Four Beach Reads to Read This Summer

By Karlie Shoffner

For most, summer is the perfect time for reading. Whether you’re on break from school or have some time off work, there is a lot more time that can be dedicated to reading. Beach reads are a great way to get some reading done. They offer the pleasure of reading but don’t require the reader’s full attention, making them easy to get into and enjoy whenever a reader has a spare second. These four books would make excellent beach reads.

Beach Read by Emily Henry

Two bestselling authors find themselves living in neighboring beach houses during their summer vacations. The two writers are polar opposites; Augustus Everett writes literary fiction while January Andrews writes romance novels. The two decide to challenge each other to write in the other’s genre. January challenges Augustus to write something happy, while Augustus wants January to try and write the next Great American Novel. As the two help each other through their projects, they begin to form a deep, romantic bond.

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

Casey Fletcher is an actress who has decided to retreat to her family’s lake house in Vermont to escape the recent press coverage on her. To pass the time she watches the couple across the lake, Tom and Katherine Royce. Casey rescues Katherine one day from drowning, and the two form a friendship. Katherine suddenly vanishes and Casey begins to obsessively search for answers to her friend’s disappearance, and her desperate search consumes her life.

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Nina Riva is known for her end-of-summer party she throws each year. This year’s party quickly grows out of control; by the morning after the party, Nina’s mansion will go up in flames. But before that the novel takes us through the lives of the famous Riva siblings, children of famous singer Mick Riva. Nina is a surfer and supermodel who has recently been abandoned by her husband; Jay is also a surfer, and Hud works alongside him as his photographer; and there’s Kit, the youngest who is often overlooked by her famous siblings. The novel explores the very beginnings of the family and builds up to that unforgettable party.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

Focusing on two timelines, the novel begins with best friends Emily and Chess deciding to take a trip to Italy and stay at Villa Aestas. The house was formerly known as Villa Rosato until the events that occurred in 1974. Musician Noel Gordon invited up-and-coming musician Pierce Sheldon to join him on his trip to reignite his creativity and with Pierce came his girlfriend Mari and her sister Lara. By the end of the trip, Pierce will be found dead, Mari will write one of the greatest horror novels ever written, and Lara will compose a platinum album. Emily begins to dig into the past and realize that everything known about that night might not be true. As she gets closer to the truth, tension grows between her and Chess and betrayals occur.

These four novels make great beach reads because of their simple yet enjoyable plots. They do not require the reader’s full attention, making them relaxing books to read during a day off.