A fun, light, quick romance perfect for the beach! Well written and developed realistic characters. I wouldn't exactly characterise it as "laugh out loud" but it sure had its funny moments. A solid "beach read".

This was the story of January, a romance writer who has lost her father and found out a terrible secret leaving her unable to write the love stories that used to come to her so easily. She moves to her fathers second house to empty it ready to sell it and with the hope of getting some writing done. She does not expect to be living next door to her old college rival, the guy who constantly criticised her work and never kept a girl for longer than a few weeks.

Although on the surface this is a fun romance it touches on so much more, it looks at grief, self acceptance, miscommunication and of course love! I really enjoyed how the story unfolded, the characters were well written, believable and I completely got lost in the story. I can see it being made into a movie!

This book was the perfect summer read, it had everything I didn't know I needed in a beach read and I will definitely be picking up a copy of the authors next book.

Beach Read never really felt like a beach read (even though I churned through it easily in a day). I kind of expected that, based off reviews I'd seen going in, but it was still really jarring for me to pick up a book with a cute cover, and then discover that they barely even spend any time flirting at the beach.

This book was partly cheesy rom com, partly a deeper contemporary about messed up relationships (both romantic and otherwise) and part something else (I had no idea what to make of the cult Gus was researching). On a meta level, that worked as a commentary that life isn't a single genre and that you can feel many things (mad and sad, as January put it) at the same time. But, on the other hand, it left me feeling somewhat unsatisfied as the heavier aspects of this book felt like they were glossed over - notably, [the fact that Gus was abused as child and had a pretty terrible upbringing was just completely dropped in the second half, once the romance kicked off. (hide spoiler)] I didn't necessarily buy the fact that [Gus was in love with January since before the book started. While their college experience is obviously coloured by January's perspective, the dude was an asshole to her, and then never saw her again for years (and married someone else in the meantime!) (hide spoiler)].

I did enjoy January as a character, and there were some funny moments (though almost every line of dialogue felt like either a heartfelt outpouring of emotion or a quip, which was odd), but this book fell a little short of what I was expecting. I'm just not sure if that's because I really just wanted a lighthearted rom com after all, or what.

There's been loads of hype around Beach Read, and after reading it, I completely understand why! I, too, swooned over this splashy, sparkling novel. It's the kind of book that will make you smile and sob and stay up until four in the morning reading. I absolutely adored this and can't think of single person to whom I wouldn't recommend it. One of my favourite books of 2020, hands down.

One of my all-time favourite genres is romantic comedy. Combine that with the gorgeous, eye-catching cover of this book and I could not wait to read it.

Beach Read is the story of two authors suffering from writers' block. January writes romance but no longer believes in happy endings; Gus writes literary fiction but has found himself in a rut. They end up in neighbouring beach houses over the summer, each with a deadline fast approaching. A flippant joke that maybe they should write their books in each other's genres spirals into reality. January takes Gus to the places she uses as settings for her stories, including a country and western bar for a line-dancing adventure, and Gus takes January on one of his research trips - to the burnt-out campus of a cult...

Without giving too much away, Beach Read is an old-school romantic comedy in the style of those classic movies, While You Were Sleeping and You've Got Mail (Bridget Jones also gets a mention), with an affectionate nod to much-loved romance tropes.

It's chock full of romance and humour, and absolutely perfect for someone like me, who has read all the romcoms, knows all the tropes, and is the kind of smarty-pants who always assumes they can guess what is coming next. I adored the characters (particularly Gus) and the gorgeous lakeside setting makes it the perfect beach read. (See what I did there?)

Basically, I LOVED Beach Read and I'd recommend it to anyone who loves good old-fashioned romantic comedy with a sparkling fresh twist.


Thank you to Emily Henry and Penguin Books (UK) for my copy of this book, which I requested from NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.

