Nora Hughes is a 20-something editorial assistant; underappreciated, overworked and underpaid. When Parsons Press starts making cuts, she must decide how far she will go to make a living and how much she will let this industry break her spirit.
The concept of this novel was really fun and definitely relatable but at the same time, it wasn't really what I expected. I'm not sure the romantic twist to the plot was necessary and the mental health issues that came up were handled a little clumsily for me.
That said, I do consider this a must-read for anyone in the book industry or anyone going through a career crisis. Not many authors are brave enough to critique the publishing industry in their debut novel and I found it refreshing to hear such an honest perspective. Our protagonist, Nora, talks extensively about her love for books diminishing due to getting too involved in the 'behind-the-scenes' and I think we all go through periods where reading loses it's magic. The ending is realistically hopeful though and overall it was an enjoyable read. Perhaps even one to remind you of the magic.
Review by Abi.
Must Love Books was published on 16/02/23 by HarperCollins.
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