A True Opinion on Popular BookTok Author’s Books
Although it’s Henry’s most popular book, I have to rank “Beach Read” last. A classic enemies to lovers trope with rivals in writing, January and Gus.
January moves to North Bear Shores, Michigan after her father’s death. At his funeral, a mysterious women who seems to be a mistress hands her a key and a letter, leaving January a huge house with many unanswered questions. January finds out she lives next to Gus who was her rival in college and as authors. After lots of ignoring each other and bantering, they eventually agree to switch things up and write each others genre, where of course romance brew.
I really do like this trope most of the time, but I feel like it was kind of insane for January to hold a huge grudge against Gus for that long. She is 28 and still has a grudge from when she was 21?
I also felt there was limited chemistry between the characters. I felt like majority of the book was just them writing their books and looking at each other for no reason. Yes, they kissed and went on dates, but it seemed awkward.
The plot was also all over the place, one second they were happy and in love and the next they were ignoring each other. Then there was a cult storyline out of nowhere that they barely address again because they are in love now and all is well, no other issues.
I also felt like I couldn’t relate to January. Your father leaves you a letter to answer any questions you have and you just ignore it? I would’ve ripped open that letter immediately.
Overall, I do feel like “Beach Read” is worth it to at least try, but for me it was the worst book out of the five.
Another enemies to lovers plot in “Book Lovers”. A similar situation to ‘Beach Read’.
Nora is a literary agent who many describe as rude and evil. Her happy and pregnant sister, Libby, asks her to go on a sisters trip to take a break. She chooses a location of a very popular book, Paradise Falls, North Carolina. However, they soon find out the location is not as described in the book. There she bumps into Charlie, a book editor she despises. From there they decide to work together to edit a book. From there a relationship starts with each other.
I did like this book, however it was not very memorable to me, because of that I could barely find things to say in this review. I felt there should’ve been more memorable plot points to it. I also didn’t feel Nora was very likable even though she was supposed to be.
I think this is a good quick read if you are looking for one, but overall it could be better.
This was my first book I read of Henry’s. With the tropes of slowburn and friends to lovers, this book has a great summer feel.
Poppy and Alex had been friends since college and it has always been strictly friendly. They one day decided to take trips in cheap ways to travel the world and Poppy would blog away about their trips. However after an incident that happened years ago they hadn’t been on a trip since. Poppy had a job at a travel magazine and has been miserable since the unspoken incident. To solve this she invites Alex on a trip to Palm Springs and to do it the classic cheap way they know.
This book had a great feel to it and you cheer for Alex and Poppy the whole way. When they finally get together after long chapters of waiting, as a reader your heart bursts.
The use of flashbacks is used perfectly in this book and you get to see Alex and Poppy at many different ages and on many different trips.
What I disliked about this book is how they have this unspoken incident that ruined their friendship and you expect it to be something really bad. Then you find out it was all because they kissed once. You really would end your friendship over one simple kiss?
This is a great book to start with and if you are looking for a summer feel this is the book for you.
“Funny Story” is Henry’s newest book and a good one. It has multiple tropes such as fake dating, and roommate romance.
Daphne is a librarian who moved to Waning Bay, Michigan with her fiance, Peter. She always loved the way he told their love story to people as it seemed to be a funny story. Well of course Peter decided his childhood best friend Petra was his true love so he packed his bags and left on a trip with her. Leaving Daphne in a place she wasn’t from with no one else. She decides the best place for her to go is to live with Petra’s ex, Miles who is also heartbroken and the complete opposite of Peter. They decide to fake date in order to make Petra and Peter mad.
I can’t even describe how fast I read this book, I feel like I can’t give this book the review it deserves. Almost every thing of it was perfect to me. The characters had amazing chemistry and I loved them together. I didn’t think I would like the setting of the book, but it made me want to vacation to Lake Michigan after I read it.
The only part that upset me was when Miles went back to Petra to help her. I’m sorry she betrayed you and found a better girl, but you need to go back to your ex. I knew Henry needed an extra plot point, but that part did aggravate me.
Overall, this book is definitely one of the best and it is worth the read.
“Happy Place” is one of the best books I’ve ever read and my top book so far for 2024. The tropes of one bed, fake dating, and my personal favorite, second chance romance are used perfectly throughout this book.
Harriet was invited on a trip with her friend group and their significant others, Cleo and Kimmy, Parth and Sabrina, and Harriet and Wyn. However, Wyn and Harriet haven’t told anyone they had been broke up for months so the friend group assumes they are still happily engaged. They find out that Sabrina’s dad is selling the house they vacation in every summer, so Wyn and Harriet make the ultimate decision to fake date to make everyone happy.
Similar to “People We Meet on Vacation”, the use of flashbacks is perfect and it allows you to dig deeper on the characters love story. The flashbacks made me fall deeper in love with their relationship and was dying for them to get together again.
Sabrina however was a super annoying character to me and I could not stand her the entire time. She is what made me not like the book as much.
I feel “Happy Place” is a beautiful book and uses all tropes perfectly.
