Fun Beach Reads for Summer Vacation and Ways to Get Them Cheap!
Who doesn’t like a quick read poolside, lakeside, or beachside during that relaxing summer vaca you’ve been looking forward to for months?
I understand that to many, a ‘beach read’ implies a romantic sizzler with minimal substance or perhaps a fictional piece with little merit, but for me, it’s all about the escape, and it can be almost any genre. Throw me into a different time or location, with characters and a plot that keeps my attention without giving me a tension headache, and I’m good!
Here’s my take on some genres (as beach reads) and some great authors.
Women’s Fiction: I realize ‘fiction’ is a big bucket, so let’s focus on books that spotlight women. These works often highlight multiple generations and family dynamics, themes of redemption or resilience, and complex relationships.
Kristin Hannah, Jodie Picoult, Chris Bohjalian, Lisa Genova, J. Courtney Sullivan, Liane Moriarty.
Contemporary Romance: This genre works for me as long as the story isn’t focused on the ‘down and dirty’ in every chapter. I get bored quickly. These are quick reads that you may forget the details of weeks later, but they’re relaxing with an umbrella drink.
Elin Hildebrand, Nicholas Sparks, Emily Henry, Jojo Moyes
Mysteries and Thrillers: Sometimes, I like to be on the edge of my seat. Plus, I love solving puzzles, which keeps me reading a mystery or thriller nonstop for hours, except for bathroom breaks and snacks.
Harlan Coben, Gillian Flynn, Lucy Foley, Freida McFadden
Historical Fiction: I find past centuries and decades more interesting and relatable than futuristic sci-fi/dystopia novels. Perhaps I need a hint of realism in my fiction.
Philippa Gregory, Kristin Hannah, Diana Gabaldon
Sci-fi/Dystopia: I find this genre challenging, depending on the author—some I’ve struggled to relate to, in all honesty. Dune? Meh. Game of Thrones books? Despite watching the TV series, I struggled with the dense writing and the number of characters, details, and weird names I needed to keep track of in the book. I couldn’t get past the first few chapters, yet before it was a TV series, the book series flew off the shelf. I think it’s a better choice when ‘winter is coming’ (yup, I said it) or during a stormy winter lockdown.
Since I’m not drawn to this genre, I have no author recommendations. If you have a favorite author, please comment!
“A beach read is a light work of fiction (such as a mystery, thriller, or romance) that diverts the mind to purely imaginative activity or entertainment to escape reality or routine.”
Potential Summer 2025 Beach Reads
Whether your favorite book category is romance, mystery, thriller/suspense, historical fiction, science fiction, or another genre, you always look for a few good titles to bring on vacation.
Here are some newer (and older) titles I’ve enjoyed and recommend:
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, 2019
A psychological thriller that’s one of my all-time favorites. It’s about a woman’s act of violence against her husband and the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive.The Alice Network: A Novel by Kate Quinn, 2017
Two women—a female spy recruited to the real-life Alice Network in France during World War I and an unconventional American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947—are brought together in a mesmerizing story of courage and redemption. (Goodreads)Listen for the Lie: A Novel by Amy Tintera, 2024
Did Lucy murder her best friend, Savvy? The small Texas town residents seem to think so. Unfortunately, Lucy can’t remember anything from that night, even though she was covered in Savvy’s blood. A popular crime podcast, ‘Listen for the Lie,’ investigates the murder, and Lucy returns to town to help solve her friend’s murder. The description may sound cliche, but some interesting twists and town characters introduce some funny moments, making it a fun beach read.Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern, 2005
Alex and Rosie have been best friends since age seven and are forever intertwined even as they take different life paths (and spouses). Their story is told through texts and emails. I found it humorous and honest because the correspondence takes on individuals' perspectives (and writings) during elementary school, high school, college, and as adults with responsibilities. The book was made into a Netflix movie, although the book is far more entertaining. It’s a fun, fast read.Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty, 2024
I picked up this book because Moriarty has written several other books I’ve enjoyed. It explores the question, ‘What would you do if you knew the date and reason of your death?’In Five Years: A Novel by Rebecca Serle, 2021
A lawyer who is also a meticulous planner/calculator on all things related to her life (job, husband-to-be, etc.) accepts her live-in boyfriend’s proposal only to wake up the following day in a different apartment, with a different ring, and a different man beside her in bed. Super-quick read.The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, 2023
This historical mystery is inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history. She refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. (Amazon)Churchill’s Secret Messenger by Alan Hlad, 2021
A riveting story of World War II and the courage of one young woman as she is drafted into Churchill’s overseas spy network, aiding the French Resistance behind enemy lines and working to liberate Nazi-occupied Paris. (Amazon)Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese, 2010
This story is about love, betrayal, ordinary miracles, and medicine. It focuses on orphaned twin brothers whose lives are connected as they pursue their interest in medicine. The story takes place in Ethiopia (on the brink of revolution) and New York City.Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See, 2005
I read this historical fiction years ago and still think about it occasionally. Set in nineteenth-century China, an old woman reflects on her life starting in early childhood when a matchmaker ties her with a laotong (a contracted female friendship) to make her eligible to marry into a prosperous family. The story explores these connected women’s lives, including foot binding and a secret women’s language written on a fan they exchange.
