Lover Birds

By Leanne Egan

Reviewed by Lucille Rose

Lover Birds is an inclusive teen romance set in the city of Liverpool, England. Eliose ‘Lou’ Byrne is just trying to scrape through sixth form when she finds herself with an unexpected acquaintance. Posh, sharp and self-important, Isabel Williams is everything Lou isn’t (a fact that’s not lost to either). But when Lou’s friends insist on getting to know the new Londoner, Lou must suffer through the association with her usual witty charm. Their dislike is instantaneous, with cutting remarks and scorching glares being their most common form of communication. But as time goes on, both girls realize that the other might not be what they think, and that this thing between them is so much more than hate…

Lover Birds is a beautifully written romance that I was lucky to read. Being a die-hard fan of the enemies to lover trope, I couldn’t help but be entranced by this book.Upon first picking it up, I was pleasantly surprised by the relatability of the characters. I’ve found that many YA books rarely have proper depiction of teenagers, especially teenage girls, which was why reading this book was like a breath of fresh air. All the characters, but especially Lou, were people I could empathize with. Lou’s thoughts, actions and overall personality were intriguing yet understandable. Books are so much easier to read when you don’t have to suffer through cringy remarks and unrealistic leads, but they become really special when the characters are someone you can see yourself becoming friends with.

The writing itself was a sight to behold. Romance is easy to show through plot, but displaying it with words, and such gorgeous words, is a difficult feat. There was one line that particularly pulled on my heart strings: “But God, being loved by her was beautiful.” The author depicted teenage love in such a wholesome way, which is something I don’t often get to see in YA romance.

The only thing that could be improved was the pace. While the enemies’ part of Lou and Isabels relationship was tantalizing, how they got there was rushed. Authors often mistake dislike and hate, when they really can’t be interchanged. If there was a stronger reason for the love interests’ obvious disdain, the book would have been more enjoyable. As a fan of slow burn, I couldn’t help but feel the challenges of their relationship were too quickly overcome and would have preferred a longer period of angst and yearning (speaking as a teenage girl).

This might be my Jane Austen obsessed brain malfunctioning, but I couldn’t help but notice the notes of Pride and Prejudice hidden throughout the novel. I had a hard time not fangirling when I first noticed the comparison, and I am assured that any Jane Austen lover will be the same.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to teens aged fourteen to sixteen. Sadly, we live in a world with little LGBTQ representation in literature, which is another reason I think this is a must read. Four out of five stars.

HarperCollins GB 2024

Leanne Egan