LOVE AT FIRST BOOK by Jenn McKinlay
Publication Date: May 14, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Romance
When a librarian moves to a quaint Irish village where her favorite novelist lives, the last thing she expects is to fall for the author’s prickly son… until their story becomes one for the books, from the New York Times bestselling author of Summer Reading.
Emily Allen, a librarian on Martha’s Vineyard, has always dreamed of a life of travel and adventure. So when her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan, offers her a job in the Emerald Isle, Emily jumps at the opportunity. After all, Siobhan’s novels got Em through some of the darkest days of her existence.
Helping Siobhan write the final book in her acclaimed series—after a ten-year hiatus due to a scorching case of writer’s block—is a dream come true for Emily. If only she didn’t have to deal with Siobhan’s son, Kieran Murphy. He manages Siobhan’s bookstore, and the grouchy bookworm clearly doesn’t want Em around.
Emily persists, and spending her days bantering with the annoyingly handsome mercurial Irishman only makes her fall more deeply in love with the new life she’s built – and for the man who seems to soften toward her with every quip she throws at him. But when she discovers the reason for Kieran’s initial resistance, Em finds herself torn between helping Siobhan find closure with her series and her now undeniable feelings for Kier. As Siobhan’s novel progresses, Emily will have to decide if she’s truly ready to turn a new page and figure out what lies in the next chapter.
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This contemporary romance was a pleasure to read. Set in Ireland with lovely villagers and a couple that were meant for each other. I loved Emily’s personality, and her inner thoughts were a fun read. Kieran was a little harder to get to know, but his gruff and dismissive attitude couldn’t hide the good man inside. I was quickly invested in their story. Their witty banter along with the love and friendship of those around them made me long to move to the village and join them.
Emily and Kieran have past family issues that caused insecurities they needed to work through. The story is written through Emily’s eyes, so it is her transformation that touched me the most. I liked watching her transform into the woman hidden inside. Their romance was a slow burn that was quite satisfying. I enjoyed it all and now need to go find a recipe for whiskey shortbread.
*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.
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Kindle | Paperback
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Former librarian Jenn McKinlay is the New York Timesand USA Today bestselling author of the Bluff Point Romances, including Every Dog Has His Day, Barking Up the Wrong Tree, and About a Dog, as well as the Library Lover’s Mysteries, the Cupcake Bakery Mysteries, and the Hat Shop Mysteries. Jenn lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with kids, pets, and her husband’s guitars.
Visit her website at: www.jennmckinlay.com
Or follow her:
Facebook: JennMcKinlayAuthor
Instagram: @mckinlayjenn
Named a Most Anticipated book of 2024 by TIME ∙ The New York Times ∙ Goodreads ∙ Entertainment Weekly ∙ Today ∙ Paste ∙ SheReads ∙ BookPage ∙ Woman’s World ∙ The Nerd Daily and more!
Emily Henry is the New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation. She writes stories about love and family for both teens and adults. She studied creative writing at Hope College and the New York Center for Art & Media Studies, and now spends most of her time in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the part of Kentucky just beneath it. Find her on Instagram @EmilyHenryWrites.
Reading in Pajamas 