Summer's coming to an end - as can definitely be felt here in Malta due to the sporadic showers we've been having for the past week. Because of this, I knew that I had to squeeze in Beach Read by Emily Henry. It's the perfect summery read, and I couldn't imagine reading it once the days got colder and shorter.
Honestly, I wasn't expecting much. Contemporary romance tends to bore me. But I had heard great things about it, so I wanted to give it a shot.
So, what's the story even about? January writes romance. Gus writes literary fiction. When these 2 college rivals meet again, they both decide to challenge the other by swapping genres. And the more they write, the closer to each other they get...
That's what I was expecting going into the book, because that's pretty much all that the synopsis tells you. And, yeah, that is the skeleton of Emily Henry's novel. But Beach Read is also so much more than that. This book isn't just a rivals-to-lovers romance - it also deals with grief, friendship, and poses deep philosophical questions, like 'Why do some people get dealt such a hard hand in life?' The characters have layers that the novel peels back throughout the course of its pages, taking the readers on a journey alongside them.
And for a girl that thought she didn't like reading contemporary romance... Boy, was I wrong! The chemistry between January and Gus was electric. I loved their banter; I thought it was so well written. And, of course, a handful of smutty scenes were also included, which I can't say I minded. At all.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I adored the book. I was fully intrigued throughout, hooked on every single word the characters spoke to each other. I ended up giving it 5 stars, and I would definitely recommend you get your hands on it - especially if you love romance novels!
What's been a recent favourite read of yours? Let us know in the comments!
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