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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
This book was just not for me and I really didn't enjoy it as much as I thought that I would yet I gave it three stars because I actually loved the letters by Walt Andrews to January.
The only character who I seemed to like the most was Shadi.
To me, January seemed to be a bit too much, she goes through a good amount of breakdowns whenever Gus slightly tries to get his own space or gives his opinions on "Happily Ever After", she acts like all his opinions are set to bring her down and she doesn't gives it a second thought. Even though she was angry about the whole matter that revolved around her deceased dad and That Woman, she was sad that she could never get any answers from him or question him about everything, I mean, your dad left you a letter, how about you peek at it for once? Anyways, the romance involved between January and Gus seemed very detached and there was a lack of good chemistry between them and the angst wasn't much great either. At one point I even wanted Jacques to make an entry but he was just there, existing in words and there was nothing that could stir up the story more.
And I don't want to read anymore about any "crooked smile".
Other than Jan jumping to conclusions whenever Gus went quiet or when he didn't talk about his past, Gus was a good enough character who needed a little time and space to open up and to heal from what had happened to him.
I enjoyed a little at the beginning but it just went downhill for me.
The only character who I seemed to like the most was Shadi.
To me, January seemed to be a bit too much, she goes through a good amount of breakdowns whenever Gus slightly tries to get his own space or gives his opinions on "Happily Ever After", she acts like all his opinions are set to bring her down and she doesn't gives it a second thought. Even though she was angry about the whole matter that revolved around her deceased dad and That Woman, she was sad that she could never get any answers from him or question him about everything, I mean, your dad left you a letter, how about you peek at it for once? Anyways, the romance involved between January and Gus seemed very detached and there was a lack of good chemistry between them and the angst wasn't much great either. At one point I even wanted Jacques to make an entry but he was just there, existing in words and there was nothing that could stir up the story more.
And I don't want to read anymore about any "crooked smile".
Other than Jan jumping to conclusions whenever Gus went quiet or when he didn't talk about his past, Gus was a good enough character who needed a little time and space to open up and to heal from what had happened to him.
I enjoyed a little at the beginning but it just went downhill for me.
I could not love this more. It was perfect. A romance but with the hard parts. (literally at points too). An exploration in novel writing and I just loved it.
My first EmHen book was Funny Story and funny story: I didn't love it. But I gave her another shot when her latest book, Great Big Beautiful Life, was picked for bookclub. I adored that one so now here we are, devouring her other books, starting with Beach Read. I really enjoyed this one. The bits about her dad caused no small amount of anguish for me but the Gus-January storyline more than made up for it. Also, I love the name January and I'm trying to think of a dog or cat or hamster or bird I could get as a pet just so I can name them January. Are you a pregnant friend of mine? If so, would you consider this name for your new kiddo? Just throwing it out there. Oh, and last but not least, I really like this special edition hardcover of Beach Read with the GORG end sheets and sprayed edges. This new trend of making books even PRETTIER is really freakin' awesome.
Beach Read by Emily Henry was nothing of what i expected. First of all, I need to mention the beautiful writing. It feels weird saying beautiful writing without an actual reason why. It was just so beautifully written.
Here we meet January, who just moved into her dad's second house after his death. There she meets her neighbour Augustus (Gus), whom she used to go to uni with. After loads of bickering, they agree on a challenge where they both have to write a book that's very different opposed to their previous ones. January is used to writing happy endings while Gus writes sad endings. Here, they switch it up, and who sell their book first wins. This actually helps January with he writing block. Throughout the challenge, they help each other with motivations and inspirations and get closer together.
I personally really liked their relationship towards each other, and it was so much fun learning about their pasts. Although I do with that, I could know more about New Eden because it was a really interesting topic to learn about. And also it would be better to get to know Gus more than we did. We were introduced with him enough to know something about him, but we don't really know HIM.
It was still great, and i'm definitely gonna pick up another Emily Henry book someday.
Here we meet January, who just moved into her dad's second house after his death. There she meets her neighbour Augustus (Gus), whom she used to go to uni with. After loads of bickering, they agree on a challenge where they both have to write a book that's very different opposed to their previous ones. January is used to writing happy endings while Gus writes sad endings. Here, they switch it up, and who sell their book first wins. This actually helps January with he writing block. Throughout the challenge, they help each other with motivations and inspirations and get closer together.
I personally really liked their relationship towards each other, and it was so much fun learning about their pasts. Although I do with that, I could know more about New Eden because it was a really interesting topic to learn about. And also it would be better to get to know Gus more than we did. We were introduced with him enough to know something about him, but we don't really know HIM.
