Grab your tea, a blanket, and snuggle up because we are going to Ireland for a cute, cozy romance. Seriously, guys, the vibes and aesthetic alone had me ready to book my flight. The relationship between Emily and Keir is just unmatched. But also, the healing that occurs between Keir and his mom?! It’s just so beautifully written 🥹
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Emily needs to put some distance between her and her mother, and what better way than to go halfway across the globe to a rainy Irish village. Honestly, if I could, I would. She’s a trained librarian but accepts a job as the assistant to her favorite author, Siobhan, while working in a bookshop. As the assistant, Emily helps to pick Siobhan's brain and complete her beloved Tig McMorrow series.
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Keir is the grumpy, broody bookshop owner. He also happens to be Siobhan’s son and the biggest obstacle for Emily. Keir would prefer his mother spend her healthy years retired and enjoying the life she’s built. Instead, she convinces him to work with Emily and help her finish the Tig McMorrow series.
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Understandably, Emily has a hard time resisting Keir. I mean, who could? (Remember, grumpy, broody, bookshop owner?) After countless hours and tears, they complete the series. Once they close the door on Tig McMorrow, they have to decide if they should close the door on their future.
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I couldn’t have loved the setting or characters of this book anymore than I do. The banter is great and proves how difficult Irish men are to resist 😍. Not to mention, Emily’s reaction to seeing a real castle in person for the first time? Same. I was also in awe (and in Ireland, ironically). It was so fun getting to experience things I recalled from my own time in Ireland in the story☘️🇮🇪

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

Jenn McKinlay does it again… another book which totally captured my attention from the very beginning until the last word. A fun filled, chuckle worthy (at times), sad (again – at times) engaging story of a woman moving out from under her mother’s control and adventuring to a foreign country to become an assistant to her favourite author.

Emily Allen (Em) is a librarian who had dreams of travel and adventure. Being a librarian meant she has an inherent love of books and when by chance she is given the opportunity to work with her favourite author (Siobhan Riordan) to finish the author’s most renowned series, Em jumps at the chance! But moving to a new country all on her own, leaving everything she is familiar with is not an easy feat. Especially when she will also work part-time at a bookstore with the author’s son (Kieran Murphy) as her boss. But what unfolds is a delightful story where we see Em grow as an individual now that she is away from her mother’s control.

As the reader, I really enjoyed being able to explore the Irish countryside along with Em. Who wouldn’t want to live in Finn’s Hollow? Sounds very serene. I truly wished I was there! And lest we forget – the romance. It was a slow (‘ish) burn, and the journey was fun and frankly, not unexpected. Though it can be tricky falling for one’s boss (and the other boss’s son ☺).

We, as the reader, also get to see how Em navigates her long time coming emancipation from the toxic relationship with her mother. It takes courage and grit to stand up to a parent and indicate that their parent must stand on their own and not take bad life events out on their child. After all, Em did not have anything to do with how her parents treated each other. Though I do take issue with Em’s father for leaving his little girl in such a toxic environment. I was very happy about the way Em stood up to her mom (even if she had to do it from halfway across the globe).

There were a few surprises along the way, but that just made the read more engaging. I also want to say – I so want to enjoy a pint in the local bar – it sounds so fun! And my wish to explore Ireland has now moved to the top of my travel wish list 🙂.

If I had to name one “bad” thing about this book – it would be the title. Not overly fond of it since the book that Siobhan is trying to complete is the last book of her series! And there are many books in the bookstore that Em is working in so the title of the book just did not sit right with me. However, it in no way diminished my enjoyment of the book.

Love at First Book would make a perfectly wonderful Hallmark movie! And given the number of Hallmark movies I have watched over the years – I should know 😊.

If you are a romantic at heart, or just love reading books about books and authors…or exploring new lands with a hint of romance (okay – maybe a bit more than a “hint”), I would recommend reading Love at First Book. As with all of Jenn McKinlay’s books that I have read – it is worth the time. You will be taken away to Em’s world – and what an enjoyable world it is.

This is solidly a 4.5 for me.

The beginning was a little slower for me but I was still very intrigued. It was set in Ireland (loveeeeee) and the main characters are a librarian and a small book shop owner (loveeeee even more). Emily is an American who writes her favorite writer and scores an assistant job for her! She also has an anxiety disorder and a complicated relationship with her mother. Kieran is a local, to Ireland, book shop owner and the son of Siobhan. He’s also the very grumpy oppostie to Emily’s sunshine. He hates change and has a lot of feelings about his mother as a writer.

