Must Love Books introduces us to Nora, a woman who feels trapped in her publishing industry job, slightly abandoned by her friends who left for better jobs, and struggling to make ends meet. When she starts secretly working for a rival house, things get complicated. But things get even more tangled up when she meets Andrew Santos, the writer she's supposed to convince to sign his next contract with the publisher she hates working for.

As an elder millennial, I feel entirely seen by this book. Nora is in a job she thought she loved, one she feels like she has to love, but that also takes advantage of her and her desire to be promoted. This book is certainly not a romance, though it does contain romantic elements, but instead it's a look at what life is like for many working millennials.

Because this book is so tightly tied to Nora, one thing I didn't feel properly prepared for is that Nora deals directly with suicidal ideation. While this is an important topic, it's not addressed with much seriousness by Andrew (who is a fixer and gives her a self-help book that ultimately helps her(!?)) or by her friend Beth (also a fixer who thinks texts and networking are the solution). Nora's SI seems to easily handled in the book for me.

What I had difficulty with were some of Nora's reactions to her situations and her interactions with others. At times she seemed defensive even in situations that didn't warrant it. While some of this could connect back to her emotional and mental health, it also means that its hard to understand her friendships and the willingness of others to help her at the end, particularly when she'd been working so clearly not to form connections with others.

Still, I appreciate a book that delves into careers as a central topic, something that's so necessary with today's job market.

Thank you for NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book didn’t live up to my expectations. I didn’t particularly like any of the main characters. I did not get invested in the MC. I felt more detached from the narrative than I expected, given how much we were on Nora’s head. The love interest wasn’t very fleshed out in.my opinion.

I finished the book but there were times I considered giving up.

Nora is working in publishing and it is not great. At the small company she works for, there are cutbacks, including her pay . Her team mates leave one by one, leaving her with extra work with less satisfaction and less money. As a reader you feel the hopelessness of her situation and her inability to do anything about it but I kept having the feeling that she needed to pull herself together and do something else, anything
Descriptions of people are mainly good and seen from Nora's viewpoint. The plot was ok, maybe a little long and took a while to get anywhere. Set in San Francisco, beyond descriptions of bars, restaurants, public transport or the occasional bookshop, it could have been anywhere.
Not a bad book and there are moments of wit but could have been better
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

A light hearted, romance story between Nora and Andrew whilst highlighting life in the publishing industry, which I didn't much idea. I enjoyed it, took a while for the pace to pick up.

This was a cute, light read that focused on the editing and publishing side of books that readers don’t often think about. I really loved the character, Andrew who was an author that connected with Nora. This was a little bit of a slower read, but I did enjoy the story. I’m sure many people could relate to Nora and her life struggles in this one!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this one, it weirdly reflected exactly what I'm going through at the moment and I would recommend it to anyone starting out in a creative industry. There's so much emphasis on finding your dream job and your purpose in life being tied to your career that we don't spend enough time trying things out and living with uncertainties. Nora's journey of self discovery was incredibly relatable and her realization that she needed to try many different paths and work on her own happiness was grounded and satisfying. The romance was also very sweet and brought levity that balanced the frequent discussions on depression. Looking forward to reading more from Shauna Robinson in the future.

The title and cover of this book attracted me immediately!. I enjoy reading books about book and the people who read/write/sell and publish books. I was excited to read this one and I was not disappointed! Must Love Books is a fun, light vacation read. It is about Nora, who works for a publishing company and follows her as she struggles with feeing stuck in her job and trying to making ends meet. I enjoyed the behind the scenes look at the publishing world and seeing how things work. Likable characters and a relatable character made for an enjoyable read. I really related to Nora as she struggled to find the right path for her. I really enjoyed this book.

3.5 stars

Nora Hughes has always loved books. She has what she thought would be her dream job, an editorial assistant at a publishing house. But, it's a small house that specializes in business books and her heart just isn't in it. Plus, the company is on a decline and her pay has been cut and the working conditions pretty much suck. She makes some ethically questionable decisions (nothing illegal) and the guilt from it is making her spiral downhill.

