Beach Read

The single best introduction to romance fiction. Emily Henry’s 2020 debut about two writers stuck in neighboring beach houses is funny, warm, and surprisingly deep, and it works especially well for readers who think they do not like romance.

Why Start Here

January Andrews writes romance novels. Augustus Everett writes bleak literary fiction. They were college rivals who have not spoken in years. Now, through a twist of circumstance, they are spending the summer next door to each other on the shores of Lake Michigan, both fighting writer’s block, both dealing with personal crises. They make a bet: she will write his kind of book, and he will write hers.

That premise sounds light, and parts of the novel are genuinely laugh-out-loud funny. But Henry uses the romantic comedy framework to explore real grief, disillusionment, and the question of whether believing in love is naive or brave. January is reeling from a family secret that has shattered her ability to write happy endings. Gus is haunted by a story he investigated that he cannot let go of. Their growing connection is not just charming. It is the thing that forces both of them to be honest about what they have been avoiding.

What makes this such an effective gateway into romance is that the book is self-aware about the genre without being condescending. January defends romance fiction throughout the novel, and the story itself proves her right. At 384 pages, it reads fast and leaves you wanting more.

What to Expect

A witty, emotionally layered romantic comedy with real substance beneath the banter. Alternating moments of humor and genuine heartbreak. Two characters who challenge each other intellectually and emotionally. A love story that earns its happy ending by making both characters confront difficult truths first. If you have ever been told romance is not “real literature,” this is the book that will change your mind.