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adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Beautiful and emotional novel on an author dealing with the death of her father, family secrets and dysfunction, writer’s block and career stagnation, and an old academic rival from college she previously/maybe still carries a torch for. A story of dealing with grief and complicated views of one’s parents, I found myself crying with the main characters and cheering her on towards success and happiness.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Emily Henry cured her writers block with this book. But also, she has cured my reader's block. This book was so easily devoured. I think a lot of this stems from just a really vivid, good writing quality. I have been on a romance genre hiatus because I just couldn't do the cliché anymore (not that this isn't tied with a bow)...but this has so many turns of phrase that feel so clever and conversational that it goes down like candy.
I also love that Gus is not horrendous at any point, because enemies to lovers can be a really hard sell on that front. It's very easy to buy why they 'hate' each other. And very easy to be swept up when they finally work it out. He feels fully formed and I buy the backstory without it feeling empty. This could be because Pete feels very present in the story and many male love interests have their family's tossed aside pretty fast. I am, of course biased, Gus is the exact kind of dude I would have had a crush on in an English class. Lanky, a bit pompous, distant, damaged...unfortunately, I cannot help but be a stereotype and enjoy a male character like this. Sorry friends, I am typical.
I also totally buy into January's story; it is very easy to make this plot overwrought. Parents can be disappointing* and as a reader, it's hard to feel too much for someone with parents who made iffy choices. Like, we all have that to an extent? But, Henry keeps it from going over the edge pretty well; I think the conversation with Sonya really saves it. Because that shit made me rage hard at all the adults involved. I think this shows Henry has a pretty good sense of timing and the limits of a reader's patience.
I have only one complaint, and that is that Henry probably needed to put a little space from the burnt cult children imagery and a scene where they fuck three times in a tent. The fact that I can get over this really does speak to how much I enjoyed the rest of my time here. However, who brings a condom on a hike to investigate a burned down cult compound. This is serial killer behavior. And I cannot abide not calling it out. (also, like another reviewer said, a little too much crooked smile. But let's just call it her editor's fault.)
Anyway, I highly recommend for anyone who needs something sweet and fast to get out of a rut. Also, here is a four song playlist (which contains spoilers), it's been a while since I've done that:
1. Everybody Hurts -REM <- for when it your sad birthday
2. Like That - Doja Cat <-for basement sex
3. You Oughta Know- Alanis Morrisette <- for when everyone seems to be cheating you
4. Burning Love - Elvis Presley <- for romance couples not dating 2 years before marrying
(this is a playlist full of whiplash)
*except my mom, who is reading this review probably...so....
I also love that Gus is not horrendous at any point, because enemies to lovers can be a really hard sell on that front. It's very easy to buy why they 'hate' each other. And very easy to be swept up when they finally work it out. He feels fully formed and I buy the backstory without it feeling empty. This could be because Pete feels very present in the story and many male love interests have their family's tossed aside pretty fast. I am, of course biased, Gus is the exact kind of dude I would have had a crush on in an English class. Lanky, a bit pompous, distant, damaged...unfortunately, I cannot help but be a stereotype and enjoy a male character like this. Sorry friends, I am typical.
I also totally buy into January's story; it is very easy to make this plot overwrought. Parents can be disappointing* and as a reader, it's hard to feel too much for someone with parents who made iffy choices. Like, we all have that to an extent? But, Henry keeps it from going over the edge pretty well; I think the conversation with Sonya really saves it. Because that shit made me rage hard at all the adults involved. I think this shows Henry has a pretty good sense of timing and the limits of a reader's patience.
I have only one complaint, and that is that Henry probably needed to put a little space from the burnt cult children imagery and a scene where they fuck three times in a tent. The fact that I can get over this really does speak to how much I enjoyed the rest of my time here. However, who brings a condom on a hike to investigate a burned down cult compound. This is serial killer behavior. And I cannot abide not calling it out. (also, like another reviewer said, a little too much crooked smile. But let's just call it her editor's fault.)
Anyway, I highly recommend for anyone who needs something sweet and fast to get out of a rut. Also, here is a four song playlist (which contains spoilers), it's been a while since I've done that:
1. Everybody Hurts -REM <- for when it your sad birthday
2. Like That - Doja Cat <-for basement sex
3. You Oughta Know- Alanis Morrisette <- for when everyone seems to be cheating you
4. Burning Love - Elvis Presley <- for romance couples not dating 2 years before marrying
(this is a playlist full of whiplash)
*except my mom, who is reading this review probably...so....
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
This book was a lot of fun while being very emotional. I love January and Gus so much and their deep conversations. I may have cried a lot haha.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Infidelity, Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this book and the characters. I particularly enjoyed the banter between January and Gus. Although I got annoyed at how Gus reacted when things got complicated and would sort of leave January hanging. He apologized after doing it the first time but then pretty much did the same thing again. I still loved the characters and the story overall though.
I do wish the book had had a different title and cover because it really does a disservice to the book. The title and cover give the impression of a fun breeze rom com but it’s not really that. Both characters are dealing with their past and January is dealing with the death of her father. Although there are fun moments, there are also some deeply sad ones. I don’t usually cry reading books but I did with this one. I also wish we would have gotten less mentions of his crooked mouth and rumpled hair, it was said A LOT.
Lastly, I will say that there was a throw away line in the book that bothered when January is describing Gus’ body that talks about him having a good body but not necessarily from “healthy habits” as if implying that only muscular/skinny people have healthy habits. There were other ways for the author to get her point across in a different way.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was great. I couldn’t stop listening once I started.
I do wish the book had had a different title and cover because it really does a disservice to the book. The title and cover give the impression of a fun breeze rom com but it’s not really that. Both characters are dealing with their past and January is dealing with the death of her father. Although there are fun moments, there are also some deeply sad ones. I don’t usually cry reading books but I did with this one. I also wish we would have gotten less mentions of his crooked mouth and rumpled hair, it was said A LOT.
Lastly, I will say that there was a throw away line in the book that bothered when January is describing Gus’ body that talks about him having a good body but not necessarily from “healthy habits” as if implying that only muscular/skinny people have healthy habits. There were other ways for the author to get her point across in a different way.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was great. I couldn’t stop listening once I started.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse
Mentions and descriptions of a cult where people were murdered.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Vomit
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse, Car accident
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Funny and emosh and loveable x 10 million
I'd heard a lot about Beach Read from friends and fellow bookstagrammers, so went into it with medium-high expectations. It delivered in several different ways, including:
- Laugh out loud moments
- A weird yet surprisingly emotional storyline, armed with local cults and emotional familial betrayal
- A good level of spice
- Loveable characters that you'll still think about years later
For me, January was definitely a more relatable and enjoyable character to get to know. Gus had his moments, and I really enjoyed the ending - but this book very much felt like an exploration into January's mind and grief more than your typical romance book.
I'd definitely recommend, and will no doubt read again one summer in the future!
I'd heard a lot about Beach Read from friends and fellow bookstagrammers, so went into it with medium-high expectations. It delivered in several different ways, including:
- Laugh out loud moments
- A weird yet surprisingly emotional storyline, armed with local cults and emotional familial betrayal
- A good level of spice
- Loveable characters that you'll still think about years later
For me, January was definitely a more relatable and enjoyable character to get to know. Gus had his moments, and I really enjoyed the ending - but this book very much felt like an exploration into January's mind and grief more than your typical romance book.
I'd definitely recommend, and will no doubt read again one summer in the future!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Death of parent
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, Suicide
I would add a moderate content warning for cults/religious trauma if that was an option.