Book Lovers by Emily Henry is the third romance novel I've read from this author. I thought Beach Read was meh and enjoyed People We Meet on Vacation a little more, but there's something about this author that just doesn't quite hit for me, despite main characters who love books and witty dialogue, which are things I also love.
In this one, Nora is a literary agent and she takes a meeting with Charlie, a book editor, that doesn't go well. A year later, Nora and Charlie find themselves in a small town together, she on a vacation with her pregnant sister and he with his family who lives there. They snipe at one another, start sending flirty text messages, and the next thing you know, they're making out in the conference room at the public library.
Interesting characters: I want to like the characters more than I do. They both have Parent Issues and I'm pretty much over that at this point. (I'd like to point out that I, too, have Parent Issues, and perhaps that's why I'm sensitive to it, but the criticism still stands. Come up with a backstory that is vaguely more interesting, romance novel authors.) But the main characters have amazing banter and the text message exchanges are quite funny and quirky and I enjoyed their dialogue, spoken and written, much more than I have in a book in a very long time. You should read the book for the dialogue alone, really.
And don't get me started on the side characters. Nora's sister, Libby, whose actions during the book are as opaque to me as a brick wall eve after her motives were described towards the end. And the townspeople? I think the town and its people are supposed to be an adorable small town (Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls, for example), but all of the people are just boring stereotypes. Oh, the hot blond carpenter? The woman who left her successful art career for small town life? The bartender who is holding out hope to get back together with her ex? I just didn't have time for these characters and it distracted me from the witty banter I was in it for.
Believable conflict: Sure, I guess. They had a bad first meeting and they're sort of professional rivals/co-workers of a sort. I can see how that would lead to some tension.
Emotional tension: Honestly, I just don't buy this couple. I think they have physical attraction and are amused by one another, but I don't see this relationship as built on anything other than a shared love of New York City and no desire to procreate. While I certainly know of relationships that have been built on less than that, I didn't read a lot of tension into their relationship.
Happily ever after: Sure, they get what they wanted all along - NYC and books.
This book has a 4.5/5 star rating on Goodreads. People love it. I thought it was good, but not great.
4/5 stars
Lines I laughed at:
"That's like saying Charles Manson was a lifestyle guru. It might be true, but that's hardly the point. This book feels like someone watched that Sarah McLachlan commercial for animal cruelty prevention and thought, But what if all the puppies died on camera?" (page 10)
This is the second romance novel I've read this calendar year that mentions that Sarah McLachlan commercial. It really did traumatize a certain generation, didn't it? I know this because it gets referenced in our house at least once a week when either the dog or cat thinks our care is lackluster. "Are you going to report us to Sarah McLachlan?"
"What other Sunshine Falls rites of passage did you ignore?"
The muscles along his jaw shadow as he thinks. "People are really into bouldering here."
"Let me guess," I say. "That's when you stand at the top of a mountain and wait for one of your enemies to walk by, then push a rock over the ledge." (page 169)
I can't defend myself. I audibly snorted when I read this line. That sounds like a delightful hobby.
The next day, he sends me a blurry shot of the bickering geriatric couple from town hall caught in a passionate embrace outside the new Dunkin' Donuts. Love conquers all, I guess, he writes.
I reply, or she's found a discreet way to suffocate him.
What a beautiful, twisted brain you have, Nora. (page 270)
Everyone should fall in love with a person who loves their unconventional thoughts.
Ha ha, well this book sounds kind of bad, but I enjoyed your review of it at least!
ReplyDeleteI liked People We Meet On Vacation, but this sounds like a pass!
ReplyDeleteI am planning to read this, but likely won't get a copy for quite some time as the wait for the ebook is so long! I am anxious to hear what you think of Lessons in Chemistry! I always get nervous when I recommend a book!
ReplyDeleteI really wasn't going to read this book because I thought Beach Read was fine but hated People We Meet on Vacation, so I figured Emily Henry is just not the author for me. But so many people have raved about it! I have to give it a try. I listened to a podcast episode with the author who said she created the character of Nora after the woman who gets left behind in all of those Christmas rom-coms - you know, the fancy lawyer goes to his hometown and falls in love with a small-town girl... but what about the woman he leaves behind? Hopefully, going in from that perspective and knowing it's playing on those Christmas movies tropes of small-town life will help my enjoyment!
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