Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review.

I've loved Jenn McKinlay's previous books. While I did enjoy this one, it took me about 50% of the way through to really love it. The beginning felt a bit more uneven, with a focus on the main character's needy mother taking up a lot of space (and then kind of disappearing at the end). I also didn't realize until halfway through that this calls back to McKinlay's Summer Reading novel. Once the love story blossomed and the characters worked on their writing, I enjoyed the book a lot more.

I didn't care for this and frankly, Emily didn't rind true as a librarian and reader. I feel like she is written by someone who likes the idea of being a librarian but doesn't actually know one in real life. This is a real pet peeve of mine.

In Love at First Book by Jenn McKinlay, Emily Allen is offered a job to work for her favorite childhood author in Ireland. Leaving behind a very toxic relationship with her mother, Emily plans to help Siobhan Riordan write the conclusion to the Tig McMorrow books, which were a lifeline during Emily's troubling childhood. Emily spends half her day assisting Siobhan and the other half working for Siobhan's son, Kieran, in his bookstore.

I enjoyed Emily's growth as she finds her voice and her strength. The loving relationship she develops with Siobhan is a wonder - so tender and supportive -something Emily never experienced with her own parents. The banter with Kieran shows they have much in common...in addition to their simmering tension, attraction and passion. Their appreciation of the power of the written word ultimately helps not only Siobhan but also strengthens her relationship with her son.

I will be recommending this book.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing, Jenn McKinlay and NetGalley for this ARC.

All I could think about when I read this book was the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, and the ending of Love At First Book had me actually sobbing. The Harry Potter books were my comfort books for years, and one of the main characters in this book reminds me a lot of a J.K. Rowling-style writer. To this day, as a bright and shiny 30-year-old - I still watch them on a regular basis. WITH THE EXTENDED VERSIONS, I might add! I digress...

Back to Love at First Book, I loved the nostalgic feelings this book gave and how much our heroine, Em/Red has created healthy boundaries in her life and is taking chances. All of those things are major winners for me!!

- The only reason I'm removing a star is because I truly loathed the main love interest: Kieran Murphy. If there ever were a reason to assign a character to a word in the dictionary... his picture would sit beside the word 'implacable.'

**Implacable (adj): not capable of being appeased, significantly changed, or mitigated

Basically, everyone around him should be forced to suffer because he's a grumpy gobshite who won't go to therapy for his mummy issues. And yes... I fully realize that he changed in the end and that he had his issues, etc... but I'm a FIRM believer that how you treat others is a reflection of how you'd be in a relationship. Big gestures, in the end, when you think you might lose someone rather than change... give me the ick a little bit? So now that I've fully committed to this soapbox... I still think you should read Love at First Book -because Em's story is worth reading. And not all dark-haired tall men can be winners.

**Thank you to Berkley & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

I love this. I love the writing, I love the originality of the plot, I love the character development. This was the first Jenn McKinlay book I've read, and I can say with certainty that this will not be the last. There was just a tad of spice, a lot of swoon, but the storyline is what had me hooked. The MFC had the typical librarian persona, except when it came to Kier, the MMC and also her boss. She turned fiesty and fiery when he was around. Both of the MCs have a past with toxic parents, and that led to the demons they were still fighting in this story. It was all around a good book. I love the message it gave in regards to some psychological battles people might face due to past experiences. I love that it did not promote toxic relationships, too. I'm unsure if that was intentional or unintentional, but it was appreciated.
I look forward to sharing and promoting this book on my bookstagram page @steph.overbooked. I will be posting this on its pubdate and I will be sure to tag the publisher and the author in the post.
Thank you again for this opportunity. I know it is difficult at times to get a book from Berkley, but I want to convey my message of appreciation.

This book was ok. The background characters were one-dimensional and cookie cutter supporting characters. The romantic pairing was well done and I enjoyed how much time the characters spent together developing their relationship. However, some of the descriptions were repetitive and there was more telling what characters were doing or thinking than showing character through dialogue and action. Again, this book was ok, but nothing special to the genre.

I can't explain how much I loved this book. The setting was perfect, the characters were great, and the writing was beautiful.

Emily, the female main character, felt so realistic. I loved the fact that she wasn't perfect because it made her so relatable. The way she also fangirled over Siobhan felt like something I absolutely would do with some of my favorite authors too. And oh my god, Kieran was so swoon-worthy. The way he called Emily "Red" was *chefs kiss*. Their banter was so good, and I loved every interaction between them. The author did a great job describing the tension between them.

This book just became my favorite cozy bookstore romance.

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Emily Allen's life takes an unexpected turn when she leaves her job as a librarian in Martha's Vineyard to work for her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan, in Ireland. Little does she know that her new adventure will involve not only helping Siobhan write her final novel but also navigating the prickly demeanor of Siobhan's son, Kieran Murphy. Despite Kieran's initial resistance, Emily finds herself drawn to him, sparking a playful banter that gradually deepens into something more profound. As Emily immerses herself in Siobhan's world and the charming bookstore managed by Kieran, she discovers the complexities of love and family secrets that threaten to unravel everything she holds dear.

