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  • Beach Read

  • By: Emily Henry
  • Narrated by: Julia Whelan
  • Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (734 ratings)

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Beach Read cover art

Beach Read

By: Emily Henry
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
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Publisher's Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

Binge-watched Normal People and Love Is Blind and now looking to escape into another suitably steamy love story? Look no further....

Two writers, one holiday. A romcom waiting to happen....

January is a hopeless romantic who narrates her life like she's the lead in a blockbuster movie.

Gus is a serious literary type who thinks true love is a fairy-tale.

But January and Gus have more in common than you'd think:

They're both broke.

They've got crippling writer's block.

And they need to write best sellers before summer ends.

The result? A bet to swap genres and see who gets published first.

The risk? In telling each other's stories, their worlds might be changed entirely....

Set over one sizzling summer, Beach Read is a witty love story that will make you laugh a lot, cry a little and fall head over heels. For fans of The Flat Share and If I Never Met You.

©2020 Emily Henry (P)2020 Penguin Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: Romance

Critic Reviews

"The hottest book of the summer." (Josie Silver, author of best-selling One Day in December)

"The perfect escapist romp." (Laura Jane Williams, author of Our Stop)

What listeners say about Beach Read

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Recommended

first time writing a review. Im a working mother of 3 kids. Listened to this book every chance I got and first book to make me cry. I loved the story.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Perfect beach read

I read this book while on holidays at the beach. Thoroughly enjoyed it! I found it to be a classic romantic comedy whilst at the same time it poked fun at the genre. While it didn’t take itself too seriously it was also deep, thoughtful, well written and very funny. Loved it :-)

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

enjoyable book with flaws

I heavily enjoyed this book towards the last third.
once the characters expand past their love/hate trope it becomes a thoroughly enjoyable novel.

very well read too, characters and emotion are very believable.

in my opinion if you can past the middle act it's well worth it in the end

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful story, slightly annoying narrating

At first I didn’t know if I could follow through with this audiobook as the narrators character voice for Gus was extremely annoying and sounded like an old man for someone who is in his thirties… but I became hooked on the story that I eventually got passed it! Romance, comedy, drama, everything I look for in an easy listening book. Will definitely go on to read/listen more of Emily Henry’s work now.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love it !!

Great story. Totally loved the book had me hooked from the start. Great narration also.
Highly recommend.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely LOVED this book!!

What a beautifully written, gorgeous story of love, loss and forgiveness. Highly recommend this book!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I might have found my new fave

This is my 2nd Emily Henry book. I always feel trepidation when I find a book I love (You and me on Vacation) then try another by the author with fingers crossed that the first one wasn't a fluke.
1 chapter in and I was hooked. Of course I'm here for the rom com... and there's plenty of romance and comedy, but I loved the extra dimension that January and Gus's back stories and supporting characters brought to the experience.
Loved this book.
Buy it.
Julia Whelan is a narrative magician.
I wish the star ratings went to 10.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely Loved This Book!

I've not reviewed a book before but this one is well worth the effort! I found myself feeling that I really knew the characters in the book and part of me didn't want to finish it because then there would be no more Augustus and January. I think Emily Henry has become my new favourite author! I also feel that the way Julia narrated the story added to how I felt. I found myself in tears at times because of the emotion the story evoked. When I did finish the book all I wanted to do was go back to the beginning and start again! I can't recommend this book enough!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Deeper than the name suggests

Multidimensional characters, cleverly hilarious banter and the depth to the story all contribute to making this a great listen. Loved it.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Heartwarming, funny, five stars

Loved this book, specifically, the characters in this book. Funny, fast paced, a tender look at life and love.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 03-09-2023

I love the full circle moments

It was a really fun romcom book. The two characters dived into each other’s worlds as a part of a deal. I was smiling, laughing and crying, in my opinion the best tell that a romcom has done it’s job, I enjoyed her previous book You and me on vacation but I think this one is my favorite out of the two.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Amazon Customer
  • 15-07-2022

Really good fun

I think the narrator is so good it makes good stories great

This one kept me wrong footed to the end. It was engaging and had me hooked. I don’t normally follow this genre but I genuinely like this author.

The narrator combo makes it awesome.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • H C FRASER-MACKENZIE
  • 10-04-2022

Loved it

Surprising depth in a somewhat predictable story. This is not just a read for the beach!

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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  • gwyndolin
  • 24-10-2021

I wish I liked this

I am so sad that I disagree with everyone on this one. I just was so bored halfway through I couldn't finish it. I didn't care about the characters. It started off strongly but their relationship was so tepid and the conflict was so forced.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Anonymous User
  • 02-09-2020

Finished it in a day

On a nutshell:

Great read
Didn't feel like a typical romance
Funny
Depth in the characters


In more detail:
Going into this I had wanted a cosy escape and this book delivered while still having elements that brought depth to the story and characters. It's my first time reading this author.

The book is funny and sweet which is exactly what I wanted but also had elements of family issues, dealing with struggles and exploring friendship that made the story interesting, but didn't dwell on them in a way that would get you down. These were the elements that gave you insight into the characters rather than being the focus point.

I will say there is one single cringey line in the book. When you do read the book you will spot it (hint: something about a bunny). But other than that single line it was lovely!

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  • Mr. Ian Aldred
  • 21-05-2021

Not what I expected - loved it

The book grabbed me from the first chapter and couldn’t stop listening.

The story line was good and the characters were well written and the banter between them was smart.

If you want a book that’s an easy read with a good story then give this a go!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • jaxslugsta
  • 19-02-2021

Funny, romancey and an easy read

I really enjoyed listening. I felt I could relate to January and it make you want to write 😊

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Debs
  • 29-11-2020

Loved it

I enjoyed listening to the narrator, very nice tone to her voice. I listened as I read along with the physical book. Would listen to it again, one day!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Jill Kirtley
  • 25-06-2020

I loved it!

This was the first book I've read by Emily Henry and I loved it. For the most part it’s a light read with lots of laugh out loud funny moments, mostly due to the hilarious witty banter between January and Gus. With the wonderful and well written storyline plus the amazing narrating talent of Julia Whelan this is one book that you won’t want to miss!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Petya
  • 20-06-2020

Beach Read

Just read it. Seriously, buy it and listen to it and get past the first chapter or two and then dissolve in it. Give it a chance and in return it will give you more than you expected, as books should 🔆🧡

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Clare
  • 12-09-2023

Enjoyable listen spoilers

A little Barbara Cartland in places but a really enjoyable listen. Really enjoyed the storyline two writers with a block and two young people going full circle to find each other eventually and create that happy ever after ending.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Sista Soliman
  • 31-08-2023

❤️

I really enjoyed it ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ loved everything about it

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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Anonymous User
  • 25-08-2023

Loved it!

I liked this book more than I expected. Great summer book. Julia Whelan did an amazing job!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Literary Blueberry
  • 03-08-2023

Absolutely in love with Emily Henry's writing

Everything in this book was perfect, without a doubt one of my favourite romance books!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Marcus
  • 17-07-2023

beach read 🏝

i loved this book so much. couldn’t stop smiling. at first i wasn’t the biggest fan that’s why it’s 4 starts:) but as i got more into the audiobook i noticed how much i loved it. would recommend to people that love the “ main characters are readers “ genre. i love this genre which made me understand why i loved this.

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