I felt transported to Ireland by this story! This felt like a hallmark movie and I mean that in the best way possible! We have the classic tale of American woman fleeing her life and moving to a small Irish town, where she of course is embraced by the community except for one grumpy man, who also happens to be her new boss at the bookstore! I ate this up, he gives her a nickname and onlyyy calls her that until a devastating fight and he uses her real name for the first time, it cuts to the core! This is a cute, romantic tale but also had a lot of depth. Emily moves there because she is obsessed with this author who takes her on as an apprentice while she struggles to finish her final novel. The author is the grumpy boss' mom and I loved the relationship between all three of them, Emily has a very toxic mother so it was lovely to see her bond with Siobhan and get to actually feel motherly love. It was quite sad at the end but ended on a happy note that I loved!

4.5 - This book felt like a warm hug and gave me all the feels. I really enjoyed watching Em grow into herself and discover what she was truly capable of in life without her AWFUL mother and being on her own.

The book felt like what I wish a certain author would be like and it was brave of her to offer up to be an assistant and then have the author take you up on it! The Irish setting was lovely and Ker is a swoon-worthy romantic partner and their banter was fun.

I cried a couple of times because I felt very connected to the characters. I wish we had more of the side characters and more bookstore interactions, but overall this was a great read. Although why is there a cat on the cover and no cat in the book?! Haha.

Review: LOVE AT FIRST BOOK by Jenn McKinlay https://bit.ly/4aMuEUV
Publication Date: May 14, 2024
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 5 Stars

This contemporary romance was a pleasure to read. Set in Ireland with lovely villagers and a couple that were meant for each other. I loved Emily’s personality, and her inner thoughts were a fun read. Kieran was a little harder to get to know, but his gruff and dismissive attitude couldn’t hide the good man inside. I was quickly invested in their story. Their witty banter along with the love and friendship of those around them made me long to move to the village and join them.

Emily and Kieran have past family issues that caused insecurities they needed to work through. The story is written through Emily’s eyes, so it is her transformation that touched me the most. I liked watching her transform into the woman hidden inside. Their romance was a slow burn that was quite satisfying. I enjoyed it all and now need to go find a recipe for whiskey shortbread.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.


Kindle: https://amzn.to/4bMiMnk

A woman struggling to forge her own path moves to a small Irish village to help her favorite author finish a beloved children’s series and to work in a quaint bookstore/ coffee shop. But her handsome boss seems determined to make her quit.

There were so many reasons I should have loved Love at First Book but it was a miss for me.

Minor spoilers
The romance, picturesque setting, and fantasy of forging a friendship with a favorite author were not enough for me to get over the things I really disliked about this book. The abusive parent trope pulled me out of the story and just made the book sad. There’s a separate cancer storyline that-while it made sense from a storytelling perspective-also just made me sad. And I can’t stand when a female protagonist’s body image issues interfere with the love interests finally getting together! All of these issues were distractions that made the book unpleasant to read. I read romance for the fantasy and the escape. This book did not deliver that for me.

I love a book that makes me feeeeel and this one definitely did! My third book by Jenn McKinlay & I still think about and recommend Wait For It all the time but I have to say this one topped it and is my. new favorite by her❤ The writing is truly phenomenal and the characters, large and small, are all so lovable -- you'll find yourself pulled into this little found family and wishing you could visit them all for real. My initial draws (besides it being a Jenn McKinlay romance & therefore already knowing I was gonna read it) were the super cute cover, title, and the whole concept of flying across the globe to assist your favorite childhood author/hero finish the last book in a series that had a huge impact on you -- I mean, come ON! Who wouldn't want to read that?? Add in the author's hot grouchy son who seems to really not want our FMC there but simultaneously has fantastic chemistry with her, oh and is also her boss part of the time -- sold x10. I read this book days ago but couldn't figure out how to put my feelings down in a review and honestly I still can't but I really loved this book. I laughed, I cried, I wanted to crawl inside the story and be a part of it. It's such an amazing thing to me when authors can create such a descriptive and rounded world and cast of characters that the reader feels like it's a real place they can vividly imagine and the characters start to feel like friends and Jenn McKinlay really achieved that with Love at First Book.

