What We Know So Far About the Film Adaptation of Emily Henry’s ‘Beach Read’
January 2026 marks the anticipated release of People We Meet on Vacation, and the next adaptation of Emily Henry’s work will be Beach Read.
With the lead roles now cast, production on the film—based on Henry’s first adult romance novel released in 2020—is set to begin shortly.
Here’s what we know about the Beach Read movie:
Release Date:
While no official release date has been announced, the film is backed by 20th Century Studios, ensuring a theatrical release.
Cast:
Yulin Kuang, the writer and director, expressed her excitement about the casting process. “Patrick is a slow burn,” she reflected on her first encounter with one of the leads. “There was something about the way he talked about his feelings on love and romance that I couldn’t forget.” However, she was initially uncertain about finding the perfect Gus, acknowledging the character’s significance to readers.
Kuang described the six-month casting process involving extensive review of auditions and meetings. “Once we knew Phoebe would be our January, my efforts became more focused and specific – not on who would play the best Gus according to the text, but who would play the best Gus opposite our specific January,” she noted. The chemistry reads further emphasized the connection: “The moment Patrick sat across from her, there was something electric in the room with us. I checked in with Phoebe after the reads, and she said, ‘It’s obviously Patrick, isn’t it?’ and I thought to myself, ‘So she feels it too.’”
Plot Synopsis:
In Beach Read, the protagonist, Andrews, is a successful romance novelist grappling with writer’s block and mourning her father’s death. She retreats to his summer cabin on Lake Michigan, uncovering long-held family secrets. While preparing the beach house for sale, she unexpectedly encounters Gus Everett, her former college rival and a celebrated author. They agree to swap literary genres in an effort to overcome their creative struggles, while vowing to avoid any summer romance. However, the boundaries set between them may soon blur.
Production Team:
Neal H. Moritz is producing the film through Original Films, with Karina Rahardja serving as executive producer. Sarah Shepard and Catherine Hughes are supervising the project for 20th Century Studios. The literary affairs team, led by Clare Reeth, played a crucial role in acquiring the adaptation rights to the book.
