foreverday 's review for:

Beach Read by Emily Henry

3.5

---

 

This was a readable, easy holiday read with an ending that didn’t quite hit. The beginning was the best part, but then once they got together it all went a bit downhill in terms of silly miscommunication and unnecessary drama (and lots of crying that could be sorted with communication). At some point the main character says something like ‘if I were reading a romance book I would want the characters to just talk to each other and communicate but I'm scared’, and I'm like just because you’re letting us know you’re aware of it, doesn’t mean it isn’t still annoying for me, your actual reader. 

It felt like the author was trying to do more than just a simple romance novel, was trying to give a bigger message about loving someone even with their flaws, and of growing up and apart, but it didn’t quite achieve it. 

(Also two potential fade to black weren't taken and instead had a couple scenes that didn't do it for me, but ymmv) 

There were bits to enjoy - I liked the parts about writing, where the author was clearly injecting her lived-in experience. There were the odd funny one liners. It was engaging enough to be finished quickly. I was just disappointed by the downward turn the book took when they got together. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content