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Quick answer: If you loved Beach Read by Emily Henry, try People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry, The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary, The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert, Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld and Writers and Lovers by Lily King.
Beach Read follows January Andrews, a romance writer who no longer believes in happy endings, and Augustus Everett, a literary novelist who writes bleak books. Stuck as neighbors in a lake town, they make a bet to swap genres for the summer. It’s funny and romantic, but it also deals with grief, family secrets and writer’s block. If you loved its mix of banter and depth, the books below offer rom-coms with real feeling. Most are adult romances with some open-door scenes.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love Beach Read
Readers love Beach Read because it is a rom-com that takes sadness seriously. Emily Henry gives January a messy grief after her father’s death and the discovery of his affair, and Gus a dark past of his own. Their writing bet leads to research trips to a cult site and fun dates, while their banter crackles. It’s also a love letter to books and writers, which makes it perfect for readers who enjoy stories about the people who make stories.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about Beach Read: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| People We Meet on Vacation | Emily Henry | Romance | More Emily Henry |
| The Flatshare | Beth O’Leary | Romance | Quirky setups |
| The Hating Game | Sally Thorne | Romance | Office rivals |
| Get a Life, Chloe Brown | Talia Hibbert | Romance | Funny, diverse rom-com |
| Romantic Comedy | Curtis Sittenfeld | Romance | Writers in love |
| Writers and Lovers | Lily King | Literary fiction | Writers’ lives |
| Seven Days in June | Tia Williams | Romance | Two writers’ second chance |
| The Kiss Quotient | Helen Hoang | Romance | Steamy and sweet |
| Book Lovers | Emily Henry | Romance | Bookish banter |
| Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating | Christina Lauren | Romance | Friends to lovers |
| Funny Story | Emily Henry | Romance | Summer healing |
| Float Plan | Trish Doller | Romance | Grief and travel |
| Every Summer After | Carley Fortune | Romance | Summer nostalgia |
| The Spanish Love Deception | Elena Armas | Romance | Fake dating |
| Yours Truly | Abby Jimenez | Romance | Letters and humor |
1. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Best friends Poppy and Alex take one last summer trip to fix their friendship. It’s funny, nostalgic and romantic.
2. The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
Tiffy and Leon share a flat and a bed, at different times, without ever meeting. They fall in love through notes.
3. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Two assistants who hate each other compete for the same promotion. It’s full of sharp banter.
4. Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
A woman with chronic illness makes a list to live more boldly and hires her grumpy building superintendent to help.
5. Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
A sketch comedy writer falls for a pop star who hosts her show. It’s smart and funny about fame and self-doubt.
6. Writers and Lovers by Lily King
A grieving waitress working on her novel is torn between two men. It’s quieter but deeply felt.
7. Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
Two authors who loved each other as teens reunite at a literary event. It’s sexy and emotional.
8. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
An autistic economist hires an escort to teach her about relationships. It’s tender and steamy.
9. Book Lovers by Emily Henry
A literary agent and an editor keep meeting in a small town. It’s sharp and full of sister love.
10. Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren
Two friends set each other up on disastrous double dates. It’s silly and charming.
11. Funny Story by Emily Henry
Two jilted people become roommates in a lake town and fake-date. It’s warm and funny.
12. Float Plan by Trish Doller
After her fiancé’s death, Anna sails his boat across the Caribbean with a hired sailor. It’s healing and romantic.
13. Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
A woman returns to the lake where she fell in love as a teen. It’s emotional and nostalgic.
14. The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
Catalina needs a date for her sister’s wedding in Spain and reluctantly takes her annoying coworker.
15. Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
Two doctors bond through letters after a bad start. It’s funny and big-hearted.
How to Pick Your Next Rom-Com After Beach Read
- Loved the writers? Romantic Comedy, Seven Days in June and Writers and Lovers.
- Want more Emily Henry? People We Meet on Vacation and Book Lovers.
- Want banter? The Hating Game and The Spanish Love Deception.
- Want grief and healing? Float Plan.
- Want quirky setups? The Flatshare.
- Want summer lakes? Every Summer After and Funny Story.
Emily Henry Books in Order of Publication
Emily Henry’s adult romances are Beach Read (2020), People We Meet on Vacation (2021), Book Lovers (2022), Happy Place (2023), Funny Story (2024) and Great Big Beautiful Life (2025). They are all standalones, so you can read them in any order. Beach Read and Book Lovers share the most bookish settings, while People We Meet on Vacation and Happy Place lean more into nostalgia and friendship. Before these, she wrote young adult novels, including A Million Junes and When the Sky Fell on Splendor.
Related: books like Happy Place and best romance books for book clubs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What book is most like Beach Read?
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry is the closest match, followed by Romantic Comedy and The Flatshare.
Is Beach Read spicy?
It has a few open-door scenes, but the focus is on the banter and emotional story.
What is Beach Read about?
Two writers swap genres for a summer and fall in love while dealing with grief and family secrets.