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emotional
hopeful
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
This was better than I remembered it. +1 star
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
not sure if it was a “beach read,” but i still loved it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Death of parent
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Average, didn’t really connect with the characters and some bits made me roll my eyes because they were so cliche and cringey
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide, Vomit, Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Sexual assault
emotional
funny
hopeful
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, Death, Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Vomit
Cults, arson
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Infidelity
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
My heart was quietly wrung out and also so full reading this book. The slow burn between Gus and January didn't frustrate me like slow burn stories sometimes do - I loved the time we took to get to know these characters and the incremental way they found their way to each other; it meant everything felt earned. The emotional life of both the main characters was so alive in the writing, which I adore. It meant that I raced through the last third or half of this book because I wanted so badly to know how things would turn out. This book was also very much a love letter to writers, which was lovely.
The narration was also deeply, deeply reflective and heart-wrenchingly relatable to me in its discussion of both a parent battling cancer and a parent who cheated, and the feelings of betrayal the latter creates that are difficult to reconcile. I felt so many of my emotions and struggles mirrored in January's processing of these events in her life.
I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Julia Whelan. I'd heard she was great, but this was my first book with her as the narrator, and I must say, I found her impeccable. She brought the characters to life so completely while still letting the text be front and center.
I think Beach Read is one of the most well-written romances I have read. Definitely going on my list of what to recommend to my friends who might be interested in dipping their toes into the genre. (Also just read b.andherbooks' and Leigh Kramer's reviews, and agree with some of their points about this perhaps being more "women's fiction" with romantic elements than a true romance, as the story is more about January's emotional journey with a romance storyline woven in, rather than centering around whether January or Gus will end up together.)
The narration was also deeply, deeply reflective and heart-wrenchingly relatable to me in its discussion of both a parent battling cancer and a parent who cheated, and the feelings of betrayal the latter creates that are difficult to reconcile. I felt so many of my emotions and struggles mirrored in January's processing of these events in her life.
I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Julia Whelan. I'd heard she was great, but this was my first book with her as the narrator, and I must say, I found her impeccable. She brought the characters to life so completely while still letting the text be front and center.
I think Beach Read is one of the most well-written romances I have read. Definitely going on my list of what to recommend to my friends who might be interested in dipping their toes into the genre. (Also just read b.andherbooks' and Leigh Kramer's reviews, and agree with some of their points about this perhaps being more "women's fiction" with romantic elements than a true romance, as the story is more about January's emotional journey with a romance storyline woven in, rather than centering around whether January or Gus will end up together.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Vomit
hopeful
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Infidelity
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse
emotional
funny
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
"I have a fatal flaw. I like to think we all do."
This book is everything.
Ever since I read the ARC for People We Meet on Vacation almost a month ago, I’ve been craving this book. In my review I said People We Meet on Vacation would be one of my favorite books of 2021. Well, Beach Read made it to the all-time favorites list. That’s how much I loved it.
There's the fluffy, feel-good, laugh-out-loud romances and then there's the Emily Henry romances, which somehow manage to completely wreck you and make you feel giddy at the same time. If you ever read this, Emily Henry, please keep writing about the Januarys and Guses and the Poppys and Alexes of the world because I’ll sure keep craving to read about them.
This is the perfect second-chance, opposites-attract, enemies-to-lovers romance (because why stick to just one trope?) and they’re writers, so bonus points for that. I loved all the characters, their perspectives, the drive-in scene, the letters (omg the damn letters had me sobbing) and just about everything in this book really. Maybe, just to be picky, when you-know-who shows up I didn’t get why January shut down without even talking to him, I mean it wasn’t his fault, he did nothing wrong. Like I kinda get it but also don’t.
Anyways, I loved it. A lot. Will definitely re-read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse
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: Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse