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emfass 's review for:
Beach Read
by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
My heart was quietly wrung out and also so full reading this book. The slow burn between Gus and January didn't frustrate me like slow burn stories sometimes do - I loved the time we took to get to know these characters and the incremental way they found their way to each other; it meant everything felt earned. The emotional life of both the main characters was so alive in the writing, which I adore. It meant that I raced through the last third or half of this book because I wanted so badly to know how things would turn out. This book was also very much a love letter to writers, which was lovely.
The narration was also deeply, deeply reflective and heart-wrenchingly relatable to me in its discussion of both a parent battling cancer and a parent who cheated, and the feelings of betrayal the latter creates that are difficult to reconcile. I felt so many of my emotions and struggles mirrored in January's processing of these events in her life.
I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Julia Whelan. I'd heard she was great, but this was my first book with her as the narrator, and I must say, I found her impeccable. She brought the characters to life so completely while still letting the text be front and center.
I think Beach Read is one of the most well-written romances I have read. Definitely going on my list of what to recommend to my friends who might be interested in dipping their toes into the genre. (Also just read b.andherbooks' and Leigh Kramer's reviews, and agree with some of their points about this perhaps being more "women's fiction" with romantic elements than a true romance, as the story is more about January's emotional journey with a romance storyline woven in, rather than centering around whether January or Gus will end up together.)
The narration was also deeply, deeply reflective and heart-wrenchingly relatable to me in its discussion of both a parent battling cancer and a parent who cheated, and the feelings of betrayal the latter creates that are difficult to reconcile. I felt so many of my emotions and struggles mirrored in January's processing of these events in her life.
I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Julia Whelan. I'd heard she was great, but this was my first book with her as the narrator, and I must say, I found her impeccable. She brought the characters to life so completely while still letting the text be front and center.
I think Beach Read is one of the most well-written romances I have read. Definitely going on my list of what to recommend to my friends who might be interested in dipping their toes into the genre. (Also just read b.andherbooks' and Leigh Kramer's reviews, and agree with some of their points about this perhaps being more "women's fiction" with romantic elements than a true romance, as the story is more about January's emotional journey with a romance storyline woven in, rather than centering around whether January or Gus will end up together.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Vomit