Genres
Publication
Berkley (2020), 384 pages
Description
Fiction. Literature. Romance. Humor (Fiction.) HTML:FROM THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION AND BOOK LOVERS! A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters. Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast. They�??re polar opposites. In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they're living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer's block. Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She�??ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he�??ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love… (more)
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User reviews
LibraryThing member etxgardener
Zero Stars! Another entry in my quest for a readable light summer book. This was the worst one yet. Sloppy writing, glaring editorial mistakes, and two so-called protagonists who were just not likeable. The search continues
LibraryThing member dwcofer
I read “Beach Read,” by Emily Henry based upon a recommendation from someone I trusted. Unfortunately, the book was disappointing.
The book was very slow to get into. I almost abandoned it about a fourth of the way in, but I continued since I had invested time into it already. It took me two
The characters were poorly developed. I felt I knew January somewhat, but I never felt like I had a clue as to who Gus was. His character flip-flopped several times with no consistency whatsoever. January was such a wuss, always running away from any uncomfortable situation, never standing strong.
My greatest issue with the book was it was highly predictable. After just a few chapters I knew exactly what was going to happen. Once Gus and January met, I instantly knew they would renew their college rivalry, be mad at each other for a while, start to like each other, fall in love, and get married. The plot was too predictable to enjoy the book. Beach Read is the stereotypical romance trope. The book also contained too many coincidental occurrences. January just happens to move into a house next door to her college nemesis. He just happens to show up at the same book club.
So boring. Skip this one and save your money and time.
The book was very slow to get into. I almost abandoned it about a fourth of the way in, but I continued since I had invested time into it already. It took me two
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weeks to trudge through the book, and that is a long time since I usually finish a book in a few days.The characters were poorly developed. I felt I knew January somewhat, but I never felt like I had a clue as to who Gus was. His character flip-flopped several times with no consistency whatsoever. January was such a wuss, always running away from any uncomfortable situation, never standing strong.
My greatest issue with the book was it was highly predictable. After just a few chapters I knew exactly what was going to happen. Once Gus and January met, I instantly knew they would renew their college rivalry, be mad at each other for a while, start to like each other, fall in love, and get married. The plot was too predictable to enjoy the book. Beach Read is the stereotypical romance trope. The book also contained too many coincidental occurrences. January just happens to move into a house next door to her college nemesis. He just happens to show up at the same book club.
So boring. Skip this one and save your money and time.
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LibraryThing member Okies
I usually give any book I finish at least 3, but this was disappointing - January is so stressed and worried and hyper anxious and ... it was a heavy read. We never got into the head of Gus, though he seemed pretty interesting. One of those books where you keep hoping it gets better - the worst
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kind because ultimately what you are left with is the feeling of wasted time. Show Less
LibraryThing member SimplyKelina
I just do not get it! I was super excited for this one as some of my favorites had this as a top read of the year. I was expecting to really love it, but it just did not work for me.
When this started with information around January and her family issues, I thought I was going to love this. Then
I had issues with pacing. I found myself bored and uninterested in some of the smaller details. I guess I just did not connect with the characters or the storyline. Overall, this one was pretty disappointing
When this started with information around January and her family issues, I thought I was going to love this. Then
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everything took a turn and I found myself losing interest in the story. I actually put this down as I was just not enjoying it at all. I picked it back up hoping that my feelings would change. They did not.I had issues with pacing. I found myself bored and uninterested in some of the smaller details. I guess I just did not connect with the characters or the storyline. Overall, this one was pretty disappointing
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LibraryThing member sdbookhound
The cover of this book makes you think at first glance that it is going to be a light and fluffy rom com type read. Beach Read was SO much more than that. I loved this book. It was romantic, it was painful at times, it was so much. All I can say is go ahead - read it!
LibraryThing member ecataldi
I am head over heels for this book! This fluffy chick-lit book is exactly what I needed in my life. I laughed, I got emotional, I was totally invested. A romance author and a serious "literary" author find themselves in neighboring lake houses. They have a past. They can't stand each other. Or can
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they? They challenge each other to write a book that reads like something the other person would write. Witty and wonderful. I don't even want to give a detailed summary. Just read it. You'll be falling in love with the characters, their story, and their growing attraction. This is one I will recommend to everyone! Show Less
LibraryThing member WhiskeyintheJar
4.5 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
January has lived her life with an open heart and rose colored glasses. Her mother's scares with cancer taught her to hide her fears while the way her
From now on, it was the ugly truth or nothing.
