The Best Beach Reads of All Time
Is there anything better than sitting on the beach and reading a book? I made a list of the best beach reads of all time that are a must the next time you can indulge.
Some of these books can be finished in one sitting, and some will take a little longer but, either way, each of these books will keep you turning the pages. Just be sure to keep reapplying the sunscreen because you will definitely be preoccupied!
What makes a great beach read? I think great beach reads are page-turners- books that will keep you engrossed in the book. I also think a great beach read needs to have a great story, but nothing so heavy that your mood will be dampened. When you are relaxing on the beach you need something that is a little on the lighter side.
These books are juicy books that are easy to read on the beach. These are not necessarily the newest books but if you have not read these summer reads, you are missing out on some of the best beach reads of all time.
The Best Beach Reads of All Time
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
Best Fiction Beach Read
The Guncle by Steven Rowley- Jump to Section
Best Women’s Fiction Beach read
Haven Point by Virginia Hume- Jump to Section
Best Historical Fiction Beach Read
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid- Jump to Section
Best Thriller Beach Read
Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister- Jump to Section
Best Mystery Beach Read
Dial A For Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutano- Jump to Section
Best Romance Beach Read
Beach Read by Emily Henry- Jump to Section
Best Fantasy Beach Read
House on the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune- Jump to Section
Best Celebrity Book Club Beach Read
The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont – jump to Section
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Fiction Beach Reads
The Guncle
Author: Steven Rowley
Year: 2021
Genre: Fiction
More info: National Bestseller • Wall Street Journal Bestseller • USA Today Bestseller
An NPR Book of the Year
Finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor
Finalist for the 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Steven Rowley is a writer who has mastered the art of storytelling. With his signature wit and humor, this book tackles love, loss, and growth.
When Patrick’s sister-in-law dies and Patrick’s brother needs to go to rehab, Patrick takes custody of his niece and nephew for 90 days. Patrick is basically David from Schitt’s Creek with snark and sass. He treats the kids like mini-adults in the most delightful way.
Trigger Warnings
Death of a spouse/ mom
Why Kirsten loves it
I am such a fan of Steven Rowley and each book provides depth and insight into people at their best and worst. While this is a book about grief, you will find yourself laughing out loud multiple times throughout. It’s a poignant reminder of the importance of family.
Why Jackie loves it
There is humor and love in this book that is essentially about a family learning to deal with profound grief and loss. Rowley writes with sensitivity and humor.
Find this book in: Novels About Grief / Best Beach Reads of All Time / Poolside Novels / Popular LGBTQ Novels
Patron Saint of Second Chances
Author: Christine Simon
Year: 2022
Genre: Fiction
More info:
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range:
Plot
The mayor of the Italian town needs money to repair the town’s pipes, so he hatches a plot to drum up business in town by saying a famous movie star is coming to make a movie.
The next thing he knows, he’s having to make an actual movie starring the locals with no experience and the craziest script while keeping up the ruse that the celebrity is coming.
Why Kirsten loves it
I laughed so hard at scenes in this comedic book that I woke up my sleeping husband. This was a charming book and the perfect vacation read. It is a five-star contemporary fiction book.
Why Jackie loves it
I had high hopes for this book and it exceeded my expectations. There were some scenes that were so funny, I still chuckle when I think of them.
Find this book in: Feel-Good Book / Book set in Italy / Best Beach Reads of All Time
Plot
I picked up this book based on the cover and the thoughts of the hula dance competition, but instead of the fun read I was expecting, I got a coming-of-age story about a light-skinned Hawaiian trying to prove she belongs by learning to Hula.
But this Hula isn’t just a dance, it keeps the legends and legacies of the Hawaiian culture alive. Sprinkled throughout this story, while Hi’i is fighting to prove her worth, we see glimpses of her mother and grandmother’s lives and vignettes that explain Hawaii’s history, colonization, and the struggle of native Hawaiians today.
Why Kirsten loves it
There is so much to uncover in this book, so many layers to absorb. I was entertained while reading it, but more importantly, I learned so much. I’ll be raving about this for years to come!
Find this book in: Thought-provoking Books / Beach Reads 2023 / Best Books 2023 / Best Female BIPOC Author / Best Beach Reads of All Time / Coming-of-age Books for Adults / Books Set in Tropical Locations
Women’s Fiction Beach Reads
Haven Point
Author: Virginia Hume
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This book is about four generations of the Demarest family. It focuses on the great-grandmother, grandmother (Maren, 1944), mother (Annie, 1970, and daughter (Skye, 2008) as they spend their summers in the waspy coastal town. Secrets unfold, loves bloom and fade, and the ties that bond are explored.
