Easily my favorite book of the year so far. I just finished it and I already want to do a re-read to spend some more time with January and Gus. MY HEART. This book was equal parts swooney and grumbley while also being SO self-aware and I loved every little bit of it. Plus, the banter in this was *chef's kiss* PERFECTION.

I didn't know what to expect, I went to this one blind and I really enjoyed it!I was hooked immediately and I find the story intrigued. This is a love story between two very broken and complex characters.I liked the romance it was slow burn.

"Bad things don't dig down through your life until the pit's so deep that nothing good will ever be big enough to make you happy again. No matter how much shit, there will always be wildflowers."

Well developed characters and a story that touched me from the beginning!It has all the feelings, you will laugh , cry , be frustrated in a good way and feel overwhelming!This book was really good!I'll definitely check this authors other books!

Oh this stupid review isn’t going to do this book justice.

First of all...Hollis. You know I love you. Our conversations. Your reviews. Your recommendations. I only stumbled upon this book because of you - and, man, I am thankful for you in a million different ways.

Second, the cover and title are...wrong. I feel like someone once said “don’t judge a book by it’s cover” or something along those lines. And yeah. The title says fluff. The cover says fluff. And this is a actually a fluff-free zone.

Third, I have a thing for funny/sad books. Snarky. Poignant. Books that get that you hurt a little (or a lot), that we’ve all been through it, but fuck, we want to laugh sometimes or we’ll cry and just not stop.

January is a down on her luck optimist. And we go on this ride with her. What do you do when your default setting is “it’s all going to be all right” and you’re living in that moment when it isn’t going to be all right at all?

I laughed. I cried. I have the book hangover from hell. I’ve been giving out two and three star reviews like they’re raisins at Halloween. And now I feel seen. Heard. Appreciated.

This is my current contender for my Book of the Year. Emily Henry’s voice is fantastic, and I look forward to reading lots more of her.

*As always, a thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to offer my honest opinion.*

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This book was so much fun! I'm so excited to review it this summer. I heard people talking about it on social media and wanted to see what it was all about. My customers are going to LOVE this, too. I love books about "books" and about "authors." I also love books that are enemies to lovers, or, in this case, two people who got off on the wrong foot. Watching them encourage one another to write the opposite in order to get their juices going again was so much fun!

And I LOVED the epilogue to see the fruits of their labors, although, knowing what I do of the industry, it was a little unrealistic that she was holding her ARC and asking him to read it for the first time for a blurb because that has normally happened by then!

Still super cute and fun. I loved it!

"Bad things don't dig down through your life until the pit's so deep that nothing good will ever be big enough to make you happy again. No matter how much shit, there will always be wildflowers."

BEACH READ by Emily Henry was an extension of my hand for 12 hours reading it off and on, just waiting for the next opportunity to pick it back up. I finished it at 2:30 am and I had tired teary eyes, and a very full heart. Needless to say, it was incredible. The kind of book that plants itself into you and blooms.

Listen, here me out: Emily Henry writes with bits of glittery magic shooting out of her fingertips. I'm convinced!! This is how I picture her sitting at her computer, creating the most charming, captivating stories you can only dream of. How she can go from Young Adult fabulism (sidenote: A MILLION JUNES is one of my very favorites, as well) to Adult contemporary fiction and *still* manage to have this tangible magic between the characters is beyond me. She writes with such an understanding of the human spirit, and what breaks us down, and what keeps us going, that reading her books creates a cathartic experience. Also, she just understands what romancing is. Emily Henry just gets us.

I mean, how can one resist a book that is about a romance writer, January Andrews, who has stopped believing in love and a literary fiction writer named Augustus Everett having writer's block, and them challenging each other to write their books over the summer, from their beach houses where they currently reside parallel to one another. To go even further, January challenges Gus to write something happy for once, and Gus challenges January to write the next great literary masterpiece. She will take him on rom-com level dates for inspiration, and he will take her to interviews that may or may not involve death cults. Did I mention that the writers also have a *history* from way back in college in which they were nemeses?

Yes, I know, it is to die for.

At the story's heart is a tender, beautifully paced and developed and love story, but there are pieces of from each writer's past, and how they're trying to heal from them, that propel it to another level entirely. And don't be fooled by the bright cover, albeit adorable, this book is more serious in tone than a lot of other romances, which I felt was a nice change. BEACH READ is rich with character and relationship development, and wow, it made me cry it was so wonderfully done. All of it was fantastic. There is truly nothing I would want to be changed. I feel so honored to have read it early so I can shout about it from social media and my own rooftop (as I *am* quarantined).

This book is special, folks. The ongoing writing challenge fun to read as it forces the characters to see each other often, bantering all the while, and creates the kind of tension that makes you breathe a little heavier and heart beat a little faster, which is what every reader wants in a romance, to be completely honest. The chemistry is *chef's kiss.* They sizzle when they're together. And separately, January and Gus are full, complete, smart, and endearing characters. I loved them both.

I was enthralled from the first chapter and was left extremely fulfilled by the end. It is such a sweet, joyous, uplifting reading experience. This is one of the best books any person will read in 2020, guaranteed. Emily Henry, I bow down to you. 5 stars.

Beach Read deals with a lot of heavy issues for the two main characters. January is dealing with the aftermath of the death of her father and the exposure of his affair. Augustus has his own issues from his past that he has not grappled with. In this enemies-to-lovers romance the two characters, both authors suffering from writers block, come together to get over their issues both in writing and in life. What follows is an intense connection on a journey of self discovery.

A book you need to read in 2020! January's conflicted feelings about her father and her new relationship with Gus are brought to a head on Lake Michigan. This story was laugh out loud funny and extremely emotional all at once. I loved everything about it.

I loved this book so aggressively that I gave myself a headache. From the start, you are swept up into a story you never want to end. Each chapter is something special. January and Augustus are wonderful to watch unfold and dance around each other. The dialogue is entertaining, the writing is beautiful. I truly and honestly loved every second of this book and I'm sad it's over.

I cannot think of anything I didn't like. I think this is a favourite read of 2020 so far.

I have to say up front that I didn't find this a beach read, that is, a funny, fluffy romance.

I found it to be a writers' romance. The prose is gorgeous, thoughtful, sly, witty, insightful, as January goes to the house she was left by her recently deceased dad. This is the house where her dad, who she thought she knew, kept secrets. As she reluctantly prepares it for sale, room by room, she uncovers layers of emotional stuff that comes between her and happiness.

One of those layers is Gus, a literary writer who she crushed on once, until he crushed her heart. She writes romance, he scorns romance. They end up next door to each other . . . and in a bet that is mostly challenge, they dare each other to write what the other writes: she has to write a literary novel, and he a romance.

Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, but it is not bulletproof. I can't stand bickering, in particular when the characters stay in the same bitter emotional space for that bickering. I love banter, especially when it's witty, but even when it isn't, it needs to go somewhere for one or both characters, preferably both.

This author got that.

Add a lot of insight about writing, a host of delightful secondary characters, excellent female friendships, the whole adding up to a lot more than what I expect of a beach read!

Oh man. I have a feeling this book is going to confuse and mislead some readers because the vibe from the cover, and my understanding of the plot from the skimming I did of the summary when I requested it (#TeamMostlyBlurbFree), gives you a very different idea of what the whole of this experience is going to be. I'm not saying the book, or the marketing of said book, is a lie but that it's so much more than what you think it'll be. Also, like, I don't think this book is a book you would actually take to read on the beach. But the title is still very relevant to the story.

With that said, though, I totally loved this? Sure, I picked it up thinking it would be the fluffy frothy happy delight I needed after some not-remotely-those-things reads, plus, like, I needed a break from the dystopian nightmare world we're living in right now and instinctively reached for some brightness, but instead I got that <b>and</b> more.

