This book is about a woman in her late twenties dealing with fighting against her illness of depression and suicidal ideation, handling the stresses of a demanding job at a company that is sinking, and trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life.

I loved this book. It definitely had a sad, depressing side, obviously since it is a book about dealing with mental illness. About 80% in it had me depressed and crying to the point I had to step away from the book for a little while. But, it also is a sweet, fun story with witty, sarcastic banter between Nora and Andrew. I loved the upbeat, optimistic, joyful Andrew. He is such a great character and complemented the character of Nora well. I also really liked the inside look into the publishing world. I thought the ending was perfect. Well done!

Thank you Net Galley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #MustLoveBooks

This is such an adorable story about Norah Hughes, an editorial assistant, stuck in her job and feeling like she needs more. Norah's character was flawless. She had a lot of dimension and her humor was fantastic. The book was fast paced and the follows the typical romance of a major miscommunication (idk what else to call it without spoilers). Great story!! 4.5 stars.

Nora Hughes love books, so what better place is there for her to begin her career with books than an editorial assistant position at Parsons Press. But what she didn't count on was the continual restructuring, downsizing, overworking and underpaying that comes along with a job at Parsons Press, and now she is hanging on by a thread because they cut her already non existent pay.

Enter an opportunity to pick up some extra cash moonlighting for a rival publisher, which she secretly takes, leveraging old Parsons authors with her new job to try and secure a better position in the future. When she meets author Andrew Santos in an unfortunate meet cute at Parsons, things get even more complicated for her, and for both of her jobs, too, when she tries to sway his decision professionally while also falling for him personally.

This was a great debut novel that hooked me right from the start. It touches on topics such as mental health, happiness, and basically just trying to get your life together in adulthood, which is obviously really, really hard. I was on the edge of my seat with Nora as she juggled both jobs and her blossoming relationship with Andrew, and cringed every time I thought "it's all about to come crashing down!"

4.5 stars and a great and entertaining read. Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC!

3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars

Must Love Books was much more of a finding yourself journey than a romantic journey. Nora, the main protagonist, is barely scraping by as an editorial assistant at a small publishing company that mostly specializes in business books. She doesn't particularly like her job and her co-workers are the only bright spot in her day - until they all slowly get laid off or leave for other opportunities. Nora knows that she needs to make a change soon and one of her options is to sign her company's biggest author for a new contract and secure a promotion. However, the author is sweet, sincere, and smart (the three big s's?) and she knows that he could do better at a bigger publisher. Nora winds up in quite a pickle where her career and her love life are all on the line. The question is, will she be able to salvage either one?

This story really doesn't focus on romance as the main storyline, which is perfectly okay. This is more a career crisis and finding out how to be financially stable while still enjoying life and your job. I could absolutely relate to Nora's struggles with career and finances so I kind of felt at home with this. You leave this book feeling soothed and better about life, so I'm going to call that a win.

Loved this book! I used to work in publishing and this was as if I had stepped back into the office once again. The details were spot on, the characters believable, and the romance was sweet. Great job for a debut novel! I could not put it down and cannot wait to read more by Shauna Robinson.

"But some uncertainties were better than a lot of other certainties."

Must Love Books is a heartfelt, realistic and very charming and encouraging novel.

The behind the scenes of the publishing industry and what it's like as an editorial assistant was very interesting to follow. That the author herself started out in publishing was definitely helping to really understand what working at a publishing house can look like. And I liked the representation of Black/non white main characters, such as our protagonist Nora and her possible love interest, Andrew.

I could easily sympathy with Nora. She's a smart and sweet woman, who's struggling to find her path and realizes that she's been stuck in a job she doesn't even like anymore, which has taken a toll on her mental health as well. It takes such bravery and courage to admit these problems to oneself and then actually change something about them. Her kind nature brought understanding to her motifs and actions, and she turned out to be a very well developed character who I only wished the best for.

And she too did receive understanding from the people she's worked with. Having people at work you get along with does have such a big impact on your contentment as well. Nora was very reflective and self-aware of her behavior and actions, which showed to me, that there's always room for learning and becoming better.

"I think I have a tendency to accept what I'm given instead of asking for what I want."

And you guys, I have to say, Andrew Santos is the absolute nicest guy there is. Ugh, I can't get over how genuine and sweet he was with Nora. This is definitely not a sappy love story with a happy ever after for everyone, but a story of growth and asking for help when needed. It's about listening to your guts and setting yourself on a journey of self-discovery, while dealing with your demons and intensely taking care of your mind and health.