Emily and Kieran meet and it’s hate at first sight…but is it? Emily says she goes by Red, which she absolutely does not and Kieran becomes Kier pretty quickly even when everyone calls him Murphy. These two have a spicy relationship throughout the whole book and I just love their back and forth. I really enjoyed the layers in this book. I found myself laughing, holding my breath, cheering, and even crying! The ending was just stunning.

I'm a sucker for a rom-com that takes place in a bookstore. There is just something so magical about two characters falling in love while being surrounded by books. This book takes place in the same world as Jenn's previous book, Summer Reading. In this story, we follow Emily (also known as Em or Red), whom we met in Summer Reading; she is Sam's best friend. The opening pages start with Em having a mild panic attack because she has travelled across the ocean to start a new job in a small town in Ireland. A move this shy bookworm would never have imagined she would be brave enough to do. Em is going to be working with her favourite author, as well as working in the local bookshop. I really liked this book and its characters. Things move along at a great pace, so my attention never drifted off. I loved the location in which this book takes place. Who wouldn't love to spend time in a small, charming Irish town? Jenn perfectly captured the essence of that small-town charm and quirkiness. It was delightful learning different Irish sayings and traditions.

The overall story, was perfection. There is this great balance of romance, laughter, and heartbreak. You really cannot help but connect with the story that is unfolding on these pages. I loved Em; if she were real, I know we would be bookish kindred spirits. She has travelled to Ireland to help her favourite author, Siobhan, write the final book in the Tig McMorrow series. Anyone who was a bookworm when they were young will understand Em's passion for the Tig McMorrow book series Siobhan has created. Just think of those children's book series that often have that big impact on kids (Harry Potter, Anne of Green Gables, The Golden Compass, The Lighting Thief, etc.). Now imagine that series never being finished. The horror! Reading Tig McMorrow as a child helped Em in so many ways growing up. She found comfort and love in the words Siobhan wrote. I understand Em's passion and her longing to know how this series will end. Her reasons for being so passionate about the Tig McMorrow series is something many bookworms, young and old, will be able to connect with. The relationship between Em and Siobham was so sweet and heartwarming. I loved every moment these two were together. Em is also learning to spread her wings for the first time. Em's life has been dictated by her mother's needs and wants for most of her life. Em had been living her life not for herself but for her mom. I also love watching a character blossom, and Em's journey really was heartwarming.

The romance in this book is perfect for those bookworms who love good enemies to lovers, forced proximity, work-place, and vacation love story. I adored these two characters because there is nothing better than watching two bookworms fall in love. The dialogue and banter between these two were fabulous. There are so many wonderful bookish quotes and references. I loved watching these two try and stump each other over random bookish questions. Besides all the bookish-themed banter, there is also that sharp banter that often exists in an enemy-to-lovers relationship. I don't know what it is about that sharp and prickly banter, but it sure is pure catnip for this bookworm's soul. The relationship between Em and Kier is not smooth sailing, which is pretty typical for an enemies-to-lovers relationship. Mistrust and misunderstandings are the main sources of conflict between these two.

Love at First Book is such a satisfying rom-com that I would read it again and again.

I actually hadn't heard of this one until another Bookstagrammer told me about it. We tend to have the same feelings about books and are both readers of all genres, but this was a new one for me. A new-to-me author and a title I had yet to see on social media. Knowing that Berkley hosts some of my favourite rom-com romances because of the depth of them, I knew it had to be decently written and probably one that would win me over.

And that it did.

A story about a young woman Emily who takes an assistant job to a renowned and much loved reclusive author in Ireland. She was hired for Siobhan but also worked in the bookstore in town, where she meets a whole cast of loveable characters. Including the grumpy Kieran. Also known as the owner.
Also known as the Siobhan's son.

What happens over the course of the book is a blend of romance and coming-of-voice. Emily falls for the Irish countryside and she finds a space in which she can be herself without her complicated mother hurting her. I would say absence would make the heart grow fonder between the mother-daughter but the reality is that some relationships are just too damaged and space plus a little boundaries.

As the jobs progress, so does Emily. The reader literally watches her grow in confidence with just a little more love and respect in the Irish countryside and when love finds itself in the grumpy Kier, it feels like Emily gets her happily ever after.

Oh but wait, did I tear up at one point...yep.
Is it all sunny and fluff in this book...nope

It's romance with grit and a real life story with heart.
totally adored this one. Thanks Jenn for making sure I read it and to Berkley for saying yes on netgalley.

