I really enjoyed this novel. I loved the characters of January and Gus and enjoyed the way their story unfolded. I think it goes deeper than your typical rom-com and was full of snarky banter which meant it wasn't sickly sweet. A fun and joyful Summer read, I'll be looking out for more writing by Emily Henry.

Was surprised by how much I loved this story. Much darker and deeper than expected and really well done, a story with real heart. Only downside is the cover and marketing which seem completely off for this story. This is not a laugh out loud beach read. It’s so much more than that.

Absolutely LOVED this book! I'm not usually a romance fan but I thought this was fantastic. A great story with real substance, and the characters back stories all seemed quite believable and real. The first book I've read by Emily Henry but I'll definitely be looking out for more. Thanks so much for sharing this review copy.

I'm sure I'm not the only reader who's frustrated with the way 'women's fiction' is treated when compared with how 'literary fiction' is treated. Often if a woman writes a novel about a divorce it's a cute chick-flick with a pink cover, but if a man writes about a divorce it's the Next Great Novel™, so when I saw the premise of Beach Read I knew I had to get my hands on a copy and I was thrilled when I was approved for an eARC.

January Andrews writes romance novels and has always believed in happy endings—at least she did until her father died and she discovered, at his funeral, that he had an affair while her mother was battling cancer. Her father has left January a beach house to sort through, but when she arrives for the summer she discovers her neighbour is none other than literary fiction author, Augustus Everett, her college rival. The two of them decide to strike a summer deal: they'll each write a novel in the other's genre, and whoever sells their book first is guaranteed an endorsement from the other. Oh! And, obviously, no one's going to fall in love with anyone else in the process...

I've seen quite a lot of reviewers talk about how Beach Read is a little darker than your classic rom-com, but while it does tackle some more serious themes (although I think a lot of romance novels do, on the whole) it's still a really fun and uplifting novel to read. I saw so many warnings about this book that I was expecting it to be rather bleak, but it's not at all. Yes, we have January's heartbreak at losing her father and discovering he wasn't quite the man she thought he was and Gus's own demons surrounding his childhood and a previous relationship that come to light, but this book isn't a downer. In fact I loved it all the more for including all those darker elements while still being a book that brought a smile to my face while I was reading it.

I wasn't sure what to expect from January and Gus's relationship. I know enemies/rivals-to-lovers is a very popular romance trope, but it's a trope I'm fairly picky with; I don't like couples who literally hate each other one minute and then love each other the next because it just doesn't seem like a healthy basis for a relationship and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Luckily, that's not what happens here at all. January and Gus were on the same writing course in college and there is some rivalry there, especially now that they're both published authors in very different genres, but it's all fun.

The chemistry between January and Gus is palpable, their banter is so much fun to read and genuinely funny, and I wanted them to succeed and be happy. They're the kind of couple who could make washing dishes an enjoyable, romantic experience, without ever feeling corny or over-the-top, and as much as I love the romance genre I do think those kinds of couples who feel real can be hard to find. One of the many joys of the romance genre is that it's a type of fantasy in and of itself in which everyone's a romantic and knows exactly the right thing to say at exactly the right time, but there's also something comforting in reading a romance novel that feels like it could actually happen.

I also really appreciate that this isn't a romance novel that condemns literary fiction, despite the fact that it features a romance author in a rivalry with a literary fiction author. In much the same way that January is allowed to defend romance and prove it's a genre that doesn't deserve to be dismissed just because it's happy, Gus is also given a chance to defend his writing, too. He doesn't write literary fiction to make a point about literature - in fact I often got the impression that Gus himself isn't a fan of the 'women's fiction' vs. 'literary fiction' distinction - instead the genre he writes is a way for him to understand his own feelings about the world and everyone in it, in much the same that January does by writing happily ever afters.

Essentially Beach Read is one of the best contemporary romance novels I've read, I had such a good time reading it and immediately recommended it to my sisters and friends, and I'd love to try whatever Emily Henry releases in future.

Beach Read has been one of my most anticipated reads of the year after hearing such good things about it all over my bookstagram.
The story sees the two main characters January and Gus, two published writers who went to college together coincidentally living next door to each other on a lake shore. They soon make a bet to switch to writing a book in each others genre whilst a fast friendship and more develops. Each of them has their own interesting past which must be dealt with so they can both find their happy ending.

In the end I did enjoy it and I always love rom coms that have characters finally reunited with some interesting shared past. But at the same time it didn't grip me the same way that I thought it would and their were no tears from me.
Thanks to Netgalley.com and Penguin Books UK for this complimentary eARC.

The first few pages of this almost put me off for good but I'm glad I went back to it because it had me literally laughing out loud a few times and I think it actually stuck the landing.

The banter was solid and the scenarios funny. The shared history and their different understandings of that was dealt with well.

