Emily Henry Reacts to Patrick Schwarzenegger’s Beach Read Role Drama

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Emily Henry is staying in her happy place. 

The author stayed quiet when it was announced that Phoebe Dynevor and Patrick Schwarzenegger would star as the main romantic couple in the movie version of her popular 2020 novel, Beach Read. Now, she’s finally sharing her thoughts on the casting, which received a lot of different reactions.

During her interview on Today on May 19th, Emily explained that she’s taking a step back and letting the adaptation process happen naturally. She described the project as a shared creation – something she and the readers care deeply about, but also something owned by the filmmakers and studio. Ultimately, she feels it’s about trusting their creative direction and enjoying the journey alongside the fans.

She particularly highlighted how talented our writer-director, Yulin Kuang, is, and expressed confidence that she will deliver excellent results.

Despite the criticism, the 35-year-old said it feels incredibly strange and wonderful to finally be making the project a reality.

Emily, whose novel People We Meet on Vacation is now a Netflix film written by Yulin, shared that she’s been receiving emails about cast and crew confirmations that haven’t been announced publicly yet. While she couldn’t reveal any details, she expressed her excitement about the upcoming start of filming.

Back in April, Patrick shared he’d be starring in Beach Read alongside the Bridgerton alum.

He shared his excitement on Instagram Stories on April 14th, writing, “First, I want to thank @emilyhenrywrites for this amazing opportunity! I’m committed to making the fans happy and bringing her fantastic writing to life.”

The 32-year-old actor, whose wife Abby Champion is a huge fan of Emily’s books, described what it was like to audition and what it means to act alongside Phoebe.

He said he was excited to collaborate and develop these characters together. He also mentioned enjoying the chance to work with me during our screen tests.

Immediately after the casting announcement, many book fans voiced their disappointment, feeling that Patrick didn’t match how they pictured the character Gus.

One person expressed their frustration on X, saying they get upset every time they think about the casting choices for the Beach Read movie. Another user went even further, stating they won’t watch the film unless the actors are changed.

Despite the backlash, Phoebe shared she’s jazzed to share the screen with the Gen V actor.

I was incredibly impressed with Patrick Schwarzenegger’s audition! It was amazing to see him embody the character of Gus,” she shared on Instagram on April 14th. “We’re working really hard to do justice to the story and make both the author, Emily Henry, and the fans happy. Keep an eye out for updates!”

For more books being reimagined for the big and small screens this year, keep reading.

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Starring: TBD

Premieres: TBD on Netflix

We’re looking forward to the upcoming adaptation of Henry’s popular 2024 novel! It follows Daphne as she rebuilds her life after her fiancé, Peter, ends their engagement to be with his longtime friend, Petra. Helping her along the way is Miles, Petra’s ex-boyfriend.

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2026-05-19 23:21