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a wonderful beach read with heart, I hope you take a chance and get swept away too. It’s one of the best family saga books I’ve ever read.
Why Jackie loves it
What a wonderful read. I truly can’t explain how much this book swept me away to Haven Point. This is a family saga with a heart that you will not want to miss.
Find this book in: Family Saga Books / Best Beach Reads / Books Set in Maine
Under the Southern Sky
Author: Kristy Woodson Harvey
Year: 2021
Genre: Fiction
More info: Instant New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This book starts with a woman whose marriage is ending and a widower dealing trying to move on. Amelia and Parker are childhood friends and she discovers that the embryos he froze with his deceased wife, Greer, have been deemed abandoned. She now has to tell Parker or he risks losing the last thing he has from his wife.
Despite being devastated from the loss three years prior, he is determined to find a surrogate and become a single dad. Amelia is determined to support him. Their mothers, on the other hand, are determined to get them together.
The story is set in Palm Beach and Cape Carolina, with a touch of NYC. Some of the scenes gave me such Dawson’s Creek vibes too!!
Trigger Warnings
Loss of a spouse, infertility
Why Kirsten loves it
This southern beach read is a total summer must-read. It’s uplifting and poignant and had me laughing and crying, sometimes at the same time.
Why Jackie loves it
There is so much to love about this story. Harvey’s characters are so real, I feel as if I know them. The story is emotional on so many levels- happy and sad. If you have not picked up this gem, its a must.
Find this book in: Best Books of 2021 / Best Beach Reads of All Time
28 Summers
Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Year: 2020
Genre: Fiction
More info: 28 Summers #1
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
At the end of her life, Mallory asks her son to make a phone call. The person who answers the phone is McCloud, whose wife is the front-runner to become the next POTUS. The story follows a unique love that spans a lifetime – one weekend each summer, for 28 years to be exact. Twenty-eight summers redefine what it means to be a soulmate.
Trigger Warnings
Cancer
Why Jackie loves it
This is my favorite Hilderbrand book to date, and it is an emotional story that is a tear-jerker for sure. This is one beach read that you need to purchase this summer.
Find this book in: Books with Summer in the Title / The Best Beach Reads of All Time
Historical Fiction Beach Reads
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Year: 2017
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
A tell-all about a fictional Elizabeth Taylor-
Evelyn Hugo has asked an unknown reporter, Monique Grant, to write her life story in a no-holds-barred book. There is a bit of mystery around why Monique was chosen and Evelyn certainly has her fair share of hardships as she claws her way to the top.
The drama and suffering add dimension to the story that makes it so much more than fluff, though the inner workings of Hollywood were fun to read too. The story seems so candid that I forgot that Evelyn Hugo was not a real celebrity.
Trigger Warnings
Domestic Abuse, Homophobia
Why Kirsten loves it
Taylor Jenkins Reid slays with this story finding the perfect balance of glamour and grit. Evelyn seeks to change her life and in doing so, changes for the better. Every person who has read this book at my recommendation has loved it
Adaptation Information
Not much is yet known about the movie adaptation except that Maggie Betts is set to direct while Liz Tigelaar is working on the script.
Find this book in: Best Romance Novels of All Time / Best Books to Read on Beach / Old Hollywood Books / Taylor Jenkins Reid Books Ranked / Epistolary Novels / Books Becoming Movies / Hollywood Novels / Books Inspired by The Life of a Showgirl
Find books similar to this in: Books like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Island of Sea Women
Author: Lisa See
Year: 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This historical fiction tells the story of a friendship between two women on the Korean Island of Jeju. There, women work as a diving collective to provide for their families while men look after the children. It was interesting to read a story where some gender norms are reversed and others, like feeding women and children last, were still perpetuated.
Beyond the incredible history of this small island is the story of a remarkable friendship between Mi-ja and Young-sook over the decades.
Why Jackie loves it
Lisa See has done it again with this remarkable story. I was captivated from the first page, as I am with anything See writes.
Find this book in: Best Books 2019 / Family Saga Books / Friendship Books / Best Beach Reads of all Time / Books Set in Tropical Locations
Next Year in Havana
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Year: 2018
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: July 2018 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
The Cuba Saga #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I picked up Next Year in Havana after Reese Witherspoon recommended it in July – I wasn’t disappointed! This historical fiction tale is about a young Cuban American woman, Marisol, who visits Cuba for the first time.
She’s arrived to spread her grandmother’s ashes but what Marisol thought would be a simple quest turns her world upside down as she uncovers secrets from her grandmother’s past.
Why Kirsten loves it
Cuba becomes a character in this novel and it’s truly spectacular. I was so sad when my time with Perez Family ended, but I’m delighted that Chanel Cleeton decided to return to the family.
Find this book in: Best Books of 2018 / Best Beach Reads Ever / Chanel Cleeton Books / Best Beach Reads / Best Reese Witherspoon Books / Reese Witherspoon Book Club List 2018
Thrillers to Read on the Beach
Wrong Place Wrong Time
Author: Gillian McAllister
Year: 2022
Genre: Mystery Thriller
More info: August 2022 Reese’s Book Club Pick
Age Range: 15+
Plot
Jen is waiting for the 18-year-old son, Todd to return home the night before Halloween when she watches him come from the darkness and murder a total stranger by stabbing him. She does not know why her son would do this but her life is torn to pieces.
When she wakes up the next morning, she is shocked to discover that she has gone back to a day before the murder. Can she stop it from happening? First, she needs to find out why.
Now, each time Jen wakes up, she has gone further back in the past- days, weeks, and years before the murder ever happened.
Why Jackie loves it
This time travel mystery is one of the smartest and most captivating books I have ever read. It is an easy pick for a favorite book of the year.
Find this book in: Best Thriller Books / Best Time Loop Books / Best Books for Book Clubs to Read / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Popular Thriller Books / Best Reese Witherspoon Books / Reese Witherspoon Book Club List 2022 / The Best Beach Reads of All Time
The Last Thing He Told Me
Author: Laura Dave
Year: 2021
Genre: Mystery
More info: May 2021 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I raved about this book when I read it earlier this month! Well-chosen, Reese! The story of a stepmother and her daughter as they try to find the girl’s father after his abrupt departure. Owen Michaels gives his wife a note that says “protect her” before disappearing without a trace.
Hannah and Michael have been married for only a year and now Hannah must become everything to 16-year-old Bailey. As Hannah and Bailey search for Micheal, there are more questions than answers. Why was Michale’s boss arrested? Why is the FBI at their house?
Why Jackie loves it
This mystery has so much heart as you see Hannah bond with and try to protect her new stepdaughter, Bailey. I did not see the ending of this book coming, but absolutely adored it. This is one of the mystery books that will keep you turning the page.
Find this book in: Domestic Noir / Books About Mothers / Ultimate Mysteries / Best Beach Reads / Best Books of 2021 / Popular Thriller Books / Best Reese Witherspoon Books / Reese Witherspoon Book Club List 2021
Mystery Beach Reads
Dial A for Aunties
Author: Jessie Q Sutano
Year: 2021
Genre: mystery romance
More info: Aunties Book 1 of 3
NPR’s Best Books of 2021
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Meddelin Chen has an amazing, meddling Chinese-Indonesian family. Meddelin and her four Aunts run a wedding business together. When Meddelin accidentally kills her date and he ends up in a cooler at a wedding with two thousand people, what can go wrong? Did I mention that the wedding also happens to be at a hotel where her ex-boyfriend and love works?
Netflix is adapting this comedy of errors and if it is anything like the book, it will be amazing too.
Trigger Warnings
Murder, Car accident, Assault
Why Jackie loves it
I heard great things about this romantic comedy/ murder mystery mashup. It sounds like the weirdest combo, right? This book had me laughing out loud. The characters are flawed which makes them even more loveable, and the absolute chaos is hilarious.
Find this book in: Family Drama Books / Best Beach Reads / Best Books of 2021
Anxious People
Author: Fredrik Backman
Year: 2019
Genre: Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Fredrik Backman is a master storyteller and he does it again with this book. He somehow manages to tackle difficult subjects without trivializing them but still allowing them to be humorous.
This book is a story of a bank robbery gone very wrong and the idiots in the story (his word, not mine) who are taken hostage after the failed robbery. While the police are interviewing each of the hostages to find the robbers, they become more confused after each interview. It is also a story about compassion, human relationships, and the daily struggles that we all have.
Why Jackie loves it
I love how Fredrik Backman’s books show the good in people despite the flaws that make them human. Backman writes so many different kinds of books but they all have so much heart. Backman weaves themes of love, friendship, and compassion throughout all his books.
Adaptations
Angelina Jolie is set to produce and star in the movie adaptation of this book. A Swedish adaptation came out in 2021 and is on Netflix.
Find this book in: Books Like A Man Called Ove / New Year’s Eve Books / Best Beach Reads / Locked Room Mysteries / Best Books of 2020 / Ultimate List of Feel-Good Reads / Best Books in Translation / Books Becoming Movies
Romance Beach Reads
Beach Read
Author: Emily Henry
Year: 2020
Genre: Romance
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Spice Rating:💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
January is a romance writer who no longer believes in love. Until she was 28, she led an idyllic life filled with the ideas of perfect love.
