I loved this book so much - Gus and January were such delightful characters to read about. Emily Henry has written an amazing book that I strongly recommend!

The folks in one of my reader groups have been raving about this book, so I finally picked it up. I loved it. January is grieving her father’s death and coming to terms with the fact that he was not the perfect father she imagined. She’s a writer and she is blocked. She goes to the cabin she didn’t know he had and figures she will cure her writer’s block and write her new novel. Her neighbor is a grumpy grump called Gus. They know each other from college. Gus is also a writer struggling with his latest novel. They made a bet on who can sell their next book first. Queue up the adventures.

Along the way they both discover things about themselves, each other, and more. It was an incredibly engaging story. It had me hooked from the beginning. January was sassy and sweet. Gus was grumpy, sexy and absolutely does not believe in love.

There was some meta discussion about romance novels vs women’s fiction vs literary fiction that was interesting to read. Throughout the novel January labels what she writes as “romance”, “women’s fiction”, and “romcom.” I think the lines can be really blurry on what makes up books with those descriptions so I thought it was very fitting that this book will be described as all of the above. In my opinion it leans more toward women’s fiction with a strong romantic element because January’s growth arc was the main focus.

This book covers some heavy topics, grief, death of a parent, parent with cancer but I thought were incorporated well into the story without being sensationalized.

As Gus and January become friends there is a sort of epistolary aspect where they write notes to each other on paper and show them to each other from their respective houses. I loved it. As Gus learns that he is lovable and can love, I was practically swooning.

This is a recommended read from me.

Emily Henry's BEACH READ is a heartfelt, emotional story about two people overcoming the realities of love and heartbreak to find each other. At times both funny and realistic, both January and Gus are characters that felt realistic and authentic, adults doing their best to get through the tough stuff life sometimes throws at us.
I enjoyed the humor in this book, it felt like the perfect parallel to the grieving, life adjusting parts of the story. I also think January was written in such a way that felt truly relatable, when it comes to embarking on a new relationship. Second guessing all the little things, doubt and worry over what the other person is thinking etc. I loved the ending and how the story came together- less the "happily ever after" and more the true to life "we are happy today".

Sometimes you pick up a book and it’s exactly what you need in that moment. And for me, Beach Read was it this week — as evidenced by the fact that I read it in about a day and a half, ignoring the real-world obligations nagging for my attention.

Beach Read is sweet and uplifting, but also a little heavier than you might guess from the title and the cover.

Main character January is a young, successful romance writer. She’s known for her swoony love stories and happy ending. However, she’s been thrown for a loop, and isn’t able to summon her inner belief in the power of true love — and her looming book deadline isn’t helping at all.

January’s father recently died, so she’s dealing with the loss of her incredible dad — but on top of that, at his funeral, she met That Woman. It turns out that her father had an on-again, off-again mistress for years, including during her mother’s battle with cancer. January is shattered and angry, and feels like her foundation has been swept out from under her. After all, it was her parent’s shining love story that taught her to believe in love-story-quality love — and if that was all a lie, then what is she supposed to believe? And how can she possibly write a believable love story when she’s not sure her heart will ever be in it again?

January’s father left her a beach-side bungalow in a small-town in Michigan. With her book deadline looming and a serious lack of funds, she decides to spend her summer writing at the cottage, while also cleaning, sorting, and getting it ready for sale. And the fact that this was her father’s place with That Woman is not helping in the slightest.

Also distracting is her next door neightbor, who turns out to be the revered young writer Augustus Everett — whom January knew as Gus back in their college days, when they were fierce competitors, and shared one steamy “almost” at a party.

As January and Gus reconnect, initially with resentment and animosity, they realize they’re in the same boat when it comes to lack of inspiration and dire writer’s block. Gus is battling his own inner demons and past hurts, and he can’t seem to make progress on his next book.

In the book’s central (cute) twist, they challenge each other to write each other’s genres. Gus has always mocked January’s belief in the HEA — now, he needs to find a way to see the possibility of happiness, rather than going for the gloomy conclusion. And January needs to be open to grim reality and the idea that love isn’t always perfect, that messiness and secrets and hard choices are parts of life, and that fairy tales never (rarely) come true.

