Beach Read

not enough words can be said abt this incredible book. i love gus and january they are so perfect. i love how real and raw these characters felt with real struggles and issues and they find love along the way. gus is so incredibly witty and charming i cannot get enough of him. he is the best book bf of hers imo. i also love january and her unwavering optimism in the world. it centered on these mcs perfectly w just the right amt of side characters sprinkled in. i love this book so so so much

Beach Read by Emily Henry is an absolute gem of a novel. It’s the perfect blend of romance, humor, and heartfelt moments, making it a delightful escape from reality. The story follows two authors, January and Gus, who are struggling with writer's block and end up spending the summer in neighboring beach houses. Their unique challenge to swap genres and write something completely different results in an engaging and witty story.

Absolutely loved the banter, the writing, and the journey in this Emily Henry book. The names felt a little much and out of place for me, but the passion, commitment to writing, and the struggles felt real for each of the characters. I was rooting for them to succeed together and apart throughout the book, and looked forward to seeing the end results. I almost wish their books could have been published for a read as well =). Emily Henry makes her stories feel real and relevant, rather than just typical. Another feel good read by one of the best romance authors I've ever come across.

This is a book about facing reality and surviving. More specifically, what if someone you looked up to, someone you loved deeply and unequivocally did something bad, that hurt someone else very deeply. What if your father cheated on your mother while she was fighting cancer. Is there a way to listen to his apology and forgive something like that? and what if your father wasn't there to explain this awful dissonance between the person you thought him to be and the person he really was?Those questions are the premise of this book, which I would hesitate to categorize as a romance. It was raw and real and you could really feel the pain. I am a person that doesn't see infidelity as a crime but you could really feel how deeply the protagonists' world was shaken by her father's actions. And therefore, her inability to continue writing romance novels.The hero is also an author but of the literary fiction variety. They used to be college rivals and became next door neighbors when the heroine moved in to her father's second home - to empty and sell it and finally write her new novel.They strike up a friendship which leads to more feelings developed and when their romance finally blossoms - it is a lovely thing.So why the three stars?Towards the very end, this book inexplicably became very cliche and sappy. I hated the way the third act breakup resolved itself. The hero does not apologize for his actions, and basically proclaims that he choses (drumroll) the heroine to be his partner! Yes, isn't she lucky. All this is done in a super-melodramatic way that is completely off character to both of them.But what perhaps bothered me even more was that there was no on-page resolution between the heroine and her mother. Part of the heroine's hang-ups were that her parents were never honest with her, even as an adult, even when she thought they were close. She was not only hurt to realize the extent of their secrets but also her whole world toppled over itself and she was never sure about people's real feelings and real motives. I would have loved for there to have been a meaningful conversation between mother and daughter. Where the mother becomes a fully formed and flawed but beautiful person.So all in all I would give this book 3.5 stars. I feel it could have been so much more, and I'm sad it missed in the end, but it was fun while it lasted.

I absolutely loved this book! I could not put it down. Yes, some parts are cliché, and there are some tropes (third act breakup, for example), but it is so well written. I really enjoyed the mix of small town scenery, well developed side characters, increasing romantic tension, and self discovery. I loved how descriptive it was and felt transported to each location. I will definitely re-read when I need a cozy palate cleanser.

A beautifully written, insightful book that had some lovely surprises on the way. I LOVED the darker themes and stories they explored together as book research, as well as the slow burn chemistry and the happy ending that felt refreshingly realistic. I struggled a bit with the first 30%. I'm not quite sure what was going on there for me, because it's well written (and I can deal with the overuse of the word 'leap', it's kind of cute) and very funny, but maybe the level of success and coddling the heroine achieved from her agent and publisher, coupled with how incredibly clever and witty her inner dialogue was, pulled me out of the story - she was like the human equivalent of a Millennial's Instagram feed, someone to aspire to but not necessarily relate to. Don't get me wrong, she depicted as a 'mess', in terms of her diet and drinking and how she deals with stress, bad news, and her work. It was just the level of awareness and that witty banter inside her head... it almost made everything sound like a fashion choice, superficial... like celebrities we watch from afar, who make even rehab look cooler than what we do in our homes, trying to survive. Later on in the book, she became more vulnerable and less clever, and I started to actually connect with her. I liked Gus, especially his imperfections, which made him much easier to love. The father's double life offered an interesting emotional arc and explained many things about January's character. And I found it hilarious that there was no beach life or even summer weather what-so-ever, nothing like what's depicted on the cover. Well done marketing department! Overall, it's a great read that stayed in my mind.

Beach Read is my fourth Emily Henry book and I don’t usually read this genre. No doubt I will read them all. Her characters are so relatable and it makes me smile to know that my story and the people I love are so book worthy. Highly recommend!

This book is definitely a good “beach read.”I am not much of a bookworm but I enjoyed this book & I stayed engaged & interested in the storyline.

