The months between May and September are never complete without some solid beach reading. They are the kind of novels, memoirs, biographies, and more that are both gripping and escapist. The best beach reads of 2024, perfect to pair with sun-soaked summer days. Add in a pool, bathing suits, and snacks, and your warm-weather plans are sorted.
Seriously, who needs Europe when you only have to turn a page to see a whirlwind romance and addictive plot? While there’s no right or wrong way to read in the summer, sun-dappled days go hand in hand with relaxing, breezy TBR. It’s that time of year when I reread my old favorites in the name of nostalgia and binge-read new ones for novelty’s sake. As for the best beach reads of 2024, there’s plenty to look forward to before Labor Day. (Yes, beyond.)
The Best Beach Reads of 2024
If you’re craving some inspiration as you plan your summer reading, this is the place for you. Shake out the towel, pull out your sunglasses, and bathe yourself in sunscreen. (Maybe put this in your PTO – you’ll have a hard time tearing yourself away from the page.) Get ready: These are the headlines you’ll be glued to for the next few months.
wedding people by Alison Espage
Phoebe is a complex yet easy-to-like protagonist who visits the Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, at one of her lowest moments. But when she befriends the bride, unexpectedly falls in love with the groom, and becomes the confidante of nearly everyone in the wedding party, Phoebe rediscovers all the beauty, humor, and connection she’s enjoyed. think: Eleanor Olyphant and Meredith alone atmosphere. As of this writing, Wedding People is my favorite book of 2024.
humor me shake through cat
Hot on the heels of her stellar debut, if we’re honest, Shuk the Cat is back with the same humor and heart. Presley Fry lives her life on autopilot—careful about dating but completely immersed in the overwhelming joy of her job as a stand-up comedy scout. Presley found the light when her late mother’s best friend, Susan Clark, took her under her wing (and placed her with Susan’s son, Lawrence) , beauty and connection, ultimately leading to a vibrant life.
Mankind’s best friend Author: Alana B. Lytle
For fans of Emma Klein guest, this debut novel is a fast-paced, poignant, and brilliant book about the lengths women will go to get the lives we want. Al has always fantasized about being rich, but has always been on the fringes of social circles. Now, at 30, she’s a failed actress with no bright career prospects and is desperate to find something that will get her closer to the life she’s always dreamed of. But when she meets the mysterious, wealthy, El-obsessed Bryce, she finds her way. What will happen when she learns the truth behind his dark exterior?
Same time next summer Annabel Monaghan
At 30, Sam has everything she needs: a perfect doctor fiancé, a dream job in Manhattan, and the perfect upcoming wedding. But when she visits a Long Island wedding venue and comes face to face with her first love (i.e., the boy she hasn’t seen in fourteen years but spent every summer with as a child), she wonders if she’s made the right choice . Same time next summer It may follow a predictable summer romance plot, but that doesn’t make the ending any less satisfying.
bad guy of summer by Emma Rosenblum
Summer set on Fire Island – what could possibly ruin a few months of picturesque vacation? Enter: infidelity, backstabbing, and yes, murder. There’s plenty of gossip and relationship climbing, but are the members of this ultra-exclusive friend group capable of killing someone? Full of black humor and wit everywhere, bad guy of summer This book is a thrilling look at the lives of the rich and elite, and how they keep their secrets.
The future is color Patrick Nathan
The future is color Many possibilities are raised, but in the context of the best beach reads of 2024, perhaps the one that stands out the most is this premise: Historical fiction can be sexy. This was Hollywood in the 1950s, and George Curtis navigated the industry amid the fervor and fear of the McCarthy era. Then the famous actress Madeleine extended an olive branch: a writing residency at her estate in Malibu that George couldn’t possibly refuse. He entered a new class and learned the ins and outs of Los Angeles society. But in the face of all this, can George let go of his past? Will this define him forever, or can he slide seamlessly into a world that reluctantly invites him in?
same as before Author: Claire Lombardo
With sharp wit and sharp dialogue, Claire Lombardo breaks down the dysfunctional family narrative and treats it with honesty, humor, and heartfelt empathy. When matriarch Julia Ames finally finds peace and emotional balance in her life, the floodgates open to reveal the rocky truth about her children’s lives. With these narratives, same as before Explores the inevitable complexities and surprising beauty of the many relationships we cultivate throughout our lives.
just for summer by Abby Jimenez
Abby Jimenez, the queen of summer beach reads, is back with another title that BookTok girls can’t resist. Justin is cursed with the ability to find any woman her soul mate. He has to date her first and then break up with her. When Emma gets an assignment to work as a travel nurse for the summer in Minnesota—complete with a lake house and her best friend—she can’t turn it down. Maybe the prospect of dating Justin sounds good too…she just needs to figure out what to do when she feels real feelings.
summer contract by Emily Giffin
Four women meet as freshmen in college, and their lives take completely different paths. But soon they form a friendship that is tested years later when tragedy strikes their lives. They responded by signing a pact to always support each other. Ten years later, when one of their friends’ lives rapidly falls apart, the two women are reunited and ultimately rediscover themselves.
This summer will be different Cali Fortune
Girl meets boy. Boys are obsessed with girls. The girl discovers that the boy is actually her best friend’s brother. oops. Although they vowed never to repeat that chemistry-filled night, summer after summer, the two met on Prince Edward Island. Amid all the trappings of an idyllic summer vacation—wine, coastal air, sunset-striped beaches—Lucy is tested by Felix’s undeniable charm. Can she resist?
Within reach by Ann Napolitano
How do you communicate with your family when you can’t find the words to express your love? This question, and the drive to connect, is at the heart of Ann Napolitano’s poignant work. Napolitano follows three generations of an extended Irish Catholic family, capturing the enduring resonance of love, even in the midst of drama and crisis.
midnight feast Lucy Foley
Your favorite mystery author is back with another riveting mystery novel. It’s opening weekend at The Manor, and the luxury resort is leaving no stone unturned to dazzle its first guests. But amid the glitz and glamor there’s a darkness stirring – those in attendance all have secrets and storied pasts. Once the body is found, police want to know: Who did it?
lovers and liars by amanda ayl ward
Three sisters, a toxic mom, secrets no one will admit, and a weekend wedding that could reveal everything. Is Sylvie ready to marry Simon? Can Cleo be honest about why she’s skeptical about the wedding? Emma will tell her family why she can’t real Can you afford to travel? Full of drama everywhere, lovers and liars Getting to the last page is addictive.
if something happens Alex Finlay said to me
Ryan Richardson is living with the moment his girlfriend Ali is kidnapped. But even though Ryan had a good lawyer and was never charged, many still doubt Ryan’s innocence. Five years later, when Ali’s car was discovered, Ryan changed his name and found himself halfway around the world. There were two dead men inside, and only a note handwritten by Ali: If something happens to me… Ryan’s search for the truth takes him from Tuscany to Paris and England, only to discover that the answer may be closer to home than he thought.
paradise question by Christina Lauren
Would you pretend to be married to your ex for years just to get a $100 million inheritance? That’s the challenge facing Liam, who must convince his one-percent parents that he’s been (happily) married to Anna, a raw starving artist, for the past five years. But Liam begins to worry: It’s not that Anna is playing his role as doting wife too well, but that a world of wealth and privilege might be sweeping her up with it.
