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slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I found January annoying for not being able to get over the fact that her father wasn’t who she thought he was. Of course parents have lives they don’t tell/share with their children, the same way children have parts they don’t share with their parents
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rating: 5/5 stars
January is reeling from the implosion of her personal life when she arrives in a lake house for the summer only to find her college rival Gus living next door. They agree to swap genres in an attempt to combat their mutual writer’s block, but they’re not prepared for the feelings developing between them.
I’m finally in my Emily Henry era and I could not be happier. This book was everything everyone promised it would be, and I’ll keep this review short and sweet because we all know the internet really doesn’t need my opinions added to the ten million reviews of this book already out there. That said, I LOVED this and I have to scream it from the rafters at least once, so consider this that scream. I cried SO HARD (from literally 3 pages in and then again all the way through the last 50 pages). The characters are SO good, and so many lines will live rent free in my mind forever (why say ILY when Gus Everett said WIWYSIFOTYE). I am so glad I finally read this and truly can’t wait to continue my EmHen journey!
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: rivals to lovers; small town vibes; crying
CW: Loss of parent; grief; mentions of child abuse/domestic violence; infidelity
January is reeling from the implosion of her personal life when she arrives in a lake house for the summer only to find her college rival Gus living next door. They agree to swap genres in an attempt to combat their mutual writer’s block, but they’re not prepared for the feelings developing between them.
I’m finally in my Emily Henry era and I could not be happier. This book was everything everyone promised it would be, and I’ll keep this review short and sweet because we all know the internet really doesn’t need my opinions added to the ten million reviews of this book already out there. That said, I LOVED this and I have to scream it from the rafters at least once, so consider this that scream. I cried SO HARD (from literally 3 pages in and then again all the way through the last 50 pages). The characters are SO good, and so many lines will live rent free in my mind forever (why say ILY when Gus Everett said WIWYSIFOTYE). I am so glad I finally read this and truly can’t wait to continue my EmHen journey!
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: rivals to lovers; small town vibes; crying
CW: Loss of parent; grief; mentions of child abuse/domestic violence; infidelity
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Death of parent
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
"Sometimes life is very hard. Sometimes it demands so much of you that you start losing pieces of yourself as you stretch out to give what the world wants to take.”
This is partially my fault, I'll admit to that!
The last book that I read by Emily Henry - People we meet on Vacation- was a "so-so book". I did like it at first but then I lost interest. And friends-to-lovers is not my trope! And I thought that I was the first and last book that I would read by this author. But then Beach Read was published and seemed like something that I would like, so I gave it a chance.
To me, this is another "so-so book". I admit that there are some aspects where Henry's has improved. To me, Gus love for January didn't seemed so obsessive, bu there were some cringe parts. However, just like in the last book, I lost interest.
I think that this will be the last book that I read from Henry!
This is partially my fault, I'll admit to that!
The last book that I read by Emily Henry - People we meet on Vacation- was a "so-so book". I did like it at first but then I lost interest. And friends-to-lovers is not my trope! And I thought that I was the first and last book that I would read by this author. But then Beach Read was published and seemed like something that I would like, so I gave it a chance.
To me, this is another "so-so book". I admit that there are some aspects where Henry's has improved.
I think that this will be the last book that I read from Henry!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness
Minor: Domestic abuse, Vomit
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this one so much more this time than the first time I read it a couple years ago. January & Gus <3 both healing and trying to be their best for themselves and each other. It was so sweet and funny and real. Emily Henry books always feel like home
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Grief, Fire/Fire injury
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury
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
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Infidelity
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Since Beach Read came out in 2020, I’ve heard nothing but good things about Emily Henry’s first adult romance novel. Years later, Henry has released three more novels in this genre and I still have yet read any of them - until now!
Beach Read follows the story of January Andrews, a published romance writer who recently lost her father. His death opened up numerous wounds when January discovered secrets he has been keeping from her, the aftermath of which sent her into an extreme writers block. Since she hasn’t sold a book and recently spilt with her long-time boyfriend, January moves into a lake house left to her by her dad, hoping write her next novel by the end of the summer.
Upon moving into the house, January “meets” her neighbor, who turns out to be her college rival Augustus Everett, a successful literary fiction writer. The two decide to make a bet, deciding they will each try to write a book in the other’s genre. The terms of their agreement cause them to spend a lot of time together, and sparks may fly…
Saying I enjoyed this book is an understatement. From the moment I started reading, January and Augustus’s story captivated me. I was swept up in the romance, rooting for them the whole way.
What pushes Beach Read into the category of an all-time favorite is the inclusion of difficult themes. I always enjoy books that cover difficult topics, so the discussion of grief and the impact that January’s fathers actions had on her was an element of the book I really enjoyed.
This book also finds our characters researching a cult, something I never expected to see in a romance novel. However, I think it was handled well. The scenes in which this topic was discussed were moving and I found myself getting goosebumps once or twice.
Despite the heavy themes, this book makes for an excellent cute romance. January and Augustus have undeniable chemistry, and the development of their romance was enough to make me giddy.
Emily Henry is an excellent writer who masterfully crafted this novel. I truly can not wait to immediately pick up one of her other books!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse
Minor: Alcoholism, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury
This book also deals with cults, particularly the fallout of being in the cult on survivors, as well as the family of cult members who died.
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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: Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Read For:
Quick Read
Quick Read
Hurt/Comfort
Summer Read
Author x Author
Beach Read (much like the title says)
Honestly, I wasn't feeling this one as much. The characters were okay but at times really annoying. The relationship felt rushed and a bit too forced. After they admit their feelings it’s revealed they always felt that way since they were in college… it just kinda comes out of nowhere. Then there was the ending. I love romance books as much as the next person but that was way too cliché and just really annoying. I will say I did like some of the banter was pretty good and I did like the cozy summer vibes it had.
(First Person POV)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Rep: Idk
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Suicide, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury