Lauded as one of the best romance books of the otherwise bleak pandemic era, A Beach Read by Emily Henry became an overnight sensation, a near-instant New York Times Bestseller, and launched its author’s career to sky-high levels.
As you might expect, it is a romance book with tried-and-true tropes and tales, yet it also offers a different perspective with interesting character development and a healthy sprinkle of meta-humor that pokes fun and gives a deeper glance at the writing world.
If you have been considering the A Beach Read book yet hesitate to jump in entirely blind, this review might give you the push you need. After all, if one romance novel is good enough, why not read a romance novel about a romance novel?
Fair warning—there might be very minor spoilers in this review!
- Beach Read Book Synopsis
- The Characters, Their World, and Their Romance
- What Are The Main Tropes in The Beach Read Book?
- Are There Any Trigger Warnings Worth Considering in the Beach Read Book?
- Who is The Beach Read Book Meant For?
Beach Read Book Synopsis
January Andrews and Augustus Everett have two problems they need to deal with.
First, they are struggling with severe writer’s block—a creative handicap that published authors must overcome through any means necessary. Second, they’re stuck next to each other for the near future. And they don’t like it.
January is a peppy, bright, best-selling romance writer who values “happily ever afters” in each tale she tells. Augustus is a brooding and pessimistic literary writer whose disbelief in happy endings is reflected in his dark fiction.
Their paths crossed during college and turned into a rivalry. Now, that history returns to the surface when they discover their beach houses—idyllic writing retreats—are next to each other.
But one day, creativity struck—although not in the way they hoped for what if they exchanged positions?
Now Augustus is tasked with overcoming his distaste for happy endings and indulging in romance, while January must explore the dark and heavy topics of a thought-provoking story. The result? Hopefully, a book of two.
The byproduct? Well—overcoming past trauma, exploring inner fears, and perhaps falling in love.
The Characters, Their World, and Their Romance
Unlike other romance books, Beach Read creates heavy intimacy for the reader by giving the two main leads all the focus, plot, and development. This limited spotlight almost mimics the private nature of their retreat—it creates a world for the two of them.
January Andrews is one-half of the lead couple. She is best described as an optimist who brightens the room as she walks in, something that is reflected in her writing style and predisposition. On the other hand, the romantic male lead is August “Gus” Everett—a pessimistic and brooding man with a cynical outlook that tints his books bleak yet engaging.
At first glance, January’s optimism and Augustus’ pessimism seem fairly archetypical for the genre. Nonetheless, the book takes advantage of the intimate ambiance to do an introspective analysis of both characters, their layers, and what they hide behind the image they project: January deals with personal blows that compromise her ability to believe in the happy endings she trusted, while Gus must face the reason why he finds cynicism comforting.
Beyond January and Gus, a very limited number of characters show up. The few that appear are relegated to a supportive role that remains accessory to the main arc and does not receive noteworthy arcs—something that helps drive home the “forced to spend time together” ambiance for the main couple.
What Are The Main Tropes in The Beach Read Book?
If you are the type of romance reader who loves to know the tropes that comprise a novel before jumping in, you’re in luck—this list has everything you need to decide whether or not this aligns with your tastes.
However, keep in mind that this is not a comprehensive list. Some tropes are spoilers, so jumping in blind will be a much more fulfilling reading experience.
From the get-go, the romance seems to fit the archetypical opposites attract trope formula—particularly in the grumpy/sunshine flavor. The backstory of the characters as fellow students in college also derives in a gentle form of rivals-to-lovers with a soft and mild approach, reflecting its contemporary setting.
Although not as strictly enforced as in other cases, the Beach Novel book features a variation of the forced proximity/“stuck-together” trope, at least on a metaphorical level. Likewise, you may come across some miscommunication.
Are There Any Trigger Warnings Worth Considering in the Beach Read Book?
Without giving away too many spoilers, you should know that some dark topics are discussed in the book’s pages. Although these themes are not comprehensive or prominent enough to diminish the book’s overall positive tone, they could be potential triggers for some readers.
Among them, you should be wary of alcohol abuse, car accidents, and open displays of grief. Although they are not portrayed directly, the book also approaches topics such as character death, abuse, cheating, and cults.
On a more lighthearted note, keep in mind that this is an open-door romance—which means there are clear and descriptive instances of sexual content.
Who is The Beach Read Book Meant For?
Ultimately, Beach Read is not as much of a “beach read” as its title might imply.
Rather than notoriously soft and fluffy, it is a romance book for adult audiences who want a happy story without excessively indulging in the saccharine. On the other hand, it is also a story that discusses realistic problems within interpersonal relationships without overly dark and gritty themes.
At its core, it is a book that does its best to reconcile the protagonists’ extreme points of view regarding writing. It also takes some time to explore the stories they want to tell and the process they undergo in their craft, which can be interesting for readers curious about this field.
However, keep in mind that this is ultimately a contemporary romance book. It focuses on the lovey-dovey dynamics between the protagonists, so there is always a risk that the portrayal in the book does not align with your expectations, or you may consider it too sentimental, cheesy, or sexy.
But who knows? It might be your next favorite beach read.
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5🌟! no questions asked. this book was EVERYTHING. i was so scared it wasn’t gonna live up to the hype but BRO i would change nothing about this. gus has literally made it to the top of my book boyfriend list. the banter between gus and january was genuinly top tier. i actually am flabbergasted at how much amazing this book was.
– By Jess *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ, June 13, 2024
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I was so nervous for this book because of the mixed reviews I’d seen. I loved loved LOVED it! While I also loved Happy Place, I got into this one way quicker than I did Happy Place. 4/5 for this one!
– By Katie Brownlee, June 13, 2024
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