The beach is one of my favourite places to read. My perfect day includes a beach chair, my toes in the sand, and a book in my hands. I enjoy reading a wide variety of books in the summer, but while sitting on the beach I tend to lean more towards contemporaries. These are just a few of my favourites! This post is my sneaky way of getting suggestions from you guys on what to read this summer!
Sisterhood of Travelling Pants– This is the first series I ever read on the beach. It is so nostalgic!
I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella– I think all of Sophie Kinsella books make great summer reads. I’ve Got Your Number is my personal favourite of hers.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo– I think you probably know my opinion of this book by now! I think it makes a perfect summer read if you are looking for something that is a little bit heavier than the typical contemporary.
Miss You by Kate Eberlen– Not your typical love story! We see the two protagonists struggles throughout the decades before they even meet.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz– A really beautiful romance with a lot of depth. It is slow paced and charming- a perfect combination for summer!
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen– I have not read a lot of Sarah Dessen but I have enjoyed the few I have read. I thought Along for the Ride was adorable! A lot of her books are set in the summer time and they are really sweet love stories.
Sea Swept by Nora Roberts– Much like Sophia Kinsella, I think all of Nora Roberts books make great beach reads! I enjoy her series the best! Her Chesapeake Bay series is phenomenal!
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen– One of my favourite books. I read this one on the beach so I sort of associate it with the summer.
I just finished The Unlikelies by Carrie Firestone and it is also an awesome summer read with some depth. Look out for that review some time soon!
I am currently reading The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty and I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson– both of which I am thoroughly enjoying and are excellent beach reads.
What are your favourite beach reads? Do you even enjoy reading on the beach? Let me know!
Although there’s a beautiful beach pretty close to where I’m living, I haven’t been to the beach like forever (because summers in Japan is pretty brutal and super hot).
That said, I enjoyed I’ve Got Your Number last summer too! I first didn’t like Poppy at all, but by the time I was halfway through the book, as soon as the romance with Sam comes into play, I was completely swept up.
I’m now waiting for my copy of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, I cannot wait!!
I really didn’t expect to like I’ve Got Your Number! I totally agree with you- Poppy was not my favourite character at first but the romance was so great!! I want to reread it this summer!
I’m excited for you to read Aristotle and Dante! You’re going to love it!!
I agree that Sophie Kinsella’s books make perfect beach reads. I think my favorite of hers would have to be “Can You Keep a Secret?”. I haven’t read one of her books in years- it may be time for a reread!
I hear that her latest book- My Not So Perfect Life- is good as well!!
Great post idea! I’ve loved most of Sophie Kinsella’s standalones, Wedding Night and Twenties Girl are probably my favs. Totally agree that Water For Elephants was such a great read:) I’ve got Evelyn Hugo on my tbr coming up soon!
Thank you!
I have not read Wedding Night yet! I really should!
I hope you love Evelyn Hugo as much as I did!!
Great list! For some reason I alway seem to read Nora Roberts in the summer time! It’s so weird 😂
Thank you!
I only read her books in the summer as well! It doesn’t feel like summer until I’ve read at least one Nora Roberts novel! 😝
So true! I read The Obsession not too long ago and enjoyed it. Her characters are just SO amazing!!
I adore that Sarah Dessen is on this list. She’s my all time favorite YA contemporay author. Since you said you haven’t read that many of her titles, I recommend The Truth About Forever and Just Listen if you haven’t picked them already. Once and for All, her latest release, is also very nice, too. (Along for the Ride is a good choice; I loved Auden in this so much. She’s a fictional character that is quite similar to me in real life.)
Thank you for the suggestions! I am spending a couple weeks on the beach this summer and I’m thinking Sarah Dessen books will be perfect for that!
I don’t really do beach holidays, more lakes, mountains and countryside but I always have multiple books. I tend to favour romances where I don’t need to think too much.
I love Got Your Number. My favourite Kinsella book too. I also really like Paige Toon and Chasing Daisy is a great read.
Yes romance is ideal for vacations!
I have not read Chasing Daisy but I just looked it up and it sounds really good!
i loooooved “the sisterhood of the traveling pants” – both books and movies 😍
Me too!! I love all the actresses in the movie!
AAAAHHH I LOVED SOPHIE KINSELLA’S I’VE GOT YOUR NUMBER! :’)
Yay! It’s sooo good. I think it’s time for a reread!!!
Awesome picks! I especially love seeing Aristotle and Dante on there. I read it last month and fell head over heels in love with it. And I’ve had my eye on I’ll Give You the Sun for quite a while now. I’d love to read your thoughts on it afterwards! Great post 😀
Thank you! Aristotle and Dante is amazing!! I’ll will definitely post a review of Ill Give You the Sun when I’m done!! 😊
I haven’t read ANY OF THESE. My goodness. But I have read other books by Sophie Kinsella, and I really liked it. I also want to read Big Little Lies, but I already watched the show haha. Great list!
I already watched Big Little Lies as well so now I’m thinking I probably won’t like the book since I already know the twist! She is a fantastic writer though!
That’s what I’m thinking haha I’ll have to give her other books a try then! I’ve never read anything else by her.
I loved Water for Elephants too! Read it awhile ago, but I’m tempted to re-read it again sometime soon 🙂 Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe sounds like a good summer read, I’ll have to give it a go!
I want to reread it as well! I have yet to watch the movie!
You will adore Aristotle and Dante. It’s so good!
Along for the Ride is one of my favorite Dessen reads, and definitely perfect for the beach (I love the east coast beach setting!) I am a TOTAL beach reader. I love to tan too so it’s basically multitasking lol. When I go on a tropical vacation that’s literally what I will do all day- just lie in the sun and read.
Honestly that is my ideal day! Lying on the beach, working on my tan and reading a fun light book like one by Sarah Dessen!
I see so many people talking about beach reads and summer reads. I think I must be the weird one in that I just read whatever I feel like at the time all year round. Some really good books here though!
For some reason I just read more contemporary on the beach!! Thanks Ashley! 😊
💛💛💛 I also love I’ve Got Your Number!
Yay! It’s so good! I think we have very similar taste in books! 😀
Great post I loved Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. I read it when I was on holiday, it’s definitely the perfect beach read
Thank you! I am tempted to reread it this summer on the beach!
I plan to bring Ari & Dante and I’ll Give You The Sun on holiday with me as well! I love reading good contemporary novels at the beach! I’ve seen the Water for the Elephants movie but I didn’t know it was based on a book! I definitely need to read it now because I adored the movie so much!! Great recommendations! <3
Thanks Jackie! I’m glad to hear you loved the movie! I’ve been scared to watch it!
I can not wait to really get in to I’ll Give You The Sun. I’ve seen so many awesome reviews for it!
I adore all Sophie Kinsella’s books too! Will definitely add the others to my reading list. Great post!
Thank you!! 😊