Nora Stephens is a hardworking literary agent living in New York. She knows that she is too career driven and ambitious to be the heroine in a story - that is reserved for the small-town wholesome women that her boyfriends always seem to leave her for. When her sister Libby convinces Nora to go on a month-long getaway to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina in the hopes of Nora having her own vacation romance, Nora reluctantly agrees. But after they arrive in Sunshine Falls Nora finds herself repeatedly running into Charlie Lastra, a book editor Nora knows from the city.
I can't tell you enough how much I loved this book. I loved the characters, I loved the dialogue, I loved the setting, I just loved all of it.
I was hooked pretty much in the first chapter when Nora describes herself as the villain of every Hallmark movie - the city woman obsessed with her career that the hero leaves behind when he falls in love with the baker/Christmas tree farm owner/seamstress from the small town. Nora is an unapologetic city girl who is chained to her phone. Her mother died while she was in college and Nora has since spent her life watching out for her younger sister. Nora has a deep sense of responsibility and has made a lot of sacrifices for her sister. This book does have some romance in it, but the essence of the book is Nora's personal journey towards self-appreciation and love.
I really liked all the scenes with Nora and Charlie. I thought their banter was fantastic and I was not surprised that they fell for one another. I wanted the whole book just to be them talking and texting one another. I also really wish I was capable of coming up with such great banter and snark when I talk to people.
Because this book is so hyped, I wasn't sure how much I was going to like it. I've read another of Emily Henry's books, Beach Read, and I liked it but I didn't love it. I definitely liked this book a lot more. Even though Nora doesn't consider herself a romance heroine and describes herself as a villain, I thought she was pretty great and I really enjoyed getting to know her.
I also really liked all the other characters in the book. Charlie is an excellent hero and I loved the way he never pushed Nora for anything and admired her just the way she is. I didn't love Libby, but I didn't dislike her. We get a little bit of conversation between Libby and Nora where it's clear Libby remembers their upbringing different than Nora and I wish Emily Henry had dug into that a bit more. I think if I knew more about Libby, I may have liked her better.
I loved this book and I think it's my first 5 star read of the year.
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