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.

Loved the book. The interaction between Em and Murphy was fun and the progression in their relationship was very deftly written.
The description of the scenery in ?Ireland was breath taking. I a, so glad we are booked to visit Ireland soon.
It is very sad when parents get things wrong and mess up their child’s life but luckily a level headed librarian and a writer/bookshop manager can overcome this problem.

I have no idea where this book came from BUT OH MY THIS WAS EVERYTHING. This js officially the romance book for romance book lovers. It is truly a dedication to us book girlies. This delivered all the emotions and was the writing was raw, realistic and painfully beautiful. Jenn somehow managed to capture the feeling of being under a blanket with a cup of tea into a book which is like nothing I have ever felt. The whole book is based around a bookstore, books and booklovers. I feel blessed to have read this masterpiece. If you read this book and listened to ‘I hate it here’ by Taylor Swift I think you may combust purely due to the extent of the immaculate vibes.

Thank you Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for the ARC!!!!

I loved this book from start to finish! It is a sweet and heartwarming story about Emily who works at a bookstore in Ireland and is an assistant to her favourite author. Emily helps her favourite author with her latest book while working for her son, Kier, and the bookstore's manager who is not excited about this arrangement.

Everything about this book was cosy and lovely. I couldn't put the book down for a second. I loved Emily's independence and confidence. Emily's commitment to helping her favourite author finish the series is a reflection of us, readers, who are dedicated to our favourite book series, which was quite lovely to read.

I think the ending was the most strongest of the entire book. I was a wreck and I'm sure anyone who reads it would be too. Emily is an amazing character and is everybody else. I can't wait to read more of Jenn McKinlay's books.

I loved this wonderful book. The story of Emily is, on the face of it, a romantic one but difficult themes are addressed in this beautifully written novel. There’s an excellent cast of supporting characters set against the fantastic Irish backdrop. The emotional conclusion was intense.
One of the delights of appreciating a new author is discovering they have a large back catalogue that you somehow managed to miss and are now available for you to enjoy. I highly recommend this book.

Love at First Book is a heart warming, beautiful love story. I really enjoyed the Irish setting, the author had clearly done a lot of good research into this. Em and Keirs enemies to lovers romance was depicted in a sexy, romantic way that had you rooting for them all at the end.
The underlying themes of family, love, legacy and ultimately, the importance of a great story, absolutely shine throughout this novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and RandomHouse UK for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Love at First Book was a delightful romantic comedy, one of my favourites from the year so far!

The story sees Emily heading away from everything she knows to take on a new adventure. She's leaving her very challenging mom firmly in the rearview mirror and setting her sights on enjoying her new job as an assistant to her favourite author while helping in a bookstore. Normally quite reserved this new Emily is determined to be brave and bold, but she doesn't count on having to deal with Kieran who manages the bookstore and doesn't bother to hide his dislike for her.

Being set in a bookstore, with one of the characters writing a book, and the constant book chatter between Emily and Kieran was a highlight of the book for me. I enjoyed watching the relationship between the two unfurl, tentatively into friendship at first and then unfolding into love. The other characters in the book were delightful as well, adding some fun friendships that really made the story that much more real to me.