Review by laedyred - Beach Read

laedyred 's review for:

Beach Read by Emily Henry

2.5

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

Cute moments, but Gus just doesn't sit well with me. He's a playboy with no redeeming qualities other than a sense of humor. Why would you want someone who acts like women are objects? He treats January badly several times, as seen when

he takes a full day to consider whether to leave her for his ex-wife. He ignores January, doesn't consider her feelings, and has the audacity to feel like he has a right to "decide if she's worth it".

In my eyes, he's not a good man. It ruined his character for me, I didn't want them to be together, I wanted her to tell him to fuck off after his final "decision". The story seemed cookie-cutter to me after reading Henry's other works. I know this was her first novel, but it to closely followed the standard formula. It felt cheap when I compared it to Book Lovers or People We Meet on Vacation. I add half a star for January's character, who is relatable while still having her own personality. She is a good female lead, although not groundbreaking.

Content Warnings