Book Review | Beach Read by Emily Henry
Easy breezy vibes are aplenty with Emily Henry's rom-com novel Beach Read.
This little number follows the totally loveable January Andrews, a successful fiction writer with an agent who's quick to remind her that the clock will soon strike midnight, and that manuscript better be ready. But after the loss of her beloved father, January is facing a bout of writer's block all while trying to come to terms with the secret beach house she inherited, and the history behind it.
Enter Gus: a school rival of January's, also a successful writer and as we find out, her rival still. Of course, he is her new next-door neighbour with a beach house of his own. Naturally, the pair bump into each other and rekindle their competitive spark, which is actually a romantic flame in disguise. All flames aside, they both share something in common, a new novel must be published by summer's end. To shake things up the two strike a deal; write a novel but swap niches. January tries her hand at not writing romance while Gus steps out of his comfort zone to write exactly that.
Where has Emily Henry been all my life? Her writing style is right up my street and with Beach Read, she has created a riveting rom-com novel. Her easygoing and fun characters exchange banter in abundance, but there is more to them than this. These characters have great depth too, and the more you delve in, the more layers that are peeled back revealing a version of January and Gus that have been through some shit.
I loved being inside January's head for this one. She is a hoot of a gal with that quick-smart wit to make one snap their fingers in agreement. She is a talented and successful rom-com author who makes me like her even more. I have a soft spot in my heart for characters who are writers as I aspire to have a future in a similar sphere. Maybe that is my bias.
They say your vibe attracts your tribe, so it's no surprise that January and Gus share a special bond, albeit with quite the competitive streak. But as Gus proves to be a genuine guy I found myself rooting for the two. I enjoyed their genre-swapping challenge as this made for a fun and different backdrop to the development of their budding romance.
Overall, it's a book with great characters. Of course, the plot is fun too but if you're looking for a sweet romance, a dash of novelist within a novel, funny best friends, lots of laughs and maybe a few tears – then you've come to the right place. Enjoy!