Beach Read

This was a cute read but not great.

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.

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.

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🩷

Loved it! Can’t wait for the next one.

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.

May be my favorite EH book! 🥰

Very mid, predictable and repetitive.

It took me a while to sit down and read this book, but when I finally did it, I didn’t stop until I finished. It’s a great book, romance, real life stuff, little spice to keep you intrigued. The characters are believable and grow through the book. It felt a bit rushed at the end but it was a good ending.

This book was hyped to be one of the best books ever! It did not live up to its expectations!

My mind’s eye is filled with the picture of Pee Wee Herman falling off his gothically comic bicycle and shouting defensively: “I meant to do that!” This image to me captures the essence of this book, in wonderful and not so wonderful ways. She was warning the reader all along she had changed, or her “main character” had changed, and she wasn’t necessarily going to give them/us what they/us wanted. But not to worry, it would be close enough, bc that’s “who she really is” and she wouldn’t really be able to deliver anything too far off the mark because of her core, just not quite what was expected because of her “growth” or pain or depression... In all honesty I’m not sure if that’s what she achieved, and if explaining it so much made the final result poetic, or anticlimactic (by ruining the suspense and meddling with the pacing) I’m also not quite sure. I think she was trying to mimic real life, which is not perfectly paced, and can have false stops and starts and slam you into shock and then awe and then acceptance and then contentment and all the way back again or all of those things at the same time…but I dont think she quite achieved that either. The pacing felt more manipulated, rather than honest, and therefore so did I. I was willing to suspend my disbelief and go along for the ride, but I was highly aware of the loaded language and the emotional manipulation, which removes the illusion of a good, realistic, relatable, even if fantastical, story. She explains the methodology for achieving that last thing too, making it seem believable even if the story is unbelievable by adding in mundane human details, but you know what they say: If you have to explain a joke how funny is it? Perhaps more appropriate to say: If the magician has to reveal the trick just to impress you with the trick, just how magical is it? Not very. Maybe it is to the magician… I’d like to stress: because most of these elements of the style, pacing, character, and plot were unexpected from an Emily Henry novel: Upon further reflection this might be a 4 star book for me, but as of this moment in time, I feel more like she didn’t know exactly what she wanted the book to be, *but she knew how she wanted you the reader to feel* about her experiment…and so her readers are left with not knowing exactly what the book is, and perhaps guilted into liking it or at least accepting it. You know, emotionally manipulative. Maybe this story was ghost written by “The Goldberg’s” Mom, I’m not sure… And that’s okay too. Not knowing what it is. Not naming it. Not putting it into a neat little box or category. I respect that for sure. But in this case, especially execution wise, it’s just that — okay. Not great. You may like it. I’m not saying I didn’t like it, but I know I didn’t love it. The reasons for which may be better explained below, and they might not apply to you…so this is why I’m adding it to the review so you can judge before you buy or at least brace yourself before you read. I do not go to my Rom Com escapes to be confronted by political jibes and classist intellectual judgments. So when I encounter this on my “off” time I have a few rules: 1. If you’re going to make irreverent political or religious jokes BE FUNNY 2. It should seem inherent and integral to the character’s personality, or the situation, that the “loving” jibes and not so loving jabs get sprinkled throughout, bc this tends to constantly pull people out of the story if it doesn’t seem organic (it didn’t) 3. I am never one to tell people to “stay in their lane” bc everyone has a right to explore their thoughts feelings and philosophies on everything and introduce it into their art. It’s what makes art interesting and always new and surprising. But honestly I have a rule about stereotyping and parroting catchphrases and plot points that have been around since at least the 80s if not the 60s. Sadly she lifted the entire survivalist religious cult plot line from an early episode of Scarecrow & Mrs King — that’s how long this trope has been around. I wonder if she even realized that was lodged into her subconscious, probably not, even though she must have done a little “research” — enough to mock all those who enjoy the romantic spy or patriotic spy genres, and salt of the earth non urban types, very “of the moment” 2020 to mock, which really dates the book too. And so she really broke this parroting rule of mine a lot, in very hypocritical ways, which made the characters seem immature and almost unlovable (they actually reminded me of two of my least favorite people growing up but *only* in these instances) rather than very lovable relatable people going through something difficult. I felt as if I was reading two different books train-wrecking into each other. On the one hand, her expertise is making ppl who are going through trials lovable relatable and human, and so I’d see her doing this, but then on the other hand I’d watch in horror as she would unceremoniously snatch it away, possibly so you could feel the frustration of the characters…but what it mostly leaves you feeling is beyond frustrated…just…over it. I mean if I wanted to hear snarky catchphrases and depressing criticisms that everyone else uses I could spend my day reading YouTube comments. At least those are free.

Beach Read comes across as a fun summer read, but in reality it’s a raw story about grief, heartbreak, and falling back in love with yourself as much as it is a romance. Emily Henry has such a talent for weaving together humor and depth that each took my breath away. I had tears from laughter and sadness at each page and each took me off guard and kept me on my toes. January’s life taking a 180 and her whole world view being challenged set the tone for the story and the way it was tied up in the end broke my heart and put it back together all in one sitting. And then there was Gus. I fell so hard for him at every detail revealed just as January did. His character seemed at first to be a dark, mysterious type but his soft side came through in such a thoughtful way. Both characters give to each other what the other was missing and in turn they learn to begin to heal themselves in the process. Overall, Beach Read both tugs at the heartstrings and shares near-revolutionary and profound truths about grief and love.

The story seemed forced and the writing really immature. I love fluff but this was beyond!

It was so cute and perfect to read in summer

I love Emily Henry’s books and had read this one to complete all of them. I read so many negative reviews but in all honesty I don’t believe this book deserves that. It is a cute book and has great characters. The characters in this book seems to have so many challenges and it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows but it’s a good book. If you like Emily Henry, read it. It’s cute, happy, sad, up and down but you’ll enjoy it.

Never was able to finish the book as much as I love romance books. Follows the very typical next door neighbor trope and it got boring to me half way through :/

this book is very well written and easy to read, with believable, lovable characters:) it was these qualities, among others, that made Beach Read the first book i’ve finished for my own enjoyment in about a year. i laughed and smiled and even cried a little bit throughout this lovely summer read, and i highly recommended to anyone who needs a moment to feel understood🫶

….perfect beach read.

The best book I’ve read this year, it was amazing and left me speechless. LOVE.