4.5 stars

I requested this from the catalog months ago because I was drawn in by the cute cover and bibliophile characters. I adore books centered around literature. Novels set in bookshops and libraries always zing straight to the bookworm's heart. Love at First Book had some nice elements, but I wasn't really feeling it. It was sickly sweet like a Hallmark movie and the dialogue was cringy, especially in the bedroom. Calling a ginger "Red" is cute the first few times, but it got old after the 50th time or so. I thought I would indeed find Love at First Book like the title, but I was sorely mistaken.

Although this book didn't meet my lofty standards, I would recommend this for those who prefer slower paces and low steam. The bedroom scenes were rather verbose and it was incredibly awkward. I think I've definitely moved on from Hallmark-esque romances and prefer high-octane hotrods. I personally would love to travel to Ireland, work at a bookstore, and fall in love just like the heroine. This book had great features, but I just didn't like the way it was written. I don't believe I'll continue with this author, but I would recommend for those who prefer easy, low-stakes romances compared to the dramatic, steamy ones my kindle is stuffed to the gills. Although it wasn't Love At First Book, I was momentarily charmed by the first few chapters.

5/5 - A charming, cozy, meaningful and emotional story that readers, writers and book lovers will especially adore! I could not get over the setting - a bookshop in a quaint, picturesque and perfect little village in Ireland with a bubbling community, treats I could practically taste and timeless traditions that I felt a part of.

I loved both Emily and Kieran - as individuals and an eventual couple - and the development of their characters and story alongside Siobhan’s was so touching. Em and Kier’s banter and book references were👌🏻 and their slow burn romance was perfectly timed. These two are so well matched - my heart almost couldn’t handle it!

But this story wasn’t just about romantic love. It was also about losing and finding yourself in the most unexpected people and places, about pain, hurt and healing, and releasing the past to truly be present. It’s about life and living and change, too. Relationships are at the forefront here, and both the key players and side characters made this a very meaningful, magical and poignant story. It absolutely made me cry.

Thank you to @netgalley, Berkeley and Jenn McKinlay for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! OUT TUESDAY so snatch this one up!

LOVE AT FIRST BOOK is a romance book lover’s dream 💕

Emily Allen moves to a quaint Irish village where her favorite novelist lives. Emily couldn’t pass up the opportunity to help her favorite author write the final book in the series that means so much to her. What she didn’t expect was Siobhan’s grumpy son to get in her way.

Emily was such an easy character to root for. She has dreamed of adventures and travel, and she gets exactly that in LOVE AT FIRST BOOK. Then there’s Kieran Murphy — he’s prickly and grumpy, but under that hard exterior is a sweetie who only wants the best for his mother. These two bring out the best in each other and have great banter.

📚 grumpy / sunshine
📚 main characters work at a bookstore
📚 complicated family dynamics

It was easy to daydream about this stunning Irish village, which made me want to pack my bags and take a trip 🧳✈️

This was absolutely adorable! So sweet and heartfelt and I fully sobbed through the last ~15%. The characters and plot felt so real—I found myself completely immersed in the story and rooting for a happily ever after. Plot points and reveals were foreshadowed well and parallel stories were woven expertly. The story is so much more than a romance and is a love letter to found family and learning to love again. Loved it!

Imagine a scenario where an American librarian fulfills her lifelong dream of working with her favorite author in Ireland. She spends half of her day with the author and the other half working at a cozy bookstore owned by a broody, sarcastic, yet endearing Irish lad named Kieran Murphy. Emily Allen, who has never been assertive before, finds herself embracing her sassy side while dealing with Kieran. The story takes place in a charming village with delightful characters and picturesque scenery.

I absolutely adored this story, especially as a librarian. It warmed my heart to see all the book references and the process of immersing oneself in a character and their story. It's incredible how these stories live inside our heads, waiting for their moment to be shared.

This book evoked a range of emotions in me - I laughed, cried, felt heartbroken, and ultimately satisfied. It touched me deeply. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of Jenn McKinlay's books in the future.

3.5 stars, rounded up

Emily, needing a break from her work and life on Martha’s Vineyard, is astounded when her favorite author accepts her application to work as her personal assistant – in Ireland. Siobhan has been dealing with a monster case of writer’s block, and it’s been ten years since her last book. The work with Siobhan is a dream come true, but part of Emily’s job also involves working at the bookstore managed by Sioban’s son, Kieran. Kieran has made it clear that he doesn’t want Emily there, in any capacity, but Emily won’t give up and go home.

