'Book Lovers' by Emily Henry: You win some, you lose some

In life, just like in books, no matter how much you plan and think things will turn out, surprises are inevitable. In Book Lovers, Emily Henry paints a picture of how this looks in the fictional world: "Sometimes, even when you start with the last page and you think you know everything, a book finds a way to surprise you."

Henry explores romance, family, career, self-discovery, and sibling complex relationships and what they mean to us. This book follows Nora Stephen, a no-nonsense, workaholic literary agency top at her career. As a literal agent, her life revolves around books, and she runs her life imagining it is happening in a book setting.

"When books are your life, in my case, your job, you get pretty good at guessing where a story is going. The tropes, the archetypes, and the common plot twists all start to organise themselves into a category inside your brain, divided by category and genre."

Nora could tell that her then-boyfriend was about to break up with her based on his actions and her experiences with what usually happens when one is about to be dumped from reading too many manuscripts. 

"I'm the city person. Not the one who meets the hot farmer. The other one. The uptight, manicured literary agent. I'm the one who gets dumped. I have read this story and lived it enough to know it is happening again right now, as I'm weaving through late afternoon foot traffic in Midtown, my phone clutched to my ear."

Nora is running late to a lunch meeting with Charlie Lastra, a talented editor with a gift for creating bestsellers, but famously testy and Nora's nemesis after he declines to acquire a hit book by Nora's author, calling it "unreadable." From the moment they meet, it is clear that they do not like each other, and working together seems impossible.

After their first meeting, they start clever banters about books, what they like, and what they do not. This is one aspect of the book that book lovers might enjoy about this book. Their banter clearly shows that neither of them likes to lose.

Behind her tough exterior, Nora carries the weight of responsibility for her younger sister, Libby, whom she practically raised after their mother passed away at a young age. The two siblings have different perspectives about their childhood. Nora believes that their mother did everything she could to provide for them, while Libby, on the other hand, believes that their mother could have done more for them and been more present.

Henry highlights the complexities of family relationships, showing how the same parents can raise siblings who experience them differently. This variation in perceptions shapes who they become as adults.

"I do my best for Libby, but I have never had that kind of tenderness that slips past defences."

Following yet another breakup, Libby, who is now pregnant, convinces Nora to take a month's break with her to a small town—Sunshine Fall. Libby lists activities that she would want the both of them to experience while out of town. Nora, feeling guilty that she has not spent much time with her sister because of work, agrees to the suggestion.

Book Lovers is a slow-burn read. Readers have to be invested in the characters' emotional journeys. Henry ensures that Nora and Charlie are more than just professional characters.  She goes deeper to reveal the motives behind their aspirations and vulnerabilities.

Through Nora, the author explores the pull between ambition and the desire to find love. Nora struggles to find someone to love her for who she truly is, not the image she projects.

Meanwhile, Charlie's life takes a different turn when he leaves city life to come to his hometown to take care of his ageing parents and sick father. He manages a bookstore his mother holds dear. Charlie would do anything for his family, especially his father, who has sacrificed so much for him to get where he is now.

Predictably, this is the same small town that Libby and Nora are in. It is here that Nora and Charlie start to open up to each other by sharing their backgrounds and who they are as people.

Both are overwhelmed by the expectations they have placed on themselves and the needs of their loved ones. Nora dedicates her life to work and caring for her sister, while Charlie is determined to be there for his family. In these shared experiences and emotions, Charlie and Nora find comfort in each other. 

"I've never met anyone who cares as much as you do. Do you know how many people would kill for someone like that in their lives?"

Book Lovers is a love story driven mainly by the flaws of its main characters. These flaws draw the readers into the story more than the plot. The two characters' conversations, filled with humour and emotional honesty, are relatable, making this book easy to read for anyone who loves romance and books.

"For anyone who wants it all, may you find something more than enough."

Jane Shussa is passionate about books, coffee, nature, and travel. She serves as a Senior Digital Communications Officer for Twaweza East Africa.