“Beach Read” by Emily Henry is a phenomenal adult romance novel that explores the struggles of writer’s block as well as more impactful topics such as grief and inner conflict surrounding one’s emotions. I was prompted to read this book because of its high reviews and popularity online. 

The book follows January Andrews and Augustus Everett, two very contrasting authors. January is a romance writer who loves writing meet-cutes and happily–ever–afters. Augustus, on the other hand, writes literary fiction and loves tugging on people’s heartstrings. The only thing they have in common is that they are both spending the next three months in neighboring beach houses in a Michigan lakeside town called North Bear Shores. Further, they both find themselves overcome with writer’s block, causing them to struggle to complete their next novels. One night, they decide to strike a deal: each will adopt each other’s writing genre in hopes of getting out of their creative rut. Augustus will write a light-hearted romance novel, and January will create the next greatest work of fiction. The couple embarks on many adventures in their coastal town to help them write their new novels; they might discover that they are more alike than they originally thought. 

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book. Emily Henry does a great job of writing emotionally deep characters whom people can relate to and root for. Additionally, instead of just writing a flowery romance about two writers, she takes the opportunity to include deeper topics to elevate her work and make it easier for readers to connect with her work. However, the emotional topics that are discussed in the book are balanced by fun, lighthearted scenes as well, so the reader is never overwhelmed by emotional conflict. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a summery escape to a coastal town. While there are weighty subjects, it doesn’t feel excessive, and readers can still enjoy the wonders and excitement that come from falling in love. Overall, I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars.