This book caught me by surprise in such a good way! It is so charming and cute I loved every bit of it! Quaint town in Ireland with a handsome bookstore owner? Say less, I’m already in.

Emily Allen has the opportunity of a lifetime - helping her favorite childhood author finish her favorite series in the world - in Ireland. When the American reaches the home of her beloved author, Siobhan Riordan, she receives a chilly reception from the author's son. He wants his mom to take it easy and is worried for her health. As Emily works hard to keep Siobhan going to finish the story, more of Siobhan's story unravels and she's left with a choice to make - will she have to sacrifice the ending of the story she's always dreamt of for love?

So at first I was really hoping I would love this book! It covers travel, writing, bookshops, and a character with hypochondria. Sign me up! Unfortunately, I did not actually enjoy this book very much. It may be a factor of just finishing up Wild Dark Shore and being thrown into a book slump after it because nothing will quite compare. However, I just kept wishing for this book to end. Also, the conflict was not good. I could see it coming from a mile away and it just made me upset.

| loved this book!! I love when books have characters who like to read or own book stores and this book had both of these. I loved how this book was set in Ireland and the Last chapter book shop sounded so cozy. Emily is the main character she's a librarian who wants a change of pace and to break free from her controlling mother and finds the oppurtunity of a life time to be a pastime book seller and assistant to her favorite author Siobhan. Siobhan wrote a young adult book series. However she has some trouble with Siobhan's son Kieran who's the owner of the bookstore and doesn't seem to like her. I loved the sort of enemies to lovers vibe in this book. I also loved how Siobhan and Emily bonded over her book and writing. I loved all the food mentioned and the overall cozy vibes in this book from cottages to castles and tons of books, tea and biscuits.

Love at First Book by Jenn McKinlay is a heartwarming, bookish romance that feels like a cozy hug. McKinlay blends book lover vibes with witty banter and a touch of self-discovery, making it more than just a meet-cute. The setting is dreamy, the love story is sweet without being too sugary, and the characters feel like people you’d want to be friends with. Perfect for anyone who believes in the magic of books, second chances, and finding love where you least expect it.

Looking for a light and breezy read? "Love at First Book" follows American Emily Allen as she embarks on her dream: assisting her beloved author Siobhan Riordan while running a quaint bookshop in the quintessential Irish village, Finn’s Hollow. Excited to be embarking on an exciting adventure, her plans are complicated by her snarky boss, Kieran, who seems determined to undermine her. Despite their initial animosity, a palpable chemistry develops, only to be threatened by a revealed secret. Will Emily stay in Ireland and complete her mission, or will Kieran's sabotage and the secret send her back to the States? Recommended as an easy and satisfying choice for readers looking to meet their 2025 reading goals.

I enjoyed the first book in this series, Summer Reading, and was excited for Emily's story. As a traveler myself, who would love nothing more than to get the opportunity Emily did to work at a bookshop abroad and assist a writer she loves, this book spoke to me before I even opened the book.
I appreciate Jenn's books because she touches on serious, life matters. Both Kieran and Emily have some trauma backstory in their parental relationships that affect them both as adults. Watching Kieran slowly let his guard down and connect with Emily was lovely. Honestly though, my favorite relationship in the book is the maternal one that Siobhan takes on with Emily. Knowing Emily's mother and treatment of Emily, it was cathartic reading about Emily having a healthy maternal relationship.
Speaking of Emily's mom, she kind of disappeared later in the story. For being such a big part of Emily's journey, it felt like there was no closure in it. And Emily's attachment to a book series from her youth as an adult, was a little much for me. I get having a book or series that was a big part of your life and seeing paralells or comfort in the pages, but her obsession seemed a bit creepy. And Kier seemed a more rude, rather than grumpy/broody in the beginning, but when he and Emily finally allow themselves to become more, I really liked him as a character and enjoyed seeing his growth and understanding over his relationship with his mom as a child.
If you like a book with a bookstore and an author and former librarian has all the bookish things you want, including many book quotes.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Tig McMorrow now has his last chapter, but for you and me, Red, our story is just beginning."


Love at First Book was completely precious. If you had told me that I would go on such an emotional ride with this book, I would not have believed you. And yet, here I am melting into a puddle full of feelings.

In this, you will meet Emily and Kieran. She goes by Em and is new to Finn's Hollow. He goes by Murphy and is her new boss. Does it end there? Absolutely not. Names mean nothing to these two because five seconds after meeting one another, they call each other Red and Kier. Sure, it might just annoy the other to hear that name, but it eventually grew on them.

Key word: eventually.

Anyways, she is absolutely loving Ireland and this adorable town. She wishes Kier wasn't so stubborn and was more accepting of the changes his bookstore desperately needs. He doesn't want her here one bit because if she is, that means his mom is back to writing. As well as constantly being on his mind, but details.

