"Book Lovers" is written by Emily Henry and published on March 28, 2023. I think it is a heartwarming romantic novel for people who love books, the book industry and romantic novels, but are tired of the clichés and predictability. It has some of them, but I also found it very refreshing.
The book follows Nora Stephens who is anything but a typical heroine. In fact, she is the kind of woman who the male protagonist leaves behind while following the girl of their dreams. That girl is not her. She is a tough book agent and her life revolves around her work and her baby sister, Libby. The men in her life have no real room. One day she is forced to meet Charlie Lastra, a book editor who is known for his savagery. She wants him to edit her client's book, but he adamantly refuses. His manners are rude beyond compare and he offended her favorite client. She is furious and so the terrible groundwork for their relationship is set.
Nora thinks that her relationship with Libby is almost perfect. Libby is married with children and another on the way. So Nora is shocked when Libby asks her join her for a month's vacation in Sunshine Falls, North Carolina. Nora is a big city girl who is in love with New York and is horrified at the thought of spending an entire month in a small town. It doesn't help that one of the first person she meets there is Charlie Lastra. She still dislikes him, however, in a small town there isn't much room to escape and they are forced to be civil. Will this turn into a romance? Or will life get in the way?
It is surprising how much I liked the book as I disliked the main characters. Nora is annoying. She is in love with her work beyond compare. She is rude to everyone except her sister. Her only redeeming quality is her hard early life and the love for her sister, even though she has a hard time excepting her sister as she is. I actually found Charlie Lastra to be the more sympathetic character. His past touched my heart more, perhaps because it is more realistic. I didn't like Libby as well, even though the book really wanted me to love her free spirit. The characters were so unsympathetic that it is refreshing all on its own. They are not terrible people like in some books, just not very likable and that's alright.
But the best part of this book is by far the books. All of the book references, the way the industry works and bookstores work. I also work in a bookstore so I found some of it really true and close to home. It is refreshing to see a book that deals with love for books in such a manner. Not the: oh she like Jane Austen books (which I also adore) but modern books and the way the industry is now. With some real insights into the subject. This book is for people who like books and the book industry nowadays so it is refreshing.
I just loved this book. Despite or in spite of the flawed characters, this book looks at its characters and as a result at humanity with compassion. And it really is a book for book lovers. I loved it so much. It just left me feeling all warm inside.
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