Beach Read by Emily Henry

Book review: Beach Read

Light, fun, summery, and heartfelt, this novel is the perfect read for the season! Henry accurately depicts the emotions and hardships associated with losing loved ones, as well as the unexpected opportunities derived from second chances. 

When the loss of her father reveals unpredictable truths regarding his life and marriage, January Andrews struggles to come to terms with the secrets that have been exposed. She inherits his second home on the coast of a small town, North Bear Shores, that he shared with “That Woman.” The second life that was hidden from her and her mother seems surreal. 

A year after his death, January arrives at her father’s beach home. She’s an author facing writer’s block and plans to spend the summer cleaning out and selling the home. January no longer believes in the happily-ever-after romance stories she’s been known to write, and she must find a way to complete her next book by its looming deadline. 

During her stay, she discovers that her next-door neighbor is none other than her college rival, Augustus Everett. He is the current star of literary fiction and also struggling with writing his next book. After a few encounters and a rough start, Gus and January challenge each other to write books outside of their usual comfort zone. Gus will spend the summer attempting to write a romance novel and January will attempt literary fiction. 

The guidelines of the writing challenge include teaching each other the art of their genres, through weekend adventures. Through these experiences, they process their grief, loss, and overcome their hardships, while growing closer than either anticipated. 

In short, I highly recommend this novel, as it’s emotional and sincere, yet full of fun and adventure. It’s a very quick read and highly entertaining. I found myself laughing and rooting for each of the characters. The theme of finding oneself is strong throughout the entire story. Be sure to check this book out for an enjoyable, summery read!