Yay or Nay: Beach Read (Novel)

I introduce you to my first summer read of the summer! Beach Read was one that I came across on my GoodReads account, as Olga had also wanted to read this novel! As most things are still closed here in Canada (or at least, my province, one of the harder hit ones), I decided to be spontaneous and give it a read! Suffice it to say, I was definitely not disappointed in this book, as not only did it turn out to be one that I could relate to (as an aspiring writer), but the romance and character development were fantastic. 

Also, as an add-on, listen to Latin music while reading this book. Surprisingly, while it does not have anything to do with beaches (despite being called “Beach Read”), the music helps to create an atmosphere that you’re on a resort while reading it. Olga made a fantastic playlist with that in mind, that I’ll link down below!

[The Playlist!]

So, let's get on with it, these are my thoughts on Emily Henry’s novel, “Beach Read”

THE STORY

As taken from GoodReads: 

Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.

They're polar opposites.

In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they're living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer's block.

Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She'll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he'll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.

I bring this up here because its a pretty unique premise, despite being at its core, simplistic. And it’s fun to read about the writing process and how authors do their work and think. This story— read the author’s note at the back before reading—is about “writer’s block” at its core, and romance. Emily Henry was actually going through a bout of writer's block when she decided to write about it and this story blossomed from that. It’s really interesting to read her thoughts beforehand before going into the story. It also helps to give some context to the amazing story you’re about to read. So to some degree, this is a rare instance where you can see parts of the author exposed in this book, hidden in the little details of the characters. Which I absolutely loved, and had me enthralled from the very beginning. 

MY THOUGHTS

So, the first thing I’ll go to is the characters because the dialogue and nuance behind them is fantastic. The main characters, Augustus (Gus), and January are personable, witty, and this makes for a very visual, and dimensional set of characters, that given their backstories learn to grow and become better people together. Their relationship isn’t for no reason, or just because the story calls for it—they actually evolve and grow because of their relationship, as they console each other through their individual situations while writing and researching together. January discovers that her perfect family— especially her father, isn’t so perfect, and Augustus, those little moments of fate, and happily ever afters are possible, and not always constructions of fantasy.

The story as well is very loaded. Each character carries a burden, a weight of sorts, and while it’s not totally resolved by the end, the book does provide a satisfactory ending. January’s, not to spoil too much is the most prominent. Amidst adolescence where her mother was sick with cancer, she discovers on her twenty-ninth birthday that her father has been leading a double life on the shores of Michigan. As her father has passed away due to a stroke, a confused and angry January inherits his small cottage and must go through his things to rediscover who her father was. Augustus, amidst a traumatizing childhood, has a history with January— and through his past, was unable to unite with her once. He gets a second chance at love and rekindling his past— as well as dealing with one particular issue from his past I won’t mention here. 

Finally, overall, I do just want to touch on the sheer charm of his novel. It’s an easy read, only 351 pages, and the emotional personal “turbulence” of the characters isn’t too hard to read or sift through. It’s a charming story as it is relatable, there will be something in this story you can sink your teeth into and say “I get that” because these are somewhat common issues (at least at parts) all of us have gotten into. The only real complaint I have about the novel is that perhaps its too “fated” in terms of story. That her father would have redemption arch as we all know he will, and that (as fate would also have it), she moves next door to the hot guy she both hated and loved in college. And that, as fate would also have it, he loves her too and can be Prince Charming (but weirdly lacks the proper way to show it). 

MY RATING

Overall, however, this story is killer, and it’s an excellent “beach read” and summer read. It’s a great novel to take in a day or week, in the backyard, or on the porch with some wine! You’ll definitely enjoy “Beach Read”, and I would recommend it for a buy or a borrow! 

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 Stars)

~Meghan