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dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this book, and it got me stating up til 1am to finish it! Gus and January are great characters I just felt like it was very similar to Book Lovers Nora and Charlie, enemies (or rivals) to lovers with some kind of deal or bet that throws them together. This may just be a theme in Emily Henry's writing, so it's not a problem, just interesting. I loved how whilst the romance was obvious and the main driving force, the book bet goes into some pretty dark and serious places. Big fan of this book, and will probably read again
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse
I enjoyed reading a book about writing, but its meta-ness made me extra critical of its structure which didn’t always hold up. The tension of the books was a bit unnecessarily drawn out and a lot of the introspection quite heavy handed and very told not shown. What worked for me was the chemistry of the characters, the dialogue, and a lot of the themes and foils.
But one final note that bugs me - there’s so much alcohol in this book?? And it is never addressed?? January and Gus have barely any scenes together not under the influence of or in the search for alcohol and that just doesn’t sit right with me..
But one final note that bugs me - there’s so much alcohol in this book?? And it is never addressed?? January and Gus have barely any scenes together not under the influence of or in the search for alcohol and that just doesn’t sit right with me..
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
funny
hopeful
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
i enjoyed this. i was scared that finally reading emily henry, it wouldn’t live up to the hype but this was a really lovely love story. i loved that they were writers and they spent the plot trying to write in each other’s genres, whilst both trying to work through their own grief. despite all of this they grew and changed but became perfect imperfect versions of who they already were. the spice was pretty good and there was some pretty writing in there too. it was a quick and easy read, with emotions but not heart-wrenching.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Vomit, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism, Deadnaming, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury
multiple discussions about a cult and people who had been one
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Minor: Alcoholism, Car accident
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
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Vomit
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Title is exactly what you’re getting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Suicide, Car accident
emotional
funny
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: Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol
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
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol