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challenging
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was fully ‘Taylor Swift - Fearless Album’ coded and I’m not mad at it. The author is a Swiftie with a flair for white woman romance and her pen game shows it. She managed to bring a story that could’ve been a dull trope-y mess to life in a humorous and sweet way.
I’m not the target audience for a book like this so I can’t even lie and say I loved the book. I think people who like quirky girl-sad boy romances but for adults with real world problems will like this. What I will say is the story was great and I’m glad the characters got their HFN ending
I’m not the target audience for a book like this so I can’t even lie and say I loved the book. I think people who like quirky girl-sad boy romances but for adults with real world problems will like this. What I will say is the story was great and I’m glad the characters got their HFN ending
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Death of parent
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Vomit, Car accident
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Characters – 8/10
January and Gus had chemistry so thick you could spread it on toast, but that doesn’t mean they were flawless. January felt real—messy, snarky, and self-destructing in a very “I wrote this in my Notes app at 3 a.m.” kind of way. Gus brought the required amount of brooding and emotional constipation, but he sometimes crossed over into "walking Tumblr post" territory. Their banter carried the book, no question, and side characters like Shadi and Pete brought welcome doses of chaos and warmth. Still, a few supporting roles felt like cardboard cutouts labeled “Plot Function.” Sonya was basically a plot twist in yoga pants. Memorable? Kind of. Fully realized? Not quite.
January and Gus had chemistry so thick you could spread it on toast, but that doesn’t mean they were flawless. January felt real—messy, snarky, and self-destructing in a very “I wrote this in my Notes app at 3 a.m.” kind of way. Gus brought the required amount of brooding and emotional constipation, but he sometimes crossed over into "walking Tumblr post" territory. Their banter carried the book, no question, and side characters like Shadi and Pete brought welcome doses of chaos and warmth. Still, a few supporting roles felt like cardboard cutouts labeled “Plot Function.” Sonya was basically a plot twist in yoga pants. Memorable? Kind of. Fully realized? Not quite.
Atmosphere/Setting – 7/10
Small beach town in Michigan? Cozy. Haunted house full of dad-secrets? Intriguing. Carnival vomiting? …Unforgettable, unfortunately. The atmosphere worked in the sense that I knew where I was supposed to be, but it rarely transported me. The setting felt more like a backdrop than a living, breathing part of the story. That said, the windowsill Post-it flirting and parallel desk writing sessions? That’s the kind of emotional geography I’ll remember. Just don’t ask me what the name of the town was or how many times they actually went to the beach.
Small beach town in Michigan? Cozy. Haunted house full of dad-secrets? Intriguing. Carnival vomiting? …Unforgettable, unfortunately. The atmosphere worked in the sense that I knew where I was supposed to be, but it rarely transported me. The setting felt more like a backdrop than a living, breathing part of the story. That said, the windowsill Post-it flirting and parallel desk writing sessions? That’s the kind of emotional geography I’ll remember. Just don’t ask me what the name of the town was or how many times they actually went to the beach.
Writing Style – 9/10
Emily Henry writes like she’s trying to seduce you and give you an emotional breakdown at the same time—and honestly, it works. Her prose is sharp, funny, devastating, and full of lines that make you want to throw your Kindle across the room out of sheer admiration. Occasionally she veers into metaphor overload or overwrought introspection, but the voice is so strong it steamrolls any complaints. It’s vulnerable, it’s whip-smart, and it hits. Even when it’s a bit too proud of itself, I can’t stay mad at it.
Emily Henry writes like she’s trying to seduce you and give you an emotional breakdown at the same time—and honestly, it works. Her prose is sharp, funny, devastating, and full of lines that make you want to throw your Kindle across the room out of sheer admiration. Occasionally she veers into metaphor overload or overwrought introspection, but the voice is so strong it steamrolls any complaints. It’s vulnerable, it’s whip-smart, and it hits. Even when it’s a bit too proud of itself, I can’t stay mad at it.
Plot – 7/10
The plot was ambitious. Like “I’m going to write about grief, betrayal, cults, and a book-writing bet” ambitious. And honestly? It kind of worked. Kind of. The dual plotlines—romance and daddy issues—fought each other for space, and the pacing suffered because of it. The bet between Gus and January was full of potential, but it felt more like a cute setup than an actual structural backbone. Still, the story delivered some great emotional punches, even if they were occasionally surrounded by filler and romantic procrastination.
The plot was ambitious. Like “I’m going to write about grief, betrayal, cults, and a book-writing bet” ambitious. And honestly? It kind of worked. Kind of. The dual plotlines—romance and daddy issues—fought each other for space, and the pacing suffered because of it. The bet between Gus and January was full of potential, but it felt more like a cute setup than an actual structural backbone. Still, the story delivered some great emotional punches, even if they were occasionally surrounded by filler and romantic procrastination.
