This summer, many of us wish we were heading to the beach to soak up the sun, swim in the ocean or pool, and read a good book. This year, beaches and pools across the country may not open for business. The corona virus may keep us in our backyards for longer than we had hoped this summer, but it doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy “beachy” reads. At least we can imagine sitting on the beach.
Below is a list of books that will make you feel like you’re at the beach even if you’re not physically there. So, grab a comfortable seat, put on some sunscreen, and dive into one of these novels. You might just smell the saltwater.
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
This book is one of my personal favorites and is also the first of a three-part series. Jenny Han’s summer series is definitely one for a younger crowd, but I’d recommend anyone to read it for the nostalgia of being a teenager again.
In this novel, Belly Conklin spends every summer at a beach house with her mom, her mom’s closest friend, Susannah, and Susannah’s children, Jeremiah and Conrad. Belly eagerly awaits each summer more than the last. It’s the only three months of the year that matter to her.
But this summer is different. This is the first summer Belly doesn’t just see Jeremiah and Conrad as practically her brothers. Last summer, she was just a girl, but this summer, she’s becoming a witty young woman–and everyone around her is noticing.
The Vacationers by Emma Straub
If you were looking to get lost in a story about the beautiful island of Mallorca, this might be the story for you. Emma Straub’s novel tells the story of the Post family and their blissful vacation filled with celebration, relaxation, and a bit of generational baggage.
A very relatable family vacation tale, The Vacationers will challenge your opinion of a dysfunctional family with mismatched characters and lots of affairs. Be a fly on the wall as you read this dramatic account of past and present family tensions. It’s filled with familiar characters and countless summer memories.
The Forever Summer by Jamie Brenner
One review by Redbook calls this novel an “emotional roller coaster ride that will have you addicted and wanting to read more. This book is truly the perfect literary escape for any season.” Jamie Brenner tells the tale of Marin Bishop, who loses all she has in one day: a fiancé, a career in New York City, and a loving father. All the loss and hardship turn into a blessing in disguise for Marin, when she and two distant relatives reunite in the heart of Cape Cod.
Her half-sister and grandmother, tell Marin things about her family that will change her forever. Give this book a read if you’re looking for a soul-searching journey to follow along.
The Lake House by Kate Morton
In her fifth novel, Kate Morton covers two different decades beginning in 1933 Cornwall, England, with the Edevane family. After a large party at the estate, the Edevane’s discover their 11-month-old son is missing.
Several decades later, Alice Edevane runs into her past when a young detective comes across the abandoned estate in Cornwall and uncovers the truth of the distant past, becoming enthralled by the mystery.
The Lake House is full of detail, gothic omens, and time-hopping. Prepare yourself to be sucked into the historical drama and mystery.
Girls of Glass by Brianna Labuskes
For a suspenseful summer read, Girls of Glass tells the story of a missing girl and detective Alice Garner, who becomes personally attached to the case when it triggers the memory of her daughter, who was kidnapped and murdered years before.
While uncovering details of the case and attempting to hold back her own judgments of the girl’s mother, Alice soon discovers the deep, dark secrets of the seemingly picture-perfect family.
This novel is sure to keep you on your toes, as Labuskes keeps the mystery a secret until the last few pages of the story. Don’t read ahead!
If you won’t be sitting at a beach or by the pool this summer, we hope these books – or any of your summer reads – can take you there! Let us know which of these end up on your nightstand this summer, and share your favorite summer reads @discoverbooks on social!
