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A review by charliemaryann
Beach Read by Emily Henry
5.0
Genre: Women’s fiction, Adult Romance, Contemporary
Themes: Grief, death, infidelity, writers romance.
★★★★★
Don’t be fooled by the colourful, exotic beach-y cover because this book is entirely more in-depth and darker than that. You may look at this and think you’re in for some kind of fun, sweep-you-off your feet romance whilst you sip pina coladas in Cancun but it’s more like cuddling up in a blanket whilst it rains. We follow our once fairy princess, January, a published author who relocates to her fathers beach house, a year after his death to write a book. In true romantic comedy style who could be her next door neighbour other than her rival - crush from college? Gus and January decide to swap genres, Gus has to write romance and January literary fiction in a contest of who will be published first.
ALL THINGS... SPOILERS AHEAD
I saw myself in January, I had that same light and flair for life and was dimmed by the soul crushing affects of reality. My ex partners spoke about me the way Gus spoke about January in the beginning, a fairy princess living in a illusion bubble. However, Gus of course was our misunderstood male who had been In love with January for years whom couldn’t express it because he was under the impression she hated him. This is played out a ton in Contemporary and Romance books, but much like Christina Lauren, Emily Henry was able to stop me rolling my eyes. January is described as soft, someone who can’t find her feelings, and think you will find that I am the inspiration for this character ;).
- [ ] My heart just broke for January having to create a version of herself who is always bubbly and light in the wake of her mother’s diagnoses and of course her perfect picture of love and family being destroyed by her fathers affair. Emily really showed just how complex and non-linear grief is in Beach Read with January missing her father and loving him deeply but simultaneously hating him for the pain he caused. She really described that feeling of being so close to someone but never truly knowing them, only seeing those parts of a person that they will let you see and in the end, do you ever really know someone?
At first, I saw Gus as just another Scorpio man who pretends that emotions are an illusion but as the book progressed and along with January we got to witness the abandoned child within, I felt so much compassion for Gus. He never had anyone to be there for him, his marriage was in shambles and he found it hard to be open to January, despite desiring her. At times, January was quite entitled and didn’t understand the way Gus worked. She wears her heart on her sleeve, you know what January is feeling because she’s open emotionally and she was never taught otherwise, whereas Gus never had someone to tell him that his feelings are valid. So, I wasn’t at all surprised that when January found out that Gus was married and going through a divorce, information he never shared with her, she took it personally. In that moment, I believe January was projecting her feelings from her fathers affair onto Gus. Despite all this. January and Gus grew as people through the course of this book. January was able to come to terms with her fathers affair and notice that in life there are good and bad moments but the moments don’t amount to a bad life or take away the love. Gus was able to finally open himself up and let himself be loved and of course he learned to dance in the rain.
One of my favourite parts was Gus explaining to January how he sees her and the admiration he has for how she sees the world. As a spiritual person, I love the conversation of how different people see and experience the world.
The letters, one for every year January lived, handwritten by her father filled me with such intense emotions. He truly loved his daughter unconditionally and saw her as his greatest achievement. Although, after reading the letters I had to put the book down and reflect on the fact that I never had a relationship with my Dad and all I ever wanted was for him to love me and choose me. I suppose I relate to both January and Gus.
I would love for Emily to write January’s book about the family-circus, I would so read that.
Themes: Grief, death, infidelity, writers romance.
★★★★★
Don’t be fooled by the colourful, exotic beach-y cover because this book is entirely more in-depth and darker than that. You may look at this and think you’re in for some kind of fun, sweep-you-off your feet romance whilst you sip pina coladas in Cancun but it’s more like cuddling up in a blanket whilst it rains. We follow our once fairy princess, January, a published author who relocates to her fathers beach house, a year after his death to write a book. In true romantic comedy style who could be her next door neighbour other than her rival - crush from college? Gus and January decide to swap genres, Gus has to write romance and January literary fiction in a contest of who will be published first.
ALL THINGS... SPOILERS AHEAD
I saw myself in January, I had that same light and flair for life and was dimmed by the soul crushing affects of reality. My ex partners spoke about me the way Gus spoke about January in the beginning, a fairy princess living in a illusion bubble. However, Gus of course was our misunderstood male who had been In love with January for years whom couldn’t express it because he was under the impression she hated him. This is played out a ton in Contemporary and Romance books, but much like Christina Lauren, Emily Henry was able to stop me rolling my eyes. January is described as soft, someone who can’t find her feelings, and think you will find that I am the inspiration for this character ;).
- [ ] My heart just broke for January having to create a version of herself who is always bubbly and light in the wake of her mother’s diagnoses and of course her perfect picture of love and family being destroyed by her fathers affair. Emily really showed just how complex and non-linear grief is in Beach Read with January missing her father and loving him deeply but simultaneously hating him for the pain he caused. She really described that feeling of being so close to someone but never truly knowing them, only seeing those parts of a person that they will let you see and in the end, do you ever really know someone?
At first, I saw Gus as just another Scorpio man who pretends that emotions are an illusion but as the book progressed and along with January we got to witness the abandoned child within, I felt so much compassion for Gus. He never had anyone to be there for him, his marriage was in shambles and he found it hard to be open to January, despite desiring her. At times, January was quite entitled and didn’t understand the way Gus worked. She wears her heart on her sleeve, you know what January is feeling because she’s open emotionally and she was never taught otherwise, whereas Gus never had someone to tell him that his feelings are valid. So, I wasn’t at all surprised that when January found out that Gus was married and going through a divorce, information he never shared with her, she took it personally. In that moment, I believe January was projecting her feelings from her fathers affair onto Gus. Despite all this. January and Gus grew as people through the course of this book. January was able to come to terms with her fathers affair and notice that in life there are good and bad moments but the moments don’t amount to a bad life or take away the love. Gus was able to finally open himself up and let himself be loved and of course he learned to dance in the rain.
One of my favourite parts was Gus explaining to January how he sees her and the admiration he has for how she sees the world. As a spiritual person, I love the conversation of how different people see and experience the world.
The letters, one for every year January lived, handwritten by her father filled me with such intense emotions. He truly loved his daughter unconditionally and saw her as his greatest achievement. Although, after reading the letters I had to put the book down and reflect on the fact that I never had a relationship with my Dad and all I ever wanted was for him to love me and choose me. I suppose I relate to both January and Gus.
I would love for Emily to write January’s book about the family-circus, I would so read that.