Looking for the best beach reads for vacation? We’re here to help.
There’s an art to choosing the perfect beach read for vacation, and we know how much pressure comes with deciding what book makes it into your carry-on. Luckily, we believe in relying on the advice of experts and decided to enlist reinforcements to help guide your list of go-to beach reads for vacation. We chatted with Katie, creator of Beach Reads & Bubbly, an Instagram account and blog dedicated to sharing her favorite reads for her recommendations.
Beach Reads & Bubbly flourished after Katie began sharing fun and engaging reviews with friends, and it has grown into a wonderful community of smart and vivacious readers. She loves getting lost in a beach read, from sweet romances to twisty thrillers, and pairs each book with a tasty book-related cocktail. Beach Reads & Bubbly is all about getting lost in the captivating world of books with beauty and fashion sprinkled in—let us take you into Katie’s world for her top picks with settings spanning from as close to home as Nantucket and as far-flung as Vietnam.
Best Beach Reads of 2024
Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand
It would be sacrilegious not to kick off my most anticipated list of summer books with anything but Hilderbrand’s latest, and last, Nantucket-based story. Elin is the queen of the beach read, and this is her “Swan Song”.
Funny Story by Emily Henry
Emily Henry is my favorite romance author, and every summer she brings us a love story that is 5 stars to me. Her writing is superb, and her characters are sure to feel like old friends. This is my most highly anticipated book of 2024, and I can’t wait to dive into this story set in Michigan about total opposites who decide to live together after their significant others break their hearts and get together with each other.
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Kristin Hannah is a masterful storyteller, and this is my favorite book I’ve read this year. Hannah’s story focuses on the women who served in Vietnam as nurses. As any reader of Hannah knows, her stories are always simultaneously heartbreaking and hopeful, and they are sure to stick with you long after you’ve finished the story.
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
Nora Goes Off Script was my favorite book of 2022, and Monaghan is back with the romance everyone needs in their beach bag. On its surface, this story is about a summer fling, but like everything else Monaghan writes, there is so much more to it than that. If it’s anything like her other books, this one will be brimming with love and humor, featuring characters filled with depth (and – over 30! A rarity in romance novels!). I can’t wait to get my hands on this book!
One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware
This thriller is sure to give you chills even on the hottest summer night. Ware knows how to tell a captivating story that sucks you in right away, and this locked-room mystery set on a deserted island is perfect for anyone with plans for a beach vacation. Although, I make no promises that you’ll be able to sleep at night!
The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
This is a bonus YA pick that I wanted to be sure to squeeze in! If you have a teen who loves to read, this would be a great pick to “buddy read” together. It’s a thriller by the author of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and is a little bit Nancy Drew, a little bit Gone Girl, and a lot of twisty fun.
Beach Reads & Bubbly
