5 of the Reasons I Do and Don’t (!!) Like ‘Beach Read’

---

Some books surprise us in the best possible way, others feel like a letdown. The recent novel release, Beach Read falls somewhere in the middle. Let’s talk a little bit about the story first.

STORY | When it comes to writing her next book, January has a big problem. She’s suffering a terrible case of writer’s block. Of course, the recent revelation that her recently deceased father isn’t the man she idolized doesn’t help, nor does the annoying next door neighbor at her father’s beach house help.

DISCUSSION | 6 of the Reasons I Do (and don’t!) Love NBC’s ‘Chuck’

August “Gus” Everett is suffering a similar problem as January. He too cannot get a handle on his next novel, only his issues are more to do with a personal past than someone else disappointing him. As these two seemingly mismatched people get together, they decide to swap genres and hopefully end the summer with a novel to their name.

---

3 of the Reasons I Do Like ‘Beach Read’

---

1: [The] Author Characters

It’s endless fun to read about characters who are authors. Why I don’t know other than the fact that this novel is about authors, who are the talented people that feed reader’s ability to enjoy this storytelling medium. There’s even one or two cute (drive in theater) and not-so-cute (!!) research trips to adventure with these characters on.

2: Comedy, yes – but also, a Dramedy

What I think I do enjoy best about this is that it’s not exactly what I anticipated it being. The cover leads me to believe it’s going to be just what it appears, which is a fun summer read. Then I heard reviewers say that no it’s actually more serious than they thought. It’s actually a blend of both. There’s fun things about the book, but then there’s also the more vulnerable side which is the character’s background.

3: [A] Summer-y and Fun Beach-y Setting

This setting is, admittedly, quite fun (despite my reservations about the book). It makes the story more fun and of course, the ideal kind of summer-time reading material.

---

2 of the Reasons Don’t (!!) Like the Book

---

5 of the Reasons I Do and Don’t (!!) Like ‘Beach Read.’ A "list" discussion on Emily Henry's Beach Read. #BookReview #Fiction #DebutFiction #BookWorm Share on X

1: The Romance

More than not, I feel as though this romance is unhealthy. It doesn’t start out this way, or at least I don’t think so because these two develop a solid friendship to start from. But in the latter parts of the book, it unravels to feel “empty,” something I personally never like feeling when reading. Makes me sad because I do want to like these two together.

2: Secular Content [Because it Can]

Secular fiction and I have a love-hate relationship, and the primary reason for this is because of its content, often put there “because it can” (because its genre accepts it). Oftentimes it reads as taunting and implausible, and 90-some percent of the time, it lessens the otherwise important moments of a story. As a result, the story takes on this kind of attitude that does nothing to endear it.

---

What do you think of Beach Read? Did you read it, like it, or no? Have “meh” feelings about it or is it your must-read pick of the summer? Comment all of your thoughts below.

You can add Beach Read on Goodreads.

PINTEREST PIN

---

Thank you for visiting!

Content notes: this is a secular novel and as such contains adult material like sexual content [at least two detailed, but not overly graphic sex scenes], there are references to sex and adultery. Uses of the f-word are pretty commonplace as are exclamations of “God,” or other profanity. There’s social drinking and references to being drunk.