While this book is surprisingly sweet and light, and ... there is plenty of darkness in the backstory, so proceed accordingly ... I found myself laughing out loud in delight at the banter. Having said that...things get a bit angsty in the latter third or so of the book ... this is a very, very smart book ... I love this book. It does take you down into the darkness at times, but it leads you out again, and shows you the path so that you will be able to find it next time. It is sweet and sharp and clever and extremely funny and it left me with a happy sigh and a smile on my face. This is a definite A, verging on Squee, from me.
... a laugh-out-loud, emotionally resonant exploration of love, writing and, yes, death cults ... Emily Henry is absolutely masterful in her dialogue. She never wastes a word, and though the banter is every bit as sarcastic and punchy as you’d expect in a rom-com, it never feels forced or unnatural ... January is a perfectly riveting protagonist, and I loved her for her sweetness, her loyalty and her limitless (if momentarily suspended) belief in love and happily-ever-afters. True to its title, Beach Read is the perfect beach read, and I suspect that Henry will have many readers itching for her next foray into romance.
It’s definitely an interesting battle and both characters match each other in intellectual wit, but for me, the romance fell somewhat flat ... chemistry wasn’t present ... This book does handle VERY strong situations like the loss of loved ones and all that comes with that so be careful before proceeding. Henry wrote this novel with an intense and very real understanding of just how much that can change someone’s life. It’s heart wrenchingly accurate. You will feel January’s sadness seep through the pages so be ready ... Many times I found scenes from January and Gus’s past were summarised rather than actually flashing back and painting a picture of what happened and I think this might have happened because both characters know what happened having been there when it happened, but unfortunately for the reader, we were not. I think that’s a missed opportunity ... However, I did end up falling in love with January’s philosophy on writing. Through all her tragedies, she was still able to find the beauty in another world, one of her own choosing and I loved that outlook ... I loved Henry’s writing and how she related the narrative to writing and how that nicely tied into both the characters and the story she was crafting. Unfortunately for me the romance got heavy too quick and in the process the cute witty sparring matches that opposites like January and Gus have that attribute to the fiery chemistry that people seek out in romantic comedies fell flat.
Though a bit uneven, this will still sweep readers off their feet. January’s first-person narration is suitably poetic and effervescent, the small-town beach setting is charming, and the romance is achingly swoony.
Henry...hits all the right notes with this clever, compassionate contemporary romance ... January’s struggle to reconcile her inherent optimism with the recent upheaval in her life is thoroughly convincing and handled with empathy. Her and Augustus’s path from writing partners to friends to lovers is a constant delight and the inevitable third act communication issues are deeply rooted in the characters’ psychology, making them believable and fresh. Readers are sure to fall hard for this meta, heartfelt take on the romance genre.
There are more than enough steamy scenes to sustain the slow-burn romance, and smart commentary on the placement and purpose of 'women’s fiction' joins with crucial conversations about mental health to add multiple intriguing layers to the plot. A heartfelt look at taking second chances, in life and in love.