Andrew Santos is the star author at her publishing house. But, he's got lots of buzz and isn't sure he wants to re-up for another book with them. However, he seems to take a liking to Nora. More ethical conundrums await.

All in all, this was a decent read. I thought there was waaaaay too much detail on the inside works of the publishing business. It really bogged down the story. Also, the ending was too ambiguous for my taste. I prefer the ends to be tied up a little neater.

Possible spoilers ahead:

My biggest concern is the lack of trigger warnings and acceptable response to the main character's thoughts of suicide. While she doesn't make any attempts, she ruminates on ow she'd be better off dead, And, apparently she cures herself by reading What Color is Your Parachute and coming up with a plan for a new job? I don't feel like the suicidal thoughts were taken seriously enough by the author. Nora is struggling financially, so private therapy would be out of the question. However, maybe she could have sought out some free counseling. I think it would have been a better choice than to make it seem like someone can easily make their mental health issues go away.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this digital ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, SourceBooks Landmarks, and Shauna Robinson for this fun ARC.
#NetGalley #MustLoveBooks #ShaunaRobinson #SourceBooksLandmark

Who among us cannot relate to the main character, Nora, who is stuck in a low-paying and thankless job. She has such high hopes when she starts because she loves books and is thrilled at the chance to help bring them to others. When her employer cut her already low salary, Nora decides to work for another publisher. This introduces a conflict on interest that tests Nora’s loyalty in both her personal and professional life.
Some books are perfect for rainy days, some are perfect for beach days, and some are perfect for everyday. This book is perfect for anytime. I always enjoy books with a book theme. It’s like finding that perfect bookish friend with whom you can swap books and discuss your crushes on fictional characters (Mr. Darcy??). Not only that, but I can empathize with Nora’s plight. We have all had that job or boss that is a drain on our very soul. It’s an awful situation and, when you introduce the stresses of keeping one job secret from the other, it becomes untenable. I loved how the author was unafraid to shy away from the very real issue of mental health as well. She achieved this without making this into a heavy read which I would then have to file away as a one time book. It was just a very realistic look at a woman’s life who has a lot of trials but continues to persevere.
The book started off a bit slow. The same effects could have been achieved with just a little bit of editing. This is the only reason I took off one star. We could have heard just a little less about the minutiae. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and hope to read more from the author.

This book was a very light and cute read. Something to break up reading a constant genre. Features a girl who works in publishing but realizes 5 it isn’t what she wants. With all the events that happen, she isn’t happy anymore so she goes on to figure out ways to stay working with books but not as a publisher. Good and cute book!

This book was just wonderful. I really loved the relationships between Nora and Beth as well as Nora and Andrew's romance. Must Love Books not only talks about books and the publishing industry, but it also focuses on topics such as career changes and what to do when your "dream job" may not be all it is cracked up to be & you are not as happy in life as you'd hoped you would. The book does discuss topics like depression and suicidal thoughts so it may not be for everyone, understandably so. However, if you do feel ok with reading about those subjects then I think this book would be the right book for any reader of contemporary fiction. I love the way this book left off and I even think it could be a terrific movie. All in all, Must Love Books is a must read and I definitely recommend everyone having it on their radar in January 2022.

I was not a fan of this book. Nora Hughes is an editorial assistant at a publishing company undergoing restructuring. All the people she loved working for/with are no longer there. Her salary has been cut, And, she doesn't even like the business books she is helping to get publushed. As incentive, she is offered a promotion if she can convince a young author to sign a new contract. In the meantime, to pay her bills, she takes a part-time job working freelance for a competitor publisher, with promise she will be hired full time if she brings in new authors.

As she comes to know the young author Andrew, and develops feelings for him, Nora is caught trying to decide whether she does what is best for her career or what is best for him.

