10 Perfect Beach Reads for This Summer

There are few better feelings than lounging on the beach on a warm, sunny day with the perfect book in hand. With summer a few short weeks away, I thought I would round-up a list of 10 perfect beach reads that you won’t be able to put down.

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

I only recently discovered Abby Jimenez and she has quickly become one of my favorite authors.

Justin has a curse where every woman he dates goes on to find their soulmate the moment after they break-up. And thanks to a Reddit thread, it’s now become public knowledge. Emma, a traveling nurse, decides that a fling with Justin is too good to pass up, since she too has a similar curse. They concoct a wild plan: date, break up, and nullify their curses. As they embark on their summer fling in Minnesota, unforeseen challenges arise, from family responsibilities to unexpected emotions, prompting them to question whether fate might have orchestrated their meeting for a reason.

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Beach Read by Emily Henry

I mean, would it be a round-up of the perfect beach reads without including a book actually titled “Beach Read”? Emily Henry is the queen of beach reads, which is why you’ll see her featured quite a few times throughout this list.

Augustus Everett and January Andrews, two writers from different ends of the literary world, end up living next door to each other, both struggling with writer’s block. They make a quirky deal to help each other out: Augustus will try to write a happy story while January takes on a more serious literary project. As they start this unlikely collaboration, they find unexpected inspiration and maybe even a connection that defies their initial expectations.

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Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

Speaking of beach read queens, Carley Fortune is another favorite who does such a great job of capturing summer love.

Persephone Fraser, haunted by a decade-old mistake, avoids her lakeside hometown until a call beckons her back, reuniting her with Sam Florek, her once inseparable companion. Their past summers were filled with friendship and budding romance, until it all unraveled. As they navigate grief and rekindled feelings during a weekend marked by a funeral, they confront their shared history and the possibility of a future together, in a poignant tale spanning six years of love, loss, and redemption.

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Book Lovers by Emily Henry

I told you Emily Henry would be on the list again!

Nora Stephens, a no-nonsense literary agent, reluctantly agrees to a trip to Sunshine Falls with her sister, hoping for a transformative escape. However, instead of the picturesque small-town experience, she keeps running into Charlie Lastra, a brooding editor from her city life. As their paths keep crossing in unexpected ways, they confront the narratives they’ve constructed about themselves, leading to some surprising revelations and a potential shift in their own stories.

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Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I feel like this round-up of beach reads is also a list of my favorite authors!

Set in Malibu in August 1983, Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party is the talk of the town, drawing attention to her famous family’s dynamics and secrets. As anticipation mounts, each sibling grapples with personal struggles amidst the glamor and chaos of the evening. By dawn, as the mansion goes up in flames, the Rivas must confront their past and make pivotal choices about what they’ll carry forward into the future in “Malibu Rising,” a gripping tale of family, love, and self-discovery.

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The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

It wouldn’t be a summer book round-up without including The Summer I Turned Pretty. You all know my love for the book and TV series runs deep.

Belly reflects on her life, which revolves around summers spent at the beach house with her childhood friends, Jeremiah and Conrad, and their mother, Susannah. As she navigates the complexities of growing up and her evolving relationships with the boys, one unforgettable summer brings both joy and heartache, ultimately leading to profound realizations about love and destiny.

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People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry

This is the first book I read by Emily Henry, which ultimately started my love affair with her writing.

Poppy and Alex, despite their stark differences, have shared a decade-long tradition of a blissful summer vacation until a falling-out two years ago. Now, feeling stuck and longing for the happiness she once had with Alex, Poppy convinces him to give their friendship another chance with one last vacation. As they embark on this journey to mend their relationship, they must confront the underlying truth that has always lingered between them, unsure if they can truly reconcile their differences.

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Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune

While this book is set on a lake, rather than the beach, it still makes for the perfect beach read.

Fern Brookbanks finds herself fixated on Will Baxter, an artist she shared a brief but intense connection with a decade ago. Now, as she grapples with a life that doesn’t align with her aspirations, Will reappears, offering assistance and stirring old feelings. Despite her reservations about his changed demeanor, Fern must decide whether to trust Will once again and confront the secrets that have emerged between them, ultimately questioning whether she can reciprocate the support he once provided her.

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Happy Place by Emily Henry

Shocker, another Emily Henry novel!

Harriet and Wyn, who ended their relationship months ago, maintain the facade of being together during their annual vacation with their closest friends. Despite their unresolved issues, they navigate their shared space in the Maine cottage, concealing their true feelings to preserve the cherished tradition. As they grapple with their lingering desires and the imminent sale of the cottage, they must confront the challenge of pretending to be in love while facing the scrutiny of those who know them best.

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This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

This is Carley Fortune’s newest release, and possibly my favorite book of hers yet.

Lucy, a tourist on Prince Edward Island, finds herself entangled with Felix, unaware he’s her best friend’s younger brother. Despite their undeniable chemistry, they agree to keep their distance, but their resolve is tested each year during Lucy’s visits. When Lucy rushes to the island to support her friend Bridget, she confronts her feelings for Felix amidst unexpected changes, raising questions about the safety of her heart.

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And if you’re looking for even more beach reads, be sure to check-out my list of books over on my Amazon Storefront. And to see which books I’ve been reading lately, take a look at my most recent round-up here.