Watch: Emily Henry Addresses Criticism of Patrick Schwarzenegger’s Beach Read Casting
Emily Henry is staying in her happy place.
And that’s why the novelist didn’t wade into the discourse after it was confirmed that Phoebe Dynevor and Patrick Schwarzenegger would play leading love birds January Andrews and Augustus Everett in the film adaptation of her 2020 hit Beach Read. However, now she is officially giving her two cents on the casting that caused a decidedly mixed response.
“I also have to sit back and let it unfold,” Emily said during her May 19 appearance on Today. ”It is our baby—the readers’ and my baby—but it’s also the filmmakers’ baby and the studio’s baby, and I’m along for the ride with the readers and we just have to trust the vision.”
Specifically, she emphasized, “Yulin Kuang, our writer-director, is so brilliant and I know she’s gonna do an amazing job.”
Even amid the criticism, the 35-year-old noted that getting production off the ground for the project feels “so surreal.”
“I also just keep getting emails about everyone else that they’re locking in, which is not public news yet,” Emily—whose book People We Meet on Vacation was recently adapted into a Netflix movie penned by Yulin—continued. “So, I can’t share, but I’m getting really excited. They’re starting shooting very soon.”
Back in April, Patrick shared he’d be starring in Beach Read alongside the Bridgerton alum.
“I’m so excited for this!!!” he wrote on Instagram Stories April 14. “First – let me say thank you to @emilyhenrywrites for the opportunity! I will do everything possible to make the fans happy & proud and bring your brilliant writing to life.”
Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP, Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for HBO
The 32-year-old, who noted his wife Abby Champion is “obsessed” with Emily’s books, went on to detail his audition process when emphasizing what it means to work opposite Phoebe.
“I can’t wait to bring these characters to life with you,” he noted. “It was a pleasure working opposite you through these chemistry reads.”
Soon after his announcement, fans of the book expressed their concerns with his casting, with many saying Patrick doesn’t quite align with Gus’ description in the book.
“Every time i think about the beach read casting i get pissed off all over again,” one user wrote on X, while another chimed in over a photo of Patrick, “I think I’m straight up not going to watch the Beach Read movie unless they somehow switch up casting.”
Despite the backlash, Phoebe shared she’s jazzed to share the screen with the Gen V actor.
“@patrickschwarzenegger blew me away in the room. I was so thrilled to watch him bring Gus to life,” she wrote in an April 14 Instagram Story. “We’re giving this everything in the hopes of making @emilyhenrywrites and all the fans proud. Stay tuned!!”
For more books being reimagined for the big and small screens this year, keep reading.
Scribner/Simon & Schuster
Starring: Jennifer Garner, Angourie Rice, David Morse, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Judy Greer and Rita Wilson.
Premieres: February 20, 2026, on Apple TVWhy We’re Excited: The past always catches up—at least, that’s what Hannah Hall (Garner) and stepdaughter Bailey (Rice) are learning in real-time in season two of the acclaimed Apple series. Five years after the events of The Last Thing He Told Me, the duo have settled into their new normal without Hannah’s husband (and Bailey’s dad) Owen (Coster-Waldau), only for him to resurface right before a shocking family tragedy sets off a string of events that leads the duo in a race for their lives.
Gavin Bond/Netflix
Mike Marsland/WireImage; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Gotham Film & Media Institute
Montlake
Starring: Maika Monroe, Tyriq Withers, Rudy Pankow, Lauren Graham, Bradley Whitford, Lainey Wilson and Nicholas Duvernay.
Premieres: In theaters February 13, 2026
Why We’re Excited: After five years, Kenna returns to her hometown looking to reunite with her daughter. Instead, she finds solace in a local bar owner who remains one of the few who is willing to give her another chance. While the next few years see several of the best-selling novelist’s books hitting the screen, she’s a big part of bringing this book to life as she co-wrote the script with Lauren Levine.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ariana DeBose, Bobby Cannavale, Simon Baker and Jake Cannavale
Premieres: March 11, 2026, on Prime Video
Why We’re Excited: If it’s based on a book and Kidman stars in it, we will binge the s–t out of it. (See: Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, The Undoing and the fact that this is her second appearance on this list.) Add in that the Oscar winners will be playing crime-fighting sisters and it’s already become our favorite new show of the year.
Ballantine Books
William Morrow
Starring: Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer and Nicole KidmanPremieres: April 15, 2026, on Apple TV
Why we’re Excited: Is it really a limited series if it doesn’t have Kidman popping up in it? Thorpe’s book—following the daughter of a former Hooters waitress and a onetime pro-wrestler who turns to OnlyFans after becoming a single mom at 20—is already excellent on its own. But this casting has certainly placed this eight-episode series at the top of the must-watch list.
Grand Central Publishing/Hachette
Getty Images / Handout
Lionsgate
Premieres: In theaters November 20, 2026Why We’re Excited: On the same day Collins’ latest trip to Panem was announced, Lionsgate confirmed it would be adapting the much-anticipated story following a young Haymitch Abernathy—Peeta and Katniss’ famously haunted mentor in the 74th Hunger Games—during his winning battle in the 50th Games.
Lili Reinhart/Instagram
Starring: Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman
Premieres: TBD
Why We’re Excited: The fake dating romance that sent #BookTok into a spiral is heading to the big screen. And the novel that has roots in fanfiction centered on Star Wars characters Rey and Kylo Ren is starring none other than Rey actress Daisy Ridley’s IRL husband Tom—joined by the Riverdale alum. And if that’s not a reason to be excited by what’s to come—or at least curious—we don’t know what is.
Doubleday
Based On: Holly Gramazio’s 2024 novel
Starring: Juno Temple
Premieres: TBD on Apple TV
Why We’re Excited: Prepare to meet more than one hundred husbands. Indeed, the story follows Lauren, who arrives home to be greeted by her husband Michael—only she has never seen him before in her life. A different husband soon takes his place, and she soon learns a seemingly-endless supply of spouses are coming from her attic. As she navigates this complicated romantic journey, key questions emerge, namely, what does she want from life and will she take the reins to get it?
Back Bay Books
Based On: Elin Hilderbrand’s 2023 novel
Starring: Jennifer Garner
Premieres: TBD on Peacock
Why We’re Excited: Hilderbrand is the queen of Nantucket beach read. Add in a megastar like Garner and its place in our queue is solidified. The Alias alum stars as Hollis, a food blogger whose life is turned update down by tragedy. As part of her healing journey, she resolves to host a “five-star” weekend with her closest pals—only for it to go awry as the cracks in her friendships deepen and game-changing secrets emerge. Yep, we are firmly seated.
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Starring: TBD
Premieres: TBD on Netflix
Why We’re Excited: While fans had to wait more than a decade for Meyer to release the retelling of Twilight from Edward Cullen’s POV, viewers will soon see an animated version of the story coming to their screens. And it’s safe to say catching a glimpse of an animated killer’s sparkly skin will be must-see TV.
Apple TV+
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Drew Starkey, Annette Bening, Timothy Olyphant and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
Premieres: TBD on Apple TV
Why We’re Excited: If seeing Anya and Drew leading the cast isn’t enough of a draw—and it should be!—the story itself is pretty thrilling, a young woman returning to the con artist life she was raised in an attempt to secure her future. And with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine producing and a stellar supporting cast, we are already seated.
Berkley
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
