Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Goes down like a bottle of rose at a bar-b-q where you claim you only want one glass. The character development is a cut above average (but not so much to risk challenging your sun- and sea-addled brain). The banter between the romantic leads is impeccable.

Nora is nicknamed the “Shark” for her tenacity as a New York literary agent and her killer half smile. On her way to pitch her biggest client’s new book to an editor named Charlie Lastra, Nora gets dumped by her boyfriend. As a result, she shows up six minutes late to her meeting with Charlie. He does not hide his disdain for her lack of punctuality, and with the surliness of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Rochester combined, promptly declines to print her client’s work. Specifically, Charlie says that the book’s setting - a small town in North Carolina called Sunshine Falls - feels unrealistic.

Fast forward two years later. The book Nora pitched is a huge literary success, but Nora’s love life has not improved. She has just been dumped yet again. Her spunky sister, Libby, suggests that she and Nora take a trip together at the end of the summer, to help Nora get over her breakup. Their destination: Sunshine Falls. And who should happen to be there, but none other than Charlie Lastra.

If you are wondering what happens next, this is probably your first rom com. I can’t think of a better one to start with.

Henry celebrates the literary legacy she hails from and overtly embraces the tried-and-true tropes of the genre with fun, energetic prose, charming characters, and flawless banter between Nora and Charlie. Overall it delivers the sugar rush you signed up for when you picked up a rom com. You will be happy you threw this one in your beach bag.