LOVE AT FIRST BOOK follows librarian Emily Allen from Martha’s Vineyard to the small Irish town of Finn’s Hollow. While she is excited about her new job at a small local bookshop and the opportunity to finally travel, those aren’t the big draws for Em. Rather, it’s the opportunity to be an assistant to the author of a book series that was a vital lifeline to her younger self that has Emily eagerly relocating halfway around the world.

Faithful readers of the Tig McMorrow series have been waiting for ten long years to learn how their favorite character’s story will either evolve or end. Unfortunately, Tig’s creator, Siobhan Riordan, hasn’t written a word in all those years. Both Em and Siobhan are eager to get to work, and both have personal reasons driving their desire. But a big obstacle stands in their way: Siobhan’s son, Kieran, who seems set on foiling any progress. In fact, he actively tries to get Em to return home to the U.S.

In many ways, LOVE AT FIRST BOOK is a typical romantic dramedy. The story has moments of laughter and cringe-worthy awkwardness from Em that are endearing (at least to me!). There is family drama and romantic tension, and even scenes that seem to poke fun at themselves, calling out the Great Misunderstanding and the Grand Gesture that are staples of the genre. I let myself get swept into this story on St. Patrick’s Day weekend, and it was the perfect tale for the time. It’s a story of love, heartbreak, loss, redemption, and hope, all wrapped up in the package of a sweet and funny book.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Berkley, for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.