Beach Read
Author: Emily Henry
Expected Publication Date: May 19, 2020
Check it Out: Goodreads
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. Really.
I was so excited to read this book! I’ve heard so many good things about it from other reviewers and was super excited because I adore Emily Henry’s writing. I hate to say that I don’t think this book was for me. From the synopsis and the cover, I thought I was getting something cute and light hearted, but I didn’t really get that. This talked about a lot of deep issues and was quite emotional.
Maybe because that wasn’t what I was the mood for. Maybe because I don’t usually read emotional reads. All I know is, I struggled through this one. Both of our characters are dealing with their own issues and a lot of the novel is based on that and their relationship. I’m really torn if this is romance or chick lit.
I have to say that I really liked our main character January! She was funny and so damn relatable. The way she saw the world was contagious and I couldn’t get enough of her personality.
“It had to be true that sometimes, heartbroken women found their happy endings, their rain-falling, music-swelling moments of pure happiness.”
Gus on the other hand? He was such a dry character to me. To be completely honest, I think January deserved better than him. He would hide so much himself and would only tell January how he felt about her when he realized she was pulling away. He had a wall up and quite a few issues. I felt like he should have sorted out his feelings on some things before trying to start a new relationship. Just sayin’.
All in all, I wasn’t crazy about this one. There are so many readers who have loved it so I would still recommend you pick it up it seems like something you would like!CW: child abuse; Child abandonment; infidelity
I received an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review. Quote was taken from an ARC and is subject to change upon publication.
I’m reading this now and I’m really enjoying it but I read many reviews saying that it wasn’t as light hearted as it looks. I’m a sucker for emotional reads and I think it’s “right book at the right time.”
I hope your next read is the light romcom you need!
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I hope you enjoy this one when you get to it. You will have to let me know!
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Maybe they should have rethought that title and cover? 🙂 Cause I was thinking light and fluffy to!
Thanks for the warning though. I think I’ll put this aside for when I’m in the mood for it now.
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I agree! Or they should at least stop adverstising as a romcom.
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The marketing for this book was HORRIBLE and exactly why I think illustrated covers aren’t great for a lot of books. I could at least readjust my expectations for it when I read it. Sorry it didn’t work out for you.
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I agree about the illustrated covers. I think they are adorable but should really but used for lighter books.
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I was disappointed. I hoped for something light-hearted too and if I’m honest I didn’t feel the banter or the chemistry between the couple. This one was one of those cases where the book just wasn’t the right book for me. I’ll move on to something else.
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I’m glad I’m not they only one feeling disappointed by this book. I hope your next book was better!
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I think we are the only ones – lol
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I do too lol! Everyone else I know loves it.
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Sorry this was pretty much a miss for you. I actually loved this one! I also found January extremely relatable and lovable.
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I’m glad you love it! Janurary was a really good character.
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I’m sorry this wasn’t a great read for you, it sounded so promising!
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Do you plan on picking this one up?
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Ahh, possibly at some point? But it’s dropped in priority after reading your review and a couple of others haha.
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Oh no!
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Yeah, but I am still planning on reading it at some point hehe!
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You will have to let me know what you think.
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Darn! i am going to be getting this in from the library soon. Why do blurbs of books have to be so different than the content inside.
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I hate it when they are different. It makes you expect something completely different.
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I’ve added it to my TBR list because I also thought it would be a light and fun read. Thanks for your honest review!
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Of course! Let me know if you give it a read.
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Oh jeez, we’ll see how I end up liking this book this summer! I have plans to get my read on in July with this boo. Also, we still need to discuss our buddy read!
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I know! I have been drowning in this slump and animal crossing lol
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Haha Animal Crossing is sooooo addictive! You need to come to my island! You should be able to get resources! The slump is bad. I feel like I’m failing the Asian Readathon right now.
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I will tonight! Does it let you know if I do?
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It let’s me know when you’re online!
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This is my current read and was expecting a light hearted romcom chick lit but it sounds like am going to be disappointed as I have read many reviews saying the story takes a darker turn. I have read 25% and already I am not liking the character of Gus he comes across as very full of himself not sure about January either I hope her character develops as the story progresses because at the moment her character feels very flat and has no spark.
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Did you end up finishing it? If so, how did you liking it?
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