This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure here.
When it comes to good beach reads, we don’t have to be limited to the usual suspects, also known as the summer romance novels.
Sometimes a romance novel hits the spot, but when I was thinking back to some of my personal favorite books I’ve read in previous summers, there were a lot of other genres that were included such as mysteries, thrillers, historical fiction, literary fiction, and more.
Yes, romance novels are included on this list, but if romance isn’t your go-to genre, there are other several genres to choose from.
Note If you are looking for audiobooks to listen to at the beach, I’ve added “Great on audio” notes next to those I enjoyed on audio.
Let’s get reading!
Find this post helpful?
Save it on Pinterest
Thrillers to Take to the Beach
First up, thrillers. One of the perks of a good thriller is that it will hold your attention. This might be exactly what you need if your summer vacation is on a rowdy cruise or crowded beach and you are looking for a good beach read. I read maybe two thrillers a year, and I don’t like thrillers that are going to keep me from sleeping, if you know what I mean. You will probably notice that when I find an author in this genre, I tend to read more of that author because I learn I can trust them not to be too dark.
The books are listed in order from the least dark, nail biting to the most dark.
The River by Peter Heller
This was one of my favorite books I read in the summer of 2019. What starts out as a peaceful canoe trip two college friends decide to take during their summer break quickly turns into a story of survival. Wynn and Jack set out on a canoe trip in northern Canada, only to find themselves battling nature and other threats when they hear a couple arguing from a distance and later discover a raging wildfire. The trip turns into a gripping survival adventure, testing their friendship and resilience against the wild and unforeseen dangers. This one is also great if you’re looking for something on the short side, as this one is only 253 pages.
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
Sally Hepworth is another one of those authors I will always read. Hepworth writes novels that are mix of women’s fiction, mystery, and thriller. This book had me hooked from page one. It starts with such an interesting premise about a family that lives in a beach house on a cliff with a steep drop. It’s a dream house except for one problem — it’s a popular suicide spot. (And that is the most I will give away.) This book is about marriage, parenting, identity, and mental illness. It also explores perception and reality and how well you think you know someone. It is told in alternating points of view and alternating timelines. While this structure could lose readers, Hepworth presents it in a way that makes it easy to follow.
There is no gore or excessive violence. This book contained lots of twists and turns I definitely did not expect. (It makes me want to read it again.)
The Night Swim by Megan Goldin (Rachel Krall, Book 1)
The Night Swim is the first book in the Rachel Krall series. Rachel Krall is a crime podcaster who gets a lot of requests for help from loved ones seeking justice for their family members. Krall starts investigating the death of Jenny Stills, who reportedly drowned 25 years prior. She decides to investigate the case after finding several notes on her windshield asking for help. She also decides to make it the subject of her Season 3 podcast. I love the Rachel Krall books on audio because the parts where Krall is doing her podcast are produced like a real podcast, and I also find that the podcast portions give the reader a break from the tension you typically feel when reading a thriller. Plus, Krall helps you process what’s going on.
Reading Notes: Great on audio! I could not find this book available on audio on any of the usual platforms, even though I initially got it on Audible. But readers say you can still find the audiobook through your library and listen on the Libby app.
Dark Corners by Megan Goldin (Rachel Krall, Book 2)
After enjoying The Night Swim so much, I grabbed this one as soon as it came out last summer. In fact, I think the series only gets better. There’s no connection between the case in this book and the previous one. The only connection is Rachel Krall.
In Dark Corners, Rachel is called to help the FBI by meeting with an inmate they believe is somehow involved in the recent disappearance of a popular influencer. The book ends up being a deep dive into the underbelly of the influencer world. There’s also a lesson that sometimes there are other explanations for what may seem obvious at first glance. As one of the main characters says, “The scariest monster is the one that hides in plain sight.” This book had me hooked from the beginning to the end.
(I hope there are more books in the Krall series, especially now that she’s dating an FBI agent.)
Reading Note: Great on audio! (And available on all major platforms.)
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
This book technically falls under the gothic horror genre, which if I had known that going into it, I don’t know if I would have read it, but I’m glad I did because I thought this was such an interesting story. In fact, this is one of those books I still think about even though I read it more than three years ago. Mexican Gothic follows as Noemí heads to a remote mansion after receiving a concerning letter from her cousin who is living in a mansion in the Mexican countryside after she married an Englishman. Noemí soon learns that there’s something about this house that makes it hard to leave. I think a lot of the time, fiction is allegory. I don’t know if this was intended by the author, but there’s something that happens in this book, or should I say, a feature of the house that seemed very symbolic of the battle we have with our human nature. If you read this one or have read this one, let me know if you pick up on this.