Beach Read is so much fun, start to finish, but it’s not only sunshine and swooning. (But yes, there is swoon-worthy romance, to be sure.) The author has a lot to say about families and love, how the ideals of childhood can be tarnished by the realities of adulthood, how families can hurt one another but can also save one another in all sorts of different ways… and how true love doesn’t mean no one ever makes a mistakes or hurts the other person, and that sometimes love takes work, compromise, and second chances.

January and Gus have a great chemistry together, and I loved the scenes of them writing in their respective cottages, but communicating through notes held up to the window. It’s adorable — so much better than texting!

The small-town setting is charming, and there’s a wonderful bookstore, so that’s a plus! One of the central plot elements of the book is Gus and January’s series of field trips/dates, where each exposes the other to something that feels related to their own writing style and genre. So, line dancing alternates with going to the site of a tragic fire at a cult compound… and all their excursions bring them closer to each other and also give them each different insights into their own process and emotions.

The writing is cheerful and light, but the author doesn’t shy away from harder emotions. January and Gus both have baggage to deal with, and we do see their pain and confusion as they deal with the events in their lives and try to move forward.

Bonus points too for a terrific female friendship, which helps January realize that true love can also be the bond between two lifelong friends who have each other’s backs and love unconditionally.

Falling’s the part that takes your breath away. It’s the part when you can’t believe the person standing in front of you both exists and happened to wander into your path. It’s supposed to make you feel lucky to be alive, exactly when and where you are.

Beach Read is a wonderful depiction of falling in love, but also a moving exploration of the messiness that comes with growing up and facing real life and accepting the fact that parents aren’t always perfect.

As I mentioned at the start, this book came into my hands right when I needed it, and I enjoyed every minute. A great summer reading choice — and also a great way to escape our current isolation through fiction!

This book follows January, a published writer who moves to her recently deceased father’s beach house looking for both closure and to finally write again. Imagine her surprise when she finds out that her neighbour is none other than her college rival Augustus Everett, who is also a published author. One thing leads to another and these two decide on a bet that involves January writing a serious story with a not-so-happy ending and Gus writing a romantic happily-ever-after one. What could go wrong?

Reading this book was both delightfully fun and heartwarming and awfully heartbreaking and serious. At the start of the story, both characters are dealing with their own demons by not dealing with them so all their interactions are more lighthearted. But the more time they spend together and the more they open up to each other, the more those demons come out to haunt them.

Their character development is slow but steady, especially when it comes to January and her father. Seeing Gus making an effort to be honest with her and let her in through January’s eyes was heart wrenching because his insecurities was rooted deep within him. The fact that he tried despite how scared he was of getting hurt yet again was super relatable.

However, for as many serious scenes there were, fun scenes were scattered across the story. Their fun and snarky banter was the best! It was my favourite part of the book. It was hilarious to see them roasting each other at every chance they got.

I also really loved the setting. A cabin house on the shores of Michigan Lake sounds so romantic and peaceful!

I’d definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a solid summer romance that gets a little serious at times.

I gave this book a good effort - 50%. It just couldn't connect with the style of writing. I did not like how it went back in forth in time in the same paragraph. I did not find anything particularly enjoyable about the main characters, nor did I find their banter realistic. I did love the plot and the location of the story! I think reading this as a physical book would be more enjoyable as I found the lack of differentiation in paragraphs and quotations hard to follow.

January Andrews is in a writing slump. Broke and broken, she reluctantly decides to move into a beach house for free for the summer, hoping it will spark something in her to finally write. Instead, she discovers that her archnemesis, Augustus Everett, lives right next door. After a few grumpy conversations and chance meetings, they both realize they are in the same position. They strike up a deal: January will write the next Great American Novel while Gus writes a romcom, with the help of each other in the research department, because they are both experts in their respective genres. And so begins their summer of meet-cute settings and interviews with former members of a death cult. The only guarantee? They won't fall in love.

I had read so many early reviews saying that this book is so much more than just a beach read, and all of those reviews are right. The characters in this book have depth and real issues and are messed up. It made the story seem real and relatable. January and Gus early on establish a witty banter that I thought, at times, was a bit forced, but that's just me trying to find something to pick on. The swoon-worthy scenes were just that. I felt myself smiling much of the way through this book. And, if you don't fall in love with Gus while reading this, well then I'm inclined to think there's something wrong with you. If you are looking for a fluffy romcom, this isn't for you. If you are looking for a story with layers, with ups and downs, with characters that'll stick with you, then this one is for you.

Thank you to Berkley & Netgalley for my eARC.

I have loved all of Emily’s YA books, so I was basically beside myself when I found out she was writing a romance novel and coupled with that cover, I expected loads of fluff.

Two things: there is little to no fluff and I wouldn’t categorize this as a rom-com. That illustrated cover and sweet sounding synopsis are so very misleading.

I liked January and Gus. They’re both struggling in different ways and each was sort of a beacon to the other. They do have an instant connection and I loved the bit of backstory they had. That history helped me see the jump in their relationship. There are a few secondary characters, but this is mostly January’s story.

Plot wise, it was slow going. There are a lot of moving pieces here and it wasn’t always coherent for me. Yes things actively happened, but at the same time, it felt like nothing was happening. The small bits of banter sparked me into reading further and I could have easily read a million more scenes of Gus and January talking about Maggie and her rocks.

Overall, it was a good story, but after seeing everyone gush about it being a “super cute book” and “a perfect summer read” has me wondering how I missed whatever they clearly saw.

**Huge thanks to Berkley for providing the arc free of charge**

Woo hoo loved it! Bravo Emily Henry! Captivating storyline, delightful setting, fantastic characters, fun banter, beautiful emotion, tender romance. This is the summer romance I’ve been waiting for! January is at a low point in her life. She is grieving the death of her father, but now she’s not so sure that she really knew him. She is also suffering from writers block and trying to pick up the pieces after her longtime boyfriend broke up with her. Her father left her a beach house on Lake Michigan and she’s hoping the change of scenery will help her clear her head and figure some things out. In a crazy turn of fate her next-door neighbor at the beach house is her old college crush/rival Gus. When the two start to talk they realize that they both are struggling from writers Blok so decide to wager a little bet and each will try to write in the others genre. So what happens when the grumpy literary author tries to write a romcom? What happens when the romcom author attempts to write a bleak book? What happens when too lonely hearts find each other? Will there be a happily ever after or will everything fall apart?

I seriously loved absolutely everything about this book! January and Gus were such great characters and they were so multi dimensional. Loved all their banter, their back-and-forth, their give-and-take. The story was so much more than a romance, touched on so many different issues and gave me all the feels. If you enjoy good storytelling, fabulous characters, and witty dialogue then this is a can’t miss!

This book in emojis 📚 ☕️ 👩🏻‍💻 ⛈ 🎠 🎪

*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

5 Loving This Book Stars
This had it all and then some.
You want a cute hook for why two people happen to start talking and developing a friendship- you got it.
You want interesting backstories for the reasons why these two are who they are-you got it.
You want a push/pull type of opposites that really have some much in common-you got it.

This has all of that as well as Heart, Angsty Stuff, Steamy Stuff, Humor and anything else you could want.
This is a huge Winner and NOT what you may think it is...It Is More.

BEACH READ by Emily Henry is a story filled with angst, secrets, family, friends, and more. January, a romance writer with writer’s block and deadlines looming, is given a letter written by her father upon his death, along with a key to a house he owns in the little beach town in Michigan where he grew up. Her mom is not too thrilled with the whole scenario but doesn’t want to talk about any of it. When January finally travels from Ohio to Michigan to clean out the house so she can sell it, she doesn’t expect to meet someone she knows living next door or to be able to write again.

There are some laugh-out-loud moments as January and her neighbor, Gus, meet and get to know each other again. She and Gus went to college together and were always rivals in writing class. He is a successful literary fiction writer and doesn’t like her successful happily-ever-after books. They currently both seem to be struggling to get words on paper.

When they make a bet about writing in a different genre than they usually do, the story really takes off. I loved their research on Fridays and Saturdays as well as how they slowly get to know each other better. The characters have a depth to them, both vulnerable when it comes to letting others in. Their chemistry is real, but their lack of communication causes problems a lot of the time.

The descriptions of the small town and beach are vibrant; the small town feels real. The romance is nicely woven through the plot, which has a nice pace, in addition to an unexpected twist at the end. The last chapter takes place nine months later and gave me the closure I look for. The cover is playful and fits the book, and the titles for each chapter are spot-on. I enjoyed the author’s Behind the Book section and Discussion Questions at the end.

I read Beach Read over a weekend and it was just the most delightful read. It had all the sweet & steamy moments my little heart desired! What really got me was how relatable it was, the family stuff specially. I found myself both crying and swooning over this book. It’s easily one of my favorite books that I’ve read this year. I would recommend it to everyone because it’s just THAT good.

✨ ALL THE STARS! ✨

"The sun was low on the horizon, the thin blankets of clouds streaked a pale tangerine. They looked like melted Dreamsicles floating in a sea of denim blue."

Don't be fooled by the cover or the blurb of this book. Beach Read by Emily Henry was so much more than a romance. It's such a deep rooted story about love, loss, life, and everything in between.

The tale begins with the heroine contemplating her perfect life and what went wrong. She's broke, she no longer has the boyfriend, nor the loving parents, and she's lost her writing inspiration. January finds herself at a gorgeous lake house that once belonged to her deceased father.

"For years, I had a purpose, something good to focus on. But when Dad died, suddenly writing—the one thing that had always put me at ease, a verb that felt more like a place only for me, the thing that had freed me from my darkest moments and brought hope into my chest in my heart’s heaviest— had seemed impossible."

January discovers that her neighbor is non other than Augustus Everett, her nemesis from college who also happens to be a writer. Once again, they're butting heads. Gus proposes a bet of sorts to swap writing genres and see who can finish a book first.

“You try writing bleak literary fiction, see if that’s who you are now, if you’re capable of being that person”— I rolled my eyes and snatched the last bite of donut from his hand . He went on, unbothered—“ and I’ll write a happily ever after.”

January and Gus embark on these research road trips, where they slowly open up to each other. Soon, conversation between the two becomes an easy going thing as they get to know the other on a deeper level.

Two slightly broken people who have loved and lost, learn to care for the other. January being at her most vulnerable brings her closer to Gus.

"As different as I’d thought we were, it felt a little bit like Gus and I were two aliens who’d stumbled into each other on Earth only to discover we shared a native language."

Beach Read was such a swoonworthy story that will open your mind and your heart to endless possibilities. Emily Henry has warmed my heart with her writing and these wonderful characters. Sign me up for her next book please! Must read 🏖


*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Berkley through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

This is the perfect title for this book as you can take it with you as you relax on a beach while social distancing or by your own pool. In reality, it doesn’t matter where you read this book just as long as you do. If you are looking for a book that just takes your mind off of whatever it is on, this is it. It is a novel about writer’s block. It is a novel about finding your true self and forgiveness. It is a novel about friendships and exes; disappointments and enjoyments.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the few steamy plot points too. The characters were so real. It wasn’t a stereotypical contemporary story, these characters had real background stories that hit hard.

This was my first book from Emily Henry but I will be looking into her back catalog. I highly recommend that you pick this one up now.

I loved this love story! Complex characters who are navigating loss and hard times, all while re-finding each other. I also really enjoyed how writers block was one of the main themes of this book. An interesting look into what it’s like being a young writer.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this book.

BEACH READ by Emily Henry is an absolute treasure! January's whole life (family, career as romance author, and relationship!) implodes when she learns a secret at her father's funeral. Way behind on her newest novel's deadline, January has no choice but to move rent-free to her father's old beach house where's she's horrified to learn that the next door neighbor rocking R.E.M. well past midnight is her college nemesis: literary wunkind Augustus Everett..

Oh how I adored BEACH READ! I loved it's snarky banter, slow-build swoon, twists on tropes, and wise observations on life, grief and happiness. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. <3

I thought Beach Read was going to be a typical light-hearted rom com, so I was surprised when there was some (alot) of gloom and angst in this story. There were many comedic moments in this book and I think this is where it shone. The idea of January slinking behind shelves of books and the scene at the book club with the "purse wine" was hilarious. With some editing this book could make a great movie--the idea of them writing signs back and forth between the houses would be very cinematic. But, there is a lot of time spent in wallowing in sadness got to be a little tedious. I wanted to tell both January and Gus to MOVE ON There was some reference to the writing process for authors--I wish there could have been more. The book was an easy quick read and I think for the summer it would be fine..

This personally failed to touch me on any emotional level. I did not connect with the characters, the plot was slow-moving, and I didn't even find the town very charming. I was hoping for snappy dialogue between two witty characters but what I got instead was a lot of January's annoying inner-monologue.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Everything we could ever wantEd in a perfect “beach read.” January is such a distinct, open and honest character. This is a MUST read this summer.

Utterly delightful. Fun, witty, and insightful. Beach Read is a must-buy for all general fiction collections.