Love at First Book is such a sweet story with a stunning landscape and darling characters. Reading about readers and establishing a kinship with characters is always a warm experience, and this, against the backdrop of Irish castles and YA fantasy, is peak cozy. My only complaint is that Emily’s mental health journey gets lost in the fray quite early on. I really wanted to see some strong conflict resolution but it felt like her IAD (and her mother) just sort of disappeared and never came back.

This is a book full of emotional moments that may leave you with many reactions. The plot has the protagonist fleeing in search of a better life. An author fighting her own battle and deadline and a protective son who has quietly handled his own struggles. This story covers love, death, mental abuse, spice, neglect, and characters you can connect with. I rate it 4 stars and recommend it to others.

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC of this title through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is an absolutely adorable, tugs-at-your-heartstrings rom-com that had me laughing at loud as well as tearing up. It is very rare that I give 5 stars, but this book is a standout. Emily could have been me in an alternate universe! Loved that the female protagonist is a librarian and the male protagonist owns a bookstore. A wonderful, heartfelt story that I will recommend time and time again!

I loved this book! It made me laugh and cry. I loved the characters. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

3.5/5 Set in a bookstore in small town Ireland - I’ve already been sold! I absolutely adored the cozy village atmosphere and family-owned bookshop aesthetic. Emily running off to Ireland to help out her favorite author is literally a booklover’s dream!! Kieran’s nickname for Em made me giggle every time 🤭🤭 This book took a sad turn and I was very emotional by the end. I loved the incorporation of family trauma alongside found family. Such a sweet, wholesome read.

Okay, I LOVED THIS BOOK!
This is the first Jenn McKinlay book I've read, but it won't be the last.
I loved the characters, the scenery, and the writing.
It was one of those books you can't put down and if you are silly enough to put it down, you just think about it all day!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing a DRC of this title for review.

When American librarian Emily Allen accepts a job in Ireland to help her favorite writer, Siobhan Riordan, complete Siobhan's best-selling series after a decade of writer’s block, she finds herself at cross-purposes with the author's broody son, Kieran, who's grown leery of Siobhan's demanding fans. When the true reasons for Siobhan’s stalled series come to light, Kieran and Emily must band together to help Siobhan complete her final book-- and may find feelings in the process.

As a librarian myself, I may be biased, but I was so charmed by this book. The characters, romance, and story were all well-written and engaging, a true love letter to readers and the way that books can make us feel. Will definitely look forward to recommending this one to patrons looking for a sweet, poignant contemporary romance! 4.5 stars/5.

Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an early read of this book.

At the beginning of this year, I read "Summer Reading" by Jenn McKinlay which was easily my first five-star read of the year. So when I saw that McKinaly wrote another book with Emily as the main focus, I was drawn in. This book was such a cute and heartwarming book. From the banter to the bookish elements to the wonderfully descriptive language McKilnely uses to talk about Ireland. Can't wait to see what else McKinlay will write.

DNF 26%

I don't know what it is about the writing that grated on my every nerve. There was a simplicity to the sentences that were almost TOO simple, yet a banal amount of over-description, which made me feel like this book was a romance hi-lo. It's at its best when the characters are sniping at each other.

Shout to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC! All I needed to hear was "librarian" and "romance" and I knew I needed to read this. Obviously I'm going to love a romance that has a librarian in it, that's a given, it's basically part of my job description. And the main love interest is grouchy? This had all the makings of a good romance and it absolutely delivered. This was such a satisfying read. I will absolutely be recommending this to everyone when it comes out.

This book was absolutely everything I needed, now where is my own sexy Irish man!!

When reader obsessed Emily Allen writes a letter to her favorite author begging for her to write another book to her favorite book series, she suddenly finds herself moving to Ireland to work for said author. What she learns very quickly is this author’s son Kieran does NOT want Emily there, and he lets her know it. This book is full of banter is an enemy-to-lovers type meeting that makes for some absolutely great tension.

I adored Emily and the journey she takes to get out on her own. I feel her independence story line could have been further pronounced in the second half of the story.

Kieran was my FAVORITE, he was all quips and just such a fun character. The dynamic between him and Emily was so fun to read I was GIGGLING BAD.

I will be recommending to any of my friends who love a bookstore romance.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the arc.

How do I love thee, let me count the ways:) Jenn McKinlay hit all the spots for me!
1) a story set in Ireland... can't be a better setting!!! I have visited Ireland and McKinlay captured it's beauty, history, murcurial weather! It's encanchment! Loved it so much.
The heroine I just love! I loved how vulnerable and sweet and timid she is...but how fierce and fiesty when the hero calls her "Red". I loved her emotional conflict and her authentic struggles. She was so real.
The hero... I mean a hot Irishman... done!!
Finally, the subplots... the story with Siobhan Riordan was fantastic. The author was able to create this very realistic and lovable supporting character. Can't wait to read the next book:)
Bravo:)
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this copy, I will treasure it!

A fun book about books / writers / the bookish world, without losing the thread. Their relationship developed nicely, the grumpy x sunshine is a favorite for me, and Ireland is SOOOOO hot right now.

I received this book from the publisher & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.