"<i>You never told me what <b>you</b> write, Everett. I'm sure it's something really groundbreaking and important. Totally new and fresh. Like a story about a disillusioned white guy, wandering the world, misunderstood and coldly horny.</i>"
"<b>'Coldly horny'? As opposed to the very artfully handled sexual proclivities of your genre? Tell me, which do you find more fascinating to write : love-struck pirates or love-struck werewolves?</b>"

This is definitely filled with banter, as these two writers of very different subject matter duel with words and perspectives and challenge each other to swap genres. It's full of that delicious tension where amidst that challenge there's even a promise they won't fall in love with each other (a throwback reference to a popular romantic movie because this book has lots of references, but also, heyoooo). Equally (nay, more?) delicious were the makeout scenes leading up to fireworks because, uh, hi, hello. Have I been skimping on romance lately or is Henry just hella good at this because wowza.

But there was also an edge to this story, both in one of the subplots and in the characters. Each are dealing with things they've either carried with them throughout their lives or that have just sent them reeling and reevaluating so much of what they thought was true. There's loss, grief, betrayal, abandonment.. there's a lot to deal with. We also do have some bits of miscommunication between the leads but, delightfully (how many more times will I use this word, you might be wondering..), things are dealt with in a fairly timely manner. Like the summary says, these two are polar opposites. Gus is wrapped in layers, January wears everything on her skin, and while they fall into a headlong intense connection, full of that hot excited desperation to be around each other, it isn't without work to stay together. To understand.

<i>As different as I'd thought we were, it felt a little bit like Gus and I were two aliens who'd stumbled into each other on Earth only to discover we shared a native language.</i>

Beyond the romance, though, we also have an amazing female friendship. Which is made more amazing by the fact that the friend gets hardly any page time beyond some text communications and yet I still felt the love. Don't believe me? The first time I cried was during a scene where they are together on page. Friendships for the win.

Oh, yes, probably should've mentioned. I cried a few times. Or rather the same cry on and off near the end. You've been warned.

So, is this a book you might want to pack for the beach after release? And by beach I mean the towel you spread on your living room floor in front of your computer's screensaver showing some tropical location in the effort to remain socially distant? Maybe not. But if you love banter or an opposites attract situation; if you love books about books; if you like some emotional backstory and good realistic, complicated, backbones to your fiction, you'll love this. For me, this is like biting into a shortbread cookie and finding out the inside is stuffed with brownie. It was going to be good as it was, and instead it ended up even better, more substantial, and delightfully (!) delicious in an unexpected way.

Read this book.

This one took too long for me to get into. I liked the premise and the characters but the story dragged for me. They are both authors of different genres and they took each other on research outings so they could each see the other's process. I just felt like the outings took away from the two of them and went on too long. The male was interviewing people from a cult which sucked the romance out of the book for me. The last part was good when we just learned about the main characters and what was going on inside of them.

Well, I don't think I can talk to another human being for a while, because if I do, it's going to be solely about this book for the foreseeable future.

If someone ever asked me to describe the elements of a perfect romance novel for me, I'd just send them a copy of Beach Read. It's got it all: Snappy AF dialogue! An enemies-to-lovers storyline! Writers as main characters who I, for once, don't want to punch in the face! Enough steam to fog the windows but not enough for me to think I'm just reading straight fan fiction! A charming summer town! Loads of family angst! It's truly everything I could ever want in a romance book.

To compare this novel to anything (or frame it in a "you'll like this book if you liked X" sort of way), I'd say it reminds me of Evvie Drake Starts Over, one of only a few other romance novels I've given five stars to. They had very similar vibes—and that's probably why I couldn't get enough of both.

GOD, I LOVED THIS BOOK.

I read some reviews of this book before I read it, so I knew what I was getting into. This is not a light romcom. Though it did make me laugh many times. It definitely had humor I very much enjoyed. There is definitely a romance in this book, but we only get January's viewpoint and it is very much about her dealing with her father's death and his secrets, the break up with her fiance, and trying to write a book over the summer while she deals with writer's block all while falling for her neighbor. Maybe right on the line between romance and literature? Either way I really really enjoyed this book. In fact it's almost 3:30am. I had planned on not staying up late, but I started this book in the evening and just never stopped.

