Cover Image: Must Love Books

Must Love Books

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Member Reviews

In Must Love books we follow Nora who dreamed of working in publishing growing up but is finding the reality of working at Parsons Press doesn’t match the dream.

When a pay cut leads Nora to a second job moonlighting for another publisher and she starts to fall for Andrew Santos one of the authors Parsons Press cannot afford to lose she must decide where her loyalties lie.

I really enjoyed this book. I was rooting for Nora from the start and felt the representation of mental health and the way in which depression can effect all aspects of your life was handled really well.

I would recommend.

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This book follows a young woman who has been working in publishing for 5 years now. This is her first real job and she's sort of lost and directionless. Like so many of us she's hit the point where the company is experiencing pay cuts and her work friends are all gone. So not only is she barely surviving but she has no one around to keep her going. Her dream job isn't what she thought it was and she's feeling jaded. She's also struggling to find a new job.

It's a little dreary at some points because so much of the story is set in the office and even when they're outside of the office the focus is constantly work. But I felt Nora's emotions. This is a very relatable story for someone who is at that crossroads in life and unsure what their next step will be.

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Nora’s job in publishing is not as dreamy as she expected. Once her office bestie leaves, Nora definitely no longer sees the joy in it. She takes on a second freelance gig with a competing publishing house, all in secret of course. Working two jobs, she befriends the handsome author Andrew, and he eventually becomes key to whatever career move she decides to take next. Of course this complicates things.

There’s a lot of technicalities about working in publishing, and 99% is set in the office. When the characters are out of office, they’re definitely still talking about work. It becomes a little bit dreary after a while, but also incredibly relatable.

Nora clearly isn’t doing too well, there’s definitely some trigger warnings to be given out and she’s kind of depressed. What will be her next move? What does she even like anymore? Highly relatable and current issues in this time of ‘The Big Quit’.

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So, I don't know where I got the idea from - but I expected a romance novel. So I'm a bit dissapointed right now...
But the story was fine, the characters were fine - all in all I am left with a "fine" feeling, but it was not what I had expected.

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When I saw this book, with that gorgeous bright cover, and then read the blurb, I was intrigued. It sounded right in my wheelhouse.

Don't judge a book by its cover.

I should have read the early reviews first. This book has loneliness, depression, suicidal thoughts, and a charming hero who is far too good to be put into this story.

I DNF. I've never done that with a Netgalley book before. I always feel obligated to finish and review, but I just couldn't. I need light and levity in my life and this was not it.

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Must Love Books
by: Shauna Robinson
SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, Sourcebooks Landmark

This book will spark the interest of those who love a book that has a theme tied in about books. In this case, main character Nora is an editorial assistant at Parsons Press. Themes of the book include mental health struggles, the publishing industry, career, and finding one's way in life. Robinson's debut novel is written with tenderness and sensitivity.
Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, Sourcebooks Landmark for the advance reader's copy and opportunity to provide my review.

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I’m always drawn to books about books and book lovers so I couldn’t resist requesting Shauna Robinson’s debut novel, Must Love Books. I’m so glad I did too because I think the journey of self- discovery the protagonist Nora Hughes embarks on is one that will resonate with many readers, especially anyone who is searching for their “dream” job or anyone who thought they had their “dream” job until it became more of a nightmare than a dream.

Nora loves books and all she knows when she starts looking for her ideal job is that it has to somehow involve books. When she lands an editorial assistant position at Parsons Press, she is in heaven because what could be better than working for someone who actually puts books out in the world. Nora’s job isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, however, and after a series of layoffs and corporate restructuring, she finds herself bogged down in administrative tasks like ordering lunches and office supplies rather than doing much that is directly involved with the books themselves. It’s a bit disheartening for Nora as is but then things take an even worse turn and she is asked to take a 15% cut in her pay. Nora can barely make ends meet with her existing salary, so when her pay is cut, she is forced to take drastic measures and secretly takes on part-time freelance work at a rival publishing company.

About the only thing that makes her happy at all these days is Andrew Santos, a bestselling Parson author who has taken an interest in Nora after they exchange some flirty banter involving avocados, of all random things. As the two of them grow closer, Nora finds herself uncertain of where her loyalties should lie – the full-time job she has but hates or the freelance job that has the possibility of becoming permanent if she could score a big author like Andrew for them even though it involves manipulating Andrew. All Nora knows is that she is so unhappy that her mental health is suffering, so something has got to give.

Even though there is the possibility of a budding romance there with Andrew, Must Love Books is really all about Nora and her search for what is going to make her happy both personally and professionally. Nora is a very likeable and relatable character in the sense that we’ve pretty much all been where she is at some point in our lives, that crossroads where you have to make some tough choices if you’re ever going to change your life. I was rooting hard for her to find the happiness and sense of fulfillment she deserves. I also liked that the author presents what Nora did with the two rival publishers in a very realistic manner and that the character development is equally realistic. Nora is not presented as a hero trying to stick it to the company that has wronged her; instead, there are real consequences for what she does, and she really doesn’t like the person she becomes while she’s living this double life of secrets and lies.