Thank you to Penguin UK and NetGalley for sending me an arc of this in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this. I don’t usually read romance novels but this was incredible! It has definitely enticed me to read more from this genre. I loved it far more than I expected I would - I devoured this in less than a day and I was left wanting more.

The story made me cry with laughter, but it also made me feel very emotional. I don’t think any book has made me feel such a wide range of emotions before. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience reading this and I highly recommend it!

Here’s the beautiful thing about this book. It’s not a romance novel. It’s a story about love.

About how you can love someone after being hurt.
How you can love someone you thought you couldn’t.
How you can find the love for someone you thought you had lost.
How you can love someone and hurt them at the same time.

Which all sounds weightier than this book is. It’s called Beach Read. This isn’t The Road. But my expectation of a drawn out love/hate relationship of two rival writers was quickly subverted when the story throws them together rather quickly. Then says “find out how to love”.

And the real emotional core of the book isn’t the romance between the leads (charming though they are). It’s the reckoning between January, the death of her father and the chasm that love drove through their relationship. Complicated and unexpected and the beating heart of this story.

The whole “book about witty writers writing books together wittily” is a little self-obsessed but the feelings are what matter here, and. Beach Read will leave you feeling that love, not romance, could conquer all.

Releases 20th October here in Aus with Penguin.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the advanced copy.

This was a fantastic book. I went into it with the expectations that it would be a light fluffy contemporary yet it delves so much more into deeper topics and was quite thought provoking and touching. 

I loved January's character. I was drawn into her life from the first chapter and she kept me highly engaged throughout the course of the book. I found her to be highly relatable and her optimistic way she perceives life refreshing.

Gus I was a little hesitant about at the start. He didn't really evoke any kind of emotion from me, he was too closed off and standoffish. Once he started opening up more to January and revealing his emotions and thoughts was when I started warming up to him. He definitely has an enigmatic nature to him that initially draws you in to his character but once we got more of his backstory he became a lot more well rounded and developed.

I loved the actually writing that took up a lot of time in the plot. The way they prioritised their work even though they were crazy for each other I think was very mature of them. This was definitely a slow burn. There were various scenes that got me very eager to read on and find out whether or not January will get her happy ending!

⭐️5/5 stars I devoured this book!!!!

I dont even know where to start with this book! For some reason I went into this book thinking it would be something completely different that what it was and I was so excited for what I had imagined it to be but the book well surpassed that for me, which is always a great surprise.

I loved all the characters in this book flaws and all, they were realistic and raw. I especially loved Shadi. I loved the setting of the book too it really adds that extra something to the book.

I enjoyed the backstory to the characters it explained so much as to why they had their traits and habits as adults. I loved the twists throughout too especially Gus' one.

I loved the plots of the books they were writing too! (I wish they were real books! Lol) The will they wont they aspect was fun to read and for once a decent sex scene that was super friggin cringey!

Also being someone who reads alot I tend to pick at books and everytime I would well hold on that doesn't make sense, my query would literally be answered straight away and I enjoyed that.

I absolutely adored this book and cant wait to see what Emily Henry does next!

Absolutely fab read, completely different to what I had expected. I have enjoyed this book despite being on lockdown and wishing I could be on a beach. I have been desperate to know throughout what was going on.

Let’s talk some more about that title, will you ? What makes a Beach Read ? For me, it’s a book that you can’t put down (perfect to spend hours on the beach), and makes you swoon (who doesn’t want to dream on holidays) while still teaching you some life lessons (gotta have something to talk about after summer, right?). And Beach Read filled all those boxes perfectly!

The book follows January Andrews as she spends the summer in the house her dad left her when he died. Which she learned about at his funeral when his secret mistress approached her and shattered all her illusions about her parents’ love story. Which, you might understand, isn’t very helpful for a romance novels writer. January has a book to deliver to her publisher and she already spent most of her advance, so when she breaks up with her long term boyfriend, she has no choice but to go to that house and try to understand her late father. Things take a turn when she finds out that her new next door neighbour is none other than her college nemesis and fellow published author (though not of romance at all) Augustus (Gus) Everett. He too is facing a bad case of writer’s block, and they strike a deal to teach each other about their respective genres.

