Summer is the perfect time to curl up with a good book, and we’re here to help you find the beach read you’ve been looking for.
We’ve put together some ideas—some of which might be more appropriate for your mood than others. But whichever you choose, we want to ensure it’s a book that will keep you entertained, make you laugh, or inspire you to think about something new.
The Lifeguards by Amanda Eyre Ward
Three mothers and friends who’ve spent 15 years raising their sons in a picturesque Austin neighborhood are challenged when their boys return from swimming one night with a life-changing secret.
As they try to understand what’s happening, they realize that their relationships with each other and their boys have changed in ways they never imagined.
This book gives you a glimpse inside the lives of these women as they struggle to find themselves and each other again. It’s intelligent, funny, and accurate and will remind you why we love our families so much.
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
The sun shines on Barry’s Bay, and Percy and Sam are there to enjoy it. As kids, they spent every summer together—they’d curl up with books in the shade of the trees and spend their time as true friends should. As they grew older, Percy’s connection with Sam became more than she ever expected.
But after Percy made a big mistake, she spent the following 10 summers in the city protecting her heart—until she got the terrible news that Sam’s mother had died. She returned to the lake for one weekend out of respect for her friend and because she couldn’t resist being near him again.
Her chemistry with Sam is still undeniable, but will it be enough to overcome their past?
American Royals III: Rivals by Katharine McGee
In the third book of the American Royals series, you’ll follow Queen Beatrice as she discovers what it means to be a queen. You’ll get to know her friends and family and explore the plots of her brother and sister, Princess Samantha and Prince Jefferson.
You’ll find out which friends you can trust, get wrapped up in the plot lines of your favorite characters, and see how these royal siblings handle being heirs to a throne.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Nora Stephens is on a girls’ trip with her little sister in North Carolina when she runs into book editor and nemesis Charlie Lastra. Fans of Emily Henry’s previous books Beach Read and People We Meet On Vacation know their accidental repeat meet-ups can only mean one thing: trouble.
Follow the Amazing book to see if Nora and Charlie get along or if this accidental meeting is nothing but confidence.
The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith
Greta James has always had a knack for making music. But as a child, she didn’t see her parents sharing in her talent. Instead, her mother would only see the potential of a music career and was Greta’s biggest fan. On the other hand, her father could only see pitfalls and danger—the kind that would lead to mediocre success at best and failure at worst.
Greta spent years proving him wrong—she made it onto magazine covers and played sold-out shows worldwide. But now that she’s trying to launch her sophomore album with the pressure of being on magazine covers, plus the shock of her mother’s recent death… Well, one thing led to another in front of an audience full of fans.
An escape from all that is precisely what Greta needs right now, so she agrees to join her dad on an Alaskan cruise. Onboard the ship, she meets Ben, a historian who has his own personal drama behind closed doors.
The Palace Papers by Tina Brown
In her new book, Brown takes us on a journey through the ups and downs of life with the royals. She examines what it means to be royal—and not royal—and how they’ve handled their duties since Diana’s death in 1997. She also writes about what Princess Diana would think of today’s royal family.
The Love Of My Life by Rosie Walsh
You’re a poolside bookworm, and you love a good mystery. Here’s one to keep you up past your bedtime. Meet Emma and Leo. They’ve been married for ten years and have a little girl named Ruby. Leo deals with Emma’s critical illness in the only manner he knows how: by doing background research for her obituary.
He discovers nothing that matches his expectations and learns nothing about his wife that is accurate. Emma is not even her real name. She loves Leo and Ruby, even if her entire past is a secret, deceitful lie. Can she persuade him that love is actually there?
Mean Baby by Selma Blair
Selma Blair’s memoir is brutally honest.
From a young age, she had a penchant for drama and a fascination with the idea of being famous. She talks about how she got her start in Hollywood, struggled with alcoholism as an adult, and ultimately found herself diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
When Carol died before her daughter Katy could take her on a mother-daughter trip to Positano, Italy, Katy was left with a dilemma. She would have to embark on the journey alone without the support of her mother’s spirit.
However, as Katy stepped foot on the Amalfi Coast, she felt her mother’s presence. It was not the older Carol she’d lost that day—it was a healthy, tanned version of her mother who had been alive all along in Katy’s heart. She gets to know this younger Carol not just as her mom but as herself: young, vibrant, and full of life.
Marrying the Ketchups by Jennifer Close
Bud Sullivan’s children and grandchildren are all upset by the loss when he passes away suddenly. The family is thrown into crisis mode as they figure out how to move forward.
The book takes you through the challenges each of them comes across and how they deal with them. The fun aspect of the book keeps you entertained throughout.
Conclusion
We hope you found some beach summer reading ideas to help you plan your book club!
Choosing the right book can be challenging, so don’t be afraid to take advice from friends and family. If you need a little help picking a book for your book club, just reach out! We’re here to help.