Reading Note: Great on audio!
Historical Fiction to Take to the Beach
I almost always read a couple historical fiction books each summer. I think historical fiction books work during the summer because they tend to feel like adventures to me. While I never considered myself a historical fiction reader per se, the truth is that some of my favorite books are historical fiction. In fact, I had a really hard time deciding which books I wanted to include in this list because there are so many good beach reads in this genre!
The Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini
Did you know that there was an American woman who was put to death by the Gestapo during World War II? Neither did I until I read this book. Her name is Mildred Harnack, and she was a Wisconsin native. In fact, in America’s Dairyland they observe Mildred Fish Harnack Day every September. The Resistance Women follows four women from different walks of life and takes them from pre-World War II until Harnack’s execution. This is another one of those books that has stuck with me even though I read it more than five years ago. If you’ve ever wondered how the Nazis were able to gain the power they did, this book does such a good job of showing how slowly and subtly they increased their power.
The Evolution of Annabel Craig by Lisa Grunwald
To say this book is a historical fiction book about the Scopes Monkey Trial doesn’t do it justice. Yes, it is definitely about that, and I loved getting this on-the-ground view of that pivotal trial, but it’s really a story about a young woman named Annabel Craig. Annabel has to navigate living on her own after both her parents died when she was a young teenager, a marriage with an up-and-coming local lawyer, the biggest event to ever happen in Dayton, Tennessee, and her faith in God in the face of it all. I thought it was all beautifully told in this book by Lisa Grunwald. Also, Grunwald can write!
The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
I’m embarrassed to say that I literally knew nothing about Franco’s Spain post-WWII until I read this book. This book follows the lives of several characters who live in Franco’s Spain and the visiting Americans who only see a curated version. As the name implies, one of the themes of this book is silence — because silence is how you survive living under a totalitarian regime. If you do anything to draw attention to yourself, it’s a recipe for disaster. The book switches between the different characters, slowly revealing the truth about some of the incredulous actions and projects the government is working on. It is interspersed with excerpts from U.S. government documents about life in Spain during this time.
Note: You will find this book in the YA section of your bookstore. Also, I don’t recommend this one on audio unless you know Spanish. It includes a lot of Spanish phrases, but the physical book includes a glossary to help with translation.
Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson
I loved this book and am surprised I haven’t heard more people talk about it. This is a 1990s-era coming-of-age novel that takes place over a summer when two teenagers decide to create a poster as a joke during their summer break. The poster becomes a sensation and causes chaos throughout the town. As someone who grew up during the 90s, this book resonated with me and perfectly captures the nostalgia and essence of a 90s summer. I loved how Kevin Wilson brought that era to life.
Reading Note: Great on audio!
Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
This is a recent read of mine, but I think it’s sooo good. This book could also fall under the mystery and literary fiction genres. This book had been on my TBR list since it came out last summer. I’m only sad that it took me so long to read it. I enjoyed it so much that it gave me a serious book hangover after I finished it. I simply wanted more. The book centers around a Jewish couple, Moshe and Chona. Moshe owns the local theater, and Chona owns the local grocery store. The book explores race issues, anti-semitism, class, and what happens when all of these things intersect.
Reading Note: Great on audio!
Mystery Novels to Take to the Beach
Mystery novels also tend to grab your attention like a thriller, but they aren’t typically quite as dark. (At least none of the books on this list are very dark.) Mystery books tend to be more like solving a puzzle than being haunted by a bad guy. One of my favorite parts of mystery novels is if you read one with whose main character is the sleuth, it’s the sleuth that makes the book. This is the case wit The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and The Mysterious Affair at Styles.
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
If you would like to read a mystery novel that doesn’t contain any murder, then this one is for you. If I had known what a delight these books were, I would have started reading this series a long time ago. I remember seeing these books on my mom’s bookshelves for years, and when I saw it on the shelf of one of favorite bookstores a couple of years ago, I decided to pick it up. Mma Ramotswe (when you see Mma, think “Miss”) just inherited a herd of cattle from her father, which she sells and uses the proceeds to start her own business as the local private detective. As the story unfolds, we start to learn that there is much more to Ramotswe (and her family) than meets the eye. And it’s fun to see how she approaches each case with her eccentric but clever way.
