Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
I bought Beach Read to read at the beach, thinking it was just another cute rom-com. Although this book is a fun romance book, I wasn't prepared for its emotional layers. The issues Gus and Janie experienced with their parents(and their coping mechanisms) were alarmingly relatable. The book's plot was also very well executed, every time you feel like the story couldn't have any more twists/layers, another one would show up. In conclusion, Beach Read surprised me and I loved it in every way!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
J'ai beaucoup aimé cet ouvrage. Je m'attendais à ce que la traduction ne me plaise pas, mais finalement, elle était très bien. J'avoue que la voix du personnage principal masculin m'a tout de même fait cringe au début. Sinon, à part ça, la narratrice a fait un superbe job. L'auteure est excellente, comme toujours. Je suis fan d'elle et surtout de sa plume (j'ai lu en anglais et écouté en français). J'ai passé un très bon moment et je me sens d'attaque pour lire un autre livre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Infidelity, Vomit
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
- the letters from her dad did not add much meaning to the story, maybe that was on purpose but it did not reveal anything more than what had already been shown to us from januarys inner thoughts
- more flashbacks from college would have shown more and not told more
- maybe the book would have benefitted from gus' perspective, he was a complex character and his vulnerable moments almost fell flat for me
- the dialogue sounded unnatural throughout the book, especially considering there was supposed to be 'enemies to lovers' banter
- they were never really enemies...? just wrote about different stuff, i mean i know the point of enemies to lovers is they both realize they are kind of similar but they were mean to each other at the beginning for almost no reason, college flashbacks would have helped tell this part of the story better
- i love the banter as their relationship progressed, more spicy banter at the beginning would have been better
- the plot 'twists' idk if u can even call it that were kind of abrupt and felt too on the nose for me, like they were just included for the sake of plot progression
- the cult plotline felt icky to me...i feel like henry included it just to add a shock factor to the book or something...also why were they literally having sex after every cult plotline :(
- the stuff with January's parents was so important and I don't think Emily henry did service to that plotline, especially Januarys relationship with her mom
- more about both characters writing process, personal bias i would have thought it was interesting story telling device
- more show not tell overall, in the love proclamations in the vulnerable moments everything
all in all good not great, plot was a little boring, it had a nice setup but the main plot device of them swapping genres for the summer fell into the background to their love story and didn't interplay that well, I recommend this for anyone in a reading slump the book is easy to read and has a straightforward predictable plot, maybe it will make you blush a little bit and we all know instant dopamine helps propel you back into reading
- more flashbacks from college would have shown more and not told more
- maybe the book would have benefitted from gus' perspective, he was a complex character and his vulnerable moments almost fell flat for me
- the dialogue sounded unnatural throughout the book, especially considering there was supposed to be 'enemies to lovers' banter
- they were never really enemies...? just wrote about different stuff, i mean i know the point of enemies to lovers is they both realize they are kind of similar but they were mean to each other at the beginning for almost no reason, college flashbacks would have helped tell this part of the story better
- i love the banter as their relationship progressed, more spicy banter at the beginning would have been better
- the plot 'twists' idk if u can even call it that were kind of abrupt and felt too on the nose for me, like they were just included for the sake of plot progression
-
- the stuff with January's parents was so important and I don't think Emily henry did service to that plotline, especially Januarys relationship with her mom
- more about both characters writing process, personal bias i would have thought it was interesting story telling device
- more show not tell overall, in the love proclamations in the vulnerable moments everything
all in all good not great, plot was a little boring, it had a nice setup but the main plot device of them swapping genres for the summer fell into the background to their love story and didn't interplay that well, I recommend this for anyone in a reading slump the book is easy to read and has a straightforward predictable plot, maybe it will make you blush a little bit and we all know instant dopamine helps propel you back into reading
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse
funny
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
As always with an Emily Henry novel, i found this to be funny and genuine. The characters are witty and their challenges are realistic. To me this is the standard of a Henry novel!
January and Gus are old college rivals that wind up being next door neighbors in a small Michigan town. Gus is still reeling from a divorce and January from the death of her father. In small town fashion the two get forced into interactions and in rivalry fashion they strike up a challenge to see who is the better author. So ensues weekend research outings and writing notes through to each other ‘you belong with me’ style. I loved.
I was destined to love this from the start but I do have a couple complaints. First is petty: January cries a lot. I get it, her dad died, she is in a low emotional state overall. But relax. Second: I didn’t really love Gus’ divorce and how that was handled. It had been a year and he was very much in love with January but anytime the ex wife interacted with him it threw him for a loop and he just completely locks January out. It made his love and commitment a smidge less convincing to me. Hesitation ain’t a good look Augustus!!!
Anyway those are pretty minor and didn’t take too much away from my enjoyment. Loved this!!
January and Gus are old college rivals that wind up being next door neighbors in a small Michigan town. Gus is still reeling from a divorce and January from the death of her father. In small town fashion the two get forced into interactions and in rivalry fashion they strike up a challenge to see who is the better author. So ensues weekend research outings and writing notes through to each other ‘you belong with me’ style. I loved.
I was destined to love this from the start but I do have a couple complaints. First is petty: January cries a lot. I get it, her dad died, she is in a low emotional state overall. But relax. Second: I didn’t really love Gus’ divorce and how that was handled. It had been a year and he was very much in love with January but anytime the ex wife interacted with him it threw him for a loop and he just completely locks January out. It made his love and commitment a smidge less convincing to me. Hesitation ain’t a good look Augustus!!!
Anyway those are pretty minor and didn’t take too much away from my enjoyment. Loved this!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Sexual content
Minor: Vomit
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Awww! I liked this one!
The ending with the letters had me wanting to break down and cry, it was so beautiful and full circle and sweet and UGH I LIKED IT OK
The romance was wonderful, I loved Gus, that moody, leaning, secretive, little bastard.
At times, January’s inner monologue got a smidge repetitive as she constantly circling back to her daddy issues, but understandably so considering the circumstances, I guess.
Also having characters named both January and AUGUSTus - Emily had some fun. Good for her, we love months!
Overall, a really fun vacation read! Thanks for the rec, Lizzie!
ONTO FUNNY STORY
The ending with the letters had me wanting to break down and cry, it was so beautiful and full circle and sweet and UGH I LIKED IT OK
The romance was wonderful, I loved Gus, that moody, leaning, secretive, little bastard.
At times, January’s inner monologue got a smidge repetitive as she constantly circling back to her daddy issues, but understandably so considering the circumstances, I guess.
Also having characters named both January and AUGUSTus - Emily had some fun. Good for her, we love months!
Overall, a really fun vacation read! Thanks for the rec, Lizzie!
ONTO FUNNY STORY
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
this book was beautifully written. i could tell the author had an appreciation for this story and was very intentional. the only thing that fell short for me was i didn't really feel anything for the characters. i also wish the book dealt more with her friendship with Shadi. there were little tidbits here and there but i didn't fell entirely convinced when she said that the only person she felt immediate love towards other than gus was shadi . BUT this really was beautifully written. It's been a minute since I've read quality writing like this one.
also i read the UK version which has a different ending than the US version. i think the UK ending was so much better. i would actually dock the rating if i read the US version. it was wayyyy too soon for the two of them to be getting married. did not seem believable to their love story.
another thing that bugged me a little was the title… when i think of beach reads i think lighthearted stories that don’t delve too much into emotional topics but this book def had some trigger warnings. it’s very minuscule but it def caught me off guard since i went into this blind
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment