Love at First Book

March 1, 2024

A librarian on an overseas adventure gets much more than she bargains for in this emotion-laden love story by cozy mystery writer-turned-romance novelist McKinlay (Summer Reading). Emily Allen moves to a lovely little Irish village to assist her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan, who is suffering from a severe case of writer's block, and work in the local book shop. Of course, Siobhan's son, who manages the store, looks like a romance novel cover model, but Em and Kiernan don't get along initially. In many romances, their tension might feel superficial or forced, but as the story unfolds, the characters' motivations become clear--and make a lot of sense. While the romance at the center of this novel is largely built on banter and cute situations, like Em learning to drive on the opposite side of the road and trips to the comfy local pub ("Love at First Book"), the story features some distressing plot points about illness and child abuse that may dismay readers looking for a comfort read. However, relationship-fiction fans who don't mind a little heat will be pleasantly surprised. VERDICT This moving romance will leave readers smiling and swooning through their tears.--Jenny Kobiela-Mondor

Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2024
Working as an assistant to Siobhan Riordan is a dream come true for librarian Emily Allen. Siobhan's Tig McMorrow books helped Emily through some rough patches in life, and Emily will do whatever she can to help Siobhan deliver the series conclusion fans have been eagerly awaiting for more than a decade. However, assisting Siobhan is only part of Emily's new life in the small Irish village of Finn's Hollow. The rest of Emily's time will be spent working at the Last Chapter. The quaint little bookshop is owned by Siobhan's son, Kieran Murphy, who not only seems hot under the collar about Emily being in Finn's Hollow but who is also making Emily a bit hot herself. With her latest whimsically wonderful and wryly witty book, McKinlay (Summer Reading, 2023) puts readers through an emotional workout, but the end result is worth it. This is a swoon-worthy romance that has not only a great deal to say about self-love, forgiveness, and the importance of living in the moment but also celebrates the undeniable magic of books and the important place they hold in a reader's life.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

April 15, 2024
A woman from Martha's Vineyard accepts a year-long position in Ireland helping her favorite author finish the last book in a famous series. Twenty-nine-year-old Emily Allen grew up with Siobhan Riordan's books about Tig McMorrow. The characters were like a family to her as her parents' marriage imploded due to her mother's abuse and narcissism; her father married a woman Emily went to high school with, and she spent years meekly taking care of her mother although nothing was wrong with her. One day she writes to Siobhan, begging her to finish the final book in the series, which the world has been awaiting for 10 years. Siobhan replies, offering her a part-time job as her assistant and another part-time job working at her bookstore, the Last Chapter, in Finn's Hollow, Ireland. Sparks fly as soon as Emily meets Kieran Murphy, Siobhan's adult son, who manages the bookstore and didn't think hiring her was a good idea. This is a cleverly written forced proximity romance for book lovers; Emily and Kieran frequently banter about books and authors, and McKinlay winks to romance readers through Emily's daydreams and flirtatious conversations between her and Kieran about what they'd be doing if they were characters in romance novels. The book gains emotional depth as the reason for Siobhan's failure to write for 10 years comes to light, and though, of course, there's a happily-ever-after, grief and happiness are entwined. Romance meets bookstore cozy in this well-told story.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.