Beach Read by Emily Henry

 

---

🌊 Beach Read by Emily Henry ⭐⭐⭐1/2 (3.5/5 stars)

Affiliate link: Grab your copy of Beach Read on Amazon 📚

---

🚨 Trigger Warnings

• 💔 Death of a parent (father)

• 🍷 Drinking

• 💔 Breakup / heartbreak

• 😢 Emotional distress

• ⚡ Mild sexual content

---

😏 My Quick Take

I went into Beach Read expecting to adore it because I LOVED Funny Story. Spoiler: I didn’t love this one quite as much. There’s still the cute, swoony Emily Henry vibe we all love, but some things got on my nerves.

First, the name January… I get it, it’s a name, but it’s a word, but when I speed the audiobook narration up, I kept getting confused: “It’s April. January and Gus…” 🤦‍♀️ You see what I mean?

Second, January herself. Girl was immature. She got ridiculously jealous of Gus’s ex for… basically nothing. Not a great look. 😬

Still, I loved the premise and the feel-good summer romance vibes. It’s just not my favorite Emily Henry.

---

📖 Overview

Beach Read follows 29-year-old January Andrews, a romance author struggling with writer’s block after her father’s death and a recent breakup. She moves into her dad’s secret lake house in North Bear Shores, Michigan (a house he shared with his mistress, Sonya), hoping to finish a manuscript and sort her life out.

Her next-door neighbor? Gus Everett, a college rival turned cynical literary author. Their writing styles clash: January writes sunny romances, Gus writes bleak, dark fiction. They make a deal to swap genres, helping each other tap into new creative territory.

---

⚠️ Spoiler Warning — Full & Complete Plot Summary

January and Gus start collaborating: she helps him find the romantic angle, he helps her explore dark, emotional themes. They exchange playful notes through their windows and go on quirky “research dates,” including interviews with townspeople connected to a long-past cult.

As they grow closer, January confronts her jealousy and insecurities, Gus opens up about his abusive father, and they explore their mutual attraction. Sex and emotional intimacy happen, naturally, but the tension is built through character growth and humor, not just physicality.

They eventually crack the safe in her dad’s lake house, discovering heartfelt letters he wrote her each birthday—closure and emotional healing all wrapped up.

Gus briefly considers going back to his estranged wife, but ultimately, he chooses January. Nine months later, both have published successful books. Gus proposes in the most Emily Henry way possible: on a piece of notebook paper, just like their window notes. January says yes, ending the story with a satisfying, feel-good romance and happy-for-now vibes. 🌞💌

---

🤔 Final Thoughts

If you love quippy banter, summer-y settings, and characters growing emotionally while falling in love, this is a solid pick. It’s just not quite as polished or satisfying as Funny Story—mainly because January sometimes drove me a little nuts. Still, a fun 3.5/5 stars read for a light, romantic escape. 🏖️📖

---

📚 If You Liked This, Try:

• Book Lovers by Emily Henry

• You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

• Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood