Beachy Reads: Summer Reading Ideas

There is a specific feeling that goes along with reading in the summer. Wet hair and salty skin match perfectly with a thrilling, captivating novel written to be read by the sea or the pool. In this week's post, I’m talking about one of my favorite topics: reading and books. I am not only obsessed with reading, but I’m also fascinated with book selections and recommendations, and picking up a new book to read is always a fun activity for me. My goal is to read a book every week this year, so far I have been keeping up with my schedule, and I know that this summer is going to provide a perfect opportunity to dedicate hours upon hours every day to tearing through mind-capturing novels. 

In this post, I’m breaking down books I have already read that fit the criteria for a Beach Read. That criteria being that the book is 1. Entertaining (nobody wants to read a 1000 page book on complex chemical equations when they’re trying to decompress, or maybe you do, but I certainly don't) 2. Easy to read (I do think summer is a great time to dig into some more deep and complex books, as your brain has the space to comprehend them. But for the sake of this post I selected light and easy reads) and 3. Setting (not crucial, but a seaside town is always a plus for these kinds of books.)

Now that we have established the criteria going into this list, let's get to the books. 

1. Burn for Burn (series)

   TW: Self Harm and s*icide

   1. These books are page-turner high school thrillers. I love both authors (Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian) so this book was predestined to be a favorite of mine, but I also turned two friends of mine onto this series, so it is generally accepted as phenomenal. This book is about three opposite girls all seeking the same thing: revenge. The trilogy covers the twists and turns of their path to getting even. The fact that this book is set on a quaint island on the east coast adds to its summer appeal, and it is an absolute page-turner, however, the plot can be quite intense, so fair warning.

2. I Killed Zoe Spanos

   1. This book is a murder mystery thriller set in a rich neighborhood in the Hamptons. The book follows a girl retracing her steps and putting the pieces together while investigating a possible connection between her and a girl who had gone missing in the town a few months prior. The twist in this book blew my mind, and the rich feel and exclusive setting of the book made it a perfect beach read.

3. The Hating Game

   1. This is an enemies-to-lovers office romance that is set to hit the big screen this year. The book follows the quick easy romance between Lucy and Joshua. It was good and its light and generally a happy tone makes it the perfect book to take to a day at the pool.

4. Genuine Fraud

   1. This book is one of my favorites. It’s a sharp thriller with feminist undertones and an unconventional plot form: backward. This book isn't one you can mindlessly read, and you need to pay attention, but it's set in Martha's vineyard and carries that rich, beachy feel that I love in a summer read. I can’t say much else about the plot due to the risk of giving too much away, but just read it, it’s just so good, I promise.

5. We Were Liars

   1. We Were Liars is another E Lockhart thriller that is a bit confusing if you don’t pay perfect attention. It’s well written with a shocking twist, and I am proud to say that I had read it, twice, before the Tik Tok hype, but even if you read it because of it becoming a booktok classic that doesn't change how good it is. We follow the main character trying to uncover the truth about her past, and its setting of a rich family on a private island makes it perfect for summer.

6. The Hypnotist's Love Story

   1. This book is from the author of Big Little Lies and covers a hypnotist living on the beach starting a relationship with a man who has a stalker. It was a good read, and the generally light plot and beach setting make it a perfect summer choice.

7. It Happens in the Hamptons

   1. To be honest, I read the entirety of this book either by or in the pool during last summer in quarantine. And I don't remember too much of the plot, as I read most of it with most of my focus on my heat headache and keeping the pages from getting wet. But I do remember it was steamy, twisty, and very summery. Set in the Hamptons and following around a rich group of “Summer People” it pretty much was written to be a beach read.

8. Love & Gelato

   1. Love & Gelato is a book about a girl who goes to live in Italy after her mom passes away. A romance unfolds, Italian summer parties occur, gelato is consumed. I genuinely really enjoyed this read, it was sweet and heartwarming. It’s not too deep or a tearjerker, and its Italian summer setting makes it great to cozy up with in bed after a day in the sun.

9. The Devil Wears Prada

   1. The book that the cult classic movie was (loosely) based on is even better than the movie, and I love that movie. It follows Andy working grueling hours at a grueling job at the world's biggest fashion magazine. The writing is quirky and funny and it's easy to fly through. I read this book in winter for the first time, but it would be perfect to focus in and out of during a day by the pool with friends.

Those are all my recommendations, Happy Reading!