Meet New Books
Book Cover

Beach Read

Save:
Find on Amazon

'Beach Read' by Emily Henry follows the story of romance writer January Andrews who finds herself in a neighboring lake house to Gus Everett, a serious literary author and her college nemesis. Despite their initial dislike for each other, they challenge each other to write a book in the style of the other person, leading to a slow burn romance. delves into themes of grief, pain, and complicated relationships, presenting a blend of romance, literary fiction, and insightful storytelling. The characters, their dynamics, and the emotional depth of the plot make this book a compelling read that goes beyond the typical romance genre.

The writing style of 'Beach Read' is engaging and captivating, seamlessly blending humor, emotional moments, and character development. The author, Emily Henry, skillfully weaves together multiple storylines, creating a narrative that keeps readers invested from start to finish. offers a mix of light-hearted moments and deeper themes, making it a well-rounded and enjoyable read for those looking for a beach read with substance.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed individuals facing real-life issues, including grief and self-doubt, while also striving for personal and professional success.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style combines humor and emotional honesty, creating an engaging narrative that delves into both the challenges of writing and the complexities of relationships.

Plot/Storyline:

The story centers around two writers, January and Gus, who are wrestling with personal struggles and writer's block while living next to each other during summer. Their journey encompasses a bet to write in each other's genres, leading to both personal and romantic growth.

Setting:

The setting on Lake Michigan's coast provides a scenic backdrop, enhancing the story's themes of summer, healing, and reflection.

Pacing:

The pacing balances moments of humor and emotional introspection, which can slow down the narrative but also enriches the characters' development.
I like to think we all do. Or at least that makes it easier for me when I’m writing—building my heroines and heroes up around this one self-sabotaging trait, hinging everything that happens to them on...

Notes:

Beach Read is not just a typical romance; it explores themes of grief and the writing process.
The book features a clever structure likened to a double helix, intertwining romance and writing challenges.
One main character, January, is a writer of women's fiction, while the other, Gus, writes literary fiction.
January grapples with her father's infidelity after his death, affecting her view on love.
The book humorously critiques the distinctions between romance and women's fiction, adding depth to its narrative.
Many readers appreciate the witty banter and character development throughout the book.
The characters engage in a bet to write in each other's genres, offering a fresh take on a romantic competition.
The setting of Lake Michigan provides a picturesque backdrop for the summer romance.
Despite its lighthearted premise, the book delves into serious topics like family secrets and writer's block.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include grief, parental infidelity, and themes related to childhood trauma and difficult familial relationships.

Has Romance?

Romance plays a central role in Beach Read, featuring a significant and evolving relationship between the main characters.

From The Publisher:

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER FROM THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION!

"Original, sparkling bright, and layered with feeling."-Sally Thorne, author of The Hating Game

A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.

Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.

They're polar opposites.

In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they're living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer's block.

Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She'll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he'll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.

Ratings (372)

Incredible (55)
Loved It (161)
Liked It (106)
It Was OK (34)
Did Not Like (13)
Hated It (3)

Reader Stats (644):

Read It (378)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (195)
Did Not Finish (10)
Not Interested (60)

8 comment(s)

Incredible
1 week

I haven’t had a book hit me like this in a long time. I want to give this book a hug.

 
Incredible
4 weeks

Well-written and engaging.

 
Did Not Like
1 month

Maybe it's my age but I found the main character to be juvenile and immature in her relationship. I just kept wanting to say "For f$%& sake, grow up".

 
Incredible
1 month

It’s very rare that I read what has been billed to me as a romance novel that is so beautifully executed and well-written. Also I would die for these characters.

 
Did Not Like
5 months

Cliché. Nothing special.

 
Loved It
5 months

This book was addicting. From beginning to end, I couldn't stop turning pages, and there were never any moments that felt slow or unnecessary. The pace of January and Gus getting to know each other felt natural, and the chemistry between them didn't feel forced.

I appreciate how much Henry focused on January's relationship with her family and how her parent's relationship had affected her. As much as we would all like to see our parents as shining examples, they're still human and prone to hurt people and make mistakes.

I don't have much more to say about this one other than it was highly enjoyable, and I'll keep an eye out for other works by this author in the future!

 
Liked It
7 months

This one was just not my favorite. The characters didn’t feel relatable, I couldn’t understand the the protagonist’s relationship with her family, and the will-they-won’t-they was infuriatingly slow.

 
Liked It
9 months

A good contemporary romance, not only for the summer.


I'd heard a lot about this book before, so I had many conflicting expectations. On the one hand, I have heard that it is an excellent book, on the other, that most of the people who love it are not those who have read a lot of romances before. And I definitely have a lot of experience with this genre. But fortunately it turned out that I liked the book very much.


Most of all, I liked the main characters. I liked that, although Gus is a mysterious and complicated hero, the author has made great efforts to ensure that we get to know him well and understand him. I also really liked that January was not portrayed as silly or naive just because she is optimistic and romantic.


I really shiped Gus and January. I think they make a very interesting couple with nice dynamics. I really enjoyed their banter. But I also must admit that I have not read a book with so many cute moments for a long time. I definitely saw feelings between them.


The story is told from January’s POV. I usually don't like first-person narration, especially in romances, because it often doesn't get you to know the other main character well. Fortunately, I didn't have this problem this time, and I think I got to know Gus pretty well.


One of my favorite scenes in the book was when Gus and January take turns telling a made-up story about the people in a cult. I would like to see more of moments like this.


This is my first book by this author. I will pay attention to her other books.

 

About the Author:

Emily Henry is the New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation. She writes stories about love and family for both teens and adults. She studied creative writing at Hope College and the New York…

 
Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.