Best Books Like Beach Read by Emily Henry

Whether you enjoyed the small lakeside setting, the writing careers of the main characters, or the enemies-to-lovers aspect of Beach Read, we think you’ll enjoy the romance novels we’ve collected for this list of book recommendations!

About Beach Read

In Beach Read, former grad school classmates become neighbors after January’s dad passes away and she inherits his Lake Michigan home. The book has moments of cute sitcom comedy while also digging deeper at times as January and Gus are both trying to overcome family betrayals and writer’s block. When they agree to swap genres, we’re left with a romance writer researching a local cult and an often-cranky literary author writing a love story.

Romance Books Like Beach Read

Funny Story book cover

Book Summary

After Daphne makes a big move to her fiancé Peter’s lakeside hometown, he turns her future upside down by discovering he’s actually in love with Petra, his childhood best friend. Now, Daphne is stuck in a new town with no friends. She at least has her dream job as a children’s librarian (which barely covers her bills).

When Daphne needs a roommate, she comes up with Miles, the only other person who can understand her recent heartbreak. Miles was engaged to Petra before Peter moved back to town.

Daphne and Miles mostly avoid each other until they decide to team up and begin posting misleading photos of their summer adventures together. As they partake in fake adventures, surely Daphne won’t fall for her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex, right?

The Book Girls Say…

While we enjoy all of Emily Henry’s books, we think Funny Story‘s lakeside setting will be perfect for fans of Beach Read!

Rom-commers book cover.

Book Summary

Emma has spent her life as an aspiring (and talented) screenwriter, but a past family tragedy keeps her in Texas as a full-time caregiver. However, when the opportunity of a lifetime is presented, it may finally be her chance to pursue the career of her dreams.

Emma’s screenwriting idol, Charlie Yates, has written his first romance script – and it’s terrible. His agent wants to bring in Emma to help with the rewrite, but there are problems. Charlie is cranky, he doesn’t work with co-writers, and he doesn’t believe in love.

Can Emma convince him that romance and love exist? And, can her younger sister handle caring for their dad while she is away?

The Book Girls Say…

Like Emily Henry, Katherine Center’s books bring a page-turning mix of humor, emotion, and serious chemistry between the characters. You’ll love and hate almost every character at different points because she writes in a way that makes you care about each one. Like the rest of us, they’re flawed humans who don’t always say the right thing.

While this is a rom-com by every definition, be warned that there are also enough meaty topics to make it a stellar book club pick. The final chapters are especially lovely, with a perspective on grief that is likely to trigger some reflection.

Suite Spot Book Cover

Book Summary

When Rachel is fired from her management job at a Miami Beach luxury hotel – for something she didn’t even do – the single mom needs to find a new job as soon as possible. She hears about a position at a brewery hotel on Kelleys Island. The man who offered her the job over the phone sounded incredibly grumpy, but she’s desperate, so she packs up and makes the move.

When she arrives, she finds that the owner, Mason, knows a lot about brewing beer, but almost nothing about running a hotel. If you can even call it a hotel – it’s barely more than a foundation and studs. She considers leaving, but she desperately needs a chance to rebuild a life for herself and her daughter Maisie. When Mason offers her full control of the design of the cabins/hotel, in addition to her management role, she decides to stay.

The Book Girls Say…

In addition to being a fun, light read, this novel is very descriptive of Kelleys Island and the nearby small towns.

illustrated book cover with yellow house on a beach.

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

98% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

Kat and Blake first met at summer camp when they were just 12 years old. They had an instant connection, but their friendship was shattered when they learned that they were not just besties, but also half-sisters.

Fifteen years later, following the sudden death of their father, Kat and Blake discover that he’s left both of them the family beach house in Destin, Florida. This joint inheritance puts the sisters at immediate odds. Blake desperately needs the money (after being demoted from nanny to dog nanny) and wants to sell the house. Social media influencer Kat, on the other hand, desperately wants to hold onto the house because it holds so many happy childhood memories.

The two agree that they’ll spend the summer renovating the run-down beach house, and then Kat will buy Blake out. They immediately begin butting heads when Blake’s renovation plans don’t align with Kat’s artistic vision. As the summer goes on, the two will have to come to terms with their shared past and learn how to become sisters.

The Book Girls Say…

If you enjoyed the family aspect of January dealing with her father’s death and inherieted house, this is a good pick! Each sister finds herself drawn into a summer romance (complete with a few steamy scenes), but ultimately this is more a book about sisterhood that may even cause you to shed some tears.

Next-Door Nemesis book cover

Book Summary

The suburbs get sexy in this war between neighbors. Collins just moved back to her parent’s home and didn’t expect to be spending her days tending to the compost pile with her dad and fighting with an old nemesis.

Nathaniel is living his dream of a quiet suburban life in his hometown. However, things became nightmare-ish when former classmate Collins moved back home. They started as childhood friends, but high school pulled them apart and turned them enemies. Now, their battle continues as Collins challenges Nathaniel’s bid for the HOA presidency. However, the more their rivalry heats up, the more they seem to be pulled together.

The Book Girls Say…

Also Featured on These Book Lists:

21 Best Enemies to Lovers Books

Right on Cue book cover

Book Summary

Emmy is a screenwriter known as the queen of romantic comedies. However, a tragedy in her own life made her stop believing in happy endings. After a long break, she’s been convinced to return to her career by not only writing but also starring in a rom-com, even though it’s been a decade since she has been in front of the camera.

When her co-star is injured, the replacement male lead is dreamy superstar actor Grayson West. It’s a win for the film, but a disaster for Emmy, who blames Grayson for the end of her acting career ten years earlier.

The friction between Emmy & Grayson floats between awkwardness and sexual tension. They need to figure out how to control their energy with each other quickly before the whole movie is a bust.

The Book Girls Say…

A writer as the main character + an enemies to lovers plot with some steamy scenes? Sign us up!

Also Featured on These Book Lists:

21 Best Enemies to Lovers Books

How to End a Love Story book cover

Book Summary

It’s been thirteen years since Helen and Grant were connected through a tragedy, and they haven’t seen each other since. Helen is a bestselling author working on an adaption of her popular YA novels. She hopes that spending time in LA will help her forget her past.

Grant has also done everything possible to move on, but still has panic attacks. He hopes his new screenwriting job will open new doors in his career. Could the key to both of them moving forward from the past be accepting each other in the present?

The Book Girls Say…

While this is the debut novel from Yulin Kuang, she was the screenwriter of Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation and is the director of the upcoming Beach Read feature film!

PS: This book is definitely open door with the bedroom scenes and is steamier than Beach Read.

Twice Shy Book Cover

Book Summary

Similar to Beach Read, Twice Shy starts with the main character inheriting a house. In this case, hopeless romantic Maybell gets a home in the Smokies from her Great-Aunt Violet. However, she arrives in Tennessee only to discover the house is falling apart. Perhaps worse, it also comes with a grouchy (and gorgeous) groundkeeper, Wesley.

His future vision for the property is very different from Maybell’s plans. But if they can both step outside of their comfort zones, the results may be worth letting their guards down.

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