The idea for the book was interesting but I found it long and slow. I could not understand how Nora made the decisions she did, even when issues related to her mood were introduced. I actually did not find Nora particularly likeable at times and did not understand her relationship with Andrew. Nor did I understand how her work colleagues helped her out when they did.

I did like how Nora slowly started to find herself as the story progressed but felt it was unrealistic, almost as if reading a couple of self help books and talking to a couple of friends is all that's needed to pull yourself out of a deep depression. I really had to work hard to get through this one.

Nora is the definition of lost. She's in her late 20's, hating her job, taking on more work at her job due to the constant layoffs they are undergoing, oh and she just got a pay cut. Is this the dream she thought the publishing world would be? Absolutely not. Nora feels that she has to do what she can to survive, even if it means telling lies and picking up freelance work for a competing publishing company. Then enters Andrew Santos, successful author and charming professor, who Nora's current employer is dying to sign again for his second book. So Nora's boss tells her if she can sign Santos, she gets a promotion. What Nora doesn't expect though is that her feelings for Andrew seem to change the way she's thinking about everything.

This is a tried and true bookworm's book. I loved the nuisances that Nora has and how she set up time on her calendar for "reading dates." Her thoughts on life and purpose are something that we all go through and her dialogue just makes it so much more real. She's quirky, honest, sometimes lying, and all around loveable. Thank you to Shauna Robinson, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4153133763

Must Love Books is a delightful read that I feel speaks to Gen Z/Millennial burnout and finding your way in a rough reality.

I found Nora extremely relatable and her plight of realizing her dream she pursued was not what she thought to be a compelling read. There was a lot of really thoughtful groundwork laid in her character as she struggled with her life. I loved this book.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I so enjoyed reading this book. When I started reading it, I wasn’t really sure what to expect but the longer I read the more intrigued I was by the story and the loss of her dad and how the book was filled of full circle moments. You would think a door was closed and then another door would open within relationships. I enjoyed how it all tied together! A great read!

I really enjoyed this realistic story of a young woman working at a small publishing firm. The main character Nora had depth and had me cheering her during all of her situations. I highly recommend this book. Thanks NetGalley for the advanced copy. #NetGalley #MustLoveBooks

This was an interesting reading experience – as I went into it expecting something more romance-leaning and instead got something heavier. It was quite sad!

The blurb painted a picture of a romance between Nora and Andrew, but it was more of an exploration of depression, what it means to happy and nuances of the publishing industry.

Things I liked:
- Andrew was a great character and he brought light to the heavier themes in this book – he was refreshing
- The detailed exploration of the publishing industry. Before reading the author’s acknowledgements I had a feeling that the author must have personal experience in this space due to the detail that was provided
- I liked the idea of exploring depression – although I would have liked to see mention of therapy and potential treatment options (I personally think this is really important in literature containing suicidal thoughts – even if it’s a list of support services at the end of the book rather than embedded into the story)

Things I didn’t like:
- This is a personal preference – I thought the ending was fitting, but I would have liked to see Andrew and Nora get a HEA, even an epilogue set to the timeframe Nora mentioned so we can see how they ended up
- More consequences for Parsons’s awful employment practices!
- I found the pacing a little slow at the beginning, it took me a while to warm up to it. I’m glad I got into it, but I found the first few chapters tough

In short: This was a nice read. I reflected on my own employment situation and happiness as I read it – a book that makes me take a good look at my own life is a positive thing!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

This book took me completely by surprise as it was NOTHING like what I was expecting. Honestly I found the book to be rather heartbreaking in a sense because the heroine Nora is really going through it. In that regard she has so much mental anguish and midlife crisis moments happening I just wanted a HEA for her. Nora is a character who lives in her head a lot and so books are her safe and happy place. She’s an introvert with high hopes for her future in publishing. Sadly time after time life throws roadblocks and stop signs in her way leaving her life path riddled with impossible challenges. In some ways I really related to Nora. I too once had high hopes of working in publishing and living my dream. Sadly this is not an attainable path for many or most unfortunately. With the world becoming digitized and companies downsizing, Noras dreams get shattered one after the other. Once her pay is cut at her job of 5 years, Nora is in a pickle. I loved reading her struggles because not only were they relatable but also just super realistic and I loved seeing her think outside the box and take chances even given her issues. I found her to be flawed but relatable and truly brave even during tough times.