Librarian✔️
Bookseller✔️
Author✔️
Gorgeous Irish village setting✔️
CASTLES✔️
Grumpy x sunshine✔️
Enemies to lovers✔️
Slow burn✔️
Brooding MMC with a sexy accent✔️
Special nicknames✔️
Forced proximity✔️
He's her boss✔️
Driving lessons✔️
... honestly I could just keep going with the little things I loved about this book but we'd be here for ages and pages, so let's just say I loved it all😜

I HIGHLY recommend this one if you love romance and emotions, specifically if you are cool with crying and laughing and a little swooning. It's charming and adorable, with minimal spice but maximum FEELING. Read, listen, do both, whatever but consume this story in some manner!!

However, for those who like to know the trigger warnings before starting a book please be aware of the following: toxic parenting, cancer, death, anxiety, hypochondria.

I voluntarily read & reviewed a digital ARC from Berkley via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Emily Henry is a librarian ready to leave her home in Martha’s Vineyard and travel. When she is hired by her favorite author, Siobhan, Em moves to Ireland as her assistant. Siobhan’s son, Kieran, owns a bookstore, and is as handsome as he is well read. Sparks fly between Em and Kier, but they have to get over some obstacles. An enjoyable romance, enhanced by the Irish touches and literary quotes. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was fun and sweet. I loved the idea of getting to meet your hero and finding out they are just as wonderful as you imagined. I loved the angle the author took with this book of finding a healthy way to escape a very unhealthy relationship. The element of found family is done beautifully and the love story while slow burn is super fun. Can't wait to see what this author brings us next.

Title: Love at First Book

Author: Jenn McKinley


Ch: 23 plus epilogue


Pg: 09:49:02


Genre: Rom Com


Rating: 4 stars


Publisher: Berkley


I loved this hate to love rom com. Emily and Kieran were perfect for each other even if they don’t see it. But it’s the banter between them the keeps the reader turning pages.


Though I listened to the audio book instead of reading. As the audio adds charm t Kieran’s Irish accent and not to mention proper pronunciation of the Irish names.


Now this isn’t just a cute rom com it does deal with some tough issues. There’s a trigger warning for cancer, and difficult parent adult child relationship but the author handles it all respectfully.



I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

4 stars - Great! Might re-read

Another delight from Jenn McKinlay! I loved the characters in this, especially Emily's growth throughout the book. The bookstore and writing bits were terrific, and I loved the romantic relationship. (Language, sex)

DNF -- I couldn't get into this one. It could be a little bit my mood, but I think it's also a little bit the writing style.

I really liked this book! Using one of authors’ favorite trope of grumpy bookseller and blocked book writer, McKinley crafts a lovely, fresh story with an adorable maternal figure, a kind and anxious leading lady, and a secretly charming leading man.
I loved the setting; the book made me feel I was in Scotland without adding too many twee details. It felt natural, authentic.
I love love loved Siobhan Riordan— she was feisty, loving, and fierce. Emily leaned towards Mary Sue at times, but McKinley always brought her back to reality. And Kier was just swoon-worthy— a modern Darcy with all the good and bad that implies.

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital ARC of the book! All opinions are my own.

When Emily Allen leaves her library position in Martha's Vineyard to spend a year in a small Irish village working at a bookstore and as an assistant to her favorite writer, she doesn't expect to butt heads with Kieran Murphy, the grumpy bookstore owner - and son of the writer in question. But as the two spend time together, they start to realize there's more to them than meets the eye - but is Emily ready to risk it all? Well written and a perfect encapsulation of forced proximity, there's a lot to like in this romance novel. Readers will be transported to small-town Ireland and are as likely to fall in love with the town and its residents as they are with the two main characters. A surprising amount of depth and emotion help round out what could be a fairly rote romance novel. Sweet and relatively chaste - sure to be a hit for those who like their romances on the cozy side.

“𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘯 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐’𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧.”

A book about a librarian settling in to help a famous author in an Irish bookstore?! Say less.

This was such a cute read. Emily was so fun and living out every bookworms fantasy of finding a hot nerdy bookish man in another country 😂 I loved her relationship with Kier and how they pushed each other’s buttons. So many good moments, but really loved her getting back at him immediately by not calling him by his nickname.

If you love books set in another country, especially Ireland, then I’d definitely recommend this one. A quick and light read that’s perfect for a Sunday afternoon💛😊

Ok audiobook girlies, have you ever heard Brittany Pressley perform an Irish male character? You already know she’s a queen but this particular performance further solidified that fact for me. She can seriously do any voice type perfectly! She could narrate a calculus textbook and I’d preorder it. Aside from the fact that I’m a Brittany fangirl, this audiobook is extremely well done. There are so many emotions and she, per usual, nails each and every one.

This book has much more depth and heart than I expected. Based on the cutesy cover alone, I threw in my earbuds and prepared for a light and funny romcom. Yes, there are parts that made me laugh - especially when Emily had to learn Irish names and phrases for certain things - but it also made me feel all the feels! (Get your tissues ready.) I loved the Irish countryside and independent bookstore setting along with all of the background characters who worked in the store. I enjoyed watching the relationships between Emily, Kieran, and Siobhan form, change, and solidify. Their connection was so realistic and touching!

Definitely add this one to your list if you’re a fan of enemies to lovers, broody book lovers, international travel, quotes from books used in conversation, and scones and tea.

* There are a few trigger warnings mentioned in the beginning so please make sure to check those before you dive into this one. I won’t mention them here because they’re kind of spoilery but definitely necessary for those who need them. *

This book was really sweet. It made me laugh, and made me cry. It was a great follow-up to Summer Reading, which I really enjoyed. Definitely check this book out ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This one follows Emily (Em), as she travels to an Irish Village to help one of her favorite authors, and work in a small bookshop. She there encounters the manager of the bookstore, Kieran.

I immediately fell in love with these two. Both getting under each other skin in the cutest way. There interactions had me smiling ear to ear. The found family vibes had my heart smiling whilst pulling at my heartstrings.

I really liked this story set in Ireland - we get Emily Allen who is a librarian who wants and needs a change in life. She jumps on the opportunity and runs off to Ireland. She ends up having to work with her favorite author's grumpy son. We get the grumpy/sunshine trope or enemies to lovers trope in this story, some heavier topics like cancer. I'd say it's a story that will pull at your heartstrings. I loved the characters and the charm of this story. I also loved that the FMC is a bookworm. I'm definitely excited to read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was another delightful romance from Jenn McKinlay. I loved the Irish setting, the grumpy bookstore owner, and the sunshiny librarian going to Ireland for a year to work at the bookstore and assist a famous author trying to write the next book in a popular series after ten years. I can't say I was expecting to be so emotional and cry with this one!

The premise of this is so sweet and genuinely made me want to drop everything to move to Ireland and work for a bookshop! I did also enjoy some of the engaging banter and cozy cast of characters. However, I struggled to believe that some of the things said in the book came from a protagonist in her thirties (she seemed much older at times) and there were a few phrases that completely took me out of the book--typically the commentary she made about her own body. And again, while I did feel the book was very endearing, it did feel quite flat at times. But overall, a sweet read!

📚💚📚
📖Review
4🌟🌟🌟🌟
📖Book 18/100
📚Love at First Book
💫Genre:
Fiction/Romance
✍️Author:
Jenn McKinlay

📝Synopsis 📝
Emily, an American librarian, gets the job to work on the last book of a series written by her favorite author. Of course she accepts it, packs her bags, and flies to Ireland. The catch though is she works part time at her son’s bookstore and the rest of the time being Siobhan’s assistant, but he is not happy about Emily or shall we say Red is there.

My thoughts 💭
Wow this was such a beautiful story. Yes I expected a love story, yet I didn’t expect the plot to tear me apart 😭💔 The relationship Kier and his mom have was a beautiful add on, and Emily’s character and her mother’s relationship was a great add on element too. I didn’t expect to love these characters all as much as I did. I love an enemies to lovers story, but this one was so unique and relatable….many of us book lovers always have a book packed in our purse or bags…heck I carry my kindle everywhere I go which has about 700 books in it😂 I wanted a little bit more of Emily’s mom, but I also feel there was enough of Siobhan. There was a little bit of spice, but it wasn’t heavy. So if your looking for a romance novel that has family drama, is going to make you sob, but has a happy ending, then definitely give this one a go!
✨✨✨✨✨

🤍Thank you so much @netgalley and @berkleyromance for approving this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

✨Publishing Date:
May 14, 2024

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