By Laura Molloy
Book Lovers tells the story of Nora Stephens, a cut-throat literary agent, and Charlie Lastra, an editor with a gift for creating bestsellers.
Nora’s character is rooted in independence. All of her previous relationships have ended with her exes choosing another woman to settle down with. She’s career driven, self sufficient, and fiercely protective of her family. She doesn’t think she has any room left for love.
When Nora’s sister takes her to Sunshine Falls to enjoy some small town charm, she keeps running into Charlie, her work nemesis. While initially separated by their cool exteriors, they are quickly brought together by their desire to do right by their families.
Emily Henry’s novel is a refreshing read. It breaks away from the conventional storyline of a woman sacrificing her life for a man. Instead, the book shows a strong woman following her goals and choosing herself. That said, the book also stays grounded by depicting the realistic challenge women face of trying to “have it all”.
Nora is also not lonely. She does not fit the criteria of a damsel in distress waiting to be saved. The book spends an extensive amount of time exploring her relationship with her sister Libby, who she is immensely close to. She is also seen to have good relationships with her clients, and forms positive bonds with the characters she meets in Sunshine Falls.
The central romance between Nora and Charlie is not representative of a woman pairing with a man to fill some sort of void. Nora does not fall for Charlie because of how financially stable he is, the car he drives, or even how tall he is (they are actually both the same height!). Instead, their relationship is built on complete trust, mutual admiration, and most importantly, their ability to completely see one another and make the other feel understood.
It’s an excellent read for any woman navigating her twenties, career, and trying to squeeze in love along the way.