jerigayle 's review for:

Beach Read by Emily Henry

3.0

reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I had high expectations for reading this book because I thoroughly enjoyed “Funny Story” and “Book Lovers.” In fact, I even went as far as purchasing the deluxe edition! It is narrated from the perspective of the female protagonist, January. The premise of the two main characters, both authors with one writing romance and the other writing literary fiction , switching genres on a bet to reignite their creative spark sounded like it would be something different and intriguing. However, I found it to be just okay. The plot focused more on January’s recent loss and Gus’ hang-ups with trust. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if it had been shorter, as it began to feel somewhat repetitive with the recurring instances of miscommunication and lack of trust between the characters over the same issues. Additionally, this book lacked the witty banter that is typically found in an Emily Henry novel. It might still work for readers who enjoy common romance tropes like enemies-to-lovers, grief and loss, and family secrets. In my opinion, it just didn’t rise to the level of other books I have read by her.