Beach Read

ByEmily Henry

Release Date: 2020-05-19
Genre: Romantic Comedies

Score: 4.5

4.5

From 5,816 Ratings

Description

FROM THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF FUNNY STORY!

A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.

As featured in The New York Times Book Review ∙ Entertainment Weekly ∙ Oprah Magazine ∙ Betches ∙ Shondaland ∙ Good Morning America ∙ The New York Post ∙ Good Housekeeping ∙ CNN ∙ and more!

Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.

They’re polar opposites.

In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they're living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer's block.

Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.

Reviews

Would not read again or recommend
1
By savvirose
This book was extremely difficult for me to get through as the writing felt mundane and the story felt like it had no real plot. It felt like the author was just writing to write with no real direction. The ending was very cookie cutter and extremely expected - maybe that was the point. As an avid book reader and one who enjoys romance, this was just not the book for me.
Very good
5
By dianareads
Very god book Emily Henry really develops her characters. Happy place was my favorite.
Cute
3
By Mih_Hall
This was a cute read but not great.
(SOME SPOILERS AHEAD)Emotional rollercoaster…
4
By syynnaah
I have to admit that I did not see where the plot and the ending was going. I thought this was going to be a fun, summery, beach, touristy-small town read, but was I wrong (in a good way). This is the second Emily Henry book I’ve read and I think this was heavy on emotions. I absolutely adore both January and Gus. Their personality and chemistry despite starting off the wrong foot/past was perfect. They balance each other out. I like that January was there for Gus…somewhat patient.. even though there were times I felt that her actions and words were driven because of her impression from their college days. She didn’t know him—the him now to be that bold. And for Gus, I find that when he comes off as mean or rude was endearing. I don’t know if that’s just me, but it was new to me. In terms of we readers did not have to wait that long to know that is his thing. I was preparing for some miscommunication trope because of that, but I’m glad that did not happen. Although, I am holding a tiny grudge that he doesn’t like Meg Ryan :”)…

The reason why I rated this book 4 stars is because I did not like the fact that infidelity (to me) came across as something to talk about and be done with it. I like that this book teaches about healing—big on that and I am all for that, but I think that sometimes this hurt, being mad, being upset towards somebody you love betrays the other person you love is a good thing. I did not like the fact that January’s dad kinda made her feel like she has to forgive his cheating or not think he’s a terrible person. In the letter he says, “do you think I’m terrible? It’s okay if you do” That to me feels like ‘it’s okay if you do. I know having an affair is, but also don’t think of me that way.’

Going on a break or whatever is just an excuse to cheat. Her dad mentions about trying to find himself and finding his way back to her mother again, but you can do that by not cheating. Cheating isn’t an option it’s a choice. Same I can say with the mistress too. She knew and still stayed. I’m glad that January held on that she is right to be mad. And still hold love for her dad. I do wish we also focused on the mom. She is the wife and was the one being cheated on while she had cancer. We don’t know if the dad wrote her a letter. I just wish we could have gotten something for her mom other than the last happy moments she had with him.
Read This
5
By 1&48(&2@1'
Emily Henry writes with emotional maturity about grief, relationships, and personal growth that makes her talent as a writer shine. To think this published when she was just 29 is profound.
Beach Read Review!!!❤️
5
By Princesskierra
This book was so cute and adorable everyone in this book was described very well! January and Gus were so cute and perfect for each other in this book! I loved the scene at the end when they were dancing in the rain and 9 months later Gus asked the love of his life to marry him!!! Emily Henry did a good job with this book! I still can’t believe what January’s father did to her mom and her. Emily Henry speaks about how the main character is grieving in this book and how she can get over writers block!! I will be reading more books of hers!!!❤️

-Kierra Brice🩷
Heartwarming
5
By MLK716
Loved it! Can’t wait for the next one.
Loved it!
5
By Rainpot1945
Great mixture of character growth and romance. A good book for forgetting about your daily troubles. Not a lot of filler, full of substance and humor.
Love!
5
By Patient One
May be my favorite EH book! 🥰
Mid
2
By I barely read
Very mid, predictable and repetitive.