Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Hello everyone.  I hope you're having a cool day.

I am guessing, since you're reading this, you are a book lover.  I come from a long line of readers, okay well it's more like a dash but it's there.  My maternal grandparents were big readers so was my mom.  They would often trade books back and forth.  Sometimes they would tuck a note inside for each other.  It was all fun and games until they went off the deep end and started seeing who could write the most creative note, well not write but use the most unusual paper.  When they got down to toilet paper and a leaf, I stopped watching.  They read good stuff. I remember my mom reading Coma by Robin Cook and the always fascinating Jaws.  Who hasn't put "You're gonna need a bigger boat" in their "great sayings" rotation?  Just think without the book Jaws, there would be no movie, no saying, no fantastic score by John Williams and, let's be honest, how else would you see Robert Shaw take out his front tooth?  Books!

I recently read Book Lovers by Emily Henry.  This is the story of a literary agent, Nora, who goes to a small North Carolina town with her sister for a vacation.  Despite the odds Nora bumps into someone she knows from NYC, Charlie, an infuriating editor.  In this romantic comedy their interactions continue as they share their book business talents.

This is a cute, fun story that will transport you to Carolina and melt all your stress.  After liking but not loving Henry's first book, Beach Read, I said I was going to follow her.  So glad I did, as each subsequent book I've liked better than the one before.  This is a bit long at 400 pages but a fun read.  Great for a summer vacation, real or in your head to a small town in North Carolina.

Gum wrapper!  I've been trying to come up with something I'd write a note on if my mom and grandparents were still around.  I'd definitely write on a gum wrapper, not a good kind like Wrigley's or Juicy Fruit (look it up youngsters), but something small like Dentyne or Trident!

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Hello everyone.  I hope you are staying cool in the soaring temperatures.

When I was a kid, we looked forward to two things, Christmas and vacation.  As really young kids, we would go to "the shore" and visit Cape May, New Jersey.  If you've never been, it's charming without lots of high-rise hotels but smaller family run resorts.  The neighborhoods are close by and filled with Victorian houses.  There is a boardwalk and it was my dad's requirement that we get up every morning at the crack of dawn and ride bicycles.  We even tried a bicycle for two one time, that was a complete disaster!  My aunts, uncles and cousins would also go to Cape May so not only was it a wonderful vacation but nice to spend time together.  As we got to be teenagers, Cape May was too relaxed for us and we all went to Myrtle Beach with lots of miniature golf, amusement parks and t-shirt shops.  The first time I ever played Pac Man was in Myrtle, we had chicken pox in Myrtle, and most notably while walking on the beach right next to me, my sister got pooped squarely on the head by a seagull in Myrtle.  I'm still laughing today.  What?  It's funny!   We were a bit away from our hotel and she had to walk back like that...I may or may have not laughed hysterically the entire way.   Also, on vacation I met some wonderful friends who I am still in contact with to this day...literally decades later.  Vacations are good.

I recently read People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry.  In the past I reviewed Beach Read by the same author.  I acknowledged that it was a romance and in general they aren't my thing (although I've read some great ones).  Beach Read seemed like it was trying to have a more involved story but compared to thrillers it was just too slow for me.  Still, I admitted that I wanted to watch this author as she could make me a romance reader.  I was so anxious to read People We Meet on Vacation to see what Emily Henry had in store for us.  I'm glad I did.  This story is about two friends, Poppy and Alex, who have gone on vacations together for years and about how their friendship has evolved, often because of the time on these trips.  The pacing is far superior to Beach Read and the dialog will have you laughing from beginning to end.  Sometimes sweet, sometimes serious and thoughtful, this book is perfect for your summer trip or anytime you need to brighten your day.  I am thrilled for Henry to have started to really bridge that gap between generalized fiction and romance.  I cannot wait for the next one.

Things to pack: bathing suit, beach towel, sunscreen, People We Meet on Vacation, and if you're my sister...shower cap to wear on the beach...just in case.

Beach Read by Emily Henry

Hello everyone. I hope you are having a great day.

A long time ago I discussed the first time I read a book for pleasure, it was The Shining, which I picked because of its metallic cover.  Somewhere in my teenage brain I thought I would look smart reading, yet edgy because of the cool cover and, of course, that it was written by Stephen King. Yet, my book was a flop as far as boy attractors go, my rapidly developing chest, on the other hand, was a big hit. I want to make a comment about men here, but since hubby is standing close-by and half the world's population is male, I'll refrain.  Although I didn't go to the beach this year (virus everywhere), I picked up a book that seemed to fit my sandy reading history.

I recently read Beach Read by Emily Henry. This romance follows two authors, Augustus, who writes serious literally fiction, and January, who writes romantic comedies. Both writers find themselves as neighbors at the beach. Unfortunately, they are also having a problem with writers block. They do the only thing to be done, swap genres. 

I feel like this book you would either love or hate. I didn't hate it, let's face it my mom said it's not nice to hate. However, I didn't love this book, but I respect it. Clear as mud, huh? For me, romance novels follow the "formula" which makes them predictable. Oh so often, it's characters are a wealthy man and poor woman. I love that this author did not go that route. She wrote unique and interesting characters, each with their own issues to resolve. I really like the story idea too. This was really a book trying to be a better, smarter romance. A romance novel that has better writing and a more involved plot.  Emily Henry deserves huge credit for that effort, which frankly would make me read a lot more romance novels. The problem for me with this particular book is two fold, the pacing is much too slow and the story gets bogged down in the details making the book seem to drag. In addition, it is too long. So for me, this book was a miss. Am I glad I read it? Yes. In fact, I would buy it again just to see this attempt at a romance with a bigger story. I think I'll keep Emily Henry on my "buy" list as she is definitely on the right track with a more thoughtful romance.