The author touched on Nora's struggles with depression and thoughts of suicide even. Some kind of trigger warning would've been nice, or maybe a follow up by the end of the book with resources on mental health and even suicide hotlines, as I wasn't expecting this dark turn from the book cover and premise alone. It was a realistic approach to Nora's issues and I wholeheartedly appreciate the author for going that route, because these things have been sitting with me at times too.

Between the funny dialogues and sweet moments Nora had with her colleague Will, her friend Beth or even Andrew's nudging and helping, I can genuinely recommend this book. It's an easy read, not always light on topics but still very enjoyable, hopeful and heartwarming

Must Love Books absolutely blew me away. It's brilliant, heartfelt, and made me shed more than a tear or two. As someone who wants to work in publishing after graduation, the premise hit me particularly hard (and made me reconsider my future plans more than once). Robinson captures a beautiful blend of longing and practicality. There were so many quotes I highlighted in this novel—so many quotes that resonate with me.

Robinson writes candidly and honestly about mental health and depression; this book is sure to strike a chord with anyone that has gone through the same mental health struggles that Nora has. I appreciate that Robinson never fell back on the stereotype of a person with depression as someone who does little else but stay in bed all day. It's often more complicated than that, as Nora points out.

This novel is flush with humor, beautiful writing and brilliant characters that will make you believe in the beauty of the world again. It's hard to keep spoilers out of this review because all I want to do is to shout how amazing this book is from every rooftop in America. I'm incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to read this novel in advance of its publication. Must Love Books should be on everyone's most anticipated books of 2022.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

😌A book about finding purpose. What a wonderful premise.

🎊I went into this book blind and had no expectations. I didn't even know the characters were people of colour until I started reading. It was certainly a nice surprise and an interesting view of the publishing world (a world the author actually comes from!).

📝The writing style wasn't bad but also not exceptional. The book overall definitely had a slow feeling to it which I hoped would eventually change. It didn’t but in the end it kind of fit the mood of the story and Nora's "three". Nonetheless, Nora's reflection on suicide felt a little shocking and unexpected as a reader. I wish there had been some sort of hint that this was how extreme her feelings and thoughts were. That being said, it is definitely something I am glad to see discussed. It is a delicate matter but very relatable. Depression and the general search for purpose is something many people (especially new adults) struggle with. Despite the slow feeling of the book, I had to keep reading to see how things would unfold and I have to say I'm pleased.

💕Lastly, I loved that a man wasn't the final solution to all of Nora's problems. Sure he was there to support and guide and just be totally awesome (where can I find me an Andrew Santos?!) but unlike other books, he wasn't the answer, he wasn't her purpose.

🗓Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks for this ARC! Book goes on sale January 18, 2022

Romance, books, and publishing-- what's not to love? This is was a cozy escape that I found to be fun and heartwarming. The main character of Nora was incredibly endearing and likeable and her job as an editorial assistant in the publishing industry provided an intriguing setting. Shauna Robinson provides perfect banter and setup for well-developed, likeable characters.

I really enjoyed this novel. From the appealing cover and title (I mean, who doesn’t love books!?) I thought this would be a fairly light romance novel. In some ways it was but it was so much more. The main character Nora is stuck in a dead end job as an editorial assistant, hoping against hope to advance in a career in publishing or at least start to make a living wage. The most surprising aspect of the book was the frank and well delivered discussion of Nora's struggles with mental health. So many people struggle with finding the happiness they seek and are unsure how to get there in both personal and professional life. The book doesn’t hand out answers but gives the reader something to think about. The importance of friends is a big part of Nora's path forward and of course her love of books. This was not a sad read but an uplifting and thought provoking novel. I highly recommend it.

I really enjoyed this book because it felt like a backstage pass to learn about the world of publishing! I have never worked in publishing but, as an active reader, have been curious about the process. I feel like I learned a lot about it while reading this book! The romance was adorable as well. Fun read overall!

Think you want to work in publishing? Shauna Robinson wants you to think again! On the face of it, Must Love Books looks like a funny romantic read with a bookish base; right up my alley. In actuality, it’s so much more.
Nora is an editorial assistant and has been for five years. She got into publishing because she loves books, then application itself said ‘must love books!’ But five years on, the powers that be are cutting budgets positions and people and Nora is face to face with too much work, not enough support and a real sense that books and publishing are not adjacent.
Must love Books is really a story of a mental health journey, to looking headlong at your life and challenging the way you think about yourself and the choices you make. I loved Nora’s somewhat raw and proudly found journey from stuck in a life she never expected; to taking some risks (that don’t all pay off) to realising that you don’t have to have all your ducks in a row to find your happy.
A brilliant debut novel that explores the myth of the ‘perfect job’ and reminds us that we don’t have to have all the answers all the time. Thank you so much to Shauna Robinson and Net galley for allowing me to read Must Love Books; can’t wait to have a hard copy of this one on my shelf at home.

