The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
lisas_leseecke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Cancer, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Child abuse
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
yazzy_annalise's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Like always, my one (initial) gripe was that the negative to positive feelings for the male lead happened way too fast, but it worked really well with the story the Emily Henry was trying to tell. Don't get me wrong, I always wish romance books were longer and had a slower development (not a slow burn) because I want deeper development, but I did not miss it as much in this book. I was even thrown for a surprise at the very end of the book--
I do love a good romance that starts with a rivalry/bet, it's just the best way to build some tension and lay the foundation for antics later in the book. I wish we got more of those weekend getaways/aspects of the bet in general. I know that the story wasn't really built around this concept, but it's my favorite trope so I was a little disappointed. This is where the story felt rushed because I was using the Friday/Saturday agreement to measure how long their romance took of the summer and it was kind of hard to gauge.
Ultimately, I am satisfied and would recommend the book because of the escapism and the great way Emily Henry handled all of January's problems. I never felt like they detracted from the plot or the characters or made it tedious to get through the book.
Moderate: Infidelity and Grief
Minor: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Death, and Death of parent
vas_17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, and Cancer
Minor: Suicide
ashfrxns's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Grief, Vomit, Sexual content, Infidelity, and Alcohol
thegazillionthreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I have been debating between 3.5 or 4 starsâŚ. Because I absolutely loved the writerâs aspect of the characters in the book + the few quotes I really liked, I think I will say 4.
  Update: 3.5 won the debate I think, (which is not on a bad rating on my personal rating scale)
This book was a bit different than what I expected. Not in a bad way, it was just more serious and deep than I thought it was going to be, and not the âsuper fun only focused on the steamy romanceâ that I thought, although it did have some funny and swoon scenes. The blurb had me imagining and speculating how things would be (especially when it mentioned cults, and I became apprehensive from it actually) but it all ended up being pretty different from what I anticipated, cults and all.Â
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At times I kept losing focus though and had to keep rereading things, which affected things a tad. Some of this due to outside factors, the writing style could be it but idk why because it was pretty clear, some due to the timeline of things especially in the beginning⌠but it really does boil down to me being way too easily confused đ so thatâs on me.Â
I didnât always feel the chemistry between the characters⌠other times I did.Â
Spoilers Below
Spoilers Below
Gus, even up until the end, I couldnât fully trust him, it wavered. Not because he was a bad guy, no no no. He really was a good guy. But he was written so well I think and then seeing things from Januaryâs POV I was feeling bad for her several times. When he disappeared. Then after that phone call. Then even when he went and talked to his ex and just didnât really say anything for a whole day. I guess itâs the lack of communication and silence and all that⌠but, it did concern me for January and their relationship đ Â
  But I get it, I get thatâs his character and why he is that way and that heâs a lot more than that and all that. And in the end they seemed good.Â
  Like I said, I liked some of the quotes and the whole message of âhappy for nowsâ. Itâs real and I like it.Â
  Also I must add how my jaw DROPPED when Gusâ romance book was revealed. That was not what I expected. Omg. đ Sir, that is not a happy ending or a romance book. (I know, I know. Itâs a happy ending to him, but still đ)
  Also like I said, absolutely loved that they were writers, and several times it made me want to go write.Â
  All in all, not quite what I expected and sadly didnât love it as much as I hoped, but it was still good and I would still recommend to those who are thinking of giving it a go.Â
Moderate: Death of parent and Cancer
Minor: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Child abuse
caitlinjadams's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Infidelity, Cancer, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, Suicide, and Sexual content
Minor: Addiction and Drug abuse
Cultslibrarybookscene's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Cancer, and Domestic abuse
prairieraven's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Moderate: Alcoholism, Car accident, Death of parent, Addiction, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Grief, Infidelity, Abandonment, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
January is reeling from the implosion of her personal life when she arrives in a lake house for the summer only to find her college rival Gus living next door. They agree to swap genres in an attempt to combat their mutual writerâs block, but theyâre not prepared for the feelings developing between them.
Iâm finally in my Emily Henry era and I could not be happier. This book was everything everyone promised it would be, and Iâll keep this review short and sweet because we all know the internet really doesnât need my opinions added to the ten million reviews of this book already out there.â¨â¨That said, I LOVED this and I have to scream it from the rafters at least once, so consider this that scream. I cried SO HARD (from literally 3 pages in and then again all the way through the last 50 pages). The characters are SO good, and so many lines will live rent free in my mind forever (why say ILY when Gus Everett said WIWYSIFOTYE). I am so glad I finally read this and truly canât wait to continue my EmHen journey!
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: rivals to lovers; small town vibes; crying
CW: Loss of parent; grief; mentions of child abuse/domestic violence; infidelity
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Infidelity, Child abuse, Cancer, and Death
diana_raquel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is partially my fault, I'll admit to that!
The last book that I read by Emily Henry - People we meet on Vacation- was a "so-so book". I did like it at first but then I lost interest. And friends-to-lovers is not my trope! And I thought that I was the first and last book that I would read by this author. But then Beach Read was published and seemed like something that I would like, so I gave it a chance.Â
To me, this is another "so-so book". I admit that there are some aspects where Henry's has improved.Â
I think that this will be the last book that I read from Henry!
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer and Chronic illness
Minor: Domestic abuse and Vomit