As genres go, I am not a big romance reader, but Emily Henry is very popular right now. Reviewers have said that Henry does not write stereotypical romances. Her novels often poke fun at romantic tropes and are about more than just the romance. So I was curious.
Beach Read (2020) is set in the fictional town of North Bear Shores, Michigan. When the novel begins, we meet January Andrews, the heroine and narrator of the story. January has moved to North Bear Shores because her father has passed away and left her his beach house.
January is a writer of romance novels. But life for the normally hopeful January has taken a depressing turn. She is grieving her father's death, but she was also stunned to discover at the funeral that he had a mistress throughout the years she was growing up. January believed in her parents' love for each other. Needless to say, she now has writer's block when it comes to her next romance novel, and her publisher is growing impatient.
Enter Augustus (Gus) Everett, who lives in the beach house next door to January. Gus is a successful writer of dark fiction. He too is dealing with writer's block. January and Gus knew each other from a creative writing class in college. They never dated and mostly avoided each other. But here they are ten years later as neighbors and neither is happy about it.
January and Gus are opposites. January's life has hit a rough patch, but she still believes in happy endings. Gus has never believed in happy endings. We find out why as the book progresses. January and Gus do not respect each other's choice of genre but they make a pact to get themselves out of their respective writer's blocks. Gus will write a romance novel and January will write a book that doesn't end happily ever after. They have the whole summer to do it. I’ll leave it there.
For me, what worked in Beach Read was Gus Everett. Chemistry is so important in a romance novel. And though I wasn't smitten with January and Gus as a couple, I was smitten with Gus. He writes dark fiction for a reason tied to his childhood. I am drawn to this kind of backstory in a romantic hero, and Emily Henry has drawn him very well.
What worked less well for me was January. She is a sweet person, don’t get me wrong, but throughout much of the novel, she can’t seem to have a thought about Gus without rhapsodizing over what an Adonis he is, and that can get old.
That said, I’m rating Beach Read a four, because while romantic comedies are not for me, Emily Henry held my interest all the way through because of Gus.
For me this came into the category of 'I didn't mind it'. I gave it 3 stars but it was a 3.5 for me really. Like you, I'd heard a lot about the author but I'm not a huge romance reader either. I might read two or three a year but not more. So I'm not its target audience but I liked it well enough but not enough to read more by the author.
ReplyDeleteAgree, I don't see myself going on to another Emily Henry novel.. Romantic comedies are just not my thing although I do like the romantic suspense novels that writers like Mary Stewart, Phyllis Whitney etc wrote in the 1960's, 1970's because they are very atmospheric and there is often a mystery to be solved.
DeleteI'm glad you described her book ... I have not read Henry but know she is very popular. Glad it held your interest enough. Sometimes we need to read genres outside of our usual tastes to experience new things. I am not a romance reader either but I've read a Jojo Moyes book, lol.
ReplyDeleteJo Jo Moyes is someone I also want to read at least once. And also John Green. I agree it's always good to try books outside of our favorite genres.
DeleteI haven't read this one yet but this is all too similar in plot to the Henry book I just finished - perky upbeat heroine trying to write a tell all bio meets brooding writer trying to write a bio about the same celebrity. Their world views make their approach extremely different and the celebrity has to decide which style she wants. I got so tired of perky heroine wanting to change dour guy (although she was successful).
ReplyDeleteIt is almost the same plot. What I liked about Beach Reads is that the brooding writer Gus was well drawn. January who narrates was a bit too perky for my taste. But Gus I liked.
DeleteGus was great! This was the first Emily Henry book I ever read (I think I actually won a copy from Goodreads) and I liked it a lot. I haven't read all of her books, but the few I have I've enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteI liked Gus alot too and what a tough childhood he had. It's no wonder he wrote his dark novels but he had alot of courage to open up his heart and give love another chance.
DeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeletePlease read my post
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to hear your thoughts on this book by Emily Henry, after seeing the popularity of her books. Maybe someday I might try one of her books, although I rarely read romance novels.
ReplyDeleteHi Tracy sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I rarely read romance novels either unless it's gothic or romantic suspense but Emily Henry writes well and her books are very popular.
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