A few things were a bit of a stretch but ultimately, I really enjoyed the chemistry of January and Gus. I would totally read Gus's novel... Not so sure I'd read January's.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was an easy summer read with some complex characters and more depth than stereotypical romance novels.

January is in a writing rut. With her next book deadline looming, she takes herself off to her dad's beach house to a) get peace b) run away from, her problems, and c) face the demons and life that her dad left behind. Once there, she discovers her neighbour is none other than Gus Everett, her college classmate and frustratingly handsome author nemesis. Book writing and witty banter bring the two closer together but will January ever get the happily ever after she has spent years writing about but never achieving in her own life?

At first, I was really invested in this novel., I loved both Gus and January (particularly Gus as he is practically me in male form with his vomit phobia and lack of romantic bones in his body). I loved the easy banter that flowed between them and thought the idea of challenging each to write a book in the other's genre was refreshing and original.

However, about half-way through, I felt that there were too many distractions and tangents (the cult interviews, glimpses of January's father's backstory, Gus's background, etc.) that were all explored a little but not enough. There was also a slight overdose of one-liners that I'd loved at first but then felt were a bit too try-hard. I didn't feel a particularly strong connection to the characters. Plus, there was too much smut for my liking (I just think sex scenes are so overrated and usually exaggerated to the point where I just roll my eyes and skip).

As an anti-romantic, I think three stars is still a pretty good win.

This book is slow-paced and long-winded. It takes ages to get to the point. We spend so much time inside the main character's head going over the same points again and again. Yes, it's extremely hard to write a book, but let's have less telling us that and more showing us that through dialogue or action.

Beach Read needs to be condensed, edited, sharpened up, made punchier and wittier and more interesting. The descriptions need to be improved as they are confusing. That's why it was hard to understand and picture the characters. Also, there were inconsistencies in the descriptions. For example, January said in one scene she was wearing trousers and a t-shirt, but later on it refers to shorts she was wearing at that time when there was no mention of shorts in the original scene. It's better not to include these details if you end up getting them wrong.

Overall, I had to make a real effort to get to the end of the book as I didn't find the characters engaging, there was too much telling not showing, and it was too slow for its genre. This book is written like it wants to be in the literary fiction genre, but the storyline and characters (another unrealistic male lead) suggest otherwise.

Yes, indeed, this is a beach read. It's a very lightweight, typical chick-lit romance. The plot was not original and I soon got bored with the silly bantering dialogue. January (ridiculous name) does not come cross as any kind of author - she is immature and vomits at least three times throughout the book - the author needs to think of a different way to express emotion.. Judging by the tone of some of the reviews, the audience for this book is a much younger age group. Not for me.

This was - for a reason I can't quite fathom - a weird reading experience, so this review is probably going to be a bit rambling.

On the one hand, Beach Read made me feel a lot of things, and it made me laugh throughout - usually a 5* combination for me. To add to that, the characters were interesting plays on tropes - January as a romantic female lead verging on a manic pixie dream girl, Gus as the broody male lead who writes "coldly horny" literary fiction. This is very much a book about people being more than their archetypes and how they seem on the surface, which is always great. The discussions about women's fiction really resonated too, as well as those about "happy fiction". As someone who aims to write hopeful stories that bring a bit of light into readers' lives, it was nice to see such stories appreciated and validated here. Best of all was January and Shadi's friendship - that deserves a novel of its own, even if it was written entirely in the form of texts. Would also happily read a spin off about Shadi and Haunted Hat guy. I feel like she has a story to tell too!

So yes, lots of good things. So why do I feel so weird about it?

I don't think it's the grief aspect - something that can negatively affect me due to my own personal experiences. I've read other books recently with an even stronger emphasis on grief, and have been mostly fine. Neither is it the mix of light and dark in the book - I actually love a book that can do both, and found the cult aspect of the story particularly interesting. Admittedly the writing style was hit and miss for me...sometimes it was great, but there was the odd page/paragraph/sentence that felt more cliche to me - but that's not something I'm particularly bothered by usually either. So I can't really explain why something was off for me with this book - honestly, I think it's my fault, not the book's!

Overall though, this was definitely interesting. I felt like was reading a book that was written by January and Gus both, which felt apt. I just wish I didn't have that weird disconnect with it, which seems very personal to me, and almost makes me feel like I can't review it in a truly subjective way. But yes, objectively, it's at least a very strong 4*!

A fun romantic comedy for the hot days of summer. The characters are likeable, nice and fun plot.
All you'd ask from a rom com.

Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

What a cracker, devoured in one sitting. Laughed out loud and cried until I could cry no more. Such conflicting emotions but I can’t praise the Writing enough. A brilliant novel with great characterisation. I fell in love with Gus and wanted to be January’s best friend. I wanted to go to Maggie and Pete’s party and watch the sun set over the lake.

