Great book. Heart felt. Sad and a happy ending!!! Enjoyed reading it. Loved the banter between the two main characters.

This book swept me off my feet and the chemistry between January and Gus was so palpable and tangible. You feel like you're falling in love too! I really loved it, however, I started to feel a bit frustrated by some of the drama and character elements towards the end. And it's because I loved this book so much that I feel the need to vent about the areas of the novel of which I take umbrage.

*SPOILERS*

First of all, January's intense anger about her father's infidelity was at times a bit much. You'd think SHE was her father's wife and she was the one who got cheated on. I guess that was the point, but the way she was insulting Sonya (his father's mistress) while she was standing on her front porch crying and trying to explain herself felt a little cruel. I saw that January could see herself in Sonya but she still couldn't treat her like a "full person," which made me feel annoyed with her.

Also, January is a pretty privileged character, and that at times made it hard to empathize, especially toward the end. Based on the way Gus describes her as this tiny, beautiful, fairy princess reveals that January is massively attractive. She also inherited a beautiful beach house from her dad upon his death. She's financially broke because she hasn't been writing, but you can really feel her privilege at times. Sometimes I wanted to shake her and be like "Girl, it's NOT that bad. You have a beach house. You write novels for a living. You're an attractive white girl. Relax."

NOW, onto Gus. As fun and as real as this character felt, I found him kind of infuriating in the end, especially during that rainy dance where he confesses that he wants to be with January forever. He and January had a book event together a few nights before and his wife Naomi who left him for his best friend on his BIRTHDAY shows up. They're still in the middle of a divorce, even though she left him a few years ago. This woman clearly never cared about him, and yet, when she shows up, he totally ignored January and grabs a drink with her. He doesn't even try to contact January until the next morning! And it takes him like two days before he starts pounding on her door, begging to talk to her. I'm sorry, but if I was January, I would have been SO PISSED. Gus literally just walked away from January during their shared book event and has a drink with his ex wife. After he had time "to think" he realized that he wants to be with January forever, not Naomi. Why didn't he know this before? Why didn't he care show concern about how January felt during all this? January was literally heartbroken! And of course, when he FINALLY shows up again, she takes him back instantly. This just really left me feeling like Gus is kind of selfish and weak and it just ruined all of my positive feelings toward him. Obviously, this was done purposefully to create romantic tension, but it left me feeling triggered more than anything.

Fun, light hearted, summer read.

This is a book about facing reality and surviving. More specifically, what if someone you looked up to, someone you loved deeply and unequivocally did something bad, that hurt someone else very deeply. What if your father cheated on your mother while she was fighting cancer. Is there a way to listen to his apology and forgive something like that? and what if your father wasn't there to explain this awful dissonance between the person you thought him to be and the person he really was?

Those questions are the premise of this book, which I would hesitate to categorize as a romance. It was raw and real and you could really feel the pain. I am a person that doesn't see infidelity as a crime but you could really feel how deeply the protagonists' world was shaken by her father's actions. And therefore, her inability to continue writing romance novels.

The hero is also an author but of the literary fiction variety. They used to be college rivals and became next door neighbors when the heroine moved in to her father's second home - to empty and sell it and finally write her new novel.

They strike up a friendship which leads to more feelings developed and when their romance finally blossoms - it is a lovely thing.

So why the three stars?

Towards the very end, this book inexplicably became very cliche and sappy. I hated the way the third act breakup resolved itself. The hero does not apologize for his actions, and basically proclaims that he choses (drumroll) the heroine to be his partner! Yes, isn't she lucky. All this is done in a super-melodramatic way that is completely off character to both of them.

But what perhaps bothered me even more was that there was no on-page resolution between the heroine and her mother. Part of the heroine's hang-ups were that her parents were never honest with her, even as an adult, even when she thought they were close. She was not only hurt to realize the extent of their secrets but also her whole world toppled over itself and she was never sure about people's real feelings and real motives. I would have loved for there to have been a meaningful conversation between mother and daughter. Where the mother becomes a fully formed and flawed but beautiful person.

So all in all I would give this book 3.5 stars. I feel it could have been so much more, and I'm sad it missed in the end, but it was fun while it lasted.

I really enjoyed Book Lovers, so this novel by Emily Henry was quickly added to my tbr. Since this has been Bookstagram's favorite, it needs no introduction.

First, the lake house setting. I marveled at it and kept picturing myself there! If it wasn't for the circumstances surrounding January Andrews inheriting the house, I would say it was a perfect setup for her for writing her next novel. But it was quite an agonizing situation, and the author captured the emotions and the grieving process for the lost loved one and the betrayal in such a delicate way. SO good!

The romance was wonderfully developed in this rivals to lovers trope. There was just the right amount of spicy for my liking, and I truly enjoyed the two main characters. This was a quick read and it tugged at all the heartstrings. Writer's block is a real deal, and if it wasn't for it, this could have been a different novel!

My second Emily Henry book definitely didn't disappoint! I am always cautious about approaching "booksta made me do it" books, but I'm glad I picked this one up. I will absolutely be reading the other books by Emily. 4.5/5 stars from me.

Just a great book! Tears, laughter

When is the movie?? Should be a great one!

Read this and enjoy! Yay!!

Enjoyed these characters :) Picturing Janie and Gus writing in their own lake houses and writing notes back and forth was really cute, loved that touch. I actually really liked how the author captured some of the ups and downs of grief and how you can both be so angry with a person but also love and miss them so much. Ton more things I liked but I’m tired so gonna leave it at that haha. Look forward to the movie or show adaptation eventually.

