readingwithmeredith's review against another edition
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Why is this called beach read ….. it doesn’t even take place at a beach … it’s a lake
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity and Toxic relationship
Minor: Cursing
Three open door scenes (ch. 20, 21, 23), minor character with alternative lifestylebookfilledcottage's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
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
My first Emily Henry novel and am so happy about the experience.
I went in completely blind and was really pleasantly surprised by how beautifully accurate her description of feelings and how well crafted her characters are!
Perfect cheeky, romcom to end your summer with. If you’re a fan of Nora Ephron films, I feel like Emily Henry’s writing might just be up your alley.
I went in completely blind and was really pleasantly surprised by how beautifully accurate her description of feelings and how well crafted her characters are!
Perfect cheeky, romcom to end your summer with. If you’re a fan of Nora Ephron films, I feel like Emily Henry’s writing might just be up your alley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
pictureframe's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Grief
choirgirl171's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Relatable and complicated characters, believable romance, a bit of spice...this story has everything! Just a very sweet story where enemies become friends ultimately become lovers. What's not to love?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Grief, and Infidelity
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, and Sexual content
Minor: Vomit
cecetomas's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
3.5
I have mixed feelings on this book. This was my first Emily Henry read and I have to say first thing that really threw me off was the writing style. It was mor immature than I expected, and I really disliked the little comments and thoughts added in italics or parenthesis. It just took me out of the story for one awkward minute.
As I read however, the story grew on me. The heavy themes didn't feel as awkward as the beginning and I started to see more chemistry between the characters. I have to admit, Henry's writing isn't my favorite but she knows how to write chemistry really well. The spicy scenes were enjoyable and intimate and the tension was present.
Overall it was a fun and easy dance read that I finished in less than two days. I don't really understand the hype around her and her books buts I didn't regret reading it.
As I read however, the story grew on me. The heavy themes didn't feel as awkward as the beginning and I started to see more chemistry between the characters. I have to admit, Henry's writing isn't my favorite but she knows how to write chemistry really well. The spicy scenes were enjoyable and intimate and the tension was present.
Overall it was a fun and easy dance read that I finished in less than two days. I don't really understand the hype around her and her books buts I didn't regret reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
prairieraven's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
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
nicks_books's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content
pandaorb's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Have you ever re-read a book and noticed how it always hits in a different way? The way that time and experience color what you take out of a story and what its various pieces mean to you? How critical it truly is for a book to come into your life at just the right time?
I started Beach Read at just the right time. So much of this book hit home for me. Everything - from the experience of writing to finding oneself in awkward situations to desperately wanting happy endings even when they seem out of grasp - made me feel so wonderfully connected to others at a time when it's far too easy to feel alone.
Hats off to Emily Henry for this lovely book on romance, writer's block, and perfect moments.
P. S. Additional hats off for Julie Whelan's narration!
I started Beach Read at just the right time. So much of this book hit home for me. Everything - from the experience of writing to finding oneself in awkward situations to desperately wanting happy endings even when they seem out of grasp - made me feel so wonderfully connected to others at a time when it's far too easy to feel alone.
Hats off to Emily Henry for this lovely book on romance, writer's block, and perfect moments.
P. S. Additional hats off for Julie Whelan's narration!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Infidelity, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cursing and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit
cassie7e's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
Both a substabtial literary novel and a romance. Unexpectedly charming and funny, with some lovely descriptive lines. The characters are fully individually developed and have stories outside the romance plot. The banter feels genuine and personal (though book dialogue is never realistic) rather than generic and cheesy like so many others I've read. I so appreciate characters that actually speak to each other and express vulnerability, very refreshing. And a much more interesting deal than the contrived "pretend to be fiances" plot, and developed characters and story beyond the relationship between the main characters.
This book feels like a commentary on itself - the combination of literary and romance tropes - and I always love stories about the process of writing and how stories come out of so many pieces of us and what we're working through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Death and Infidelity
Minor: Child abuse
chasingpages1's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Grief, Infidelity, Death of parent, Sexual content, Alcohol, Terminal illness, and Vomit
Minor: Cursing, Abandonment, Drug use, Medical content, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic relationship