Beach Read, by Emily Henry

Successful romance writer January Andrews is struggling to even start her latest novel. This is not surprising as she is reeling from her father’s untimely death, discovery of his infidelity to her cancer stricken mother and the break-up of her long term relationship. January is trying to work while preparing for sale the house on the shores of Lake Michigan that her father left her. Finding her college nemesis, hardened cynic Gus, lives next door sparks a writing challenge – they will each dip in to each other’s genre and see who is more successful. The ensuing friendship, lust and misunderstanding is textbook rather than beach read, with some ludicrous dialogue amid the occasional welcome laughs. While January’s challenges are interesting, most of the characters are one dimensional, including Gus, with too many exercises in diversity box-ticking. Their romance is just not credible, with tortuous twists, tedious turns and mystifying motivations.