A review by vynexareads
Beach Read by Emily Henry

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

‘I was happy to be here, doing nothing with Gus, and even if it was temporary, it was enough for me to believe that someday I'd be okay again. Maybe not the exact same brand of it I'd been before Dad died- probably not-but a new kind, nearly as solid and safe.'

I'm not sure if I did this on purpose, but it seems that I left my favorite Emily Henry book for last.

After seeing that @/backroadsnbooks over on Instagram was planning on reading Beach Read this month, I had to jump on the opportunity to buddy read this with them. It's like my intuition knew I would need support during this read.

Like the other two novels, it was slow for me for the first 45/50 pages. Not sure exactly why this happens to me, but it has every time. Since I already had this prior knowledge, it was easy for me to just keep going with it. And of course, once she got me, she got me in her grip and still hasn't let go.

Let me just say that January and Gus are my favorite couple that Henry has put out into the world for us to know. The moment they had their first encounter on page, I knew they were going to be and of course, I was not wrong. Not to be dramatic, but I could cry right now just thinking about them.

January's pain was easy for me to feel alongside with her. As someone who's father has been completely out of my life since I was a year old, I don't think I'd ever feel the pain of finding out my father was not who I always thought he was after his death. Yet Henry made sure that I didn't miss out on that experience, anyway. And in the same breath, her growing love for Gus made me sick. So sweet yet was completely fine with getting multiple cavities just to witness them fall and fall and fall madly in love.

I know understand why so many people say they want to protect Gus with every fiber in their body, because he needs as many people to do so as possible...because OUCH!

I couldn't imagine reading Henry's adult novels in the order they were published. As much as I love the other two, if I had read this one first, would I have even loved and enjoyed those as much as I did??? Thankfully we will never know.

The tears I cried while reading this story, but especially the last 125 pages, were entirely too much for me to even handle at this very moment. It's not the only book to make me cry this year, but it's the one that has made me boohoo cry this hard....I feel so alive. Thanks, Emily!

It's so good, but I understand why people wouldn't want to read this book as it could be triggering (loss of a parent, parent having cancer, child abuse, cheating and talks of cult stories), but if you can read it without being triggered, I recommend this book 100%, especially if you can read it in one/two sittings 'cause you may completely immerse yourself into it.

I love it....I love it... so much.

⭐️ 5 STARS ⭐️
NEW FAVORITE!!