lucielockettreads's review
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Emily Henry just knows how to write banter without it sounding really cringe.
Graphic: Cursing and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child abuse, Cancer, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Misogyny, Torture, and Vomit
sunflowerlu's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
So…this is a (purposefully) misleading title, and I couldn’t be happier that it drew me in. By the end, I was ugly-crying and smiling through it. Sweet, romantic, steamy, heartbreaking, and so, so much more than I expected. It deeply resonated with me in many ways, and I fell in love with the characters and the writing, after going through the same thing with People We Meet On Vacation. Definitely one of my favourite books now!
I’d recommend going in without knowing much about the plot, and let it take you away. You won’t regret it, even through the ugly-crying at the end.
I’d recommend going in without knowing much about the plot, and let it take you away. You won’t regret it, even through the ugly-crying at the end.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Murder, and Physical abuse
Minor: Car accident, Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, and Torture
btg's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A truly spectacular romance book, "Beach Read" gets my five-star rating for the following reasons:
1. Despite being a romance book, it doesn't feel like eating pure sugar. By including Gus's character, Henry creates a world that is, at times, truly awful -- and yet the characters manage to earn their happy ending anyway.
2. A spectacularly creative premise, grounded in realistic experience
3. The wonderful emotional hurt/comfort scenes that hit all the notes
1. Despite being a romance book, it doesn't feel like eating pure sugar. By including Gus's character, Henry creates a world that is, at times, truly awful -- and yet the characters manage to earn their happy ending anyway.
2. A spectacularly creative premise, grounded in realistic experience
3. The wonderful emotional hurt/comfort scenes that hit all the notes
Graphic: Death of parent and Vomit
Moderate: Cancer, Torture, Suicide, Infidelity, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Physical abuse
The premise of the book starts with the death of a major character's parent, and one major character arc is on reconciling that character's adultery. Main characters discuss a parent's previous battle with cancer, but the cancer remains in remission throughout the entire book timeline and said character only shows up a couple of times. A side plot on the book focuses on investigating a suicide cult; multiple side characters interview with the main characters, describing specifics (though not graphically) and at one point the main characters visit the site of the cult. Physically and emotionally abusive practices of the cult are discussed, though again, not graphically. A major character has a backstory of emotional and physical abuse from a parent which largely forms their character arc. The abuse itself is never depicted, but is discussed and consequences are clear in the character's actions.Spoiler
Said major character admits to having a mental health disorder, taking medication and being in therapy; it's a one-off line, and the specifics of this and diagnosis in question are never discussed.
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