I really like this author’s Cupcake Bakery, Hat Shop and Library Lover’s mystery series, and I’ve read most of her rom-com stand alone books as well. While I like the rom-coms, I prefer the mysteries, probably because I’m more a mystery reader than a romance reader.

I love the name of the bookstore – The Last Chapter – and would love to browse its contents for a day or two...or three :)
I like the characters in this book, especially Siobhan. Despite her age and personal issues, she knows what she wants and rarely wavers from that position. Yes, her status as a best-selling author gives her more clout than most, but that doesn’t account for all of it.

Emily and Kieran are almost as stubborn as Siobhan, so of course they run into several roadblocks on their way to the predictable romantic relationship. It was equally predictable that they would work through those roadblocks and find their happy ending – and that they would both help Siobhan finish the last book of her series.

I look forward to reading the next books Ms. McKinlay releases.

This was a fun grumpy/sunshine read while also dealing with some serious issues - especially about parent/child relationships. Em has spent the bulk of her life taking care of her mother while sacrificing her own interests and even her health. I loved her friend Sam and she was such a good friend and I also really liked that Em talked so openly and honestly about seeing a therapist.

Kieran (or Kier or Murphy) has a challenging family life as well though his issues aren't quite so obvious at first. While I connected with Em almost immediately it took a bit longer to warm up to Kieran. He's a bit sharp and reserved and isn't always the most sensitive in dealing with people. I really enjoyed how he gravitates towards Em and how they bring out different sides of each other. Their banter was fun without feeling over the top. I was dreading a misunderstanding situation but it ended up not being too much of an issue thankfully.

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I really loved the side characters and the food mentions and frienships really added to the book. I especially enjoyed that Em doesn't say she's a reader but she talks knowledgely about books that she has read and it is clear just how much she loves Siobhan's books. This is the first romance I've read from this author but it definitely won't be the last.

The perfect way to get into the Irish spirit (besides throwing back some green beer, of course!) was sitting down to read Jenn McKinley's new book, set in a quaint Irish town, with a swoony MMC (gah the accent!), and a fiery red-headed librarian!
To say that I got lost in this bookish romance is an understatement. I wanted to be in this small town- enjoying tea and biscuits, devouring sweets in the bakery, perusing the
love with the grumpy MMC, Kieran Murphy!
Highly recommend adding to your TBR!

Emily leaves her home in MA to work with her favorite author in Ireland. She falls in love with the bookshop, new friends and handsome shop owner. If you enjoy books, a bit of craic and Irish stories, snuggle up with this warm book.
Thank you Net Galley for the ARC!

A librarian embarks on an adventure in Ireland, escaping an overbearing mother. This wholesome love story finds her aiding her favorite author with her next novel, and dealing with the women's grumpy son. This story gets off to an incredibly slow beginning, finally finding its footing mid-way through the story. I wish there was more of Emily and Kier.

Love at First Book is a coming of age, finding your voice then a romance.

Thank you, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley

(4.5 stars) Many thanks to @berkleyromance and @prhaudio for the gifted digital and audio copies of this follow-up to 2023’s Summer Reading. Below is my honest review!

Emily Allen left her job as a librarian on Martha's Vineyard to live out a book lover's dream. She'll spend the next year in Ireland as the assistant to her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan. Siobhan hasn't written in 10 years, and her fans worldwide are clamoring for the final novel in her wildly popular series. When not assisting Siobhan, she will be working in the bookshop owned by Siobhan's son. That son, Kieran Murphy, absolutely does not want Emily working with his mom or in the bookshop. As they challenge each other with obscure book quotes, Kieran's gruffness softens, and he realizes that Emily is a like-minded book lover, not just a rabid fan of his mom's work. But when Siobhan's health begins to decline, Emily is caught between her growing attraction to Kier and her loyalty to the author she deeply admires.

The begrudging mutual attraction and witty book banter are top-notch, but this book is much more complex than the cover portrays. It is a sweet love story but also a powerful, emotional story about adult children and their mothers. I loved Emily's journey with both her mother and Siobhan. I recommend reading Summer Reading first, as that book lays the groundwork for Emily's relationship with her mother and her anxiety issues. It is also just a great book, and Sam & Ben make multiple cameos here.

The audiobook was narrated by Brittany Pressley, who must be a magician because I could have sworn that this was a dual narration with an Irish man voicing Kieran. 

Content Warning: without giving away spoilers, if you are tender in any way about your relationship with your mom, there are a lot of hard mom themes here.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

The premise of this book seemed so promising, a romance set in Ireland in a bookstore, sounded like the perfect cozy read. Well it took less than 10 pages for my hackles to be raised at a casual reference to a certain children’s fantasy series attached to a certain heinous TERF and then the red flags just kept coming.

