I have mixed feelings about Emily Ohanjanians’ debut romance, The Book Tour. I loved the male lead, Ryan Grant. While I understand Ana Movilian’s motivations, she was harder to like, because she had been hurt in the past and had issues as the daughter of Armenian immigrants. She made that work for her, but emotionally, she didn’t make her life work.
Ana and her cousin Maral are both daughters of immigrants, daughters who carry their parents’ demanding expectations. Ana was in med school when her father died, and her needy mother spiraled into depression. She had nothing to offer her daughter, and Ana’s boyfriend at the time couldn’t deal with her when she wasn’t her cheerful self. He dumped her. She sent Maral a video of support when her cousin was upset about college. Eventually, that video went viral, and Ana quit med school to become an influencer. She has a successful podcast, with Maral’s support, one directed at children of immigrants, and other adult children who need encouraging words no one ever said to them. Ana even has a book out, “So Proud of You”.
Although no one is more appreciative than Ana to all the people who work with her, she also has a hard time accepting when they move on to follow their own dreams. On the eve of her book tour, her publicist leaves for another company, and Ana is stuck with Ryan Grant, director of publicity at Woodsworth Press. She never thought Ryan understood her book and she’s not happy to have him on the tour with her. She’s not happy until there are issues at the first bookstore, and Ryan steps up to smooth her way, to defend her to an unhappy audience member, and to apologize. When Ana sees Ryan in a different light, she focuses on him and the sexual tension between the two of them just grows.
While Ana’s advice is directed at her audience, it could just as easily be directed at Ryan and herself. They both have issues that reminded me of her own audience, dealing with “The pressure of familial duty versus their own desires.” But, Ryan pays attention, and takes Ana’s advice. Ana has a hard time getting out of her own head.
I have two issues with The Book Tour. I can’t believe I’m saying there is too much sex, but I tired of it. And, maybe Ana reminded me a little too much of myself. No, I’m not the child of immigrants, as Ana is, and as the author is. But, I do know I’ve spent too much time living in my own head. I don’t need to analyze myself here, but it might be one reason I was unhappy with Ana.
It’s an interesting book, reflecting some of the author’s own experiences, as the daughter of immigrants who left a corporate editorial job to strike out on her own and eventually wrote this first novel. I don’t regret reading it, but Ana just isn’t my favorite character. I think that’s my own fault.
Emily Ohanjanians’ website is https://www.emilyohanjanians.com/
The Book Tour by Emily Ohanjanians. Dell, 2026. 320p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
