Book Review: Beach Read by Emily Henry

Beach Read Synopsis

The novel features Augustus Everett, a literary writer, and January Andrews, a romance writer, who are polar opposites in their writing styles and beliefs in love. The two writers are experiencing writer’s block and are living in neighboring beach houses for the summer, broke and uninspired. One evening, they strike a deal to get out of their creative ruts: Augustus will write something happy, while January will pen the next Great American Novel.

To achieve this, January takes Augustus on field trips worthy of a romantic comedy montage, while he takes her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult. Their challenge is to finish their books without falling in love. As they work together, they discover a deeper connection between them that may upend everything they believed about love and happy endings.

***Beach Read SPOILERS BELOW***

Beach Read Book Review

Based on all of the books by Emily Henry that I have read, this one was a bit of slow start for me. Towards the end I did fall in love with Gus and January, and was able to appreciate the growth and strength of their relationship. It definitely took me some time to get there, and that’s perfectly ok.

Gus and January’s polar opposite personalities tied this book together incredibly well, and I adored the parts where they wrote notes to each other to show in the window. I thought that was incredibly cute and such a fun way to communicate. 

Aside from the story itself, Emily Henry has an incredible way with words. She makes you feel so many emotions throughout her stories, yet somehow I always feel overall joy at the end despite what we’re thrown in the middle of a story. Also, I love how she writes sarcastic tones. It comes across so clearly on the page and always makes me laugh out loud while reading.

The two main characters in the book are Augustus (Gus) and January. Augustus Everett, a literary writer, and January Andrews, a romance writer, who are polar opposites in their writing styles and beliefs in love.

This book is 400 pages long.

This book would be considered mildly spicy.

The age rating for Beach Read is 18+.

Some other popular books by Emily Henry are People We Met on Vacation and Book Lovers.

Emily Henry’s next book is titled Happy Place and it’s scheduled to release on April 25, 2023 in the United States.

Yes, writer and director Yulin Kuang picked up Beach Read to be adapted to a film.