Emily (Em) arrives in Ireland to work as an assistant to her favorite author (whose unfinished series continues to be more and more clearly emulated on the aforementioned title), and while there were potentially interesting aspects to her character including being the child of a narcissistic parent working through challenges of individuation and drawing boundaries, the author didn’t seem interested in developing these themes with any real depth instead focusing on a lot of perfunctory “tell not show” passages. There are also a lot of inconsistencies in her character that the author just asks us to accept, like on she’s been a total doormat people pleaser her whole life before the first page of this book but the minute she meets this man her entire personality shifts.

There were also several more moments that made me go “hmmm” not in a good way, including moments describing the FMC’s body type that gave me the ick in a major way (she eats so much but just can’t gain weight etc etc), her response to the behavior of her father engaging in a relationship with a woman his daughter’s age was…. Strange and offputting, a passing reference to cancel culture etc. A good example is one scene the two main characters spend a whole evening in deep conversation cementing their romantic chemistry discussing such topics as whether Hemingway was a misogynist or just misunderstood (newsflash: he was definitely a misogynist).

I will say there were some cute moments and fun tension in Em and Kieran’s banter, but it was all overshadowed by the underdeveloped characters, cheesy dialogue, and unlikeable main character.

What a fun book and a dream job!! A librarian in a quaint Irish Village where one of her favorite authors offers her a job. Siobhan Riordan needs Emily to work at her bookstore and help her finish her series that she has taken a 10 year hiatus from. This is where she meets her grouchy son Kieran who manages the store. He is not happy with her presence.
When Siobhan becomes sick, she needs Emily's help to finish it but not without a fight from Kieran who wants his mother to rest....understandable. When she sees through his demeanor, she falls for him.
I love a book with a hate/love relationship. This one has the perfect setting in the Emerald Isle. An author, a bookstore, a love story...more please!!!
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publication for this incredible Arc in exchange for my honest review!

This story is an absolutely heartwarming and heartbreaking delight. Full disclosure? I’ll always love a book about books set in a small Irish village. Add a steamy, slow-burn romance between a handsome, black-haired, blue-eyed Irishman with a sexy accent and a ginger-haired librarian from America on a year-long, working holiday in his Last Chapter bookshop, and all my fantasies are fulfilled.

However, this book is so much more than an enemies-to-lovers, small town romance. Kier (aka Kieran Murphy) and Red (aka Emily Allen) both carry baggage from difficult, abusive childhoods that have left her with anxiety attacks and hypochondria and him with a strong aversion to change and a sense of abandonment. Yet, it’s their devotion to famous author Siobhan Reardon that binds them together. Siobhan’s Tig McMorrow fantasy series provided comfort and support through Em’s adolescent years, so she’s thrilled when asked to be her assistant as she writes the conclusion to the series after a ten-year hiatus. It’s also an escape from her stifling life and opportunity to break out of her shell. On the other hand, Kier is fiercely protective of his mother, and is resentful of and worried about how she blocks out the world when she’s fully-engrossed in the writing process. So, they almost immediately butt heads, not just over how to handle Siobhan, but also with the changes Em proposes to bring the bookstore into the 21st century. As Siobhan’s deadline fast approaches and the chemistry between Kier and Em heats up, will the last chapter have a happy ending? You’ll have to read it to find out.

McKinlay paints a vivid picture of this quaint Irish village and its colorful and kind inhabitants, builds great tension between Kier and Em, and sensitively portrays the damage done by narcissistic, neglectful, and abusive parents, while still maintaining the fine balance between witty, lighthearted scenes and heartbreaking moments. Don’t be surprised if, like Em, you find yourself daydreaming about epic romance and grand gestures as you read this wonderful story. Highly recommended!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Berkley Romance through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Omg I’m melting 🤭 Tehehe thank you NetGalley and Jenn McKinlay for letting me read Love at First Book before its official release! This was a rideeeee. While this wasn’t necessarily a slow burn by any means, it kind of took me a second to buy the relationship between the two mcs. But once I bought it, I was a GONERRR!! Where is my hot, brooding, protective, Irish man? I also loved that the fmc had to deal with anxiety throughout the story. It really brought a nice humility to her character. As for the mmc, he was so sweet once we got into the meat of the story. He’s my babygirl now. I’d say that you should definitely read this story if you want something low stakes and comforting. Also, get ready to hate the mom. She is a grade A biotch! Not even an A+, just A.