This post contains affiliate links meaning I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate and affiliate of Bookshop.org, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Tears dripped into my cold coffee as I furiously read the last thirty pages of Beach Read  by Emily Henry. Seriously. For about twenty minutes I ugly cried on my couch. My dog looked at me, unsure what to do because she’s not great at dealing with human emotions. I woke Jacob up. He heard me sobbing and came running. 

“What’s wrong?” He asked with a serious look on his face.

I broke down again. “The book,” I sobbed, “I finished the book and it ripped my heart out.” 

My tenth grade students made fun of me a few weeks ago because I admitted that sometimes, if a book is really good, I cry at the end. They couldn’t comprehend that a book could make someone cry, to which I told them: “then you’re reading the wrong books.” (But I mean, come on, who didn’t cry at the end of Where the Red Fern Grows? WHERE IS YOUR HEART?)

Now, I’ll admit that part of the reason I cried is owed to the fact that I started Beach Read….ON THE BEACH. In Florida. It was perfect. I continued to plow through it on the flight back home to good ole Minnesota. Finishing it felt like vacation finally coming to a close (which makes me really sad, I’ve already cried about vacation a few times too. I’m okay. It’s okay.). 

But the other reason I cried is because Henry wrote a beautiful rom-com that will stay with me for awhile. This book made me sob and I encourage you to run and buy it or check it out from the library immediately. You can admire me holding up the (perfect) cover in front of the real-life ocean below. And read on for the synopsis, specifics on what I liked, what I didn’t like, and my final rating!

Synopsis: 

January Andrews and Augustus Everett are college rivals and novelists who happen to find themselves living right next to each other in beach houses on Lake Michigan. Both of their lives are falling apart. Both are suffering through that miserable ailment known as writer’s block (read with a tone of disgust). Gus writes literary fiction and January writes romance. They make a bet that they’ll trade genres for the summer and end with two complete novels. Whoever can sell their novel first is declared the winner. “Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.”

What I Liked: 

This book finds the Achilles heel of your emotions and drives itself in deep. The hurt, the suffering, the anger that both January and Gus have experienced in their lives is enough to break you open. These characters had a setup for a really unhealthy friendship/relationship, but it was everything but that. Both characters are at a low when they find out they are neighbors in the same beach town, but they acted like adults and the connection between them tugs at your heartstrings the whole dang time. 

The characterization is spot on. It’s written in first-person narration from January’s perspective so you get to know her really well — her thoughts, why she does what she does. Honestly, the girl went through a lot of s*** in one year, so it’s surprising she’s not worse off. I particularly like how Henry crafted Gus’ character. He’s gruff and hard to figure out at times, but he’s approachable and also has emotions that he’s not afraid to share. AKA he’s not a man-child, he’s a mature adult that is just looking for some companionship in his life and wants to be wanted. Not a lot to ask. 

There are some next-level steamy scenes. It’s written tastefully. What is a romance without next-level steamy scenes?

The minor characters follow the tropes you’d expect: the best friend, the endearing family member that meddles in a relationship that isn’t hers, the ex. Pretty standard but done well. I especially liked Pete, Gus’ aunt. She’s sweet and just wants to look out for Gus. She owns a coffee shop but makes terrible coffee. She owns a bookstore. She hosts a book club about Russian spy novels. What’s not to love?

When everything seems to be going well and how you want it, a new conflict arises. It frustrates you, it maddens you, it sucks you in. It makes you want to scream at the characters. “OPEN YOUR DAMN EYES.” Or, “JUST COMMUNICATE AL-FREAKING-READY.” And that is the kind of emotional attachment I love in a novel.

I already mentioned the sobbing. I’ll spare the spoiler details, but the ending left me absolutely gutted.

What I Didn’t Like: 

Honestly? There’s not much I didn’t like about Beach Read. If I had to be picky, I’d say the dialogue was sometimes unrealistic or a little too cheesy for my taste. Considering, however, the rest of the novel was so beautifully written, unrealistic dialogue is not a deal-breaker for me on this one.

Beach Read is packed with conflict, drama, emotion and fantastically crafted characters. January and Gus, college rivals and novelists, make a bet that will take them through a summer’s worth of the best rom-com montages. Prepare to cry. Prepare to love some of the characters. This is a great read. Find a spot for it amongst your towels and sunscreen on your next beach trip.

My Rating: 

5/5 because this baby was goooood.