pandalesque's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Somehow I think it helps me not to expect a real human (in my case heterosexual male) to be like the fictional characters I read when the author (identifying as female) only writes from the MFC perspective. Also maybe goes to more accurate represenation?
But also I really enjoy getting the other human's thoughts and feelings when reading a romance and when they have spicy scenes... And I think I seem to get annoyed about being in one person's head when doubting and rehashing things time and time again... Though I didn't have too much experience in single POVs in romance. So I think I'm coming out neutral on the one single POV story telling.
I didn't like
- Calling them January and Augustus... almost made me *uke (sorry Gus).
- I found January annoying and a little difficult to find smth beneath the surface (her being anything else than a product of her surroundings' situations/her environment)
- In my opinion the love story was little too easy
- the final 3rd act conflict... well I'm still waiting for an actual good one in any romance books I read so this is not only a beach read thing
I enjoyed
+ Friendship between J. and S.
+ quick, funny and intelligent banter
+ writing style
+ Didn't expect the whole plot point about research for each other's genre, which added a layer of depth to it I enjoyed.
+ Reflections on writing / authors ...
+ talk about the romance genre
Spice /Smut level:
1.75-2/5🔥
But also I really enjoy getting the other human's thoughts and feelings when reading a romance and when they have spicy scenes... And I think I seem to get annoyed about being in one person's head when doubting and rehashing things time and time again... Though I didn't have too much experience in single POVs in romance. So I think I'm coming out neutral on the one single POV story telling.
I didn't like
- Calling them January and Augustus... almost made me *uke (sorry Gus).
- I found January annoying and a little difficult to find smth beneath the surface (her being anything else than a product of her surroundings' situations/her environment)
- In my opinion the love story was little too easy
- the final 3rd act conflict... well I'm still waiting for an actual good one in any romance books I read so this is not only a beach read thing
I enjoyed
+ Friendship between J. and S.
+ quick, funny and intelligent banter
+ writing style
+ Didn't expect the whole plot point about research for each other's genre, which added a layer of depth to it I enjoyed.
+ Reflections on writing / authors ...
+ talk about the romance genre
Spice /Smut level:
1.75-2/5🔥
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Cancer, and Death of parent
Moderate: Violence, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Physical abuse
auudrey's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse and Physical abuse
kraese's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Cancer, and Infidelity
Minor: Alcohol
milaju's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Mental illness, and Death
schnaucl's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- 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
I liked it, though I liked Book Lovers better.
I get that it takes some of the glamour out of the book industry, but my understanding is that even multiple NY Times bestselling authors can rarely support themselves through writing alone. You either need a day job, a partner who can support your writing career, or you need to be independently wealthy. So it's not a surprise January couldn't survive on her book sales alone, but there was no suggestion that's actually pretty common.
I liked the town, and Gus' aunt and her wife in particular.
I also really liked the introduction to the reader questions at the end which talked about writer's block.
I get that it takes some of the glamour out of the book industry, but my understanding is that even multiple NY Times bestselling authors can rarely support themselves through writing alone. You either need a day job, a partner who can support your writing career, or you need to be independently wealthy. So it's not a surprise January couldn't survive on her book sales alone, but there was no suggestion that's actually pretty common.
I liked the town, and Gus' aunt and her wife in particular.
I also really liked the introduction to the reader questions at the end which talked about writer's block.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Infidelity, Cancer, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
sas_lk's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
I went into this expecting not to like it, but I was wrong. I enjoyed it quite a bit, not enough to turn me into a romance reader, but I will probably pick up another of her books in the future when I am looking for a different read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse and Domestic abuse
kelly_e's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Title: Beach Read
Author: Emily Henry
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: May 19, 2020
T H R E E • W O R D S
Fun • Deep • Over-hyped
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Augustus, an acclaimed author of literary fiction and January, a bestselling romance novelist are polar opposites. Each struggling with writer's block and dealing with personal demons, they find themselves living next door to one another for the summer. One evening they strike up a deal: Gus will write something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Emily Henry's Beach Read has been absolutely everywhere, and so I fell victim to the hype and finally dove in. An original and deep plot with a side of romance is typically how I like my romance books, yet for me January and Gus lacked chemistry and I was expecting so, so, so much more from this novel.
There's no denying Emily Henry does banter unlike anyone else. It adds a lightness to often heavy content. With this book, there is excellent individual character growth, but I wasn't invested in the romance at all. In fact, I was way more invested in the plot and them writing their books. I felt as thought it started out strong, but faded by the midway point and never really regained traction. A few of the things I really appreciated were the exploration of grief, the east coast setting, and the letters.
For me, Beach Read was simply an average read, one I'll soon forget, which has me thinking Emily Henry's adult romances may just not be my cup of tea. I appreciate the depth of the plots, but the romance and lack of communication just don't cut it. With that said, I'll probably continue to read her books with hopes of finding one I really love.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the grump/sunshine and/or enemies to lovers trope(s)
• readers who like depth in their rom-coms
• Emily Henry fans
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Bad things don't dig down through your life until the pit's so deep that nothing good will ever be big enough to make you happy again. No matter how much shit, there will always be wildflowers."
"Because I know no matter how long I get to love you, it will be worth whatever comes after."
"It was okay to let a little ugliness into your story. That it would never rob you of all the beauty."
Author: Emily Henry
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: May 19, 2020
T H R E E • W O R D S
Fun • Deep • Over-hyped
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Augustus, an acclaimed author of literary fiction and January, a bestselling romance novelist are polar opposites. Each struggling with writer's block and dealing with personal demons, they find themselves living next door to one another for the summer. One evening they strike up a deal: Gus will write something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Emily Henry's Beach Read has been absolutely everywhere, and so I fell victim to the hype and finally dove in. An original and deep plot with a side of romance is typically how I like my romance books, yet for me January and Gus lacked chemistry and I was expecting so, so, so much more from this novel.
There's no denying Emily Henry does banter unlike anyone else. It adds a lightness to often heavy content. With this book, there is excellent individual character growth, but I wasn't invested in the romance at all. In fact, I was way more invested in the plot and them writing their books. I felt as thought it started out strong, but faded by the midway point and never really regained traction. A few of the things I really appreciated were the exploration of grief, the east coast setting, and the letters.
For me, Beach Read was simply an average read, one I'll soon forget, which has me thinking Emily Henry's adult romances may just not be my cup of tea. I appreciate the depth of the plots, but the romance and lack of communication just don't cut it. With that said, I'll probably continue to read her books with hopes of finding one I really love.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the grump/sunshine and/or enemies to lovers trope(s)
• readers who like depth in their rom-coms
• Emily Henry fans
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Bad things don't dig down through your life until the pit's so deep that nothing good will ever be big enough to make you happy again. No matter how much shit, there will always be wildflowers."
"Because I know no matter how long I get to love you, it will be worth whatever comes after."
"It was okay to let a little ugliness into your story. That it would never rob you of all the beauty."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Cancer, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Addiction
Minor: Cursing, Suicide, Car accident, and Vomit
brontesauruses's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, and Vomit
_alyssar_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual content, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Infidelity
Minor: Murder, Excrement, Physical abuse, and Vomit
vanesst's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Infidelity, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Vomit, Car accident, Alcoholism, Cursing, and Drug use