EXCLUSIVE: Phoebe Dynevor (Anniversary) has been tapped for a lead role in Beach Read, 20th Century Studios‘ adaptation of the New York Times bestselling novel from Emily Henry.

Published in 2020, Beach Read is a romantic comedy following January Andrews, a successful romance novelist who struggles with grief and writer’s block after her father’s death and the discovery of secrets he’s long kept hidden. While spending the summer in his Michigan beach house to prepare it for sale, she unexpectedly reconnects with Gus Everett, an author who was once her rival in college. Both creatively stuck, they agree to a writing challenge over the summer, swapping literary genres while promising that there will be no romance between them. Of course, you know what they say about the best-laid plans.

Yulin Kuang, the co-writer of Netflix’s People We Meet on Vacation — another Henry adaptation — is directing the feature take from her own script, with Neal H. Moritz producing via his Original Films. Karina Rahardja will exec produce. Execs overseeing include Sarah Shepard and Catherine Hughes, as well as the literary affairs team led by Clare Reeth.

Most recently seen starring in Lionsgate’s critically acclaimed dystopian drama Anniversary, directed by Jan Komasa, Dynevor’s upcoming slate includes the Netflix survival thriller Shiver, A24’s Famous opposite Zac Efron, and M. Night Shyamalan’s Remain opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, a romantic drama that Warner Bros. releases on October 23. She has also completed production on Pendulum, a thriller from Mark Heyman, where she stars alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Norman Reedus.

The Bridgerton breakout is repped by WME, Luber Roklin Entertainment, and United Agents in the UK.