The Mother in Law by Sally Hepworth
If you are want to read a Sally Hepworth, I think this makes a great book to start with. This book is definitely more mystery than thriller. The book opens when Lucy’s mother-in-law Diana is is found dead under suspicious circumstances. The book reveals buried secrets and family tensions, leading to a twisty, suspenseful narrative and reveal. Hepworth has a way of integrating humor into her books, and I thought this one was fun to read.
Reading Note: Great on audio!
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
This might be the one book on this list that doesn’t need an introduction given the popularity of this novel. It spent a whopping 150 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List. But if you haven’t read this book, let this be the summer. It tells the story of Kya Clark, the “Marsh Girl,” who grows up isolated in the North Carolina marshlands. When a local man is found dead, Kya becomes a prime suspect, intertwining a murder mystery with her poignant journey of survival, love, and connection to nature.
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
The Violin Conspiracy tells the story of Ray McMillian, a Black classical violinist whose family heirloom violin and Stradivarius is stolen just before a major competition. As Ray navigates the challenges of reclaiming his stolen instrument, he uncovers profound truths about his heritage, identity, and the power of music. The story is told by going back and forth between the past and the present, showing Ray’s climb as a world-class violinist and the racial challenges he faced. Slocumb says that some of the story is autobiographical. This is another mystery novel that will have you hooked from the beginning and doesn’t contain any murder.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
If you’ve never ready any Agatha Christie, I think this is a great book to start with because it is the first installment in the Hercule Poirot series. Set in the summer, the season’s heat weaves into the narrative as a compelling element. Poirot, a Belgian refugee turned astute detective, probes the poisoning of the affluent Emily Inglethorp at Styles Court. The investigation is rife with misleading clues, concealed familial skeletons, and a clever manipulation of a will. Poirot captivates, and his absence from the pages is keenly felt.
Romance Novels to Take to the Beach
Of course, I had to include some romance novels, but as the title implies, I think good beach reads are more than just romance. All of the books on this list feature a protagonist who is dealing with heavy issues. They are either grieving the loss of a parent, the loss of a spouse, dealing with serious health issues, or trying to make it in life after being raised by a neglectful narcissistic parent. BUT they are also interlaced with plenty of humor and hope, which is why I loved all of the books on this list. My point is that romance doesn’t have to mean lack of depth.
Beach Read by Emily Henry
Emily Henry’s Beach Read delves into themes of sorrow, redemption, and the courage to be open-hearted. January Andrews, a romance novelist grappling with financial strain and creative stagnation, inherits a lakeside house from her late father. She retreats there, aspiring to write her next novel while she considers selling the house for financial relief. To her surprise, next door to her new refuge is Augustus “Gus” Everett, a writer of literary fiction and January’s former academic rival. Their initial friction evolves into an unexpected camaraderie and a tender romance.
Note: This book contains open door sex scenes.
Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle
Want a romance mixed with some magical realism? Daphne, a Jewish girl from LA, leads an ordinary life with one extraordinary quirk: whenever she encounters a potential love interest, a slip of paper materializes, bearing the man’s name and the duration of their impending romance. When the book opens, Daphne receives a paper without an end date alongside a new name, suggesting he might be her soulmate. The narrative weaves between the past and the present, blossoming from a fanciful romance into a profound exploration of Daphne’s life and world, hinting at deeper layers hidden beneath the surface.
Note: This book contains open door sex scenes but they are minimal and easy to skip.
Just for Summer by Abby Jimenez
Justin and Emma connect after he posts in the AmItheAsshole subreddit about an issue he has with his best friend and a “curse” where his exes find their soulmates after dating him. Emma shares the same fate and messages him, leading to a plan to date and break the curse. They face a challenge: Justin is in Minnesota while Emma, a traveling nurse, is heading to Hawaii. Emma convinces her bestfriend Maddy to work in Minnesota for the summer, allowing her and Justin to explore their connection. This book uses one of my favorite romance tropes: the Fake Romance Trope, which brings fun banter. But it also explores some heavy issues that both Emma and Justin are navigating. A book that can make me laugh out loud and bring me to tears is a win for me.
Read my full Just for Summer review here.
Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
Evvie, a young widow, has isolated herself following her husband’s tragic death in an accident. Haunted by grief and guilt over her secret desire to leave the marriage before his death, she retreats from the world. She is living in a house in Maine, complete with a rentable apartment, which becomes occupied by Dean Tenney, a baseball pitcher plagued by “yips,” a mysterious affliction that derails his career, as a tenant. The quaint town in Maine offers Dean a sanctuary for recovery. As Evvie and Dean’s lives intertwine, they forge a bond, each confronting their personal battles. The narrative delves into this evolving connection, a testament to resilience and the unexpected paths of healing.