Augustus Everett is a literary fiction writer who has never believed in love. They could not be more different. When they find themselves living next door to each other they decide to help each other overcome their writer’s block by challenging each other to a writer’s duel.
Trigger Warning
Death of a parent, sexual content
Why Jackie loves it
This is one of the best romance books I have read in a long time. What could be better than a romance about writers? I love Emily Henry’s writing and loved this book.
Find this book in: Enemies-to-Lovers Romance Books / Grumpy Sunshine Romance / Emily Henry Books / Books About Books / Best Beach Reads / Romance Books About Books
The Unhoneymooners
Author: Christina Lauren
Year: 2019
Genre: Romance
More info: Instant New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Olive and Ami are twins. While Ami seems to be lucky in everything, Olive knows that if it can happen, it will happen to her. So when everyone gets food poisoning at Ami’s wedding except Olive and her nemesis Ethan, she can’t decide if her luck has changed. This is the fake dating trope to the extreme- fake marriage.
As the two head out on the free, all-inclusive honeymoon that was supposed to be Ami and her new husband, Olive hopes they can call a truce long enough to enjoy the trip.
Trigger Warnings
Sexual content, infidelity, vomit
Why Jackie loves it
I loved this hilarious romance as soon as I read it. It is the perfect romantic comedy book.
Find this book in: Romance Tropes / Rom-Com Books / Fake Dating Books / Books Like People We Meet on Vacation / Seaside Books
Meet Me at the Lake
Author: Carley Fortune
Year: 2023
Genre: Romance
More info: New York Times Bestselling author
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range:18+
Plot
Will and Fern spent one amazing, adventure-filled day together in their early 20s with a promise to meet up again one year later. When Fern shows up and Will doesn’t, she is heartbroken.
Now, nine years later, Fern has inherited the lakeside resort that she never wanted to run, her ex-boyfriend is the resort manager, and she needs help. When Will shows up at the resort with an offer to help get things back in order, she doesn’t know if she can get over her old feelings and trust him again.
Why Jackie loves it
Set between Muskoka and Toronto, it reminded me of my childhood and teenage years! This is a romance novel that left my heart feeling gushy. I wanted to start at the beginning as soon as I was done the last page. This is my favorite of Carley Fortune’s books.
Why Kirsten loves it
I love a good lake romance- especially since I met my husband at camp (which had a small lake). There is something about this book that is so romantic and hopeful, it left me wanting more.
Adaptation Information
Archewell Productions, headed by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, is slated to release this film to Netflix.
Find this book in: Second Chance Romance Novels / Hotel Novels / Ultimate Beach Reads 2023 / Carley Fortune Books In Order / Books Becoming Movies
Just for the Summer
Author: Abby Jimenez
Year: 2024
Genre: Romance
More info: April 2024 GMA Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
The premise of this story is rather straightforward and sweet – Justin and Emma discover they both have a “curse” where people immediately find their soul mate AFTER dating them. To find their own happily ever afters, they decide to date each other and then break up.
Sounds fun and light, right? But it’s so much more! Each of them is going through some very serious family drama which adds intimacy and drama immediately to their relationship. Their relationships with the secondary characters also made my heart soar. The representations of friendship, family bonds, and found family really tugged at my heart.
Trigger Warnings
Depression
Why Kirsten loves it
The romance!! Omg the butterflies this story gave me. Justin and Emma’s relationship may be my favorite romance ever. The way they supported each other, cared for one another, and loved each other was perfection.
Find this book in: Beach Reads 2024 / Lake Books / New Romance Books 2024 / Best Books for Book Clubs to Read / The Best Books of 2024 / Books with Summer in the Title
Fantasy Beach Reads
House in the Cerulean Sea
Author: T.J Klune
Year: 2020
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Cerulean Chronicles #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
Linus Baker is a caseworker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He is sent on a mission to a secret orphanage isolated on an island where 6 of the world’s most dangerous youth live.
Linus is sent to determine if the children are being cared for properly. Linus, who lives his life by the book, will have to look deeper to try and find the real answers to his questions.
Trigger Warnings
Child abuse
Why Jackie loves it
This story was so much more than the sum of its parts. I felt like I had met each of the children in the story. Even though the story has magic, it somehow seems completely relevant to our society now. The magic and the orphan aspect are all reminiscent of Harry Potter.
