Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Remember that big-city woman? The one with a shoe-obsession, that our hero breaks up with before marrying the small-town baker? Stubborn, uptight, seemingly cold. Or is she career-focused, with impossibly high standards and a lover of New York’s endless spotlights? Much reminiscent of 32-year-old Nora Stephens, the heroine of Emily Henry’s novel Book Lovers. A New York literary agent and woman whose love-life trails a series of break-ups followed by her exes marrying the love of their lives somewhere in the countryside. She certainly is the big-city villain of their story. Supposedly so, the first two chapters make the case that she is nothing less than obnoxious and narcissistic. Except when it comes to Libby, her sweet polar-opposite younger sister whom she has been taking care of for the last two decades. To drive the plot, Libby takes Nora on a month-long vacation to a small-town in North Carolina where the pair attempt a different life to that of the big city. Baking, wearing flannel, skinny-dipping at night – and obviously, saving a smalltown business from bankruptcy. As we waltz through the chapters, we are also introduced to Charlie Lastra, the NorthCarolina-born New York editor: reserved, blunt, and incredibly hot. Initially, Nora is introduced as selfcentred. She never stays over at people’s places because she has a 10-step skincare routine she does not like to skip. She only wears high heels, is obsessed with her Peloton bike and is never away from her phone: her career is her life. Nora does not allow herself to fall in love with anyone, and nobody gets a second date with her. Throughout the novel, Henry cracks Nora open, and we learn to love her; we learn she never had a father, lost her mother at age 19, sacrificed career options for a stable income, and took care of her teenage sister when she was only a teenager herself. Henry writes, “Sometimes, even when you start with the last page and you think you know everything, a book finds a way to surprise you”, a metaphor highlighting that stereotypes, appearances, and personal bias never allow us to truly know a person, even if we think we know better. Henry also takes this opportunity to convey the struggles women face in dating. Creepy online dates with men “who seemed normal via text” and male expectations of women knowing how to cook all their favourite meals. Finding a balance between feminity and being “one of the boys”, Henry articulates: “That’s the thing about women. There’s no good way to be one. Wear your emotions on your sleeve and you’re hysterical. Keep them tucked away where your boyfriend doesn’t have to tend to them and you’re a heartless bitch.” Similarly, we are given a glimpse of the hardships of pregnancy and motherhood. Libby, an already exhausted character at the start of the novel, struggles to sleep, is disbarred from many activities, and experiences an anaemia-induced fainting episode due to a lack of iron and vitamin B12 – two supplements every woman is told to take. As neither sister wishes to impose their problems on the other, a practice not uncommon in my life, they keep quiet about their daily problems, causing miscommunication that triggers conflict. The differing nature of the two sisters also allows Henry to shout-out, “Not every decision a woman makes is some grand indictment on other women’s lives.” However, the novel is not only about sisterhood, but about romance. Charlie, our heroine’s love-interest, is a great partner. Not for Libby, nor his waitress ex-fiancé, but for Nora. Charlie’s perfect witty responses to Nora’s sarcasm, his honesty, and refreshing open communication, create a safe space that allows our heroine to breathe and question her own walls of solitude. Both are career-oriented and relate to each other’s aspirations. Both love New York and have complementing relationships with books. Henry writes, “So if you’re the ‘wrong kind of woman,’ then I’m the wrong kind of man”, and the reader is reminded that relationships are a bit like puzzles pieces. Most pairs will not match, and that is completely fine. “Just because not everyone gets you doesn’t mean you’re wrong,” she also notes. Henry points out that the recipe for love is not identical for every couple, and that each relationship exists in a different realm to society’s standards. Libby meets her husband at age 20, him having been 29 at the time. Charlie’s parents met when his mom was 3 months pregnant, though his stepfather treats him as his own son. Nora and Libby’s parents had an accidental pregnancy, and their mother was left alone, raising the two girls with love and determination. Nowadays, many readers will experience a “modern family” type life, making the book accessible and relatable. A mid-level of spice makes the novel an enjoyable easy read or listen as the Libby app hosts the audiobook version of Book Lovers. Access is available to all Imperial College students. The book is on the edge of a typical-romance novel and explores plot twists that keep the novel worth the 10-hour listen during a nice hike in the mountains.