Read it or Skip it: Book Lovers
Hot off the press, Emily Henry delivers another hard-hitting literary masterpiece with Book Lovers. As a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope myself, I've managed to scope whether these stories have a backbone behind them or if they’re just another meaningless they-hate-each-other-but-it-was-love-after-all plotline. Don't get me wrong, sometimes those work out. For instance, the books The Hating Game and Fight on Flight manage to pull off the trait through quirky quips and general fun character traits. There's a thin line between a believable feud, and that lies in character development and subversion of plot which Henry perfectly nails on the head.
Spoilers ahead!
The introduction sets up the characters and their world immediately: "Nora is a cut-throat literary agent" and "Charlie is an editor with a gift for creating bestsellers". You know who these people are, and the obvious ploy that these two hard-headed individuals will end up together, as seen in every co-worker related book, film, or tv show ever. Nora, our protagonist, is described as the uptight, cold girlfriend that the nameless, bland man eventually dumps to settle down with a sweet, caring girl in a small town after realising she was never what he wanted. Enter Charlie, the creative and obnoxious man who is deemed to be the male counterpart for Nora. They speak to each other with knives dripping from every full stop, every cutting remark, every carefully designed eyeroll. It is a truly immersive novel, and you don't get that often. I was clawing at the book and manifesting that these two idiots get together. It sets up that they shouldn't get together in any circumstance, but Henry knows how to play her readers.
Nora and her sister, Libby, take a trip to a small town called Sunshine Falls which coincidentally is the hometown of our local editor, Charlie. After a brief introduction where they both decide to hate each other's entire personality, they have to work together on a new manuscript based in said smalltown.
Unlikely duo + coincidental location = enemies-to-lovers payoff!
One of the main reasons why Book Lovers is a rare stand-out is because the characters aren't written to be directed towards a happy ending. Nora is an extremely hard-worker because she has cared for her sister since their mother died and given up her mental and physical health just so her little sister never needs to experience bereavement ever again. Whilst Charlie fights against the unrealistic expectations he puts on himself, rumours of his out-of-wedlock birth will follow him forever.
They have outlooks on life that would clash against each other, and eventually do clash in the book. However, in a generic enemies-to-lovers book, you would expect Nora to help shed Charlie of his anxiety, and Charlie to help Nora realise her sister needs to be treated like an adult and not a child. Plot twist! Nora and Charlie solve their own issues - surprise! Nora and Charlie are just two strained adults who manage to work out their own issues after their playful aggravation towards one another turns into romance. The joyful layout allows these two antagonists to play the protagonist roles for once, and demonstrates that there are really people who deserve love behind their cold facades. Well played Emily Henry, as I fell for it hook, line, and sinker.
Thus the final twist, when Nora has to choose between her job and the new man in her life (as every rom-com concludes) she actually instead takes the job offer. This time however, it's not because the job pays more. This time around it is her dream job and she gets support from her sister and Charlie. We root for Nora as she finally gets something she deserves. Although the bittersweet summer romance trope sets in for us when Nora leaves Charlie, Charlie also settles into helping out his family and putting his anxiety aside. It's a happy ending - or is it?
In the ultimate final twist, when Nora has settled into her new job she waltzes back to the bookstore her mother used to take her to and Charlie turns up. Nora's sister has taken over his family's business back in his hometown, so they can be together. The various twists at the end of the story may feel overbearing, but Henry manages to condense them to the last few chapters so you don't feel suffocated by the end. It's a happy ending that you didn't see coming, as your expectations have been slashed since Nora chose her job. It's such a smart ploy, and it’s navigated in a safe way that doesn't throw Charlie under the bus. It works out for both of them for once…and they deserve it.
Emily Henry managed to find a way to incorporate romance and the love of books into its own format. If you have read her other book, Beach Read, you may remember it does the same thing. From talking about coffee, favourite places to read, genres of books, and characters describing how books give them safe spaces - it is an amazing book for anyone who feels the same. As Henry herself writes: “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.”
From the bottom of my romance-led heart: Read this! It won't disappoint.
Our Rating: ★★★★★