Synopsis: “A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.They’re polar opposites.In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they’re living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer’s block.Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.”Reviews: "Once I started Beach Read I legit did not put it down."One of... Oprah Magazine's most anticipated romance novels of 2020 Books to read in 2020 Shereads' Most Anticipated Books of Summer 2020"Reader, I swooned! Beach Read is a breath of fresh air. My heart ached for January, and Gus is to die for - a steamy, smart and perceptive romance. I was engrossed!"--Josie Silver, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One Day in December "This is a touching and heartfelt book about love, betrayal, grief, failure, and learning how to love again. I adored going along on Gus and January's journey, and I closed this book with a satisfied sigh."--Jasmine Guillory, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Proposal "Beach Read is original, sparkling bright, and layered with feeling. Has trying to see the world through your long time crush/rival's eyes ever been this potent and poignant? If whipcrack banter and foggy sexual tension is your catnip, you'll adore this book."--Sally Thorne, USA Today bestselling author of The Hating Game and 99 Percent Mine "Beach Read is exactly the witty, charming, and swoony novel we always want; it also happens to be the unexpected wallop of emotional wisdom and sly social commentary we need right now. I adored it." --Julia Whelan, author of My Oxford Year "Beach Read by Emily Henry has everything the title promises--a romping plot, family secrets, and the thrill of falling in love, all set on the sweeping shores of eastern Lake Michigan. I cannot wait to read what Henry writes next." --Amy E. Reichert, author The Coincidence of Coconut Cake and The Optimist's Guide to Letting Go "Delightfully romantic and slyly poignant, Beach Read is brimming with crackling banter and engrossing prose. It has every flavor of booklover catnip: rivalry, creative struggle, family secrets, and the sweet head-over-heels tumble into love. Emily Henry's Beach Read is 2020's perfect anywhere read."--Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners "If you liked Sally Thorne's The Hating Game and Linda Holmes's Evvie Drake Starts Over, you will definitely be into this, which feels like their spawn. (No one asked me to say this, by the way. I'm just high on that happy-sad feeling of finishing a book I enjoyed, that I wish wasn't over.) Well played."--Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, best-selling authors of The Royal We"Readers are sure to fall hard for this meta, heartfelt take on the romance genre."--Publishers Weekly (starred review) "A heartfelt look at taking second chances, in life and in love."--Kirkus Reviews "This will still sweep readers off their feet. January's first-person narration is suitably poetic and effervescent, the small-town beach setting is charming, and the romance is achingly swoony."--Booklist
Dimensions (Overall): 8.2 Inches (H) x 5.4 Inch (W) x 1 Inch (D)
Weight: .7 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 384
Genre: Fiction
Sub-Genre: Romance
Publisher: Berkley Books
Format: Paperback
Author: Emily Henry
Language: English
Street Date: May 19, 2020
TCIN: 79328616
UPC: 9781984806734
Item Number (DPCI): 059-04-1120
Origin: Made in the USA
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Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 1 inches length x 5.5 inches width x 8.25 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.75 pounds
We regret that this item cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.
This item cannot be shipped to the following locations: American Samoa (see also separate entry under AS), Guam (see also separate entry under GU), Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico (see also separate entry under PR), United States Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands, U.S., APO/FPO, Alaska, Hawaii
Return details
This item can be returned to any Target store or Target.com.
This item must be returned within 30 days of the date it was purchased in store, delivered to the guest, delivered by a Shipt shopper, or picked up by the guest.
Have been reading a lot of Emily Henry and loving this series for travels, commutes, plane rides whenever I can do some light reading. Bought this in store and the cover was in creased condition. Otherwise the book was in great shape, no concerns.
Claudia
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5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommendWould recommend
26 March, 2026Verified purchase
(no review title)
Came quicker than expected. A great heartfelt quick read.
Abby
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5 out of 5 stars
25 December, 2025
(no review title)
Amazing book!
Ava
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5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommendWould recommend
30 September, 2025Verified purchase
Amazing as always! Thanks E.H
This book was amazing! A bit more of a slow burn than Emily's newest writings but still amazing! It was witty as always and the banter was soooo good! At first I was like how will this work out and then it all connected amazingly. I feel like all of her books tell a deeper story and truly captivate readers (at least myself) and I feel Immersed into the story! I'll miss these characters but wow was it a great beautiful story with tons of life lessons, pain, truths, and love!
NaturalReviewer
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5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommendWould recommend
10 June, 2025Verified purchase
Good read
I haven’t finished the book yet but can’t put it down. This one is good
Kms7988
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5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommendWould recommend
15 September, 2024Verified purchase
Of course this was good
Fantastic summer read.
DK
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4 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommendWould recommend
2 August, 2024Verified purchase
Fun Summer Book
Enjoyable and quick summer read!
Bekah
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2 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommendWould not recommend
4 February, 2024
Slow book
To be honest, I liked the characters in general, but I hate to say it, it’s the only book I did not finish in my list of books to read in 2023 because I just could not get through it, I would try and try to read it, but would get bored.
Abbey
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5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommendWould recommend
23 September, 2023Verified purchase
Fun summer book
This was such a cute book! One of my patient’s recommended it to me, glad she did!
bridgetadelemc
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5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommendWould recommend
4 September, 2023
This book is amazing!
This book is wonderful!!! January and Gus had such a beautiful, complex romance … and such complicated lives, individually. I was not prepared for how much I would love this book and how invested I would get in this story. 10/10, I definitely recommend. 😍😀
BC
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5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommendWould recommend
14 July, 2023Verified purchase
Worth your time & money
I laughed, I cried, my heart swelled. Fantastic from start to finish
Summer Reads
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5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommendWould recommend
17 June, 2023Verified purchase
Great book!
It’s a great weekend read ❤️
SS14
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5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommendWould recommend
19 April, 2023Verified purchase
Cute romance
This was a cute, easy romance read.
ereciew
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1 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommendWould not recommend
11 April, 2023Verified purchase
Very predictable, ordinary romance novel
The plot line was so boring. How is this on the New York Times Bestseller list? I only made it to the end because I was hoping for a twist ending, something to make it worthy of the 5-star reviews. I knew exactly what was going to happen when I started reading it. I have never been so disappointed in a book and the people writing reviews of books.
MN Mama
13 guests found this review helpful. Did you?
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommendWould recommend
26 February, 2023Verified purchase
Good
This was a very good very cute romance book
Syd
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5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommendWould recommend
15 February, 2023Verified purchase
Great beach read! Haha
I brought this to Mexico to read on the beach. Such a good book. I love books with tropes like this one. An easy, light hearted, yet addicting and romantic read. Love Emily Henry!
Kelsey Joy
6 guests found this review helpful. Did you?
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommendWould recommend
1 February, 2023Verified purchase
A Favorite
My favorite Emily Henry book so far.
Vanessa
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5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommendWould recommend
18 December, 2022Verified purchase
Fun, quick read
Love this author, love this book and love the convenience of buying books through Target.
Erinbeth05
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5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommendWould recommend
21 November, 2022Verified purchase
Love this book
Such a fun read. I always enjoy her books
Smilesss
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5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommendWould recommend
14 September, 2022
Highly recommend
I absolutely loved the banter between Gus and January.