Beach Read is a 2020 contemporary romance novel written by Emily Henry. An audiobook version was released by Penguin Random House Audio.

Synopsis

January Andrews is a well-known writer of romance novels who is having a hard time after her father’s death and learning that he was having an affair. While staying in her father’s old beach house to get ready to sell it, she meets Augustus Everett, a person she once competed against in college and who is now a famous writer of literary fiction. They begin talking again and form a friendship while dealing with writer’s block. They encourage each other to spend the summer writing a novel in the other’s genre.

Plot

January Andrews and Augustus "Gus" Everett are writers with different styles. January writes popular romance novels that end happily, while Gus writes well-received literary fiction with more serious themes. Both are struggling with writer's block and personal problems: January recently lost her father, who left her a lake house she did not know he owned, and Gus is dealing with challenges from his past.

They become neighbors during the summer in the lake house community. To help overcome their creative blocks, they make a deal: January will write a literary novel, and Gus will write a romance. As they research and write together, they begin to understand and respect each other's challenges and viewpoints.

Through their time together, they face their feelings, hidden problems, and fears. Their relationship shifts from professional competition to personal connection, leading to unexpected romantic feelings. Their summer challenge helps them grow as writers and people, and they find healing and a bond through their shared experiences.

As the summer continues, their connection grows, and they begin to imagine a future beyond their temporary arrangement. Their journey is about more than overcoming writer's block—it is also about discovering who they are and finding each other. The story ends with both characters starting new chapters in their lives, filled with hope, creativity, and the promise of a lasting relationship.

Reception

Beach Read was a New York Times Bestseller. It appeared on the Indie Next List for June 2020 and was selected as one of Oprah Magazine’s 38 Romance Novels to Watch in 2020. PopSugar named it the Best Romance Book of 2020. The book was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance and finished in second place.

Kirkus Reviews described Beach Read as an "emotional story about taking second chances in life and love." A Publishers Weekly review stated: "Readers will likely love this creative and emotional approach to the romance genre."

Film adaptation

In April 2023, it was announced that the book Beach Read will be made into a movie by 20th Century Studios. Yulin Kuang will direct the film, and Original Film will produce it. In February 2026, Phoebe Dynevor was chosen to play the main character in the movie.