Funny and emotional! This was such a great read! I loved January and Gus, but Pete and Shadi stole the show for me as characters. The book itself is gorgeous, I love the sprayed edges

Even tough it's a love story, I didn't feel like it was too predictable and enjoyed the struggles that both of the characters had, things that they dealt with on their own but with the other's support. Great and light read.

January Andrews arrives in North Bear Shores to get away from life’s stresses, tie up loose ends, and begin writing her fifth romance novel. Augustus Everett has lived in North Bear Shores for about five years, and is stuck in a creative rut when it comes to creating his next literary bestseller. To say the two characters are opposite is an understatement. They playing in two completely different fields!

January is a romantic at heart, forever chasing the idea of a happily ever after. Gus is much more of a realistic, he takes the world as it is, rather than how he’d like to be. Still, January and Gus have their insecurities and burdens. Despite their differences, both characters are extremely likeable. It’s quite easy to relate to both. I’m a hopeless romantic and enjoy getting lost in a love story, so every one of January’s beliefs makes sense to me. At the same time, I’m well aware life events don’t always play out like a rom-com, so Gus’ reservations make sense too.

It’s wonderful that both the characters are authors with the same struggle yet completely different ways of thinking. The reader gets insight into the book-writing process too. I also like that the entire narrative is told from January’s point of view, but we get a balanced understanding of both personalities.

The witty back-and-forth between January and Augustus is the most enjoyable part of the fiction for me. From the moment they spoke to one another, I was happy. Then to see their connection evolve, I was even happier. The author so perfectly creates a charming chemistry in just a few sentences. And the repartee between them felt very similar to the dynamic between Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds in The Proposal. There’s sarcasm and quick-witted humour but with a real levity to it. It’s compelling, exciting, and thoroughly entertaining.

Henry‘s method of description is so vivid it’s difficult not to place yourself in the world she has established. Some moments are so rich in detail I may as well be a background character in the book. Not only does her writing paint a clear picture, it pushes you to keep reading. The atmosphere and emotions are so authentic it’s difficult to stop at the end of one chapter.

The development of January and Gus’ characters is brilliantly laid out in Beach Read. Rather than experience one giant (and improbable) epiphany at the end of the book, the author slowly reveals their layers with each chapter. This way, the reader genuinely gets to know the characters, and it’s so much easier to connect with them. Seeing the story unwind in a timely way adds to the legitimacy of the romance.

Oh, and the romance. It’s so lovely. If you love books that make you fall in love with love, Beach Read should be your next read. The dynamic between January and Gus isn’t an all-out enemies-to-lovers trope, but has a very similar feel. The bet set at the beginning of the book creates an air of competition which is both playful and flirtatious. Their budding relationship is swoon-worthy without the cringe, which is the best kind of romance. I could easily see this tale on the screen!

Beach Read is way more emotional than I anticipated. The book is filled with passionate and deeply touching statements that are genuinely moving. One chapter made me cry from the first word to the last. On top of that, it has the humour and charisma like most contemporary romances, but the plot is laced with deep and heartfelt complexities.

Fortunately, the heavy themes don’t weigh down the narrative or take away from its most heart-warming aspects. In fact, the overall story is very uplifting and exhilarating – the way a romance should be. It’s the kind of book I would return to when I need to get out of a slump. It has the kind of fuzzy feels that make it both the perfect summer read and the best curl-up book.

If you pick up Beach Read, you’ll be glued to its pages. Emily Henry’s writing is addictive, and her powerful romance is definitely a new favourite. My expectations were high and still beaten.

Anika | chaptersofmay.com

This book is really hood I liked the characters and everything.

Well, it doesn't look like there's going to be many beaches in our near future, so I was happy to let Emily Henry bring the beach to me. I have read all of Henry's books, The Love That Split The World is still one of my favourites and I think about it often. I feel almost like she's a childhood friend and I am so happy and excited every time she writes a new book.

I love it when writers write about writing, even if it's through their characters. Beach Read gave us two very different writers, but both with their own love and appreciation of the art. And paralyzing writers block. Henry weaves some really great comments and descriptions of writing and reading into these character's personalities, whether they are her own thoughts or not, and I loved being able to bond with them over my own love of writing.

This book felt like a hipster beach read, which I suppose is what it was supposed to be, at least on the surface. There are trendy pop cultural references and Juno-like conversations. But somewhere in the middle, the feel starts to shift and the puffy pink romance gets a bit deeper and a bit darker, asking a lot of the characters as they self examine and try to sort out their messy lives and a boatload of complicated feelings that stem beyond the romance in front of them. Or more specifically, next door.

I'm not one to read books that can be described as steamy, but I'm lacking for any other word that could sum up the romantic part of this. I was expecting the romance, thought it would be more of the rom-com type, but boy does Henry know how to write a brooding, sultry love story and it seeped past my cold exterior, filling me with some kind of warmth. This was the kind of book that I didn’t want to end, the kind of book where I’m rooting for a happy ending.

I have read all of Henry's books and there is a noticeable progression in her work; she seems to always write about love and family, usually in an uplifting and light air, but with every new book, she is stretching those themes in different directions, exploring different approaches. Sure, that means that maybe not every book will hit me quite like her first did, but it also makes me feel like I am discovering a new talented storyteller every time I see her name and I love that.

Très belle histoire feel good