Review: Beach Read

Discussion

While I thoroughly enjoy romance novels – they are my go-to for reading slumps after all – I am extremely picky about the ones I actually like.

I loathe when characters have catastrophic blowups over anything that could be solved over a simple conversation in real life. I hate when the strong leading lady is melted into a ridiculous puddle of literary mush by love. I hate when a novel is touted as “haters to lovers” but just … isn’t – you know what I mean.

I could go on, but you get my point. I’m picky.

Luckily, Beach Read doesn’t fall into any of these traps and is purely enjoyable. I found the banter between the characters really entertaining, humorous and smart. I loved the strength of January and Emily Henry’s conversation on the literary stigma that comes with writing “romance” novels and their relegation to secondary status to the *important* literary fiction.

Beach Read is smart and brings some deep topics including anxiety, grief and trauma.  Together, January and Gus form a strong friendship as the basis of their romantic relationship, my favourite to read.

Overall this is an excellent summer read, with a whip-smart heroine, funny dialogue, great enemies to lovers storyline, and surprising emotional depth and heart. If you’re a fan of steamy romance with intelligent characters, you won’t be disappointed here.

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The Hating Game

Written by Sally Thorne

Published by William Morrow & Company

You can find it here: Bookshop.org