The romantic comedy has never been more back, and that’s for good reason. Thanks to the rise of BookTok and other online communities, studios and streamers are now finding that the general public is craving yearning, will-they-won’t-they, and every other trope under the sun.
However, on May 7th, 2027, a rom-com with a new twist on these tropes might shake up the game. Beach Read, an adaptation from the 2020 book by Emily Henry, is set to release on that day, and despite some controversy, it’s gearing up to be the rom-com to watch.
Beach Read Is a Breezy Summer Romance For The New Generation
If you haven’t had the opportunity to pick up Beach Read from your local library or bookstore, here’s what you can expect. The plot centers around two authors, romance writer January Andrews and serious literature writer Gus Everett, encountering each other while on separate writer’s retreats in the same lake house community.
The two were college rivals and still carry that competitiveness in their literary careers, as evident by the daunting challenge they agree to: write a novel in the other’s genre. As each other’s writer’s block starts to unwind, the two begin to grow closer, sparking an unlikely romance along the way.
Beach Read will be written and directed by Yulin Kuang, who previously worked on another Emily Henry adaptation titled People We Met on Vacation. Bridgerton’s very own Phoebe Dynevor will portray January, while Gus will be played by Patrick Schwarzenegger. Kevin Bacon, Andie MacDowell, Kristen Davis, Tig Notaro, and Inanna Sarkis will also star.
This film joins what is largely considered the romantic comedy renaissance of the 2020s. This surge in genre popularity has been fueled in part by adaptations of popular books or book series. It shouldn’t be a surprise, then, that Beach Read was caught up in this trend, as it is largely considered Henry’s best book. With a fun hook that brings the love interests together and enough yearning to make readers’ hearts burst out of their chests, it has the potential to become a true hit at the box office if adapted in the right way.
Can Beach Read Succeed Despite Casting Backlash?
Despite almost every part of Beach Read being prime rom-com blockbuster material, there might be one thing standing in its way of truly hitting it big: its casting for Gus. While Schwarzenegger has proven himself a capable actor in The White Lotus and Gen V, many fans of the novel were quick to denounce the decision. This backlash ranged from claiming he wasn’t what they envisioned for the character to prying into the actor’s nepo-baby status. It got so severe that Kuang restricted comments for both the casting and filming announcement posts on Instagram.
Harassment is a huge no-no, even under the parasocial guise of protecting one’s favorite book from a bad adaptation. However, the backlash raises an interesting question of whether Beach Read can stand on its own regardless of fan criticism. Schwarzenegger could surpass expectations and be a great Gus, proving the naysayers wrong. At the very least, those who have never heard of the original book could be enticed by the chemistry between him and Dynevor in previews, and then be motivated to pick up a great book in the meantime.
Beach Read Is Not The Only Emily Henry Adaptation In The Works
Henry has become one of the greatest BookTok success stories, growing a massive fanbase across social media that translated into major sales. This makes it no surprise that her books have been optioned for film and television. In fact, one of these has already been released.
Yulin Kuang’s previously mentioned People We Meet on Vacation adaptation was released on Netflix in January 2026 to instant streaming success. It centers around travel writer Poppy (Emily Bader) and English teacher Alex (Tom Blyth), two former friends who initially bonded over the incidental travels they found themselves on. When they reconnect at a destination wedding, they find themselves forced to confront why they distanced themselves from each other in the first place.
There are also plans to adapt the 2022 novel Book Lovers, with Girls writer Sarah Heyward in charge of the script. Unfortunately, news on that adaptation has been slow since its announcement in 2023.
Beach Read will mark the end of one particular trend of Henry’s adaptations. Shortly after the release of People We Meet on Vacation, the streamer announced that it would release films based on the author’s novels Funny Story and Happy Place. These would be an especially big deal, as their screenplays would be written by Henry herself. It is a shame that Beach Read did not receive this treatment, but we can only look forward to it and what is next in store for Henry’s universe of beautiful rom-coms.