Through the book, January deals with so much more than romance. She learns how to face family secrets and how to maybe forgive her dad for not being perfect. She opens herself up to a completely different world, and most of all, she finds herself to be much stronger and resourceful than she thought herself to be. Meanwhile, Gus learns to let people in and to see himself as more than damaged.

Just like any beach read, this book will surprise you by how serious and dark it can sometimes be, while still making you smile and swoon. And if you’re like me, will make you ignore all your responsibilities until you’ve finished reading it. If this doesn’t become everyone’s favourite summer 2020 book, I don’t understand.

A heartfelt, gritty and poignant book that I really enjoyed.
I felt connected to the characters and how their individual stories and experiences of love had tinted and tainted their view, but how an overlapping understanding draws them together, even when it all seems hopeless.
This isn't all about romantic walks on the beach or love notes written through windows, although there is both, it's more about seeing love in all its forms, without subterfuge or masking, and how deeply complicated it can be, without no clear villains or heroes, just people with all their baggage, flaws and demons.
I found it terrifically sad, but also hopeful that there was a happy ending awaiting both characters, you'll have to read it to find out if that was true.

This is a romantic comedy in every sense of its being. It almost felt like it was ready to be adapted to the silver screen.

January is reeling from the loss of a parent, her relationship has imploded and she finds herself living in a home used by her father and his mistress.

Augustus is a brooding author, he went to university with January and has become a competitive person in her life ever since.

So what happens when she arrives to find he is living next door....

...January challenges Augustus to write a romance novel, while he reciprocate with a similarly difficult challenge of his own. Will changing genres change their view on life and each other?

This is a romance with all the tropes you would expect for a light hearted summer read, it gently eases you into the characters and story so you feel invested in both the characters, their relationship and their future success, there is no surprise twist but I found myself happily fulfilled with the outcome none the less.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

I loved loved loved this book! The banter was top tier, a+, an actual masterpiece. I live for good banter and this definitely delivered. The angst was great, and really added to the intoxicating and captivating pull to keep reading.

the actual romance was also just *chef's kiss* perfection. My heart rate actually sped up in some scenes. I was so invested in their relationship it isn't funny. The chemistry between January and Gus was palpable, and made it effortless to believe in their romance.

A criticism I have seen is due to dual tonality of the book. Half of it feels like a fun, rom-com, 'beach read'. But sprinkled in are darker elements and family problems. Don't let the cover or title fool you into expecting a completely fun and light hearted read, because you may be disappointed. However, I personally really liked the way Emily Henry handled the two tones. They didn't feel jarring at all, and only added to the maturity and realism of the story. Life isn't always a rom com, and there will be darker times.

"When the world felt dark and scary, love could whisk you off to go dancing, laughter could take some of the pain away; beauty could bunch holes in your fear"

I am a sucker for all the tropes in this book. Sure, it might not be the most original thing ever but it was so much fun! I love the idea of two authors swapping genres, going on 'research' dates and communicating through notes (think 'you belong with me' music video).

This type of writing style is one of my absolute favourites. I don't know how to describe it- but it's super realistic, funny and refreshing. I love when authors include little things that don't necessarily further the plot but help to develop the character into a real person. Something where you can see yourself in. I also really enjoyed how Emily Henry lightly made fun of the rom com genre throughout.

"I took a cold shower. Or, at least, I took one second of a cold shower, during which I screamed the f-word and almost broke my ankle lunging away from the stream of water. How the hell were people in books always taking cold showers?"

I had super high expectations of Beach Read going into it because of the insane amount of hype its has been receiving lately. I was fully anticipating giving it 5 stars, no second thoughts. Unfortunately it didn't quite reach that mark, maybe because of the hype. However, i will definitely be re-reading this in the future, and there is a good chance that I will bump up my rating upon that.

