13 Best Beach Reads of All Time

Are you looking to dive into the best summer books and beach reads of all time? Here are 13 light reads that a perfect for a sunny day spent reading at the beach.

An essential part of holiday prep is planning what summer book reads you’re going to pack for your trip. I’ve gathered some of the best books to read this summer to help inspire you! If you’re reading at the beach then these great reads will help you relax and while away an afternoon.

Summer Romance Books to Read on the Beach

The below books are some of the best summer reads that are perfect for a lazy day spent reading on the beach!

You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry

Otherwise known as People You Meet on Vacation in the US.

You and Me On Vacation is hands down one of my favourite romance novels of all time. This was my first Emily Henry novel and she quickly became an auto-buy author for me. In fact, I’ve now read all Emily Henry books, and this one still remains my favourite.

This story is about two friends, Poppy and Alex. They first met 12 years ago and hated each other immediately. One year later, they’re forced to share a ride back from college to their hometown together and a lifelong friendship is formed.

Every year since then, they’ve been on a summer vacation together. Just as friends. And they’ve had the best time ever. Until two summers ago when it all went wrong.

Alex and Poppy have barely spoken since that awkward holiday but Poppy is determined to set things right. She invites Alex on one last trip to try and repair their friendship.

But maybe they were never destined to be lifelong friends…

I loved everything about this novel – it’s funny, it’s moving, and it’s everything you need in a light romance novel. There’s amazing chemistry between the two main characters, and I’d even go so far as to say this is the best friends-to-lovers romance I’ve read.

The book alternates between the past and the present, which is a clever way of showing us the trajectory of the main characters’ relationship without wasting too many words. You can’t help but root for Poppy and Alex and the people they have become over the course of the novel.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and I highly recommend this as one of your next beach books!

Buy People We Meet on Vacation: Amazon | Bookshop.org UK

Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan

Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan is a modern retelling of EM Forster’s A Room With A View with a much more diverse cast of characters. Set between Capri and New York, the story begins when Lucie Churchill, a half Asian, half American young girl, attends a friend’s wedding on the island of Capri.

There, she meets George Zao, a guy she ends up falling for despite initially hating all his mannerisms. Lucie and George are caught in a compromising situation at the wedding and part ways abruptly until they meet again in New York several years later.

Although Lucie is engaged to the most eligible bachelor in the city, something still draws her to George, which puts her in an awkward position.

READ MORE: Sex and Vanity Book Review

Sex and Vanity is more of a comedy and social satire than it is a romance, but it is a fun and enjoyable beach read.

Like Crazy Rich Asians, the plot is positively ridiculous and the characters are absurd. You can help but snigger at some of the over-the-top descriptions of characters that almost certainly do exist in these circles.

That said, Kevin Kwan’s witty observations on the white and Asian elite that reside in New York’s most exclusive apartment blocks are peppered with asterisks explaining the significance of certain schools, events, public figures and more, which helps you to paint a real picture of each character in your mind.

Kwan certainly writes like someone who understands this elite world very well!

If you’re a fan of Crazy Rich Asians, then this has similar themes, characters and absurd antics and would make a great summer beach read.

Buy Sex and Vanity: Amazon | Bookshop.org UK

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

Most romance books end with the wedding. But The Unhoneymooners defies convention and starts with the wedding. It’s Ami and Dane’s wedding day and everything is going perfectly – until the buffet lunch.

The bride and grooming are taken violently ill and so are most of the guests. Unfortunate to say the least.

It turns out the fish at the buffet had gone bad and now the majority of the wedding party are sick. Apart from Olive and Ethan – the maid of honour and the best man, and also the bride and groom’s respective siblings.

Tragically, the bride and groom are no longer able to go on their non-refundable honeymoon and insist that their healthy siblings go on the trip instead.

RELATED: Books Like The Hating Game

Olive and Ethan will have to spend the trip pretending that they are the newlyweds, but given that Olive and Ami are twins, it shouldn’t be that hard to pull off.

But the thing is, Olive and Ethan positively loathe each other. And have done since the very first time they met three years ago.

Each has convinced themselves that they’ll be able to go on this holiday and simply avoid the other, but of course things couldn’t possibly be that simple.

As the trip unfolds, each realises that the other might not be quite as hateful as they first thought. As they’re forced to pretend to be a married couple whilst on their fake honeymoon in Maui, Olive realises that he might not be the horrid man she has made him out to be.

In fact, she’s got him totally wrong.