If anyone would like to recommend other books to my blog readers, please add them in the comments! Please and thank you!
Ways to Get Books Cheap
New books (print or online) are expensive. There should be ways to be (or become) a prolific reader without breaking the bank. Here are some obvious (and somewhat hidden) options:
Local Library
Can I say, ‘duh’? Here’s something to consider that many don’t realize: most town libraries are part of a network of libraries that offer a wide selection of e-books and printed books.
E-books are ridiculously simple to acquire, and most libraries transfer your e-book at no cost to your Amazon account for downloading.
Plus, gone are the days when you were restricted to what your local library had on the shelf. Most have expanded their network and resources with NOBLE (visit or borrow from any library in your library’s network) for printed books. Additionally, many libraries offer
NOBLE OverDrive, Libby by OverDrive, and hoopla for e-books and audio books.
One negative aspect of using the library for printed books is the waiting list for best sellers and new titles, which can be a few months long even with libraries that have expanded networks.
Used Book Stores
Again, perhaps a bit obvious, but if you’ve never taken advantage of one, you should. Today, many offer a large, well-organized selection of titles and are thriving. Additionally, many will have an ample stock of recent releases. On a recent visit to my local used book store (Used Book Superstore in Burlington, MA), the place was packed with a steady line at check-out, and new releases were stacked prominently near the entrance and check-out. The store boasts 100K books on their shelves, and since everything is computerized (forget the dusty, old stores of the past), staff can tell you if they have a title in stock and where to find it.
Little Free Library
There’s a good chance that people in your town have set up Little Free Libraries at the end of their driveways or in more public areas. I have one and love the idea of people stopping and taking a book to read while walking, cycling, or driving through the neighborhood. I have a shelf for adults and one for kids. Families constantly stop by to see what’s new on the shelves. We’re adding a dog biscuit bin for the pups this spring.
“Take a book. Leave a book.”
Bookbub
I just started using Bookbub this year and love it. It’s a free service that offers free and discounted ebooks from top publishers and independent authors. Once you find an e-book you want, you can purchase it through Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble—your choice. The price is the same regardless of the purchase site you choose.
If you complete a profile identifying the types of books you like, Bookbub will email you weekly with a list of books in your genre(s)—many for $2.99 or $.99, and several free ones. This option has incentivized me to read titles from new authors and those I am unfamiliar with, including some authors with previous best-selling books. Expand your list of authors!
Buy Books Online. Support Your Local Bookstore.
Although all the book links in this article lead to Amazon, it’s super important to support locally owned bookstores. They are struggling yet add so much to a community. Don’t you remember The Shop Around The Corner Bookstore, owned by Kathleen Kelly in the movie You’ve Got Mail?
Bookshop.org is an easy way to support local bookstores while enjoying the convenience of buying online. According to the company's website, when you select your local bookstore (found on the website’s map and participating stores listing), it places a cookie in your browser that identifies you as that store's customer. The store receives the entire profit from all your Bookshop.org purchases (30% of the book's list price). You pay nothing extra for this service. It’s super easy to do, as most bookstores participate.
Got a Favorite Book or Author?
Any book or author recommendations? Please tell us in the Comments Section below.
