Beach Read by Emily Henry
5/5 stars
Isabella, Gr.12
As the second novel Emily Henry has written, in my opinion, it is by far the best. Beach Read is defined as a rom-com but is truly so much more, expanding on themes like grief, self-exploration, and of course, love. The book follows January Andrews, who is a romance book writer, on a tight deadline to release her next book. Normally she would not struggle with that, as she is praised for her works, however ever since her father died and she has found out troubling details from his past, January is running into some trouble with writing about love. She finds out her father had a second home, a lakehouse in Michigan where he grew up. The quaint town creates a perfect setting for a reconnection between January and her literary nemesis, Augustus Everett.
January and Augustus’ (Gus) banter and chemistry are palpable in Emily Henry’s writing. They start off somewhat despising each other, then grow closer as they challenge one another's writing. Gus challenges January to write a book with a darker theme as opposed to her normal rom-com, and January challenges him to do just that, write a rom-com.
To me, this book is so much more than a “Beach Read”, it is a testament to human grief and connection. The humor the author uses helps the reader digest some of the heavier moments in the novel, and January and Gus’ relationship is one I will always aspire to have, though it is fiction. This book truly feels like a warm hug, and I suggest any book lover pick this up immediately.