If you love an enemies-to-lovers romance then the Unhoneymooners is the beach read for you. This book is funny, sexy, and sweet and if you love easy romances with characters that actually have depth to them then you’ll love this beach read.

Buy The Unhoneymooners: Amazon

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

The Love Hypothesis’ cover makes it look somewhat like a YA novel, but it’s anything but. Olive is a doctorate student at Stanford, researching pancreatic cancer.

Determined to show her friend that she’s not into the guy her friend is interested in (who she dated very very briefly), she strikes up a fake romance with Dr Adam Carlsen.

He’s a big name on campus, known for being an incredible scientist but also a brutal teacher and somewhat unapproachable man.

The relationship helps both of them as Adam will look like he’s putting down roots in California, and not tempted by other universities’ offers, whilst Olive can encourage her friend to go for the guy she deserves. Win, win.

It was only supposed to last for a little over a month but obviously, once they start getting to know each other, they realise there may be more to their fake relationship.

The fake dating trope is so hard to get right, especially when the characters are fully-fledged adults (26 and 34 years old), but Ali Hazelwood pulls it off perfectly.

This was a 5 star read for me and I absolutely sped through it in one morning. It’s largely a light-hearted and funny romance that made me feel all gooey and fuzzy inside, as a good romance should.

I was rooting for Olive and Adam from the start and they had amazing chemistry and a very cute relationship.

That said, there are also some heavier themes such as deep insecurity, loss and sexual harassment. All of which are dealt with sensitively and adeptly.

There’s also one saucy scene for those that like their romances to be a little bit spicy!

Buy The Love Hypothesis: Amazon | Bookshop.org UK

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Get a Life, Chloe Brown is one of the most talked-about books on bookstagram, but does it live up to the hype?

This steamy romance novel follows the story of Chloe Brown, a wealthy young woman whose life is rather stagnant.

After a near-death experience, she realises that had she died, there would be practically nothing interesting to say about her life so far.

So, she makes a list of things she wants to do to help her “get a life”. She moves out of her large family home, rents a small flat by herself and starts work as a freelance website designer.

There she meets Redford Morgan, or Red. The hot superintendent whose flat is just opposite hers. Not that she’s been spying on him through the window or anything.

At first, the pair seem to loathe each other but the pair end up agreeing that Red will help Chloe with her list if Chloe helps Red design a website for his artwork.

This mutually beneficial deal ends up becoming a lot more than either party bargained for!

Get a Life, Chloe Brown is a funny (and steamy!) romance that is the perfect read for summer.

It’s easy reading, you root for both characters and it’s also got more depth to it than you might imagine. Chloe suffers from chronic pain and Red has self-esteem issues from a past relationship.

The pair end up helping each other in more ways than they had anticipated with both characters slowly beginning to heal as their relationship grows.

This is a sweet, funny, saucy romance novel that is one of the best books to read on the beach this summer.

Buy Get a Life, Chloe Brown: Amazon | Bookshop.org UK

Just Haven’t Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens

Just Haven’t Met You Yet is a cute and heartwarming read that starts with every traveller’s worst nightmare.

You get to your hotel and realise you’ve picked up the wrong luggage.

Laura is on a work trip to the small island of Jersey where she’s hoping to find out more about her parents’ whirlwind romance.

Hearing her mother talk about the summer she met Laura’s father is one of the reasons Laura is such an old-school romantic today.

But when Laura arrives in Jersey and opens her luggage, she sees neatly folded men’s clothing and none of her own stuff. It appears she has picked up the wrong case at the airport!

She has a sneak peek through this gentleman’s belongings to see if she can discover anything about the case’s owner so she can return it to him.

But what’s odd is that everything in the case is something that she can imagine her perfect guy carrying in his luggage.

Could it be fate?

Laura then sets about trying to find the case’s owner and what she thinks is her own happy ever after – but things don’t end the way she expects.

Unlike most fluffy romance novels, it wasn’t clear at the start where this story was headed. And when it became apparent, it wasn’t the ending I had envisioned, but in the end, I knew it was definitely the right one.

This story is a slow burner and you’ll grow to love the story, the chemistry between the main pair, and the way the challenges each faced were dealt with.

The main character Laura is a romantic, determined to stick to her guns, and refuse to settle for anything less than *kabloom*, despite what some of her friends say.

Even though she faced some hard realities and setbacks in this novel, she overcame them and still held on to who she is, something I greatly admired.

The love interest went from someone I didn’t even give a second thought to, to someone hot, desirable, kindhearted and genuine. But you’ll have to wait and see who it is!

