One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn’t see coming…

Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small-town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.

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“Does anyone ever want to finish a good book?”

Yet again, Henry creates an amazing romcom that I’m completely obsessed with. Am I drunk on happiness while also devastated it had to end? Yes, yes I am.

Enter Nora, a workaholic New York City literary agent who will stop at nothing to make sure her clients get the best of her and everyone they work with. She’s not a stereotypical heroine (as she points out), which made her an even more thrilling character. She’s focused on her career and her sister, with no time for drama and a romantic interest who can’t support her as she is. Then enter Charlie, an editor in New York City who’s social ques and manners are borderline non-existent. Their initial meet up is the opposite of a meet-cute, ending with them pretty much despising one another.

Time jump a couple of years later … where Nora’s sister Libby begs her to go on a trip to a small town with her. Knowing that their relationship has started to drift, Nora drops everything to go on this adventure … and lucky for her, her arch nemesis Charlie happens to be there as well. Let’s just say, Nora’s in for a fun summer.

There’s so much I loved about this book that writing a review was borderline impossible. Nora and Charlie grabbed my attention almost immediately, from their hilarious flirtatious banter to their growing chemistry throughout the story. I’m so used to reading “opposites attract” novels that it was a nice change to read a “similar attracts” love story, enjoying them discuss their love of books to the beauty of New York City. They’re both characters that see themselves as the “villain” or “side character” of their own story, which is one of the main themes and elements of the plot in Henry’s novel. Seeing the “why” unfold as to the reasons they both feel this way, while also seeing them help one another begin to love themselves is truly the highlight of this novel; there’s just simply no way for me to properly express how thrilling it was learning more and more about Charlie and Nora’s backstories.

“‘I guess … it just seemed like the kind of place that might look one way on the outside, and be something totally different once you got to know it. Like if you had the patience to take the time to understand it, it might be something beautiful.'”

But there’s so much more to this story than a romance story. Libby and Nora’s growing distance really broke at my heartstrings, seeing these two once inseparable siblings learning to open up to one another and find that closeness yet again. As much as this is a love story, it’s also a story about family bonds and the “ups and downs” of life itself.

From snort laughing to “where’s the tissue box” level crying, the emotions this book evoked was beyond my expectations. I was absolutely crushed when I reached the last page; not because it ended poorly, not at all … because I was simply not ready to say goodbye to Nora, Charlie and everyone else. It’s an incredibly adorable and steamy romance story … this might actually be my new favourite Emily Henry novel. I can’t wait to get my hands on her most recently released story, “Happy Place”.

A perfect read for those who enjoy:

• similar attracts
• enemies to lovers
• big city girl in a small town
• bucket lists
• sibling love
• ambitious workaholic lead and romantic interest
• books about books
• misunderstood characters
• family bonds, sisterly love

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