After reading and loving this authors last book I was super excited to go into this one and blimey I wasn't expecting it to be so emotional. CW for cancer.
Emily moves to Ireland and away from her toxic and controlling mother, to work as an assistant to her favourite author and to help out in the bookshop her son runs. Kier the authors son, isn't entirely happy with her turning up, but sparks soon fly.
I loved this story for Emily, she really came out of herself after being so timid in book 1 as the side character. This was such a great read for a book lover, but keep your tissues handy, because it really packs a punch.
The only thing I wanted that was missing was a proper showdown between her and her mother.

This book was an emotional rollercoaster. Em and Keir’s blossoming relationship was so joyous to read but I equally enjoyed the more heart wrenching scenes as they were just so well written.

This book is an unexpected romance book. Em (Red) moves over to Ireland to be an assistant for her favourite childhood author. She is greeted by Kier is the son of her favourite childhood author and the owner of the book store. This will the won’t they is a rollercoaster of emotions. The book deals with tough subject in a respectful way. It’s a heart warming story.
For full disclosure I was given this book as an arc so thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read this.

This was just far heavier than it was advertised to be and it just didn’t work for me. I tired to finish this but I knew exactly what was going to happen and that I wouldn’t enjoy it.

The writing felt quite juvenile at times, the inner monologue of the main character could be quite cringy. So this writing style just didn’t match the type of story trying to be told especially as it starts to get into more serious topics. The town didn’t feel vibrant enough for a small town setting and didn’t really feel Irish.

I’d still be willing to try other books by the author I just think this story was much more “chick lit” (🙄 can’t think of a better term) than I was expecting and it didn’t suit her writing style.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for this book!
this book was a cute heart warm read, however i felt the build up of the two main characters relationship wasn’t really there. over all i enjoyed this book

Emily moves from the US to Ireland to become an authors assistant and to work in a book shop only to find that the authors grumpy son Kieran really doesn't want her there.

This was not just a light and fluffy romance story, it gave so much more and was meaningful and emotional and I also enjoyed the aspect that dealt with her mother and what she went through, I really thought it was dealt with really well.

A lovely story and set in Ireland which makes it even better!

Gripping from the start. A romance set in a book shop, what's not to like? A really good read with both laughter and tears.

I enjoyed the concept of this book - Emily comes over from the states to Ireland to take a job in a bookshop whilst also helping her favourite author finish the series of books she has been writing. The author’s son, Kier, does not want her there and does all he can to make her working life unbearable. Lots of twists and turns make it a great read.

Emily escapes her narcissistic mother to spend a year in a small Irish village aworking in a bookshop and assisting her favourite author with her new book. But when she arrives, Kier, the bookshop owner really doesn't want her working there and sparks fly.
On the surface this is a romance but so much more. Family dynamics, and characters that really come alive from the page makes this story stand out. An enjoyable couple of days spent with this book.
Not to be missed.

I spent a very enjoyable weekend reading this book. It is a great choice for a reader! Emily's life has become stale, supporting her mother who won't help herself. She takes the brave decision to leave home in the USA and move to Ireland for her dream job - working as an assistant to her favourite author Siobhan, and also working part-time in Siobhan's bookshop which is managed by her son, Kieran. Emily and Kieran's relationship gets off to a rocky start, an whilst I guessed fairly early one the path the novel would take there were some unforeseen twists along the way, It was an enjoyable read and I will be looking out for others books by Jenn McKinlay.

A lovely feel good read. Set in a fictional picture book town in Ireland it was beautifully described, both the place and the people. The characters were wholesome and easy to relate to, what’s not to like?

The story of Emily and Kieran, who meet when Emily moves from the US to Ireland to work in a bookshop and be an authors assistant. A great read, and a great setting, although quite sad at times.

It took me a while to really get into this but I'm glad I stick with it.

This is probably up there as one of my favourite books of 2024.

This isn't just a romantic love story but a platonic and familial love story at the same time. To tell you I cried at this book is an understatement (I think hubs was genuinely worried about me for a moment). It's taken me a long time to process everything that happened in this story and I'm still not sure I even have the words to describe how it made me feel.

I didn't read the previous book but that didn't take anything away from this one, in fact I'm actually glad that I had no prior opinion of Em.

Kier was lovely and wonderful and everything you want from the perfect book boyfriend.

I would absolutely recommend this book to any and all romance readers.

Tropes:
• Small town
• Enemies to lovers
• Meet your heroes
• Self-exploration
• Platonic love
• Found family

When I read Summer Reading, the first book in this companion series, I was so excited to read Emily’s story and I’m so happy that I had the opportunity to receive this book in advance. I was expecting to read a rom-com set in Ireland similar to the movie Leap Year, but this book surprised me with a mix of romance and drama. I loved how their relationship had a rocky start and was growing into friendship and something more. I love how they were growing on each other while having forced proximity situations, which I think were very well-placed and flowed well with the story. I got so emotional towards the end, and I loved how the romance wasn’t the only plot in the book but was nicely complementary to the other issues happening in both main characters' lives. It took a little while for me to connect with the story, but once I did it flew by. Also, I want to praise the author for creating two bookworms, I’m so used to seeing only the female character as the bookworm, so it was a breath of fresh air to see a male bookworm.

Thanks to Netgalley UK and Penguin for sending me this advance copy in exchange for an honest review

I am quite a big romance fan, I did enjoy this book however I felt at some points it was too cheesy, it was well written but I did feel myself cringing at some points. I did think that characters were very well made and fleshed out. Overall I would read another book written by this author just this one wasn’t for me but I would still recommend it to others.
I would rate it 2.5 stars

This is the perfect cosy romance for winter. Set in Ireland, this novel follows Em as she has just moved to a quaint village in the Irish countryside to work in a bookshop and assist her favourite writer with writing the final book in the series that Em grew up loving. But there's tension with her new boss, Keir, and it seems like he's desperate for her to leave the town. It was a perfect enemies to lovers, and of course is every book lovers dream. I loved how much it was set in the bookstore, and it was overall a really great cosy romance. I devoured it and finished it in under 48 hours (during exam season!), and am already looking forward to re-reading it.

I received this arc in exchange for an honest review. 🤍

an absolutely gorgeous read. from start to finish i was captivated and didn’t want to put it down. all of the characters were so loveable and easy to identify with. i cried so many tears. SO MANY. my first 5 star read of May!! it’s been a while since i connected with a book so wholeheartedly like i did with this.

Title: Love At First Book by Jenn McKinlay

Release Date: May, 16th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

In this charming tale, librarian Emily Allen finds herself in a picturesque Irish village alongside her favourite author, Siobhan Riordan, and her surly son, Kieran Murphy.
Tasked with assisting Siobhan with her overdue novel, Emily must also navigate her growing attraction to Kieran. As Siobhan's health falters, Emily is torn between her professional duties and her feelings for Kieran. Balancing professional duties and personal emotions, Emily must decide if she's ready to embrace a new chapter in her life.


"Love at First Book" quickly secured its place as one of my top emotional reads of 2024. Right from the start, I was fully invested in the characters, especially Em and Kier.

Their journey from enemies to lovers was a slow burn that had me utterly captivated, and their banter kept me giggling from start to finish. The charming Irish settings added an extra layer of charm to the story, making it a must-read for any book lover dreaming of meeting their favourite author. With heartfelt moments, humour, and a rollercoaster of emotions, this book left me wanting more.

I highly recommend it to fans of enemies-to-lovers and sunshine/grumpy tropes. it's an absolute delight!


Thank you to The Publisher Random House UK, Cornerstone | Penguin ,The Author Jenn McKinlay & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

Emily Allen loves reading especially books by Siobhan Riordan, and when Siobhan offers her a job in her bookshop in Ireland she jumps at the chance.
Siobhan needs help in writing the last book in the series but has writers block. However her son Kieran, who is also the manager of the bookshop, has other ideas. His mother is ill but he doesn't know the extent of the illness. He doesn't want her to tire herself out unnecessarily.
Emily loves the job, her new life and working with Siobhan and finds herself falling for Kieran.
Can she help everyone to achieve their dreams including herself.

This book made me feel so deeply and fall utterly in love with Finn's Hollow. I adored everything about it and never wanted it to end.

Love At First Book follows Em Allen to Ireland from Martha's Vineyard. She has decided to take her own life by the horns and do something that she wants, to help Siobhan Riordan write the final book in the series she's loved since childhood. However, her boss, and Siobhan's son, has made it quite clear that he doesn't want her there and he doesnt want this book written.

Having become acquainted with Em in Summer Reading, it was a treat to have a book with her as the main character. The setting of Finn's Hollow felt perfect for me; a little getaway for relaxation within the pages of a book, which completely transported me.