If you love a good romance, I would not miss out on this one! I'm definitely anticipating seeing it pop up in quite a few favourite of the year lists (maybe even mine? we'll see!)

★★★★☆.5

Thank you to Penguin UK for this ARC
Release Date (UK & AUS): 9 July 2020

Actual Rating: 3,5 stars
This was overall a good read. I really enjoyed the first half of the book but I kind of lost interest during the second part and for some reason found myself not caring as much about the story and the characters. Don't get me wrong, the writing was beautiful and the concept of the book was not quite anything I've read before. I liked the couple as well which I totally get why everyone loves this book so much but I guess it didn't entirely end up being my cup of tea.

I wanted to read this book largely due to the "Laugh out Loud love story" heading. However, whilst the book was a somewhat pleasurable read, I did not connect with it enough to make me laugh or cry. It was well written, the characters were well portrayed and the father/daughter element added a novel sideline to an otherwise fairly predictable will they won't they storyline.
So although it didn't quite hit the mark with me I'm sure others will enjoy this light summer read.

I don't normally give books star ratings but Beach Read can have all the stars.
It's the sweetest kind of romance, but it's also much more than that. It's grounded and authentic and I couldn't put it down.
While the slow burn love story is a swoony part of the plot, it's not all there is.
The characters are so real and well-developed I feel like I could bump into January or Gus at the supermarket tomorrow and stop to have a chat like we're old friends. They have such genuine backstories and motivations that gives this book true heart.
If you've read reviews and thought this book won't live up to the hype, it will. This is my favourite story of the year so far and needs to be added to your to-be-read pile yesterday.

An easy summer read but not really my type of book. The characters are well developed and the story is good but I just didn't connect well enough to love it.

You know that Lady Gaga gif that went around a few years back, where she goes off on a rant á la "spectacular, fantastic, out of this world, showstopping" and so on? Yeah, that's how I felt about this book.

I'd been seeing this book go around on goodreads and while the name of the author sounded familiar, I didn't think too much about it when I requested Beach Read - the premise intrigued me and so I went for it. Then, as if overnight, suddenly every single one of my goodreads friends read this book in one sitting, proclaiming it the thing that got them out of reading slumps, cleared up their acne and watered their crops.
And I was like, "well, I could use some of that" while also being very hesitant to pick it up because in my mind I was already scared that I would be the one voice who read this and would go all "eh, yeah, no, I don't see why everybody loves it."
Flashforward to me staying up all night reading this book in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.
Listen, it's been a long time since I wanted to stay up for a book and no one is more shocked than me that it was this one. But everything about this story just - clicked for me? Emily Henry somehow managed to create characters so unique and flawed and yet they just worked so well together? And all that in a setting of someone going through a writing slump, dealing with tough topics such as grief and loss and family secrets burning away at your heart?
Dude.
Like.
Words are just hard to find, okay?
I don't think I could ever do this book justice. Because, yes, it was cheesy, but the right amount of cheesy? Yes, it had some flaws and some fumbling around, but that's exactly what the story needed to be so authentic? Are the characters sometimes obtuse as fuck? Yes. But they need to be to make a story about two writers falling in love while betting against the other work.
Honestly, the less you know, the better. Go into this blindly and just enjoy the ride.

This book really surprised me! (In a good way) Looking at the cover, title, and the synopsis I was expecting it to be light and breezy, however, that wasn't the case. Instead what I got was a swoon-worthy romance between two very complex people with an equally compelling backstory.

I read it in a day! Emily Henry's writing is absolutely fantastic and I loved how the build-up of the story was done. I loved the banter between the two MCs and really liked the progression of their relationship. Clearly, both of them were going through their own difficult stuffs but it was wonderful to see them overcome these difficulties together. Themes related to grief, and pain was handled quite brilliantly as well.

My only qualm is that the ending fell a little short, it was good but wasn't as good as the rest of the book! Overall, though, it was a great read!!!