A glorious book which I can’t recommend highly enough. 5 stars from me.

I found this to be a nicely written, light and entertaining read, but not memorable at all. It was interesting in the way in which it dealt with the writing process, one in which I often have tried and failed at ...no staying power...so the premise was different and appealing, but ultimately still beautiful people, in beautiful places living comfortable lives. This isn’t a criticism as this is what we all wish to read during a lazy time.. Thank you Netgalley, publisher and author for the opportunity to read this pleasant story for an honest review.

This  is a very pleasant summer read, but I can't help but feel it wasn't quite what I was expecting; it is a bit over-hyped for my liking.

January and Gus find themselves living next-door to each other. Both writers, both struggling with their next novel, they agree to swap genres and see who get published first. As they are thrown together, we find out all about them, both together and separately; what will the summer bring?

There is no doubt that this is a well-written and entertaining novel - and one I thoroughly enjoyed. However, due to the huge number of quotes attributed to it, I expected something with more of a 'wow' factor. I generally get caught up in novels very easily but the laugh-out-loud and tearful moments sort of passed me by with this one. It's a lovely read - and I wouldn't like to put anyone off reading - but for me it just lacked that something extra. Having said all that, I'm sure others will love it (I'm often out of step) and I'm very happy to give it four stars.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

January and Augustus first met in college and went on to become published authors writing in very different genres. Their paths do not cross again until January; broke and on a dead-line; moves into the beach house her father left her in his will. She finds him serious and standoffish and thinks he finds her writing frothy chick-lit. Their non-friendship begins to develop when they have a wager as to who can write and sell a book in the style of the other.

I enjoyed Beach Read, it was well written but it just didn’t thrill me but this may be that I was reading it at the wrong time (under lockdown)

[Chef's Kiss] Sometimes a book comes along exactly when you need it. I had a RomCom void in my life that this book met, and then some. It's the story of January, who once had the perfect life until the truth came out and it all fell apart. Now she's in her late 20,s broke, single and alone in a new town as she needs to get her latest book written. She's staying in her father's old beach house, which would be rather idyllic, except it was the home he owned with his mistress and it's now up to January to sell the place after her father's sudden death.
As if fate wasn't having enough fun laughing at her, January's new neighbour is her old foe from her college creative writing class. Augustus doesn't write books, he writes Literature. They'd always clashed when it comes to their rivalry, although there was one point when maybe, just maybe, hate had been about to learn into love.
The two struggling writers make a bet, to swap genres and write a new book that's more like the style of their literary adversary - could this create romance (January) or tragedy (Augustus).
I loved spending time with January, I loved the fact she was a cynic who was grounded in reality and was never intentionally cruel. Her writing process, like every aspect of her personality, feels relatable and honest. Her rapport with Augustus is fiery and enviable, a la Much Ado About Nothing - they clash and sizzle, bringing out the best and worst in each other. Such a fun read, yet one that had so much depth and emotion to it. A real joy and perfect Beach Read.

I really enjoyed this book especially the two characters January and Gus. I loved that they were authors and spent their time challenging each other to write their genre and the twists that it brought about. Great read

Beach Read is a warm, emotional, thoughtful story. January, a romance writer, grieving for her father and suffering writer's block goes to stay in her father's summer house. An encounter with her college nemesis and crush Gus, a writer of liiterary fiction leads them to swap genres. I loved the setting, the characters and recommend it as the perfect summer read. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Beach Read by Emily Henry came highly recommended by Josie Silver, one of my favourite Authors, so I knew I was on to a winner. This beautifully written story was an emotional read - sometimes funny, sometimes sad - with endearing characters and a plot that grabbed me right from the start. Highly recommended..

Beach Read by Emily Henry follows January, a romance writer who no longer believes in the happy endings she typically writes about in her books after finding out her dad lead a secret life and Gus, January’s neighbour and someone she used to go to college with. Gus is a literary fiction writer also having writer’s block and the two agree to both write a book in the others genre.
This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020, however, I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would and ended up giving it a 3.5/5 stars. I think the hype around the book lead me to expect a lot more than what I got.
On the contrary, the book was still a great and fun romance read. It was nice to read about January and Gus develop together and begin to open up to one another as they spent more time together and see the witty banter the pair shared which often had me laughing out loud! It was entertaining to read about the pair writing genres they would not usually and seeing the end result of this. Furthermore, as the pair were neighbours, they were often communicating a lot by holding written notes in their windows which was so cute! It would have been a nice touch to read Gus’ POV as the book is just from January’s POV but this did not affect any character building or development and is just a person preference!
I would recommend this to someone looking for a fun, cute romance read involving writers trying to get past their writer’s block in an interesting way!