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A review by aksmith92
Beach Read by Emily Henry
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Oh, Emily Henry, I love your books! They are not for everyone. For some reason, I relate a lot to the characters - it took me ages to get out of my head and admit to someone I liked them. It's easy to make excuses, keep the tension brewing, and say, "ah, it probably won't happen!" Sometimes, characters like these can grind your gears too much, but I get it and like it. It's an escapism I will not feel sorry for, especially when Henry loves to take things more profound than just a romance.
Now, I will say that my least favorite thing that Henry does is hone in on a particular characteristic of the character - for instance, Gus' crooked mouth/smile and dark eyes. Also, January's character calling herself "bad bunny" when things go wrong. Or, in People We Meet on Vacation, Alex's Sad Puppy Face. We get it - it's now just weird! But I flew through this book, smiling ear to ear. I loved the banter; I laughed out loud in some parts when January was describing literary fiction; I thoroughly enjoyed the aspect that people sometimes don't give their whole selves in college and change.
What I really loved about this book was the description of January writing romantic comedy books and then maybe pivoting to something else for a change. The writer component of this novel surprised me in a good way. I enjoyed January (since it is told from her perspective) going through the writer's block process and utilizing her current situation and past experiences to lead her to something else for a change. But I also appreciated her describing that sometimes rom-com-like reads can be more challenging than many think. I LOVED this quote: "If you swapped out all my Jessicas for Johns, do you know what you'd get? Fiction. Just fiction. Ready and willing to be read by anyone, but somehow by being a woman who writes about women, I've eliminated half the Earth's population from my potential readers, and you know what? I don't feel ashamed of that. I feel pissed." Maybe that's not ENTIRELY true per se, but I got the sentiment and appreciated it.
I love Emily Henry and Beach Read - I could read her books anytime for a serotonin boost. They are sweet, funny, and nuanced, so I feel like I'm learning about the characters and what they are going through instead of just reading a love story. Sometimes you feel like the characters are a little immature, but I think Henry can bring you back to see an overall picture.
Now, I will say that my least favorite thing that Henry does is hone in on a particular characteristic of the character - for instance, Gus' crooked mouth/smile and dark eyes. Also, January's character calling herself "bad bunny" when things go wrong. Or, in People We Meet on Vacation, Alex's Sad Puppy Face. We get it - it's now just weird! But I flew through this book, smiling ear to ear. I loved the banter; I laughed out loud in some parts when January was describing literary fiction; I thoroughly enjoyed the aspect that people sometimes don't give their whole selves in college and change.
What I really loved about this book was the description of January writing romantic comedy books and then maybe pivoting to something else for a change. The writer component of this novel surprised me in a good way. I enjoyed January (since it is told from her perspective) going through the writer's block process and utilizing her current situation and past experiences to lead her to something else for a change. But I also appreciated her describing that sometimes rom-com-like reads can be more challenging than many think. I LOVED this quote: "If you swapped out all my Jessicas for Johns, do you know what you'd get? Fiction. Just fiction. Ready and willing to be read by anyone, but somehow by being a woman who writes about women, I've eliminated half the Earth's population from my potential readers, and you know what? I don't feel ashamed of that. I feel pissed." Maybe that's not ENTIRELY true per se, but I got the sentiment and appreciated it.
I love Emily Henry and Beach Read - I could read her books anytime for a serotonin boost. They are sweet, funny, and nuanced, so I feel like I'm learning about the characters and what they are going through instead of just reading a love story. Sometimes you feel like the characters are a little immature, but I think Henry can bring you back to see an overall picture.