If the publishing industry is to be believed, a good beach read has mass appeal and isn’t particularly intellectually stimulating. Many times these books are classified as “women’s fiction:” romance, domestic psychological thrillers, or contemporary novels featuring female protagonists. Putting aside the fact that the term is absolutely dripping with sexist assumptions about what women read, beach reads are, in reality, an indulgence of summertime that defies true definition. It’s a “know it when you see it” kind of deal.
Personally, anything can be a beach read if it’s published in paperback (or available on my trusty Kindle). I’m not bringing an expensive, fancy hardcover book anywhere if there’s even a remote possibility that the pages could get wet, or sand might get stuck in the binding. Shudder. Ideally though, beach reads should be light, a touch escapist, and compulsively readable.
If you prefer economic treatises or tomes on global political policy while you’re sitting by the water, we’re not here to “yuck your yum.” (I have read my fair share of nonfiction at the beach and thoroughly enjoyed it. And if that’s the vibes you are going for, might I recommend Mary Roach?!) However, for the purposes of this article, we’ve rounded up the beach reads we think everyone will be passing around poolside this summer.
Contemporary Romance
“Beach Read” by Emily Henry: This book has been at the top of GoodReads lists almost every summer since it was published in 2020, so if you haven’t read it yet, you might as well give in. Two authors with very different voices are living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and suffering from writer’s block. So they enter an agreement to try and get out of their individual comfort zones and get their creative juices flowing… and of course, sparks begin to fly.
Mystery and Thriller
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman: A delightful and engaging mystery novel that follows a group of sharp-witted retirees who form a club to solve cold cases. Weaving together humor, suspense, and intricate plot twists, Osman creates a captivating read. Plus, the movie version — starring Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie — is getting released on Netflix in August, and you’ll definitely want to have read the book first!
“The Whispers” by Ashley Audrain: The various reviews for this novel, when read collectively, is basically a thesaurus for all the ways you can describe a page-turner. Spun out over the course of one week, the book follows four suburban families whose lives are changed when a young boy falls from his bedroom window in the middle of the night. Told from the perspective of the women in each family, there are uncomfortable truths, silenced intuitions, battles with envy, and dangerous secrets galore.
“How to Kill Men and Get Away With It” by Katy Brent: A deliciously dark, hilariously twisted story about friendship, love and murder. A thriller along the lines of “Killing Eve” or Dexter, this book is not only immensely captivating, but the title dissuades people from interrupting you while you’re reading it.
Historical Fiction
“Hello, Beautiful” by Ann Napolitano: Nominated for Oprah’s Book Club in 2023, Napolitano’s third novel is a story about the Padavano family as a dramatic rift impacts their lives for generations. It’s not exactly a light read; Napolitano designed it as an homage to Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women,” and themes of depression, suicide, terminal illness, and familial bonds are explored in depth. If you like books that suck you in and make you cry, you should crack this one open.
“Rules of Civility” by Amor Towles: Published in 2011,this book was nominated for Goodreads’ “Favorite Historical Fiction” award that year, and it just checks all the right boxes for a fantastic beach read. Set in 1930s New York, Towles’ novel follows the journey of Katey Kontent as she is unexpectedly thrust into the upper echelons of society, armed only with her bracing wit and steady nerves. Towles paints intricate imagery and has crafted immensely appealing characters, making “Rules of Civility” a book that is truly captivating.
NonFiction
“The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly: Life Wisdom from Someone Who Will (Probably) Die Before You” by Margareta Magnusson: The same author who made us rethink our possessions in “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning” is back, offering an inspiring and insightful guide that encourages readers to embrace aging with vitality, joy, and a positive mindset. Full of practical advice, personal anecdotes, and a refreshing perspective on aging, Magnusson reminds us all that life can be rich, fulfilling, and meaningful at any age.
Top image source: Marima Design, via Canva.com
