There’s really no better time to catch up on your reading than a beach vacation. While lying on the beach is glorious, we all need something to occupy our minds, and a light novel is always a great diversion from the chaos of this world. That’s why we’ll be sharing the best beach reads to add to your summer reading list.
The Best Beach Reads to Help You Relax
Luckily, there are tons of incredible reads out there just waiting to be devoured on your next vacation, trip to the cottage or sunbathing session in the city. Whether you’re into romance, action and adventure, or crime, there’s always something new to be discovered.
Here are five of the best beach reads that will help you relax and fully vacate reality:
1. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation is one of the best beach reads for your next trip. It’s guaranteed to entertain you, and its title is of course very à propos a beach vacation. The novel tells the story of two best friends, Poppy and Alex, who have been meeting for a summer vacation together every year for a decade — up until they ruined their friendship two years ago. What happens next will sweep you into a sparkling world of summer romance, unlikely best friends and romance against all odds.
2. Beach Read by Emily Henry
Another guaranteed great read by Emily Henry, Beach Read is exactly as its title suggests: the perfect novel to read on the beach. Similar to People We Meet on Vacation, Henry’s book Beach Read tells the story of two creatively blocked writers who meet while staying in neighboring beach houses. The storyline that ensues is worthy of a blockbuster romcom, so grab some popcorn and a beach chair, and get comfy.
3. The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
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All it takes is one look at the tropical cover of this New York Times bestseller to know it’s going to be one of the best beach reads for this summer. Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners tells the story of Olive Torres and Ethan Thomas — two sworn enemies who are part of the same wedding party. When the entire wedding party — except for them — gets sick with food poisoning, Olive and Ethan agree to go on the newlyweds’ pre-planned 10-day honeymoon in Hawaii, despite their differences, and you can probably guess what happens next.
4. The Vacationers by Emma Straub
Another title and cover that’s clearly fitting for a beach vacation, The Vacationers by Emma Straub explores the complicated family dynamics of the Post family during a two-week vacation in Mallorca. Long-buried secrets, traumas and wounds come to the surface over the course of the trip, and not one of the family members will return from the vacation unchanged. If you’re looking for a beach read with a little more emotional depth to it, The Vacationers is your best bet.
5. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
With her richly told and glamorous novels like Daisy Jones and the Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (the latter of which is perpetually trending on BookTok), Taylor Jenkins Reid has earned a spot in the hearts and minds of readers and everywhere. Her most recent novel Malibu Rising, set in Malibu in 1983, tells the story of the four children of a mega-famous rock star who have made a tradition of throwing an epic beach party every year. Although the story unfolds over just one night, the narrative unpacks several rich character studies and explores themes of love, fame and identity, making it one of the best beach reads for this summer.
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