If you’re in the mood for a heartfelt, reflective story about finding yourself and your place in the world, definitely check out Must Love Books.

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First of all, this book is blurbed by Taylor Jenkins Reid, the amazing author of one of my favourite books of 2021. Secondly, it’s pitched as the Bookish Life of Nina Hill meets Younger and I am 100% here for another book about books. There’s something about reading about a shared love of books that never fails to make me feel cozy and at home in between the pages. This book was no exception! I found myself relating to the main character in a lot of ways and couldn’t help but picture myself in the publishing industry.

At it’s core, this book is about someone who’s really unhappy with where they are in life. The main character feels stuck in her career and can’t see any other way of making ends meet that she would qualify for and wouldn’t immediately hate. Struggling with depression and possibly anxiety, the main character has a lot of mental hurdles blocking her from seeing a way out of her situation. As much as it can be difficult to read at times, I think this was a realistic representation of something that a lot of people can relate to in one way or another. I liked that the character eventually found a way to ask others for help because it showed that even if you feel completely lost with no way out, there are so many people around you that might know something helpful but you’ll never know unless you talk to them about it.

Tied up in the work plot-line is also a sweet romance that begins to develop with an author at the publishing company. I really liked the chapters that had the love interest in them because he seemed like a genuinely kind and incredibly happy human and it made my heart happy. It was so nice to see how his personality would rub off on the main character every time they saw each other and I was definitely rooting for them to succeed the whole time.

Pick this book up if you think you might be interested in reading a reflective book about self-growth sprinkled with a little office romance to keep things light!

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Overall, this was a cute read. There were a few places I was very uncomfortable (my field of work is very different - healthcare - and some of the workplace ethics that come up in the book would have much larger consequences, including legal action, possible loss of licensing, etc - it's hard to read about unethical professional behavior and not imagine the outcome in your own field. Some of the scenarios were a bit too glossed over for me). Once I had a talk with myself about keeping in mind this is a Rom-Com and not taking it so seriously, I enjoyed it much more. I loved the characters and the wit. I loved reading about the publishing world, which is such a foreign entity to me. But this one comes with a few heavy Trigger Warnings, in my opinion, that can't be overlooked. And I felt these were maybe treated a little too lightly, or rather maybe not treated with as much seriousness as they deserve and too cleanly and unrealistically resolved. Especially today. But I do hope Shauna Robinson gives us more in the future. I'll definitely read it if she does. She's a great writer.
TW: workplace romance with power differential; suicidal ideation, depression

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This book started off really strongly. For the first 15% or so, I couldn’t put it down. Then, until about the 50% mark, I couldn’t stop finding excuses to put it down or I kept dozing off. I was bored. Then I was mildly disinterested until about the 75% mark when my interest was piqued again and it carried me through to a mildly satisfying ending.

What I’m saying is: this novel is really uneven, but the premise is great.

For a debut novel in the romance and women’s fiction genre, it isn’t bad. But it isn’t spectacular, either. It has a promising premise, fully-realized characters, and–if it hadn’t suffered from a really uneven middle section–really great overarching themes that wove through the story seamlessly.

Some might have less issues with this book than I did. I’m not known for being the most patient of readers. I like my books to have tighter editing and to maintain a natural pacing that keeps people reading in the manner intended. To me, this book need not suffer a soggy middle section like it did. It could have been better.

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Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟 3/5 stars

A touching story that is perfect for book lovers. Nora is an overworked, disillusioned editorial assistant at Parsons Press. When a pay cut forces her to take a moonlighting gig for a rival publisher, she meets Andrew Santos. Andrew is a bestselling author that can cause all sorts of complications for Nora.

This was a heartfelt book that touches on many themes. It definitely leans more towards women’s fiction vs. romance. It was a bit slow at the beginning, but eventually it comes together. I really enjoyed Andrew and all of the bookish elements of the story, but I wish there was a bit more romance. Going in with the right expectations is crucial for this one. This is not a romcom, but it is compelling and heartfelt.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Full review to be posted on release date.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Must Love Books is not the traditional happy, light, fluffy chick lit you’d expect from the cutesy cover and title. This was a really thought-provoking debut novel that spent a lot of time inside the head of our MC, Nora. Nora is going nowhere fast at Parsons Publishing, isn’t sure what she wants to do with her life, and is struggling with her mental health. Shauna Robinson did a great job navigating Nora’s life and showing her struggles with ordinary, real problems that can seem like huge boulders in the road to a successful future. In time, she begins on a path of self-discovery thanks to a few (ex-)co-worker friends and the handsome author Andrew Santos. The image that really stood out to me was Nora’s habit of laying in her bed and staring at the ceiling fan for a long time. It can be overwhelming to get out of a rut or take next steps toward something great. This book did a fantastic job of accurately portraying the life of someone struggling with mental health. I also really enjoyed the romance story line (especially with how it was left in the end) and the portrayal of a biracial woman in the publishing world. Very excited to see what Shauna writes next.