It was still great, and i'm definitely gonna pick up another Emily Henry book someday.
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
Characters — 9/10
January and Gus are the kind of characters who start out as archetypes and end up as people. She’s the hopeless romantic unraveling after her father’s affair; he’s the pretentious cynic with a bad case of literary self-loathing. But their arcs actually earn the transformation—no fake growth, no instant therapy breakthroughs, just two people who slowly stop performing and start showing up as themselves. I loved that January’s grief made her prickly rather than tragic, and that Gus’s cynicism was rooted in recognizable damage rather than “sad boy” mystique. Even Shadi, who exists mostly via phone, feels vivid—her friendship is like a steady heartbeat underneath all the romantic chaos.The moment Gus admits his college crush on January retroactively re-wires every prior scene; suddenly the “rivalry” reads as a long, awkward crush gone defensive.
January and Gus are the kind of characters who start out as archetypes and end up as people. She’s the hopeless romantic unraveling after her father’s affair; he’s the pretentious cynic with a bad case of literary self-loathing. But their arcs actually earn the transformation—no fake growth, no instant therapy breakthroughs, just two people who slowly stop performing and start showing up as themselves. I loved that January’s grief made her prickly rather than tragic, and that Gus’s cynicism was rooted in recognizable damage rather than “sad boy” mystique. Even Shadi, who exists mostly via phone, feels vivid—her friendship is like a steady heartbeat underneath all the romantic chaos.
Atmosphere / Setting — 10/10
North Bear Shores is the kind of small town that smells faintly of sunscreen and emotional baggage. The beach houses across from one another make for a perfect stage—windows mirroring windows, secrets mirroring secrets. Henry’s sense of place is almost theatrical: the pink-painted Victorian full of gossip and warmth, the eerily quiet cult site where Gus drags January for “research.” It’s a clever balance between rom-com charm and Midwestern melancholy, where every location has a purpose. Even the way the houses press against Lake Michigan mirrors how January and Gus circle each other—contained but never safe from collision. The setting feels lived-in, weathered, and crucially, not generic.
North Bear Shores is the kind of small town that smells faintly of sunscreen and emotional baggage. The beach houses across from one another make for a perfect stage—windows mirroring windows, secrets mirroring secrets. Henry’s sense of place is almost theatrical: the pink-painted Victorian full of gossip and warmth, the eerily quiet cult site where Gus drags January for “research.” It’s a clever balance between rom-com charm and Midwestern melancholy, where every location has a purpose. Even the way the houses press against Lake Michigan mirrors how January and Gus circle each other—contained but never safe from collision. The setting feels lived-in, weathered, and crucially, not generic.
Writing Style — 9/10
Emily Henry’s voice snaps, crackles, and occasionally sucker punches. The dialogue absolutely carries the book—so quick, so specific, I could hear the eye rolls between lines. The narration, told from January’s POV, swings between snarky and vulnerable in a way that feels almost like texting your funniest friend during a breakdown. Her big monologue about genre snobbery is worth framing; it’s a feminist mic drop disguised as a rom-com argument. Sure, the internal prose isn’t wildly experimental, but it doesn’t need to be—it’s emotionally clean, funny as hell, and smart enough to wink at its own literary tug-of-war.
Emily Henry’s voice snaps, crackles, and occasionally sucker punches. The dialogue absolutely carries the book—so quick, so specific, I could hear the eye rolls between lines. The narration, told from January’s POV, swings between snarky and vulnerable in a way that feels almost like texting your funniest friend during a breakdown. Her big monologue about genre snobbery is worth framing; it’s a feminist mic drop disguised as a rom-com argument. Sure, the internal prose isn’t wildly experimental, but it doesn’t need to be—it’s emotionally clean, funny as hell, and smart enough to wink at its own literary tug-of-war.
Plot — 8/10
The bet—romance author writes “serious” lit-fic, literary guy writes a romance—is a premise so clever I was jealous I didn’t think of it first. The pacing hits that sweet spot between flirty downtime and real emotional movement. Their “research” dates are delightful chaos: drive-ins, carnival rides, cult interviews. It’s absurd, yet somehow completely believable.The final act, where January finally reads her father’s letters and Gus’s ex reappears, ties the thematic threads together, even if the resolutions feel a touch too neat. Nothing derails the story, but the coincidences occasionally feel suspiciously convenient, like the universe itself ships them. Still, it works—earnestness triumphs over structure.
The bet—romance author writes “serious” lit-fic, literary guy writes a romance—is a premise so clever I was jealous I didn’t think of it first. The pacing hits that sweet spot between flirty downtime and real emotional movement. Their “research” dates are delightful chaos: drive-ins, carnival rides, cult interviews. It’s absurd, yet somehow completely believable.
