Book Review
Title: Beach Read by Emily Henry
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5 Stars
I wasn’t expecting much from this book when I picked it up as I am not a fan of contemporary romance but the opening to this book was amazing. We are introduced to January, who recently lost her father to a stroke but also learnt he had a secret life with another woman and that her mother knew about it when she didn’t. This information breaks January a little but after the collapse of her relationship she finds herself homeless and has to stay in her father’s lake house, the one he shared with Sonya not her mother. January is a romance writer and is struggling to write her next book when she accidentally meets her neighbour who she refers to as the Grump, his actually name is Everett. The first night there they almost have an argument as he is having a party and January scares the shit out of him but he seems to sense she is going through something hard and complies with her request for the party to end.
As we approach the ¼ mark in the novel, we learn that January and Augustus Everett when to the same university and January saw them as rivals, however, they did have an almost fling at one point. When a local woman, Pete invites them both to her book club both are surprised as they both thought for a moment it was about their books but it definitely wasn’t. January does get a nasty shock when Sonya, her father’s mistress, also happens to be there but she makes a quick exit sensing that January wants nothing to do with her. Afterwards, a slightly drunk January and Gus end up grabbing donuts and coffee where they talk realising that both of them remember the other. They do touch on the reasons both of them are struggling right now but nothing in depth but the pair end up making a deal. They decide to swap genres of their books, January will lean into the depressive feelings she is going through and Gus is going to try and write a happy ever after. The first one to sell the book wins the bet and the other has to endorse their work whenever possible. They decide to leave the weeks for writing but on the weekends they will both educate each other on their respective genres and I can’t wait to see where this goes.
As we cross the ¼ mark in the novel, both January and Gus are working on their new books because of the bet but they are also becoming friends and learning more about each other. This romance is definitely a slow burn because even at this point they haven’t even kissed yet but January does have some vivid flashbacks to that night in college. As part of the bet they are educating each other and Gus goes first taking January to an interview with a woman whose sister was in a cult and eventually died because of it. Grace’s story really gets to January because she understand the pain and anguish you feel a losing someone you loved especially when it turns out you didn’t know them that well in the end. The next day it is January’s turn as she takes Gus to a carnival where she tries to show him how romance can spark anywhere and at any time which was so wholesome. I also have to commend Emily Henry on the banter between the pair as it is so natural, falling from tense, to funny to sad in mere moments really highlighting the ebb and flow of natural conversation and well as how often the topic of conversation can change.
As we approach the halfway mark in the novel, we do get the first kiss between these two which really highlights the compatibility of them as a couple but it isn’t everything you are expecting from the moment. While they do get lost in the moment like a pair of teenagers, Gus’ almost week long disappearance afterwards really hit home for January. This becomes even worse when Pete has to explain that she is Gus’ aunt and that he was actually married before. The night January moved into the beach house was the anniversary of the night Gus’ wife left him which also happened to be his birthday. January as, I notes that he has his mobius strip tattoo covered meaning it probably held some significance to him before. These revelations anger January since Gus didn’t tell her himself but they also make her realise that what she wants from Gus could be far more than he is willing to offer so she tries to put some distance between them.
As we cross into the second half of the novel, we continue to watch January and Gus figure each other out and it isn’t until the night they go line dancing that we finally see them figure out what the other wants from them. That night January is so angry about how she is feeling for Gus and him remaining closed off to her that she lashes out at him only for him to lash right back in a way we have never seen before. This unleashes a torrent of emotions from both of them but it also opens their eyes to the things they have been ignoring. January realises that Gus is afraid because no one in his entire life has chosen him before not his parents and not his wife. Meanwhile, Gus realises that January is just as broken as him so he can’t break her in the way he is scared he might. This night changes their dynamic and we see them becoming more comfortable around each other and opening up which eventually leads to the scene in the basement which literally had me trying not to squeal at almost two in the morning.
As we approach the ¾ mark in the novel, we finally get to see Gus and January become a couple and the joy that brings them but we are also witnessing them working through their individual problems and barriers to romance. These scenes felt heart breaking and completely real while also seeming almost fantastical in places like that sort of joy and happiness could never truly exist. So, when Naomi, Gus’ wife comes back into the picture things begin to spiral out of control in a way neither myself or the characters ever imagined. We know that Gus and Naomi haven’t officially divorced because she has been dragging her feet about signing the paperwork. Watching January begins to truly fall apart after everything she has already been through had me almost crying and I was praying that everything would work out ok in the end.
As we cross into the final section of the novel, I honestly sobbed at 3am because of this damn book and I don’t regret a single second of it. Seeing how everything came together in the end was beautiful and watching both January and Gus learn to accept what they have been through and find a way to move forward was amazing. I have to say I was convinced like January that was going to be the end of their story and this was going to end on an unhappy note but Gus once again saved the day but dancing in the rain with the woman he had come to love. I must also mention the epilogue and how they read each other’s books for the first time and while they haven’t changed that much they have find a new way of looking at the world. Gus manages to write his version of a happy ending while January writes a happy ending that is also realistic. What happens in the final pages was absolutely adorable and if you’ve read the book you know what I am talking about. Overall, Beach Read wasn’t just the second chance contemporary romance I thought it was but an in-depth look into grief, anxiety, guilt and learning to forgive yourself and move forward even though it hurts to do so. I now understand why everyone loves this book and I can’t wait to read more from an Emily Henry in the future starting with People We Meet on Vacation.
Buy it here:
Paperback/Hardcover: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
Kindle Edition: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
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