit too close to home, where the crossroads between the eldest daughter and the Type-A personality intersect a little too close for comfort. For this, the novel’s desire to take on an unlikely and “damaged” heroine allows readers to resonate with Nora more than your typical leading lady.
Book Lovers is that rare beach read that stays with you long after the sun and sand fade. With amusing small-town tropes, charming characters, and one particularly sensational plot twist, Henry’s latest romance is the must-read book of the summer.
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Want to add this read to your TBR pile? You can find more information and purchase a copy of Book Lovers by Emily Henry right here!
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