m_antoinette_c'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
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
tatimarie8284's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
i couldn’t put this down when i started it had my attention the whole time it was fast paced and honestly a lot more sad than i was expecting due to the characters backstories etc. the whole concept of this book was so cute and i genuinely loved it was such a fun and emotional read and wish i could go back in time to read it again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Cancer, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content and Alcohol
itsmemiana's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
Emily Henry writes her books for me. the way her characters speak to me is insane.
I loved this book so much, it's definitely a new favourite.
I want to keep January and Gus inside my pocket and protect them with my life.
I also want a Gus all to myself. he's so... perfect. I need a man who is as obsessed with me as he is with January.
this book made me cry, laugh, swoon... I literally don't know what else to say. I don't even know what to do with myself after reading this, someone send help.
this may be only my second Emily Henry book that I read, but she's already one of my all time favourite authors.
I loved this book so much, it's definitely a new favourite.
I want to keep January and Gus inside my pocket and protect them with my life.
I also want a Gus all to myself. he's so... perfect. I need a man who is as obsessed with me as he is with January.
this book made me cry, laugh, swoon... I literally don't know what else to say. I don't even know what to do with myself after reading this, someone send help.
this may be only my second Emily Henry book that I read, but she's already one of my all time favourite authors.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Vomit, Death of parent, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Infidelity
jennboyack_scott's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Cancer
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol
m4rtt4's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I'm not usually the one to long for major 'third-act conflicts' in romance, but 'twas not the case with this book — the couple got (kind of) together so early and so little happened afterwards that I would have been satisfied with anything tragic :') this book really ticked off every single romance stereotype, and yes, I might not have had the perfect mindset while reading this book, but all the predictability made it all the more boring and harder to submerge myself in as nothing managed to surprise me. Not necessarily a bad book, just awfully average.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, and Child abuse
microbemom's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.0
The really enjoyed this one but found the title and the cover misleading. There is very little beach in this book and the beach reading doesn’t come until the end. I think there could have been a better title. Otherwise, I did think this was an entertaining read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual content, and Alcohol
booksawyer'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Since Beach Read came out in 2020, I’ve heard nothing but good things about Emily Henry’s first adult romance novel. Years later, Henry has released three more novels in this genre and I still have yet read any of them - until now!
Beach Read follows the story of January Andrews, a published romance writer who recently lost her father. His death opened up numerous wounds when January discovered secrets he has been keeping from her, the aftermath of which sent her into an extreme writers block. Since she hasn’t sold a book and recently spilt with her long-time boyfriend, January moves into a lake house left to her by her dad, hoping write her next novel by the end of the summer.
Upon moving into the house, January “meets” her neighbor, who turns out to be her college rival Augustus Everett, a successful literary fiction writer. The two decide to make a bet, deciding they will each try to write a book in the other’s genre. The terms of their agreement cause them to spend a lot of time together, and sparks may fly…
Saying I enjoyed this book is an understatement. From the moment I started reading, January and Augustus’s story captivated me. I was swept up in the romance, rooting for them the whole way.
What pushes Beach Read into the category of an all-time favorite is the inclusion of difficult themes. I always enjoy books that cover difficult topics, so the discussion of grief and the impact that January’s fathers actions had on her was an element of the book I really enjoyed.
This book also finds our characters researching a cult, something I never expected to see in a romance novel. However, I think it was handled well. The scenes in which this topic was discussed were moving and I found myself getting goosebumps once or twice.
Despite the heavy themes, this book makes for an excellent cute romance. January and Augustus have undeniable chemistry, and the development of their romance was enough to make me giddy.
Emily Henry is an excellent writer who masterfully crafted this novel. I truly can not wait to immediately pick up one of her other books!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
Minor: Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicide
This book also deals with cults, particularly the fallout of being in the cult on survivors, as well as the family of cult members who died.angietheace's review against another edition
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Alcohol, and Cancer
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual content
brooke_e_martin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Grief, Alcohol, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer
amanda_reads13's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
3.5
January has had a rough year. Her father passed away and she found out a secret about him that changes her perspective on life. She moves into his home to find out that her next door neighbour is Gus, her university rival.
This was a really cute read. I feel like with many of Emily Henry's books the characters aren't very dynamic. They are pretty bland and stereotypical. Unfortunately that applies to this book as well. Gus is broody and lacks communication skills. Where as January is the bright sunshiny one who loses her way after a secret is revealed.
I think that January was very immature at some points. When Naomi shows up to the event, she just jumps to conclusions before even talking to Gus. I get that her father's choices impacted her, but she acts like he murdered someone.
I really liked the competition aspect of the book. January is a romance writer and Gus is a dark fiction writer. They dare each other to attempt to write the others genre. I thought this was a cute and fun aspect of the story.
I think that they complimented each other well, but their relationship moved very fast. We went from him kicking her out in order to take a phone call to I love you in a very short time.
Tropes: opposites, rivals, small town
This was a really cute read. I feel like with many of Emily Henry's books the characters aren't very dynamic. They are pretty bland and stereotypical. Unfortunately that applies to this book as well. Gus is broody and lacks communication skills. Where as January is the bright sunshiny one who loses her way after a secret is revealed.
I think that January was very immature at some points. When Naomi shows up to the event, she just jumps to conclusions before even talking to Gus. I get that her father's choices impacted her, but she acts like he murdered someone.
I really liked the competition aspect of the book. January is a romance writer and Gus is a dark fiction writer. They dare each other to attempt to write the others genre. I thought this was a cute and fun aspect of the story.
I think that they complimented each other well, but their relationship moved very fast. We went from him kicking her out in order to take a phone call to I love you in a very short time.
Tropes: opposites, rivals, small town
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, and Sexual content