Review: BEACH READ by Emily Henry

Review:  BEACH READ by Emily HenryBeach Read by Emily Henry
Also by this author: Book Lovers
four-half-stars
Published by BERKLEY on May 19, 2020
Genres: Women's Fiction, Romance, Fiction
Pages: 384
Source: Netgalley
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FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

 

 

 

 

 

Emily Henry’s new novel, Beach Read, is a book you don’t want to judge by its cover.  The cover is adorable of course and I love it, but it definitely gives off a vibe that this is going to be a fun, fluffy read to enjoy while you’re lounging in the sand.  Beach Read is so much more than that though – it’s a beautifully written, multi-layered story with realistic and complex characters that will tug at your heartstrings the entire time you’re reading. I love a book that takes me on an emotional journey, and Beach Read made me laugh, it made me cry, and just ultimately had me fully invested in these characters and their lives from start to finish.

One of my favorite parts about Beach Read is that both protagonists are writers.  January Andrews is a romance writer and is an ace at writing novels where true love wins and they all live happily ever after.  Her belief system when it comes to love and romance is driven by her parents, but when her father dies, she learns something about him that shatters her view of him and of love and romance.  Not only is it devastating to her personally, but it has given her a wicked case of writer’s block.  With a book deadline looming and an agent hounding her relentlessly, January retreats to her father’s second home, a beach house located in a remote but charming small town.  It is here that she runs into our second protagonist, Augustus (Gus) Everett, who is living in the beach house next door and who coincidentally is also a writer whose specialty is literary fiction. And if that’s not enough to entice you, he also just happens to be January’s main rival from her college writing program.  January is not a fan of Gus’s at all and can’t imagine anything worse than having to live next door to him all summer while trying desperately to make her deadline.

I was sympathetic to January right away.  She’s going through so much because of the losses she has suffered and now she has to deal with the tension with Gus on top of it.  But, boy do these two have chemistry!  It’s off the charts honestly and I love how much the actual writing process plays a role in how their relationship evolves from rivals/enemies to friends and maybe more.  At first they’re just trading witty, sarcastic barbs, often about each other’s preferred fictional genre, but then they kick it up a notch and revisit their old rivalry with the ultimate challenge:  January has to write a book that doesn’t end happily ever after, while Gus has to write a romance novel.  Bring it!

I don’t want to say much more because I don’t want to spoil anything but the story takes a more emotional turn as Gus and January both get out of their comfort zones and write something so different and challenging. It becomes a way for both of them to work through their pain and struggles, because it’s not just January who is dealing with loss. Gus is as well.  It’s these painful and personal journeys that add all of those wonderfully complex layers that took Beach Read well beyond the fluffy fun I was expecting.

Beach Read is, without a doubt, one of the most wonderful and heartwarming books I’ve read so far this year.  The writing is gorgeous, the story just so easy to get immersed in, and the characters are unforgettable. This was my first time reading Emily Henry but it definitely won’t be the last!

four-half-stars

About Emily Henry

Emily Henry writes stories about love and family for both teens and adults. She studied creative writing at Hope College and the now-defunct New York Center for Art & Media Studies. Find her on Instagram @EmilyHenryWrites.

28 replies
  1. ShootingStarsMag
    ShootingStarsMag says:

    I know it deals with deeper topics and isn’t all fluff, but it still seems like a good book to read by the pool! LOL I’m glad you liked it – I have this one to hopefully read soon. I like that it has some depth to it, and yay for writer MC’s.

    -Lauren

  2. Sam@wlabb
    Sam@wlabb says:

    Yes. I was tricked by the cover. This was really emotional for me. There were a lot of fun, light parts, but for me, the bulk of the story was January coming to terms with her father’s death and the truth she learned about him. I got choked up a few time, but the tears started flowing when January was on the boat all the way till the end. I really enjoyed this book

  3. Anne - Books of My Heart
    Anne - Books of My Heart says:

    Excellent review!!!! I call this genre Life fiction because of the realistic, complex layers of story and generally well developed characters. This genre may have a romance but it is balanced with everything else or even pushed aside for reasons as happens in real life.

  4. Jenea’s Book Obsession
    Jenea’s Book Obsession says:

    I like that this had more to it than just romance and it touches on other things like family and grief. It might be an emotional read for me but it sounds like it would also be inspirational as well. Lovely review!

  5. Angela
    Angela says:

    I’ve been interested in this one for awhile and I’ve seen some mixed reviews, so I’m glad to hear you loved it so much!

  6. Olivia Roach
    Olivia Roach says:

    January is my birthday month and I kind of love that it’s the name of the main character! And this sounds like it is the perfect read for the upcoming summer. I also like that while it is one that can make you smile and laugh, that it does go deeper than that too and sink to into the emotions. You’ve got me convinced…

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