Publisher: Berkley Page Count: 384 Year Published: 2020
You know that feeling when you read the first five pages of a book and you’re already so invested in the story that it’s basically impossible to put down? Well, I had that feeling with Beach Read. I loved everything about this story. The pacing, the characters, the balance of depth and lightheartedness … ugh, it was just so perfect.
Before I continue gushing, here’s some words about the plot: January Andrews is a romance writer who, after her father dies and her ‘perfect’ boyfriend dumps her, is feeling anything but romantic and struggling to finish her fifth book. In an effort to finish it, she moves to the small beach town where her father grew up and moves into the beach house that he left her. January soon discovers that her next door neighbor is Augustus ‘Gus’ Everett, her college rival and the critically acclaimed author of literary fiction. January’s never forgiven Gus for saying she always gives everyone a happy ending, which she took as an insult indicating she was incapable of penning the Great American Novel. As both writers struggle with writer’s block, they agree to switch roles: Gus will write a romance and January will write something dark.
This story is layered and, through conversations about writing, reveals the perspectives people bring to life and how two people can look at a given situation and see it completely differently – positively or negatively, hopeful or an utter disaster. It drops some powerful insight about fear driving out love, feeling unlovable and becoming closed off, and whether we can accept someone we love once we know their darkest faults. I loved the moments where mutual exclusivity of feelings was discussed – can you like someone and still hate their actions? Can you miss someone and be mad at them? Can you acknowledge a positive about someone while cautioning against their faults?
If you want a romance that is feel good but also has complexity and perspective, I highly recommend this one. A lot of people on here kept saying “it’s exactly what I needed right now!” I’m going parrot them 💛💛
Read It Like Rory 