Dearest gentle readers, as you’re waiting for updates on the star-crossed love affair between Benedict Bridgerton and his Lady in Silver—oh wait, wrong romance novel-verse. I’m actually here to inform you that Bridgerton alum Phoebe Dynevor has joined another project worth gossiping about: the sinema adaptation of Emily Henry’s best-selling book, Beach Read.
Here’s everything we know about the latest sinema adaptation destined to be picked apart by BookTok:
What is Beach Read about?
Published in 2020, Beach Read is the first best-selling adult romance novel by rom-com titan Emily Henry. The book spans a sun-soaked summer as a jaded romance writer and her college literary rival agree to swap genres in hopes of breaking through similar bouts of writer’s block.
Basically, August “Gus” Everett is used to pretentious prose and killing off his characters, while January Andrews feels trapped by “happily ever afters” in the wake of her father’s death. When the pair find themselves staying in neighboring lake houses in Michigan, they make a bet: Gus must give his next novel a happy ending, while January will produce a more serious piece of literary fiction.
The caveat: Gus makes January “promise not to fall in love with me,” while they embark on multiple “research” field trips that feel a whole lot like dates.
Beach Read by Emily Henry
Amazon
Who is Emily Henry?
Emily Henry is a 35-year-old romance writer who’s penned six best-selling adult romance novels over the past five years, selling over 10 million copies worldwide. Her books’ popularity has sparked multiple Hollywood deals and a strong partnership with Netflix.
Though Beach Read was Emily Henry’s first foray into adult romance—she’d already penned three YA books—it’s not her first project to be made into a sinema. That honor went to People We Meet on Vacation starring Tom Blyth and Emily Bader, which was released on Netflix this past January.
Who has been cast in Beach Read?
We have our leads! On February 19, Deadline announced that Bridgerton alum Phoebe Dynevor will take on the role of January Andrews.
And on April 14 we found out that Patrick Schwarzenegger will star alongside her as Gus. The White Lotus star took to Instagram to share the news, saying “I’m so excited for this!!!” He thanked Dynevor, the film’s director Yulin Kuang, and Henry for trusting him with the role.
“I will do everything possible to make the fans happy & proud and bring your brilliant writing to life,” he wrote. “PS- my wife is obsessed with you!”
Prior to this announcement, many fans were rallying for Ayo Edebiri and Paul Mescal, but many readers are still excited to watch the duo bring “two beloved book characters to life 🥹.”
Who is working behind the scenes?
After cowriting the script for People We Meet on Vacation, filmmaker and author Kuang is stepping into the driver’s seat to helm this project as well. Deadline first announced this news back in April 2023.
When is the Beach Read release date?
TBD. Watch this space.
This article will be updated.