I simply adored this book. Shauna Robinson's Must Love Books is a must read!

TW for the book - there is discussion of depression and suicidal thoughts.

Nora is a twenty-something treading water in what has become a toxic work environment. What started as a dream job is now a bit of a nightmare. Throughout the book, she meets a guy and takes some risks (both personal and professional), but the center of the story is all about Nora finding herself. Sure, the cute guy helps, but the story always comes back to Nora. I would have been ok with a book all about this budding romance, but I was so happy to read a story about a young woman discovering what it is she wants to do with her life.

The author covers quite a bit of ground, and I felt like she did in in such a skillful and thoughtful way. You've got the office drama/antics (also race in the workplace), a potential love interest, a journey of self-discovery, and a very real bout of depression/depiction of anxiety, dread, and suicidal thoughts. I appreciated how each of these stories interacted with each other and came together to tell a full and thoughtful story.

I will definitely be buying a copy of this book when it comes out and recommending it to my friends who are looking for a quick and easy read with real substance. I'm looking forward to reading more by Shauna Robinson!

This was a fun, quick read. Anyone who is interested in the publishing industry and/or who can relate to a character who is unsure what she wants to do with her life will enjoy the story. The romance side of it was very well done, too: the characters' relationship was believable and sweet, and I loved that the ending was inspiring and happy without being a fairytale. I'll be recommending it!

i didn't really expect to be as moved by this book as I was but I really couldn't stop thinking about it. It exquisitely encapsulates the struggle that so many people in their 20s face, the desire to get their life together while battling student debt and coming to terms with the reality of their dreams as the beautiful veil that gives our expectations that rosy glow slowly crumbles and fades away.

Here are some aspects of the book that really stood out to me -

1. Nora's sense of humour and sarcasm, and how easy it was to root for her and sympathize with her plight.
2. The conversations around books - the struggle of finishing all the books you own, the thrill of entering bookstores, the pleasure of putting together a perfectly worded review at the end.
3. Figuring out what we want from life and how happiness isn't always a point on the horizon but a journey that we wake upto every day and constantly, actively need to move towards.
4. Mental health representation and how new adult struggles surrounding it is often dismissed, specially when they are overwhelmed and constantly expected to pick up the slack at their underpaid jobs.
5. The incredible banter between Nora and Santos, and their slow burn romance

I will post a more complete review on goodreads and instagram closer to pub day, as suggested by the publisher.

Thank you to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for providing this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Nora is unhappy with her job, and with life in general. When she gets a pay cut, she realises she won't be able to make ends meet on a lower salary, so she takes a second job without telling either of her employers. Where she meets Andrew, who becomes more than just an author to her, complicates things.

Kudos to a Shauna Robinson with this debut. Likable characters and a storyline that keeps you reading. Must Love Books is your next book club read.

I received an ARC of Must Love Books from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’m glad I did because I’m not sure I would have read it otherwise.
When I asked for the book it was based on the title and cover. Both are clever. And both fit the book perfectly.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
The honest portrayal of anxiety and depression faced by so many today, especially young professionals trying to make ends meet in this world where everything is so expensive.
The misogyny from Henry—ugh! The uncertainty about how to move forward. The tension that moved from light to intense as every page leads to the catastrophe readers know is coming. ***CW suicide ideation is part of Nora’s journey.
Andrew is Nora’s perfect opposite. The light feel of romance in this women’s fiction novel is perfect. Too much would have negated Nora’s journey.
Must Love Books is master storytelling. It takes a strong writer to weave all the tough issues Nora faces through a a story without letting the story itself feel heavy.

What a wonderful debut by Shauna Robinson! Of course, the title and cover captured my heart. And I could definitely relate to main character Nora Hughes, stuck in a low-paying job she hates. We’ve all been there! Turns out even publishing jobs can do a number on one’s psyche, as it did to Nora. The real strength of MUST LOVE BOOKS is the way the author deals frankly with depression. Wonderful books like these help remove the stigma and give hope for a new, happier life. Brava!

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 18 Jan 2022
#MustLoveBooks #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

Shauna Robinson has written a terrific first book with believable, likeable characters. I cheered for Nora through the whole book - everyone will.