Beach Read is a standalone contemporary that melded women's fiction and romance together perfectly. Told entirely from January's point of view, the reader is brought into her life as it's falling apart. January had a good childhood but not a perfect one, her mother had two cancer scares but the way her father showed his love for the family and constantly romanced her mother, taught January that love and happiness makes everything better. A little later in the story we learn that January's parents did have a couple month separation and it becomes apparent that while January knew there were cracks in her ideal world, she glossed them over. I liked how the author flushed out this trait of January's, not simply having her be a head in the clouds happy but having this aspect of January's develop in part to being a child who had a parent with cancer and emotionally deciding to keep in complicated feelings because you want every moment with them to be “happy”.
I wanted to know whether you could ever fully know someone. If knowing how they were—how they moved and spoke and the faces they made and the things they tried not to look at—amounted to knowing them. Or if knowing things about them—where they’d been born, all the people they’d been, who they’d loved, the worlds they’d come from—added up to anything.
The core of the story is January coming to terms with the fact that her father cheated on her mother and had a mistress, which she doesn't find out until after her father has died. The swirling emotions of January are felt, the anger, the disillusionment, and the pain. Her mother knew about the mistress but doesn't want to speak to January about it and while I liked this no easy, messy, tangle of emotions from two characters, I wish we could have gotten more from and between January's mom and her. This seemed like such an important relationship for January and it wasn't worked out enough for me. I did like how Sonya, the woman January's father had been involved with, became a fully fleshed out character and their relationship wasn't black and white.
The worst part of being college rivals with Gus Everett? Probably the fact that I wasn’t sure he knew we were. He was three years older, a high school dropout who’d gotten his GED after spending a few years working as a literal gravedigger.
I'm typically am not a fan of only one pov in a romance but it worked for me here, possibly because of the women's fiction aspect and probably because the author was able to convey Gus (Augustus) as solid, well rounded out character who's emotions I could grasp on page. From the moment January is angry at her next door neighbor grump to when Gus tells her “I lied,” he whispered against my ear. “I have read your books.”, these two sparked and burned. Their past relationship in college and how they misread each other's thoughts and feelings was a perfect bridge to January learning to look into the shadows and Gus discovering that he can bring light to the dark. I enjoyed their wit and snark that had such an ease to it; they weren't “on” for each other, it was just their chemistry. I did think at times their cutesy knee bumping while sitting felt a bit juvenile but overall I liked their friendship and that had me believing in their love.
“I don’t need you to be Fabio,” I said, voice thick with emotion, like it wasn’t the single stupidest sentence I’d uttered in my life.
This had me chuckling and my eyes misting, the emotion is felt but with more of tingle and lightness, rather than diving into the trenches with it. As I mentioned, I wish we could have gotten more in regards to January and her mother's relationship and felt the same way with January and her bestfriend Shadi, who ended up feeling more like a guest star than integrated into the story. However, the relationship between January and Gus amused and attracted as they waded through their own issues and each others. If looking for a great blend of women's fiction and romance, Beach Read would be a perfect pick.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
January has lived her life with an open heart and rose colored glasses. Her mother's scares with cancer taught her to hide her fears while the way her
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parent's loving and romantic relationship taught her that outpouring happiness and love made life glow. When her father dies and a big secret is revealed, she can't manage to see only the glow in life. Her boyfriend dumps her and with her writing career in danger, January takes off to Michigan to come to terms with who she thought her father was and try to get her life back on track. When her next door neighbor turns out to be college rival and crush Augustus Everett, she winds up getting in a pseudo competition about who can write the best book in the other's genre. January's trying to come to terms with the past and she might just build a future while doing it.From now on, it was the ugly truth or nothing.
Beach Read is a standalone contemporary that melded women's fiction and romance together perfectly. Told entirely from January's point of view, the reader is brought into her life as it's falling apart. January had a good childhood but not a perfect one, her mother had two cancer scares but the way her father showed his love for the family and constantly romanced her mother, taught January that love and happiness makes everything better. A little later in the story we learn that January's parents did have a couple month separation and it becomes apparent that while January knew there were cracks in her ideal world, she glossed them over. I liked how the author flushed out this trait of January's, not simply having her be a head in the clouds happy but having this aspect of January's develop in part to being a child who had a parent with cancer and emotionally deciding to keep in complicated feelings because you want every moment with them to be “happy”.