Intrigue – 8/10
There’s something addictive about two emotionally damaged writers flirting over shared trauma and unresolved manuscript deadlines. The book had me turning pages—not always because of what was happening, but because I needed to see how long it would take for Gus to break emotionally or January to throw her gin at the wall. The cult research subplot felt a little random but weirdly compelling, like watching a true crime documentary in the middle of a rom-com. Was it always cohesive? Not at all. Was I intrigued anyway? You bet.
There’s something addictive about two emotionally damaged writers flirting over shared trauma and unresolved manuscript deadlines. The book had me turning pages—not always because of what was happening, but because I needed to see how long it would take for Gus to break emotionally or January to throw her gin at the wall. The cult research subplot felt a little random but weirdly compelling, like watching a true crime documentary in the middle of a rom-com. Was it always cohesive? Not at all. Was I intrigued anyway? You bet.
Logic/Relationships – 7.5/10
Let’s talk relationship realism. Did I believe these two authors would fall for each other while competing to write in the other’s genre? Sure. Did I believe they’d keep having the same emotional argument fifty-seven times instead of using their big writer words to talk like grownups? Not so much. The emotional beats sometimes felt a little choreographed, like: insert trauma reveal here, cue slow dancing there. And the resolution with January’s dad and Sonya fizzled after all the buildup. Still, the push and pull between Gus and January made sense in a “two people with intimacy issues cosplaying as enemies” kind of way.
Let’s talk relationship realism. Did I believe these two authors would fall for each other while competing to write in the other’s genre? Sure. Did I believe they’d keep having the same emotional argument fifty-seven times instead of using their big writer words to talk like grownups? Not so much. The emotional beats sometimes felt a little choreographed, like: insert trauma reveal here, cue slow dancing there. And the resolution with January’s dad and Sonya fizzled after all the buildup. Still, the push and pull between Gus and January made sense in a “two people with intimacy issues cosplaying as enemies” kind of way.
Enjoyment – 8/10
Did I laugh? Yes. Cry? Yes. Briefly contemplate throwing my phone into the lake during a monologue about the meaninglessness of life? Also yes. Beach Read was not the frothy, flirty beach vacation I was promised—it was more like falling in love at a funeral. But it delivered a slow-burn romance with teeth, humor with bite, and enough existential dread to keep things grounded. I didn’t escape reading it, but I felt something. And I’ll recommend it—with the caveat that you might leave the book a little more emotionally wrecked than when you started.
Did I laugh? Yes. Cry? Yes. Briefly contemplate throwing my phone into the lake during a monologue about the meaninglessness of life? Also yes. Beach Read was not the frothy, flirty beach vacation I was promised—it was more like falling in love at a funeral. But it delivered a slow-burn romance with teeth, humor with bite, and enough existential dread to keep things grounded. I didn’t escape reading it, but I felt something. And I’ll recommend it—with the caveat that you might leave the book a little more emotionally wrecked than when you started.
Final Score: 54.5/70
A romance with a literary fiction complex. Funny, raw, a little overstuffed, but hard not to love—even when it hurts your feelings and eats your heart like a sad, sexy piranha.
A romance with a literary fiction complex. Funny, raw, a little overstuffed, but hard not to love—even when it hurts your feelings and eats your heart like a sad, sexy piranha.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Mental illness, Sexual content
While Beach Read deals with heavier themes like grief, betrayal, and emotional struggles, it balances them with humor and romance. The emotional weight of the book might be difficult for readers going through similar personal experiences, especially in relation to losing a parent or discovering family secrets. However, the story ultimately leans hopeful and cathartic rather than overwhelmingly dark.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think the book is well written. It is an interesting premise and the characters were endearing. I think my only qualm with this book is that it felt like January kept repeating the same thing when Gus pushed her away.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol
dark
emotional
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 will start by saying gus is fine. i would fall as well. but talk about struggling with standards.
i picked this up in waverly train station in edinburgh because i hadn't read anything my entire trip, ice was on the ground and i was hoping if i read something with beach in the title that summer would come quicker. it did not. and lily was right about the lack of beach scenes. disappointing for a literal BEACH READ.
the first 2/3 of this book was fun and i like both gus and january as characters. you can appreciate their conflicts as realistic and immense daddy issues and whilst the plot wasn't really there, i had fun just watching them connect and flit around michigan as unemployed creatives.
however, i fear we have found another case of third act syndrome. i don't think it was a bad ending by any means but it did feel at times half baked and honestly, a bit rando?? i can even pinpoint the exact point at which my eyebrows flew off my head. call me conservative but i don't think it was entirely necessary for these two to bump uglies 3 TIMES next to an arsoned out, baby-death, cult site. that was certainly one of emily henry's most creative choices i've seen to date.
