Literary in the City

RATING: 4.5/5

“Is there anything better than iced coffee and a bookstore on a sunny day? I mean, aside from hot coffee and a bookstore on a rainy day.”

Book Lovers

Did you spend Valentine’s Day alone and curled up on your sofa? Are you in need of some romance to keep your cold, dead soul warm during the winter months?

Look no further! The queen of romance, Emily Henry, is here to save the day with Book Lovers.

Book Lovers is about the love story between Nora Stephens, an ambitious literary agent, and Charlie Lastra, a brooding editor. Nora and Charlie get off on the wrong foot, but when Nora travels to a small town in North Carolina for a much-needed vacation, she runs into none other than…Charlie! As the two grow closer, they deal with family,  change, and grief, and ask themselves what they truly want from life. 

I love a good romance novel. They always make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Emily Henry, in particular, is exceptionally talented at creating characters that reach out and tug at your heartstrings. You can’t help becoming invested in her stories. 

It’s clear that she dedicates a lot of time to creating complex, yet candid characters. Each character truly felt like they had their own voice, hopes, and dreams. No one was unidimensional. Our main character, Nora, is a prime example of this; I really enjoyed how she grappled with such a wide spectrum of emotions. Not only do these fleshed out characters make it easy to lose yourself in the novel, but it also ensures that the chemistry is off the charts. 

While I’m a city person through and through (*cough cough* Literary in the City), something about the small-town setting just…worked. Frankly, I had a few moments where I contemplated leaving behind the skyscrapers I’m so familiar with for a few days of nature and sunshine. If you need something that’ll push you to go on that quick trip you’ve been thinking about, this book will have you packing your suitcase in no time. 

My suggestions for this novel? Read it in a short period of time, maybe even with a good playlist of songs in the background. Give this book your undivided attention. Allow yourself to become engrossed in the story. By the end, you’ll feel as if you’ve been best friends with Charlie and Nora for your entire life. 

Funny Story, Emily Henry’s fifth adult romance novel, releases on April 23; it’s already on my TBR and I’m really looking forward to reading it. If you’ve read Book Lovers or any other Emily Henry books, let me know how you liked them! I’m always curious to hear what you’re thinking! ❤ 

XOXO,

H.