I wanted to know whether you could ever fully know someone. If knowing how they were—how they moved and spoke and the faces they made and the things they tried not to look at—amounted to knowing them. Or if knowing things about them—where they’d been born, all the people they’d been, who they’d loved, the worlds they’d come from—added up to anything.
The core of the story is January coming to terms with the fact that her father cheated on her mother and had a mistress, which she doesn't find out until after her father has died. The swirling emotions of January are felt, the anger, the disillusionment, and the pain. Her mother knew about the mistress but doesn't want to speak to January about it and while I liked this no easy, messy, tangle of emotions from two characters, I wish we could have gotten more from and between January's mom and her. This seemed like such an important relationship for January and it wasn't worked out enough for me. I did like how Sonya, the woman January's father had been involved with, became a fully fleshed out character and their relationship wasn't black and white.
The worst part of being college rivals with Gus Everett? Probably the fact that I wasn’t sure he knew we were. He was three years older, a high school dropout who’d gotten his GED after spending a few years working as a literal gravedigger.
I'm typically am not a fan of only one pov in a romance but it worked for me here, possibly because of the women's fiction aspect and probably because the author was able to convey Gus (Augustus) as solid, well rounded out character who's emotions I could grasp on page. From the moment January is angry at her next door neighbor grump to when Gus tells her “I lied,” he whispered against my ear. “I have read your books.”, these two sparked and burned. Their past relationship in college and how they misread each other's thoughts and feelings was a perfect bridge to January learning to look into the shadows and Gus discovering that he can bring light to the dark. I enjoyed their wit and snark that had such an ease to it; they weren't “on” for each other, it was just their chemistry. I did think at times their cutesy knee bumping while sitting felt a bit juvenile but overall I liked their friendship and that had me believing in their love.
“I don’t need you to be Fabio,” I said, voice thick with emotion, like it wasn’t the single stupidest sentence I’d uttered in my life.
This had me chuckling and my eyes misting, the emotion is felt but with more of tingle and lightness, rather than diving into the trenches with it. As I mentioned, I wish we could have gotten more in regards to January and her mother's relationship and felt the same way with January and her bestfriend Shadi, who ended up feeling more like a guest star than integrated into the story. However, the relationship between January and Gus amused and attracted as they waded through their own issues and each others. If looking for a great blend of women's fiction and romance, Beach Read would be a perfect pick.
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LibraryThing member LisCarey
January Andrews and Gus Everett met in college, and clashed rather than connected. They were both aspiring writers, but with very different styles and goals.
Some years later, January is a successful "happily ever after" romance writer, with three books to her credit, and Gus is a serious literary
Also, January's father has died, and his lover shows up for the funeral, and gives January a letter from her father, and a key. It turns out that January's mother knew about the lover, Sonya, and Does Not Want To Talk About Any Of It. January is devastated, and for now, can't see past the wreckage of her illusions of her parents' happy marriage to write her next book, which is under contract and has a due date.
The key Sonya gave her is to a beach house on Lake Michigan, that her father has left to her. She heads there, planning to work on her book while also working on selling first the contents of the house, and then selling the house. When she arrives, she soon finds that her next door neighbor is now Gus Everett.
Once again, they do not hit it off.
Slowly, we realize that Gus has his own case of writer's block, and much more slowly, we find out what emotional trauma is behind that for him.
In a small town, and with the coffee shop and the bookstore in town both owned by Gus's friendly, outgoing aunt, not to mention living next door, they can't avoid each other. And despite making rude cracks about each other's writing choices, they make a deal to tackle their writer's block.
January will write a serious, dark novel with an unhappy ending.
Gus will write a funny, happy-ending romcom.
On Fridays, Gus will lead January through the process of researching his characteristic kind of novel.. On Saturdays, January will lead Gus through researching a romcom.
We get to know very well-developed, likable characters. Henry does a nice job of building these characters through the gradual revelation of their past experiences, and growing acquaintance with the people who matter to them. It's enjoyable and funny and serious, and well worth some of your time.
Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
Some years later, January is a successful "happily ever after" romance writer, with three books to her credit, and Gus is a serious literary
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writer with two successful and well-received books.Also, January's father has died, and his lover shows up for the funeral, and gives January a letter from her father, and a key. It turns out that January's mother knew about the lover, Sonya, and Does Not Want To Talk About Any Of It. January is devastated, and for now, can't see past the wreckage of her illusions of her parents' happy marriage to write her next book, which is under contract and has a due date.