This book is a great book to read in the summer! I read it in 2 days and it got me out of my reading and writing slump! I owe Emily Henry for that! Love her books so much. This is the first one I read from her and I loved it. The romance was so cute.The cover is fun and light hearted, but don't let that fool you! It has lots of emotion and is way deeper than I expected. I love how the main character thinks and processes things, she's a very realistic person.The setting is so cute in a small town and beach houses. Both writers! Sooooo cute. The writing is also very good and I wish I could write like she does.

REVIEWcw: mentions of cancer, adultery, death, grief, religious cults and violence, child abuse and DVFormer college rivals, now authors Augustus Everett and January Andrews' novels couldn't be any different. One writes literary fiction, the other romance. The only thing they have in common? Both have severe writer's block. When they inadvertently reunite at neighbouring lakeside houses, they strike a deal to force themselves out of their creative ruts: Augustus (Gus) will write a draft of January's romance novel and January will write an Augustus-style bleak literary fiction novel.This was not the book I thought it was going to be. At all. I mean that in the best possible way. I genuinely thought I was about to read a light-hearted, frothy romance, especially given the blurb (I hasten to add, I also LOVE reading these types of stories), but instead, I was treated to a nuanced examination of overcoming grief, betrayal, childhood trauma, and mistrust.I loved January. My heart broke for her as she had to slowly make sense of her past, alongside the reality of the lies that had been woven by her father. I found these parts so well-written, especially considering this was a debut novel. Cheating is a bit of a trigger for me, so I never expected to feel so much compassion for Sonya, and definitely not for January's father. While neither she nor Walt's actions were acceptable, the author allowed us to see their regrets, and I loved how January was able to realise her own fortitude after the revelations. As for the letters? I was sobbing, utterly wrecked reading them alongside January. I also appreciated how she reassessed her previous relationships, particularly this line:He fit so perfectly into the love story I’d imagined for myself that I mistook him for the love of my life.I don't think I've ever identified with a character more! I completely empathised with her mistrust and self-doubt about relationships from the depths of my heart, but I LOVED how she was slowly able to open up to Gus, and the development of their relationship was so moving.I loved Gus immediately. He was such a complicated cinnamon roll with so many layers. My heart broke for him when he revealed some of his past and the way he'd processed his trauma. It's no secret I ADORE pining, and it was done SO well here. They were so cute together, and their chemistry felt authentic. C.23 was utter perfection, and, even though I'd seen it coming, I was fist-pumping the air when he was finally able to open up to January. And the banter! It was SUBLIME. I loved the shorthand of their conversations as the story progressed as well as all of their notes to each other. I also loved their people-watching stories, as well as their conversations with hypothetical storylines. I would definitely read the Ferris wheel operator story, Gus's cult romance, as well as 'Family Secrets', not to mention their entire back catalogue of published books.While this was a gorgeous slow-burn, (kinda) second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance, aside from the romance and family drama, there was some excellent commentary on creative writing. January was so relatable, and I identified with her writer's block. Those scenes made me itch with understanding, and even though I've never published anything, the anxiety over deadlines was so relatable and engaging. I also loved the research 'dates' they went on, and though it was heartbreaking, the interviews with the cult member's relatives were fascinating. January's friend, Shadi was hilarious but also wise, and I adored Pete, Gus's aunt, and her wife Maggie. They were hilarious but also so tender towards both Gus and January. The ending tied everything up perfectly, and I LOVED that they expressly spoke of HFN. And while I ADORED Gus reciting January's dedication from her first novel, his dedication at the end was truly swoon-worthy.Utter perfection.Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️Heat Rating: 🔥🔥

Com toda certeza, um dos melhores livros que li durante todo o ano. A escrita é linda, a história é encantadora e os personagens são incríveis. A história consegue ultrapassar os limites de um livro de comédia romântica, sendo capaz de criar camadas complexas que vão muito além do romance.Recebi a indicação como um livro leve para ser lido nas férias, acredito que isso pode interferir na experiência de alguém que deseja uma leitura simples, pois o livro tem diversos momentos complexos e introspectivos. Porém, para mim, foi uma grata surpresa.Gostaria de ver livros como esse sendo traduzidos e lançados no Brasil.O produto chegou sem defeitos, mas é bom destacar que a a qualidade dos livros internacionais é muito diferente dos brasileiros, com os quais estamos acostumados.

parfait

Beach Read by Emily Henry is an enchanting and heartwarming tale that will leave you longing for sandy shores and a summer romance. In this delightful novel, January and Augustus find themselves as next-door neighbours, both struggling with writer’s block and personal demons.As they embark on a bet to write in each other’s genres, their lives intertwine in unexpected ways. Henry’s writing is witty, full of banter, and filled with raw emotions that tug at your heartstrings. The chemistry between the characters is electric, and their journey of self-discovery and healing is beautifully depicted.Beach Read is not your typical fluffy romance; it tackles deeper themes of grief, forgiveness, and the complexities of love. With its clever plot twists and a satisfying ending, this book is a perfect escape that will make you laugh, cry, and believe in the power of second chances.