Hello friends!
I’ve gotten a month into these thick summer days without one of my very favorite summer activities: relaxing with a juicy beach read under an umbrella with a spritz. I looked up from my Christmas-in-June haze and realized that I don’t even know what beach read I’m reaching for!
Thank goodness for you. Your suggestions on Instagram were key – and so many of you suggested the same six books. I’m glad y’all are on the same page. I trust you.
I have yet to read any of these titles but I’m headed to the bookstore this week to pick up, well, all of them. Gosh remember summer reading lists in junior high and high school? Did.Not.Enjoy. This level of scandalous, twisty turny, humorous reading is what I can get into this summer. If you have any additions to this category, I’d love to see them in the comments below.
• Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of twenty-four hours, their lives will change forever. Here at Bookshop.org and here on Amazon.
• Scruples by Judith Krantz
Published in 1989 – Scruples is the novel that created publishing history, the first-and widely acknowledged to be the very best-novel ever written about the staggeringly luxurious life of a Beverly Hills boutique and the people who work in it. Here on Indiebound and here on Amazon.
• While We Were Dating the forthcoming book by Jasmine Guillory
Two people realize that it’s no longer an act when they veer off-script in this sizzling romantic comedy. Here on Indiebound and here on Amazon.
• Outlawed by Anna North
The Crucible meets True Grit in this riveting adventure story of a fugitive girl, a mysterious gang of robbers, and their dangerous mission to transform the Wild West. Here on Parnassus and here on Amazon.
• Beach Read and People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henrry
Beach Read: A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters. Here on Barnes and Noble and here on Amazon.
People We Meet on Vacation: Two best friends. Ten summer trips. One last chance to fall in love. Here on Garden District Bookstore and here on Amazon.
• The Hunting Wives by May Cobb
The Hunting Wives share more than target practice, martinis, and bad behavior in this novel of obsession, seduction, and murder. Here on Indiebound and here on Amazon.
I hope you found a book or two to add to your list.
Happy Summer, friends! xo
Stella
Oh, this list looks really good, thank you for sharing. Happy reading everyone. Joy, one of my favorite books is, “She’s Come Undone,” written by Wally Lamb. I read it years ago and highly recommended it.
Angelina
Holy moly that book started my Wally Lamb fandom. It’s not as full of trauma as his other books but it still has trauma that won’t haunt you quite as much! All of his characters are overcomers and I love that.
Disnna
She’s Come Undone!!!! My absolute favorite too!!!
Sarah
I thought Outlawed had a fantastic premise and was really well-written -I couldn’t put it down. And that’s my definition of a good summer/beach read!
Caitlin
I’ve been tearing through the Ashley C. Ford book (Somebody’s Daughter) this week. A lot of the content is rough, so not a fun summer read, but definitely a book that has me fully engaged. She was recently interviewed on Fresh Air and listening motivated me to get the book.
Jessica Mosich
What a treat to see Scruples back on the list! I read it every time we went to our cabin, where my mother had banished it, since she didn’t want the racy parts to be discovered by my sister and me. Well, that certainly backfired!
Kelly Meier
This is an amazing list! Thank you much.
Angie Rogers
I always can’t wait for the latest Jodi Picoult book! She does such extensive research for her books and I always learn something new. Her latest is The Book of Two Ways. It’s about her life choices and changes where she was an egyptologist (very interesting to learn about Egypt and their beliefs on death and souls) and then becomes a death doula. (Likewise very interesting – makes you think about your bucket list and living it!)
Janet
The Last Thing he Told Me by Laura Dave was really good. Anything by Harlen Coben…
Melanie
I love Judith Krantz!! So pleased to see her back on a summer reading list. I’m 100% rereading Scruples right along with you this summer.
Amanda H.
Anything at all by Taylor Jenkins Reid… Malibu Rising was awesome, but so too is Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (and there’s a cross over element) and Daisy Jones and the Six is equally as awesome.
And I also just finished Seven Days in June and The Guncle. Very different books, but also solid summer read contenders.
Jeri
Just picked up People We Meet In Vacation! Excited for the drama lol
Sarah
I have most of these on my summer list too! I recently enjoyed The Push,
Jessica Camerata
Read Beach Read in like 2 days it was so great. Will be reading her next book once I finish my current book! Also heard Malibu Rising was good, need to add to my list!
xo Jessica
an indigo day
Stacy
I picked up Outlawed at Target the other day on a complete whim based entirely on the cover. Looking forward to digging in!
Sarah
I loved Outlawed!
Kristen
I finished “People We Meet on Vacation” two days ago and loved it! It was one of those books that had me saying “this would make a great movie”. The summer has me craving light, predictable beach reads as well. Enjoy!
Allison
I love summer book lists! Picking up Malibu Rising from the library this weekend and am definitely adding Scruples and the Hunting Wives to my beach bag.