The key Sonya gave her is to a beach house on Lake Michigan, that her father has left to her. She heads there, planning to work on her book while also working on selling first the contents of the house, and then selling the house. When she arrives, she soon finds that her next door neighbor is now Gus Everett.
Once again, they do not hit it off.
Slowly, we realize that Gus has his own case of writer's block, and much more slowly, we find out what emotional trauma is behind that for him.
In a small town, and with the coffee shop and the bookstore in town both owned by Gus's friendly, outgoing aunt, not to mention living next door, they can't avoid each other. And despite making rude cracks about each other's writing choices, they make a deal to tackle their writer's block.
January will write a serious, dark novel with an unhappy ending.
Gus will write a funny, happy-ending romcom.
On Fridays, Gus will lead January through the process of researching his characteristic kind of novel.. On Saturdays, January will lead Gus through researching a romcom.
We get to know very well-developed, likable characters. Henry does a nice job of building these characters through the gradual revelation of their past experiences, and growing acquaintance with the people who matter to them. It's enjoyable and funny and serious, and well worth some of your time.
Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
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LibraryThing member Iudita
Perhaps it's not fair for me to be too critical of this book as I am not the reader it was written for. I picked it up because I loved the idea of a budding romance between two authors, one who is a literary author and the other who writes romances. That story line didn't let me down, it was fun
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and so was the adorable banter between the couple. I ran across a big problem with the female protagonist and her continuous insecurities. She misread everything he said or did and they had a string of misunderstandings where she always concluded that he couldn't possible be that into her. It got a bit hard to take. I think if you normally read and enjoy contemporary romance, you would probably really enjoy this book. It was charming in many ways. Show Less
LibraryThing member brangwinn
It’s a romantic woman’s fiction book. Romance is at the center of it as a romance author flees to a small town on Lake Michigan to finish her novel. There she encounters another author. He’s male. He’s going be writing a romance and she’s going to be writing a pessimistic Great American
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novel. Their “research outings” sound a lot like dates and they are. Its an enjoyable summer book to read and has a little more depth than I was expecting. Show Less
LibraryThing member Nancyjcbs
I loved this book! It's been a while since I felt the NEED to return to my book between reading sessions. I expected a beach read/sweet romantic book but what I got was something more.
January's father has recently died and at his funeral she learned he had a huge secret. Her attempt to reckon with
January has no shame about writing happy-ever-after novels and I have no shame about enjoying them!
January's father has recently died and at his funeral she learned he had a huge secret. Her attempt to reckon with
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this caused a break in her long-term relationship, break in her relationship with her mother, writer's block, and a financial crisis. So she sequesters herself in a second home her father left her intent on getting some writing done. Living nearby is Gus, another writer and her nemesis from college. This coincidence appeared to be pretty predictable but the journey they take is far from expected.January has no shame about writing happy-ever-after novels and I have no shame about enjoying them!
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LibraryThing member baystateRA
A fun rom-com with two rival writers -- both on deadline -- in neighboring beach houses. Strikes serious notes here and there, including commentary on the publishing business, lending depth to this perfect bookish summer read.
LibraryThing member Maydacat
Don’t let the title fool you - this is not a typical beach read. If beach reads were a five-course meal, this book is definitely the entree, not the dessert. Writers January and Augustus are suffering from writer’s block, and through an unusual set of circumstances, find themselves in
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neighboring beachfront houses. They had met in college, a fact that leads one to try to avoid the other, a hope soon to be dashed. With a tentative truce settling in, she, a writer of rom-coms and he, an author of novels that take on the darker side of life, make a deal. To get out of their writing ruts, they switch genres to see who can write a new novel first. And working against deadlines, they devote two nights a week to each other, for research purposes, by offering assistance with the genre that is their forte. Thus the stage is set. There is some typical romance, but what sets this book on a higher shelf is the character growth. Both protagonists have suffered some life-changing traumas in their lives, and must learn to accept the disappointments and go on. These flawed characters endear themselves to readers not despite their flaws but because of them. Show Less
LibraryThing member susan0316
A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.
