"The last-page ache. The deep breath in after you've the set the book aside."

"Does anyone ever want to finish a good book?"

I cried when I finished this, so, NO I did not want to finish, and I deeply felt that last-page ache.

I am a HUGE Emily Henry fan, and this was my favorite of hers so far. I've said it before, but I'm going to say it again: Emily's books are a MASTERCLASS, not only in in romance and characters and setting, but also in the craft of writing itself. HOMEGIRL CAN WORK A METAPHOR. I was blown away by how beautiful this story was, and all the elements just *worked* so well. I couldn't put it down and I just want to re-read it again and again and again. I laughed, I cried, I swooned. A++++++

(Also, we love a man with killer eyebrows???)

A huge thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. BOOK LOVERS is out May 3, 2022.

Emily Henry's books are like a soft breeze on a sunny day. They are flowers blooming under your feet, in your life. They are the sun lighting up your world every single day. They are your favorite snack whenever you're feeling down. They are a hug when you need it the most. Emily Henry's books are your best friend, your best lover, your family. I swear every time I read one I feel like I shed a new skin and I can go at life once again.

Book Lovers is the story of one literary agent going on a trip with her little sister to a small town in order to complete a list inspired by their favorite book, but in said little town she finds the book editor she doesn't like so much too. Nora is a very sharp agent that cares so much about her work, about her clients. She has always believed she is the villain of her ex's love stories because she has always been the left woman, the girlfriend left in the city when her boyfriends have gone to a small town and found love with someone else like in the romance novels she loves the most. She thinks life is driven by popular tropes, so this book is definitely a love letter to book lovers, readers, and everyone who works in the book community.

You know, Beach Read is definitely more WF than romance while I think People We Meet on Vacation is more romance but still WF in some way. I think Book Lovers might have a bit of romcom in it tho. I couldn't stop laughing. I was smiling way too hard while reading the book. The way Nora, Libby, Charlie and every single character is so hilarious. The words, the conversations, Emily Henry never missed.

Now the romance? The romance is chef kiss. Nora and Charlie are right there with Alex and Poppy as my favorite EM couple. (But Nora is definitely my favorite heroine she has written!). The romance starts very early on but it still is very slow burn like an Emily Henry novel. She knows how to grab your attention and keep it there. She knows how to make you swoon and Nora and Charlie do it in spades. Skinny-dipping but also hot makeout session? Check. Kissing under the rain while fondling? Check. This book is HOT AND STEAMY. But also it's very charming and I love the banter between these two because they understand each other so fully. It's like they've met their equal and now can finally breathe. Huh, I've been searching for someone like you. Here you are.

But like any Emily Henry novel it's also really emotional. It talks about heavy topics like death (of a parent), grief and PTSD. So please thread carefully when you're ready to pick up this book, please!

What more can I say about this book? I loved it. I don't think I've said that. It's so good, so fulfulling, so wholesome. Every chance I got, I wanted to keep reading it. I can't believe I'm reading it now in October and this is coming out in May, so the next Emily Henry book is definitely coming out on 2023 I bet *sobs* more than a year of waiting for me now.