as for the actual plot, it just didn't feel like things weren't as wrapped us as they could've been, which could be argued for given the nature of the book. but i do think we got robbed a little bit of any thorough conversation between january and her mum. i understand her mum's thing means that she refuses to acknowledge her grief or talk about it but i think the moment she calls her mum telling her that she needs her could have been that moment. i think it was obvious that the confrontation with sonya was inevitable but i was waiting for 300 pages for that conversation with her mum that just never came.
also gus's ex randomly showing up?? sometimes i forget he was even married and i think january did as well. and there was absolutely no need for him to just take off for a full day like that. i know he tried to call her but not even a text?? are you mad???
like i said, i did like both of them and in my head, joe jonas was a good gus but it felt very much scraping bare minimum. even that felt like a stretch at times.
i'm also deducting points for the full body cringe i got when i read "i don't mind snow as long as there's january". intolerable.
also, im glad i got the correct ending without the proposal and just have a nice little book dedication that felt more authentic to gus and january. after all, it has only been 9 months and getting engaged after that long is absolute insanity, but i think that speaks more to american values of romance than the book's so i'll let it slide.
at it's core, beach read is really just about two sexually depraved loners with extreme daddy issues who have never gotten over anything or each others ever in their lives and nobody else could love them like the other. probably better on re-read if you suspend expectations of it being an actual beach read.
i picked this up in waverly train station in edinburgh because i hadn't read anything my entire trip, ice was on the ground and i was hoping if i read something with beach in the title that summer would come quicker. it did not. and lily was right about the lack of beach scenes. disappointing for a literal BEACH READ.
the first 2/3 of this book was fun and i like both gus and january as characters. you can appreciate their conflicts as realistic and immense daddy issues and whilst the plot wasn't really there, i had fun just watching them connect and flit around michigan as unemployed creatives.
however, i fear we have found another case of third act syndrome. i don't think it was a bad ending by any means but it did feel at times half baked and honestly, a bit rando?? i can even pinpoint the exact point at which my eyebrows flew off my head. call me conservative but i don't think it was entirely necessary for these two to bump uglies 3 TIMES next to an arsoned out, baby-death, cult site. that was certainly one of emily henry's most creative choices i've seen to date.
as for the actual plot, it just didn't feel like things weren't as wrapped us as they could've been, which could be argued for given the nature of the book. but i do think we got robbed a little bit of any thorough conversation between january and her mum. i understand her mum's thing means that she refuses to acknowledge her grief or talk about it but i think the moment she calls her mum telling her that she needs her could have been that moment. i think it was obvious that the confrontation with sonya was inevitable but i was waiting for 300 pages for that conversation with her mum that just never came.
also gus's ex randomly showing up?? sometimes i forget he was even married and i think january did as well. and there was absolutely no need for him to just take off for a full day like that. i know he tried to call her but not even a text?? are you mad???
like i said, i did like both of them and in my head, joe jonas was a good gus but it felt very much scraping bare minimum. even that felt like a stretch at times.
i'm also deducting points for the full body cringe i got when i read "i don't mind snow as long as there's january". intolerable.
also, im glad i got the correct ending without the proposal and just have a nice little book dedication that felt more authentic to gus and january. after all, it has only been 9 months and getting engaged after that long is absolute insanity, but i think that speaks more to american values of romance than the book's so i'll let it slide.
at it's core, beach read is really just about two sexually depraved loners with extreme daddy issues who have never gotten over anything or each others ever in their lives and nobody else could love them like the other. probably better on re-read if you suspend expectations of it being an actual beach read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Body horror, Child death, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
slow-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
It’s rare that I rate a book as a 5, but I think this one truly deserves it. This is my 3rd Emily Henry read and I’ve been impressed every single time. This one might be my favorite so far.
I love her characters. They are snarky, funny, and perfectly imperfect. She makes you want to root for January and Gus and leaves you wanting more of them at the end.
This book was steamy, but not gratuitous. It’s emotional in all the best ways and the flaws if the characters is what makes you root for them. They aren't trying to fix one another, but rather so them in a different more positive light.
If you're new to Emily Henry, I think this would be a perfect first read.
I love her characters. They are snarky, funny, and perfectly imperfect. She makes you want to root for January and Gus and leaves you wanting more of them at the end.
This book was steamy, but not gratuitous. It’s emotional in all the best ways and the flaws if the characters is what makes you root for them. They aren't trying to fix one another, but rather so them in a different more positive light.
If you're new to Emily Henry, I think this would be a perfect first read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Mental illness, Death of parent
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, Vomit, Car accident
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Vomit
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Toxic relationship, Grief, Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Vomit, Trafficking, Car accident, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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
Graphic: Death, Grief
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder