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Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Emily Henry has written the perfect antidote for the blahs with her newest upbeat novel, Book Lovers (Berkley), set in New York City and a tiny fictional town named Sunshine Falls, NC. It is a sparkling romantic comedy for people who already love the genre. Her writing is skillful and well-honed and should win over many new fans among those who think they dislike romance novels. The book is refreshingly original, smart and utterly charming with effervescent, witty dialogue between two protagonists who bicker, banter and verbally duel. All the characters are plausible, relatable people who live and work in believable settings. It’s a relief to find a main character shopping for designer bargains in thrift stores and living in a book-filled, small rent-controlled apartment and not residing in some fantasy billionaire mansion.

Passionate bibliophile Nora Stephens has not shed a tear in 12 years, not since her mother’s sudden death while Nora was off in the wilds of Wyoming, pursuing her erstwhile and first great love, only to be unceremoniously dumped upon arrival. Broken-hearted, then-20-year-old Nora returned to New York to focus on work and assume legal guardianship of her younger sister, Libby. Now a top literary agent with a stellar roster of clients, she is known in the trade as “the Shark” for her ferocious and effective negotiating skills, but Nora’s secret passion is book editing. On call 24-7, her commitment to her authors’ needs has sabotaged most new personal relationships no matter their potential.

IDYLLIC TOWN BRINGS TOGETHER WORKAHOLIC ENEMIES

Despite her workaholic tendencies, Nora’s inability to deny Libby any request finds her agreeing to a month-long vacation in Sunshine Falls, NC, the purported former hometown of Libby’s favorite author and Nora’s client, Dusty Fielding. This imaginary, mountainous rural town is situated outside of the beautiful (and real) Asheville, NC — home to the Biltmore estate, a renowned Writer’s Workshop and many literary luminaries, including Thomas Wolfe and Zelda Fitzgerald, andhost of contemporary authors such as Ann B. Ross and Robert Beatty. Still stunned she conceded to Libby’s madcap adventure, Nora is even more surprised when her sister produces a detailed and laminated itinerary labeled “Life-Changing Vacation List;” their adventure in living has begun. width=

Like Nora, the ambitious Charlie Lastra also works in the publishing industry. These mismatched characters’ first business meeting was a disaster, their mutual dislike palpable. Charlie, a brooding, executive editor for a prestigious boutique publishing house and considered to be a Midas for his ability to choose future New York Times bestsellers, passed on Nora’s prized client’s new manuscript. He dismissed the setting of Sunshine Falls, NC, as unrealistically depicted and speculated that the author, Dusty Fielding, had never visited the town. Charlie’s instincts failed him as Dusty’s novel Once in a Lifetime became a mega-hit complete with a movie option. 

Nora and Charlie have managed to avoid each other for the last two years at industry events, but now, their paths cross in the unlikeliest place: Sunshine Falls. His family loyalty has called him home to help salvage his hippie-artist-turned-bookstore-owner mother’s struggling business while caring for his ailing father. During Nora’s ostensible vacation, they begin to work together with their now mutual client, the painfully shy and self-doubting Dusty. Nora coaxes pages out of her for them to shape and edit what may be her best book. Their collaboration is surprisingly harmonious, and they begin to find a magnetic attraction stronger than their quick repartee as they discover they have more in common than being literate lovers of books.

NUANCED ROMANCE FROM A MARVELOUS STORYTELLER

Book Lovers is a nuanced romance with depth, written from the heart by a marvelous storyteller, mad for books and who understands the publishing industry. Henry presents, through main characters Nora and Charlie, some perceptive insights about Type-A personality behaviors that may trigger some “Aha!” moments of self-recognition. Both are controlling, ambitious, career-obsessed people who believe they are indispensable and fail to delegate or recognize that other less-driven individuals can be equally capable. Meanwhile, Libby and her supportive husband, Brendan, demonstrate how the art of gentle persuasion, an optimistic outlook and warm hearts combined with strong organizational skills can be equally successful … and happier.

Book Lovers will no doubt be a favorite among book discussion groups. It would make a great film and will please anyone who loves You’ve Got Mail, Moonstruck and It Happened One Night, or Benedict and Beatrice in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Henry’s novel is great fun, and I loved it.


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Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Genre: Fiction, Romance
Author: Emily Henry
ISBN: 9780241995340
Linda Hitchcock

Linda Hitchcock is a native Virginian who relocated to a small farm in rural Kentucky with her beloved husband, John, 14 years ago. She’s a lifelong, voracious reader and a library advocate who volunteers with her local Friends of the Library organization as well as the Friends of Kentucky Library board. She’s a member of the National Book Critic’s Circle, Glasgow Musicale and DAR. Linda began her writing career as a technical and business writer for a major West Coast-based bank and later worked in the real estate marketing and advertising sphere. She writes weekly book reviews for her local county library and Glasgow Daily Times and has contributed to Bowling Green Living Magazine, BookBrowse.com, BookTrib.com, the Barren County Progress newspaper and SOKY Happenings among other publications. She also serves as a volunteer publicist for several community organizations. In addition to reading and writing, Linda enjoys cooking, baking, flower and vegetable gardening, and in non-pandemic times, attending as many cultural events and author talks as time permits.

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