This is a perfect book to tuck into your beach bag and take to the beach or the pool. It's a romance with two
January is a romance writer in a writing slump. She has been betrayed by her father and (she feels) ignored by her mother. Her father left her a beach house on Lake Michigan so she is convinced she can write her next book - which is due very soon - while she has the peace and quiet. Augustus in a popular novelist of literary fiction. He too is in a writing slump and trying to get his next book written. He lives in the beach cottage next to January. At first they make fun of the genres that the other writes. Augustus doesn't feel that books with a happy ending are very realistic because life doesn't always have happy endings. January feels like literary fiction is usually bleak and unhappy. They make a deal -- during the summer, January will write a book of literary fiction and Augustus will write a romance. To help them along, every Friday Gus will take her to do research to write literary fiction and every Saturday, she will take him to do something that could show up in a romance novel. When they start to spend more time together, their feelings for each other begin to change but there's still a lot of baggage that needs to be settled before they can have a relationship.
Beach Read is more than just a light fluffy romance. I enjoyed both of the main characters and what they went through after they switched genres. I enjoyed their relationship with each other - they were both very witty and parts of the book were very funny. But each had a very serious side and both definitely wanted to write a great book. Grab this book and go out in the sun to read it.
This is a perfect book to tuck into your beach bag and take to the beach or the pool. It's a romance with two
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very endearing characters who struggle not to fall in love even as they are falling in love. At first, they think they are enemies but the more time they spend together, the more it's just the opposite.January is a romance writer in a writing slump. She has been betrayed by her father and (she feels) ignored by her mother. Her father left her a beach house on Lake Michigan so she is convinced she can write her next book - which is due very soon - while she has the peace and quiet. Augustus in a popular novelist of literary fiction. He too is in a writing slump and trying to get his next book written. He lives in the beach cottage next to January. At first they make fun of the genres that the other writes. Augustus doesn't feel that books with a happy ending are very realistic because life doesn't always have happy endings. January feels like literary fiction is usually bleak and unhappy. They make a deal -- during the summer, January will write a book of literary fiction and Augustus will write a romance. To help them along, every Friday Gus will take her to do research to write literary fiction and every Saturday, she will take him to do something that could show up in a romance novel. When they start to spend more time together, their feelings for each other begin to change but there's still a lot of baggage that needs to be settled before they can have a relationship.
Beach Read is more than just a light fluffy romance. I enjoyed both of the main characters and what they went through after they switched genres. I enjoyed their relationship with each other - they were both very witty and parts of the book were very funny. But each had a very serious side and both definitely wanted to write a great book. Grab this book and go out in the sun to read it.
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LibraryThing member jpeterman
So, I was misled! I went in expecting a nice, fluffy, well... beach read! I am the furthest thing from disappointed though! I thought this was wonderful. It definitely has some intense emotional depth to it. The sort of side jaunt to the story, the story, rather stories, within the story, was
The writing itself was on par. It was engaging, and kept me glued through the entire story. Not one moment was I bored. I'm looking forward to reading more of her work - she's a new-to-me author.
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heartbreaking. Apparently, I like that in a book. I'm so glad I read this.The writing itself was on par. It was engaging, and kept me glued through the entire story. Not one moment was I bored. I'm looking forward to reading more of her work - she's a new-to-me author.
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LibraryThing member VioletBramble
I picked this book to read during a reading slump. It looked light and maybe fun. I didn't realize it was a romance until later. I rarely read from the Romance category. But this story is about two writers and a writing contest so I figured I'd give it a go. Gus is a writer of literary fiction.
I gave it 3 stars for the writing contest portions of the story.
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January writes women's fiction. They were in the same writing program at college. After many years and relationship troubles for both of them, they find themselves living next door to each other in a lake front community. Both of them are behind on books owed to their publisher. They challenge each other to write a book in the other's writing category. They help each other out by giving lessons on romance and research. This part was interesting. But then, of course, a romance blossoms between the two. Now, neither of these characters seem like very nice people. But January in romance-mode is whiny and annoying. Plus, when any little thing happens where Gus's attention is not on her, she becomes despondent and overly dramatic. Also, I thought the sex scenes were very vanilla and over written. I gave it 3 stars for the writing contest portions of the story.
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LibraryThing member m.belljackson
"Sex dungeon" is a really gruesome image, better suited to a horror novel.
While the plot moves forward and sometimes engagingly enough to read to the end,
notably after the fun twist to trade author genres,
there are too many silly stretches which make it tedious and boring as readers wait for
Not reading her father's letter for a year?