Oh, that tidbit about his mom? Well, she's a writer, and Em is also there to be her assistant. I absolutely adored Siobhan and secretly wish the Tig McMorrow series actually existed. She, like her son, can be very stubborn but has had the biggest writer's block of her life. While she had a great reason to not write a book for ten years, her beloved readers just want to know what's going on in Tig's life. Some fans can be super crazy.

It was difficult to put the book down as the relationship blossomed and the drama erupted all around them. Especially when Siobhan was starting to write the book! Of course, I did that very thing, but I was trying my hardest to digest this very slowly. So slowly that I felt so many freaking emotions. Heck, I cried!

In the end, this book was so freaking good. I highly recommend it and now I feel like I need to jump into Sam's book.

Sweet yet predictable and the prickly son was sometimes a little too prickly. Often these books have some suspense and romance, and you know what’s going happen but there is a misunderstanding. Why don’t people just say what’s on their mind? I probably would’ve given this more stars if I didn’t feel that it was too frustrating and people were just too “quiet”. Sometimes a book is prolonged because of silly misunderstandings and it just gets tiresome. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

It was not my cup of tea unfortunately. I really struggled to get into the book. I thought the premise of the book was interesting enough but I just couldn’t connect with the characters.

I received a copy of this book as a host for The Gloss Book Club, and we’re reading it for our February meeting!

Emily is leaving her home on Martha’s Vineyard, where she works as a librarian and lives with her mom, to take on an exciting new role—working as a writer’s assistant for one of her childhood favorite authors. Alongside this, she’ll also be spending part of her time at The Last Chapter bookstore.
Upon arriving, she meets Kieran Murphy, the gruff and standoffish bookstore owner, who also happens to be Siobhan’s son. Their dynamic starts off rocky, but as they spend more time together, tensions give way to something deeper.

I’ll be honest—this book had a very slow start for me, and it wasn’t until I was over halfway through that I became somewhat invested in the storyline. That said, I loved all the Irish phrases I picked up along the way, and the bookish quotes sprinkled throughout were a lovely touch. The banter between Kieran and Emily was fun, and I appreciated the complexity of their family relationships, which added depth to their characters.

✨ Tropes You’ll Find Here:
📖 Enemies to lovers
🔥 Slow burn
📚 Books about books
🌿 Small-town setting
If you’re a fan of slow-burn romances, this one might be right up your alley!

I really enjoyed Love at First Book! As a book lover, I was immediately drawn to the premise, and it delivered exactly what I was hoping for—a charming romance filled with heart, humor, and, of course, a love for literature.

The main character was easy to root for. She was smart, independent, and had just the right amount of vulnerability to make her feel real. Her journey wasn’t just about romance but also about self-discovery, which I really appreciated. The love interest was equally compelling—thoughtful, kind, and someone I genuinely wanted to see her end up with. Their chemistry was strong, and their interactions were a great mix of sweet and witty.

One of my favorite things about this book was the setting. The cozy, bookish atmosphere made me want to curl up with a cup of tea and get lost in the story. The supporting characters also added a lot of charm, bringing humor and warmth to the plot.

Overall, Love at First Book is a delightful, feel-good read that’s perfect for book lovers and romance fans alike.

Incredibly sweet story about pushing outside of your comfort zone and finding love in unlikely places!!
Emily moves to Ireland to take her dream job and ends up finding so much more. I felt like I was walking through the streets of the village alongside Emily and feeling all of the feels right along with her. The banter and relationship were fun and realistic!

A good book. Our heroine accepts a job and moves to Ireland. There she will work with her favorite author, who she is obsessed with. She will also meet the author's son, who wants his mother to rest, not risk her health becoming obsessed with the characters in her book. McKinlay clearly explores the feelings of each character, so it's hard to choose sides.

Love at First Book was a fun romance with very well developed characters and a great storyline. I loved how the heroine takes a job assisting her favorite author with her favorite series and also works in a library where her boss is the author’s son. No spoilers here! I encourage you to give this one a go and enjoy as I did. Thank you to Ms. McKinlay, NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for the opportunity to review this book.

This book was written with readers in mind and I am here for it! It is perfect for those who love enemies to lovers, slow burn, found family and grumpy sunshine tropes.

Extremely tempted to give this one a solid 5 but there were a few times that gave me pause for it being a little too hokey. By the end, I was in love. So stinkin' cute! Definitely a top cozy romance for me.

fantastic romance with some really compelling characters. our protagonists were amazing love interests and Siobhan was an awesome character. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Small town, forced proximity. Enjoyable read. First time read a book by this authors. Thanks to the publisher for my copy.

When a librarian moves to a quaint Irish village where her favorite novelist lives, the last thing she expects is to fall for the author’s prickly son… until their story becomes one for the books, from the New York Times bestselling author of Summer Reading .