Happy Monday, doll faces! And back to our regularly scheduled, fun and ebullient blogging!
I have a recommendation that will fill you with a little more joy and a loooot of heat. *wink, wink”
Synopsis:
January Andrews is a 29 year-old romance author, who has more than her share of life happening. She just broke up with her long-time boyfriend, her father passed away and his mysterious secret life has been revealed, January isn’t speaking to her mother, and she’s expected to pump out another best selling book within months, but has a serious case of writer’s block.
The only semi-promising part of her father’s infidelity? The secret love nest left to her on a secluded lake, where January can hide away and write to her heart’s desire. But fate throws yet another wrench in her plans when none other than January’s arch nemesis, Augustus Everett happens to be her neighbor. Luckily, he seems to be struggling with writing and life as well.
The two make a pact: write a novel around the other person’s genre. January will write something deep and brooding and Gus will write something happy and romantic. Whoever sells their book first is the winner.
As they spend time together (in the name of research, of course) and their walls begin to crumble, they reveal their pains, joys, and hopes.
Will the dark and serious Gus be January’s Happily Ever After?
Confession Time:
I’ve quit about 75% of the rom-com books that have come into my possession. This is a rough estimate, but I can confidently tell you I am not a staunch romance lover.
In fact, I find most female protagonists in the genre to be insufferably idealistic, naive, and obsessed with finding their “one true love who will open them up to everything they’re capable of being.”
Doesn’t that kind of go against the feminism/female empowerment us “woke” Millenials, Gen X, Gen Y and Gen Z women hold so dear? Because in the real world, women really don’t need a man to make their life whole.
I just want to put that out there for the masses, in case this notion is being taken to heart. Let me say it one more time for the people in the back:
That being said, I loved this romantic comedy. Beach Read is sexy, fun, and deeper than expected. January doesn’t come off as needy or weak, but the reader is immediately made aware of a struggle she’s going through that makes it difficult for her to trust and connect romantically.
My favorite part of Emily Henry’s writing is the back and forth banter between January and Gus. Their dialogue is so witty and hilarious, I found myself chuckling “Oh, that was a sweet burn” throughout the book. They’re reminiscent of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in You’ve Got Mail. Which is ironically funny in itself, because Gus declares that he hates Meg Ryan (yeah right, no one hates Meg Ryan.)
I enjoyed this particular romance because it didn’t take too long to build up. January has this idea in her mind that Gus doesn’t take her seriously as a writer, which results in resentment and dislike on her part. But it also leads to some serious sexual tension between the two that doesn’t become drawn out or stale.
Henry gives the reader exactly what they’re hoping for early on, which allows the rest of the story to be about the building of a relationship and healing of old wounds. Romance writers tend to build and build and build the anticipation of a hook-up until the reader feels they’re either going to explode with frustration or they lose interest entirely and toss the book aside (me).
This book is fresh and funny. Definitely a good book for the beach or quarantine shenanigans. Hope you all are staying safe and healthy!
Happy & healthy reading!
Lexi
