Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry Narrator: Julia Whelan
Published by Penguin Audio on May 3, 2022
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Length: 11 hours, 23 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.
Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.
There are many reasons to love reading. Book Lovers has them all. A romance with realistic people and issues make what I call life fiction. I relate to Nora completely. She loves fiercely and selflessly to hold her family together and the memories. She does everything to protect, help and make her sister, Libby happy.  To do so, she holds herself together and to the highest standards.
Libby is now an adult, happily married and expecting her third child. She wants Nora to have a life, other than work, and convinces her to take a trip.  The trip is to a very small town in North Carolina (near Ashville) where one of Nora’s author’s books is set. Libby even makes a list. Nora tries so hard to do everything on the list for Libby and finds herself struggling with trying to do it all. She’s working her job remotely, doing lists things with Libby and her feelings break out as Libby has a health issue and gets mad at her for taking a phone call after 5.
Nora also finds a book editor, Charlie, she has tried to work with in the past, here in the small town. They start up a crazy text conversation. Then they end up working together on her author’s latest book. Their discussions and feelings about the book fill their days and it’s fun. As they dissect and edit the book character and her feelings, their personal feelings get discussed. Charlie begins helping her with some of her sisters’ list items like camping and skinny dipping.
So there are books, a bookish job or two or three, family dramas, past relationships, big city restaurants and attractions, small town quirks with the big outdoors, plenty of ideas to race through the mind and a flood of feelings to capture your heart.
Narration:
Julia Whelan is a favorite narrator and I pick books because she is narrating. Her voices for both male and female characters feels right.  Her performance had the emotional authenticity which made listening such a pleasure. I was able to listen at my normal 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:Â HERE
GIVEAWAY:
New print copy of Book Lovers by Emily Henry. (US only)
About Julia Whelan
Julia Whelan is a screenwriter, life-long actor, and award-winning audiobook narrator. She graduated with a degree in English and Creative Writing from Middlebury College and Oxford University. While in England, her flirtation with tea blossomed into a full-blown love affair, culminating in her eventual certification as a tea master. When not writing her own books, you can find her reading other people’s out loud into a microphone.
About Emily Henry
Emily Henry writes stories about love and family for both teens and adults. She studied creative writing at Hope College and the now-defunct New York Center for Art & Media Studies, and now spends most of her time in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the part of Kentucky just beneath it.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 22-COYER
Thanks for the review and a giveaway!!
It’s a lovely book.
Sounds like there are a lot of power dynamics in this novel. I haven’t been reading as much lately but may give this one a go.
I hope you get to read it and enjoy it.
I’m almost finished with the audio for this and I’m loving it, too! So good!
It’s awesome. I’m glad you are loving it too.
This one sounds so cute and I’ve got it on my “maybe someday list.” I’m glad you enjoyed it so much. I love books with book-centric characters!
yes the dialogue was very witty too.
It does sound like one of those good ‘life’ books where there is a bit of everything. Fun that they’re both book editors.
There was a lot to love here.
I loved Emily Henry’s Beach Read and can’t wait to read this one. It sounds so good! 🙂
I hope you love it too.
I just started Book Lovers this morning. I hope I enjoy it as much as you did!
It’s easy to love.
I would definitely enjoy a flood of feelings! This sounds amazing.
yes she has them all bottled up for YEARS and they come out in a rush.
I own all the other books by this author, but have yet to read her. I’m so scared they will be women’s fiction instead of romance. But this one, I have got to get my hands on! Great review, now I really need it!
I would call her books, like Jill Shalvis’ recent series and Christina Lauren, to be life fiction. There is definitely a romance but also realistic characters with regular people issues.
I haven’t read her books before – but will keep my open next time I’m out shoppinng.
They seem to all be standalones and I love them.
Sounds like you had a a great time with this one.
Yes, it was amazing.
This sounds perfect for me. Adding to my TBR list
I hope you love it as much as I did.
Yes please sounds great!
It was an amazing read with all the feelings.
Such a great story and narration. It would make a great beach read as well.
This author and narrator have really hit the mark with all the feelings.
I’ve read The People We Meet on Vacation and I really like her writing style. I also think she’s so funny!
yes in addition to realistic people, there is great banter and she is funny.
Yes, I read and loved her Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation. I’m really looking forward to reading this book!
Thanks so much!
I’ve really loved the realistic characters in all her books, the feelings, she brings the feelings.
I can’t wait to read this one. Been waiting months!
I highly recommend it.
This book was a five star read for me as well. It was such a wonderful read. Loved the romance, the relationship between the sisters, and so much more.
It brings all the feels.
I just finished reading this book and loved it!
I’m glad you loved it too Janie.
I loved the banter in this one. Nora and Charlie were both great characters.
There was much to love here, and the banter was fun!
Not yet
I’ve enjoyed all the books I’ve read by her and she had one in my top 10 favorites last year.