Find this book in: Magical Realism Books / Feel-Good Books / Book for Book Club / Books About Friendship / Books With Color in the Title / Best Beach Reads / Adult Books Similar to Harry Potter / Isolation Books / Books Like Ninth House
One Italian Summer
Author: Rebecca Serle
Year: 2022
Genre: Magical Realism
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Rebecca Serle has done it again with this book set in Italy. Katy’s mother, Carol, has died and left Katy to take their trip to Positano alone. When Katy leaves, she is uncertain about everything and whether she will return to her marriage.
Then, the impossible happens, and Carol appears at Katy’s hotel. She is in perfect health and thirty years old. She is not the woman Katy thought she knew. As she gets to know her mother, she realizes more about herself.
Why Jackie loves it
This is a beautiful, well-written book with a touch of magic. I loved how Katy and Carol are able to develop a relationship in Italy after Carol died. It is unique and wonderful.
Find this book in: Contemporary Fiction / Book Set in Italy / Novels About Grief/ Best Magical Realism Books / Books About Mothers/ Books Set on a Beach / Books with Summer in the Title
Celeb Book Club Picks for the Beach
The Christie Affair
Author: Nina de Gramont
Year: 2022
Genre: Historical Mystery
More info: February 2022 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I adored this mystery novel set during the 11 days of Agatha Christie’s disappearance. It’s told from the perspective of Christie’s husband’s mistress and it is utterly absorbing.
This biographical fiction novel is totally fictional because there is no account of what actually happened to Agatha Christie during her missing days. There are layers of mystery throughout, with a side of a love story.
Why Kirsten loves it
I never felt I would be able to sympathize with a mistress but I was cheering for her by the end. I was also enchanted by the setting of the small hotel. If you love historical mystery books, this is a must-read.
Find this book in: Biographical Fiction Novels / Historical Mystery Books / Hotel Novels / Ultimate List of Mystery Books / Mystery Novels About Writers / Best Reese Witherspoon Books / Reese Witherspoon Book Club List 2022
The Light We Lost
Author: Jill Santopolo
Year: 2017
Genre: Fiction
More info: February 2018 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick, February 2025 Beyond the Bookends Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: The Light We Lost #1
Plot
In this moving novel, Lucy is struggling with her marriage to Darren while examining what happened during her relationship with Gabe. Flashing between the past and the present, we are privy to Gabe and Lucy’s relationship as they move on in their lives and relationships but stay in touch.
Told over 13 years, this story is an intimate look at love found and lost, as well as the profound way our relationships change our lives.
Trigger Warnings
Death
Why Kirsten loves it
A warm and yet sad story about an intense love that ends. The novel goes from good to excellent when we see how the former lovers support each other over the years in their future relationships and how their relationship evolves. Be prepared with a box of tissues when you read this one. I was bawling like a baby by the end.
Find this book in: Books That Will Make You Cry / Best Romance Novels of All Time / Second Chance Romance Books / Best Reese Witherspoon Books / Reese Witherspoon Book Club List 2018
The Guest List
Author: Lucy Foley
Year: 2020
Genre: Mystery
More info: New York Times Bestseller, June 2020 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I’ve just read THE thriller
Why Kirsten loves it
I’ve become very picky about thrillers recently and this one is hands down my favorite of the year so far. It also made our Best of 2020 list!
Adaptation Information
This story is soon to be a TV series on Hulu. Liz Tigelaar is set to write and produce the show.
Find this book in: Locked Room Mysteries / Books Like People We Meet on Vacation / Best British Mystery Books / Best Beach Reads / British Books /Best Psychological Thriller Books / Popular Thriller Books / Best Reese Witherspoon Books
What are the essentials for reading on the beach?
Kirsten spends a lot of time at the beach, so she is the expert when it comes to the essentials. I (Jackie) spend a lot of time reading outside next to a pool. Both of us are very fair-skinned and take our reading very seriously. So, we wanted to give you a list of our favorite essentials. From hats and sunscreen to beach chairs, flip-flops, and waterproof devices, this is a list of our absolute favorite things.
Expert Tip
There are beach reads and there are “best beach reads”. What differentiates them?
- A beach read is any book that will keep you occupied while on the beach. It has to be fast-moving and interesting with great characters. The best beach reads are not necessarily the newest books. These are books that Kirsten and I think about years later.
- The best beach reads are the books I wish I could read again for the first time. These are also books that I am happy to read more than once!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best beach reads for a vacation?
If you are looking for a feel good fantasy, House on the Cerulean Sea by T.J Klune is the perfect book. If you are looking for a romance, Beach Read by Emily Henry is lives up to its name. Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister is a fantastic thriller.
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Epilogue
What is your favorite beach read? Did it make it onto our list of all-time best beach reads?
