Author: Emily Henry
Genre: Romance; Adult
Rating: 8.5/10
In an attempt to conquer writer’s block, January Andrews, romance novelist, and Augustus Everett, acclaimed author of literary fiction, decide to swap genres.
With a title as unassuming as “beach read” I had no idea what the book contained. But when I heard the premise of two competing authors, I was sold.
Needless to say, books in the genre of romance are typically quite predictable. There are a handful of tropes that are constantly reused and more often than not, you can tell which one is about to be deployed from the first line. Having said that, many people, myself included, read romances for these cheesy cliches because they make us feel all giddy and warm inside, no matter the number of times we read them.
However, romance books can still stand out because of their plot and characters, as this book did. I loved the backstory of our characters and felt that their personalities were very well fleshed out from the start. The plot was creative and fascinating especially if you are interested in writing (which I am). I found it very refreshing to read a romance with a plot and characters that were not only original but clever too, and worked well to drive the romance.
Moreover, the suspense and secrecy regarding their past was a small but significant piece of the puzzle and kept me reading way past what is an acceptable sleeping time.
“When I watch you sleep," he said shakily, "I feel overwhelmed that you exist.”
Enemies to lovers + witty banter/arguments = top tier romances. I don’t make the rules, this is a fact. The banter was well-written and humorous. Since we are following two writers, their conversations usually surround books, writing, and TV; and as someone who loves all 3, it was incredibly enjoyable to read. It’s also extremely interesting that an author has written a romance book that includes discussions on romance books.
Some other aspects I really enjoyed about this book was firstly, there were no petty miscommunications or overreactions. All the hesitations and awkward/sad moments in the books had valid reasons behind them.
Secondly, I love that our characters had history and that they became great friends before getting together. These two factors made the romance feel all the more realistic to me, and the relationship more well-developed and organic. After all, it was clear they considered each other close friends, and coupled with attraction, you get an A+ relationship.
Books about writers have always been fascinating to me. I like that it allows authors to explore and express their opinions and thoughts on writing or even on a specific genre (romance in this case) through their characters. I really enjoyed the perspective on romance and writing presented in this book as some of it did resonate with me, thus making me feel more connected to this book.
In the same vein of thought, this book differs from other romances in one big way: its exploration and discussion of how realistic the happily ever after is. It is because of this message that the book did not have your typical ending. Rather, it acknowledges that the characters are happy for now, but who knows what the future might bring.
Normally, when I pick up a cute romance, I am looking for that happy go lucky feeling you can only get from a happily ever after. However, I do admire the author for taking a different route with her romance, and addressing this common stereotype and critic of the genre.
“I’ve never met someone who is so perfectly my favorite person.”
Reviewed by: N.G. Rainwater (1st reading)
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