Beach House Books

  Why Romance Matters at the Oscars (Even When It’s Not Obvious) When  Hamnet  earned multiple Oscar nominations this year, the conversation quickly turned to its historical significance, its literary pedigree, and Jessie Buckley’s devastating performance. What few people discussed was the beating heart of the film: a marriage shaped by love, loss, and the silences that define intimacy. It’s a perfect example of how the 2026 Oscars celebrate romance — just not in the way most people expect. Every awards season, the same question circles film Twitter, book clubs, and group chats: Where are the love stories? This year’s nominations, stacked with ambitious epics and technically dazzling achievements, seem light on traditional romance. Yet if you look closely, love is everywhere — driving characters’ choices, shaping their grief, defining their entire lives. Romance as Narrative Engine, Not Genre Decoration When people imagine “romantic films,” they picture candlelit dinners,...

                                                                   I’ve always loved the tale that Hamnet, Shakespeare’s son, was the inspiration for one of his most famous plays, Hamlet, where his son, Hamnet, is synonymous with the play. In my  Midsummer  Night’s, I take a more internal view, leading to Shakespeare’s famous play. Mostly inspired by The Sandman, by Neil Gaiman, and Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. Hamnet : From Page to Screen — A Shakespeare Story Retold Release Date:  Premiered theatrically in the U.S. late 2025;  Hamnet  expands into UK cinemas in early January 2026 (so it’s still hot in theatres around January 26). There’s a particular kind of buzz crackling through cinemas and bookshops this winter. Oscar-winning director  Chloé Zhao ...