Genre: Romance (open door)

Published: April 30, 2024 by Berkley

Format: Hardcover (library borrow)

Soundtrack: Into the Mystic – Van Morrison

Funny Story: I approached this book with high expectations (perhaps too high). Like every book I have read by Emily Henry, this book does a few things exceptionally well. 1. It is a magical setting that will have you craving a trip to a winery, the beach, and a small town all at once. 2. Perfectly developed, convincingly flawed characters. Her characters always feel like someone I could quickly know: realistic job, complicated family dynamics that are relatable, and conflict that is not a spectacle. Daphne, Miles, Ashleigh, and Julia spring from EH’s perfectly crafted pages. 

Emily Henry nails the woman’s fiction/ romance blend so wonderfully. There are no major plot holes, all the characters are well-developed, and the secondary characters are robust and feel purposeful.I liked it and was going to rank it high based on quality of writing yet, this was still not my favorite book. I have not read all of Emily Henry’s books, but I think Book Lovers remains supreme for me. Also why lemons on the cover, did I miss something? 

Miles and Daphne become roommates when their exes end up together, and they slowly help each other heal from their heartbreak. Their journey involves a mix of fake dating, a budding friendship, and confronting dysfunctional family issues. However, I was disappointed in the chemistry between them, I just felt like their whole relationship was one weekend and two dates? While I certainly felt their desire for each other and appreciated the slow burn of Henry’s writing, a certain communication breakdown felt forced and honestly, incongruent with the characters growth arc Henry so charfully crafted. Perhaps it was meant to fit Mile’s character , but it made it difficult for me to like him after that. There, I said it, I critiqued Emily Henry. 

Overall, this is a wonderful book and sure to be a hit  for romance, library and forced proximity lovers! 

4⭐️/ loved it

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