Intrigue — 10/10
This book had me absolutely feral for their banter. Every scene between January and Gus feels charged, even the ones about spreadsheets or cults. The “almost” moments are weaponized tension—Henry knows foreplay is psychological, not anatomical.The first near-kiss in the kitchen is so electric I had to physically set the book down and pace. And when they finally get together? Let’s just say it’s a relief, not a surprise. The mystery elements—her father’s affair, Gus’s ex, the slow drip of both their backstories—keep things emotionally chewy between the jokes. It’s compulsively readable, the kind of book you open “just for one chapter” and finish at 3 a.m.
This book had me absolutely feral for their banter. Every scene between January and Gus feels charged, even the ones about spreadsheets or cults. The “almost” moments are weaponized tension—Henry knows foreplay is psychological, not anatomical.
Logic / Relationships — 10/10
What sells this story isn’t the spice, it’s the scaffolding. The relationship between January and Gus unfolds with near-surgical pacing: banter, vulnerability, friction, crash, repeat. Each emotional beat grows logically from who they are, not what the plot needs.When Gus retreats after his ex shows up, it’s maddening—but it tracks. His self-sabotage isn’t random drama; it’s the inevitable climax of someone who’s spent his life pre-rejecting people before they can leave. The romance feels real because it’s messy, full of interruptions and backpedals and conversations that bruise before they heal. The world itself operates on pure human logic—no contrived obstacles, just the everyday failure to say what we mean.
What sells this story isn’t the spice, it’s the scaffolding. The relationship between January and Gus unfolds with near-surgical pacing: banter, vulnerability, friction, crash, repeat. Each emotional beat grows logically from who they are, not what the plot needs.
Enjoyment — 8/10
Was I entertained? Completely. Did I occasionally roll my eyes at a too-tidy ending or one more repetition of “my dad betrayed me”? Also yes. But that’s the trade-off: sincerity sometimes overplays itself. What I loved most was the tonal range—Henry swings from laugh-out-loud to sucker-punch sadness in a single paragraph and somehow makes it coherent. This book is warm without being gooey, romantic without being delusional. By the end, I felt wrung out in the best way, like I’d spent a summer watching two people earn their happy-for-now and realizing that’s all we ever get, anyway.
Was I entertained? Completely. Did I occasionally roll my eyes at a too-tidy ending or one more repetition of “my dad betrayed me”? Also yes. But that’s the trade-off: sincerity sometimes overplays itself. What I loved most was the tonal range—Henry swings from laugh-out-loud to sucker-punch sadness in a single paragraph and somehow makes it coherent. This book is warm without being gooey, romantic without being delusional. By the end, I felt wrung out in the best way, like I’d spent a summer watching two people earn their happy-for-now and realizing that’s all we ever get, anyway.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Drug use, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Excrement, Vomit, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
This novel contains emotionally heavy material centered on grief, trauma, and recovery. Death and Grief drive much of the story: January’s father dies suddenly, and she later learns he maintained a secret long-term affair while her mother battled cancer , shattering her sense of family and security. Gus continues to process the earlier death of his mother and the violent, abusive behavior of his father. Abuse (physical, emotional, domestic) is explored through Gus’s recollections of being beaten, having his arm broken, and witnessing his father’s violence toward his mother. Addiction and Alcoholism appear in backstories (a recovering alcoholic interviewed by the protagonists; references to drug addiction and heroin recovery), while Alcohol Use is frequent as a coping mechanism and social habit. Chronic Illness and Medical Trauma are present through January’s mother’s cancer treatments, surgery, and the fear of recurrence. Mental Health Struggles include anxiety, panic attacks, emotional collapse, and therapy/medication for Gus, all portrayed with empathy but realism. Infidelity and Betrayal are recurring sources of pain for both leads, tied to their parents’ and partners’ actions. Violence and Cult Trauma appear in Gus’s research into the New Eden cult, which involved isolation, beatings, and fatal “punishments,” including Grace’s sister’s death from internal bleeding and a final fire that destroyed the compound . Sexual Content includes multiple explicit yet emotionally grounded sex scenes between January and Gus. Additional content includes suicidal themes (discussion of cult suicide), sexism in publishing, sexual harassment in January’s past job, and strong language throughout. The novel blends romantic comedy with serious subjects—its tone remains hopeful and cathartic, but readers sensitive to grief, abuse, or illness may wish to proceed with care.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i can't stop thinking of gus as that mouse from cinderella
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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