Devoted? (selfish, self-indulgent) Dad with 2nd Family while mother is dying and she still professes the same love for him?
Wine in her purse = huh?
Wore a "dirty t-shirt = c'mon
Reliance on alcohol makes it almost a character, with so much puking and drinking, non?
Way overly predictable drive-in setting...
Always so hyper-worried with near-zero self confidence...
then a sudden unexplained turnaround...
It's never explained why Augustus should reveal his life story just because January blabbed out hers.
Sure wish he had stood his ground to the end.
"Writing cave" is a really nice line!
While the plot moves forward and sometimes engagingly enough to read to the end,
notably after the fun twist to trade author genres,
there are too many silly stretches which make it tedious and boring as readers wait for
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resolution.Not reading her father's letter for a year?
Devoted? (selfish, self-indulgent) Dad with 2nd Family while mother is dying and she still professes the same love for him?
Wine in her purse = huh?
Wore a "dirty t-shirt = c'mon
Reliance on alcohol makes it almost a character, with so much puking and drinking, non?
Way overly predictable drive-in setting...
Always so hyper-worried with near-zero self confidence...
then a sudden unexplained turnaround...
It's never explained why Augustus should reveal his life story just because January blabbed out hers.
Sure wish he had stood his ground to the end.
"Writing cave" is a really nice line!
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LibraryThing member miss.mesmerized
After her father’s death and the revelation that apart from her mother, there was another woman he obviously loved, January falls into a deep hole. Hopelessly romantic as she is, she does not understand the world anymore and has to realise that her parents’ perfect marriage was far from the
Emily Henry’s novel not only has the perfect title but it also keeps the promise that comes with it: it is a beach read just as you’d imagine: A bit of romance here, also some struggle but none too depressing there, all wonderfully narrated so that you just rush through it while enjoying the sun. It is a light-hearted escape to forget about the world and your own problems for a couple of hours and to only indulge in reading.
Even though I am not that much into com-coms, I enjoyed the book thoroughly. At times, I had to laugh out loud as the author really manages to find a carefree and relaxed tone; when in other novels you again and again read about barking dogs, in “Beach Read” you get this here: “Somewhere, a Labrador was farting. “
Even though a typical summer read which does not weigh too much on your shoulders, there are some more serious aspects one could ponder on, but clearly, the romantic fight between the protagonists is in the centre and it is clearly meant to be enjoyed.
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ideal she had always pictured it. Her mental state also keeps her from doing her job: writing romantic novels. How can you write about love when you lost all believe in it? Totally broke and to overcome her writer’s block, she moves to her father’s beach house which she plans to clear out and sell and where she hopes over summer to finish her next novel. When she arrives, another surprise is waiting for her: her neighbour Augustus Everett was at college with her and her greatest enemy. He always looked down on her Happily Ever After novels while he himself was more of the serious literary writing type. Soon, they realise that they have much more in common than they had thought and somehow they come to have a bet: swap genres and see who is the first to sell a book.Emily Henry’s novel not only has the perfect title but it also keeps the promise that comes with it: it is a beach read just as you’d imagine: A bit of romance here, also some struggle but none too depressing there, all wonderfully narrated so that you just rush through it while enjoying the sun. It is a light-hearted escape to forget about the world and your own problems for a couple of hours and to only indulge in reading.
Even though I am not that much into com-coms, I enjoyed the book thoroughly. At times, I had to laugh out loud as the author really manages to find a carefree and relaxed tone; when in other novels you again and again read about barking dogs, in “Beach Read” you get this here: “Somewhere, a Labrador was farting. “
Even though a typical summer read which does not weigh too much on your shoulders, there are some more serious aspects one could ponder on, but clearly, the romantic fight between the protagonists is in the centre and it is clearly meant to be enjoyed.
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LibraryThing member bookworm12
Where else would I read this one? Fun, snarky, and a little bit darker than you might expect. Two authors, one writing dark literary prose and the other romances with happy endings, are unexpected neighbors and make a bet to try their hand at the other’s genre. Steamier than I expected, but
“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 punch holes in your fear.”
“That was what I’d always loved about reading, what had driven me to write in the first place. That feeling that a new world was being spun like a spiderweb around you and you couldn’t move until the whole thing had revealed itself to you.”
“I know feeling small gets to some people, he had once told me, but I kind of like it. Takes the pressure off when you’re just one of six billion at any given moment. And when you’re going through something hard, it is nice to know you’re not even close to the only one.”
