24 Book Club Discussion Questions for Beach Read by Emily Henry

Whether you're discussing Beach Read with friends or connecting with fellow readers on Bookum, these questions will help spark rich conversation about grief, creativity, romantic tension, and second chances. Emily Henry’s witty, emotional novel offers plenty to unpack from writer's block to personal healing, to what it means to tell a love story honestly.

Characters, Relationships & Emotional Truths

1 - How did your perception of January evolve as she dealt with grief and writer’s block?

2 - What emotional wounds does Gus carry, and how do they shape his worldview?

3 - How does their shared history influence the tension between January and Gus in the present?

4 - Do you think January and Gus are emotionally compatible, or do opposites attract here?

5 - How do the side characters like January’s best friend or her agent support or challenge her growth?

Plot, Stakes & Real-World Parallels

6 - How does the book portray the creative process, particularly when dealing with personal trauma?

7 - What do you think about the book’s portrayal of genre (romance vs. literary fiction)?

8 - Was January’s discovery about her father handled in a realistic, emotionally compelling way?

9 - What role does setting (the beach house, the small town) play in their emotional transformations?

10 - How does their book-writing “swap” shape their relationship and what do they each learn from it?

Conflict, Humor & Growth

11 - Which scene made you laugh out loud, and which one hit you hardest emotionally?

12 - How does Emily Henry balance the tone between romantic comedy and serious drama?

13 - What internal conflicts make it difficult for January to open up to Gus?

14 - How do vulnerability and honesty evolve in their relationship over the course of the novel?

15 - Did the pacing and emotional arc of the romance feel authentic to you?

Big Themes & Commentary

16 - What does Beach Read suggest about the stories we tell ourselves to cope with loss?

17 - How does the novel challenge or reaffirm what readers expect from romance fiction?

18 - How are forgiveness and reconciliation explored both romantically and in terms of family?

19 - What role does emotional safety play in helping both characters move forward?

20 - Did you see their relationship as healing, transformative, or both?

Final Reflection & Reader Engagement

21 - If you could ask January or Gus one question, what would it be?

22 - How does Beach Read compare to other Emily Henry novels you’ve read? Is it your favorite?

23 -Discuss the similarities in humor and banter between Beach Read and Emily Henry's other novels, such as People We Meet on Vacation.

24 - What quote, moment, or metaphor from the book stuck with you the most and why?

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