I don’t really know where to start with this one! I had seen so much hype and so many rave reviews I was worried that it wouldn’t live up to the hype.⁣ ⁣ Fortunately I was wrong and l enjoyed this book a great deal! It is really well written and for me it was one of those books where I couldn’t stop reading once I had started.⁣ ⁣ When January’s life seemingly crashes around her, she heads to her father’s second house and crosses paths with her former college enemy - Gus, a famous author and next-door neighbour. Gus and January are both suffering from writers block and make a bet concerning their next novel. What follows though is more than just a romance between them and is written in such a way that it shows how people can be complicated and are not all optimist or pessimist. Both January and Gus are interesting characters with their own stories and I was definitely invested in them.⁣ ⁣ I liked how Emily Henry told both of their stories and also her writing style in general. I will definitely read more of her novels in the future!⁣ ⁣ Beach Read is already available in ebook format and will be out in paperback on 20th August.⁣ ⁣ Thank you to Penguin Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange of an honest review.⁣

I really enjoyed this book. January and Augustus are both published novelists. When January's father died, she inherited a lakeside house she didn't know he owned, which she finds out about when his mistress turns up at the funeral to give her the keys. So she's a little conflicted arriving there, and is planning to finish writing her latest novel in some peace & quiet while also clearing out the house to sell. The first night, she has an awkward encounter with the neighbour next door - Augustus. I won't spoil the details, but when they run into each other in daylight, it turns out she's met him before, and knows who he is, although he clearly doesn't remember her. They don't get on, but gradually their antagonism leads to the bet described in the blurb: they're going to swap genres for their current writing projects, and they each try to show the other some 'research situations' to help them with the new genre. I read a lot of light contemporary romance of characters being away somewhere for the summer, meeting someone, and having some important realisations over the course of the book. I love that stuff, and Beach Read does it perfectly. But it's like it takes that typical light, quick, contemporary romance read and elevates the writing level a step. I don't know how to describe it better, just that it seemed... deeper, than some things I've read recently. The story itself wasn't so different, but the telling of it made it stand out. You also only get the story from January's point of view, so that adds some more tension to things in particular places, wondering what on earth Augustus is doing or thinking. As an aspiring writer myself, and working in publishing, I particularly loved that Augustus and January were writers. It prompted me to do a bit of writing on my own stuff, reading January's struggles! And I love the small town setting, especially being by the water, as that's very similar to the way I grew up. Overall, I highly recommend Beach Read. It was one of my favourite books I read last year, and I'd like to get a physical copy at some point so I can reread it and keep it on my shelves. Contemporary romance at its best. [A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Review first posted on my book blog.]

The thing that I love about Emily Herny is that she blurs the lines between romance and contemporary fiction. While at heart her novels are romances, she always places the female protagonists character arc and storyline at the for front. She makes us understand her characters so that we are inclined to route for them. Yes, her books are romances, but they are so much more, and beach read is a prime example of that. From the first page this was a compelling and captivating story. The premises; to collage nemesis writers, now have neighbouring beach huts and both struggling to reach publishing deadlines. The solution? Swap Genres and compete to be top of the best sellers list. The characterisation was to die for. January and Gus and polar opposites: one a pessimist with an abusive past, the other an optimistic with the perfect chilhood, or so it seemed… Rivals to lovers has always been one of my favourites tropes, but this was one of the most perfectly executed depictions of this. One word: TENSION. All the almosts, all the maybes, all the “could have been"s, everything about their love story was beautifully executed. Now I can't talk about this book without talking about the ending, it was perfect. It really showed how much Emily henry understood her characters, she knows them down to every minute detail and understands them even more so. Gus’ dedication to January in his book was the most Gus thing to do, and it make my heart implode I want my own “happy for now” that mirrors January's and Gus’ Now on the topic of Gus, what isn't to love. His pessimistic out look on the world is somehow… endearing? His poetical beauty is utterly transcending, and I love it. He is the perfect match for January and their story is perfect. Now for some reason, all people seem to talk about is Gus, witch I get it, he's very hot. However, we need to rember who the main character is, January. Her turmoiled grief, caught between loving and hating her father was beautifully written, as a reader we got an insight into her thoughts and the complex relationship she has with love, writing, and her identity. I've heard many people say that she is “too winey” and “extremely annoying” and honestly that criticism doesn't feel fair to me. It seems as though it is purely a rehashed interpretation of female main characters, I see this criticism in almost every book with leading women, and it's getting old. It's stems from misogyny, if a woman asks for help she is annoying, if she doesn't she's equally annoying, if a woman cries she is pathetic, yet if she doesn't she's a bitch. This view of women isn't only present in literature, but also in real life. Stop criticising Emily Henry for writing realistic women, it's not constructive criticism it's misogyny. Overall, this is one of my favourite books and I think it's a must read no matter what genre you're into. Whether you like romance or not, you'll be able to take somthing special away from beach read.

This was my first Emily Henry book and now I understand the hype! There was so much care and detail that went into this book and its characters. They were all so layered and three dimensional - even the “side characters.” I flipped between giving this 4 or 5 stars because I found myself not caring all too much about the subplot surrounding a character called Sonya and how she related to the story. BUT It was a book I thought about when I wasn’t reading it and I found myself excited and wanting to pick it up which equates to a 5 in my book because sometimes I struggle to motivate myself to open the book, especially if I’m at the beginning, but once I’m in, I love it. Maybe that’s just me! Anyway, January and Gus are perfectly imperfect which is what makes them perfect and their chemistry was so palpable. I have to say that I hate the miscommunication trope but understand sometimes it’s necessary to move the story along. Overall, a book I’ll definitely go back to at some point and one I thoroughly enjoyed delving into!

I can't say enough good things about this book. Truly, I can't. The emotional depth of this novel is phenomenal. Emily Henry makes you feel as though you're staring into a mirror back at yourself, like the words on the page are less fiction and more someone scooping out the contents of your brain. January is a deeply relatable character, and unlike most male love interests, Gus has true background and character development. I love Beach Read with every fiber of my being.