There is some minor romance in the book. So minor that I wasn’t even sure it was going to become a thing. When it finally does happen at the 50% mark the book was far too clean for my tastes, any intimate moments are skipped and left up to your imagination. What I struggle most with the book is the abrupt and very unclear ending. Sure things are set up for Nora but with all her ‘issues’ I really would have appreciated some type of epilogue or concrete ending. I needed to know she was going to be ok and find her happy place, single or not, working with books or not. Her mental state is so fragile honestly I’m worried about her and just want a HEA for her and not hopes of one down the road. Overall though, I really did love the book and the directions it took. It really does focus on loving books and what that means in the world today especially working within the field. It was a highly engaging read and I feel like Nora is a kindred spirit. The book touching on subject matters such as mental health, thoughts of suicide and career instability really made this a powerful and insightful read. It was nothing like what I was expecting and I ended up really loving the journey and path Nora found herself on. Aside from an end I wish delivered more I really loved the book and would definitely recommend it to fellow readers whose passion is books.

As a voracious reader, this title caught my attention. In this light story, Nora is a woman who is emotionally fragile due to recent events happening in her life. Dreams dashed of being a book editor, Nora worked as an editorial assistant at a small publishing house which is floundering. While the job has become mundane and droll, she held on because she was comfortable with the people around her. Nora was struggling to make ends meet day to day. But soon, they were leaving left and right, forcing Nora to take on more work even though the company cut her pay. After a chance encounter with her former boss, she takes on a second job as a freelance editor but doesn’t tell either employer of her dual roles. Enter the handsome and lonely author whom Nora tries to sign first for Parsons Publishing and then for Webers Publishing. What a conflict of interest, as they develop feelings for each other. Does Nora put her job first or her love life? At what cost, happiness?

This is an easy read. I was looking for a Hallmark ending but the story does leave you with the possibility. You hope that Nora can eventually pull it together but given her history, you are still not sure at the end of the book. It’s a good book to read on a raining day.

Many thanks to #netgalley #mustlovebooks for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book is definitely not what I expected. It revolves around the publishing world and I enjoyed knowing how things work. The cover drew me in this book.

Nora like us loves books and her passion for them had her working at Parsons Press as an Editorial Assistant. She has been at that position for 5 years doing more of an administrative work. With the layoffs going around the publishing house she is doing work of others as well, to top this her salary is cut. To pay rent and for basic needs she takes up another job without leaving this one and juggles between them. This leads to her being sad and having depressing thoughts taking her to darker places. As she says the creature is waiting for her (suicidal thoughts). She kept all of the thoughts bottled up.

This book started slow and I didn't like lot many decisions made by Nora however, her character development was amazing. I really liked the end where she choose herself over romance. Nora and her struggles might be relatable to many. She needed a little push and guidance to see right from wrong, to do what's best for her. The conversation between Henry, Nora and Candance was epic.
Andrew was opposite of Nora and I liked his optimistic attitude. He is a sweetheart.

In her debut novel, Shauna Robinson talks about heavier topics like mental health, suicidal thoughts, career paths, not knowing future plans and journey of self discovery. These topics are written in a manner that it doesn't seem judgy but experiencing and knowing the pain of the character and wishing them all strength. It is about taking one step at a time and figuring things out. It is about asking for help or sharing things as you never know what might work for you.

Overall this was a good read. Wishing Shauna Robinson the best and looking forward to read more of her work.

Thank you Netgalley, Shauna Robinson, Sourcebook Landmarks for giving me a chance to read this in exchange of an honest review.