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definitely entertaining. During the incredibly stressful past year of quarantine life I discovered light happy ending books for the first time. I love the main character’s reasoning that those books are essential in times of darkness. I felt that way last year and certainly identified with that belief. Sometimes you just need to escape into something that you know will resolve itself happily. “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 punch holes in your fear.”
“That was what I’d always loved about reading, what had driven me to write in the first place. That feeling that a new world was being spun like a spiderweb around you and you couldn’t move until the whole thing had revealed itself to you.”
“I know feeling small gets to some people, he had once told me, but I kind of like it. Takes the pressure off when you’re just one of six billion at any given moment. And when you’re going through something hard, it is nice to know you’re not even close to the only one.”
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LibraryThing member DonnaMarieMerritt
This romance vs. reality (?) book is cute and funny with catchy dialogue. While it's a perfect "beach read," it also tackles some heavier issues such as childhood trauma, infidelity, and the injustice of unhappy endings—without dragging down the story. And because it's about writer's block, too,
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it's another way for writers experiencing the same frustration to distract themselves and call it research (which I may or may not have done while sitting on the sandy bay side of North Truro). Show Less
LibraryThing member Narshkite
Perfect.
I live in Queens (as did January) but I grew up in Michigan. Like January, though I love New York heart and soul, my place of tranquility is on the shores of Lake Michigan. I grew up spending time in the sumner on those shores, and there is something about the ranges of blue in the sky and
I live in Queens (as did January) but I grew up in Michigan. Like January, though I love New York heart and soul, my place of tranquility is on the shores of Lake Michigan. I grew up spending time in the sumner on those shores, and there is something about the ranges of blue in the sky and
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the water, (shades of blue I have never seen anywhere else), the super saturated green of the foliage, and the light caress of lake winds that make it unlike anywhere else on earth. If my ideal setting were not enough, we have a sexy, cautious, witty and sensitive love interest in Gus and a smart, vulnerable, funny and loyal woman in January. This is a woman who, like me, finds comfort in Veronica Mars binges, texting with her best friends, and reading romance. She went to Michigan instead of Michigan State, but there are still snotty asides about Ohio State so I can overlook that. I don't know what to say about the story, other than it is sweet and flirty and languid and funny. I speak as someone equally but differently in love with the stories of Jonathan Franzen and Sarah MacLean when I say this is just wonderful. An ideal pandemic time book. I listened to this read by my favorite reader, Jill Whelan, and she is as flawless as ever. Show Less
LibraryThing member sparemethecensor
DNF. This was a pick for my book club. Some of the other women liked it, but I found it disappointing. Hackneyed, too long, trying to turn cliches on their head with...more cliches? Sigh. It's pretty much exactly what the cover promises, and it's not the genre-transcender some people are claiming.
LibraryThing member shazjhb
I think the book could have done with some editing. Needed to be shorter and tighter.
LibraryThing member N.W.Moors
Romance writer January Andrews is hiding out in the lake house her father bought for his mistress and left to her in his will, mostly because she has nowhere else to go. Her summer goes from bad to worse when she finds out her neighbor is Gus Everett, her nemesis from college and writer of serious
This is a slow-burn romance (which I appreciated) and also a bit of a women lit book. I like the characterizations; January and Gus are fun together, and the secondary characters varied and interesting. It's a good beach read or sit by the fire read and a fine first effort.
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fiction. Both of them are damaged, but find that together they make a pretty good pairing. This is a slow-burn romance (which I appreciated) and also a bit of a women lit book. I like the characterizations; January and Gus are fun together, and the secondary characters varied and interesting. It's a good beach read or sit by the fire read and a fine first effort.
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LibraryThing member out-and-about
I'm not rating this because it was just not a book I should have read. The writing was good, the plotting was fine, the characters were developed just fine. I don't enjoy romances. I've tried several but keep being disappointed. In this book, I really enjoyed the development of their friendship and
I admit it. I should never read another romance novel.
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the plot lines about the book writing. But when I see people in fiction struggle, I want it to be a REAL struggle. The female "heroine" suffered from a fabulous childhood with a great education and two parents that loved her more than life itself. Her father wasn't perfect though. The male lead had a bad childhood but that was only given a few lines and the rest of the time he was just moody and aloof. The whole thing felt very "teenaged angsty" for me. I admit it. I should never read another romance novel.
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ISBN
1984806734 / 9781984806734