by Jenn Bouchard
Summer is finally here, and now is the perfect time to escape (even if it’s just to your back deck) with a cold drink and a beach read.
What is essential to a beach read? Opinions on this subject vary tremendously! A quick Google search will bring a wide range of results, as some people prefer intense, engrossing books, while others gravitate toward something short, light, and entertaining.
One of my readers Allyson H. said there needs to be a “meet cute,” and she mentioned Emily Henry as a must-read author in this category (I agree! And Happy Place is ideal with its Maine coast setting.). Eleventh Chapter member and author Kerry Chaput determined that there must be romance, shenanigans, and possibly cocktails. And although it’s not a requirement, a coastal, lakeside, or vacation destination setting often provides the ideal backdrop for a book that you bring on your next vacation or day off from work.
Some of my favorite beach reads from the last few years (and their gorgeous settings):
Don’t Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino, set on the Jersey Shore
The Guncle by Steven Rowley, set in Palm Springs
28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand, set on Nantucket
Meant to Be by Emily Giffin, set in The Hamptons
The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner, set on Cape Cod
Out of the Clear Blue Sky by Kristan Higgins, set on Cape Cod
What’s in my beach read stack for this summer:
This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
Nearly Wed by Nicolas Didomizio
Summer Breakdown by Colleen Temple
Until Next Summer by Ali Brady
The Fast Lane by Sharon M. Peterson
And for summer’s last gasp, Goodbye Again by Caitlin Moss (arriving September 3rd)
Whatever your summer plans involve, I hope you’ll find time for some enjoyable reading.