This book is worth adding to your pile of holiday books for the beach if you love a cute rom-com with an unexpected ending.

It’s also the perfect read for fans of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Just Haven’t Met You Yet is a modern rom-com and set on a different Channel Island but the sweet community vibe on the island felt similar to that in TGLPPPS.

Buy Just Haven’t Met You Yet: Amazon | Bookshop.org UK

Good Summer Books to Read

If those summer romance books weren’t enough, I’ve even more good beach books for you to get stuck into.

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

No one writes a character-driven novel like Taylor Jenkins Reid (TJR). Her storytelling is masterful and she has quickly become one of my new auto-buy authors.

Malibu Rising takes place in August 1983. It’s Nina Riva’s annual summer party and everybody who’s anybody in Malibu wants an invite.

The whole Riva family are entrancing. There’s Nina, a surfer and supermodel; Hud, a famous photographer; Jay, a champion surfer; and Kit, their younger sister.

It’s set to be an unforgettable night as the Riva siblings have secrets that could threaten their family’s tight bond. By midnight, the party is out of control and, by morning, the Riva mansion has gone up in flames.

After the huge success of Daisy Jones and the Six, I wondered if TJR’s next novel would live up to the hype. And thankfully, it really does.

READ MORE: Books Like Malibu Rising

TJR has a way of writing characters that you’re not sure you even like (in fact, you probably really don’t like them), but you’re somehow enthralled by them and their lives all the same.

In relatively few pages, TJR makes a whole host of characters come to life and you get to know the past that shaped them and the future that motivates them.

These characters feel so real and you could honestly believe that you are reading some sort of non-fiction memoir, rather than a fictional story.

Malibu Rising is a book that makes you want to get up early, watch the sunrise and catch those Californian waves. It’s the perfect summer read with beautiful writing, a gripping plot and a great host of characters.

Daisy Jones and the Six is also a great book for the beach, but I’ve opted for Malibu Rising on this list since it’s set in California and involves lots of surfing!

Buy Malibu Rising: Amazon | Bookshop.org UK

The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald

Whilst most people shy away from classics on holidays in favour of light reads, The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzerald is one you should make an exception for.

The story takes place in Long Island, in the summer of 1922. Filled with fun parties and glamorous parties, it’s the kind of summer that sounds great on paper. In actual fact, the heat is stifling…

The Great Gatsby is told from the perspective of Nick Carraway, a man in search of the American dream. He moves in next door to millionaire Jay Gatsby and across the bay from his cousin Daisy Buchanan.

Nick is quickly drawn into their glamorous and scandalous world, taking pen to paper to record the dreams, deceits and tragedies that he witnesses.

This is a short classic, but one of the very best. With beautiful prose, and selfish, spiteful characters, The Great Gatsby is a memorable read that will equally parts dazzle and disgust.

Even if you’ve read this one before, it’s worth turning to again as there’s always more to discover and unpick in this roaring twenties tale.

Buy The Great Gatsby: Amazon | Bookshop.org UK

The Lido by Libby Page

The Lido by Libby Page is about Kate and Rosemary, a twenty-six-year-old journalist and eighty-six-year-old window. By all accounts, they shouldn’t have much in common but they strike up an unlikely friendship in a bid to save their local Lido.

Until this point, Kate has only ever been assigned to cover the meaningless stories that no one else wants to write about. She is given the task of writing about the local lido’s closing but little does she know that this will change her life for good.

Rosemary has been swimming at the Lido every day for decades and is devastated by the idea that it may be shut. It’s where she met her late husband and where she finds peace and solace every day.

Together, Kate and Rosemary campaign to save the lido from the rich property developers who’ve got their eye on the land. They develop a beautiful cross-generational friendship, saving them both from loneliness, that will warm your heart!

Buy The Lido: Amazon

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Eat, Pray, Love is one of the most popular novels about travel and self-discovery and whilst the journey to “find oneself” has become rather cliched over the years, this is one of the OG books in that genre.

Elizabeth Gilbert had everything that society told her would bring her happiness: a husband, a beautiful home and a successful career. What more could the modern woman want?

However, instead of feeling fulfilled, she felt confused. She realised her marriage wasn’t working anymore and filed for divorce before setting off on a journey of self-discovery. A mid-life gap yah if you will.

Elizabeth’s story is divided into three sections and she explores three aspects of human nature in three different locations: pleasure in Italy, devotion in India, and balance in Bali.

