Book Review of "Beach Read"
I just finished my 11th book of 2021.
I told myself on New Years Day this year that I’d read 20 books in 12 months (twice as many as last year… a true triumph for me). Buuuut, I’m going to have to really hammer out the last nine if I want to stay on track.
I’m in a season of reading nonfiction, so to break up all the self-help strategies, Beach Read by Emily Henry was the perfect change-of-pace.
How I heard about it
Beach Read was actually a recommendation from my Tik-Tok feed… I ordered mine from Amazon and wasn’t sure what to make of it. Some reviews called it “light-hearted and romantic” while others said it “involved a suicide cult and was darker than expected.” It definitely was more light than dark, but that tension between sad and happy endings is actually the whole point...
The story
The two main characters: January Andrews and Augustus “Gus” Everett are both authors with writer’s block. January is a romantic and Gus is a realist; they’re polar opposites in almost every way… when January wears her heart on her sleeve, Gus internalizes his emotions. They end up next door beach house neighbors and strike a deal to write their next book in the other person’s style, coaching each other along the way. Gus takes January on research trips to interview previous cult members (so that she can dive into the darker parts of life) and January takes Gus on adorably cheesy dates (so that he can appreciate the lighter parts of life). Their conversations are hilarious (and I definitely laughed out loud and woke up my goldendoodle pup many times) and the sexual tension is almost painful. Beach Read does get a little steamy… so if that’s not your preferred genre, you may want to pass on this one.
Discussion Q&A
For this next section, I’m going to briefly answer five of the discussion questions posted in the back of the book. This may contain spoilers, so if you haven’t read Beach Read and you intend to (which I highly recommend if you’re looking for something feel-good, sassy, and romantic), then maybe book mark it here and come back! Beach Read can truly be read at any time of year, but the marketing is spot. on. to get people to buy before summer. Click here to order.
If you could visit one setting from the book, with one of its characters, whom and where would you choose? Shadi seems like a great friend and a fun time, so I’d go line dancing with her!
Is your worldview more like Gus’s or January’s? Do you tend to be optimistic or pessimistic? Has that changed with time and experience? I definitely see the world more like January. It’s wild how much we both romanticize life… from booking hot air balloon rides to taking South American vacations. Even with time and experience, I haven’t lost my optimistic lens. I think there’s beauty to be found in almost every situation, even if it takes a lifetime to see it.
Did January’s father deserve her forgiveness? Has she truly forgiven him? I don’t think anyone ever “deserves” forgiveness. But that’s what makes it so beautiful when we receive it: because we’re undeserving recipients. That said, the book never outright says that January forgives her father. After she reads his letters, she says: “I was a wound, half-healed over and scraped raw again… My father was gone. And I would always miss him. And that had to be okay.” If anything, the boat scene is an instance of her beginning to let go of the pain of her father’s secret affair… but I don’t think forgiveness is a one-time decision, it’s a long, painful process. By the end of the book, January seems to start down that road, but is by no means finished.
Do you believe in the idea of “Happily Ever After”? What would your HEA look like in real life? My answer to this question truly can’t be divorced from my worldview as a Christian. I believe that in this world, we’ll always have pain and trouble. But, like John 16:33b says: “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” So in the end, there will absolutely be an ultimate Happily Ever After. And in the meantime, as we journey to get there, our “happily ever afters” are moments that we name and cherish as we experience them.
Do you prefer to read books with a certain kind of ending? Yes, actually! I love realistically happy endings. Nothing too grandiose… but just realistic enough that I could imagine it playing out IRL. That’s why I adore this book: it ended exactly as I hoped it would.
What about you?
Those are a few of my thoughts on Beach Read! I don’t think it’s meant to be overanalyzed… it’s meant to make you laugh and forget yourself for a while. I found the storyline entertaining, the characters charming, and the ending truly satisfying. But I’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to comment down below and let ‘em spill.