“ Things would be different this time. She wouldn’t go back to staring listlessly at her ceiling fan. She’d disconnect the damn thing if she had to. Nora knew it wasn’t over. Dark thoughts came to her any time she felt hopeless, and they would keep coming. The creature whispering to her from the corners of her mind would be back. But that didn’t mean she had to listen. She could stop trying to fight it alone.”

Thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the ARC!

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I really enjoyed this book! I love books about books so that was a win already. The characters were interesting and I was rooting for them as I read. It is about romance but it is also about Nora's development. The author also did a great job touching on more difficult topics. I definitely want to check out her next book.

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3.5 stars
It was an ‘enjoyable’ story, and I sadly could relate to some things that Nora was going through. But at the same time, the story was rather predictable and slow to read. It was sometimes hard for me to actually pick up the book. Overall though, Nora’s feelings and the story seemed to me like they could be real which I also think is really valuable.

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This is a fun, sweet romance, but it’s greatest strength is the insider depiction of publishing houses, particularly from the perspective of lowly EAs who get stuck waiting on the higher ups. Nora’s biggest dilemma—how to survive on an entry level publishing salary—will ring true to many.

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The setup was intriguing and a big positive of this book was the insight into the world of publishing, including its inequalities. However, this just could not capture my interest. I think I cringed too much at the onset knowing what the downfall of the character would be and nothing else hooked me enough to distract me from this.

I think millennial readers trying to make their way in corporate America will appreciate this novel and any avid reader will find the details about the publishing industry interesting.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.

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Thank you very much to the publisher for the advance copy of this book. Unfortunately, I couldn't connect well with this book and it was a miss for me. I found the story very slow to start and I wasn't overly interested in the details of working for a nonfiction publishing house. I struggled to identify with Nora's difficulty in simply leaving a job she found highly unfulfilling and underpaid when she'd received other offers. I think my negative opinion of the book stems from my own misinterpretation of the plot from the synopsis. I was expecting more of a romcom. I often appreciate the series mental health content, but I wasn't expecting it based on the advertising. Ultimately, this is an issue of my mood not matching the storyline.

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Nora Hughes wants to be in publishing, so she has a job she thought would get her into editing. However, after 5 years, she is still in the same position, surviving layoffs, but taking on more responsibilities and a pay cut. This is not where she thought she would be. Her best friend is leaving for another job, and she does not know how she will pay the next month's rent. A former coworker, now at a competing publishing company, offers her part-time work, and she takes it. However, she's still in her current role.

Nora gets involved with a client at her full-time position. She is promised a promotion if she can get him to sign a contract. Sparks fly and their relationship evolves, but Nora finds herself digging a deep hole into her double booked working life. Lies start to interfere with her personal and work life, and she finds herself dealing with the one demon that continues to lurk around the edges and just will not go away.

This novel did not take the route I expected it to. What I thought would be a fun, romantic romp turned out to be an expose on how the young adult crowd faces work-life balance and mental health issues. It was an unexpected turn, but one I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Being further along in my own career, it's easy to forget how those first year jitters hang around; where you are not so certain of anything and you feel like the other foot will drop at any minute if you aren't perfect.

Shauna Robinson does an excellent job of delving into the troubled character of Nora, revealing her demons and discovering the path she needs to take to find and fulfil her dreams.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for sharing this digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

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Nora is a book lover and has what she thought when she started the job, the best job. She gets to work with books all day long. After many budget and personnel cuts, Nora is overworked and not advancing in her career. Nora is unhappy and something has to change.

This book is about pulling yourself out of a situation you are unhappy with. I loved this theme because many times people stay unhappy because they don’t/can’t make changes. I absolutely loved Nora. The book is part comedy, part personal growth, and part romance. It is a quick read that leaves you wanting to be your best self.

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I really enjoyed this book! I loved how Nora was so honest and straightforward about her mental health struggles. I loved how realistically it was portrayed that she was disgruntled with her job and how it made her act out. It was so relatable.

This book is tense with all of the untruths that Nora is juggling. It was well written, and satisfying watching it all play out. Her relationship with Andrew is cute but stressful. 😬

Overall, I definitely thought this book was great. It brought up a lot of real world issues and possible solutions that a reader could take away for themselves.

CW: suicidal ideation

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