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I love to read at the beach. When I’m landlocked, I crave novels that will transport me to the seashore. You, too? Then cozy up — under a straw-brimmed hat or in your backyard with a glass of iced tea — and dive into these beachy reads that will sweep you away with compelling characters and the hypnotic sound of waves.
Island Time by Georgia Clark
What do an Australian and American family have in common? Nothing, except their daughters are married. Their messy relationships percolate on an Australian tropical island when a volcano erupts, leaving them stranded for six weeks. Immerse yourself in a beach paradise, navigating family secrets, parenthood, and whether you can change your destiny. You’ll especially identify with Jules, who is moving forward with the next chapter in her life.
Invisible Woman by Katia Lief
Joni and Val, in their 50s, were friends and roommates 25 years ago in Hollywood. Val buried a trauma from her early acting days and built a new life. Joni broke into the male world of filmmaking, but her career stalled. Married to a TV executive, she’s raised two children. In this #MeToo thriller, Joni is determined to convince Val to tell the world her secret. In her quest, she unlocks an alarming truth about her husband. This is a suspenseful novel with lots of surprises and twists.
The Guest by Emma Cline
Alex’s wealthy lover throws her out of his extravagant Hamptons beach house in Eastern Long Island. She’s broke and desperate, with nowhere to go, saddled with her mistakes and a small bag of clothes. She spends the week before Labor Day like a jellyfish, feeding off others for nourishment and lodging, spending days and nights on the beach. This is a novel about class, social climbing and the foolish choices we make when we’re young.
On Fire Island by Jane L. Rosen
Julia and Ben were happily married — until Ben became a widower when he was only 37. He flees to Fire Island, recalling the wonderful times they’d shared. Julia’s ghost follows him to the beach, where she discovers he has a new life without her. Written with humor and surprise, their story is about lasting love and moving on.
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
Katy struggles after her mother dies — just before they were to leave on their exciting trip to the Amalfi Coast, a stunning town in the Mediterranean. She embarks alone to the magical place where her mother spent one summer before marriage. Katy begins to heal by the cliffside view of the water through people she befriends and the sumptuous food. Through magical realism, Katy sees her mom right there with her, revealing aspects of her mother she never knew.
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it's now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to meet their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they hatch a plan: They'll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a crazy idea … and it just might work. THIS IS OUR GIRLFRIEND BOOK CLUB PICK FOR JULY AND THE AUTHOR IS JOINING US FOR OUR MONTHLY DISCUSSION ON JULY 16 AT 7:30 PM ET.
This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
Escape to Prince Edward Island in Eastern Canada, where Lucy and her friend Bridget vacation every year. The air and the oysters are fresh. Lucy meets a local, Felix, and is immediately attracted to him. After a sexy rendezvous, Lucy is alarmed to discover that he is Bridget’s brother’s friend. Find out what prevails: Lucy’s heart or her sense of morality.
Tom Lake by Anne Patchett
Although I read Tom Lake last summer, it’s on my summer rerun list. I thought I’d enjoy it even more by first reading Our Town. I can’t wait to return to this unforgettable family, picking cherries and sharing secrets about a mother’s love affair that happened years ago on a fictional lake in Michigan. It’s a family saga worthy of multiple reads.
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
Eva, a single mother, writes erotica. An unexpected meeting with Shane, an award-winning writer and old flame, makes Eva realize that their chemistry is still alive. Yet, he’s not someone you can trust, as he once broke her heart. Brooklyn is hot in summer and so is their week-long romance. Written with wit and sensuality, Seven Days in June dives into romance, motherhood and tangled relationships.
The Pisces by Melissa Broder
Lucy is lost after her break-up with her long-term boyfriend and agrees to dog-sit in her sister’s stunning glass house in Venice Beach, California. She finds love with the most unlikely swimmer by the beach rocks, whose mysterious identity takes a while to emerge. This sexy mix of humor and fantasy makes you wonder just who’s floating around.
Have you read any of the above? What book are you reading right now? Let us know in the comments below.