Hope and Other Punchlines by Julie Buxbaum
I thought this was a very sweet (and clean!) book I read a few years ago. Hope and Other Punchlines follows Abbi Hope Goldstein, a 9/11 survivor known for a famous photograph taken on that tragic day. She is now a teenager working at a summer camp. There, she meets Noah Stern, who has his own connection to that day and seeks her help to uncover a long-held mystery. Together, they navigate the complexities of their pasts, forming an unexpected bond filled with humor, heartache, and hope. This is a great book both you and your teenage daughter (if you have one) will enjoy. I think it’s way to introduce teens to some of the fallout of 9/11 we don’t hear talked about anymore.
Literary Fiction to Take to the Beach
Summer can also be a great time to finally read that literary fiction novel you’ve had on your TBR list for way to long. Here are some that I personally loved and read during the summer. Sometimes literary fiction book can mean slow burn, but I don’t think that’s the case for any of these books except for maybeTom Lake. Again, there are sooo many other books I could have included on this list, but I think these are good ones to start with.
The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal
This is one of my all-time favorite books! This book explores themes of family, friendship, beer-making (of course), and redemption. This book follows two sisters, Helen and Edith. After their father leaves the family farm solely to Helen, she uses the inheritance to create a successful brewery, while her sister Edith struggles despite her talent for baking. The story follows their fractured relationship and the next generation’s efforts to change their family’s fortunes, highlighting themes of resilience, reconciliation, and transformation in the face of adversity. I fell in love with these
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
This is another one of my all-time faves! This book is what you would get if Homer’s Odyssey and Huckleberry Finn had a baby, but so much more. This book takes place in 1932 and follows three boys who manage to escape an Indian Training School, plus a sad girl named Emmy who they bring with them. The injustice these kids face is heartbreaking, but from there, it’s like an epic novel that will take you on adventure. This book is historical fiction, literary fiction, coming of age, and more. It’s a book about courage, friendship, faith, hope, survival, and hope. It’s a long one, at 450 pages, but it holds your attention from start to finish.
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
This book made me want to go find a production of I I could watch, like in the worst way. Tom Lake revolves around Lara, who tells the story of her youthful summer romance with a now-famous actor named Peter Duke to her three adult daughters during the COVID-19 pandemic. When Lara first meets Peter Duke, it’s because she’s in a production of Our Town together for a summer. Through this storytelling, the novel explores themes of love, family, and the passage of time, as Lara and her daughters come to understand more about each other and the choices they’ve made. This book also does a good job of exploring the fleeting nature of fame.
Reading Note: Great on audio! (It’s read by actress Meryl Streep.)
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
This book has a lot going on. Little Fires Everywhere revolves around the lives of the Richardson family and their enigmatic tenants, Mia Warren and her daughter, Pearl, in the affluent suburb of Shaker Heights, Ohio. There is also a custody battle over a Chinese-American baby divides the community, leading to clashes between the seemingly perfect Richardson family and the free-spirited Mia, culminating in the mysterious fire that destroys the Richardson home. The novel explores themes of race, privilege, motherhood, and the conflicts between personal desires and societal expectations. I think this would make a great book club pick because there is A LOT going on to discuss. This book was made into a TV series that I personally didn’t like. As we say in the book world, “The book was better.”
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
This is one of those books that makes me wish I could go back and live in the early 1900s because it seemed like such an interesting time to live. (Although, I don’t think I would have liked living through the Depression, so there’s always trade offs, right?) Rules of Civility follows the journey of Katey Kontent, a young woman navigating the vibrant social scene of 1930s New York City after a chance encounter with the enigmatic and wealthy Tinker Grey on New Year’s Eve. As Katey ascends the social ladder, she grapples with themes of love, ambition, and identity, forming complex relationships that test her morals and aspirations. The story culminates in Katey’s reflection on the choices and sacrifices made along her path, revealing the bittersweet nature of personal and professional success.
What books on this list are you most excited to read? I would love to hear. Please share your thoughts in the comments section.
Looking For More Good Beach Reads?
Here are more book ideas as you put together your summer reading plans:
Where The Crawdads Sing is one of my favourite books, I need to watch the movie on Netflix has it’s just been released! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
I thought the movie was very well done. You should definitely watch it! Let me know what you think of it.