This story is so engaging that you could be forgiven for thinking that this story was fiction but, in fact, Eat, Pray, Love is the real-life memoir of magazine writer Elizabeth Gilbert.

This travel book makes for easy reading and will have you dreaming about eating pasta in Italy or peaceful meditation in India. Underlying Elizabeth’s story is a multitude of important life lessons that might just make you want to reassess your own happiness.

Eat, Pray, Love is the funny account of one woman’s personal journey through three different countries and it may just inspire you to live more fully upon your return from your own holiday.

After you’ve read the book, check out the film adaptation starring Julia Roberts.

Buy Eat, Pray, Love: Amazon 

More Great Books to Read This Summer

The rest of the books on this list are not good summer reads in the sense that they do not have anything to do with summer.

However, they are all compelling and gripping reads that you will want to speed through in one sitting, which is what you want when you’re reading by the beach.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Eleanor Oliphant lives a perfectly scheduled existence. She shows up to work five days a week then indulges in frozen pizza and vodka every weekend. Her life is completely “fine” and she’s totally oblivious to the fact that life could be anything better than that.

After jointly saving an elderly man, Sammy, from a fall with Raymond, the bumbling IT guy, things start to change for Eleanor. The pair continue to help Sammy on his road to recovery and suddenly Eleanor’s old patterns change.

Her week is more spontaneous and she finds that she has friends. The weekly calls to her mother (who is in jail) are still a regular feature and it’s clear to the reader that Eleanor has had a somewhat traumatic past that made her the way she is.

Raymond, although deeply unhygienic, has got a big heart and he helps Eleanor face her demons and lead a more colourful existence. In fact, all three of Raymond, Eleanor and Sammy have a part to play in saving each other from isolation.

RELATED: Books Like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

Despite the pain Eleanor has gone through in life, this book is wonderfully funny and heartwarming and any difficult themes are dealt with sensitively and appropriately.

It’s an incredibly uplifting book that you can speed through in one sunny afternoon making it the perfect book to take away with you on a relaxing holiday.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is all about finding meaning in your everyday life. It deals with isolation, loneliness, self-discovery, grief, friendship and love. You can’t help but want to cheer for Eleanor as she comes out of her shell!

It has also been announced that Reese Witherspoon is producing a film adaptation of this book so add this to your beach reading list ASAP!

Buy Eleanor Oliphant: Amazon | Bookshop.org UK

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

The Rosie Project is a funny and heartwarming read that is perfect for a chill, sunny day. The main character, Don, is a genetics professor with Asperger’s syndrome (a fact unknown to him), and he can be rather socially awkward at times.

Unfortunately, Don has next to no friends or social life, so he creates a questionnaire to help him lock down the perfect wife.

Don has exacting standards, however, and a woman has to score 100% on his questionnaire before he’ll even consider taking her on a date.

With such high expectations, Don’s Wife Project is doomed to fail.

Along comes Rosie, a fiery barmaid who is trying to track down her biological father. Her search brings her into contact with Don, and despite the fact she’d definitely fail his questionnaire, he finds himself drawn to her.

The Rosie Project is a very funny book with a main character you grow to adore. If you liked Eleanor Oliphant then you’ll also love Don. He’s the male Eleanor Oliphant!

Check out my book review of The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion.

Buy The Rosie Project: Amazon | Bookshop.org UK

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

Lucy Foley is one of the most popular new voices in the thriller genre with twisty stories that will keep you second-guessing until the very last moment.

The Guest List is on a remote island off the coast of Ireland, where a group of old friends have gathered for a wedding.

The groom is a television star, handsome and charming; the bride is a beautiful and ambitious magazine publisher.

It’s set to be a picture-perfect day for the couple until one member of the wedding party is found dead.

Could it be that the small group aren’t such good friends after all?

Foley’s stories follow a similar format with (a) a remote location, (b) a small group of key characters and (c) alternating viewpoints.

The story constantly switches between the thoughts of each member of the group and with each alternating viewpoint, you think that you’re starting to build up a picture of who may be the culprit and what their motives may be.

But Foley has a knack for shattering those assumptions every so often and then you’re stumped again.

Each character is an unreliable narrator more despicable than the last and you’ll be frantically flicking through each chapter to find out who the guilty party is and why.

Foley is a brilliant author and weaves incredibly clever tales about the most hateful of characters.

The final passages of her books are always jam-packed with plot twists and this is the sort of addictive book that you won’t be able to put down.

Buy The Guest List: Amazon

What do you think are the best reads for summer? Let me know in the comments below!

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