Review: Beach Read

Continuing on my exploration of Emily Henry books, the next pick up was the one and only: Beach Read! How did it measure up to Book Lovers?

In my own humble opinion, it surpassed it! There was nothing about this book that I didn’t love.

As a writer I’m a sucker for stories about other writers but Henry took it one step further, establishing a desirable setting, likeable - yet dysfunctional characters and pulling at the heart strings.

What I love about Emily Henry’s writing is that it’s not just one thing or the other. What I mean by this is that she subverts expectations by writing unconventional romance stories. She utilises romance tropes (small town, enemies/friends to lovers etc.) really well but ads something extra that almost leans towards a more literary perspective. Beach Read did this exceptionally well.

We meet January at a point in her life where everything she’s based herself around has shifted and she’s traveling through the stages of grief alongside betrayal. She’s lost and her pain is blocking her from writing her usual happy novels. She moves into an old lakehouse next to another author from her past, Gus, who is the grumpy to her sunshine, but at this point in her life, she’s not so sunshine.

I laughed, I cried and I got lost in my own thoughts while reading this one. It draws up so many human questions about life and love and our own perceptions and expectations of other people.

If you’re looking for romance in a small town, opposites attract, a little bit of drama, comedy and an intriguing story about grieving someone you’ve lost faith in… this one is for you!

One of my favourite reads of the year so far!

Rating: ***** (5/5) (I’d give more if I could!)