I really enjoyed this book. It took a term that tends to mean 'fluffy/not heavy' and turned it on its head. The challenges the main characters went through felt real and believable

Beach Read was exactly what I needed during this difficult time of self quarantine. It is sweet and romantic and a little bit sad. It had me reading way past my bedtime.

I loved January. She is bright and happy and smart and has just gotten some of the shine worn off of her as she comes to the beach house to write her next novel. A novel that she is very far behind on. That’s where she meets August, who is a little grumpy, a realist and maybe a little bit soft in the center. Apart, they are polar opposites but together…

January really had me. I like her humor and her outlook on life. She’s taken a hard hit, but I really enjoyed her POV and especially liked her inner monologue. Enter Augustus who she doesn’t know what to do with. He is the cynical writer and the quiet romantic all in one. I liked how their friendship blossomed into something more. It was natural and very easy to see how they could like the differences in each other.

The secondary plots are interesting and I was very intrigued about January’s father’s story. There’s a lot of cute flirting countered with some really heavy and sad moments and I liked how that book weighed itself so evenly. I seriously stayed up way too late reading it.

The only thing I wish I had more of was the best friend. January’s best friend does eventually come to visit, but I wish I had more outsiders from January and Augustus’s past, making them more complete when seen with others. (There are secondary characters but they’re mostly on August’s side and from the town)

Overall, this book was such a delightful surprise. I will be buying copies for all of my friends!

Nice sweet romance with good relationship build up. I found it to be a very enjoyable read for a nice light romance.

A romance writer literary fiction writer both have writer's block and decide to make a deal to swap genres for the summer. It's the set up for a great romance story... but in many ways this story is about more than the romance. It's about grief, childhood trauma, infidelity... and what do "happily ever afters" really look like in a broken world. I really appreciated the depth of emotion in both characters and their love story.

Beach Read was a sexy and serious look at turning all kinds of preconceptions in their heads: book genres; past romances; our flawed families; and love. I enjoyed this lively, funny, modern beach read.

**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.**

Title Beach Read

Author Emily Henry

Description from Amazon

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.

Release Date May 19, 2020

Initial Thoughts

I’m on a real contemporary kick these days. I’ve been alternating between fantasy and contemporary but I feel like after every contemporary book, I just want to read another. This is my third one this week. Also, my secret dream is to become a writer so a book about writers felt so right.

Some Things I Liked

Enemies to lovers. My favorite trope. I just loved it here. The tension between Gus and January was fantastic and they just had the best banter.
Speaking of banter, I really enjoyed the dialogue and references used by both main characters. I’d expect nothing less from authors as characters, but I really enjoyed it.
“Happy for now.” I actually really liked this sentiment. Happily ever afters are great – they’re basically why I like to read. But, happy for now, is something that I think people take for granted too often. I loved that this book focused on the present and the characters didn’t let worries for the future bog them down.
“The wo-orst”. Not sure if this was Emily Henry’s intention, but in my head, I heard that line as Jean-Ralphio from Parks and Rec and I laughed out loud.
27 Dresses vibes. I am not a big fan of Katherine Heigel, but I did like that movie. As soon as I read cynical Gus meets the queen of Happily Ever Afters, January, I knew that was where this book was going and I was all about that.

Series Value

This book feels like a true standalone. As much as I’d like to hear more about January and Gus, I feel like their story reached a nice conclusion. I’m very pleased with it and we really didn’t meet any other characters that would be worthy of a spin-off in my opinion.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. Both main characters grew and learned so much on their way to finding happiness and I loved their story. This book had everything I wanted in a good rom-com.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

Well Met by Jen DeLuca – if you like enemies to lovers and down-to-earth quirky characters, try this series by Jen DeLuca. The second book is coming out in September.
You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle – again, if you like the enemies to lovers vibes as well as characters moving to a new space to find themselves, try this April release.
The Move by Whitney Dineen – if you liked the “starting over in a new town” vibes that Well Met had, try this book by Whitney Dineen. There are three books so far in this series, but this book (the second), would be the closest to Well Met.

Absolutely adored this title! Will be recommending it to everyone looking for a romance this coming summer!