‘Beach Read’ Cast Backlash: Fans Share Their Dream Gus After #NotMyGus Online Uproar

It’s easy to fall in love with a “book boyfriend.” And when Hollywood casts your beloved character in a romance-novel adaptation, you want it to feel just right. So when the Beach Read movie announced Patrick Schwarzenegger (from The White Lotus) as broody, disheveled Augustus “Gus” Everett, romance fans had feelings—big ones. The internet exploded with #NotMyGus reactions, and readers are rallying behind their own dream cast. Here’s what happened and who fans really want to see bring Gus to life.

‘Beach Read’ cast announcement sparks instant backlash

You likely recall the plot of the best-selling book: After rivals become unexpected neighbors, a cynical literary-fiction author and an idealistic romance writer challenge each other to see the world from another perspective. Phoebe Dynevor, best known from Bridgerton and Younger, will play female lead January Andrews in the movie. But Patrick’s casting as Gus sent shockwaves through social media.

Countless fans simply don’t see his posh, polished look meshing with Gus’s vibe. In the book, Gus is described as having a crooked smile and facial scar, along with dark emotional baggage and a gritty nature. Some fans have pointed out that Patrick seems better suited to play January’s ex-boyfriend Jacques—not the rough-around-the-edges Gus. The film’s director justified the casting, saying a lot of thought went into the decision and the making sure there was chemistry between the leads was. And author Emily Henry has been noticeably silent about the cast news.

Why fans say the current ‘Beach Read’ leading man misses the mark

Upon hearing the casting reveal, the internet—including a robust community of bookstagrammers and BookTokers—exploded with shocked comments. Tara Siegel, blogging on the college lifestyle site, Her Campus, called it the “casting announcement heard around the world.” She wrote, “Check on the Beach Read fans in your lives right now (me!), because we are in mourning.”

Reddit users didn’t hold back either, sharing their honest disappointment. Some called the casting of Gus “atrocious” and “incredibly underwhelming.” Another said, “It’s my favorite [Emily Henry book] and I’m so upset by this casting, like irrationally upset.”

Another shared, “Patrick is definitely not who I pictured while reading the book. His casting does make me less interested in this adaptation.” Still another claimed, “I don’t think he’s a bad actor. I do think he is limited to playing extreme privilege though. I don’t see him being great in this, but I am willing to be surprised.”

Dream ‘Beach Read’ cast: actors fans want as Gus

So that leads to the question: Who do fans wish had been cast as broody Gus? Lots of names have been floating around…

Some fans saw this as a missed opportunity for more diverse representation in romance. Actors like Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire) or Fabian Frankel (House of the Dragon) topped many fan wish lists.

Other fans wanted someone with a more scrappy and disheveled aura, like Joe Keery of Stranger Things. Or more charm (less smarm) with someone like Lewis Pullman from Thunderbolts. Or a touch of danger like Penn Badgley from You and Gossip Girl.

Another popular pick has an actor who rose to fame as the title character of the Percy Jackson film series: Logan Lerman. When asked who she’d cast instead, Courtney Shapiro, who runs the bookstagram account @courts.book.nook, told Woman’s World, “I wish it was Logan Lerman because his overall ‘look’ feels more like the English major, romantic vibe of Gus.

Book reviewer Jessica Mack, who runs the popular @LatestBookCrush Instagram page, told Woman’s World with a laugh, “I think my pick would have been David Corenswet [from Superman] or my brother-in-law Rick Donald.”

Why fans are still hopeful about the ‘Beach Read’ movie

Author Jillian Laine, whose upcoming novel Henry Tudor Must Die, has readers buzzing, shared her take with Woman’s World. “Beach Read was the book that got me into romance.” She adds, “When I read it in the early months of the pandemic, it was a lifeline to a happier, more optimistic world, even if dear Gus can sometimes be a bit of a nihilist.”

Her dream fan cast? “Back in 2020, I was picturing him as a jaded Ryan Gosling, because Ryan can walk that line of being emotionally unavailable and yet still completely charming as the love interest. See: Crazy Stupid Love. Plus, talk about a crooked smile!” Laine explains, “I’m excited for the adaptation, though I’ll admit, I am the person who wears her ‘The Book Was Better’ sweatshirt to most book-to-screen shows.”

And fans still have reason to be optimistic: The first Emily Henry book adaptation, People We Meet on Vacation, was well-received when it premiered, proving that her beloved books can successfully make the leap to the screen.

Time will tell if Gus can steal our hearts

Many fans continue to look forward to seeing the book come to life. And maybe fans will be pleasantly surprised. That’s what acting is all about, right? Transformation and embodying a new character. Remember when fans were skeptical about Robert Pattinson as Batman after Twilight? And look how Bryan Cranston surprised critics by nailing polar-opposite roles in Malcolm in the Middle and Breaking Bad. Sometimes unexpected choices deliver the most beloved performances.