Pack your bags and head to Lake Michigan, because the Beach Read movie is officially a go—and the casting is a total dream come true!
After years of fan-casting and frantic TikTok theories, we finally have our January Andrews and Augustus “Gus” Everett. Bridgerton alum Phoebe Dynevor and The White Lotus star Patrick Schwarzenegger are set to lead the highly anticipated film adaptation of Emily Henry’s hit romance novel.
The news has sent the “BookTok” community into a total frenzy, with fans across Instagram and X (Twitter) celebrating the pairing. But if you think you’re excited, just wait until you hear how the director described their first meeting.
Writer and director Yulin Kuang took to Instagram to share the “electric” journey of finding the perfect pair. While she initially described Patrick as a “slow burn” in her notes, it was his chemistry with Phoebe that sealed the deal.
“Once we knew Phoebe would be our January, my efforts became more focused and specific,” Kuang shared. “The moment Patrick sat across from her, there was something electric in the room with us.”
Kuang even revealed a behind-the-scenes moment that will make any romance fan’s heart skip a beat. After the chemistry reads, Phoebe herself reportedly turned to the director and said, “It’s obviously Patrick, isn’t it?”
“I thought to myself, ‘So she feels it too,'” Kuang added. “‘There’s magic to chase here.'”
For those who need a refresher on why everyone is obsessed with this story, Beach Read follows January Andrews, a successful romance novelist struggling with writer’s block and the crushing grief of her father’s death.
When she retreats to her father’s summer cabin on Lake Michigan, she discovers he kept massive secrets from her—and that her neighbor is none other than her college rival, the famous (and moody) literary author Gus Everett.
The two rivals strike a deal to swap genres for the summer to fix their creative blocks, vowing that they definitely won’t fall in love. But as any Emily Henry reader knows, those “no romance” pacts never quite go according to plan!
While we don’t have a release date just yet, the project is backed by th Century Studios, meaning this love story is headed straight for the big screen.
The film is being produced by Neal H. Moritz’s Original Film, with Yulin Kuang—who also co-wrote the People We Meet on Vacation adaptation—taking the lead.
Patrick Schwarzenegger is currently riding a wave of success following his stint in The White Lotus Season , while Phoebe Dynevor continues to be the ultimate period-drama-to-modern-romance crossover queen.
Between the “rivals-to-lovers” trope and this powerhouse casting, Beach Read is shaping up to be the viral movie event of the year.
Are you Team January or Team Gus? One thing is for sure: we’ll be waiting at the bookstore—and the theater—for this one!
