Review: Beach Read by Emily Henry
“And that was the moment I realized: 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. I decided then that my life would be full of all three. ”
The Basics
Title: Beach Read
Author: Emily Henry
Published: 2020
Publisher: Jove — Penguin Random House
Pages: 358
Format: Paperback
Genres: Fiction — Books about books, Contemporary fiction, Romance, Contemporary romance
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Book Synopsis
Scarce on both time and money, romance author January Andrews relocates from New York City to the sleepy, lakeside town of North Bear Shores, Michigan. She hopes the serene setting will revitalize her creativity and dispel her writer’s block, allowing her to meet her impending book deadline. Wishful thinking. It turns out that living in the house your deceased father once shared with his mistress is not particularly revitalizing (even if it is rent-free), nor is running into said mistress on a semi-regular basis.
When all hope seems lost, January finds inspiration from an unlikely source: her college rival and literary fiction writer, Augustus Everett. It has been years since January has seen him, so imagine her surprise when she discovers that he is her next-door neighbor. And imagine her even greater surprise when he proposes a challenge: he will write a happily-ever-after romance and she will write a melancholic piece of literary fiction. Whoever finishes and sells their book first will win eternal bragging rights, in addition to the other’s public endorsement of their book. What neither bargains for is that their deal will have romantic implications.
My Review & Overall Thoughts
TLDR: A hilarious, heartfelt story that will leave you believing in the power of love and the existence of happily-ever-afters.
Beach Read is not a beach read. It might have a cutesy cover, an idyllic setting, and a romance-driven plot, but it is not a fluff read. It has depth and substance, and it packs one hell of an emotional punch. I am not much of a crier (ask anyone in my family), but this book brought me to tears, something which only a handful of books have been able to do. It also made me laugh and smile, and when I turned the final page, I had to resist the urge to flip back to the beginning and read it all over again. It deserves every bit of praise that it has received, for it is such a beautiful, heartfelt story.
The book’s driving force is the relationship between January and Gus. The two begin as rivals, but over the course of the story, their dynamic gradually shifts from antagonistic to amicable to something altogether more. There is tension, yearning, top-notch banter, and even a few steamy scenes, but there is also a deeper connection between them. They understand one another in a way that no one else has before, and each fully accepts and loves the other. Their love, in turn, is a healing balm for both of their hearts, reaffirming the existence of love and demonstrating their worthiness of it. It is a touching love story with a perfectly paced, slow-burn romance.
While their relationship might be the star of the show, equally as important is January’s relationship with herself. At the book’s onset, she is grieving the loss of her father and feeling quite lost. The discovery of her father’s infidelity has caused her to question her long-held belief in true love and forced her to reexamine past events, including once cherished memories, in a new light. In short, she has become jaded. As the book progresses though, she gains a healthier outlook on life and learns to accept its often messy and contradictory nature. She transforms into a new, more nuanced version of herself, and in doing so, she finds happiness.
January’s character arc makes her a compelling protagonist, as do her relatable struggles (who among us hasn’t questioned the direction of our life?) and quick-witted personality. She is a layered, lifelike character who imbues the story with both gravity and levity. Equally as complex and entertaining is Gus, who makes for a swoon-worthy love interest. Prickly on the outside but fuzzy on the inside, he is my favorite type of male lead: the one whose affection and trust are not freely given but once earned are unwavering.
Even the secondary characters are laudable. From Pete and Maggie, the can’t-make-a-latte-to-save-her-life barista and rock-loving geologist, to the pantless owner of the doughnut shop, all of the ancillary characters work together to breathe life into the quaint town of North Bear Shores. In fact, they do a bit too good of a job bringing the town to life, because upon finishing the book, I found myself wishing that it were a real place so that I could move to it. I mean, who wouldn’t want to live in a picturesque, lakeside town with cute shops and quirky townsfolk? It certainly makes for an ideal backdrop to January and Gus’ love story.
As for Henry’s writing, it is superb. The story is well-paced with events unfolding at a natural tempo, and the first-person narrative written from January’s point of view lends the tale an immersive feel, allowing us to experience everything through her eyes. This narrative style also grants us access to January’s thoughts, which provide insight into her character and permit a deeper understanding of her. January also makes for a humorous, highly entertaining narrator. If you’re anything like me, her pithy remarks will have you laughing on a nearly constant basis throughout the book.
I’d be remiss if I did not touch upon the ending, as that can often be what either makes or breaks a book. So as to not give anything away, I will simply state that I could not have asked for a better ending. It left me grinning ear to ear and cemented Beach Read’s status as one of my favorite romances.
The not so good
My least favorite romance trope is miscommunication. Whenever I encounter it in a book, I roll my eyes and inwardly shout “Just talk to one another!” It is exasperating when two adult characters let a simple misunderstanding fester into a major issue. So, imagine my disappointment when I came across it in Beach Read. At numerous points throughout the story, January experiences doubt concerning Gus, and rather than speak with him about her concerns, she elects to keep quiet and stew on her thoughts. Were this a young adult novel, I would expect such behavior from the protagonist, but this is an adult novel with a 29-year-old lead. Henry should have devised another, less cliché means of introducing conflict between January and Gus.
Overall
Beach Read lives up to the hype and then some. It is full of heart and wit, and it will have you smiling and blinking away tears in equal measure. If you are a romance reader, you owe it to yourself to pick up this book.
Have you read Beach Read? If so, let me know what you thought of it in the comments section below!
